The Prince

Chapter 6

He was working late in the biology lab. There had been a new genus of plant discovered on Hyderion II, and Spock was interested in seeing it. An outside botanist had been called in to help with the examination as well. Apparently, the plant released a certain kind of spore that if hit with it, made a person lose control of their inhibitions. It was fascinating work.

So Spock began studying its affects, dissecting the plant stem by stem, petal by petal. He was so involved in his work that he hadn't noticed a young human woman slip next to him.

"Hello."

Spock looked up towards the voice.

"Greetings." He replied, striating his posture, and placing his hands behind his back. He studied the woman looking up at him. Blue eyes, blond hair. She was a good foot shorter than he, and, he noticed, she possessed an aesthetically appealing figure. She looked almost fragile.

"I am Dr. Leila Komeni. I assume you are Cadet Spock. I've heard a great deal about your studies and I look forward to working with you."

She was straight-forward. No comments on his appearance, and Spock liked that. He had been in many situations where the first thing out of his company's mouths had been about his appearance. Apparently, many people had not seen a Vulcan before. And they liked to gawk. Or worse…touch. And ask horribly personal questions.

But Leila did none of the above. And for that Spock was grateful.

He turned back to the plant laid across the steel table in the lab room. Leila made her way to the other side, and they both leaned over the flower and continued on in silence.

They worked together for months, and as Spock thought about it, he may have liked Leila from the beginning. By the fourth month of their study, Leila was sure she liked him.

It was a new experience for Spock. He had experienced many emotions since coming to Earth, but the one he presently felt he could not describe. He found he enjoyed her presence, and he allowed her to stand closer to him than anyone else. He didn't mind her accidental brushes against him and when she did so, Spock relished the feeling of her warmth. It wasn't often though, and Leila always blushed and apologized profusely when it happened. Spock had told her no apologies were necessary, but she apologized anyway.

And another thing. She always called him Mister Spock.

So when he began experiencing what could only be described as nervousness around her he believed himself to be sick, and felt the need to contact his mother.

II

By the fifth month of this happening, he contacted Amanda. At his first attempt Sarek answered the comm. Spock immediately hung up. His father was the last person he cared to see. So he waited till later in the day when he knew Sarek to be gone and Amanda home, and tried again. This time, she answered with a smile.

Amanda regarded her son's face as he came on the screen in front of her. She hadn't seen him in four years, since her last trip to Earth. Spock wouldn't set foot on Vulcan. And she hadn't talked to him in almost a year. He had grown taller. The skinny boy who had left Vulcan eight years ago now fully grown into a man. And Amanda had to smile, what a man he was!

She was quite proud of herself. Spock's chest had filled out nicely, and his shoulders were broad. Although still in his cadet's reds the uniform fit close to his body outlining a wiry, muscular frame.

He was elegant and regal. Spock was in his typical stance, back strait, hands clasped behind it. Chin up. He took after his father in that regard. In fact, he looked much like Sarek. But she wouldn't dare speak that thought to him.

"Spock! I'm so happy you called! How are you?" Seeing his mother's happy twinkle, Spock couldn't help but allow his stance to relax. She had always had that affect on him.

He did not miss Vulcan, but he missed his mother. It was his human side coming through, but it made him closer to her.

"Mother, I am experiencing something unusual to me. I don't know what it is, and I thought to seek your insight into the matter."

Amanda cocked her head to the side, analyzing her son. "Go on. When did these feelings start, and who and what was around you when they did?"

Spock answered her, starting with the invitation to study the new plant, the appearance of the new botanist. Her "accidental touches and his observations on her physically appealing nature.

He also noted that he had been quite surprised by her knowledge of xenobiology, and astuteness in the study of the new organism. When he was finished, to his surprise, his mother had started laughing!

Amanda laughed so hard her face had turned pink and tears were running from her eyes. Spock was offended, and his posture stiffened visibly.

"Mother, I do not understand what has caused you such great amusement at my expense." His sharper tone caught Amanda off guard and she focused long enough to look at her son. His face remained impassive but his eyes looked indignant.

"I'm sorry, Spock, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but I believe you like the young woman."

