The Bride

When Nyota and Spock entered Sarek's mansion, they found Sarek seated at a table with one Vulcan, whom Nyota automatically recognized as Sybok, from her earlier dream, and a much older man whom she recognized clearly as Ambassador Spock, from her own intensive familiarity with Spock's face. All three of the men turned to look at them when they entered the room. Spock stood with his hands behind his back as the other Vulcans stood up, Spock introduced, "This is my wife, Nyota Uhura. Nyota, my half brother, Sybok, and Ambassador Spock."

Nyota bowed slightly to both men, reminding herself that to walk up to either of them and shake hands would not be their way, but Sybok walked over to her, lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it gently, tickling it with his beard as he did.

"It is a complete pleasure to meet you, Nyota." He said. She glanced at Spock to see his eyes narrowed at his brother, but other than that, Spock showed no sign of anything rash (of course). She shyly pulled her hand away and bowed her head, once again. Sybok was very handsome to her. In her opinion, he looked even more like Spock than Sarek did. Sarek shared similarities with his sons, but somehow, Sybok and Spock looked more like each other than either of them did to Sarek. That utterly confused her, considering that they had different mothers. Her guess was that Sybok's Vulcan mother must have looked similar to Amanda.

Being in the presence of these men made her nervous, and she knew that they could sense it. Spock's father was intimidating enough, even after three years of being familiar with him, she still became slightly tense in his father's High Vulcan presence. Then, to add an emotionally passionate version of Spock to the room and literally an older and wiser Spock, as well, just made her overcome with all kinds of perplexed emotions... all steamy. She needed to get out of there. Now, she felt intensely grateful that Vulcans had a practice of the dinner guest preparing the meal and serving the host.

She turned to Spock and said, "Be seated, Husband. I will prepare the meal." She pulled an empty chair from under the table, in which Spock sat and Sybok rolled his eyes at the interaction.

The somewhat older, hairier version of Spock asked, with the most amusement that she ever thought she would hear in a Vulcan's tone, "Please tell me that you are not following the dinner practices of dead and gone Vulcan. You do not have to do that here, on New Vulcan. It is a new place and will give life to new ways amongst the Vulcan people."

Sarek interrupted Sybok's taunts with the simple advice, "My daughter is pleased to serve in my home. Allow her to do so without perturbation." Sybok smiled at Nyota and she turned from his stare to enter the kitchen.

Sybok sat down in his seat and said, "It doesn't seem right for a woman to pretty herself up so well to slave in the kitchen by herself. Spock, how did you come to be so fortunate as to collect for yourself such an exquisite bride?"

Spock looked at Sybok and answered simply, "My mother is quite responsible for our union. She orchestrated our coming together with her human meddling. I must say that I am not disappointed in the interfering."

Sybok smiled brightly at Spock. Ambassador Spock and Sarek exchanged glances. Both of them knew that Sybok had a tendency to be far too open with his opinions, and he seemed along that course of action. He had not had much exposure to Spock in the time after the destruction of Vulcan, and both of the elder Vulcans silently worried that Sybok might push the young Vulcan too far, if Sybok's eyes upon Miss Uhura had been any indication of his opinion of her. Sybok said, "Of course you are not. Why would you or how could you be? The woman is as close to perfection as one might get, like the glory of God wrapped in beautifully mahogany colored human flesh, her skin's fragrance as intoxicating flowers blowing in a breeze..." Spock's eyebrow raised and his nostrils flared a bit.

"Sybok. Perhaps you could keep your opinions at a minimal level as it relates to your brother's wife." Sarek now advised.

Nyota returned to the room with a large bowl and said, "I thought that you may wish to begin to have fruit while I finish the meal." She smiled at Ambassador Spock and leaned slightly close to him as she placed the bowl on the table. He smelled her fragrance and was inclined to agree with Sybok, on all of his points, however, was far too distinguished to ever make such a comment openly.

Sybok stood and said, "I insist on helping you with the meal."

She argued, "It is customary for the guest at a Vulcan dinner to prepare and serve to the host." To be honest, after her dream, he was the last Vulcan in the building that she wanted to be alone with in any room.

Her response amused Sybok as he responded, "I know a thing or two about Vulcan customs, and I do not particularly care about them." No wonder Spock had gotten this woman. For a human, she had certain Vulcan reactions, such as reluctance of emotion. He could read her for what she was with ease. This was an extremely passionate woman who suppressed her passions for far too long. Spock probably helped her to release some of her passions, but she should be overflowing with it, as it clearly rushed through her veins. Sybok could sense passion and pain, and this woman had both, in abundance. She became noticeably nervous as Sybok began to move from the table.

