Disclaimer: I own nothing. Unlike chapter one I do not own anyone in this chapter.

A/N: Keep in mind that this chapter is actually set five years before chapter one.

Reviews are like puppies; so cute and playful until you get drooled on. Please, don't be the drool. Be the puppy.

Origins: The Journey Begins

Chapter 2: One Last Chance

APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS EARLIER.

STARDATE: 2230.211 (Fri, July 30th, 2230) [6 hours pregnant]

The Vulcan air was humid and hot. The morning had retired and the afternoon began its shift. It was 2:30pm Earth time and Ambassador Sarek and Lady Amanda were patiently sitting on a dark heavy stone bench outside a private room.

They were at the Vulcan Medical Clinic in the city centre. The building, like many of the other buildings in the city, was made out of heavy stone. The stone was mined from nearby mountains and used to build many structures, including the Vulcan Medical Clinic, Vulcan Embassy Headquarters and even the Vulcan Science Academy.

Amanda was jigging both of her legs as she sat and waited for the door of the private room to open. She knew Sarek was watching her, but she couldn't help herself. She hadn't been this nervous since she was 24, some 11 years ago.


…Precisely 11 years, 1 month and 14 days ago…

STARDATE: 2219.166 (Thurs, June 15th, 2219)

Amanda Grayson was asked to give a speech on the properties of high climate plants both Terran and Non-Terran. Amanda grew up in a family that was devoted to the study of plants.

Amanda's parents, Charlie and Georgina were both botanists. Georgina was a botanist professor at the local college and Charlie was the gardener. During the breaks between her classes Georgina took her lunch and sat in one of the college's gardens. There she would sat and ate while marvelling at the different flowers in bloom. After teaching her classes for the day she would stroll through the garden path on her way back to the shuttle bay. More often than not she ran into Charlie who was carefully tending to the different gardens. She would stay and talk to him for hours. Sometimes she'd stayed back long enough to miss all of the available shuttles back to her house, resulting in Charlie having to give her a lift home.

After they had married years down the track they'd had Trevor, Amelia and Amanda. The Grayson's prided themselves on their gardening and cooking skills. Trevor had followed in his father's footsteps and become a gardener at the local college. However, he was asked to fill in for one of the sick professors one day and never looked back. He then spent most of his time in a science research centre studying plant biology, and giving lectures to students whilst trying to broaden his own knowledge.

Amelia worked with plant-based pharmaceuticals; she came up with natural remedies to cure everyday illnesses such as common colds, nausea and headaches.

Amanda had followed her mother's footsteps and become a professor in botany. She'd found that the more she studied the properties of foreign plants the more challenging it was and in turn was more stimulating and fascinating. Her research had earned her a place in the upcoming presentations that were held in Seattle.

The small auditorium was filled to the brim, 500 chairs had been placed in the space and every single one of them had been filled. There were even people standing up around the edges. All of them seemed interested in what she had to say, they even had pads and electronics to keep notes and recordings.

She wasn't the only person speaking that day. There was a line-up of 12 other speakers, each with something different to say about the nature of plants and their practical uses in everyday life.

One old man, who had a history in medicine, spoke about the Andorian flu and how humans are less prone to the flu than Andorians but suffer four times as worse if they somehow contract the virus. He went on to inform the auditorium that he was conducting an experiment; testing different plants that will one-day help cure the virus.

A woman no older than 20 spoke about how deep sea plants could crush the libido of an Orion upon consumption.

Amanda Grayson was the fourth person to speak. She was nervous but held herself together. Her nerves built up as she looked out over the crowd for the first time. She decided to stare at a particular spot against the back wall. In doing this she managed to recite her speech with little difficulties and was rewarded with a strong round of applause.

She exited off the stage with a bright, beaming smile. She peered off to the side to see her parents and siblings anxiously waiting for her; her older sister clapped her hands before waving at her furiously. Amanda made a bee line straight for her family but was cut off by someone stepping in front of her.

Amanda looked up at the strange person before her. He was taller than she was, her eyes were in line with his chin. She had to take a slight step back in order to take in the full image of the man in front of her. As she took in his appearance her nerves were replaced by shock. She tried to speak but failed. She thought she must have looked like a fish out of water with her mouth opening and closing the way it was. He was no man at all. He was a Vulcan.

They stood there for so long in silence that Amanda felt that the Vulcan was examining her. She wanted to break the silence but the Vulcan beat her to it.

"Your hypothesis for plants with a high temperature tolerance is most amusing." The Vulcan began. This made Amanda sigh in relief. She had heard that Vulcans were hard to impress. Perhaps she didn't do too badly after all. "Although most of your personal observations and assumptions are erroneous, your research into this subject is… satisfactory."

Amanda smiled then squinted as she processed what he had just said. Had he just insulted her? Okay, Vulcans were harder to impress than she'd thought. "Excuse me?"

