Uhura and Spock discuss some family matters.
Family Matters
Spock witnessed a dazzling display of human femininity when he walked into his wife's exam room to find her crying in the arms of her arch-nemesis.
If he lived a thousand years, he didn't think he would ever understand women. When he and Jim made up after their disagreement, they merely apologized and moved on. They didn't cry and secret mucous all over one another.
Though he did not fully understand the ritual of 'making up', he accepted the fact that his wife had forgiven Nurse Chapel. Both women left the sickbay in good spirits with promises to meet and have tea together soon.
After conferring with Dr. McCoy and Dr. M'Benga, and being assured his wife was in excellent health but would remain on medical leave until they understood her condition more, Spock accompanied Uhura home, escorting her on his arm.
"I can walk on my own, you know," Uhura said, but she still clung to him as they walked.
"I know that you can, but I prefer to assist you in case you have any more incidents. You seem very emotional today," Spock said.
"Well, I am pregnant. So you better get used to me emoting all over the place. I guess I should be grateful you're not carrying me around as you did on Starbase 6. I hear there is a video of that circulating. Or was it you carrying me around on Argelius? I can't keep up with all the gossip about us."
"There is even more gossip about you, unfortunately," he told her.
"Oh, I'm sure. What are they saying now?"
"It is being circulated that you fought Nurse Chapel yesterday. So imagine my surprise to see the two of you in an embrace today."
"What?! You're not serious? When and why would I have a fight with Christine?"
"She was in the rec room when you had your panic attack. She must have tried to assist you. Somehow that was interpreted as her causing your 'incident'. Apparently, you two fought fiercely over me," Spock said.
"Oh, my god! That's ridiculous. And poor Christine. She doesn't deserve this. We just put aside our differences and now this. This is all my fault."
"Nurse Chapel is not without fault. But if anyone is to blame for the incident, it is me. You are sick because of me."
Uhura hugged Spock's arm tighter. "Don't be illogical. I am not sick, I'm pregnant. Yesterday I was in a battle and I watched people die. I patched up burn victims. I was exhausted and in shock. What the hell is wrong with people, anyway?"
"Yesterday was stressful for many people. Perhaps they just needed to focus on someone else's problems for a while. Your well know enmity with Christine provided such distraction."
"Well, I'm tired of my life being their soap opera. You and I are going to have a baby, Spock. We do not have time for this nonsense gossip."
Spock was filled with so much pride in hearing Nyota's words. She had accepted her pregnancy with more grace than he could have imagined. He himself was still somewhat shocked. He never dreamed he'd ever become a father. But Nyota was pressing on with things as a matter of course. Spock also noted she had been saying 'us' and 'we' and 'our' a lot. She had accepted him and their bond much sooner than he had expected as well. She was just so magnificent. And she was having his child. He felt like he was that Superman hero Nyota liked to call him. Spock wanted everyone to know that Nyota and their baby belonged to him. It was quite an illogical response.
"Nyota, I know we haven't discussed it, but I would like to tell my parents about this development. I assume you will also want to inform your family?"
"No," she said without breaking her stride.
"No?"
"No, let's just keep this to ourselves for a while longer. I mean, of course, doctors McCoy and M'Benga know. I suppose I will have to tell Charlene because she will sniff it out like a bloodhound eventually and she's been our biggest supporter. But let's hold off on telling anyone else."
"Is there any reason why not?" Spock had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Maybe she was not as on board with everything as he was led to believe.
"Well, we still need answers on how this happened and what risks there are if any," Nyota hedged.
"You expect complications?" he asked with a frown on his face that he could not control. The doctors seemed fairly optimistic about their outcome.
"Oh, no, no, nothing like that," she rushed to reassure him. "It has nothing to do with fear of losing the pregnancy. We are having this baby," she said with a determined air. "No, I just need time to think things through. This is our time together, just you and me and baby makes three ok?" she said looking up at him with a beseeching look. "Believe me, when we announce this pregnancy all hell is going to break loose."
"Why would 'all hell break loose'?"
"You don't know my family," she mumbled quietly, looking down.
"Indeed, I do not," Spock said, slowing down his pace. "That brings up an interesting question."
"What's that?"
"Does your family know about me?"