Sybok headed for the kitchen, but Ambassador Spock stood up and said, "If you insist that Miss Uhura needs aid, I will assist her. You may remain here with your father and your brother. Take the time to try to mend things with them in a way that you did not have an opportunity to, in my time." Ambassador Spock went into the kitchen and Nyota followed. She gave Sybok one last look, hoping to see a trace of defeat. Instead, she was greeted by a delightfully interested look of challenge. It bothered her so much she vowed not to look at him again. Ambassador Spock turned to her and asked, "What can I assist you with, Miss Uhura?" She smiled. So, when she and Spock grew old together, if he ever thought to call her "Miss Uhura", it would still give her a tingling feeling. It felt so strange to be in a room with a man who was her husband, but over a hundred years older.

Finally she replied, "I can truly handle dinner on my own. I am curious to learn about you, though. You and I, really." She felt herself blush into her cinnamon color that Spock found "oddly irresistible" and she dropped her head to the floor. She became an even deeper color when she realized that she wondered if her blushing had the same effect on this Spock as it did her Spock. She tried to finish up her previous thought, "I only mean..."

He cut her off and said, "Miss Uhura, I had no such relationship with you in my time line as you do with Spock." She startled at the news. This was something that she had not anticipated in hearing. She did not know what she did expect, but she knew that this was not it. She wondered if her Spock knew this, because if he did, he certainly had not mentioned it to her. Ambassador Spock said, "My Lt. Uhura was a wonderful friend. She was very supportive and an amazing talent, in many different areas, however, she never became my romantic partner. As a matter of fact, by the time she passed on, the only man that I knew her to be with was Mr. Montgomery Scott."

She nearly choked on air, "Scotty? How did that happen?" She decided to start on dinner as they talked.

The ambassador answered, "I am not certain, but it did. He died without ever marrying her, but they were both so aged by the time they came together that such rituals seemed merely trifles." Ambassador Spock helped her out with the dinner in a way that they were not even speaking with each other about what was needed to prepare, but just assisting each other. It made her think that either his logic and deduction from observation were either virtually unmatched, or that he somehow shared the bond that she created with her Spock. She leaned towards believing the latter.

Her face distorted in painful confusion as she tried to figure out the difference between their reality and hers. "So, you two never...? What about at the academy?" She met Spock at the academy, before Spock was traumatized by Nero's actions. Surely, before that this Spock must have been in a similar circumstance with the other her. Thinking about herself in that way seemed so... uncomfortable, like she was only a portion of a person, knowing that she had existed before, completely differently.

"I did not know you at the academy." He answered. "I did not meet you until you came aboard the Enterprise. You were brilliant and fantastic in communications, however, at times, you would have senseless errors, and you had a tendency to approach my chair at my station and try to make small talk with me. You were the only person on the ship who ventured to touching me idly, and you convinced me to teach you to play the Vulcan lyre."

"I had a crush on you." She decided to speak of the other Uhura as though she was herself, since she had been, sort of.

This Spock handed her the utensil she needed next, and she seriously felt confirmed that they were connected, as he answered. "That would be one perspective."

Nyota gave him a look that he had not seen in a long time. A look of determined challenge. Uhura would give him this look when she thought that he was trying to ignore the obvious with his unwavering logic.

Now, Nyota gave him the same exact look of defiance and self awareness as she stated, "Trust me. Even in an alternate reality, I must have. I couldn't be so different that I wouldn't. When I met you at the academy, I wasn't in your class for a full month before I had a crush on you, and two months in, I was completely infatuated. By month three, I thought that if I wasn't in love, I would never be." This caused him to suppress a smile. His age had refined the skill, because she almost missed the cover up, it was so well executed. The only signal of it came from her spending so many countless times studying her own Spock as he did it. She said, "I'm still confused as to why I didn't know you at the academy."

"How did you meet Spock at the academy?" If there was an answer to her unknown, Ambassador Spock estimated that he could help her find it by asking her one or more certain questions.

"I took him for all of my Vulcan classes." She replied, pouring her steamed vegetables into a strainer over the sink.

He answered, "I see. My Uhura taught herself Vulcan. She spent many years at the academy, brushing up on different things, but what she already knew enough of, she did not take classes on. Vulcan was one of those subjects. She confessed to me once that she wished that she had taken the courses on the subject, and I helped her to polish her skills while on the ship."

Nyota gasped and said, "It was the destruction of the Kelvin. My father's mentor was killed on the U.S.S. Kelvin and it made him very overprotective, restrictive, and discouraging towards me being in Starfleet. Was my father that way in your reality?"

The ambassador set up a tray of raw vegetables as he replied, "I never met Dr. Uhura at that time. I was familiar with some of his work, but he perished before you ever made it to the ship." She gasped at this news, as the Vulcan flawlessly continued, "He was attacked by a crazed alien while on a mission on an institutional planet for the criminally insane. However, you did speak of him with complete and utter fondness and always credited him as your greatest supporter. He had been extremely proud of his only daughter, whom he spoke of higher than he ever had either of his two sons." She felt herself tear up. Her father's support had kept her from being with Spock.

