Chapter 17 – A Good Homecoming

The Enterprise was safe, as was her crew. It was a week-long journey to Earth at maximum speed, since their Warp Core had been destroyed. Everyone was eager to get some rest.

On Spock's way to his room, Uhura stopped him. "Why?" she asked.

"I am not sure I understand." He tilted his head.

"Is it because of Zia?" she asked, glancing around. There was no one in sight.

"I still do not understand."

"You knew I had feelings for you. I thought you had feelings for me."

"You must be mistaken, Lieutenant. I harbour nothing except a professor's regard. You were one of my best cadets, and now I believe you will be graduating earlier than expected."

"Don't change the subject. Just… please… did you ever like me in that way?" She did sound upset. Human females constantly bewildered him.

"No. I never did."

"Now there's Zia."

"I apologise for any misunderstanding," he told her. She gave him a strained smile and looked away. Spock wouldn't pity her for long. After all, he'd given her no encouragement on his side. He'd never expressed any interest. Uhura was young. She'd find someone someday.

o.O.o

Upon their arrival back on Earth, the crew of the Enterprise were labelled heroes of Starfleet for single-handedly saving the entire planet. The Vulcans got to work locating a suitable planet for them to live on. The entire Academy lined up to welcome the crew off their shuttles and clapped as each person appeared. When Zia walked off, Tara shrieked and ran to her.

"So, this is where you were!" she cried. "I thought you'd gone home to your parents."

"I thought that's where you were going," Zia replied, smiling at her roommate.

"Yeah, but then I heard that Vulcan was in danger. That drill thing was terrifying."

"At least you're okay."

After that, the Enterprise was put in for repairs and Spock suggested that her crew go to Ripley's Bar to celebrate. He thought it fitting, as that was a bar that many Academy students had frequented, and its reputation was sound.

Zia sat in a circle of couches with Spock on one side and Uhura on the other. Uhura was talking to Zia again. For the whole week on the ship Uhura ignored the Vulcan for unknown reasons. After a heartfelt questioning, Uhura had revealed her feelings for Spock. Once learning the truth, Zia had been shocked and offered her support. It was hard for Uhura to stay mad at her. She was just so nice.

"Come on Spock!" Kirk cried. "Just one shot!"

"Alcohol does not affect Vulcans," Spock replied, raising his eyebrow. Chekov, Sulu and Scotty were already tipsy and out on the dance floor with some ladies they'd just met.

"What about you?" Kirk asked Zia.

"No thanks," she shook her head. "I'm never letting you give me a drink."

"And I'm never gonna forgive you for slapping me." He downed a shot.

"When did that event occur?" Spock asked. This was new information.

"After you beat me up," Kirk grinned like a crazy man, "she came over and slapped me good." He turned to Uhura. "You wanna dance?"

"Sure." She smiled and stood up with him. "No inappropriate touching," she ordered, wagging her finger at him.

"Okay." He raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, what's your first name?"

"Still not telling." Rolling her eyes at Zia, she followed Kirk to the dance floor and left Spock and Zia alone on the couch.

"Will you be visiting your parents before the holidays are over?" he asked.

"Probably." She smiled.

"Your memories show that they are good people. I would like to meet them someday."

"Okay." She paused. "Would you like to dance?"

"I would like nothing more." He took her hand and they went to the dance floor to show everyone how Vulcans danced.

o.O.o

"Are you certain about this?" Spock asked her.

"I'm certain," she nodded. They disembarked the shuttle and stared across Utah in spring: green grass, orange dirt and a mountain view. It reminded Zia a bit of Vulcan.

"I do not believe your parents will approve of me," he said, grabbing their bags.

"Come on. It's spring holidays and even my roommate has gone home to see her family. You said that you would like to meet my parents, so here we are."

Spock walked down the shuttle ramp with Zia and she drove one of Starfleet's cars (which were reserved for cadets coming to see their families) across country to Payson, the large town she'd grown up in. Thankfully Payson was only thirty minutes' away from the shuttle station. Spock used the time to meditate and calm himself before meeting her parents. While they weren't an official couple, everyone treated them as one, so he had to be careful how he went about this.

"Stop worrying," Zia said. She sensed his mind searching for something to talk about.

"Are you experiencing any nightmares?" he asked.

"No, oddly enough," she grinned. "I've been sleeping really well. Your teachings have allowed me to bury the emotion." Her grin faded. "Maybe it had something to do with the destruction of Vulcan."

"Do not think of it," he said quickly. They were tuned into each other's emotions, and they both knew how deeply the pain of losing Vulcan and most of its people had cut. But they had each other.

Soon they reached Payson and Zia parked outside a café. She turned off the engine, got out of the car and straightened the pretty white dress she wore. It flowed loose over her body and complimented her Vulcan features and auburn hair. Spock dressed in jeans and a loose t-shirt as if it would make them look normal. However, as Vulcans, not likely. Not by a long shot.

