The Two Big Ones

Chapter Two - Kal'i'farr

The Vulcan Embassy, San Francisco, Earth

June 2263

Nyota

Spock woke her up, saying breakfast was on the way and she needed to get up and get a quick shower. He had obviously already had his. She gave him a quick kiss and headed into the bathroom. She was drying off when she heard the door chime and the sounds of the waiter bringing the cart in. She wrapped her hair in a towel and threw her robe on and went out to eat.

When he had finished his breakfast, Spock came over and stood behind her and rubbed her hair. And then he went and got her hairbrush and brushed and brushed while she just sat there and enjoyed. But soon she needed to get up and finish dressing, and pack the remainder of their things so that they could go and check out.

They quickly walked the short distance to the Embassy and the gatekeeper had the door open for them before they were quite there. Up in the turbolift again. Spock walked her to the door of the room where she would change her clothes and handed her the duffle with her things in it. He leaned over close to her, their foreheads meeting. In another moment he would have kissed her, but the door opened behind her and he straightened up, nodding to the Vulcan woman who stood there. She sighed softly and turned and entered the room as he turned and headed back to the turbolift. She supposed this woman was probably scandalized by their behavior. Well, too bad. After all, they were actually married, and had been for some time.

Inside the room, she quickly unpacked her duffle and withdrew a small packet from the very bottom. It contained something that she had kept hidden from Spock and now was the time to go and put them on. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door, stripping off the clothing she had worn over here, down to her bare skin. She opened the small packet and drew out two lovely pieces of lingerie - panties and bra to match, made of lovely ivory silk and lace. Smiling, she drew them on. She turned about before the mirror, looking at herself critically. Yes, this would be a very nice surprise for him tonight. She gathered up the clothing she had worn in here and opened the bathroom door.

Now there were two Vulcan women in the room, as well as her mother. Oh, just great. Now she was going to look like a strumpet. But none of them said anything to her about what she was wearing, and her mother's eyes were twinkling. She hung the slacks and shirt in the closet and dropped the underwear she had worn only briefly into the top of the duffle, where it sat on the closet shelf. Now the Vulcan women approached her, with things in their hands. One of them pointed to the chair, set out in the middle of the room, and she seated herself. And they began to work on her hair. Her mother sat in the chair by the balcony window and watched, amazed at what they were doing, and that she allowed them to do it. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but this was an important day and she was going to do everything possible to conform today. This was for him.

After they had her hair arranged to their satisfaction, they began with the makeup. She closed her eyes and held her breath. She never wore much makeup at all and this was even harder to stand than all the manipulation of her hair. She wasn't sure she would even be able to recognize herself when they were done. When they stepped back, and she saw her mother's face, she wasn't sure whether she wanted to scream or cry.

Now they brought out a long dress bag and opened it up. First there was the underdress. It was so soft, so thin, such a lovely lovely shade of ivory. Almost a perfect match to her underwear! She stood up and they carefully slid it over her head, holding it out so that neither her hairdo nor her makeup was damaged. Then there were the slippers - she couldn't call them shoes, for there was really very little to them, and they were so soft. She wondered whether there was enough cushioning in them to protect her feet - she was going to be standing for a long time today. And they wound the silk ribbons up her ankles and calves and tied them, just below her knees, right below the hem of the underdress.

Next there were bracelets - for her upper arms and then her lower arms. And a necklace as well, laying on her collarbones. And last the overdress. Even softer and sheerer than the underdress, with a high collar that clasped in the front with jewels, and then hanging open all down the front. If she hadn't put on that underwear, she would be very immodest, indeed! The sleeves were almost more like epaulets, standing out stiffly to the sides, edged in something sparkly. The rest flowed down, from many many tiny pleats, clear down to her ankles.