She wouldn't venture to say love because, well, she knew her son. She saw infatuation. She saw interest. She even saw a tinge of lust in his eyes, but she didn't see love.

She relayed all these thoughts to him. Translating into a language she knew he'd understand.

"You are experiencing romantic feelings towards her. I encourage you to act on them. I've raised you well; you know how to treat a woman. Now, go for it!"

"Oh, and I love you Spock" she said with a smile. He watched his mother's image fade.

He had no clue what to do in his situation. His mother's revelations on his current state had confused and slightly disturbed him. And although he was well-mannered, he knew this much by the many people who had commented at different social functions he'd attended over the years, he had no knowledge on how to approach the situation with Leila.

She was a terran female. The only other one he knew was his mother, and she had adapted many of her ways to fit her life on Vulcan. So, he couldn't look there. No. He needed a male. Someone he could trust.

He called Captain Pike.

III

The Captain was in his quarters when the comm. Beeped. Curious, he thought. Who could be calling this late? It was 11at night.

"Answer" he called to the comm. He was greeted by his favorite cadets unsmiling face. "Cadet Spock" Pike said in surprise. "I take it this must be important for you to call so late". Pike watched Spock closely. His cadet's stance was in its usual rigid posture and his face impassive, but he seemed concerned about something.

Pike waited.

"Captain, I wish to speak with you on a rather private matter." Pike nodded. "I have consulted with my mother on this, and she seems to think I have developed romantic feelings towards Dr. Kalomi. I am unsure of how to proceed, as she is human and I Vulcan. My mother is human, but I doubt her example is the one to follow. I do not know what to do"

Pike was floored. He had known Lieutenant Spock for over three years and never once had the Vulcan ever said anything about a woman. In fact, he had never even shown interest. It was strange, because over 90-precent of the female population at Starfleet, both cadets and administrators, found him attractive. Pike had been informed of this more times than he cared to count. He had seen them try, and fail as Spock ignored their advances, and he had had to laugh at some of the more dramatic rejections. He had been approached by inquiring minds who wanted to know why Spock had rejected them. And how he had gotten so chummy with the Cadet when no one else had.

Clearly, they knew nothing about Vulcans. So he had explained what he knew about the culture, about bonding ceremonies, ET centre, and basically culminating in a "he's just not into you" mode.

Secretly he thought Spock was asexual and just believed Spock incapable of such emotions. Clearly the Vulcan did not exhibit any. Even towards Pike, whom he considered a friend. In fact, Pike didn't know the Cadet held him such regard until he told him so in a voice so deadpan he thought Spock was joking. Except, Vulcans don't joke. And Pike had felt honored.

So now here he was, basically asking about human courting rituals. And so, Pike gave him a few pointers.

So the next time Spock and Leila were in the lab, he surprised her.

Leila had been concentrating on a peculiar slide under her microscope when she heard Spock call her.

She looked up. He was standing on the opposite side of the table.

"Ms. Komeni, would you like to dine with me this evening?

It wasn't so much the question but the tenor of the voice that melted Leila's heart. He looked so serious, and his voice was so melodic. She'd later compare it to a bass in an orchestra. He really was a handsome man, though very uptight.

It went that way for a time, and Spock seemed content with the dinners every Thursday evening. After three months of this, Leila found herself wanting more. He still didn't touch her, and there were no kisses good night. She began to think about how to broach the subject without scaring him away. And finally, after an intense debate of the biological evolution of the Hyderion fauna, Leila decided to act.

"Spock, would you mind finishing this conversation in my quarters?" It was a bold move, and Leila held her breath waiting on an answer. Spock was completely oblivious to her true motivations and seeing as how they were the last two people in the restaurant, decided, quite logically, that it was the correct course of action.

And so he agreed. He would later note that this would be his first time experiencing human intimacy.

They chatted, still deep in conversation until they arrived at Leila's apartment. She and Spock entered her apartment, and suddenly Spock felt Leila's attention and mood shift. Their chatter had died down and now there was a strange tension between them. Leila turned to face him.

