A/N: Disclaimer is in the first chapter. Other than Vulcan words, letters in italics represent people's inner thoughts or give emphasis. Our canon is that a Vulcan pregnancy lasts eleven months.

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Chapter 8: Like Father, Like Son

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Shi'Kahr, 2165

The temperature inside the cave was warm and comfortable. In short, it was most agreeable for an elder like himself.

Sitting as comfortably as he could on the stone bench, Solkar of Vulcan stretched his legs. It was something he had been doing often during the last decade and, although it gave him comfort, it also was an unfortunate reminder of years passing by.

Then he glanced discreetly at his first-born sitting next to him. Solkar was satisfied because so far Skon was handling the situation acceptably.

Tradition dictated that Vulcan males were not present during the birth of their offspring. They waited outside the cave or in the next room. Only after the birth was the male allowed to see his bondmate.

Solkar lowered his head, considering a tradition as ancient as their civilization. For every aspect of Vulcan life bowed to biology, a most cruel dictator.

But it could not have been otherwise. For a species in which families shared a mental bond, the agony and physical pain during childbirth were difficult to control, more so to ignore.

During childbirth the mother was assisted by midwives and healers. Female members of her family were also allowed to attend. But no males.

For one of the driving forces behind every male's actions, was the instinctive need to protect his mate – the only person his existence depended upon.

That factor made attending childbirth, during which a mother's life could be endangered, an unbearable task. One that tradition wisely covered with its protective veil.

Thus, the ancient Vulcan tradition based on their biology, became part of the logical civil society Vulcans adopted after Surak: apart from healers, no other males were allowed to witness childbirth.

Yet, sometimes even waiting in the next room … did not make the experience easier.

The telepathic bond between a couple left no secrets between them. Nothing, no agony, could go undetected and that included physical pain. Especially physical pain; because of Vulcan physiology, healers rarely used anaesthetics during childbirth. Such drugs could affect a newborn's brain because of the mental bond it shared with the mother. Only after labor ended did healers provide the mother with the necessary painkillers.

Thus the need for control. Strict control.

Solkar was pleased that, despite his heavy schedule and numerous obligations, he had managed to return to Vulcan in time to attend the event.

As it happened, over the last nineteen years, he had taken several off-planet assignments. Solkar currently headed the Vulcan delegation to a council of four species, all seeking to establish interplanetary treaties and a cooperative "Coalition of Planets." It was a unique project, something unprecedented in Vulcan history.

As a result, he was off planet when, ten months ago, his son Skon had called to inform him he might become a grandfather. It was something he and his adun'a had anticipated for decades – it occurred, at last, in their son's tenth Time.

Unfortunately, he couldn't return home then – there was no logical reason. The birth, however, was a family affair and Solkar was pleased he had managed to return on time, leaving behind his colleague Soval as head of Vulcan's delegation.

There was one more reason why he had to stand by his son during this day. Solkar was now the only elder male in the family. T'Rama's father had died four months ago; his old friend would never meet their first grandchild, the one both clans anticipated so eagerly. Solkar wasn't a gifted telepath but, through his paternal bond with Skon, he could sense how much that loss had hurt his daughter-in-law.

It was the second loss the S'chn T'gai clan had suffered during the last year. Three months before that, when T'Rama was in her fifth month, Eiren, their family healer, had passed away quietly in his sleep.

Kaiidth. What is, is, Solkar thought, contemplating the never ending circle of life. Then he turned his attention back to his son, who was sitting next to him.

Solkar observed his elder offspring. Truth be told, he was proud of the way Skon was dealing with his own first-born's birth.

Skon was nervous. He was frightened and – to a careful observer – it showed. His gaze was sharp and severe, almost hostile. Each time a cry or a growl was heard from the next cavern, his nostrils flared and his ears perked up, as if he was about to attack.

Sitting on the bench next to his father, his posture was that of a creature ready to jump – his shoulders were tense. In the last hour, as T'Rama's cries of pain had increased, Solkar saw him shivering twice.

Despite this, Skon was controlling himself, sitting and – thus far – waiting patiently. He had tried to hide his shivering by rising and walking to and fro. But it was still difficult; Solkar knew this first-hand.

For in the next cave Skon's bondmate, T'Rama, was giving birth. And her cries, although rare, were most disconcerting.

However, in the family all was silence. Solkar said nothing and continued to do what he'd been doing for the previous thirty-one hours.

