Sometime later

Frubrian Space

Klaxons sounded shrilly in each of the Orion pirate ships. A Federation starship flew rapidly around the planet, the sun at its back turning it into an avenging angel's silhouette. A ray of light cut over the hull and revealed a name: USS Armstrong.

One starship against three pirates, but no one stupidly assumed the Orions could win this match. Which was why Captain Truman Howes smiled at them from the viewscreen like a gracious host.

"A very great friend of mine, my former first officer as a matter of fact, told me we'd find you here. Her word is always good. Then you add in Ambassador Sarek and Ambassador Spock and you can understand why the Federation Council has expanded our patrols. So, from now on, expect to see a lot more of us, and when we can't be here, you'll find someone else from the Fleet."

"And while you're picking out new targets because Frubria isn't worth it anymore, plot a course home instead. Starfleet has made you and anyone like you a top priority. We're shutting you down. Do I need to fire these fully charged phasers or did I make myself clear?"

Vulcan, Academy Complex

Nachson pulled his chair to the same distance from the handrail as Setik's so they were even. He then stretched out his legs, using the rail as a footrest, and laced his fingers behind his head.

"This is it," he said to the Vulcan boy. "Now we just watch the world go by."

The world, in this case, was the people outside the transparent aluminum wall where they sat. Since they were in one of the lounges of the Diplomatic and Linguistics Services main building, it meant a lot of species went by as well as Vulcans.

A deep voice suddenly asked, "We heard you were here. What are you two doing?"

Kyle glanced over to the Tran brothers, out of uniform like him. After all, the Contact was at the 40 Eridani-A Shipyards, swarmed over by Starfleet personnel making sure she was safe. A debate raged over whether the ship should get any newer systems while in dock since she just got new systems. The only thing everyone agreed on was the auto-destruct codes were changed and the system was moved to the new palm print instead of retinal scans. And Saavik got her additional chairs on the battle bridge.

She also had a second wall sculpture for the main rec area; this one was a ship's emblem for the Contact like those Starfleet used to make. Suppo and another of her departments tackled it, happy to postpone their leave until it was done. They hung it up today.

All Contact crew were granted leave, compliments of the captain, with Vulcan's Space and Exploration force helping fill in the duty shifts at Orbital Command and the ports. It gave them a break after the extensive hours they did in working with the shipyards already and might need to do more soon.

Kyle patted the back of the boy's chair. "I'm showing Setik the human male ability to do nothing."

Caleb spoke this time. "I can get behind that."

The two brothers grabbed chairs and pulled them up, putting Setik between Jaxon and Kyle.

"Now what do we do?" the boy asked.

"Nothing," Jaxon explained.

"May I think while we do nothing?" he questioned innocently.

"Sure, you can," Caleb agreed. He put his hands on his stomach rather than behind the head. "You probably have to with the mind you have. But for us, it's just about nothing. At most, kind of little, shallow things. You can share them with other males too. Like I might say, look at that attractive woman."

Setik watched him so he didn't see the young adult T'Qet, his future wife, walk by with her mother. And with his face turned away, her mother could not see the features he inherited from his father when she idly looked inside the building as she spoke with her daughter.

Jaxon said, "If he did say that, then the other males answer, but also casually. Like this." He slowly nodded in agreement with his brother while Kyle gave a, "Yeah, exotic."

The older Tran continued, "If you do more than that, it can't count as nothing. See?"

Setik frowned with thought and then returned to lounging in his chair. "Mmm hmmm," he muttered. The three men lazily gave him approval for that. After a beat, he said, "My mother is meeting me here. If she sees us—"

He received a chorus of easy going predictions of Saavik's reaction.

Nachson said next, "It's a good point, Setik. Sooner or later, someone always interrupts you. Some people will shout at you that you're doing nothing. If it's another human male, they get it."

"Why are you sitting around!" came Imre's enraged shout.

Kyle smiled at the boy. "But not always. Hey, Commander, the kid is going to see Dr. McCoy soon and he needs to know how to sit on a porch and do this. Doctor's orders."