She was inches from him, in his personal space but not touching him as she stared into his eyes. Beautiful deep brown eyes framed in long lashes. She glanced at his nose, strait and distinguished, and finally ended her gaze at his lips. Those full, kissable lips. She had wanted to kiss him for so long. Before losing her nerve, Leila perked up on her tippy toes, and gave Spock his first kiss. But she didn't back down.

Spock was Vulcan, not stupid. He quickly realized Leila's intent. He found the action pleasurable, and rationalized that something so pleasurable couldn't be bad. It would only be logical to reciprocate. So he did.

Leila and Spock moved in tandem, two sets of hands exploring one another. They began walking backwards, Leila's hands caressing his neck, his on her back, lips connected, until Leila's legs his the couch. She fell backwards, pulling Spock on top of her.

She felt his warm hands exploring, gently easing her shirt over her head.

God, how she loved those hands...those lips, the taste…she was quickly shocked out of her reverie when both the kiss and the touch ended…She blinked up at Spock, who looked at her with an expression she couldn't read. Leila's heart sank.

Oh no, please don't let him be reject me, she thought. "Spock, why did you stop?" she asked aloud, afraid of the answer.

"Leila, I do find the actions we are partaking in quite pleasurable, and you are indeed aesthetically appealing, however, I do not know how to continue," Spock responded.

Leila breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, Spock" she said sitting up to face him. "Let me show you" and with that, she threw her arms around his neck, and pulled him back down on top of her.

IV

Spock was 23 the first time he mated with a female. It had been a physically stimulating experience, although, after the deed was done, his emotions towards Leila seemed to disappear. He didn't completely understand why. She was incredibly intelligent, aesthetically appealing, however, after he had mated with her, she had become very…attached. He didn't understand her need to be constantly around him, touching him. Although he had never minded her touches, now she seemed to do it constantly, purposefully. She followed his every move and Spock found this disconcerting, at best. She had also begun to speak of their future together. These talks involved children, family. This was something not tolerable to Spock, as he was already betrothed. There could be no such future with Leila.

It was the second to last week of their research work and Leila had begun speaking of these things yet again. It was most certainly not professional, considering their environment. And, she was touching him, yet again. Spock made a decision. He had to tell her that this could not continue. He did not want to hurt her feelings, but he knew of no other way to get her to cease her actions.

He broke the news to her the day before he was set to return to the academy. He figured it would be easier on her this way, as she would not have to see him again after that day. They were in Leila's apartment.

As she stood to kiss him Spock stopped her, grabbing her wrists gently and pulling her hands down from his face. His expression was emotionless. He was at peace with his decision, and was indifferent to the matter at hand.

"Leila, this cannot continue," he said, matter-of-factly. His voice was a monotone. He looked into Leila's face as she stared wide-eyed up at him, her blue eyes brimming with tears. "Spock, what are you saying? You do not want me anymore?" The tears began to fall.

"Leila, you speak of things which I cannot give you. I am betrothed to another. I have been since I was seven years of age, and I do intended to carry out the arrangement. It is illogical for you to desire me. I believe you should seek out the company of a mate who can fully satisfy your desires. I am not that mate. I wish you peace and long life Leila. Live long and prosper"

His words cut through her like a knife, and Leila felt a sharp burn in her chest, as waves of emotions crashed over her. Hurt, sadness, the pain of such a rejection. Her tears were flowing freely now as Spock dropped her hands and exited her apartment. It was over so quickly…and, to add to the hurt, he hadn't seemed to feel anything. Nothing! There was no remorse in his voice. And his eyes, which she had learned to read so well, had nothing in them. It was as if, he felt nothing for her at all…

Suddenly Leila couldn't stand anymore, and crumpled to the floor. Her body shaking from her sobs. He was gone. And everything she had hoped for in life, gone with him. She had fooled herself into thinking he loved her. He had never said so, but she had seen the end coming. How he had began to withdraw from her, physically, shunning her embraces. He was uncomfortable with her talk of a joint future. What he may have felt for her in the beginning, whatever that was, was long gone.

He had never loved her at all. And she was a fool for ever thinking he had.

A new wave of emotions hit her and fresh tears came as Leila lay still by the door that Spock had just exited, 11 months to the day they first met each other.

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