Why couldn't Uhura have had both? It made her sad, but she completed the conversation as she came to completing the salad. "I was going to skip taking Vulcan classes at the academy, but my father was so against it that I signed up for every Vulcan class that I could." She laughed, "I did not know that the destruction of the Kelvin could so deeply change my life." She let out a sigh and looked over the items to double check whether or not they were done with the food as she observed, "I never married, so I have to think that I never had any children."

"You were married to your career." He answered simply.

"Did you ever think that I, at least, cared for you?" She asked, now staring at him with something akin to hope in her eyes.

He did not know what to make of her expression. He sensed that she was now possibly confusing her alternate self and he with her current life. There was no simple way to explain to her why they were distinctly different, especially considering the fact that this Nyota was having the same effect on him as his dear Uhura once had. He simply answered in honesty, "You seemed to love me, very deeply. You masked it well with harmless flirting with me quite a few times, but I did not entertain the advances. In times of distress, you were one of my main concerns, as I seemed to be one of yours. When you realized that your friend Nurse Christine Chapel was in love with me, you limited your flirtations. I must say, to my dissatisfaction. I had become somewhat accustomed to hearing your voice attempt to stimulate me and seeing the amusing frustration it caused when you thought that it had not worked. You were wrong."

Now she smiled at him and said, "Chapel loved you then, too? I catch her watching Spock sometimes. She tried to come between us when we were at the academy. I found out that she tried to have me placed on another ship, but as things turned out, that was not my destiny."

Suddenly, Ambassador Spock felt a sense of dread come over him at the realization of her words, "You would have been killed." He said it a concerned tone. She looked into his eyes and saw that the thought of him truly bothered him, but he was SO good at shielding it, even in his eyes! He added, "That would have destroyed Spock. He loves you even more than I did."

She placed her head down, "So, nothing ever happened? Not even a tiny kiss?"

"I'm afraid not. Then again, my mother did not have the opportunity to meddle in our lives as she did in this reality. No one on the ship met my parents until we had been on the ship together for quite some time." He answered honestly.

She smiled, "Spock told you about Amanda and I?"

"He mentioned it in passing." Ambassador Spock admitted.

Another familiar Uhura expression settled upon her face – one which she used when flirting with him. He found this look coming from her both enticing and unsettling. "Did you think that I was beautiful?" She asked him, with her back to him, but her face peeking over her shoulder.

The most logical thing at the moment would have been to end the conversation, but seeing her in that way, as he had not seen her in many long years, and even with this long hair that his Uhura never garnished and even though she was Spock's wife, he found himself at a loss for resistance as he answered, "Indeed. You were beautiful up until the day you were laid to rest. I thought that you were the most beautiful creature alive. I often looked at you. I enjoyed hearing you sing as I worked, although I would come across as slightly annoyed by it. It was irrational, and that did annoy me to some degree, that you sang on the bridge, however, it was more irrational that I enjoyed hearing you so much. After I taught you to play the Vulcan lyre, you would perform playing it while singing in the mess hall at times. We even did a duet for them. You improvised a song about me and sang it to me so beautifully that I smiled in the presence of others." The look in his eyes was one that she was familiar with, as well. This Spock loved his Uhura, just as much as Spock now loved her.

She walked over to him, more concerned about what she might have stirred up with her presence and her prying questions, but she did make one final comment in saying, "You did not just love her as a friend. You were in love with her."

Now, he answered, as straight faced a Vulcan as she had ever seen, "I found being in love to be illogical, therefore, our relationship was what it was. She found true happiness elsewhere, but Mr. Scott mentioned in his dying days that he believed that another man was in her heart, in a place that no other man could ever touch... the center. It was illogical for me to do so, but I imagined myself in that position." She felt tears well up in her eyes and she threw her arms around the older Spock's neck and held him tightly.

The Vulcan seemed quite conflicted at first, but wrapped his arms around her, slowly and leaned into the embrace. She cried onto his chest and said, "You are my husband, and I never had the chance to kiss you!" Her emotions were on the fritz now, and she credited it to hormones. There was no doubt in her mind now that she was pregnant. Her hormones had been rushing about since she walked into the place.

He lifted her face to look into her eyes and said, "Miss Uhura, I never allowed you to." She found herself leaning towards him, as though moving in for it, for their first kiss. She knew that she should stop, but he was not stopping her, and she believed at that moment that the only person who could stop her from continuing was him. However, Spock entered the kitchen and froze when he saw the two of them.

Nyota pulled away from Ambassador Spock's hold and wiped her eyes, saying, "Sorry that we're taking so long. You should go sit down, Spock. It'll be out shortly." Spock stood in the doorway, now watching Ambassador Spock, suspiciously. Unless his mind was being deceitful, this older version of himself was about to kiss his wife. Nyota handed the older Spock a pot and he left the kitchen with it. At the doorway, he paused and looked at Spock. There was obvious accusation in Spock's expression, and obvious envy and hints of guilt in the older Spock's. The two of them stared at each other silently, collected themselves to perfectly even expressions, then the ambassador went to the table.

