Uhura tried to contain her relief—and excitement—the entire ride from the hospital to the architect's office. It was a fruitless endeavor, though. She'd never been good at hiding her emotions so hiding them from her husband who could literally read her mind was pretty much impossible.
"Speak your mind," he encouraged.
"I don't really know what to say."
"Perhaps motherhood is more important to you than you'd originally thought."
"Perhaps… I just like knowing that all our options are open and that this won't be any more difficult for us than it is for anyone else."
"I wonder," he began before tailing off, which was very atypical for him.
"What?"
"I wonder if the diagnosis had been different, would your disappointment would be equal to you current relief."
"We talked about this. I told you it didn't matter."
"And yet apparently it does. You clearly have a preference when it comes to child rearing."
"No I don't. Before we got serious I never even considered having children."
"Nor did I."
"And we're both very career driven and I still wonder if we would be good parents, if we could give a child all the attention it deserves. People have been trying to find the balance between work and family forever and some people still don't get it right. Geoff's parents sure didn't. I spoke with him about it. He tries really hard not to resent them but he does. He really, really does. And he had to come to an entirely different planet to find people he can love like parents. I don't want that for us. I don't want that for our family."
"I have never done anything halfheartedly and I would not start with fatherhood."
"I know. I'm not like that either, Spock, but we need to be fair to ourselves and our prospective child. I would hate to cheat us out of our careers or cheat a child out of caring parents."
"It will require additional thought."
She slid her hand over his where it was resting between them. "More than anything, I'm relieved that we're not being denied anything. Maybe we'll serve in the fleet until they have to bury us in space. Or maybe we'll have baby and live quietly on Vulcan. Or maybe we'll find some kind of middle ground—whatever. It'll be you and me so it'll be good."
He flipped his hand so that their palms were touching and laced their fingers. He didn't say anything else. She was better with words than he was and anything else that needed to pass between them could pass in silence.
When they arrived at the architect's office he observed human manners by rounding the car and opening her door for her. Amanda had been nice enough to loan Nyota a parasol which she opened against the harsh Vulcan sun. Spock also advised her to put on her shades. She'd underestimated just how hot it could actually get. Thankfully though, the trip from the car to the building was a relatively short one.
In the lobby were holographic models of some of the firm's most famous structures—not all of them on Vulcan. She recognized a few of them from her travels. They didn't stay there long, though. After a brief consultation, they were headed to the building site with the architect—Keto
It was a massive clearing and Uhura had trouble believing all of it belonged to Spock.
"It's not all mine," he told her when he sensed her thoughts. "It is also yours. From that boundary," he indicated the tall rock formation in the far distance, "to that boundary." She couldn't actually see the second border, but she nodded anyway, assuming that it was there.
"My Lord, My Lady," Keto began, handing them a portable holograph projector. Spock powered it on and it showed them a gorgeous mockup of a house—though house seemed a bit of an understatement. They had managed to communicate with the architect over the last few weeks, even though the exchange was painfully slow thanks Enterprise's distance from Vulcan. The image in front of them was pretty much exactly what they'd asked her for, and then some.
Keto gestured to the open space in front of them pressed a button on the small device she was holding. Four larger projectors hummed to life and a full scale model of their home filled their view.
"Spock," Nyota breathed, grabbing his arm. It looked incredibly real, like she could go over and open the door if she wanted to. It would be glass, concrete, and steel with carefully chosen wood accents. There were several large scale water features, including one that stretched around the structure, a cross between a moat and a river.
He examined the smaller version, turning it, reviewing the floor plans level by level. It had the wine cellar that Uhura asked for along with the lab, library and study that he wanted. The most spectacular part of the place however was what they were calling the "Terran Wing." There was an enclosed courtyard, and an atrium that ran from the ground floor all the way to the top of the house. They also requested an indoor pool complete with water fall. Their bedroom would be in this wing since it would make his wife most comfortable.
The two tier rooftop garden was in homage to their first shore leave together on Z'Triss prime. But the Vulcan climate necessitated a retractable glass roof if there was going to be any hope of her using it in the day time. They could open it at night and stargaze, which he imagined they would do often.
He nodded to Keto. "This is adequate. Your service honors us. Do you have any concerns, wife?"