"You may be excused." The Vulcan nodded politely and stepped aside. He obviously didn't understand the meaning behind the phrase.

"No! Wait a minute. You think that my research is 'satisfactory'?" She retorted. She was not happy at this Vulcan's remark to her study. She clenched the speech in her hand in order to stop herself from yelling out. She had thought about hitting the Vulcan over the head with it, but decided against it. Amanda rarely got angry, many people that knew her also exclaimed that her tolerance was beyond compare. Only very few people had the gift to really piss her off and this Vulcan was quickly becoming one of them.

"Of course." He'd replied simply with no emotion. His posture and facial features gave away nothing.

"What makes you think that my research is 'satisfactory'?" She'd silently seethed as she'd crossed her arms.

"Clearly your research has been just that. Research. Judging by your conclusion you have never had any practical experience with off-world plants."

Amanda's mouth had begun to do 'the fish' again. She knew her mouth was going crazy, but it kept her from slapping this jerk. She was outraged. Who did this Vulcan think he was?!

"Have you been off-world before, Dr. Grayson?" He asked. The use of her title shook her from her malicious thoughts.

"No." She tried hard not to let her anger control her.

"Then it is settled. I will organise for you and your team a return trip to Vulcan to study the flora and its effects under a different sun. The experience itself should either confirm or deny many of your speculations. You have potential to become an accomplished doctor in your field. Having done practical work on another planet should prove your theories once and for all to be either correct or incorrect. The results will speak for themselves. All funding will be paid for and accommodation will be supplied free of charge." He spoke evenly. His face never giving away any hint of emotion.

"You what?!" Amanda exclaimed in total surprise.

The other guest speakers around her had stopped momentarily to stare at the odd pair. They'd noticed the Vulcan; unmoving, placid, unemotional. They'd also noticed her; loud, shocked, enraged. The other guest speakers had slowly returned to what they were doing.

"I said that I will organise-"

"—I heard what you said. I just can't believe it!" Amanda had replied as she'd run her hands through her hair, her written speech falling to the ground. She'd bent to pick it up. She'd returned to her full height and eyed the Vulcan before her. She was in disbelief.

"What is it that you do not believe? Have I not made myself clear?"

"No! No. You've made yourself very clear. But why would you go to so much trouble for something as small as this?" She'd asked as she held up her crumpled speech.

"Trouble? Vulcans pride themselves on knowledge and research. It has been this way since the time of Surak. When presenting information to any crowd, large or small, the truths and facts must be statistically correct. Like I have stated before 'your personal observations and assumptions are erroneous'. This research, though enlightening, is not thorough, therefore not presentable." He still remained impassive. He quirked his eyebrow as he waited for her to reply.

It was then that Amanda noticed how handsome his features were; perfectly cut silky, dark hair, small lips, dark eyes, even the tilted eyebrows, and the pointed ears were to die for.

Amanda had found herself blushing from embarrassment. She'd looked down to hide her red face from the Vulcan before her. She took a breath, regained her confidence and looked back at the Vulcan. "So you're funding this whole expedition due to the fact that my research wasn't statistically proven?"

"Indeed." He responded, his hands had moved from behind his back to straight down by his side, his dark eyes were blank and his voice was steady.

"Why would you go to all the effort and spend plenty of credits just to prove something scientifically correct?" She asked.

"It is only logical."

Amanda began to think of everything that would be needed to make this expedition possible. "To supply everything for my team, from travel plans to accommodation would cost a fortune!" She stated.

"I assure you, it is not a problem. It is for the good of science."

She had been so caught up in the flurry of things that she forgot to ask the Vulcan who he was. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?" She said as she was processing the information given to her.

"I am Sarek." The Vulcan spoke casually. He looked over the head of the young human woman before him and noticed that one of the stage crew was motioning him over towards the stage. "I must take my leave. I am needed on the platform." He ended the conversation abruptly without any further words.

Amanda stood plastered to the spot soaking in the overwhelming news. Sarek was the name of the Vulcan Ambassador. Reality struck her. He offered to pay for her entire trip then said that the cost would be no problem for him. She grinned widely, "I can't believe I just met the Vulcan Ambassador."

Later, during Sarek's speech, she'd found out that he was not only the Ambassador but also the direct descendent from Surak himself and in line to become the head of clan.


…Present Time…

Amanda kept looking at Sarek's unmoving facial features. He sat next to her on the stone bench. As she fiddled with her hands he sat still, back ramrod straight, eyes rarely blinking. Although he appeared calm on the outside Amanda knew he was concerned on the inside. She could feel it through their bond.

Amanda closed her eyes and tried to recall the first time she'd met Sarek to keep her from fidgeting. She leant back, her head resting against the deep brown stone wall behind her. She started to reminisce about that day she first met Sarek. It was the same day that he declared to the public that the planet Vulcan had become a part of the United Federation of Planets.