They closed the car doors and headed into the café for lunch. They'd agreed to stop somewhere for lunch and get to her parents' house in the afternoon, when her dad was home from work. Spock opened the door for Zia and all eyes turned to them as they entered. Swallowing, Zia went to a booth in a corner and Spock sat opposite her.

A waitress came over. "What'll it be?"

"Just four Kreyla and Plomeek, please Victoria?" Zia smiled. Hopefully the smile would come off as confident and not wimpy.

Victoria, the waitress, blinked. "Is it really Zia Abbott? I thought you were at Starfleet." She turned on her heel and retreated quickly.

"Am I correct in assuming she was one of the tormenters," Spock said calmly, tapping the table.

"Yeah," Zia flushed. "When I first met her, I thought we would be friends, but that didn't work out." A spike of anger pierced her head and she shook her head. "Calm down, Spock."

When had 'Professor' become 'Spock'? Was it when he shared her bed? Or when he'd announced he'd resigned from his teaching post at the Academy?

"I am calm." He stared at her in mock-horror. "What are you insinuating?"

"Nothing." Her heart raced at the softness in his eyes.

Zia was proud of herself. She was no longer the shy cadet plagued by nightmares. Being on the Enterprise had changed her. Falling for Spock had changed her. Now she was self-confident, and she knew her own abilities. She was a woman.

Victoria returned with their food and didn't look at either of them. Both Vulcans saw the fear in her body language. They ate leisurely, talking about Kirk's promotion in a week, when he would be declared Captain of the Enterprise. Spock told her of his wish to serve as First Officer. He also told her about his encounter with Spock Prime, which baffled her completely. She was surprised to learn that they lived in an alternate reality and wondered what her life was like in the other reality.

"I'll go to the counter and pay," she told him. "You stay here and out of trouble." She grabbed her purse and strolled to the front counter.

Behind her, the door opened. "Who do we have here?"

Zia recognised the voice. A thousand horrible memories flashed through her mind and, instead of fear, she felt calm. "Well, if it isn't Dane Caster." She faced him. Her worst childhood tormentor stood behind her. Caster gaped at her, then recognition crossed his face and he adopted a sleazy smile.

"Well, if it isn't Zia Abbott. Was Starfleet not good enough for you?"

Her eyes narrowed. "It is, thank you very much."

"Pretend to be smart all you want." Caster leered and stepped closer. "You're still worth nothing."

Spock appeared beside her. "Is there a problem?" he asked.

"This is Dane Caster," Zia explained. "He's a good-for-nothing scoundrel who gets satisfaction from beating up people who don't know how to defend themselves. Caster, this is Commander Spock from the U.S.S. Enterprise, the ship that saved the planet a few days ago."

Caster couldn't hide his alarm but quickly covered it with a sneer. "You've gotta do a lot more than scare me with some macho hobgoblin," he spat.

"Mister Caster," Spock said, his voice deceptively calm, "you do not wish to tempt the wrath of Starfleet."

"Fine," Caster shrugged. "Have it your way." He pushed past Zia and strutted over to a booth.

"Thanks," Zia whispered. Spock said nothing but placed his arm around her waist, claiming her as his.

o.O.o

Giana and Patty Abbott were not what Spock expected.

They were warm and caring, loved to joke, tease, and play practical jokes. They were quite like his deceased mother.

"So, you were her physics professor?" Giana asked.

"I was, yes," Spock replied, "but I have been transferred to a Starship and no longer keep a teaching position."

"And you fancy our daughter," Patty said. Spock blinked.

"I-"

"Don't sweat it young man! You helped her through a difficult time, and we'll always be grateful. Have you kissed her yet?"

"No…"

"You should probably kiss her."

Spock knew she wanted to be kissed, but he also knew her fear of physical intimacy. He was determined to wait until she was ready before taking any drastic steps. The relationship he was building with Zia made coping with the loss of his planet and mother easier. He wasn't willing to lose her.

Giana smiled. "I like you. You're going to treat our daughter right. You've been protecting her for months, after all, when we weren't there."

"Thank you," he nodded. Zia came in the living room, clean from her shower, and smiled at him. Spock's eyes dropped to her mouth, and he knew her parents were right.

"How did you like dinner sweetheart?" Giana asked her daughter.

"It was beautiful," Zia grinned. "Thanks."

Spock allowed himself to relax in the armchair, content to be a part of this family for as long as he could.

o.O.o

They stayed in Utah for one night before returning to Starfleet. Zia was happy to have seen her parents and she sensed that a weight had been lifted from Spock. He was calmer than he had been before.

Now they stood in front of her room. Spock lowered her bag onto the floor and nodded. "I trust you enjoyed yourself."

"I did." She smiled warmly. "Thank you."

'Zia,' he whispered. The words in her mind were accompanied by the usual emotion, but this time it was something else entirely. He didn't have to say anything else. She felt it, instead.

A smile stretched across Spock's face, a full, warm smile. He took her face in his hands, moved forward, and kissed her.

It had the same effect as a mind-meld. Electricity flooded her body, and she melted into his arms. All that existed in this moment was him.