Best Laid Plans

Spock was all but determined to release Nyota from their bond and he was preparing to visit her and let her know she was under no obligation to remain on Vulcan any longer or perform any further duties as his bride when he was visited by his grandmother.

Spock was dressed formally in traditional Vulcan clothing of a long tunic and loose-fitting trousers made of light breathable material suitable for the hot climate. T'Pau however, was dressed in her usual heavy garments made for a traditional clan matriarch. She dressed in her official costume whenever she was on official matriarch business, such as sanctifying a newly bonded pair. T'pau was a traditionalist at heart even though she had been a rebel in her youth. She often said with age comes wisdom if not logic.

Spock was not surprised to see her. He should have guessed that Sarek might tell his grandmother of his plans. Sarek and T'Pau did not exactly see eye to eye on many subjects, but one thing they both agreed upon was the well being of Spock even if Spock didn't see it that way.

"Spockam, I will speak with thee."

Since T'pau had used the informal version of his name he felt no obligation to call her by her title.

"Grandmother, you honor me with your visit."

"I am not here to honor you. I am here to verify you have bonded successfully."

"I am quite healed and over the fever," Spock assured her.

"Nevertheless, I will verify it as Matriarch."

"Shouldn't Mother verify it?"

T'Pau scoffed. "She is attending thy wife, and T'Amanda has no psi ability, she cannot verify a bond as you well know."

Spock did know but he was hoping to avoid this confrontation. And at the sound of the word wife coming from T'pau's lips, Spock felt an unfamiliar pang of emotion. He had a wife, even if it was just temporary. He never thought he would ever hear those words and he wished he could have that moment preserved forever.

"Come," T'Pau said and she took a seat in the only chair in the room. Spock knew his role and he knelt at her feet.

T'Pau looked at his face a long time. What was she looking for Spock wondered? What would she find?

Finally, she touched his psi points and though he was tempted to block her and put up his shields he knew it was pointless, disobedience was not tolerated, and besides, she was a much stronger telepath than he was. Resistance was futile.

Spock didn't know what she was searching for, he imagined the exam would take only a moment but she probed his mind ever deeper and deeper. She explored memories that had nothing to do with his bond to Nyota. She searched memories of things that only he knew of, things he had done that he wished to forget. Spock wanted to shove her out of his mind when T'Pau touched on his more intimate moments but he couldn't.

Finally, when he didn't think he could stand it any longer she withdrew. Spock collapsed back on is heels breathing heavily.

What had T'Pau done to him? He was certain that was no ordinary meld to check for a proper marital bond.

"You are not whole," she said finally when he caught his breath and looked at her with angry eyes.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Thee are not whole. There is a piece of you missing."

"T'Pau I do not understand what you speak of."

"Do you not? Thee have lost a piece of your Katra boy."

"That is not possible." Spock protested.

"Do not speak of what you do not know. I tell you that it is so. I would like to know how you came to be missing such a thing?"

"I do not know that I am missing anything."

"Vulcans do not lie."

"And I do not lie to you, Grandmother, I would not do so."

"And yet you are withholding the truth."

"What truth? What did you see in my mind? That was no ordinary meld."

"I sought the truth and I found it. You are incomplete. A piece of your soul has taken up residence elsewhere. And what is more, I know where and so do you."

"I swear to you I know not what you speak of."

"Spock, thee are a powerful telepath, you possess many gifts, as did Sybok. You can see and do what many Vulcans cannot. But with great power comes great risk. You have crossed a barrier that should never be crossed."

"What do you mean? What have I done?"

"Thy wife, Nyota Uhura, you have infected her."

"Infected?" Spock said horrified.

"Indeed. And it is not a recent phenomenon, it is well and deeply rooted within her mind. Everywhere I look in her mind I see you looking back at me. I dared not test it during your Time, but now that the Time has passed, I sense your bond even more. Spockam, you must know that you cannot live without your Katra?"

"Then how do I live now?"

"You live because you are stubborn and thy wife is stubborn, your bond sustains you both."

"What does it mean?"