She shook her head, still looking at the larger image.
"My colleague and I," Spock said, pulling a storage disk from his robe pocket, "have designed a water reclaiming and environmental control system you might find helpful."
"You and Scott," Uhura asked, finally turning around.
"Yes. I believe he rather enjoyed himself."
"I bet he did."
Keto accepted the disk, inclining her head slightly. "Naturally, if you have any questions you should contact my office as soon as possible."
"Obviously. How soon will construction begin?"
"Sourcing all the materials will be our greatest challenge, but we can begin laying the foundation within the next seven days."
"Please do so."
They exchanged curt salutations and Keto left to take on the project. Designing this place had been one thing. Actually building it would be something else entirely.
When they were alone, Spock came up behind Nyota and wrapped his arms around her. The projection had ben disabled, but they could both still see it. In fact they could see more than had been there. Nyota could see the garage door open to welcome Spock and his hoverbike home. She could see herself and Amanda chatting over a cup of coffee in the courtyard. He could see them in the rooftop garden, meditating together. He saw her stepping lightly into the computer lab, trying not to disturb him but feeling compelled to make him eat dinner.
"Does this please you, K'diwa?" He murmured against her ear.
"Are you kidding?" She turned without breaking his embrace and briefly pressed her lips to his. "I've never even dreamed of a home like this."
"Nor have I."
He'd never thought of building a house at all, never thought he'd need one. He didn't plan on returning to Vulcan for enough time to justify having a place of his own. But it seemed only logical to do this for Nyota…with Nyota.
"Do you think it will be done by the time the mission is over?"
"It better be" he thought. She chuckled when she heard it cross his mind.
There was a bistro not far from the building site so they stopped to take lunch.
"Let's make this our place," she whispered after they'd placed their order. "It's close to the house, the atmosphere is nice and the wait staff seems okay."
"Perhaps we should reserve judgment until after we've had the food."
"Good point."
The restaurant was quiet, even though it was busy. All the conversations were taking place at minimum volume, but it was fine since she'd long since adapted to eating in relative silence with Spock. The food only confirmed her earlier proposal. Spock found it palatable and she didn't have any complaints either after she sprinkled some salt on it.
They were on their way back to the car when his comm beeped. It was his personal comm but he still answered like it was for work. "Spock here."
"It's mom. Listen, since you're still out, can you do me a favor?"
He struggled against a sigh. "Please elaborate."
"Your grandparents just got in. Could you go pick them up from the terminal?"
"Is it just grandmother and grandfather or did they travel with my cousins?"
"I think it's just them," she said, not sounding sure enough for Spock's comfort. If the others had come then he would probably be forced to make more than one trip, which he did not want to do. And while his grandparents were perfectly tolerable he could only really take the rest of his mother's side in small doses—like once every decade or so.
"Very well, I will pick up grandmother and grandfather."
"Don't say it like that!"
"Goodbye mother. I will return shortly."
"I get to meet your grandparents?!" His wife chirped expectantly.
"Yes."
"I can't wait."
"You won't have to. At least not for long."
The terminal was a short distance from the restaurant and took less than ten minutes to reach.
It wasn't hard to spot the Grayson's. Spock's grandfather was wearing Bermuda shorts and a bright tropical shirt. His grandmother was slightly more conservatively in a tan linen dress and big floppy sunhat.
"Yoo hoo!" Dara Grayson called out with her charming mid-western accent. She waved excitedly until Spock nodded and started walking in their direction. "Well just look at you! Have you grown since I've seen you last?" She opened her arms, waiting for a hug.
Spock urged—nearly pushed—Nyota in his grandmother's direction. The two women embraced and Uhura introduced herself, which was rewarded with another warm embrace. Harold Grayson clapped his grandson hard on the back before clamping a hand on his shoulder and giving it a hearty squeeze.
"Spock, My Boy. Didn't you do well for yourself? Don't think I've seen a girl this pretty since your grandmother."
"Shall we go to the car?"
"Oh, of course, Spocky, whatever you say."
"Grandmother, please."
"What did you call me?"
"Nana," he corrected at a considerably lower volume. "Please don't call me that."
"Yeah, Dara. The boy's a grown man, first officer of the fleet's flagship. You can't go around calling him Spocky."