He sat quietly on the bench, reading from his PADD progress reports sent by his fellow delegates who remained at the negotiations on Earth. He had taken a four-week leave of absence, but the negotiations couldn't be delayed.

The lengthy text was highly confidential, a draft document that would set the foundations of the proposed interplanetary organization. So far, the participants included Vulcans, Humans, Andorians and Tellarites. He saw that the name of the coalition might be changed to "United Federation of Planets."

As a species, Humans were still young and, as Solkar had discovered, quite immature. On the other hand – and this had come as a surprise to everyone involved – Humans were the ones that convinced Andorians and Tellarites to be in the same room during the current discussions.

To Solkar, this was an outstanding achievement; he gave Humans much credit. Therefore the elder diplomat had insisted, and managed to convince the other two involved parties, that the formal negotiations should take place on Earth. Further, he proposed Earth as the site of the capital and the Office of the Federation President. It was only logical.

Solkar looked again at the draft. To his eyes Humans seemed childlike, driven by their desire to reach the farthest star … to peek at what was behind it. Humans had potential, if they could only master their uncontrollable enthusiasm.

To this day Solkar shuddered as he remembered that undisciplined, loud, and utterly uncomfortable first contact he made with them.

He didn't mind so much that Zefram Cochrane and other Humans embraced him and his crew, some patting, others pounding, the Vulcans' backs with happiness. For a non-telepathic species of primates, it was an understandable reaction.

He didn't mind when the natives continued to talk and ask many questions which, back then, he and his crew were unable to answer. They didn't understand a single word the natives spoke.

He didn't mind participating in a feast in honor of their encounter. Humans were harmless and their beverages had no ill effects on Vulcans.

However he had minded when the natives insisted he participate in singing a song named "for he's a jolly good fellow," with them. Though fairly rhythmic, it sounded more like shouting than singing. Only later did Solkar learn what the words meant.

Solkar suppressed a shiver and cast these thoughts aside. First contact or not, there were some things a respectable Vulcan should never do in his lifetime.

Yet again… could it be that the raw desire Humans exhibited was something the other three species lacked? He stared at the PADD's screen, although by now he wasn't reading the text. His thoughts traveled far away, to that young species that had recently discovered warp drive and teleportation. Solkar was certain that Humans would bring a breath of fresh air to the new alliance.

The Charter was scheduled to be signed the following year. If Solkar could find a way to reconcile every member race's peculiar requests…

That was when both males heard it.

Sobbing. A female wept.

Solkar discreetly set his PADD aside.

Then came the sound of a prolonged, anguished cry. T'Rama was in agony.

Skon jumped to his feet, his eyes nailed to the cavern's entrance, a stony expression on his face.

For one point five seconds nothing else existed on the entire planet, except the cave's opening in front of him and T'Rama's pain coming from their bond.

But before Skon managed to take another step, a hand strong as steel grabbed him by the arm. The grip was not what anyone would expect from a one hundred-sixty two-year-old ambassador.

Skon took a step forward but his father stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

Solkar spoke in the calmest tone.

"No," he said, his voice both firm and tender, as if he spoke to a pre-kahs'wan child. "No," he repeated. "Skon, listen to me."

Skon was oblivious of his father's voice – he could focus only on the cave's entrance. He pressed his hand to his right side, feeling an ache there. Solkar stood blocking him, not willing to withdraw in the slightest. As Skon took another step, he heard Solkar's feet scrape on the sand.

"Skon." It was both a parental plea and an order. "Kroykah."

And for the first time his son looked at him. Skon's face was completely frozen. Only his pupils dilated.

Yes, Solkar thought. I was wise to come.

"She is well attended," Solkar said, trying to offer reassurance. "T'Ella and your mother are with her and will not leave her side."

Skon swallowed hard. "She is in such pain," he said, unable to conceal his bitterness.

"Which is perfectly natural. There are two healers and two midwives with her. She will do well."

Still, Skon continued to look, unconvinced, at the cave's entrance.

"T'Vikhar and Paton are among the best healers in Shi'Kahr. T'Fevia and T'Etras are most experienced midwives. She will do well," Solkar repeated. After a few uncertain seconds, his son nodded.

"Of course… She will do well," Skon said, almost to himself. Looking down, he observed that he was standing. When had he risen from his seat?

Ashamed, he lowered his head. "I … apologize for showing emotion, Father."

