AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Okay, so the story is going to start jumping ahead ever so slightly a bit.

I'm in love with this story, so expect the daily updates.

lol

My sister and Solice2 have given me the ideas for the next four chapters.

I've changed a bit, but I like where it's headed now.

So onward!

****

Leonard had Sarek stay onboard for the next week and a half just in case the alloy decided to show itself again. In that time, I had eaten a couple mealtimes with the two of them together. It wasn't that Sarek was against the coupling…it was that he was worried in his own way. I was thankful for that, but also wished that Spock wasn't still acting so cold towards his father—Vulcan or no.

"What's wrong, Lil?" Megan asked me as we sat at breakfast.

I shrugged. "Just a headache, nothing major. How's Chekov?"

Megan smiled. "Actually…I invited him to breakfast. Our dating had been going rather well, so to christen the coming out to everyone about it, I wanted him to meet you."

I smiled too. "I would love to meet Pavel Chekov…again."

"Very true." Megan said with a laugh. "He'll be here in a little bit…you sure that headache is okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah…I'm sure—Pavel!"

Pavel came into the Mess Hall and walked over to our table, sitting down after shaking my hand. He wrapped his arm around Megan and I smiled at them—they were absolutely adorable together. I was happy that Megan was happy, and I was happy that Leonard and I were happy too. All in all, things were looking up.

"It is wery nice to meet vou under the circumstances." Pavel told me, smiling a little. "Megan mentions you a lot."

I smiled. "She talks about you constantly too, Pavel—careful when you go to meet Leo. He has a way of making you wonder why you even tried to get involved with the McCoy sisters."

Megan rolled her eyes. "That doesn't happen all the time—be nice, Lily."

"Maybe not all of the time…but a fair amount, admit it—and you're the youngest, Meg." I told her with a laugh. "I do kind of feel the need to get some pain killers for my headache, but before then, let's have some pancakes."

Megan and Pavel started to insist that I go and lie down, but I wanted to get to know my sister's boyfriend. He was very sweet, and a super genius and we had a great time eating and laughing. Soon though, my headache was taking the best of me, so I went to take a nap, waking up to a beeping at me door.

"Go away unless it's important." I said, wincing and snuggling into my pillow. "Please."

My door opened though and I groaned, smiling a little and rolling my eyes at Spock waltzing in. He crawled under the covers with me and held me close, nuzzling my neck with his nose. I smiled at him and snuggled my body against him sighed a little. I was happy for the comfort, but I was tired and my head though better, was still in slight pain.

"Megan said you weren't feeling well when my father and I went into the Mess Hall to have breakfast." Spock told me.

"I'm just trying to sleep off a headache." I explained. "Are you and your father having a nice time getting to know each other?"

"My father goes out on the shuttle tonight back to the new Vulcan." Spock explained. "He would like to have lunch with us if you're feeling up to it by then."

I smiled. "I'll have lunch with your father…he seems to like me."

Spock nodded. "He does…you remind him of Mother."

"You know, I didn't think he'd like me. I know I told you to give him a chance, and I know he married a human and had you with her but…I guess I didn't see it coming." I said.

Spock laughed a little as I turned over in his arms, and he tightened his arms around me. I fell back asleep rather contentedly, waking up to no Spock. I was feeling better, and so I checked to see what time it was, and went to the Mess Hall, suddenly craving some coffee and some pie, but my stomach hurt. I winced a little, but put on a smile as I headed into the Mess Hall, sitting with Spock and Sarek.

"I'm sorry I'm late." I told them both. "Chicken…looks good."

"I believe I may assume that you are feeling better?" Sarek asked me. "Spock informed me that you were not well."

I smiled. "I'm fine…my stomach hurts a little, but I'm fine."

"Maybe you should have Doctor McCoy check you for illnesses." Sarek suggested.

"Perhaps—but after lunch." I told him. "How do you feel about returning to Vulcan?"

"I am needed down there, so I am returning." Sarek explained, avoiding the question.

I smiled a little and nodded, reminded myself that though he felt, he was a Vulcan. The three of us talked for a little while, and then we parted ways. I had a session with a crew member to attend to, and Spock had some more time to spend with his father before he left. I squeezed his hand because we had yet to kiss in front of his father, and then headed back to my quarters, wondering why I was suddenly feeling so faint.

****

Spock's POV

As my father and I walked down the corridor, I placed my hands behind my back and thought of what to say to him. We were both rather trying to bond some more, but it was more that we were trying to think of how to approach the Lillian subject again. He approved of her…he was just weary of the situation at the same time. It made me think of the conversation we'd had about her the first time.

I knew when I left Sick Bay that I had to talk to my father. Lillian had told me to give him a chance, and I took everything she said to heart, whether that was very logical or not. Then Doctor McCoy had talked to me about whether my intentions were honorable or not, and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to further my relationship with Lillian ever unless I talked to my father.