Imre emphatically waved that off. He pulled at the sleeves of his black suit with a snow white shirt. "Do that later. I need your help."

Thalla slipped by the first officer with a, "Excuse me, Commander," to kiss Nachson firmly. Since her mouth wasn't sensitive like a human's, he reached to stroke the base of her antennae in an Andorian kiss. "I like us being public."

"Damn!" Caleb exclaimed. "That talk about you two is true?!"

Imre interrupted that as well. "I said, I need your help! I'm proposing to Ami tonight—"

"OK, I knew about them," Caleb said to his brother. "I still missed that it got this far. You got somebody you're hiding?"

Setik stood up and his eyes went around the adult males. "Should we still be doing nothing?"

"No," Thalla answered firmly. "Idiots, why is he the only one who's up and looking to help?"

The men stood too after that comment and Imre sent the Andorian a look of deep thanks. Kyle placed a hand on Setik's shoulder. "It's okay. Humans can get nervous before asking someone to marry them. It's normal."

But Imre waved his hands in an emphatic No. "It's more than that. I had everything planned. My family went to her family to get permission. I got her a ring." He pulled a box out of his jacket pocket. "Dinner at Kaapi's and then the outlook at the Morlobae Wilderness Preserve. It's gorgeous, Ami loves it there. That's where I was going to propose. But they're redoing the building, it's closed!"

Caleb didn't help. "They're probably not working at night. Go anyway."

"That's romantic! Here, wear a construction helmet, Ami. Are you kidding me?!"

Jaxon whispered in an aside to Setik, "See what Kyle meant about nerves?" Louder, he suggested, "Just do it at the restaurant. Get down on one knee—"

"And look right up her skirt. Propose while acting like a pervert. C'mon!"

"Is this a height thing?" Nachson asked. "I always said I'd help with that. Give me the ring. I'll handle this for you."

Caleb perked up. "Hey, we should all go. We all propose to her in different ways! That makes an impression."

Kyle said to the boy, "Setik, this will be good for you. You can see some of the traditions. The commander already said a few of them because of his and Miss Kanta's backgrounds."

Imre snarled, "I am freaking out here, people, and you think it's a big joke! What am I supposed to do?"

"May we be of assistance?"

Imre slowly turned at the august voice. All the humans and Thalla did. Setik called brightly, "Na'shaya, Sa'mekh'al."

"Tonk'peh, t'nash-veh sa-fu-il." Sarek stood in between and slightly ahead of the women in his family: Saavik, who eyed her crew dryly, and his wife, Perrin. T'allendil, Sotraun, and Sarek's aide Strahan formed the rear of the group. "Daughter?"

Saavik gave her people one more glance as if she weighed admitting she knew them. Her deep red-orange dress, like a setting sun, wrapped differently at the top than the part around her hips. "My officers, Father."

She introduced them one by one. The venerable ambassador greeted Nachson with familiarity and with a word to each of them of how his daughter-in-law spoke of them. "Including you, Commander Imre. Saavik counts herself fortunate to have found you as her first officer and has informed me of what you did for Setik in the other timeline."

Imre bowed his head. "I would do the same here, sir. We come to serve. I'm only glad it's not necessary."

"You honor us, Commander. The family is at your disposal. Perhaps we may begin with the difficulty you experience now?"

"Yes, Grandfather," Setik offered on behalf of the group. "With the Morlobae Wilderness Preserve."

Imre pushed a smile. "Nothing to bother you with, Ambassador."

Kyle broke in, speaking to Sarek as simply another male. "He's going to propose to his lady tonight, sir. But the Preserve's outlook isn't available, so he's trying to think of another romantic spot that'll work."

Imre ground out, "Kyle!"

"What? It's their planet. They should know the best spots."

Perrin grinned. Her dress of gold and white went well with her strawberry blonde hair and pale skin. "He's right. You can say romantic to them."

The 'them' – Saavik, T'allendil, Sarek, Strahan, and Sotraun – had their heads together during this. They pulled apart and straightened.

"We agree," Saavik said. "You want The Ma'jaun Vista." She suddenly leaned forward to Strahan once more.

