Chapter 6: Family and Traditions

Professor Spock and I took a shuttle back home and then he insisted on renting a vehicle so he would be able to come see me each day. I had sent my Daddy a message during finals week saying that Professor Spock would like to meet and talk with them and that he would give me a ride home. I was the one that drove though after I explained how dangerous the roads could be to someone who didn't know them.

We drove through town and I showed him three hotels he could choose from. After another half hour of driving, I pulled up to the small, white, two story house on Buffalo Hill Road. "Well, this is it." I said as I unbuckled and got out. I went to get my luggage, but Spock beat me to it. "Thank you."

"Thanks are not...you are welcome." he corrected himself after I gave him a pointed look. I smiled and shook my head.

As we walked up the path to the front door, Spock paused.

"Is everything alright, Spock?"

"Yes, t'hy'la. Let us go inside."

I opened the door and called out, "Daddy, Momma, I'm home!" as we entered my living room.

A dark skinned beauty wearing dark blue jeans, a white tunic, and a festive apron covered in flour jogged into the living room and threw her arms around me.

"Welcome home, baby girl."

"Thanks Momma. It's good to be home. I've brought a guest."

Momma took a step back and finally looked at Spock. "Momma, this is Professor Spock. Professor, this is my Momma, Anna Davis."

Momma held out the Ta'al "Live long and prosper, Mr. Spock."

"Peace and long life, Mrs. Davis" he replied in similar fashion.

"Momma, where's Daddy?"

"He's down in his office, where else would he be this close to Sunday?" Anna went to a door just outside of the living room and opened it. "Jeff, your daughter's home and she brought a guest!"

I heard foot falls coming up the basement steps and through the doorway came a tall, balding man, in khakis and a blue button up shirt, my Daddy. I gave him a hug and he kissed the top of my head. "I missed you, beautiful. How are you?"

"I'm doing just fine, Daddy, I want you to meet Professor Spock. Professor, this is my Daddy, Jeff Davis."

The Ta'al was exchanged once again. "Momma, I think your catheads are just about done."

"Goodness, thanks for reminding me!" she called as she ran off.

"Mr. Spock, would you like to stay for supper? I want to hear all about how my daughter is doing in your classes."

"Very well Mr. Davis, if you insist."

"I do. I'll be right back. I need to go shut down my computer for the night." Spock nodded and Jeff trugged back down the stairs.

"Supper will be done in about 10 minutes." Momma called from the kitchen.

"Thank you, Momma!" I hollered back.

I turned to Spock and he looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Cat heads?" he asked cautiously.

I smiled, "I promise, it's not what you're thinking. Catheads are a type of biscuit. I hope you'll be alright with the food here. It is definitely different compared to Vulcan food. It's kinda different compared to everywhere else for that matter."

"I expect that it would be."

I nodded, "I'm going to go put my bag in my room. I'll be right back." I grabbed the bag and headed up the stairs.

Jeff came back up from the basement. "Where did Dawn get to?" he asked looking around.

"She went to put her belongings away." Spock reassured him.

"Ah, thank you." Jeff turned toward the stairs. "Dawn, come on down to the kitchen when you're done."

"Alright, Daddy. I'll be down soon!"

"Mr. Spock, follow me into the kitchen and we'll have have ourselves a chat."

Spock followed Mr. Davis into the small eat-in kitchen. The walls were white with yellow border. Along one wall was the stove, counter, and sink. In the corner opposite the stove was the fridge. The small kitchen table was shoved against the far wall. There were four mismatched chairs, one on each end and two in the middle.

"Anna, supper smells wonderful, especially those soup beans." Jeff complemented and smooched her on his way through. "Don't worry, we've adopted a vegetarian lifestyle since Dawn became a part of our family." Jeff told him as he sat in a chair on one end.

"That was logical of you." Spock nodded and chose one of the chairs in the middle.

"Mr. Spock, you seem to be a man of few words. I hope that Dawn hasn't talked your ear off in class."

Spock wasn't entirely sure what Mr. Davis had meant by that, but through an educated guess, he deduced that Mr. Davis was asking if Dawn talked out of turn during her time spent in class.

"Dawn is respectable pupil and the subjects on which she comments benefit the class as a whole."

"That is mighty fine to hear. Mr. Spock." Mrs. Davis commented.

"I'm back." I announced as I came into the kitchen. "Is there anything you need help with, Momma?"