But his apology was lost in the sound of another long cry that echoed throughout the cave. Skon shut his eyes tight, as if that would prevent him sensing his bondmate's agony. Witnessing that, Solkar wasn't pleased – he was grateful he had managed to leave Earth on time and return home.

"It is of no consequence," Solkar replied, placing a hand on Skon's shoulder.

The elder diplomat's mind was working. Perhaps some distraction was in order.

"You know," he continued, "this reminds me of the day you were born."

Skon looked at him. He was sensing every bit of T'Rama's pain and the knowledge that he was completely unable to help her… simply tore him apart.

There was so much pain in his son's eyes, the kind of pain Solkar hadn't seen since their family lost their pet sehlat, when Skon was four point nine years old. Skon had been deeply affected by this loss; it had taken him more than fifty years to take home another sehlat.

Yes, Solkar thought. He did not belong anywhere else right now. His son needed him.

A diversion, then.

"Shall we sit?" he asked, guiding Skon back to the bench.

I'Chaya, who all this time was lying next to them, watched the whole scene with a half-opened eye; the other one was still sleeping. When the two men sat down again, I'Chaya closed both his eyes and tried to return to his never-enough sleep, a not-so-difficult task.

Drifting off between sleep and awake, the bulky sehlat wondered about Skon's illogical reactions; he had to keep his friend under close surveillance.

Of course I'Chaya didn't like the fact that T'Rama was in pain, but it was natural. The mother of I'Chaya's children was also in pain when she gave birth to their four cubs, but she had not cried out, and afterwards she was well enough to give each of them a thorough bath and eat the afterbirth for strength.

So I'Chaya didn't understand why Skon was so nervous. Especially since T'Rama would give birth to only one cub, instead of four.

Lying comfortably on the hot sand, the sleepy sehlat smiled. He had so many tricks to teach the new cub, once it managed to stand on its own two feet. He closed his eyes, and continued dreaming of the new member that would soon join the family… and long excursions in the Forge, for just the two of them.

When Solkar and Skon sat next to the large sehlat, I'Chaya was already snoring again. Skon caressed his sleeping friend. He would never forget that I'Chaya had once saved his life.

"You were born inside that cave too," his father informed him.

"I am aware of that," Skon nodded.

"Your birth didn't last this long, however."

"Indeed. Mother said it lasted two and a half hours."

"Four."

Hearing that, Skon was unable to hide his puzzlement. "Are you certain? Mother–"

"Four hours, twenty-one minutes and forty-nine seconds."

"I … see."

"Your mother referred to the labor itself," Solkar explained. "You came two weeks earlier than expected, which was a surprise. Eiren arrived in our house thirty-one minutes after your mother began experiencing mild pains. Upon examining her, not only did he announce your arrival; he also judged we had sufficient time to follow the traditional way. Your mother agreed ... It took us another hour to prepare quickly and come here in the middle of the night.

"After your birth, twenty-one more minutes passed before I was allowed to see your mother. Forty-nine seconds elapsed before I took you in my arms. As I recall, it was …" Solkar tilted his head, "quite a wait."

"You stood alone?"

Solkar thought of that day, which he considered one of the most important of his life.

"Yes. Both our parents were out of town at the ancestral shrines. They had arranged this small trip to offer prayers for your safe arrival and would return a few days later. Everything was planned for the time of your birth, but, as it happened, you were in a hurry to see the world. They met you the next afternoon."

Skon thought of his previous impulsive reaction. How could he even think of entering T'Rama's cave? He lowered his head in shame. What example he would set for his own son who was – after so many years of his parents' longing – coming into the world?

"I doubt you attempted to walk inside the cave during my birth," Skon murmured, clearly distressed by his lack of control.

Solkar's gaze traveled lazily across the rough rock ceiling. "No, I didn't." His memory took him several decades back. "But I thought about it."

"Really?"

"The temptation was … keen." Observing his son's surprise, Solkar's lips quirked up. Children always had the tendency to idealize their parents.

"I was fortunate pi is a transcendental number," Solkar admitted. "I started computing, got distracted, and restarted more than ten times."

Touched by this confession, Skon observed his father.

He recalled how this man, who had given him life, had also stood by his side during every important moment of his life. Every time Skon needed him, Solkar had always been there for him.

"Thank you, Father."

The elder man looked at his first-born. Skon was a hundred and six years old; there were traces of silver in his once-dark hair and in a few moments he would become a father himself.