Sarek steepled his hands in front of him. "You will find it equal if not surpassing the Preserve's outlook. Do you plan for another location before the Vista?"

Imre swallowed. "Yes, sir. Kaapi's. It's my girlfriend's favorite."

"Excellent choice. You will find, however, that no public transportation will take you to the Vista. It is private land."

The first officer deflated, visions of tromping the love of his life through someone's backyard filling his expression. "So, we walk from the stop?"

Sarek lifted his brows. "On the contrary, Strahan is arranging for a personal car to be waiting for you at the restaurant. It will take you to Ma'jaun."

So excited that he already forgot who was there, Imre clapped his hands. "She's going to love that!" He remembered the Vulcan party. "Sir. ...You said private land. Do I have to get permission or a permit to go there?"

Saavik's dry look grew. "That is also being settled now."

He blew out a breath. "Thank you! Who is it? How long do you think it will take?"

Sotraun's deep octavist tones sounded like a gong. "The land is my family's and has been for thousands of your years."

Sarek explained, "It borders our own land, from the days when our ancestors first allied with each other."

Nachson asked, "And you'd say it's romantic?"

"Kyle!" Imre begged and Thalla joined him.

But Perrin smiled again. "It worked on me." She held out joined fingers to Sarek.

Nachson, having been proved right, looked at Sotraun. "Did you ask your wife there?"

"We were betrothed at seven," the large Vulcan explained. "I did, however, take her there to ask if she chose me for her mate now that she knew me. For she was my choice."

Imre unconsciously crossed his fingers. "And?"

"She said yes."

The smaller human blew out his breath. "All right, two for two. Please, don't anyone say anything else. I'm afraid to jinx it."

"The rest," Sarek said from experience, "is for you, Commander Imre. Or perhaps it is better said that it is for your lady."

"Captain," Nachson spoke up, "before you go, I need to take leave. I gotta go to Andor." His shoulders set and his chin came up. "I have a declaration to make."

Caleb gave a Whoa under his breath.

Thalla shook her head, eyes wide, and antennae moving about. "No, you don't."

His stance firmed. "Yeah, I do. Last time with your family, I'm just the human you bring around to drive people crazy. This is different and I got to let them know I'll do right by that."

Her feelers couldn't still. "Kyle! My family is very traditional. We need to ease into this. Right now, they're kind of hoping you'll… go away."

"That's why I got to do this, Hally. Show respect, show commitment. I'm not blue and I have no antennae or an honorable family, but I have that."

Any other protests made his jaw set tighter and his arms fold over his chest. Saavik intervened and no one could accuse a Vulcan of laughter, although the something in her eyes… rather like T'Pren's light that she inherited from Amanda. "I find it best, Lieutenant sh'Shytral, to simply accept it and brace yourself."

"But, ma'am, you don't get it! My family is really old fashioned and I'm bringing home an alien!" Thalla suddenly took in who she was talking to; in fact, what family she was talking to. Her blue turned purple with a blush.

Saavik managed to make her dry tone even drier. "There is an expression. 'It could be worse.'"

"It could?" Thalla's expression stated she doubted it.

"You could be bringing home a Vulcan."

Thalla's antennae shot straight up at the reference to the old prejudices between Andor and the captain's people as the humans bit their lips and the other Vulcans canted their heads.

"Lucky us." Imre glanced around the crew. "We get to work for the funny Vulcan."

Perrin snorted while T'allendil and Sotraun were completely nonplussed.

Saavik returned to what started this. "You are already on leave, Mr. Nachson, unless you are asking to extend it. Inform me if that is correct once you establish your plans. The same is true for you, Mr. sh'Shytral." Her brows ascended at the Andorian's splutter. "You did not request it, but you surely are not letting him go alone?"

Thalla looked back into her lover's eyes, seeing the man she had chosen.

"As I thought. Setik," Saavik reminded her son, "I will return to walk home with you. Wait for me."

The Andorian jumped in, sharing a look with Nachson. "Actually, Captain, we thought we'd walk him home. Give us a chance to talk." She smiled at Setik. "Kyle always says you're one of the best people he knows. You and your sisters."