"It means that your bond is permanent. I cannot sever it and I cannot restore to you that which thy wife possesses. Your Katra will not allow itself to be removed from your bondmate because it would harm her. And she will not allow the bond to be severed because it would harm you."

"How do you know this?"

"I know because I have tried once before and failed."

Amanda arrived at Spock's room just as T'Pau was leaving.

"Mother, I didn't know you were visiting."

"I must perform the duties of Matriarch as you cannot."

"Oh, yes, I had forgotten. I'm sorry you had to perform some of my duties Mother. I was just coming to check on Spock myself. I've already spoken to Nyota and she is coping quite well."

"That is to be expected of the bond mate of S'chn T'gai Spock. I will speak to her now."

"Oh, well..." Amanda wanted to be there when T'Pau spoke to Nyota but she needed to get to Spock before he made up his mind and ruined his life.

"Mother, you've already gone through so much trouble. Wouldn't you like to rest before visiting Nyota, and once I am done here I will accompany you to her."

"That is not necessary, I will conduct my duties and depart. There is no reason to prolong this visit and I do not require your assistance to speak to my new granddaughter."

Yeah, but I want her to remain your granddaughter, Amanda thought. She didn't want T'Pau to scare the girl away.

"Mother, Please just let me speak to Spock and then-."

"Kroyka. You have your duties to perform and I have mine. Speake to your son." T'Pau looked down at the belt in Amanda's hand and Amanda quickly tried to hide it behind her back.

T'Pau shook her head and walked away, thumping her cane with every step.

This day just keeps getting better and better Amanda thought as she entered Spock's room. The wind had now been knocked out of her sails and she wasn't keen on spanking him anymore. Still, she'd brought the prop and she was going to commit to it.

Spock as seated on the floor where T'Pau left him and he looked a bit dazed. Thanks, T'Pau, you didn't even leave me anything to beat.

"Spock, what's wrong?" she asked as she approached him. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Ghosts do not exist mother."

"I don't know, T'Pau is old enough to be one."

Spock did not respond to her little joke. He should have at least been annoyed by her attempt at humor.

"Spock, I must speak to you on a matter of grave importance." He ignored her little pun too.

"Mother, I do not wish to speak at this time. I apologize." He dismissed her.

"No, it must be now. I'm sorry that whatever T'Pau did has upset you but you've upset me."

Spock looked up at his mother.

"In what way have I upset you, mother?"

"You told your father you intend to divorce Nyota, to terminate your bond."

Spock sighed and stood up. "Yes, mother, I did express my intent to release Nyota from her obligation to me. However, I have rethought my position."

"Is that so? Because of something T'Pau said?"

"Yes, and also Father."

"Oh." Well, now Amanda felt like crap. Sarek and T'Pau had taken care of the problem and she didn't even get a chance to spank Spock, or at least threaten him with the belt. She sat down in the chair T'pau had used.

"Good." she laughed. "I came here to beat some sense into you." She waved the belt in front of him. "I was going to explain to you logically why you and Nyota belong together while I tanned your hide."

Spock did smile at the thought of his little mother trying to spank him.

"And Sarek allowed this?"

"Sarek is not the boss of me." She said in a huff.

Spock raised his brow. "Indeed Mother?"

"Indeed Son. I think you do need a good talking to about marriage. You better learn right now who the real boss is in any marriage."

"And who is that?"

"The wife. I've never met a man who hasn't told me so himself."

"And why would a marriage need a boss?"

"Marriage doesn't require a boss. It's just an expression. Marriage needs cooperation and mutual respect. Your father does not boss me nor do I boss him. Believe it or not, we agree on most things, except when it comes to you. I wanted to spank you, he wanted me to talk to you."

"And I see you prevailed?"

"Did I? It seems that T'Pau has already put out the fire so now I'll have to slink back to your father and apologize to him."

Amanda whispered to Spock. "I threatened to spank him," and then she burst into a peal of giggles.

"Mother!"

"Spock! You sound just like Sarek. I wasn't really going to spank him. I wasn't going to spank you either. You know how much I regret what happened on the Enterprise."

"I regret it too Mother. I should have complied when you asked me to."

