I claim no ownership of Star trek or its characters, nor do I make any profit

Getting Serious About It

So much had happened while they were researching the cure for the Vedan fertility problem. They had missed five weeks of subspace calls to Africa, San Francisco, and New Vulcan.

They contacted Nyota's parents first, as it was just after dinner in Kisumu.

"Hello, Nyota and Spock. It is good to hear from you both. We were getting a bit worried. I hope nothing is wrong."

"No, Baba. Everything is fine. We have been very involved in an important mission. What is new at home?

"Akeelah was ill, but she is better now. Tamasha and Louis-Phillipe are expecting a daughter. That means that you and Spock are the only hold-outs."

"Baba!"

"Dear, we agreed not to pressure them."

"I'm not pressuring them, merely stating a fact."

Sarek answered the subspace link.

"Greetings, children. I assume that you have been much occupied of late."

"Yes, Father, our duties have kept us very busy. How are Mother T'Sela and Grandmother?"

"T'Sela is quite well, busy training teachers. It seems that the number of surviving Vulcans may have been greatly underestimated. There were many more on outlying worlds that originally believed. Your grandmother and some other Elders have been quite busy with bonding ceremonies. It seems that even Selek has found himself a mate. I do not know anything about her, though."

"Indeed."

"Yes, we must all do our part to ensure the survival of our species."

"Is that a hint, Father?"

"It is merely a suggestion, my son. Both of you would have much to offer a child."

Nyota rolled her eyes.

"I guess we had better get busy, then."

"If you find the "task" objectionable, beloved, it could be postponed."

"I have no objections at all. It's just that we haven't told our plans to anyone except Leonard. However, the whole family seems to know."

"I believe that they are merely hoping for a grandchild."

"Well, we won't be making one unless you shed some of those clothes. I could help you with that."

"Only if I may return the favor, Nyota."

Sirin and Rachel contacted them first thing in the morning. T'Lonna was rolling over and Hannah was writing her name in Vulcan script. Jason had been advanced another grade level in school. He had been placed in a private school that kept him with his social peers, but allowed him to progress at his own rate.

Sonrisa had had surgery on both of her legs. It had gone very well and she was now walking with crutches. Lewis had taken a leave of absence to help her with physical therapy.

Much to their credit, Sirin and Rachel did not ask Spock and Nyota about their reproductive plans. They were well acquainted with both the joys of parenthood and the sorrows of dashed hopes.

They were both woefully behind on logs and reports, as were the rest of the bridge officers and department heads. Jim kept the Tuesday night meeting brief. The big news item was that they would be getting a leave period on Terra in the middle of June.

When Spock and Nyota got back to their quarters, there was a recorded message waiting for them.

"Hello Uncle Spock and Aunt Nyota. This is Sonrisa. Thank you very much for the language course that you made for me. I know many more words now. Papa says that you would like to know that I walked a little bit today without my crutches. Daddy Jack thinks that you would want to see it, so he...attached a copy of me walking. I love you. Goodbye!"

At the end of Sonrisa's message was a brief recording of her being carried by Lewis to the middle of their family room. He set her down on her feet and let her get her balance. Then he let go of her as she slowly walked to Jack.

Nyota replayed it five times, and then made an announcement.

"I'm suddenly feeling optimistic." She grabbed her husband by the shoulders and pushed him over to the bed.

After Nyota had fallen asleep, Spock took his guitar to the Officer's Lounge. Seeing Jim and Bones were both there, he sat down at a terminal and motioned for them to come at look at something with him. Spock played Sonrisa's message several times until they had finally had enough.

"Thanks for sharing that, buddy. It made my night."

"Jim and Leonard, I need your help with something I would like to do for Sonrisa. When Nyota and I made her language course, we included all the children's songs that we knew in Federation Standard. As neither of us are North American by birth, anything we might translate for her might not be culturally relevant. You are from different areas of the continent, so perhaps you would know different songs. Perhaps you would be willing to sing them for Sonrisa."

"Why, you tender-hearted old hobgoblin! I'd be glad to help out. However, I think that you should open this up to other members of the crew. When they find out it's for our little sweetie, you'll be flooded with volunteers. You might also want to think about some Spanish songs. Jack's family is Mexican-American."

