Meals with the Uhura family offered, as Spock had observed on several previous occasions, a fine opportunity to observe near-ideal human familial interaction. The back-and-forth between parents and child closely matched the examples Spock had seen in ancient Terran textbooks.

Benjamin and M'Umbha thoroughly questioned Nyota about her duties on the Enterprise and about her two and a half days New York City. Nyota responded with evasions and by offering only half-truths. In the case of their visit to New York, at least, Spock was grateful that she did not provide her mother and father with as full detail as she might have.

In spite of Dr. Uhura's assurances that the women would understand his actions, he hadn't lingered in the garden beyond the hour separating its revelation and luncheon. As had been his original plan, he joined his fiancée's family in time to consume the midday meal.

He listened while Nyota and her mother described the gown and its "perfect fit" to Dr. Uhura, using only the most glowing terms. His mind formed its own picture of how she must have appeared in the object which he, Jim and McCoy had dedicated so much careful labor, and was pleased with the result he imagined. So complete was his relaxation and comfort, he was unaware, at first, that he'd allowed himself a small smile at the vision of his bride walking towards him.

"And just what has you displaying the Vulcan version of a 'Cheshire grin,' mwana?" M'Umbha asked him.

Spock was immediately, almost painfully, snapped out of his reverie.

"I was simply imagining Nyota in her gown, Mama," he answered quite honestly.

His mother-in-law-to-be laughed gently, pleased with his response.

I could become accustomed to such a life, Spock thought, and found another, even wider, smile was taking control of his lips. He applied himself to his, most excellent, of course, meal in an attempt to hide his pleasure.

The ever perceptive Dr. Uhura shot him a questioning glance, and Spock realized further diversionary tactics were in order.

"Doctor," he said, after swallowing his mouthful of cucumber and tomato salad, "tell me, if you will, more of your acquaintance with my mother and her garden."

The sudden silence — the stilling of formerly clattering forks and the cessation of feminine chatter — was not at all what Spock had hoped to achieve.

Two pairs of eyes swung, first to him, and then to his future father-in-law.

________________

Dr. Benjamin Uhura was not by nature, nor by training, a talkative man. He had been born with a desire to seek out information while asking the barest minimum of direct questions; preparation for his profession of choice had only furthered his ability to glean facts from quiet observation.

In the face of one young man's clear discomfort at being the center of attention, however, he rose to the occasion. Swallowing his own habitual, though not evident, shyness, Benjamin decided to tell his tale.

First, he glanced at his youngest child and offered her a sly, almost quirky, grin.

"Well," he began, "it all started the day, seven years ago when I received a communications request from Vulcan." He paused for effect, eyes alight with an unexpected merriness. Dr. Uhura was generally considered to be a very serious man.

"At first, when I realized that Lady Amanda Grayson had contacted me, I assumed that there had been a mistake. M'Umbha may have chosen to be known as 'Mrs. Uhura,' but she is more accurately styled Dr. Wakufunzi, or Dr. Uhura, as I am known, myself. I must say, much confusion has been avoided due to her choice, but on this day, I believed that your mother was not aware of these facts.

"Lady Amanda quickly disabused me of the notion, Spock," he said, though he addressed the entire group. Clearly, he was settling into the telling. "She was calling, she told me, not as linguist who wished to consult with a well-known colleague, but as a mother who needed to speak with a father."

Benjamin slanted what could only be deemed a wicked grin across the table towards his daughter.

"I was quite perplexed about where she might be taking the conversation, so, you can imagine my surprise at her next words, which I will share with you momentarily. But first, I should explain something.

"Of course, I was aware that you, at one time, had been one of my Nyota's instructors, Spock, but I could not think of how that might connect to the communication in which I was currently engaged," he said, apparently digressing. "Briefly, I considered the notion that Lady Amanda might have sought me out to perform an evaluation of her son's mental state, but, as is my wont, I said nothing until she spoke further.

