Spock stiffened when she rushed forward and hugged him. Nyota pulled back and stared up into his eyes, but there was no way to tell what he was thinking. His face, even his eyes, were unreadable. She forced herself to smile up at him.
"It's good to see you." She patted his chest with her left hand as she stepped back from him.
"We have seen each other recently." Spock glanced away from her to the others arrayed around the room.
"You've been spending a lot of time at the Vulcan Embassy." Kirk approached them with his wide, easy going grin on. "Can't blame us for missing you."
"I have been using our leave to further Vulcan interests." Spock blinked and looked around the room. "I was unaware that my personal pursuits were of interest to you."
"I, for one, am not interested in what you get up to." McCoy grinned. "To each his own."
"Perhaps we should focus our attention on the purpose of this meeting." Spock looked toward Scotty and Sulu.
Nyota watched as he moved to the table and took a seat. He conversed with Sulu while everyone else found a seat. She swallowed and took the empty seat beside him, knowing the others had left it for her.
"So, we need status updates on the ship." Kirk looked around the table. "I would like to get back out there."
"Well, Enterprise is looking quite bonny." Scotty chuckled. "They're using every bit of our leave to refit her. She'll be ready to head out again in five weeks. The full report is on your pads. There are a few upgrades to which we will have to adjust, but nothing so newfangled that it will significantly alter any plans."
Nyota let the meeting flow around her. She didn't have anything to contribute as the communications systems had already been upgraded and were working perfectly. Spock's body language was different. He'd distanced himself from her. She understood enough about Vulcans to realize that she'd pushed him too far.
When the meeting ended, she nodded to the others and waited for them to leave. When Spock was about to depart she approached him.
"Do you have time to talk with me?" She looked down and waited for him to answer.
"I have a few minutes." Spock stepped back from her. "I am due at the Embassy shortly."
Sarek examined the blonde human female standing outside and looking up at the sky. The humans had been emerging from their cases in small groups all day. They sat in the gardens and talked quietly. Some had cried. They were grieving. He recognized their pain, but this woman was different.
"It is difficult to leave your world behind." Sarek looked up at the clouds above them. "When I chose the life of a diplomat, I left my planet secure in the knowledge that it would be there when I was able to return. I was incorrect."
"I wasn't really thinking about the world." She dropped her gaze from the sky and met his. "I was thinking about my husband. He was lost before we fled England, before we fled our time."
"I suppose there are many among you in similar situations." The Vulcan stood beside the female. "I lost my wife when our planet was destroyed."
"You loved her." The blonde smirked at him. "Your people are very circumspect, but I have always been able to sense emotions. In my family, it meant survival. My marriage only honed those skills. I am not grieving."
Sarek studied the woman's apparent serenity and realized that she was very adept at controlling her own emotions. Most humans did not bother. Even Amanda had only done so publicly. He looked at her refined bone structure and saw the subtle improvements she made her clothing to enhance the image of delicacy she presented.
"My husband would have happily killed most of the individuals that cobbled together a plan to save us with no time. He wouldn't have allowed us to join them. My wedding vows would have forced my compliance." She smiled up at the stars before looking over at him once more. "When he died, I was set free. I know you will need to form bonds between our peoples for this plan to work. Miss Granger promised me that it wouldn't be logical to tie us to your society in a negative way, but she is young and still a bit idealistic after everything."
"So, you have come to verify her assertion." Sarek took a deep breath as he felt the touch of her power against his skin. He saw her smile and felt the shift in the field she was creating. These humans were truly remarkable.
"I was raised in a dark family and given in marriage to a dark family. I watched as my son was used as chattel. I was held hostage by vows that I would rather not have taken. No one will harm my people without paying for it dearly." She held her hand up and he felt her magic slide from its place wrapped around him and watched as she formed a ball of fire from it. "Even wicked witches have a purpose."
Spock watched as Nyota paced. Her purposeless movement was illogical and somewhat frustrating. He had told her quite clearly that he had only a few moments before he had to return to the embassy.
"I would prefer not to make my father wait." Spock clasped his hands behind his back.
"Since when is anything Vulcan so important to you?" Nyota swing around to face him with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
"I am Vulcan. I am unsure how quantifying my personal interest in the evolving Vulcan culture and political state would redress whatever is bothering you." He frowned as she bounced on her toes and started pacing again.
"Wanting to get involved with your father's life and that side of your nature, I understand. Why don't you have any time to spend with me though?" Nyota flipped her hair over her shoulder and met his gaze unflinchingly. He recognized the ploy. It was once common for Vulcan females to behave thusly. It was meant to challenge and incite pon farr. "I would be happy to help the Vulcans at your side."
He examined her recent actions and behavior. He had no desire to encourage her emotional displays. Attempting to manipulate him by appealing to his base urges was beneath her.
"You are a unique and intelligent person. There is no doubt that you are an asset on any mission, but this is not a Starfleet matter." Spock watched as her skin flushed and a small tick appeared by her left eye. "There are matters of respect and the appreciation of privacy required at the embassy. Your presence might lead some to think that such things were not being given proper attention."
"Proper attention?" The edge in her voice left no doubt to her emotional state.
"My father is an ambassador. He is striving to save our culture and still retain communication with our allies. These are logical chosen paths." Spock waited as Nyota focused on him and nodded. "I offered him my assistance because it suits my emotional and human side, and it is logical to work with him for the betterment of a culture on the precipice of ruination."
"I understand." She took a step back from him. "My concerns are purely personal. I'm not sure how to explain what I want in a logical fashion."
"I do not expect you to put logic first." Spock glanced toward the windows and saw their reflections in the perfectly transparent aluminum. The space between them seemed much greater than he knew it to be. He looked back at her and bent slightly at the waist. "I must go. There is work awaiting me at the embassy."
He didn't look back as he stepped through the door. He needed to meditate and consider his response to her actions. It wasn't her emotions that bothered him. Humans thrives in emotional climates, he accepted that. Her actions did not convince him that she accepted him similarly.
Hermione sat in the courtyard and took a deep breath. She watched as the others milled about. Some of them were crying and others were relieved that there was a chance for a future. None seemed happy.
"It will get better once we are there." Luna sat beside her. "We're almost done preparing for the trip. It's all become very real."
"We didn't have much choice. This planet is too dangerous for us." Hermione looked up at the sky. "I miss our moon. That one looks so different."
"This isn't really our world. The new one will be though." Luna leaned against her shoulder. "The goblins have started making houses that we can charm and expand. They want more dragon forged metals in their case. Charlie is getting all that he can and taking it to them. It should help get everyone settled that much faster."
"Is faster better?" The brunette fussed with her skirt.
"I think in this case it will be." Luna reached over and tangled her fingers through Hermione's. "This is are only option."