Spock walked into the kitchen, stood in front of his wife and asked, "What did I interrupt?" She heard anger in his tone - under the surface, but there.

She answered, trying to sound even, "He was telling me about myself... about how he and I were never together in his time, how we never even shared a kiss..."

The anger flickered across his facial features. She knew that the jealousy within him had been stirred as he stated, shortly, "I do not understand why that is important to you." It did not take much for Nyota to make Spock jealous, and her accidental gift of doing so had increased beyond measure since the destruction of Vulcan. Generally, she tried to stay mindful about it and hope that her actions did not come across as something to provoke his jealousy.

That day, she defended herself with, "It is like thinking about you and I never sharing a kiss." This did not seem to work in subsiding his anger. If anything, it seemed that he was becoming more jealous.

"As you must see, he is not me." Spock said, through gritted teeth.

She reached for his hands. This situation called for him to be able to feel what she

felt. She would not be able to explain it. This situation was too complicated. She said softly, "I can not see that. If I see anything, I see that he is you." Spock stared at her for a moment. The truth was that he felt the same way about the older version of himself. He felt proud that he had become such a Vulcan in his future, although he realized that his own life would greatly differ, he did aspire to be as close as he could to that version of himself without forsaking Nyota. Nyota simply meant too much to forsake her for anything, or for anyone.

He found a response to her comment, "He is who I would have become, if it had not been for you, Nyota." He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. She kissed him passionately and held him closer. They remained that way for a while, then she broke away to gather the rest of the meal. Spock helped her to carry it all to the table.

Sybok watched Nyota intently and Spock glared at him. Ambassador Spock's appreciation was one thing – Spock understood the intoxicating allure that Nyota held on him, and the elder version of himself had spent many more years with the woman than he had. Spock expected Ambassador Spock to have difficulty with keeping his mind off of Nyota, and his anger for the near incident in the kitchen had already subsided because of the empathy of Nyota's effect on a Spock, but Sybok provided a different subject entirely. Nyota did not want Spock to use the word, but Sybok was a barbarian. Even the way that he looked at the woman as she individually placed the food items on each plate, as though so anxious for her to be near him in such a capacity made Spock angrier than any other male ever had when paying attention to her. Sybok's look towards Nyota was so primal and so blatant...

Sarek seemed to have some type of silent exchange with Sybok as Nyota came to Sybok's plate. Sarek's eyes warned his eldest son, and Sybok smiled as he lowered the intensity in his gaze. "Thank you, Nyota." Sybok said to her. When he had said it, it sounded in her mind just as it had when Spock said it to her. Now, she wondered if he was reading her mind, and it alarmed her.

She could not hide the fear in her voice as she insisted, "Please call me Uhura. I consider this a formal gathering, even though it is with family." She rushed away from his seat, to serve Spock last. Spock lifted his index and middle fingers to her and she met them with hers. She needed that boost of encouragement, of security.

After she served him, she retrieved a long stem candle lighter and proceeded to light the candles, placed in holders all about the den, but before she could finish, a Vulcan woman entered the room. She glanced at the woman, and immediately thought that she was beautiful. The woman's dark black hair fell almost to her hips and she had a perfect, pointed nose and catlike light brown eyes. Nyota was about to offer her a seat and tell her that she would serve her, but the woman snatched the lighter from her hand and began to fuss at her in Vulcan, and even seemed to be cussing her out here and there, as a few of the angry words, Nyota did not recognize. She was able to understand as much as, "Who do you think you are, human? You come into my home and dare take away my wifely responsibilities? This home has a wife and no need for your human dealings!"

Nyota cocked her head back and balled her fist. Both Spock and Sybok rushed over to the women before the situation erupted, Spock grabbed Nyota and placed her behind him, and Sybok grabbed the Vulcan woman by the shoulders and tried to calm her. Nyota now noticed that the woman was swollen with child and it helped to subside anger that she knew was exploding from her face. She felt grateful for Spock and Sybok's speed in attempting to deescalate this situation, because she was about to reflexively fight a pregnant woman, when she herself was possibly pregnant. Possibly? She must have been pregnant, the way that the woman's actions drove her emotions to a peak of anger within seconds.

She heard Sybok saying in Vulcan, "This is a daughter of Sarek, you are not to speak with her that way in his home!" The two of them began to argue heatedly, which frightened Nyota to an extent. She had never heard two Vulcans arguing this way, with such passion and emotion. Even when Spock was at his most emotional times, his voice remained quite even.

The Vulcan woman reminded Sybok, "I am carrying the firstborn child of New Vulcan to House..." Nyota recognized the word that followed as Spock's family name, although she had not been able to learn to pronounce it herself yet. The Vulcan woman glared at her and said, "And this human is here as though this place was her own home! She has not been here for this family during the rebuilding of our world; I have! She does not even know these laws. She only knows the laws of dead and gone Vulcan..."