"I admit I nearly feel out of my chair when she continued.

"'Are you aware,' she asked me, 'that your daughter plans to marry my son one day? She has just told me of her intentions, but I didn't know if she'd already let you and your wife know.'"

Benjamin leaned away from the table and folded his hands over his still-taut belly. Spock noticed that Nyota's smooth brown cheeks had taken on a deeply reddish undertone.

"I, needless to say, had not been aware of our little star's intentions, though Lady Amanda went on to assure me that the match was a good one. And after discussing the matter for another hour or so, I concluded that she was correct. We both decided that perhaps it would be best if we waited for Nyota to bring up the subject herself before we shared our news with other…" at this he bent significant looks on both Spock and M'Umbha "parties. We agreed to speak on a bi-weekly basis in order to track the progress of the relationship between our children. As their was often little to report, however – another six months had gone by before the girl even admitted her romantic interest to her mother and me – at times we sought other topics on which to converse, and eventually discovered a mutual passion for gardening."

M'Umbha could no longer control herself. With a frown that was obviously forced onto her face to cover a smile, she swatted her husband on his arm.

"You mean to say you knew our baby was in love for six months before she gave us a hint and you didn't tell me?"

Benjamin, proving that both his wife and elder daughter had been correct in comparing him to Spock, raised an eyebrow.

"I did not think that it was important to do so, my love," he said. "If I had received any intelligence on the matter beyond what our daughter had told Lady Amanda, I would certainly have informed you."

His wife scowled at him, but her eyes were full of laughter.

"And it never occurred to you to mention it at any time in the last six years, since we have both been aware that the children were a couple?" she demanded.

Benjamin smiled at her.

"Of course it did, my love," he told her. "But I do not relish sleeping on the sofa, so suppressed all urges to come clean with you."

Nyota was choking with laughter, tears streaming down her face, when Spock reached for her hand. Yes, he told himself, I could become very accustomed to this life.

But Dr. Uhura was speaking again.

"In any case, once Amanda and I realized we both loved gardening, and that we both struggled with cultivating our plants in inhospitable environments, it was only a matter of time before we were sharing tips and seeds and cuttings.

"It was through that aspect of our friendship," he said, now focusing on Spock, his voice having lost the teasing tone it had featured during his bantering with M'Umbha " that I came to know her rose garden. She told me of Nyota's graduation gift and sent me samples in case I might have better success at increasing the size of the blooms than she had."

He looked down at his plate and reached out to stir its contents with his fork. When he looked up again, his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"I am sorry I could not do as she wished, Spock."

Moved, awed, astonished that this quiet man could feel so much — for his daughter's lover, as well as for a woman he'd never met in person — Spock reached out and touched Benjamin's shoulder.

"Your apology is as unnecessary as it is illogical, Baba," he said. "You have given both Nyota and me a gift that would have otherwise been lost."

M'Umbha and Nyota were weeping at the exchange between the two men.

Neither Spock nor Benjamin believed embracing would provide enough comic relief to cause them to stop this time, so the two remained seated and uneasily resumed eating their meals.

"I hope it is some comfort for you to know, mwana," Benjamin told him, grimacing, "that Wakufunzi women usually only weep so frequently when in the presence of each other. You shouldn't fear that you'll be taking a watering can back to the Enterprise with you."

Spock's lips twisted into a somewhat pained half-grin.

"Indeed, Baba," Spock said.

A/N: I know this one is short, but I hope I'm bringing funny back. Wedding SOON. The boys and the rest of the Uhura and Wakufunzi families arrive tomorrow (their time) and hope to have it all edited and posted no later than Sunday night (my time).

If you're confused about why Spock is happy Uhura is pretty much lying to her parents (and if you're an adult) read Foxy Spocky. If you're a kid, please continue to wonder in vain.

Cheers!

Usual disclaimer about how Paramount owns Star Trek, the characters, the starship, etc