"Well, I have an interesting answer to that."
"Which is?"
"No," she answered quietly.
"Nyota!" Spock didn't believe her.
"Don't you dare 'Nyota' me!" She said, getting defensive. "When was I supposed to tell them? When I got back from Vulcan suddenly married to you? Was I supposed to call and say, 'Oh hey, mom and dad guess what? I was kidnapped from the ship and now I'm married. And you'll never guess what else. He's the son of the Vulcan ambassador to the Federation! And his grandma is T'Pau of Vulcan. Surprise!' Yeah right!" Uhura had stopped to glare at Spock, who looked taken aback by her outburst.
"Or how about after I was accused of domestic violence against you? 'Oh hey, mom and dad guess what? I just got cleared of domestic violence charges. Against who, you ask? Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you I'm married now and I accidentally punched him in his face.' Or how about after your court-martial? 'Hi mom and dad, good news. Spock was cleared of all charges. Oh, who's Spock? What charges? Spock's my new husband. He was on trial for kidnapping me and forcing himself on me as a bondmate. But it's all good now. Not Guilty. Yay!" Uhura angrily disentangled their arms and stormed away.
Spock caught up to her and took her hand, halting her retreat.
"Wait Nyota," Spock said softly.
Uhura broke down. "Spock, please. I wasn't in a good place then. I'm sorry I didn't tell them about us, okay?" Her anger had deflated as soon as she stormed off. She knew she was in the wrong and she didn't know how to fix it.
Spock shook his head. "No. It is I who should be sorry. I am sorry I put you through all those things. No wonder you have been under so much stress. I am the one in the wrong." Spock got down on his knees and took her hands in his. "Can you forgive me for causing you such stress?" He pleaded, looking up into her glistening eyes.
"Oh, Spock, get up," she tried to tug him up but he wouldn't budge. "I'm sorry too. I'm at fault too. I was a real stubborn idiot." She released his hands and hugged him to her, pressing his head to her belly while Spock hugged her back. "We're so silly," she said to the top of his head.
"Hey! Why don't you two get a room?" Someone said, coming up behind Spock.
"We are on our way to our room," Spock said with his face still pressed to Uhura's belly. He wondered if his keen ears could hear their child growing inside.
"That's not what it looks like from where I'm standing," McCoy said.
"Yeah, Bones, you tell them. This isn't the love boat," Captain Kirk chimed in.
"I'm sorry Captain. We were having a private moment," Uhura said, wiping her eyes with one hand while she stroked Spock's hair with the other. She had the oddest idea that she needed to protect Spock from these mean men.
Kirk looked at the pair in their "private moment" and frowned. "In public?" he asked.
"Yeah, well, I've discovered there is no such thing as privacy on this ship," Uhura clapped back.
That rude tone snapped Spock back to reality, and he lifted his head, ready to reprimand her. "Lieutenant-"
"Hush you," she said, placing her finger over his lips.
"And you two," Uhura looked at the captain and the doctor, "can't you see we're in the middle of something here?" she huffed.
"I see you're in the middle of a busy corridor, yes," Kirk said. "Whatever else you're in the middle of is none of my business nor anyone else's," he glared at a few crewmen who were slow to walk by the scene and go about their own business. "Spock I can appreciate your, uh... whatever this is," he said waving his hand up and down at the two of them, "but this is not the place for it."
Nyota opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter another word, Spock gently pinched her bottom. "Ouch! Did you just pinch me?!" She glared down in shock.
"Aw hell," McCoy said, backing away from the marital dispute. While Uhura was distracted, Spock stood and swooped her up into his arms in one smooth motion.
"You better put me down, Mister!"
"I prefer you this way. Besides, I am following Captain's orders and seeking a room."
Kirk slapped Spock on the back with approval. "Good man! Take her away."
"Don't encourage this behavior, Jim," McCoy advised.
"Thank you, Doctor," Uhura called out as Spock carried her away.
Kirk turned to McCoy. "What the hell is happening around here? What has gotten into Spock now?"
"More like what he's gotten into Uhura," McCoy said with a grin.
"What?" Kirk looked thoroughly annoyed.
"Nevermind Jim. The Enterprise is your baby. Just take care of her and let me take care of Spock and Uhura."
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