Have We Been Here Before?

Chapter Fifty - A New Brother

Enterprise

Late October 2269

Spock

He was sitting on the floor with Grayson, doing their exercises, when the comlink chimed with an incoming message. He stood up, picking Grayson up, and went to answer. There on the screen was his father's face. "Greetings, sa'mekh." Grayson added "Sa'mekh'al!"

"Greetings, sa-fu. I have news for you. Elinor has given birth to a son this morning. Both mother and child are healthy."

"I have a new brother. This is excellent news. Have you decided what his name will be?"

"We are almost settled on Srick. We need to be sure that this name is appropriate for him."

Spock nodded, thoughtful. "Nyota and I did consider this as well, when naming Grayson. We waited until after he was born before making the final decision." He cocked his head, still looking at his father. "Has Sapok been introduced to his new brother yet?"

Sarek's lips twitched. "Indeed he has. He was quite disappointed that his new brother could not immediately play with him as his cousins Senek and Smark do. We reminded him that Smark could not play with he and Senek when he was first born, either. He seems to have been too young to really remember that. He inquired how many days it would take for his new brother to be able to play with him. When informed that it would be many months yet, he was quite disappointed."

Spock's lips twitched as well. "He appears to be quite well disposed towards the new baby then."

Sarek nodded. "It does seem that way. And then he wished to go immediately to home of Selek and Durra and inform his cousins of his new brother. In fact, he wished to take his brother there to show him off."

Spock had great difficulty in not laughing aloud at that. The thinking mode of a four-year old child was unusual and interesting. He wondered if Grayson's logic would follow the same path. "Nyota has sent a package. I do not know how long it will be before it arrives. Grayson watched her packing it and wanted some of the things that she put it. Hopefully my new brother will be as interested."

Sarek bent his head, acknowledging his son's bondmate's thoughtfulness. "We thank you. I am sure that Elinor will be pleased with whatever Nyota has selected. I will inform her that it is on the way." His eyes scanned around the area visible to the pickup. "Where is Nyota? I do not see her."

"She has gone to the mess hall to select our evening meal. There is an outbreak of a mild virus on the ship, and she does not want to take Grayson out in the crowd that will be in the mess hall."

"She is an excellent mother."

"I cannot disagree with your statement. That is also my opinion."

Sarek's head turned and then he reached down, and lifted his elder son with Elinor onto his knee. "Say hello to your elder brother Spock, Sapok."

"Hello Spock. Hello Grayson."

Grayson leaned forward, his hands reaching for the screen. "Sapok!"

Spock shifted his hold on his son, so that he could see his small uncle more clearly. The two boys talked to each other for several minutes, while their fathers watched and listened.

Sarek spoke next. "Grayson's language skills are growing."

"Indeed. He seems to add new words almost every day. He even speaks several phrases in Russian now, as the young man who is his favorite babysitter is a native Russian speaker."

"Standard and Vulcan and Russian already. This is impressive."

"He also speaks kiswahili fairly clearly. Although at times he does mix the languages up. This is fairly disconcerting to others who are not so linguistically talented."

"I can see where that would be the case, yes." Sarek paused, and then continued. "Elinor has informed me that Nyota will want what she has called the vital statistics. Therefore I must tell you that the new child measures forty-eight centimeters in length and weighs three point six two kilograms. His hair and eyes are black, although Elinor informs he that his eye color may change. She is disappointed that his hair is not red, though she is delighted that it appears to wave. She did have some complications from copper leakage, but the treatment went well. Her health is very well, considering."

"These things are good to hear. I shall convey this knowledge to Nyota when she returns. Please present our congratulations to Elinor, and our greetings to the remainder of the clan."

Sarek nodded his assent, and said his farewells.

Spock sat Grayson back down on the floor, and folded himself down, picking up their exercises where they had left off. When Nyota walked in a few minutes later, it was to see her two men doing pushups, face to face. She could not help giggling. Spock was very serious about his son's physical conditioning, and she thought it was adorable. It would not do to let him know that, of course. Not at all.

She set the food out on the table, and Spock picked up Grayson, sitting down with his son on his knee. Grayson's hands waved eagerly when he saw the container of macaroni and cheese. Nyota tied a bib about him, and Spock began to feed him, telling Nyota of the call from his father at the same time. She was thrilled that Elinor had come through with no problems. Sapok had red blood, and there had been fewer problems with that pregnancy. It was good to know that treatments had been worked out to counteract the problems, as they might need them someday. Both of Durra's sons had red blood, so this child was the first one that had caused this particular problem for the mother.

When Spock had finished feeding Grayson, she took her son and washed his hands and face, and then put him on the floor with some toys while she and Spock ate their meal. She was glad this would be a quiet evening with just the three of them. Sometimes those were the best.