****
Nyota awakened to the feel of strong arms wrapped around her and she smiled. Her wedding day had been a beautiful affair, and the honeymoon was just as lovely. She reflected on the last few days, remembering the proud grins and happy smiles of her parents and friends, of Christine catching the bouquet and McCoy's look of terror when she had smiled and said, "We're next!"
She snuggled into the arms of the man she now loved and gazed at his sleeping face. Dimitri had looked so dashing and handsome in his tuxedo. Her breath had caught in her throat when she saw him standing at the altar, his face awash in love and rapture.
She untangled herself from his arms, got out of bed and walked through the lavish suite. She tiptoed to the living area and then saw that her comm. link was blinking. She paused. She then pressed the glowing button and watched as Spock's face filled the screen. A part of her was comforted by the familiar planes of his austere face. Yet, she always felt a bit guilty about watching his messages. It felt—wrong somehow.
But he never stopped sending them, and never stopped asking about her life. For a long while she simply deleted his messages, ignored them even. Yet as she sat looking at his face, she thought it only fair that he knew…so she quickly sent him a message, greeting him and then filling him in on her life. She then sent him the holos of her wedding and expected to never hear from him again. A wave of sadness rushed through her at this thought, but she simply disconnected the line and returned to bed.
*******
Nyota was surprised to find a message from Spock waiting for her the next day. He informed her of the happenings in his life and he congratulated her on the wedding. He even seemed—happy for her. He urged her to continue communicating with him and even bid Dimitri hello. She was surprised at this, and found herself ringing him on the ship, pleasantly and freely conversing with him as she had once done at the academy.
****
Nyota stared down at the baby in her arms. She was beautiful. She had her father's green eyes and Nyota's dark, curly hair and smooth brown skin tone. She felt so perfect and small as she lay nestled in her mother's arms. Dimitri walked by them, pausing to grace Nyota and his new daughter with light kisses, and crooning to the tiny girl before him then proceeding to the other room. Nyota had never felt as happy as she was at that moment. Yet, later, when the baby was fast asleep upon her father's chest, and the house lay quiet and content, as she sent Spock the vids of her firstborn child, a tiny bit of fear creeped inside her, sure that this would be the end of their budding friendship.
Days later, when she received a large crate of soft, plush toys and expensive baby clothes from Spock, she was—touched. She quickly sent him a message, thanking him for the wonderful gifts she had received.
****
Spock never mentioned any love interests whenever they spoke, yet Nyota supposed they were there. She tried asking him; only to find he would smoothly change the subject and evade. Nyota quickly dismissed her questions, assuming that this meant he did not feel comfortable speaking to her about such matters. She supposed it was only fair. After all, they were no longer lovers; she was simply a long distance friend he had kept in touch with over the years. And Vulcans by nature were private people, she reasoned, it was not her place to ask. Although, she hoped he was happy with whomever he had chosen to share his life.
