Disclaimer: I own no part of this ever expanding franchise.

Everything's Relative

"We must acknowledge once and for all that the purpose of diplomacy is to prolong a crisis."

Spock sat back in his chair as the comm. screen finally went black. It amazed him that people could almost have an intergalactic incident over disagreements of whether the h'ordeuvres for a function should be round or square.

"It's mine! Give it back!"

Speaking of disagreements. Spock sighed, got up and walked into their bedroom.

"Leonard, give your sister back her property."

Reluctantly Leonard stuck his arm out towards her bed. His sister grabbed her stuffed whale back and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Amanda, there is an old Earth theory that if you contort your face in such a manner it will get stuck that way. I ask you not to test it."

"Sorry, father."

He nodded in acceptance, putting either hand on their foreheads. Their fevers were each down half a degree that was good. He pulled over the chair near their beds and sat down.

"Father, we are ill you should not remain here," Leonard said.

"Yes, your chances of receiving the infection increase to 46.8 percent by your close proximity to us."

"Up from the 26.3 percent it was when I was outside breathing recycled air. I shall risk it. Besides I have had my fill of bureaucrats for the day and your company should no doubt prove much more stimulating. Now tell me what have you been doing besides engaging in petty squabbling?"

"I have discovered that there are forty ceiling tiles in our room."

"And a spider has created a new web on the window sill," Amanda said, pointing out the structure.

"Tell me more."

Open your mind. We move together."

Amanda finished the assigned chapter and lowered her book.

"I like it."

"It is an interesting scenario," Leonard agreed, putting down his own copy.

"Should we ask him?"

"I'd like to."

Quickly the pair made their way down the hall.

"Father, may we come in?"

"Of course, what can I help you two with?"

"We have been reading a book for our studies and have come across an interesting scene."

"Indeed."

"The author describes a situation in the novel similar to a mind meld. When in physical contact with the elder the main character is aware of the memories he holds; as if seeing it from that person's perspective," Amanda said.

"Would it be like that with you?" Leonard asked.

"It would to a degree. All melds are different depending on those involved and their experience."

They nodded and took a deep breathe as they came to their reason for inquiry.

"May we see him?"

Spock nodded. He had spent a long time preparing for this day. "We will go slowly."

He got everyone set up comfortably on the floor and then let tiny hands press against his face.

"My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts; our minds are merging, our minds are one."

He focused them to the bright areas of his mind; where memories would be safe for them to view. They were young and so it didn't surprise him that they quickly found a memory filled with cute, if useless, creatures.

"Does everyone know about this wheat, but me?"

"Did you get this…at the space station?"

"Of course I am…immune to its effects."

"Does everything have to have a practical use for you? They're nice, they're soft, and they're furry, and they make a pleasant sound."

"So, would an ermine violin, doctor, but I see no advantage in having one."

"Reproducing at will…and brother have they got a lot of will."

The sounds of cooing and squeaks filled their minds; as dozens of the creatures spilled out of a storage compartment; they felt the straining of facial muscles as they fought to remain in stoic neutrality.

"Mr. Baris, I'll hold you in irons if you don't shut up!"

"We quit feeding them they stop breeding."

"Now he tells me."

"Gentlemen, I don't want to break up this mutual admiration society, but I'd like to know where the tribbles are."

"I gave them a very good home, sir."

"Where!"

"I gave them to the klingons, sir."

"You gave them to the klingons?"

"Aye, sir. Before they went to wrap I beamed the whole kitten and caboodle into their engine room, where they'll be no tribble at all."

The meld cut out abruptly as the twins were now giggling hysterically on the floor.

"This is an extremely primitive and paranoid culture."

"Please may we go? Please, please!"

"An amazing parallel to diplomacy," Spock observed looking at the two pleading faces in front of him. "He who yells the loudest gets his way."

It had seemed like a harmless gesture at the time. They had been on Earth and had gone to the aquarium on his day off. A large Humpback whale exhibit had been set up and Gillian was still running it. When they arrived Leonard had run off to look at something he deemed much more interesting. While Amanda had remained with him as he talked to Doctor Taylor. Over the course of conversation, of course, it came up that Spock had helped Gillian and the original George and Gracie. Amanda's interest was peaked. Afterwards Spock had mind-melded with her because she had been curious about the adventure to bring those whales back. He had shown her that adventure and that era of history. This had turned out to be a mistake on his part.