"Set the table." Momma told me. I nodded and began to get bowls, cups and silverware out and placed them on the table at each spot. I then went and looked in the fridge, closed it again and walked over to Spock.

"Professor, we have water, unsweetened iced tea, almond milk, or I can put the kettle on for hot tea. Which would you prefer."

"Water, thank you, Miss. Davis." I got him and myself a glass of water, Daddy and Momma wanted tea. Once the drinks were served, we sat down to pray for our meal and then I served everyone's supper. Once finished, Spock offered to help me wash the dishes, but I insisted that because he was a guest, he didn't need to.

"It is alright, I will help." he insisted.

"Alright, but you're going to wash and rinse. I'll dry and put them away."

"Agreed."

Daddy and Momma left the kitchen to go to the living room. We were told to come sit a spell when we were done.

"T'hy'la, we must tell them tonight. They will wonder why I am here everyday if we do not."

"I understand that, but I'm nervous. I've never brought home a guy before and I don't know how my parents will take it."

"What are y'all yakin about in there?" Momma called out to us.

"We'll tell ya when we're done in here." I answered.

"Well, y'all are slower than molasses."

"Sorry Momma."

Spock looked at me with an upturned eyebrow. "I'm sorry about all the slang. Momma wants to know what we're talking about and we're taking too long to get the dishes done. She's just excited that I'm home."

"Then I suggest we finish our work quickly and join your parents." I agreed and we finished quickly. Out in the living room, Daddy and Momma were in their chairs and Spock and I took the couch.

"Momma, Daddy, there's something I need to tell you." I began but paused and looked at Spock and then back at them. I didn't know what to say next.

"Well, come on now. Spit it out." said my Momma.

I looked at Spock. "She means, if we have something to say, we should just say it." He nodded once and took over the conversation.

"Miss. Davis and I have recently discovered that a bond has been formed between us. This bond is permanent and is one that will yield to a romantic nature as it becomes stronger."

I could tell this wasn't going well. My parents just stared at us, not saying a thing.

Then Momma's face changed, "Well slap my head and call me Sally! Dawn brought back herself a boyfriend."

"Yes, Momma, but it's more than that."

"Mr. Spock, I believe we should talk more about this tomorrow." Jeff finally spoke up.

"Of course. Have a pleasant evening Mr. and Mrs. Davis." Spock got up and walked to the door. I followed him. Then he turned back to me "Dawn, I will return at 0900 tomorrow. "Rom-mu-yor t'nash-veh t'hy'la."

My smile touched my eyes. "Good night, Spock." He turned and walked out the door. Dawn waited until Spock was out of the driveway before she turned back to face her parents.

"Dawnaka Rose Davis, how long has this been going on?" my Daddy was clearly disappointed in me. "You've never kept anything this important from us before. Why now?"

"Daddy, I didn't mean to keep anything from you. I promise that nothing bad has happened. Spock knows that I'm not looking for a romantic relationship right now, but the bond that was formed…"

"Tell us more about this bond. How did it happen?" Momma questioned.

I told them both what had happened with Spock's Christmas gift and about why this bond was considered unbreakable. "I'm still learning about it myself." I explained, "What I do know is that Spock is loyal and protective. He makes me smile, Daddy."

"What did he say to you before he left?" Daddy asked.

"He just told me good night."

"It was something more than that. I saw the way you smiled at him." Momma pointed out.

"He called me 't'hy'la.' In Vulcan it means 'beloved." I confessed.

"Does he know about your past?" Daddy asked in a more calm manner.

"Not completely. I'll tell him when I'm ready." I replied.

"It's been an eventful night." Momma got up and kissed my head. "Get to bed. Spock will be here in the morning and tomorrow's Christmas Eve."

"Alright. Goodnight Momma, Daddy." I hugged them in turn and made my way up to my bedroom.

I woke up refreshed the next morning around seven. After throwing on a pair of blue jeans, a cream t-shirt, and a violet cardigan. I skipped to the bathroom and brushed my hair and teeth while I decided on a hairstyle for the day. After pulling my hair up into a ponytail, I bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Morning Momma." I said as I gave her a smootch and started a pot of coffee.

"Morning baby. How did you sleep?" she asked as she mixed up pancake batter.

"Finer than frog hair cut five ways." I smiled at her.

"It's this boy isn't it? I can see it all over your face." she accused.

"Maybe, but he's not a boy."

"If he's younger than me or Daddy, he's a boy." she said while pointing at me with a batter covered spoon.