So I pressed the button on the panel outside the door of the quarters he was using, and after the second beep, the doors slid open. He looked at me and nodded, motioning for me to come inside, so I did. I stood next to him as he looked out the large window at the abundance of space, and I placed my hands behind my back. He looked at me first, and I didn't expect what came next.

"I assume that you can speak? So what is your relationship with the Counselor?" My father asked me.

"I can speak…and her name is Lillian McCoy." I told him.

My father nodded. "I see. So…your relationship with her is not platonic, then?"

I shook my head. "No, father, it is not."

"Do you love her? Does she love you?" He asked.

"Yes." I replied. "What are you eluding to, Father?"

My father turned his body to face me. "I do not believe that you are aware of what it was like for me to lose your mother. I told you once that Vulcans feel almost more so than humans…I have not recovered from the loss of your mother. What if you lose her? What if she loses you? Do you really want to put her through that kind of pain?"

I swallowed. "I hadn't thought of it that way."

"I can see that." He said. "You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Look at the situation more logically, Son."

"You married my mother…you loved her." I said softly.

My father nodded. "I did…and I am thankful that you are in love with what appears to be a beautiful and capable young woman…but I do not wish to see you hurt like I was."

I nodded. "But what if it hurts more to be without her?"

"Then you will know what love really is." He replied.

I looked at me father as we neared his quarters and I took a deep breath. "I can not imagine what my life would be like without Lily."

My father smiled a little. "That is because you have given yourself to her fully and are emotionally attached. If you are happy, Spock…then I will support you. Life is too short, and there are too few of us left. Just promise me that you will not forget the ways of your people."

"I try to incorporate what is human and what is Vulcan into my everyday life." I explained to him, feeling like I was connecting with him more. "I am glad that you approve of her."

"She is a lot like your mother, Spock—strong willed, beautiful, intelligent. If you want her…you have to keep her." He told me, and then he regained his composure and we parted ways as he went into his quarters, and I headed down the corridor to mine.

****

Lillian's POV

I woke up in the Med Bay, sighing a little and looking up at Leonard who was standing over me. It seemed that I had fainted and now I was in Sick Bay, and people were wondering how I was—people being Janet and Doctor Mars. I sat up a little and winced ever so slightly, taking a deep breath and looking Leonard in the eye.

"So…what's the update, Leo?" I asked.

"You fainted before you got to your quarters." Janet told me, stroking my hair. "Want to tell us what's been going on with you?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. For the last couple days I've been really tired, I've had headaches, and some stomach pain."

Janet nodded. "All right…it isn't something you injested."

"That's good, Janet." Leonard told her.

She rolled her eyes. "Look, I know she's your sister so you're more worried, but sarcasm isn't helping, Mansex."

I laughed a little. "Nice one, Janet."

"See? She was sincere." Janet told me and then looked me in the eye. "Could this be something else…maybe something big?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked her.

"You know what I'm asking, Lily." She said.

I shook my head. "I really don't."

"You and Spock have been…right?" Leonard asked me.

My eyes went wide. "I am not pregnant, Leo!"

Leonard gave me a look. "Oh really? You have some symptoms of early pregnancy, Lily."

"Trust me…I am not pregnant." I told him.

I wasn't pregnant—there was absolutely no way. Sex with Spock or no, there was no baby growing inside of me. Symptoms or no, I was not about to share my life with a little one. No way in the world…none…I was pretty sure.

"So you've been safe?" Janet asked me since Leonard wouldn't.

I was about to answer when Spock came through the doors—great, they'd called him. I sighed and then I looked at Janet and smiled. I didn't want to discuss all of this right in front of Spock, but I'd made a big deal about making decisions together, and he was sweet enough to come all the way down to Sick Bay for me. So I had to face the music and deal with it.

"Even not being safe, it could still happen—but it hasn't." I said as Leonard got a little testy with me. "Just trust me."

I winced a little again and Leonard sighed and grabbed the scanner out to scan me yet again.

"Give me one good reason I should believe you." Leonard told me.

"What is going on?" Spock asked as he took my hand.

"Dear Mister God, It's Me, Anna." I told Leonard.

Janet laughed. "Oh."

Leonard nodded too. "Fine, I believe you."

"What exactly does that have to do with anything?" Spock asked, knowing it was a book reference.

"It means she can't be pregnant because she's on her monthly visit from Mother Nature—I tried being delicate, Lily." Janet told me with a shrug.

I just nodded and squeezed Spock's hand to reassure him that pregnancy was not on the table for us, just as another pain happened. I winced and this time Leonard looked alarmed. I didn't like that look—I'd seen it before.

"What?" I asked him.

Leonard swallowed. "I missed a parasite."