Chapter 51

by Starsinger

The negligee, news from the homefront as Tesla makes an appearance. Don't we love that Sehlat. If anyone's up to making a Tesla plushie, I call dibs! Don't own them. Except Tesla, she's mine.

"Hey, Grandpa, what's up?" Jim asked. He could see Gary hovering over T's shoulder. He looked sharp in his cadet reds and bursting with news.

"How's Tesla?" T asked.

Jim started laughing as Tesla reared up on her back legs and resting her forelegs at making squeaks at one of her favorite humans. Jim rubbed affectionately between her ears. T and Gary smiled at their favorite Vulcan. "As you can see, she's doing just fine, and so is T'Nara. I have some news. We're being bonded. It's kind of a pre-marriage before the marriage."

"An arranged marriage only you did the arranging, Jim?" Gary asked with a laugh. Jim smiled back. "Hey, there's this guy I met on the shuttle here, Jim. You should meet him sometime. Would you believe he's aviophobic and joined Starfleet?"

"Wait, he's afraid of flying and joined Starfleet?" Jim asked laughing. "What's his name?"

"Dr. Leonard McCoy, he came to Starfleet already degreed, and an ex-wife and a daughter to top it all off. Told me he was left with nothing to his name but his bones. He's a good guy, you'd like him. Uh, Jimmy, Finney did make it into the Academy," Gary told him.

Jim sighed. He wasn't that surprised. Finney's family had money. "I've been extended a job offer after graduation here on Vulcan. Sarek would like to keep me on as an aide, and T'Nara and I have started on the road to having a baby," Jim told them.

"Congratulations!" T and Gary both exclaimed. "When?"

"Well, it's a little impersonal. We both had to make a donation to the Academy so they could make our genes…mesh," Jim said.

"Sounds complicated," Gary said with a laugh. "Hey, there's this hot little number at the Academy. Well, she and her roommate, Uhura. Girl wouldn't give me the time of day, but the Ice Queen's roommate is Orion, and they're everything they say about them," Gary said.

"Gary, you'll never change," Jim said with a laugh. "T'Nara and I hope you'll make it to our graduation. It is next year."

"I'll see if Captain Pike will let me do that," Gary told him.

"Tell him he's invited too," Jim said with a laugh.

"Sure thing, Jim," T replied. "Bye Tesla!" he said waving at the Sehlat who grumbled happily back at them.

Jim turned to his desk with a sigh. He picked up his PADD. He and Sarek were due back on Betazed next week during a scheduled break in the academic year for a conference. It was on the Klingon matter. He needed to arrange Sarek's schedule while at the conference so he could make everything he needed to make. Tesla slid to the floor and lay her head on a paw.

Jim rose an hour later to work on homework for the Academy and absently ate lunch with Amanda and Sarek. That night he set out for T'Nara's parent's house. They needed to work out some details with the upcoming betrothal ceremony. T'Nara kept giving Jim coy glances during dinner. T'Sara nodded her head looking at her daughter. "We will finish up, daughter. You two go on and study. You still have much work to do before the Bonding Ceremony and graduation."

Jim whispered to T'Nara, "What do I wear? Do I have anything appropriate?"

"Amanda is already arranging your robes for the ceremony. Just put them on and show up," she replied leading him by the hand into her room. He closed the door behind him and she leaned into him. "I love you," she whispered. "Hold up your right hand two fingers extended," she told him. He complied and she laid her own two fingers across them. "This is considered acceptable for bonded pairs in public."

"The Vulcan version of hand holding?" Jim asked. T'Nara looked at him strangely. "Never mind," he said. He sat down and started unbuttoning her dress. She sighed as it came open and pushed it down her shoulders. "I've been thinking about this little number all day," he whispered. He nuzzled her cleavage, "Any sort of touching is acceptable in private."

If anyone would like to illustrate this story, I'm all for it. My AO3 account would allow a way to publish them, I just haven't figured out how to insert drawings or pictures. Instruction would be welcome! Personally, I'm artistically challenged, unless you're talking about singing, I'm good there. Of course there is more to this story on my AO3 account. You can find the link for it on my fanfiction page.