"Ya, know, I'm not exactly sure how old he is." I thought out loud.

"If you're planning on being with him for the long haul, you might want to find that out. Before I forget, your Daddy has something he wants to ask you when he gets down here."

"Okay." I silently wondered what it could be. The coffee finished brewing and I went to the cupboard, "Do you want a cup, Momma?"

"Sure, baby, thanks."

I got two cups down and poured cream and coffee in both while Momma finished making pancakes. Daddy came into the kitchen and kissed us both good morning. He was just about to get himself a cup of coffee when there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get." he told us as he walked out to the living room. Jeff opened the door and welcomed Spock inside. "Come on in the kitchen. You're just in time for breakfast."

"Good morning, Spock. Come sit down and eat with us." I offered while I got a jar of strawberry preserves and honey from the cupboard. He sat and I helped my Momma put the food on the table while she got out dishes and silverware. "Would you like some coffee, Spock?" I asked before sitting down.

"Yes, thank you t'hy'la."

"Would you like anything in it?"

"No, black is acceptable."

Anna gave Jeff a look after hearing the conversation. She shook her head and sat down. After giving thanks for the food and the preparations that went into making it, they all ate. Once they were done, Jeff spoke up.

"Dawn, I have something I need to ask you."

"Sure, Daddy." I nodded while I helped Momma clean off the table.

"Spock, would you please help Anna clean up in here?" Jeff asked.

"Of course, Mr. Davis." he replied.

My Daddy turned back to me and said, "Follow me."

I put down the things that I had in my hands and followed Daddy down to his office.

"Hey, baby girl. I know that you said you weren't ready to talk to Spock about everything yet, so I thought that he and I could go get the Christmas Tree while you put out the blanket."

I thought for a moment. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks Daddy." I hugged him.

"You're welcome. I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy."

We walked up the stairs to find Spock and my Momma chatting in the living room.

"Spock," Jeff chimed in when there was a pause in their conversation, "I need your help with something."

"How may I be of assistance?"

"Get your coat, hat, and gloves, and follow me."

Spock and Daddy left to cut down our Christmas tree. Momma got up after they left, "Dawn, go get your coat on. I'll be right back."

I did as I was told. Momma came back with the blanket made of pine branches and some stakes and a hammer. She had it tied with a festive bow and ribbons. "Spend as much time as you need to out there." she told me.

"Alright, thank you Momma."

I left out the back door, and crunched through the snow in the backyard, and up the hill through the woods to my garden. Even in the winter she was beautiful. I put the blanket down in the exact middle and pounded the steaks into the ground so it wouldn't blow away. I sat on the bench that faced her and wept.

An hour later I decided it was time to go back home. I walked through the back door and heard my Daddy and Spock bringing the tree into the living room.

"That is a mighty fine tree, gentlemen." Momma commended them. She heard me come through the doorway and looked at me. "Jeff, will you help me get the decorations for the tree?" Daddy looked at her who then glanced toward me. He nodded and after the tree was in it's stand, they left.

Spock sat down on the couch and offered for me to sit next to him. "Dawn, you're sad, why?"

I looked at him with confusion written all over my face. How could he tell I was sad? I had my shields up.

"T'hy'la, I can feel your sadness through our bond. Will you please, tell me what is wrong?"

"Christmas time is bittersweet for me." I paused and he looked at me knowing there was more to it than that. "Spock, that's all I can say right now. Please don't ask anymore." I felt a tear slide down my cheek. My parents came back in with boxes of decorations in their hands. I could feel embarrassment creeping in. "Please, excuse me." I got up and left for my room.

Spock looked to Jeff and Anna. "Will she be alright?"

Anna sat down the box she was carrying and went over to sit by him. "Spock, my daughter has been through Hell and back again. I don't know if Vulcans have an equivalent of that, but there will always be a part of her that will never heal. Just give her time. What I can tell you is that she is starting to trust you."

"How do you know this?"

"She cried in front of you." Anna answered and patted him on his knee. She stood up and went back to the box of decorations and began to rummage through them. Spock stood up to help, but Jeff came over to him before he could do anything.

"Her room is at the top of the stairs on the left." Jeff whispered to him.

"Excuse me." said Spock as climbed the staircase.

I was curled up under my covers when I heard a knock on my door. "Who is it?" I called out.

"It is Spock. May I come in, t'hy'la?"