Sybok put his finger in the woman's face, as though about to accuse her of something, but she became silent and he said to her, "You need to go into your chambers. Your food will be served to you." Nyota glanced at Spock for some indication of what was going on. All that she could gather was that Spock was not pleased.

The woman looked Nyota up and down before taking Sybok's advice and leaving, throwing the candle lighter at him at the doorway. He caught it easily, and began to cuss in Vulcan, himself. He looked at Nyota and said, "Excuse my language, Miss Uhura, as well as my wife, Ravalan. She is, as you can see a bit territorial. As there are few women here, the women here can sometimes feel intimidated by the presence of other women. They believe that the other woman present may be trying to take their husbands, or worse, their children."

Nyota gasped and asked, "They take children?"

Spock gave her a concerned look and said, "You certainly have nothing to worry about as far as that is concerned, Nyota, as of yet, we have no children, and will not have any while still on this planet." She nodded her head, but she could not shake the fact that Styik had warned her of someone wanting to take her son.

Sybok offered, "I married Ravalan when the laws were first being established to share a wife. She and I married because she felt there would be great honor in being wife to my family, and no one else here wanted to participate. Although she legally is the family wife, no one here is interested in treating her as so, therefore, she probably became intimidated by the obvious attachment that there is to you in this place."

Now Spock's head turned to look at him with disdain as he stated, "Your wife should only be concerned about your attachments."

Sybok nodded and responded, "Perhaps she should, but as you know, Ravalan is pregnant. She wants our child to be selected."

Nyota looked at Spock. His jaws tightened and he responded, "Father has already decided on this issue. She will have to accept his decision as all of the inheritance is his to issue out." Spock placed a hand on Nyota's and she heard his words speak to her mind, "My father decided that our children will have the greatest inheritance when he is gone. Many of the Vulcans are trying to have others marry into their families by vowing to give the first wife's firstborn the bulk of the inheritance of the family."

Sarek simply announced, "We should resume eating the dinner that has been prepared."

Everyone returned to the table as Sybok lit the remainder of the candles. Spock prepared Nyota's plate, just as she had everyone else's, then seated himself next to her. Sarek looked at his daughter in law as she lowered her head to say a small prayer to herself before beginning. This usually amused him, but only to a certain degree. Sybok noticed her as he returned to the table and when she finished, Sybok asked, "Were you speaking with God?"

She looked at him directly and responded, "I was thanking Him."

Sybok smirked as he commented, "Spock married a human who believes in God. My brother has been full of surprises these past few years. There was a time when I spoke of God, and Spock told me that faith was illogical. He told me that "fact" is necessary in assessing any situation... Isn't that right, Spock?"

Spock seemed to be thinking very deeply. Nyota did not know what about and she placed her hand over Spock's before he could answer. She answered for him, "If you intend to cause any discord, I must tell you right now that any attempt would be unsuccessful."

Spock glanced at her, then addressed Sybok, "You need to stay away from her mind. I realize what you are doing. I never had such a conversation with you. I had that conversation with Nyota, before we were together. It is something that still bothers her to this day. You have no right to invade her thoughts."

"I was simply trying to find information." Sybok justified.

Spock countered, "If it is information that you seek, ask. Do not pry into my wife's mind. It is a personal place and highly distasteful of you to do so."

Sybok said, "If you are bothered that I will find out about her dream, you may as well relinquish the worry. I was able to see that before she even went into the kitchen. A moment ago, I was able to see that she has conflicting emotions for you and your future self..."

Sarek glanced from an angry Spock, trying to hold himself together, Nyota with her hand on his, trying to help him deal with the anger, to a far too amused Sybok and Sarek stated, "Enough, Sybok. Your behavior, as always is completely out of line."

Sybok lifted an eyebrow and smiled, his eyes still piercing Nyota for all that he could find out. He told his father, "The lines are imaginary father. Only you and the other conceited remnants of the dead and gone Vulcan see them." He stood from the table and announced, "If you will excuse me, I am going to bring a meal to my wife."

When he left, Nyota noticed that she had tears in her eyes. He had managed to delve deeply into her mind without touching her and without her even noticing it. It scared her and it made her angry at the same time. Spock watched her get up and go into the kitchen. Ambassador Spock and Sarek both looked at him. Sarek noted, "Miss Uhura seems quite more emotional than usual today."

Spock looked at his father and said, "We believe that she is once again pregnant." Spock spoke as evenly as he could, and felt satisfied that his voice had not betrayed his extreme worry about the situation.

Sarek spoke even more calmly, "Perhaps the child will survive this time. The last survived longer than the first."

Ambassador Spock now asked, "How many have there been?"

"Two." Spock answered.

Ambassador Spock stated, "Spock, there is an old human saying that the third time is a charm."

