The mother of two lightly hooked her arm with her daughter's. Their feet carried them through the city's market. Some Vulcans who grew up with the mother's children stopped and stared at the hybrid who walked with the human. My eyes refused to meet any of the childhood bullies. Amanda looked over at her youngest and asked, "Is there something bothering you T'Saraphina?"

I bit the inside of my cheek knowing I cannot lie. And if I do fluff the truth, my mother would instantly know. She had the knack for it whenever I fluffed it as a child. I looked at the residing Vulcans looking at crafts, food, and materials. I spoke softly, "Am I good enough?"

The human mother's eyebrows knitted together in confusion and concern. Her voice came out as motherly, "You would have to explain that in more depth."

Amanda paused her movement to stop at a food stall. Her brown eyes scanned at the selection. It was not easy to adjust to a vegetarian lifestyle but she thought she did well enough. I glanced at my brunette mother before speaking, "I am half human and half Vulcan."

Amanda picked up a couple heads of lettuce as well as some tomatoes. She nodded, " That is correct."

Continuing on I spoke quietly, "Being a half breed shows I am not good to be a human nor a Vulcan."

Amanda stopped grabbing a couple of bean sprouts and looked at her conflicted daughter. I looked away and started to play with a loose string of my sweater. My mother made Spock and I sweaters before we finished our schooling on Vulcan. Amanda studied the young hybrid before speaking, "You are more than good enough as a human nor as a Vulcan. What brought this on?"

I shook my head letting out a deep breath, "Do not worry about it, mother. I… I already spoke to Spock about this."

Amanda frowned. A cough from a Vulcan who was running the stand brought to Amanda's attention. Amanda gave a weak smile nodding, "Sorry about that. Here you go."

She gave the Vulcan the money for the vegetables. Her arm wove with her daughter's once more to lead the way. The brunette didn't like her daughter's answer and decided to probe some more. Amanda tried to pry out more information, "You aren't telling me the full truth, my child. There is something of a great deal to bother you to ask such questions."

I shook my head, "Nevermind mother. "

My mother brought up Spock, "You went to Spock about this problem and we both know he is more attuned to logic than emotions."

I looked over at my mother out of the corner of my eye. She made a good point. I let out a little groan. I sighed, "Fine. I have this human friend in Star Fleet which I am pretty sure we should still be friends. She called me a problem due to my Vulcan heritage. I know I cannot fully embrace the wide range of emotions and logical thinking would present itself. We had an argument after I saved her from a future problem."

Amanda couldn't help but ask, "What was this future problem?"

I let out a short deep breath through my nose before answering, "The guy was a jerk and she obviously did not want the attention he was giving her. So I pinched him."

My mother's lips tugged upward slightly at the last sentence. Amanda patted my hand, "I'm glad you protected your friend."

I frowned, "She wasn't appreciative like you are. She stormed off in anger but she was also intoxicated. Alcohol interrupts the-."

My mother interrupted me, "I understand how alcohol works, T'Saraphina."

I stuck out my bottom lip in a little pout. Amanda stirred her daughter to a different part of the market. My face removed any sight of pout and became impassive. Amanda noticed the difference in her daughter's facial expressions. Amanda's brows knitted together in confusion. An emotionless female voice caught Amanda's attention as it was addressed towards to her child, "T'Saraphina."

I gave a light nod, "T'Aerial."

T'Aerial's nose was tilted higher whenever she talks to someone who is under her. The taller female Vulcan inquired, "Didn't you enlist into Star Fleet Academy instead of Vulcan Science Academy?"

Once again I nodded while answering, "I did in fact enlist into Star Fleet Academy. I graduated with the rank of Commander in Engineering."

The short black haired Vulcan sneered, "Your path isn't logically sound for someone of your stature. I would think a person of your stature would follow the Vulcan way and take in logic."

I could feel my mother wanting to say something to intervene. I squared my shoulders before responding, "I felt Star Fleet was the best fit for someone of my stature. My father believed it as well."

A recognizable woman who I knew as a child walked up to T'Aerial. She spoke to T'Aerial without a glance to my mother and I, "T'Aerial… Stonn and Serock is waiting for us by the academy."

I raised my angled eyebrows in surprise. Amanda knew not to get into the affairs of her children. She tapped my hand to gain my attention. She spoke softly, "I'll be down there, T'Saraphina."

I saw where she was gesturing and gave her a nod. I piped up, "It's nice to see you too, T'Pring."

I know for a fact Spock and T'Pring do not communicate telepathically like they should. Hell, even Serock and I didn't communicate. I refused to after that incident. My mind pieced two and two together and figured the two Vulcan women are in some sort of relationship with the mentioned males. T'Pring glanced over at my person, "Oh it's you, T'Saraphina."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her tone. My voice came out void, "It will be best if I leave as you two have prior plans scheduled. I must tend to my mother."

T'Pring stayed silent but T'Aerial spoke up with disgust, "Your human mother."

I felt a twitch in my right hand. T'Pring grabbed her friend's bicep, "It is not wise to create conflict, T'Aerial."

T'Pring was able to pull away T'Aerial and head to their lovers. I mumbled under my breath, "I thought for a second I would have to punch sense into that woman."

I looked around for my mother and saw she was staring at some crafts at a stall. I met up with her. Amanda asked, "How did it go?"

I gritted my teeth, "Swell, mother. T'Pring was there."

Amanda paused looking up at her daughter with surprise. I felt my shoulders sag a little. My fingers masaged my temples while groaning, "She mentioned Serock. The two were meeting with Stonn and Serock at the academy. By their body language and tone of voice the two are infatuated with the men."

Amanda's eyes glanced at her youngest. She pointed out, "You are not bonded with Serock anymore."

I licked my lips, "It's not official till we both are in ponn faar. Father asked for him not to come and the ritual would be annulled. However despite father being in the high council, I know for fact the high council would want Serock and I to continue with the ritual and do it ourselves."

My mother gave a small smile turning towards me, "Believe it or not. Your father made sure it was annulled. No need to do Kal-if-fee. So whoever you choose to spend your life with is up to you and he would not have to fight with Serock to the death."

I tilted my head, "How come he didn't do that with T'Pring and Spock? We both know him and her do not communicate at all and I know she is seeing Stonn."

The brunette answered my question, "Your arranged marriage was different due to the incidents with Serock. T'Pring has not and I am sure cannot harm Spock. Spock wouldn't harm her either. When it comes to his ponn faar, he would have to meet with her and go through whichever ritual the two are destined to take."

I placed my hand on my chest in heartache for my brother. I sombered, "I feel horrible for Spock to have to go through that. I would think it would affect his attempts to have a relationship with whoever he chooses."

Amanda nodded in agreement, "It may be so but we will not know till something in his path happens. Now we must be going. Your father should be home from his duties."

My mother held out her arm and I hooked mine with hers. She led me through the Vulcan crowd to head home. I just hope Serock does not hear of me being on the planet. That would be disastrous.