Yet, Solkar didn't see that.

For a few seconds he saw the smallest infant he had ever seen, covered in what he considered as the most precious substance in the entire universe, T'Yann's blood. This was the same cave where he first held Skon in his arms. His son was screaming in protest, seeking his mother's tender embrace, her nursing milk. Seeking protection. Warmth. Safety. He settled Skon into T'Yann's arms and their bond shimmered with love.

Solkar saw a toddler taking his first steps.

A seven-year-old walking out of the Forge.

A student who was accepted into the Science Academy.

A young male surviving his first Time.

It would be illogical not to acknowledge that child's gratefulness.

"You are welcome, my son."

Another whimper reached their ears. A female cry. A plea.

A sob.

Then another.

Two sobs. Two nails through Skon's heart.

A pained female voice was heard from the next room. "How much longer?" T'Rama groaned between sobs. "I'm exhausted …."

"It won't be long now," T'Etras, one of the midwives, replied.

"Have patience, daughter," T'Ella was heard. "It will end soon."

"Oi, m'aih," T'Rama sobbed. "Can't you give me something? Anything?"

"Any kind of drug will affect first you and then the child," Paton said. "As a telepath you had better not risk it, unless you find yourself in extraordinary need. For the next hour, you need to master all your control."

"It is acceptable to scream, T'Sai, if it helps you control the pain," T'Fevia suggested. "It is not rare," the midwife assured T'Ella and T'Yann.

"Hold my hand," T'Yann said. "Breathe, daughter, breathe. Concentrate. Breathe."

T'Yann's words were followed by a low, prolonged moan.

Then there was silence.

With his peripheral vision, Solkar looked at his son. Skon's face was white, as if all blood had drained from it. He continued to look straight toward the opposite wall.

In this hour of difficulty, the father placed his hand on his son's shoulder sending him some mental support and strength.

Skon swallowed hard and, through his marital bond, redirected the strength to T'Rama. It took him a few moments to speak again with an even voice. "It's just that … we are not in our youth anymore."

"Your mother and I had your sister when we were ninety-nine years old," Solkar reminded him. "You are forty-three years older than T'Pau."

"Mother was fifty-six when she had her first child," Skon argued. "And she has never suffered a miscarriage, let alone three."

"True… True," Solkar nodded. "That is why there are two healers in there, apart from the two midwives. Skon, T'Rama is well taken care of. Her physical condition is excellent. She can give birth in the traditional way; it is her wish. If a midwife even suspects there is need to transfer T'Rama to the hospital, all of us will be beamed out of this cave in two seconds, regardless if T'Vikhar or Paton might agree. And both are among our finest healers – everybody is highly skilled. But so far all goes well. It only takes… longer than usual."

"I know. And I am trying to think… positively."

"Well, if all else fails, there is always pi," his father suggested, a mischievous spark in his eyes. Higher-level mathematics for physics and engineering was Solkar's passion, one he shared with his son.

Despite his agony, Skon's lips actually quirked up. "Indeed," he whispered in a drowned voice and took a deep, shaky breath. His gaze was fixed upon the entrance of the next cave.

Solkar estimated that his distraction was successful. He decided to continue.

"Actually, I expected to become a grandfather earlier."

"How so?"

"Well, ever since you and T'Rama decided to share a bedchamber–"

"What?!" Surprised and ashamed, Skon sat up straight, and stared at his father with wide eyes. "How did–"

"—I know? It wasn't that difficult to guess. One day T'Enia and T'Nooun came to find me. They asked if I knew whether you or T'Rama were displeased with T'Enia's cooking or the way they handled your household, as they had been asked to absent themselves on certain days. I told them I knew nothing of the kind and that their services were most acceptable.

"So, from one day to another, you and T'Rama required … privacy. As I said, it wasn't difficult to guess. Sooner or later, most couples go through that stage in their marriage."

Astounded, Skon looked at his father, who returned an amused look.

"What?" Solkar asked innocently. "Do you think you are the only couple sharing a bedchamber?"

"I–" For a moment Skon was out of words. "I hadn't thought about it," he admitted. He appeared quite discomfited.

"In that case, let me assure you, you are not." Solkar shook his head. "It is not very practical, nor is it traditional. Sometimes it is a little inconvenient," he mused, thinking about his own marriage.

"Indeed it is," Skon agreed.