Spock pressed his lips together as he thought about these foolish words, and the more he ran them through his mind, the less he could believe that Ambassador Spock had actually said it. It sounded like something that Captain Kirk might say to him, and he realized that Ambassador Spock probably did get such a line from Jim. The one drawback of his future self was the influence allotted on him by the captain. Spock gave up trying to find the logic in the human saying and asked, "What precisely does this phrase mean, Ambassador?"

Ambassador Spock responded, "It is a theory that if something does not work once, even twice, that it should work on the third time."

Spock quickly replied, "That theory is preposterous. How does it relate to couples who have had even more tragedies such as this one?"

"It is merely a saying, Spock." Sarek offered.

Nyota reentered the room, her face all clear and an even look on her face. Spock presumed that she had meditated for a while to find her center. She returned to the table, apologizing for her behavior and began to eat without saying anything further.

Sybok entered Ravalan's chambers and placed the plate on her nightstand. She was laying in bed, but sat up when he entered.

Immediately, an apology flowed from her lips, "I am sorry, Love. It is just the way that you were looking at her. It reminded me of how you used to look at your wife who was killed by the Romulans. You looked at this human as though you knew her and loved her."

Sybok stroked her face and confessed, "I know her better now than mostly anyone else. I have been successfully reading her in secret since they arrived. I have a great usage for her, Ravalan."

Her face became worried as she questioned, "What type of usage? Is she to replace me?" The woman asked, nervously. "Have I not been a satisfactory wife to this house, despite the way that they treat me, as though I am an obligation, not a member of the family. She comes in and within moments, she is loved by all? Is she Vulcan male magnet?"

A smile crossed Sybok's face as he answered, "She is definitely something special. Styik spoke to her. He wishes to be her friend."

Ravalan sat silently for a moment, engaging in deep thought, then she asked, "You need her to try to get into his mind?"

Sybok took both of her hands into his. "He has a connection to her. With that connection, I may be able to get into his head. I have been trying to reach that child since Taavik gave birth to him."

"I don't understand how the boy has such power at his age." Ravalan said.

"We will never understand it until he allows us inside." Sybok admitted. He then added, "When my wife was raped by Romulan soldiers, she thought that my feelings for her would change. When Styik was born, I tried to raise him as my own, but he would not allow me to get near him. With his mother and father now gone, I am the only one who considers him family. I have not been able to figure out why he chose Spock's wife, but if I need to use her to get to him, I will simply have to."

"Do you want me to apologize to the human girl?" Ravalan asked him.

"It would make you look better in the eyes of the family." He stated.

She sighed and climbed out of bed. "Please, never force me to do something in front of her again. It is bad enough that her children will be more important than mine."

"She did not even realize that I was making you leave the room." He offered.

"Just as well, Sybok..." She started, but he cut her off.

"I will do whatever I need to do, Ravalan." He said. She sadly left the room and went back into the dining hall.

The Vulcan, Ravalan, approached Nyota at the table and said, "Mistress, please accept my regrets for having treated the First Wife of House, so foolishly. It was not my intention to disrespect you or the home."

"You are forgiven," Nyota answered, for lack of a better way of addressing the Vulcan.

She offered, "I shall clean up the table for you."

Nyota shook her head and contended, "No, not in your condition..."

Ravalan smirked at her and said, "I am a Vulcan, Mistress. My condition will not hinder me from such a task."

Nyota felt tired as Ravalan gathered the dishes from the table. Spock placed a hand on her shoulder, and being in tune with her feeling announced, "The time has come for me to take my wife away from this meeting. She is tired and in need of rest." Sybok reentered the room, after having been gone for the entire dinner. Spock glanced at him and said, "I am taking my wife, now." Sybok made eye contact with Nyota, and she found herself unable to pull away from him. "Stop it." Spock said to Sybok. Sybok pulled his gaze away from Nyota to look at Spock. Spock stated, "If I ever see you near her again, there will be no peace between us, whatsoever."

"So insecure, Spock." Sybok commented.

"I will fight you to the death over my wife's safety." Spock promised him.

Sybok smirked and said, "I would never fight my younger brother to the death. Especially when there is no need. If I want your wife, I will simply take her." Spock started towards Sybok, but both Ambassador Spock and Sarek stood between them. Elder Spock in front of the younger Spock and Sarek in front of Sybok.

Sarek said, "Sybok, you have done enough."

Sybok glared at Sarek, "When I was cast out of Vulcan, you said nothing, but when Spock is upset, you have a voice! Things were always this way with you. Spock, your precious human wife's son was always your treasure. That is the main reason that you even wanted the First Wife practice applied in your house. You knew when you made that decision that Spock would marry this woman and that his child would inherit the family's legacy. Would you keep the practice in place if Nyota was not Spock's wife? If she left him and became my bride, instead?"

Sarek slapped Sybok across the face at his mention of such a thing. Sarek quickly regained his composure, took a deep breath and glanced around at the others present. Nyota's mouth was open wide, in shock at his lashing out. Ravalan looked strangely humbled by the action, while both Spocks looked on, without shock or reaction. Sybok could cause many Vulcans to lash out at him, even elders. Sarek looked back to Sybok.