She was pulled from her thoughts when the heavy door opened beside her. She jumped to her feet and faced the stoic Vulcan before her. Sarek stood too, only he moved much slower, making sure that he did not display his eagerness or concern. His face remained calm and his breathing even.

The Vulcan standing before them was tall, taller than most Vulcans, yet he was neither large nor lanky. His posture supported his strong build perfectly. His hair was styled in the traditional Vulcan manner and his eyes were a deep hazel. His strong cheek bones emphasized his long face. His white science jacket came down to his ankles, his shoes were covered by white slippers.

"Come" The Vulcan spoke. His voice was even and deep. Sarek and Amanda allowed the tall Vulcan to lead the way before slowly following him into the room he had just appeared from.

Unlike the rest of the building this room was white. The floors were of slick white marble and the walls were of white stone. They continued to walk further into the white room. They had been there precisely 12 times before, but the steel tables, desks and instruments still unnerved Amanda. 12 times she had entered this room and 12 times she had exited the place heartbroken and all the more desperate.

The Vulcan led them to the all too familiar side room. The small room was even whiter than the last room they had just been in; the fluorescent light made Amanda squint as she entered the room, Sarek's expression didn't falter. Before Amanda could adjust to the blinding light she was presented with the protocol white science jacket. She, along with her husband, didn't hesitate to comply.

Once cloaked in white they proceeded to the white table against the far wall. The tall Vulcan had been adjusting the microscope when Sarek stood to attention beside him. Amanda stood wearily behind Sarek.

"What is your professional proclamation on the matter, D'Torres?" Sarek asked as he peered over the white table, gazing down at the microscope.

The tall Vulcan stepped backwards and allowed Sarek to peer through the microscope. "I believe that this one has been successful." D'Torres spoke in his deep steady voice.

"Indeed." Sarek spoke as he continued to stare through the lens.

"Really?" Amanda asked trying to hide her excitement as best as she could. She didn't want to get her hopes up until she saw the evidence herself. She stepped forward and scooted Sarek out of the way. She took a couple of deep breaths to try and soothe her rapid heartbeat then looked down the lens of the microscope.

D'Torres simply nodded before extending his answer, "Before today, the Vulcan sperm did not take well to the human egg. Many times the conception had failed due to the differences in genetics between the two species. To put it simply, Vulcans cannot breed with humans. It is entirely unsurmountable. I experimented with different techniques, and even though thickening the outer layer of the egg allowed for conception, it never carried the embryo long enough to be classified a foetus."

Amanda nodded at D'Torres to silently inform him that she understood. He continued, "However, by using the thickened egg technique and combining it with the properties of the sap in the stem of the Fertatious flower I have managed to strengthen the eggs structure so it will endure the changes from embryo to foetus. I also have used a Vulcan equivalent of steroid to strengthen the sperm so that the foetus will not perish throughout its gestation."

Amanda's ability to control her excitement began to betray her the more D'Torres spoke. She started to shift her weight from one foot to the other as the reality of it all finally began to set in. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and began to chew on it softly to try and stop herself from screaming out in pure joy.

She had to force herself to listen to D'Torres, "All of these chemicals and medicines will affect the child's growth and development either in a positive way or a negative way." He paused to look at Amanda. He noticed that she stopped fidgeting when he mentioned the word 'negative'.

When she didn't speak, he decided to continue, "There is a 7% possibility that the child will be born with advanced abilities beyond that of the average Vulcan, this includes both mental and physical capabilities. A 13% possibility that the child will be born under normal conditions with average results, a 23% possibility that the child will be born with a disability," He paused to look at Amanda's disheartened face.

D'Torres took a moment to give Amanda time to come to terms with the facts.

"What about the remaining 57%?" Sarek stepped forward as he questioned the doctor.

"There is a 57% possibility that the child will die before or during the birth." D'Torres stated.

There it was. The gut-wrenching truth. Amanda had been through 12 'miscarriages'. This was her last chance. She nodded her head before looking back at the microscope. She made her way back over to it and peered down the lens once more.

She couldn't help herself. No matter how bad the odds were she was currently pregnant. Amanda allowed a small smile to appear on her face. She looked over at Sarek who was as passive as ever.

"How long has it been since conception?" Sarek spoke to break the silence that had filled the room.

"6 hours, 4 minutes, 22 seconds." D'Torres answered.

"We're pregnant Sarek!" Amanda exclaimed, unable to contain her joy.

"That statement could not possibly be factual." D'Torres stated whilst looking at Sarek.

"It is a human colloquial phrase." Sarek informed D'Torres who nodded in understanding.

"After all these years, I'm finally going to be a mother, Sarek." Amanda said as she smiled broadly at her bondmate, reaching out to clasp at his arm excitedly.

He patted her hands gently and responded, "Indeed."