Characters – Pike/OC; Gaila, cameo appearances - Sarek, Spock Prime, Kirk, Spock and Uhura

Romance/Family

Disclaimer – If I could claim Star Trek as my own I would

Earth date 7th February 2264 – Solkar General hospital, Orthopaedic section

Pike entered the hospital, carrying a cir-cen (cactus like) plant that he bought from a local nursery. Vulcan hospitals did not allow flowers, considering it 'illogical to aid the death of flowering vegetation by cutting them from their stems to present as gifts'. T'Ynise had told him which type of plants Seria liked to have in her apartment. Seeing how the hospital was going to be her home for another week he wanted to make her room look less clinical.

It had been eleven days since the incident. Law enforcement were doing a good job investigating the crime. Commander Stolek was keeping him up to date. The site had become an official crime scene for a few days but now it was back to normal. The terrorist action did not deter any of the workers from returning to work in fact it made them more determined than ever, there were more requests for overtime to make up the delay. Recent polls showed that the naysayers' numbers were declining. It seemed less people wanted to be on the side of the saboteur.

Part of Pike was disappointed the criminal was dead, when he considered what could have happened to Seria, he wanted to strangle the bastard with his bare hands.

Thoughts of Seria increased his mood, he received news that was good for him but sad for Seria. He hoped even for a part Vulcan, time would heal the wound. Her cousin had informed him that seven days ago her bondmate to be showed up. What made him take so long to get there?

Well turned out Tayver was a 'mommy's boy' or a clan matriarch's 'boy'. She told him to pass the information on that she hoped Seria's recovery improved at a logical pace but that due to her physical disabilities and much decreased fertility it would not be logical to continue with the bonding ceremony. Tact was never the average Vulcan's strong suit. Well all hell broke loose in the Maxwell household at that news. Or to be accurate Rachel Maxwell had to be prevented from booking the first shuttle to Nisus or comming the Muhl'es Hakau household and cursing them to high heaven. It was left for Seria's legal Vulcan clan matriarch T'Anna K'st Kau to deal with proceedings. Unknown to the rest of them T'Anna took the liberty of comming Tayver's matriarch and cursing her in High Vulcan before ending her diatribe with 'live long and prosper thou whose appearance is like that of the posterior of a female canine from Terra.'

At first Seria took the news like a logical Vulcan female, but T'Ynise knew better. Not that she would miss Tayver per se but that her pride was hurt, even if she was in denial and the rejection triggered her human 'woe is me' side. For a few days she refused all visits except from her parents, her cousin and comm calls from her brother. She did not even want to see Shayla. But it seems she was on the mend emotionally since she had expanded her visitors to include friends and colleagues, as well as family.

Pike pressed the palm scanner, Seria answered enter and the door swooshed open.

AN: Sorry this is a short chapter I just wanted to get rid of Tayver. The road is now clear for Pike to get his woman!

T'Anna K'st Kau is not blood related to Seria's family but adopted Salas family into her clan since he was disowned by his Vulcan clan.

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are reviewers!