I wiped my face with my hands. "Yes." I answered and sat up.

My door opened and I saw Spock's face change from a look of stoicism to a look of concern.

"Oh, T'hy'la." was all he said before he came and sat on my bed with me. "I do not know what has happened, but it is more than just sadness I feel from you. Tushah nash-veh k'du."

I launched myself into his arms and cried. He gently took my hair down from it's ponytail and ran his fingers through my hair. I could feel waves of comfort and strength coming from him and my sobbing seaced. It was then that I realized my comforter had been sent to me in the form of a half Vulcan, half human angel.

"Nemaiyo"

"Taluhk nash-veh k'dular.." he whispered.

"Will you forgive me for not being able to tell you everything yet?" I asked timidly.

"Of course, but there is nothing to forgive."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew." I whispered under my breath.

"Dawn, look at me." he asked more than told and I did so. "There is nothing in the entire universe that could stop me from devoting my life to you. There is also something I wish to discuss with you, but this is not the time. Will you forgive me for not telling you everything yet?"

"Yes, Spock. I understand the importance of secrets."

"Thank you for trusting me."

"You're welcome." I smiled knowing that I wasn't alone in having to keep secrets and that things were going to be alright.

"Lunch is ready!" we heard my Daddy call up the stairs.

"We're coming!" I hollered back. I gave Spock another hug before we left my room. Spock followed me down the stairs and we met Daddy at the bottom.

"Did y'all have a nice chat?" he asked me.

"Yeah" I nodded.

Daddy looked at Spock and nodded who then returned the gesture. After lunch we went to the living room and Momma did the most embarrassing thing ever.

"Momma! Why did you drag that old thing out here? I don't think Spock really wants to see it."

"On the contrary, I am most intrigued." he chimed in.

Momma sat on the other side of Spock and handed him a large binder. "This is Dawn's photo album." Anna explained.

"That is my entire childhood in there." I corrected. "Momma, please." I gave her a concerned look.

"Don't worry so much. I took the ones out that I know you didn't want him to see."

"Alright." I agreed and glad she understood.

The photo album started when my parents were given the right to adopt me as their own. I was only six months old. The album progressed through time. There were pictures of me with missing teeth, me in an elementary school play (I was a flower). In junior high, I made the honor society and there were photos of me and my science fair project. My project was on the life cycle of sunflowers. Then there was me as a freshmen in high school, I was in the choir. My sophomore year my class took a trip to see an opera. I remember liking the formal wear. I actually felt pretty in my long cobalt blue evening gown. Then there was me as a high school graduate. That was just this past spring.

"Spock, do you have any photos from your childhood?" I asked.

"I do, they are at my father's house." he explained. "I notice your passion for plants began when you were young. I understand your fascination of botany. What caused your curiosity in xenoanthropology?" he asked with curiosity in his eyes.

I smiled, "Spock, I'm half Orion and half Vulcan. I grew up knowing almost nothing about where I come from. I believe that lack of knowledge gave me the desire to want to know about everywhere."

"Fascinating." was the only response.

Momma interrupted our conversation. "Dawn, we got to get going soon. It's time to get ready to go."

"Oh, shoot! Is it that time already?" I asked and Momma nodded. "Spock, do you remember how I told you about going to church on Christmas Eve?"

"Yes."

"Well, I've got to get ready to go. Will you come with us?"

"Is my attire appropriate?"

"Spock, you could come to church in your pajamas and no one would care. However, people do tend to dress their best for holidays." I explained.

" I will return momentarily." he told me as he got up.

"Alright, I'm going to go change and fix my hair and makeup."

I got up and headed up to my room. I pulled out my favorite dress. It was a red tea length evening dress with lace sleeves and a bow tied at the back around the waist. I walked across the hall to the bathroom where I put my hair up in a french twist and applied the lightest amount of makeup.

"Dawn, you better get down here. Your man cleans up real nice." Momma hollered up the stairs.

I dashed back to my room to grab my black flats and matching clutch. I could never walk in heels without falling on my face. I could hear my parents talking with Spock as I came down the stairs. My jaw nearly dropped and my arched eyebrows arched even higher. Spock was wearing a black three piece suit with a charcoal necktie and pocket square.

"Wow...Spock." my eyes couldn't drink enough of him in. "You look...very nice." Why have words escaped me all of a sudden?

"And you are exquisite. Your parents are already on their way to your church. Shall we go?" He asked as he held my coat for me.

