Epilogue
Spock drew his fingers across Saavik's belly in idle, swirling patterns. Neither of them knew it, but he would make this same touch the rest of their lives, whether she was pregnant or not.
"Enjoying yourself?"
He looked up into her devilish expression from where he pillowed himself on her. "Very."
"Ah."
He re-settled himself comfortably and went back to his leisurely play. "Does it bother you?"
"Quite the contrary."
"Ah."
A long, pleasurable silence passed where he played with her abdomen and the child behind it, and she played with his hair, disarraying it even further from its usual straight lines.
"You never should have overturned the bed," he suddenly commented.
"I know." Her fingers cupped him along his head and ear. "I never meant to upset you."
"Or I you. However, I meant that you need to be careful with what you do, physically. I don't want you risking your health or the child's."
"I thought the same thing immediately afterwards. I will be more careful." She went back to lazily fanning out his hair along her skin. "However, the cause was sufficient."
"To throw your husband violently to the floor?" he mocked.
"To throw my infuriating husband to the floor."
"Is this an example of your logic?"
"Oh, yes. I thought it a thoroughly logical idea."
"Then I am forewarned about any future attempts."
He wrapped his arm around her stomach and hip protectively. His voice grew serious. "Saavik… you should have told me you were pregnant as soon as you knew."
"I couldn't." Her arms drew him closer and her body curled around him more. "I needed to know if the child and I held you back, or if we could share you with what you must do. If you knew I was pregnant when I asked that question, your decision would have been influenced. It was unfair."
"My wife…" His hand tightened on her hip. "Do not listen to T'Lar. You need not risk yourself. I am ready to risk myself to reach my goals, but I will not risk--"
"Sshh." She laid her hand on his lips. "We can discuss this another time."
He noticed she touched him with her paired fingers, the gesture between bondmates, between consorts. He kissed them and felt her relax underneath him.
He glanced about her – their bedroom loft and a small part of the livingroom, seeing the familiar furnishings and decorations. So much like her, this place. Not an ancestral estate but made to be everything it was by her alone.
"It was a good decision to come here." He received a lazy, pleased "Hmmm" in reply.
Sarek obviously speculated they'd end up exactly where they were; someone had opened the house, airing out the stale space from the last time Saavik was here.
Spock glanced up and saw she stared through the skylight that made up the majority of the bedroom's ceiling. She watched the stars, of course. Was that a wistful note in her eyes, he wondered?
"You will return to the Armstrong soon," he said. To the Armstrong, Starfleet, unknown worlds – worlds that would need him to negotiate, make treaties – Earth and the Federation waiting to question them about Ki Baratan and Narendra III. He felt the intrusion, but he would not force it on her wish to go back.
She sighed. "Too soon." She looked down into his eyes with a soft light. "I believe I will tell Captain Howes I need more time here."
He reached up, stroked her cheek, and then straddled her legs, taking a hold of her hips to slide her down until her tender, radiant face was directly beneath his. She touched his chin with gentle fingers, and then pulled him down to her. He went.