Sybok smiled at the response and looked his father in the eyes, "I can see your pain, Father. The only reason that you want Spock with this woman is because she reminds you of your dead human. Amanda wanted Spock with her and that is why you support them, to honor her dead memory. And the only reason that you are so indignant about me suggesting that I make her mine is because if anyone else besides Spock were to have her, you would desire her for yourself!"

Sarek said, "I have tried my best with you, Sybok. You still harbor bitterness and you have not made any attempts to secure peace within our family nor to reconcile yourself with the logic that I raised you upon. Remove yourself from my home."

Sybok smiled and said, "Nyota, come with me." He began to leave and she moved to follow him. Spock grabbed her wrist and sent a wave of emotions into her body which caused her to look at him. Ravalan grimaced at Sybok with her arms folded at the thought of him calling this woman to come with him, instead of her, his own wife!

Nyota squinted her eyes at Spock and asked, "What is happening to me?" The daze settling onto her face told Spock that Sybok was once again entering Nyota's mind, after his earlier warning. Spock charged at Sybok, but Sybok turned suddenly to face him and held up a hand at him, in a mental attack, which caused Spock to stop and hold his head. Spock began to stoop over, but remained standing as he groaned in pain. Nyota rushed over to Spock and kneeled to check on him, "Spock? Spock!" She rose to her feet and ran up to Sybok, striking him with her fists in the chest, "Stop it! Stop attacking him!" Sybok lowered his hand and Spock nearly fell to the floor, trying to regain his balance.

"Get away from him!" Spock called out to Nyota. She froze and stared at Sybok, who touched her face.

"As Styik has revealed to you, you will love me." Spock roared loudly and charged at his brother, again, but Sybok rushed out before Spock had a chance to reach him. Spock ran outside, followed by the others in the house and they all looked around, but saw no sign of Sybok. Everyone turned to look at Ravalan. She simply continued moving the dishes from the table and went into the kitchen to wash them.

Nyota wrapped her arms around Spock and he could feel her fear. The entire scene had frightened her intensely. He placed his hands on her head and sought to remove her pain. He did not want her to fall under any stress.

Dr. McCoy gave Nyota a hug and said, "You knew it." She smiled against his shoulder, then let go of him. He looked at her for a while, then asked, "Well what is the problem? Don't tell me that you have some fear? You are one of the most fearless people that I know, right up there with the captain. This one will be different. If I have to make sure you spend the next nine months in a bed in medical bay, this one is going to make it. And because of your struggle and your loss, you will have the chance to treat this one better than anyone else could ever treat their own. You'll appreciate him more, as a special gift."

"A gift from God." She said.

McCoy shrugged his shoulders and said, "Or from Mr. Spock. Is everything alright? The two of you seemed a bit strange when you came to Jim's room earlier, for his little gathering."

She felt herself tremble and she said, "I just want to get off of this planet as soon as possible. The other Vulcans, the different ones... they terrify me. Something happened at Father Sarek's home tonight that was just one of the most terrifying things. I know that my feelings are probably intensified because of my hormones, but I am afraid to be here. I don't feel safe." She sighed and laughed at herself, "I hope that you realize that this is between doctor and patient,"

Dr. McCoy replied, "Lt. Uhura, I respect you far too much to ever tell anyone that I heard you say the words, "I'm afraid", and they wouldn't even believe me if I did say it."

She sighed and gave him another hug. "Could you send Spock in, now?"

"I don't understand why you sent him out in the first place." Dr. McCoy said, going to the door, He opened the door to Spock and Nyota's room, where Spock was standing, and the doctor said, "The mother to be wants you to reenter the room." Spock gave a small smile. The mother to be. It was confirmed, now. She was pregnant, again. As Spock reentered the room, Dr. McCoy announced, "Now, you two know that Jim will not allow you to spend the rest of your night in here. He will expect you to return to his gathering to celebrate the news."

Spock told Dr. McCoy, "I am sure that the captain will understand if you explain to him that we shall wish to celebrate one on one for tonight."

McCoy smirked at Spock, winked at Nyota and said, "He better damned well understand it, now." He walked out of the room and headed back towards Kirk's. Spock shut the door and locked it.

He approached the bed, and sat on it, next to Nyota. She looked at him, as he stared ahead in thought. After a while of him not saying anything, she asked, "How do you feel about this?"

Spock responded candidly, "I possess a highly uncomfortable but nevertheless manageable collaboration of delightment and fear,"

Nyota took his hand into hers to show him that she felt similar feelings, but she said, "I hope that this one will survive."