And now, finally, they brought her to the mirror and let her look. She gasped in surprise. She had never expected to look like this! Exotic, and ...sexy. She could hardly wait for Spock to see her. She had an advantage they probably did not know about --- she was going to be able to feel everything he felt when he saw her. She smiled in anticipation. This was going to be very, very good.

Her mother came and stood beside her, afraid to touch anywhere. "Oh, baby girl, you look so lovely. Spock is just going to be blown away." She sighed. "Guess I better go and find your father now. I will see you in a little bit." And she was off, out the door and gone.

The two Vulcan women indicated that it was time to go and she followed the first one out the door, the other following behind. She went where they led her and stood there, waiting. It would not be long now. She found that her heart had speeded up and her palms were damp. And there, in the back of her mind, she felt him, eager. And she smiled, happily.

Spock

When he left Nyota, he went straight to his father's quarters. He did not bother to announce himself, after all he had been here many many times. This had been their family quarters all the years he was growing up. Whenever they had been on Earth, this was where they had lived. He walked into the living room and there was his father, standing before the window, gazing out. Sarek turned and looked at him, nodded slowly. Then he turned and headed into the room that had been Spock's when he was a child. There, hanging in the closet, were the new robes that had been made for him. Fine black wool slacks and long overtunic. Soft black silk undertunic. And there, on the bed, a black silk undergarment. He looked at that, and then thought of Nyota's surprise to see him in it. Yes, he would wear that. He realized that Sarek had left the room, and he quickly stripped down and began to dress. When he had on the undergarment and the undertunic, he found the soft socks and pulled them on. And when he had sealed the slacks, he slipped his feet into the soft leather shoes that he found on the closet floor. He slipped his arms into the voluminous sleeves of the overtunic and sealed the front. He ran his hand down the swirling glyphs on the front, his full name, embroidered there in strands of silver.

He turned to the mirror and looked at himself. He had not been dressed in this manner in years. He found his hairbrush and straightened his hair, slightly mussed from dressing. And there, on his old dresser, he found the wrist clasp. He bent it, to open it wide and laid it about his left wrist, squeezing it so that it would close. Engraved on it, the symbols of his house. Something he had thought never to wear. He must thank his father.

He stepped out of the bedroom, back into the living room, stopped. His father's eyes swept up and down, lingering over the metal about his wrist. And then they rose to meet his. "You are an honor to our house, my son. Come, let us go and prepare." And he turned and led him out and down, to the small room with the altar and the firepot and incense burning. And they knelt there together, calming themselves, making themselves ready, until the time had come for the ritual.

***

When it was time, they rose, and walked out into the prepared area. Spock walked across the room and struck the gong, hearing it vibrate about the room. He paid no attention to those gathered here to witness, his entire essence focused on the entrance at the other side of the room. Again he struck the gong, and now he heard the jingling of the bells. Outwardly calm, inside he trembled, so eager for her. There, in that entrance, movement. The litter appeared, T'Pau riding calmly, not showing any expression at all. And the women, with the bells strung on the frames, jiggling them to make them chime. And finally, at the very end of the procession, there she was, a vision of beauty. His vision narrowed, until she was all he saw. She advanced until she stood opposite him, and then turned. He turned as well, and they advanced together, to kneel before T'Pau. She looked down at them and raised her hands, speaking the old words. And then she laid one hand on his face and one on Nyota's and entered into their minds. She found the existing bond there and she did...something...and the bond was stronger, so much stronger. It sung to him, glorious. And there was Nyota, his Nyota, so wonderful. And he sensed T'Pau now, and felt her approval. Her surprise. And then her hands dropped away and she bid them rise. She spoke. "Telik" Nothing else was necessary.

He rose to his feet and extended one hand to Nyota. She took his hand and rose as well, twining her two fingers about his as they turned and faced their families and the others gathered around. They crossed the space to where the gong hung and together they held the mallet and struck the gong for the last time. It was done. He hung the mallet back and took her fingers again, leading her to his father. He lifted their linked hands before them. "Sa'mekh, t'telsu."