Amanda had become fascinated by the late twentieth century Earth and began to study it extensively. Honestly he had never thought that his twelve year old daughter would develop such a fixation for an entertainer of the period. Posters of him now covered an entire wall of her room and of course his music was on a constant loop in their entertainment system speakers. Spock did admire her resourcefulness in being able to track down audio tracks that were centuries old now and in excellent quality too. Still it was…frustrating to be in meetings with delegates and have his mind filled with nothing but the lyrics to 'Billie Jean'. Spock looked over to the living room and shook his head as Amanda tried to teach Leonard a manoeuvre known simply as 'The Moonwalk'.

"Galloping around the cosmos is a job for the young."

"Father, may I speak with you?"

"You may."

Leonard stepped into the home office; his tall frame nearly brushing to the top of the doorway.

"I plan a rather long discussion perhaps if needed to schedule me."

"Time with you is not something to be scheduled like it is nothing more than a duty," he said, cancelling out of the program he was currently working on and turned his chair to face his son. "What do you wish to talk about?"

"I have received a reply from my application to Starfleet. They have accepted me."

"Then I extend to you my congratulations it is a wonderful honour and the Federation shall receive an excellent cadet."

"Many thanks."

Spock sat up straighter in his chair. This was his son's dream coming to fruition that response was…rather neutral.

"I get the feeling you are not as comfortable with the decision as you were before, why?"

Leonard shifted his weight back and forth on his feet, nervously.

"You yourself left Starfleet."

"I did."

"Were you dissatisfied in your career?"

"Not at all, it was merely a matter of priorities."

"Please elaborate."

"I had been retired from active service and while it is true that I could have attained another position within the fleet it would not have offered the time necessary to dedicate myself to young children. There was a great deal of difficulty in merging family and career at the time, although I understand that is undergoing changes, as with many other things, in Starfleet. Never the less you and your sister were more important to me. Diplomacy on Vulcan was the logical choice."

Leonard nodded it was an acceptable choice and one he did not have to make yet. He was only sixteen after all.

"You still received the rank of captain as he did."

"As a teacher, pushing the next generation forward, I was content in that position. As a true command position I did not desire it and I still don't."

"Still, that I wish to dedicate my life there, in command fully, that I wish to follow in his footsteps. To, in my lofty dreams of youth, perhaps even surpass him. You do not feel that that reflects judgement on you?"

Hiding a smile at those words Spock stood up and came over to put his hands on Leonard's shoulders.

"Leonard, whatever you decide to be, and to do, I shall be proud of you."

"Your final solution was shall we say unique."

"I regret that I cannot meet you upon your arrival as we had planned. I have been schedule for an examination at that time," Leonard reported to his father over the communication screen.

"What is the nature of the examination?"

"I have been unable to determine the nature of the simulation at this time. All files are classified and upperclassmen speak of it only to compare how many casualties they had."

"Ah, yes the Koybashi Maru is infamous for wrecking havoc on students and equipment."

"You know of it?"

"Indeed it is a great examination of your command abilities and I would not undermine it by telling the components and thus depriving you of its character building nature."

"Fair enough."

The image shifted and Admiral Chekov and Commodore Sulu appeared with Leonard and Spock.

"I trust his performance was satisfactory."

Chekov smiled. "He won."

Leonard had no doubt included this memory for visual reference in seeing a response he had never seen from his father before; and never would again.

Spock spit out his coffee on the floor in front of him.

"He what?"

"My son the doctor."

In retrospective Jim had only been wrong about the gender, Spock thought as Amanda moved through the crowd of people; holding onto her diploma so hard the frame was threatening to crack.

"Congratulations, doctor," he said, and straightened the tassel on her cap.

"Thank you. It somehow seems like it isn't real. Like all that hard work hasn't finally paid off. Illogical isn't it?"

"Perhaps, but pride and elation in one's accomplishments is perfectly human."

"Why did you marry her?"

"At the time, it seemed the logical thing to do."

It was logical on all counts. They were compatible, a union would provide greater insurance in Starfleet for both of them in a worst case scenario; most importantly of course was that Salak made Amanda happy.

Spock had been dreading this day from the moment she had brought him home.

He watched her as she finished setting her hair in mirror. Spock went still for a moment remembering all the times he had done it for her. That was the real issue at play here. In his own illogical way he knew no one would ever be good enough, in his eyes, for his little girl.