Nyota was fighting gallantly against a giggle, biting the corner of her lip. She reached down and picked up Mrs. Grayson's suitcase only to have Spock pin her with a look—a look she chose to ignore.
"Nyota—"
"Yes, I know. You're three times stronger than the average human male. Therefore, logic dictates that you carry all the bags."
"I was going to say—"
"That the gravity and thin atmosphere of the planet will be more taxing on my human physique than your superior Vulcan one and that's why, logically, you should be carrying this bag."
"If you know, then why are you doing it?"
"Because I can." She said as the approached the car and heaved the bag into the storage compartment.
His grandparents were smiling, content to watch Spock's dynamic with his new bride.
"You know," Harold began, taking the passenger's seat, "Spock used to get a huge kick of telling me how much stronger he was going to be than me."
"I did not 'get a kick,' I simply felt it necessary to remind you of the relevant facts."
"Every chance he got. Before his kas-thingy—"
"Kaswan."
"That's what I said. Before that, Mandy used to bring him to earth every summer and Spock would help me around the store and he would grab the biggest heaviest box he could find. And I'd say, 'be careful son. I've got to get you back to your mother in one piece.' And that's when he'd tell me." He adjusted his voice and cadence to mimic a young Spock. "'Grandfather, when I am fully grown I will be three times stronger than you are.' Then I'd say, 'pace yourself, Squirt' and take the box from him and tell him to get another one. How many times did we go through that old routine, Spock?"
"Quite often. I stopped counting."
"Well, then that's the only thing you've ever stopped counting. He used to take full inventory of the house every time he came, every fork, knife and spoon."
"That's because every time I came, my cousins had managed to break something in my absence. I was simply trying to reacquaint myself with my surroundings."
"Isn't that the truth," Dara commented from the back seat. "Spock was such a good boy—when he wasn't taking things apart."
"He still does that." Nyota admitted. "You mentioned that Spock used to help you at the store. What store?"
"You didn't tell her about the store?" Mr. Grayson questioned, sounding genuinely offended.
"It didn't come up."
"I bet. Well anyway, Nyota, we have a little bookstore. It's been in the family for centuries."
"Wow! Real books?"
"Of course! People have been prophesying the death of print ever since the advent of digital media, but our store's still kicking. Thriving actually. Spock would help out on his vacations from the academy too. We still use that ordering system you came up with, you know."
"Is that so? Who is watching the store now?" His interest seemed to spark. Nyota could tell that he still had a great fondness for the store—which was probably exactly why he hadn't mentioned it.
"David's watching it."
An expression crossed Spock's face that made it look like he wanted to slam the breaks. "You left David in charge of the store? To handle monetary transactions?"
"What am I, an idiot? That'd be like leaving a cat with a fish. No, it works so that he has no real control over the transaction. The customer scans their chip and that's it. There's no room for David's shenanigans."
"David is one of our other grandsons," Dara explained. "Everyone sends their love Spock. David wanted to come but your grandpa asked him to mind the store."
"I made him stay so he wouldn't embarrass you and your mother."
"Carla is too pregnant to travel, Thomas couldn't get that much time of work and Bennet is in a bit of trouble, so he can't leave the planet right now."
"Thank God for Spock!" Harold proclaimed. "He always gives us good news. Whenever anyone asks me how's the family I start bragging about him. And if they ask about the others specifically, well then I just tell them something else about Spock." He chuckled, giving him another slap on the back.
"Spocky,"
"Nana…"
"I'm sorry. Spock…"
"Thank you."
"I was going to tell you that when I told the Rita Dominguez that I was coming to Vulcan for your wedding, her heart just broke into a thousand little pieces." Mrs. Grayson turned to Nyota before elaborating. "Oh she used to follow Spock all around—up trees and under crawl space. She begged and begged Spock to take her to senior prom. He was on Earth at the time, at the academy."
"Did you take her?" Nyota leaned forward, putting her face between the two front seats.
"Are you not in the safety restraints?" He asked. "Sit back."
"Yes, Commander." She eased back into her seat and reiterated her earlier question.
"No, I did not take her. There was no logical reason to do so. Moreover, I did not wish to give the impression that I would be willing to initiate a relationship with her."