His father laid his hand over their linked hands. "Sa-fu. Ko-fu." And then he bowed his head, just briefly, before removing his hand.

Now they turned and crossed the short distance to where Nyota's parents stood. Again he raised their linked hands. Nyota's father grasped them with both of his. "My daughter. My son." And then her mother reached out and clasped them quickly as well, tears brimming in her eyes.

And now it was over and they were truly bonded. It was such a relief. He felt her, there in the back of his mind, overflowing with love and happiness. And now they only had to endure the reception. He led her off, down the path that his father had indicated yesterday, and her parents followed, and his father joined them as well. Down to the ballroom, to stand by the door and form the standard reception line, to greet those who had come to observe.

When all the guests were through the line and circulating about, then they must circulate as well. There was much 'chatting' necessary. There were many Vulcans, extremely polite Vulcans, who had found it necessary to examine his wife as though she were some strange object that he had purchased in a marketplace. It was necessary to restrain his anger on more than one occasion during that interminable day. But it pleased his father, so he endured. And it seemed to please Nyota, too. She did not seem to find it nearly as irritating as he did. She looked so lovely in the formal Vulcan dress his father had brought from New Vulcan for her, he had trouble taking his eyes off of her. It was so soft and sheer and moved about her body in ways that made his blood simmer. Perhaps he could get her to wear that dress again when they were back aboard the Enterprise.

At some point during that day, he realized that he had achieved status within his race that he had not had before. So there had been reasons for all the ritual, even if he had been resistant. He would need to think more about this later. Right now all he could think about was her, sparkling and glowing at his side.

Eventually, the guests began to leave. All the ambassadors and other dignitaries came one by one to express their good wishes one last time and then they left. Captain Pike came up and pounded on his back and gave Nyota a big hug, making her blush. It was good to see him walking tall and straight again. When almost everyone was gone, Nyota's parents came and hugged her and whispered in her ear, and she laughed and blushed again. And then they went to the refreshment table and filled up the box that one of the waiters handed them and they were gone as well.

Nyota looked at him, nodding at the table. Yes, that was a good idea. They had not had a chance to eat anything since breakfast. He led her over and another box was produced and they filled it up. And then the waiter reached under the table and produced a bottle, which he handed to Spock. Ah, Champagne. Well that was certainly traditional here on Earth. He took the bottle, only then realizing how chilled it was. The waiter instantly reached down again and returned with a small towel, wrapping the bottle in it for him. He nodded his thanks.

They turned toward the exit and found that his father was now the only other person in the room. He nodded at them and waited until they had reached his side before speaking. "I am pleased with you, my son. You have conducted yourself well today." He reached out and took Nyota's hand in his, a very surprising gesture. "And you, my daughter, are a miracle. You bring much to our house. I wish you both happiness." And then he dropped her hand and turned and led them out of the ballroom, to the turbolift. And did not enter with them, but stood to the side, his lips quirked up slightly.

They rode up in the turbolift, not speaking, just leaning slightly on each other. Down the hall, into their rooms. He set the food and the wine on the table and turned to her. For the very first time since they had left their hotel that morning, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. He found he did not want to stop kissing her. Nor did it seem that she wanted him to stop. But he drew back, panting softly. "Nyota, you must eat. You have had nothing since breakfast." He laid his forehead against hers, treasuring her. He breathed softly, promising. "After you have eaten, k'diwa, then I wish to see what it is that you have hidden under this lovely dress."

And she smiled at him, glowing, and ran her hands over his body, and promised that he would be surprised. And he was. And he was very, very careful to tear nothing she was wearing, because he desperately wanted to see her wearing it again.

___________

Kal'i'farr = the Vulcan bonding ritual, equivalent to a human marriage

Telik = married, bonded

Sa'mekh = father

T' = possessive - my, mine

Telsu = one who is bonded

Sa-fu = son

Ko-fu = daughter