The boy looked up at the man. "That is kind."

"In fact, Captain." Thalla presented herself in front of Saavik. "I wondered if you would be home shortly, ma'am, and if you are, if you wouldn't mind me waiting to talk to you." She met her eye to eye. "I have a declaration to make."

Imre whistled soundlessly as his eyes flicked from the Andorian to Kyle.

Saavik gave Thalla the respect that statement deserved. "Understood. By all means, be welcome to our house and I will meet you within two hours. Setik? Thalla sh'Shytral has become a guest-friend to the family. You understand your duties until someone older is home?"

Setik straightened. "Yes, Mother." The trio left, their voices drifting back. "I will introduce you formally to the twins and you can meet Ko-Kan. She is our pet and guardian. We can also give you a tour of the house and the garden. What declaration do you have to make to Mother?"

Thalla gazed over his head at Kyle. "I have to say it to your mother first. But, you know, I think I need to make one to you and your sisters too. One that's just for you."

"That sounds promising. He once made one to me. I was a year old. Is yours similar?"

Jaxon smiled, his hands on his hips as he watched them go. "Who saw that one coming?" He glanced at Imre. "You all set now?"

"I think so. I just," he gestured with his hands, "got to calm down."

"You're going to mess this up. Let us do it so it's done right."

Caleb reached for the box in Imre's hand. "Just give us the ring."

Imre said in ferocious warning, "I will hurt you." As he shifted on his feet in reply to the Trans mock frightened looks, he caught sight of Sarek and cursed himself, obviously thinking he screwed up. "Ambassador–"

"I understand your position quite thoroughly, Commander. My reaction would have been similar." Imre covered his stunned feeling. "We wish you good fortune this evening."

The family with T'allendil and Sotraun walked away radiating dignity.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "Me too."

Saavik looked back over her shoulder and gave him a short, encouraging nod.

"Commander." Imre turned back and saw Jaxon holding out his hand with a smile. They shook. "It's going to be perfect. She'll love it."

Caleb took his hand next. "I'm going to say good luck, but you don't need it. She's going to say yes."

"Right." Imre slowly smiled. "Right!" This time tomorrow, he and Ami could be picking out his engagement ring and planning the ceremony with their families where both rings would be officially put on their right hands. Then, one day, a ring on their left. If she only said yes tonight.

Imre smiled at the thought and gave a big exhale. "Well, I got a couple hours. I thought it'd take all that time to figure out what to do. Now I need to get out of my own head."

The Tran brothers exchanged glances and Jaxon then swept his hand to the empty chairs. "You interrupted us doing nothing."

They clasped grips in a loud clap. "Perfect." Imre took Setik's seat and stretched out next to the older Tran.

"Hey," Jaxon suddenly interrupted. "Sorry, but did you hear Kyle this morning? He said we need to find an Ante Ryan. He thinks the guy's going to do something to the captain's family."

"Think again," Imre told the unknown Ryan. "You'll have to come through us if you want them."

Vulcan, Sarek's Office

Saavik followed Sarek into his office and turned down his offer to sit down for right now. She wanted to be more at hand than the pair of davenports that stood perpendicular to his desk. Perrin stood by one of the large windows, looking outside.

For many years, the room used a warm palette including the orange, gold, and black drape that Amanda had placed on the one sofa. It had worked well with a tapestry on the wall given to Sarek by a fellow ambassador.

However, in later years, he had changed the office to show Perrin's influence. The palette turned cool with blues and whites with furniture combining the antique and the modern. Sarek also kept his large chair but with a newer desk. That was because he gave the equally large antique desk to Spock when he became an ambassador. It was, in fact, Solkar's desk first, then given to Stron, then Sarek, and Saavik overheard a very serious conversation between Spock and T'Pren on how it would be her desk one day.

"Father," Saavik began, "I withheld an important detail when I contacted you aboard your ship. In my opinion, it was best discussed in person."

Of course, he was curious. He sat down at his desk and she knew he suspected nothing more than a report.

