"Spock, please...I.."

Amanda paused placing her hands on either side of her son's face, doing her best to fight off the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. The loud noises of the shuttles drowning out their conversation to everyone's ears but their own. He leaned into her, she noticed, accepting her gentle embrace and fully understanding all the love and devotion she placed within it. His own hands were placed over hers, dwarfing them with his larger size. It was becoming more obvious by the minute, despite his lack of emotion, this departure was going to be just as hard upon himself if not more so.

"Mother, I must do this. I need..."He paused sighing his hands dropping, disappointment radiating from his every pore. "Father decided not to attend today?"

"Oh, Spock.." Amanda leaned forward embracing him, forgetting the Vulcan taboos momentarily. She could not allow him logically to leave, her only blood-son, without one last embrace. It was hard enough on her conscience that her step-son had not been giving this one last privilege of family before his departure. "He loves you, you know he does. He just does not know how to show it properly. Stubborn man..."

"Grandmother Grayson once told me 'It takes an equally stubborn woman to stand beside a stubborn man'. Was she correct in her observation?"

A smile threatened to spread across her features. It was often said that Vulcan had no-sense of humor. The person who debated this had obviously not met her son or in his better moods her husband. Amanda pulled away allowing her son to see the mirth dancing across their shared eyes. "I would have to agree with her on that, but it is also said that stubbornness is genetically inherited...."

Spock opened his mouth to return the answer to her small tease only to be interrupted by the loud ship-horn calling passengers to the now ready shuttle. The sadness returned ten-fold threatening to rip them both, mother and son, apart. "You will call me and write?"

"As I promised, a call once every week and a letter once a month as logically needed."

Nodding, she moved straightening his cloth from the wrinkles she had placed in them during their small embrace. "I love you, Spock. This is hard you know..my little boy all grown up and leaving me."

"Mother, might I place a quotation into your present state of mind?"

"Of course."

"I heard a song upon Earth during one of the few summers we spent with your parents. I believe it was called 'The Baby'. While it does not affect me ...I think you will find some of the words to be correct."

"You will be safe?"

"Have you ever known me to place myself at risk?" He paused shaking his head as she leveled him with a knowing look. "On purpose, Mother. There is a difference."

"I know, but you're so prone to accidents."

He nodded, both brow's rising. "You are correct. They do seem to be attracted to me." Another whistle as the few remaining stragglers were being called to board. "I have to go now, Mother. Starfleet is waiting...."

"And they are damned lucky to have you..."

"Mother!"

"Don't argue with your mother, Spock. You don't know how special you really are, how much good you're going to do." She smiled a single tear running down her cheek. "Now go before I find a way to force you to stay."

"You will tell Father that ..."

"I will tell him. Don't worry, everything will be just fine."

"Fine is unacceptable.." Another tease as he offered the equivalent of a smile, nodding once. He sighed turning, walking towards his future is slow strides. Prolonging the moment as long as necessary to overcome his fears. They said Vulcan's didn't feel fear. That statement was very much incorrect. Vulcan just did not allow fear to drive them.