"That is currently my greatest wish." He responded, then he looked at her and added, "Nyota, I must ask this of you... If this one meets the same fate as those before him, I will prefer that we do not make another attempt. I realize that this time was not an attempt; however, I will need you to resume contraceptives and remain on them, as a precautionary measure. Your body is exposed to more harm with each of these complications, and it would be in our best interests not to have to experience it ever again." Spock held on to his need to remain emotionless in tone and tried to filter the indication of desperate need from his eyes, but he somehow knew that he had failed at this.

She saw right into his hurting soul and she responded softly, "If our child does not survive this time, I will have Dr. McCoy remove all of the equipment associated with reproduction from me." She reached over with her free hand to stroke his hair.

She found herself wondering how things were going to occur with this Sybok situation. Sybok was the voice of the outsiders in the political affairs on New Vulcan, therefore, Ambassador Spock and Sarek said that they would seek him out and make amends, for the sake of the planet and for the sake of all Vulcans coexisting. Spock declined from having anything to do with such a task. Sybok had gone entirely too far and Spock could only hope that when he saw him the next day for the ceremonial happenings, that he would be well enough not to respond to him. That will require meditation, he told himself. He arose from the bed and said, "I am going to have to meditate, I have to see Sybok tomorrow at the different festivities, and I do not intend on having another moment like the ones you were exposed to tonight."

"That sounds logical." Nyota said,

Spock sighed and said, "Nyota, I am not entirely sure of how to tell you this, but with recent events, I feel that I must... Your father and Sybok have become great friends while on this planet. There may be things that Sybok will extract from him about you." She sighed and nodded her head, She would be careful. She would be on the look out for danger. Spock added, "Also, your new young friend, Styik, is Sybok's stepson." Now she gasped and narrowed her eyes at him. He thought that she was on the verge of asking him why he had not shared this, but he continued to talk.

"Sybok was married to another, before Ravalan. He was married to one who he was bonded to as a child. When he was cast out of Vulcan, they became nomads. Somewhere along the way, about nine years ago, Taavik, was attacked by Romulan warriors, and Styik was planted inside of her by one of them. Sybok kept her, as he dearly loved her, despite the fact that someone else's child would be coming forth from her. Styik is a troubled child with telepathic capabilities beyond his control. He yearns to have a mate, but everyone important to him has been destroyed. His father was a Romulan warrior and obviously a terrible creature to have attacked the woman in that way, and his mother was a Vulcan barbarian. The mother was killed trying to protect him from captors, while Sybok was too far away to reach her mental cries for help. Styik was kidnapped and taken for research. When he was found, by Sybok, wandering around after the destruction of Vulcan, when all Vulcans were being sought out to regroup, it was quite difficult to get him restrained. Everyone he touched went mad within moments, having delusions and pains in their heads. We assume this was how he escaped his captors. Since then, Styik has seemed to amuse himself by mentally attacking others, and though Sybok has tried to penetrate his mind to reach him and help him, he will not let Sybok inside. I would like to search your mind to try to discover everything that the child placed inside of it."

Nyota tilted her head and said, "OK, but not right now. I am too tired for that kind of searching. To be honest, I would rather postpone such a thing until we are back on the ship and safely out of this place."

He nodded his head once and said, "Agreed. You should get the rest that your body requires. I will commence meditation." He kissed her on the forehead and began to get ready to meditate while she got undressed and got into the bed.

As Spock sat on the floor with his candles lit, in his meditation mode, something startled him out of his tranquil state. His eyes flew open and he turned to look at Nyota as she slept alone in the bed. His hearing was virtually perfect, and Vulcans had finely tuned sense of hearing. She had just spoken a name in her sleep that was not his. She had just stated "Sybok". He arose from the floor and climbed into the bed with her, cradling her in his arms as he did. He placed his hand onto her temple and entered her mind.

Sybok was standing in front of her and Styik was laying on a bed in the room, while the two of them were looking at each other. She did not have the swollen stomach that she had in the other dream, and she did not look at happy as she had in the other dream either. A child began crying in another room and she rushed into the room and picked up a baby boy. Sybok walked into the room and asked, '"Is there anything that you need me to do?"

She looked at him and said, "I need to see Spock."

"You know that is out of the question. He thinks that you are dead, and it has already been agreed that it is better this way."

"He has the right to know that he has a son," Nyota said, determined.

"Nyota, Sonak is my son, now." He strummed his fingers across her face and said, "This is best for Styik, to have a family that loves him and cares for him. He separated you and Spock for a reason. Do you want to undo everything that we have accomplished with him just to communicate with a husband who gave up trying to find you?" She began to cry and held her son closer. Sybok took her into his arms and said, "I did not think so."

Spock removed his hand from Nyota's head and watched her sleep. The dream had disturbed him so much that he did not realize how long he was watching her sleep until the sunlight began to creep into the room through the blinds and her eyes fluttered to awakening, "Good morning!" She cheered, with rasp in her throat from just waking up. She reached for him and he allowed her to hold him. He should not have searched her mind in that way. He would have to admit that he had violated her in this form, because it was imperative to him to speak with her about what he had seen in her mind.