"My counterpart did not only speak with me. She gave me her memories."

Sarek very carefully placed his hands on the chair arms. He used the same care to speak. "You then know the experiences first hand. You have much to be gratified for."

"Saavik-" Perrin protested at what looked like dangling what he didn't have in front of him.

Saavik held up a hand, silencing her, and then threw the passive discussion to the side. "I have Mother's as well as yours, Spock's, and the children's. My counterpart brought them with her in addition to her own."

"Saavik," Perrin pressured again.

This time, Saavik only focused on Sarek and let her actions answer Perrin. "I came here to give them to you as well, Father."

She heard Perrin's sharp intake of air, but Sarek was silent. Saavik understood that. She held her hand out in the space between them. Rather than hold out his own, he took hers and led it to his face. She did the same with his hand to her psi points.

Her eyelashes drifted down to dust her cheeks at the wealth of his mind and heart, but she came here to give him what he never got to see. Her counterpart had called him cheated. This was all she could do to right it.

Of course, she gave him Amanda's first.

Sarek, you're a grandfather. And we have a daughter. And wait, wait until you see our son!

Then he lived the rest of Amanda's from the beginning, with their son and their grandchildren and their daughter. Then again, from all their views and his own until he had everything.

He held Amanda in his mental grasp, so Saavik withdrew to give him privacy.

"Daughter," he began, but couldn't find the rest.

"I understand, Father." She started to leave, but saw Perrin moving around the sofas to meet her.

Sarek spoke first, "I have an engagement within the hour."

"I will inform your aides to clear your schedule for today and that you will be prepared for tomorrow. After all," Saavik said sincerely, "you are Grandfather, strong enough to shoulder Mount Seleya and with more than enough wisdom for three grandchildren."

"May that be so."

"It is. What is a conference in comparison?"

"Saavik," he called again and she touched his hand. His eyes widened and then calmed, slipping back to the remembrances she gave him.

She found Perrin behind her and waiting, at first with a small smile. "You didn't even ask me. If it would bother me for him to live a new life with Amanda. It never occurred to you."

Saavik leaned her head to the side. "Why should it? It does not change his life with you."

The smile stayed. "You would never be jealous if Spock had such a wife before you?"

She didn't bother pointing out that jealousy was an emotion because Perrin would laugh at that and have reason to; she also didn't point out that it was illogical to speculate on something that hadn't happened. "If our marriage remained what it is, I would have no reason to be negative about a predecessor, even such a one as this."

"Right." The smile disappeared as Perrin's eyes hardened. "Where is Spock?"

"Travelling home after being detained on Earth over the Frubria issue. As you well know."

"And he sent you rather than bring these memories to his father himself. Of course."

Saavik's eyes narrowed and she lowered her voice not to bother Sarek. "I made this decision, Perrin, rather than keep Sarek waiting. I believed it did not prevent the two of them from sharing them." She honestly didn't think one would cancel the other, but now… she could see where it could look like there was no reason for a second meld. "However, I concede your point. Perhaps I should have let Sarek wait for Spock. The error is mine." She drew closer. "I have cautioned you before, Perrin. Do not place yourself between them and do not cause a dispute to grow worse."

"And I told you, I'm very protective of my husband."

"Do you doubt I am any different?" She tried taking the sting from it. "You may wish to see your role on the greater scale. You will be the head of the family at some point, after all."

The color draining from Perrin's face said she hadn't thought of that. "I thought it went to you. You'd be better at it."

"You are ahead of me in the family."

The smile started returning. "I'm abdicating."

Saavik lifted her brows.

Vulcan, Sarek's Family Estate

Saavik asked her husband in a near whisper, "Have you decided?"

The children stayed ahead of them a few steps, a family walk together down a scenic path from their house.

Spock answered her after a beat. "I contacted McCoy."

She didn't understand. They had obviously talked to everyone about the aborted timeline; Frances Stewart, in fact, heard from McCoy about her other self kissing him. "You could have bought me dinner first, you know. I'm not just a piece of meat."

But Spock's reason for contacting his old friend about this topic they discussed; no, she didn't understand. "Why? Surely it only upset him."