"No, you were doing your duty. I was being emotional, as usual."

"That is expected for a human."

"I suppose. I'm still sorry I slapped you and I will never do it again, I hope you know that? As your father says, violence is illogical and solves nothing."

"And yet you are here to spank me?"

"Well, I'm human and illogical." She slapped the belt against her thigh. "It was mostly for show anyway. Mostly."

"Mother, why are you really here?"

"I was going to talk you out of making a huge mistake by divorcing Nyota, but you say you've changed your mind?"

"Yes, for now."

"Spock. Why would you even consider such a thing? Do you want to die? Is that it? Are you so miserable that you'd just let yourself die rather than be married to Nyota?"

"No mother I do not wish to die and I am not miserable." Well, he was but it was his own doing.

"Then why? Why would you release Nyota from the bond? Do you dislike her?"

"I like Nyota," Spock said quietly and Amanda could practically feel the emotion rolling off of him. He was miserable as only a man in love could be. Poor thing.

"Spock. What's wrong? Why are you looking as if someone just killed your sehlat?"

"Mother, I may like Nyota but that does not mean she likes me."

"Nonsense. She loves you." Amanda said dismissing him.

"Mother, how can you say such a thing. Nyota does not love me."

"Boy, you are blind, aren't you? Do you think a woman just marries a man she doesn't love?"

"It does happen every day here Mother."

"Sure here. But human women have choices, we don't have to settle for anything less than what we want."

"She married me to save my life. She had no choice."

"No, she married you because she cares for you and didn't want you to die. She could have said no at any time. Hell, she could have gotten out of bed today and called Starfleet to have you arrested. She could be back on the Enterprise right now plotting her revenge. But she's still here, reading the clan histories."

Spock looked up. "She is? Why?"

"Because I asked her to stay. Because I asked her to give you a chance to prove you belong together. I told her that if she gave you a chance you would make her a good husband, did I lie?"

Spock was flabbergasted. His mother had convinced Nyota to not only remain on the planet but to remain married to him?

"No Mother, Vulcans do not lie."

"That's right. Do not make a liar of me. Nyota cares a great deal for you. She's right there on the cusp of falling madly deeply in love with you." Spock gave Amanda a skeptical look.

"Don't give me that look. I know what I am talking about. I love your Father like mad despite all his flaws, of which there are many. But I also know deep down there is no man in the galaxy I'd rather be with. I gave up everything to be with Sarek. I know what Nyota is going through. But Sarek was worth it. Having you was worth it. Now show Nyota that you are worth it, because you are." She stood and patted him on the shoulder and then playfully swatted his backside with her belt.

"I always wanted to do that," She teased. "But don't tell your Father. And Spock..."

"Yes, Mother?"

"Do not make me have to really tan your hide. Hold on to your wife."

"You are the second woman to threaten me thusly," Spock said.

"Ooh really, who was the first?"

"Actually, it was Nyota, in a manner of speaking."

"See, we Earth girls only threaten a man if we really care about him. Now I have to go back to your Father and take my punishment. I told him if I failed with you he could spank me."

Spock gasped in shock. "Mother!" Why would his mother tell him these things?

"Don't be so surprised. Your father and I still have a sex life."

"Mother Please!"

"Oh, Spock don't be such a prude. You're married now. Adults have sex. Get used to it. And you'd better if you want to keep that pretty little wife of yours happy. I told her that your father gave you 'the talk' already. Was I wrong? Do you need me to explain the birds and the bees to you?"

"Mother! I know all I need to know on that subject. Thank you."

"Well if you ever have any questions do not hesitate to ask me."

"I can assure you if I should ever have any questions about sex I will not ask you," Spock said.

"Amanda reached up on her toes and kissed him on his chin. "Spock, you're blushing. It's so cute. If you can't talk to your mama about sex then who can you talk to?"

"Anyone and everyone else."

Amanda laughed. "I love you, sweetheart. You're a good man. Show Nyota this side of you, the sweet, cute, innocent side and you'll have her eating out of your hands."

"Why would I want Nyota to eat out of my hands?"

"See, I think we really need to have that sex talk..."

"Mother!"