"But it certainly is pleasurable," Solkar smirked.

Hearing that admission, Skon's ears turned into a deep shade of green. If his father knew, then that meant his mother knew… And of all the things he had imagined doing on this day, learning that his parents were still – quite illogically – mating, was not one of them.

"As I recall," Solkar continued his ruthless assault, "your mother handled your birth in a considerably different way than T'Rama."

"Did she? How?"

"T'Rama expresses pain, which is very natural, and quite logical. T'Yann expressed… anger. During her labor, I heard her loudly accusing me as if I were responsible for her troubles."

"That is not logical. You were not the one to blame."

Amused, Solkar nodded. "Technically, I was. Like T'Rama with you, T'Yann was impregnated during my Time."

"Nevertheless, her accusations were not logical. What else could be done?"

"I agree; however I was hardly in a position to disagree with her at that time. She was … profoundly angry. I consider myself fortunate we weren't in the same cave. Luckily, her anger lasted only during labor. Eiren said that the pain was intense because of the labor's short duration. Besides, T'Yann has never been displeased with me since that day," Solkar declared, highly satisfied with his important accomplishment.

"That is fortunate indeed," was Skon's sarcastic comment.

Solkar gazed the opposite wall. "Hmmm … True. To this day, I have not dared to ask her where she learned all those pre-Reform profanities…" he murmured, glancing around the hall. Ιf these walls could speak they would have many stories to tell.

Profanities? His immaculate mother? Skon decided once again to say nothing.

Both men sat next to each other and waited patiently. The cave's silence was broken by sporadic cries and harsh grunts of pain, accompanied by a healer's or a midwife's mollifying voice.

T'Rama's labor had indeed lasted an unusual amount of time.

For the next hour, the only sounds both men heard, apart from T'Rama's cries and moans, were instructions from the midwives.

"Hold your breath … Release … Inhale. That is good. One more time. Now, push. Push. Push. Stop. Breathe. Breathe. Well done, T'Rama."

"There. There." (Paton)

"Yes, I see it." (T'Vikhar)

"Hmmm…" (T'Fevia)

"Should we wait?" (Paton)

"Is something the matter?" (T'Ella)

"Healer?" (T'Fevia).

"What is it?" (T'Yann)

"No, we won't wait." (T'Vikhar)

"What is it?" (T'Yann)

"The head has stuck, it's nothing serious." (T'Fevia)

"HOW is it possible that he is stuck, when all I do is PUSH?" a frustrated T'Rama yelled … then promptly gasped with pain.

"Breathe, T'Rama, breathe," Paton's calm voice replied. "Here," he said to T'Vikhar.

"I thank thee," T'Vikhar said hastily, taking what was apparently a laser scalpel. "Just one incision, T'Rama, to enable the baby's head more room to pass. I will use a dermal regenerator to suture it after the birth. Healer Paton – T'Yann, T'Ella, please help T'Rama overcome this pain – T'Rama, breathe and hold …"

Solkar, unable to pretend he wasn't concerned anymore, focused once again on his son. To an outsider, Skon might appear calm and collected, sitting quietly on a bench.

Yet, a careful observer could see that his fists were clenched so tight, his finger joints were almost white. And he had turned very pale.

That lasted several more minutes until… a weak cry reached their ears.

A newborn's cry.

A newborn baby cried from inside the cave.

Skon was at the cave's entrance before Solkar managed to realize he had just become a grandfather.

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To Be Continued…


Vulcan words (from the Vulcan Language Dictionary)

m'aih: mother

Kroykah: stop


Author's note: According to Memory Beta, Solkar was born in 2003. :-)

The way I visualize my stories, I consider the scene where Solkar observes Skon, and recalls images of him as a baby growing up to adulthood, as the tenderest scene I ever wrote. Second comes little Spock, in the tenth chapter of "Various Shades of Gray", sitting on the arboretum's roof and thinking how his kahs'wan changed him as a person. The third is most probably in the next and final chapter.

I'd like to express my warmest thanks to SpockLikesCats who edited this chapter, but I feel simple "thanks" are not enough for all her clever ideas and suggestions. I forgot to mention it back in the second chapter but T'Rama's awesome line "I look unobjectionable!" was one of her suggestions. In this chapter – among other things – she named the healer T'Vikhar. Of course all remaining mistakes are mine. It is only logical.

Your thoughts, comments and ideas are most welcome.