"It did. Nevertheless, I believed he had a right to know, especially if we give Setik and the girls their memories. Particularly Setik. They will experience the incident with Boma." Spock's forehead creased with the choice he needed to make and exactly how dangerous it was. "If this was limited to myself discovering it or you, I would immediately agree we should be told. Only..."

"Only it is not us. It is our son and the man he holds high in his esteem. His role model."

Setik moved to his sehlat and slung himself on her back, the pet that McCoy himself picked out as a gift for the boy. His parents quietly watched him at play.

For Saavik, it was another element in her children's lives that inspired awe. They played. They read and wrote and spoke and played. She honestly had no concept of it and it took her awhile to grasp it when they first asked her to join a game.

"However," Spock continued and his voice rasped, "I want them to have the memories of being with my mother. Of how she instantly loved them and how they danced with her and for her. Of how McCoy demonstrated to Setik how to use his Sickbay. Of how T'Kel and Jim planned a fleet together and how Mr. Scott wanted to sponsor her for the Academy." Saavik said nothing into this pause, knowing he wasn't finished. He wasn't. "Of how my younger father battled with an enemy with worlds on the line for his grandchildren. Of how he was with..."

"Amanda. They should know when their grandparents were Sarek with Amanda."

"My wife. Even the memory of my younger self coming to them at the end. I know the children are quite secure in how much they are wanted in our lives, in how much we want each other. But isn't it an additional positive reinforcement for them to see—"

"Adun." Saavik's eyes touched his face everywhere. "I do not disagree with you. The only reason to want Setik exposed to this difficult conflict with McCoy for itself is for him to learn its lesson. However, we both know, unfortunately, how it is true that our children already know such a lesson. They will see it their entire lives including from people they know, even if unconsciously."

He was about to speak when she did. "However. They have all the positive qualities in those memories to learn. Can you not, with your abilities, edit or refrain from the ones you do not want them to see? Perhaps replace or minimize them? T'Selis is an adept of Mount Seleya. Could she not help you?"

He thought about it before slowly nodding. "I will speak with her."

"If nothing else, we will selectively give them the memories we wish and explain away the ones we do not give them."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Explain?"

She matched his attitude. "In a way we have not yet devised."

T'Kel complained from her place a few steps ahead of her parents, "What if I disapprove of her declaration?"

Saavik replied firmly, "You have no reason to disapprove."

Little puffs of dust lifted as the girl's sand shoes landed a little heavily. "He will spend time with her and that takes away from us."

"That," her mother, her forehead scowling, "is selfishness."

"Mr. Nachson is our Fun Uncle."

"It does not make him a possession."

"T'Kel," Spock interceded, ignoring Saavik's look of About time! "You have different responsibilities and relationships that make demands on your time. Mr. Nachson is no different and it is no reason to reject Thalla sh'Shytral."

Setik slipped off Ko-Kan to face his mother and father, ever logical. His sehlat stopped when he did and sat down, waiting and watching. "But, Father, what if she does reject him? We have given her our approval and acceptance. We have named her guest-friend."

"Which we will revoke if she is cruel to Mr. Nachson."

"I," Saavik made this declaration, "will make it my responsibility should it happen."

Their son thought this over and then bobbed his head once in positive judgment. They started their walk again and Ko-Kan moved in the middle of the three children. Spock glanced over to his wife and held up three fingers. She disagreed with a shake of her head and held up five.

"So, you are home? For the entire time?" insisted T'Kel again.

Three point one four seconds of quiet before T'Kel disturbed it. Spock won the bet. He wisely found the setting sun of great fascination rather than rub in his victory.

He did reply to their daughter, "For our entire, substantial leave."

"What if," T'Pren had to question, "an emergency arises?"

"Then," Saavik answered, "we deal with it as all families must."

Setik added, "We seem to have a greater share of emergencies than other families."

"It depends on the family," his mother explained. "When compared to others in service, you will find us of average."

Spock's look mocked that.

She ignored him. "You will also find it true for you as well if you each continue with the paths you explore now."