She sighed as she put down the brush and he came over to her; putting his hands on her shoulders.

"What troubles you, Amanda?"

She pulled an old picture on the dresser closer to her.

"I wish for him to be here now, to see this. To be a part of it with and us…and to be there afterwards as well. Salak and I will be traveling a lot and contact with you will be less frequent. Leonard I may not hear from at all knowing what a mess he'll get into without me."

Spock understood completely. Change, even welcomed change, was still frightening. He knew that she wished to have the familiar with her even as she took steps towards a future she knew was right for her.

Spock unclasped the pendant that had remained around his neck for many years and quickly slipped it around hers.

"Father, no! I could never ask…"

"And so you did not ask. I am offering it of my own volition."

Amanda looked in the mirror as the necklace settled against her skin. She gripped the ornament that inside held the only personal words ever spoken by her dad outside of memories and old interview tapes.

"Thank you."

Spock leaned down and placed a gentle kiss against her head.

"Come, the bride should not be late to her own wedding."

"The more complex the mind the greater the need for the simplicity of play."

Shore leave was being had on Earth; on the old Kirk farm. And Spock was finally able to get an answer as to why he and Leonard were doing so much walking during it on their fifth trip around the tiny lake.

"You wish to induce labour?"

"I do."

"Leonard I know we've had the discussion of how one obtains offspring, was I not thorough in explaining where they come out?"

Leonard looked down at the bulge that was to be his third child.

"Although the prospect of expanding my family is wonderful and fills me with joy I find the process of carrying my son most uncomfortable and annoying."

"I see, and T'Par agrees with this?"

Leonard smiled as the baby kicked.

"She wants to see him too."

They fell silent as they came back to the camp site. Amanda had it half set-up and was looking ruffled as four young children ran around the clearing.

She glared at Spock with a look that clearly said, deal with them.

"What would you suggest I do, Amanda?"

"Entertain them. You're the grandparent it's in the job description."

Spock's grand-children were happy to help him fulfill his obligations as they grabbed onto his arms and pulled him close to the small dock on the lake.

"This is most unnecessary I took a shower and I washed my hair thoroughly."

They just laughed and pushed him into the lake; jumping in after him.

When he surfaced Leonard and Amanda were standing on the dock smiling down at him.

"I think he's started a new fashion trend, wouldn't you agree, Leonard?"

"Oh, absolutely! It is a wonderful look for him."

"Then I should not be selfish and deprive others of it," he said, quickly grabbed them by the ankles, and yanked them in as well.

Other people have families."

Night had fallen and as everyone sat around the campfire T'Nika pulled out a bag of puffy white cubes. Leonard watched his daughter put several them on one end of a small thin stick.

"What are you doing, T'Nika."

"I am preparing to toast them."

Raavik pulled out two more food packages from his bag as the marsh-melons went near the fire. "A classmate of ours has described an interesting recipe of putting the sweets with chocolate between graham crackers. They called it smoes."

"That's s'mores, dummy!" his brother ridiculed.

"Mama!"

"Selkirk, we do not use such language to address others," Amanda admonished, as she helped them prepare the snacks and put them out for everyone.

"An interesting concoction," Leonard, said looking at the small pile on the plate.

"And you don't get chocolate, Leonard," Spock said.

"And you wonder why I wish to induce labour," Leonard responded, and grudgingly took a plain one.

It was surprisingly good.

"So, T'Nika, after we consume the marsh-melons then what do we do?" Leonard asked.

"I believe there is a ritual known as the sing-along."

Spock nearly choked on his drink. "What are we going to sing?" He managed to ask.

"I have a suggestion-"

"Amanda, we are not singing 'Thriller'."

She swatted her brother lightly on the arm. "I was not going to suggest that. I don't wish to scare the children."

"But we like scary things. In fact we want to hear a scary story instead," Selkirk said earnestly.

"Oh, yes," T'Sal agreed. "Grandfather, will you tell it? We want to hear one about you and Grandpa Jim."

"And remember it has to be scary," Raavik reminded him.

Spock thought back for a moment. "The stardate was 3045.6 and the crew of the Enterprise were traveling to the Cestus III outpost. Where Jim had to fight against the seemingly indestructible creature known as the Gorn…"

(End Chapter 5)