"Thank you. Yes, we do need to leave." I said as he helped me put my coat on.

"Please hold on to me. There is a large patch of ice on your driveway." Spock informed me while offering his arm. I hesitated for a moment, but then I did take his arm. There wasn't really a reason to hesitate anymore and the driveway was pretty slick.

On the way to church I told him about the meaning of Christmas.

"It is not logical that a young woman would conceive a child in such a way. Based on this alone, how is the religion of Christianity factual? " Spock noted.

"I understand your thinking and I would agree with it had I not experienced certain situations through out my life." I then explained why Jesus was born.

"Jesus and his disciples taught logically. One verse says, 'be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.' Another verse says, 'treat others the way you would want to be treated.' What is illogical about knowing all of the facts before one speaks their mind or treating others with kindness and compassion?"

Spock stopped the car and in the glowing of the dash light, I could see his eyes piercing through me. I obviously said the wrong thing. I could feel anger through our bond. Anger that I've never felt before.

"Spock, I'm sorry, please forgive me!" My arm shot over my head and I braced myself, but after a moment I peeked from behind my defensive posture. The anger across the bond subsided and it was replaced with worry.

Spock started driving again and we made it to church on time. "You don't have to come in if you don't want to." I told him timidly as I got out of the car. I walked up to the little white building and went in. Everyone was already seated so, I sat in the pew at the very back against the wall. The sermon and the songs were the same every year. We read from the book of Luke and just before we sang Silent Night, I slipped out of the building like I had last year. I walked out to the bench just outside the building and brushed the snow off of it and sat.

"Dawn, may I sit?"

I looked up and saw Spock. I nodded and he sat with me.

"Why are you out in the cold? Service is still going on, is it not?"

"There's too many memories in that building, ones that I wish I could forget sometimes." I answered back quietly and continued to stare out into the woods behind the church.

"Dawn, I hope you know that I am not angry with you and I would never hurt you."

"No, Spock. I don't know that. Just because you've never done anything before, doesn't mean you won't." I snapped and immediately regretted it. What if it was my tone of voice that would set him off again?

"What can I do to prove myself to you?"

"I don't know, Spock. Give me time, I suppose. Prove it through your actions and words." I started to shiver.

"Dawn, please come back to the car where it's warm." Spock asked while standing up and offering me his hand.

I stood up and refused the arm he held out for me. I crunched my way through the snow back to the car and got in. All I wanted was be alone.

"Take me home, please?" I asked after he got in.

He opened his mouth, but then closed it and started the car. The drive home was silent. When we got home, I got out of the car. No 'goodnight,' no 'see you tomorrow,' nothing. I walked in through the front door and up the stairs to my room to change into something warmer. I heard a knock at the door.

"T'hy'la, please speak with me. You are upset."

I opened the door and walked past him pulling my coat on. I sprinted down the stairs and towards the back door, where I kept my boots.

"Spock, don't follow me. I just need to be alone right now." I insisted. I left him standing there as I ran up the hill.

Spock heard the front door open and close.

"Where has she gone?" I asked Jeff.

"Where has who gone?" he asked.

Anna's face grew dark. "Spock, she went to her garden. You're faster than us, run straight up the hill until it plateaus, then go left. There is a path through the trees, now run!"

I charged out the back door and up the hill. Her footprints were illuminated by the full moon. I followed until I saw her with her coat off and her back to me and sitting on a bench. I was suddenly hit by a wave of pain. Why was she in pain?

"T'hy'la what's wrong?" I approached her cautiously. When I came around to face her, I saw a knife in her right hand and dark green blood coming from her left forearm. She moved to cut again. I reached out a took hold of her right hand to stop her. I was able to pry the weapon from her fingers and I flung it behind me.

"Why do you want me, Spock? I'm damaged goods! I'm useless, no actually I'm only useful for one thing and I can't even do it right!" she stood and yelled at me.

"Dawn, I do not understand. Why would you do this? You are precious to me. What about doing to others as you would have them do to you? Do you know how seeing you like this affects me?" I was now scared for her.

"Spock, you don't even believe that! So, why does it even matter?" she demanded to know.

I placed my hands on her shoulders so I knew she could see me. "It matters to me because you matter to me." I stated firmly, "Dawnaka Rose Davis, I love you."

"Spock, look behind you." I did as she asked. I saw pine branches laying on the snow. "Welcome to my daughter's grave." I looked back at her with wide eyes and she collapsed.