"Aww, poor Rita."
"I believe the expression is that one must be cruel to be kind."
When they pulled up to the front doors, Amanda was waiting for them. Spock made no efforts to retrieve the bags from the trunk since there was already an attendant handling that. Instead, he helped his grandmother out of the car and asked if the ride had been comfortable for her.
"It was fine. But don't think I forgot. You owe me a hug, Mister." She grinned at him sweetly before going to greet her daughter who was in the foyer, wrapped in Mr. Grayson's embrace.
"They are so cute," Uhura told him as they entered the house, his hand pressed lightly to the small of her back.
"So I've been told."
"I can't believe your family is so…normal."
"Were you expecting them to be abnormal?"
"Kind of…The way you act I was almost expecting them to be philosophers or something."
"If you ask my grandfather, he is a philosopher."
She snickered. "They must be so well read, owning a book store."
"They are. Every year, in observance of my Terran birthday, he would send me a box of books on a variety of subjects. I was always very grateful for his consideration."
"Why did you stop going there after your kaswan?"
"I was attempting to immerse myself more fully in my Vulcan heritage. I was young and I believed that spending months at a time with my human relatives would have jeopardized that. My father and paternal grandparents actually supported that decision."
"But you kept up with them when you were at the academy."
"It was a very transformative time for me. Being with them was…"
"Comforting?"
"Affirming." He corrected. "You should rest now. It's almost time for the evening meal."
"I'm not going to go off and lay down while everyone is out here having a good time."
"No, you won't, will you?"
"Not a chance."
"Very well. I will rejoin you after I meditate."
"Do you want me to come with you, or set your things up?"
He shook his head. "That won't be necessary."
"Okay. Love you." She pressed her fingers to his and he left, disappearing down a hallway.
Nyota sat down next to her mother who was sitting on the sofa listening to Mr. Grayson's lively account of their trip to Vulcan.
Spock's grandparents were full of stories, some of them about their daughter, some of them about their grandson, others full of character that Nyota knew nothing about. But she still enjoyed them. Harold had an engaging way of speaking and he did all the voices. She learned more about Spock in those few minutes than she did in the first few months of knowing him, each anecdote more endearing than the last. They talked all through dinner too.
Afterward, everyone seemed to settle into their own activities for the evening. Sarek had work to be done in his office, Sanaa had to excuse herself and take a call from her editor, Mr. Grayson was ready for bed and Spock was answering a slew of correspondences form Enterprise. This left the Grayson women with Nyota.
She took this time to show them the projection of the house that Keto had given them earlier.
"Oh my goodness!" Amanda exclaimed. "It's positively exquisite!"
"It's like the Taj Mahal," Dara agreed.
"I know. This is his wedding present to me."
"What's wrong, dear. You don't seem totally thrilled about it. Don't you like it?"
"I absolutely love it! It's just that…it's another thing Spock is giving me that I can never repay him for. I just worry that I don't do enough for him. I mean, what can I possibly get him that even comes close to this?" She gestured to the holograph.
"Well, sweetheart," the older woman started, placing a hand on Uhura's knee. "I always figured that if someone gives you a house, the best present you can give that person in return is to make it into a home."
"You're right, Nana. I know you are. But the more I think about it, the more overwhelmed I become. I still don't think our trip to Z'Triss prime was enough to thank him for the harp…"
"Spock let you give him a trip?!"
"No. I scanned my credit chip when his back was turned," she said with a chuckle. "Some days I just worry that there's a discrepancy in the give and take of our relationship."
"Oh, Nyota. If only you could actually see all the things you've given my son." She sighed. "But I know how you feel. I was like that with Sarek once upon a time and my mother said to me exactly what she just said to you. It wasn't until years later that I really grasped the full weight of it, though. You must remember, dear, that Vulcan males are raised to be providers, especially in the upper clans. You and I were raised to be independent. You just have to find a happy medium."
"How?"
"Trial and error. There's no way around it."
Uhura sighed and leaned back into the couch, feeling a little deflated as she looked at the projection. She had to get him something. And now that she thought about it, she had a pretty perfect idea.
A/N: We're well into the Home stretch here. Thanks for all your continued support, I really appreciate it. LLAP.