Their son agreed sagely.

"However, such a crisis has not happened and we are, therefore, all yours."

"Following it," Spock added, "your mother and I are scheduled for a diplomatic mission for seven months. Saavik will have opportunities for exploration and discovery as well as she will be the first Starfleet vessel in those systems."

All three children spun around. "Seven months?" asked T'Pren, like it was a death sentence.

"At a minimum." He lifted an eyebrow. "Is it not a good thing for your mother and I not to be separated? We consider ourselves most fortunate."

Saavik ended their misery. "We are equally pleased that you will be with us."

They stared like owls. "We are?" T'Kel asked.

Saavik told herself she shouldn't take pleasure in leaning in and saying, "Clearly." She straightened. "As will tutors to continue your schoolwork."

As would the twins beginning to prepare for the kahs-wan and for Saavik and Spock to tell Setik about pon farr. They only hoped they could do it so it didn't seem like a specter over his life. Hard to do with a possible death sentence and a time of insanity, but it was a lesson they had learned like all other Vulcans. Saavik had told Spock she now appreciated Amanda's need to argue with her of not risking her life with meditation to appease the Fires, now that she had that same concern for Setik and the twins.

"We are going with you!" T'Pren announced.

T'Kel declared, "We are going with you on the starship!"

Setik, however, turned his attention to his sehlat and put his hands in Ko-Kan's fur. "Mother, Starfleet allows pets now. Is that not correct?"

Damn. "The regulation is intended for small to medium pets. I do not see Starfleet having sehlats in mind."

"However," came their ever logical son, "the regulation does not exclude sehlats, Mother."

Only seven and they already reached this level of argument. Saavik started her reply when the memory came to her:

"Although, my kingdom for a sehlat."

"I will think further on it." T'Pren started to jump into the fray and Saavik cut her off. "That is my last word for now." I will have no peace until they have their pet or they are home with her again. "I remind you of the substantial time this family will have together on this mission."

They obediently went back to their walk. Spock silently suggested another bet of how long T'Kel would stay quiet this time. Saavik refused.

"It is a greater time," T'Kel piped up, "since we will delay our sleep time."

"No," Saavik pronounced, "you will not."

"Father," T'Pren started, going for the weaker link, at least where she was concerned. "It is logical to better use our awake time while you are home and on the mission. We can return to our normal routines once we're home again."

Her mother jumped right into that before their youngest had her father giving in. "If this were a democracy, your argument would have carried a majority vote."

They were Vulcan children, so they didn't groan, but their looks conveyed it.

"It is, in fact, a…?"

"Benevolent dictatorship," they chorused.

"Very good. As long as we understand each other."

T'Kel threw an arm around Ko-Kan's neck. "I cannot wait to grow up. No more rules."

Saavik began to comment, but Spock smoothly agreed with his daughter. "Adulthood has its advantages. For example, I may have found the red drapes from my former cabin and placed them in the room I share with your mother."

The word sensual comes to mind.

"May have found them?" she observed now.

His expression shrugged. Her eyes narrowed deliciously at that; he didn't turn to look at her, but she could tell he noticed.

He had been all superior in that other time too, until…

Saavik returned to the walk ahead. "That would be thought-provoking. It is interesting timing as well as I may have the green uniform dress." Like his other self before, Spock lost all loftiness and fixated on his wife. "Considering my counterpart is not the only one with a Wardrobe department at her disposal."

"You," Spock informed his children of the law of the land, "are going to bed on time."

The corners of Saavik's mouth slid into the tiny smile she reserved for him.

He held out a hand and brushed hers with his fingers when she reached out to him. They held hands, getting disapproval from Setik, but refusing to stop as their children walked, played, and chattered on with their insights and questions like any other family.

Here we are, one epilogue away from being done. I had to say thank you, to all of you, new readers and longtime ones, new friends and old ones. Thank you for all the support, the reviews, and just for reading. It's been one hell of a journey for me, nearly a year and a half, and it's made its mark here and there in my real life. I'm very excited and very sad. I'll miss it, if that makes sense. But let's finish where we began.