"That is an excellent idea, Leonard. What is the best way to go about it?"

"The way you just did it with us, Spock. Play your message for the crew and then tell them what you need. Very few Humans can say no to a cute little kid."

The next day, Sonrisa's message and video were played at the beginning of all three shifts. Over the course of the following three days, fifty-two different North American children's songs were recorded, including seventeen in Spanish. Spock was quite pleased when he sent his project to the little girl. He believed it would greatly help expand her vocabulary and cultural knowledge.

Spock and Nyota were having a light dinner in their quarters, still trying to catch up on reports and requisitions when the comm link chimed. They had an incoming call from Terra. Spock's cousin Johnathan Grayson had received his message and was returning the call.

"Hey Cousin! How's married life treating you?"

"Greetings, Johnathan. We are most content. It has been quite a while since I visited Minnesota and we did not get to speak much at the wedding. Nyota and I will have leave on Terra in a week's time and we were hoping that we might visit with you."

"Spock, that would be great. Sarah and I would love to have you and get to know Nyota better. We'll have the cabin ready for you."

Johnathan's eyes lit up as though he had just thought of something. Then he laughed.

"Um...Cousin Spock, do you need to make a reservation with Myrtle?"

Spock replied "As a matter of fact, we do. We will see you next week, cousin. Live long and prosper." The communication ended.

"Spock, my love, who or what is Myrtle?"

"You will see, beloved. You will see."

Ah, there was that twinkle again. It had first appeared when she said "I'm not going to update my hormone shots. I want to have a baby ." As a dutiful and loving husband, he would do his very best to make that wish come true.

Bones had received a communication from Empress Greina herself. The five couples who had received the embryos were doing well. The fetuses were developing. There were also about thirty new pregnancies so far, conceived naturally. It was a most gratifying report.

Nyota thought back to a conversation that she had with the Empress. Nyota had expressed her concerns about having a child on a starship.

"When Spock was here as a child with Sarek and Amanda, I envied them all so, especially Amanda. She traveled the stars with her husband, instead of being tied to a palace. She cared for her own child when he was sick. Hers was the face he wanted to see, not a servant's. True, their family faced the dangers of space travel, but they did it together and were enriched by the process. His early experiences with other cultures have helped shape Spock into the person he has become. I would say that keeping your child safe and warm at home may not always be the best policy."

"Also, Nyota, consider this. Millions of Vulcan mothers thought their children safe at home until Nero proved them wrong. There may not be any such place as"safe at home." Pessimists would give up then and deny themselves the joys of children. Optimists will carry on in the belief that the safest place for their child is in a parent's loving arms. People who travel the stars and devote their lives to research and diplomacy are optimists."

Empress Greina was a wise woman.

Nyota was a woman on a mission, and she was very serious about it. She wanted to have a baby. She would wake up early in the morning and pull her husband back to their bed.

On days when they worked in the labs and did not have bridge shifts, she would invite him for "lunch "

in their quarters. Spock and Nyota stopped lingering in the Rec Room after dinner to talk to their friends. They were so focused on "Project Baby" that they did not get around to packing until the day before they arrived at the Terran Spacedock.

Nyota packed and repacked at least five times. She wanted to make a good impression on the Graysons. Spock said that she would mostly need warm, casual clothing. Minnesota could still be quite chilly in late spring.

"Spock, I know women say this all the time, but it my case it's true. I have nothing to wear that fits that description. Actually, neither do you."

"It appears that you are correct, beloved. I suppose we will have to do some shopping in San Francisco. If all goes according to plan, we will have several hours to spend there before we must board the transport to Rochester. However, we do not need to purchase a lot of items. I am certain that Johnathan and Sarah have laundry facilities." Spock sighed. Shopping for clothing was not his favorite activity.

The Enterprise reached the Spacedock several hours ahead of time. Spock and Nyota had time to do some shopping before they had to catch a transport shuttle to Rochester, Minnesota. Nyota was very curious as to just who this Myrtle was that Spock kept talking about. He refused to tell her, but still kept that sparkle in his eye.

A/N:

The next chapter is going to be a summary of what happened in Minnesota. If you want the expanded version, read my fic Meet The Graysons.