~Thanks for all your patience and for all who have read and reviewed, hope to be done with this fic by October…if wishes were horses… ;-)

~Much gratitude to Atana 71 for her suggestions and insights, some were heeded and some were not, but I so appreciate the time and effort you spent, thank you again and again!

~k'hat'n'dlawa: one who is 'half of my heart and soul' in its deepest sense

Nyota retrieved the latest rounds of cheese she had made. She was very proud of herself, she had followed the instructions from one of the manuals she had found and had been able to make a soft cheese and yogurt to add to their diet. At first she thought this was all so ridiculous. How could anyone do this without the proper machinery? Maybe hundreds of years ago. But not now. She thought she might kill them both with improperly cured products. But she tired. And tried again and again. And finally, success. She was Eden's first cheese maiden, she thought with a laugh.

Now, she was adept at all sorts of things that she merely took for granted a replicator could do. And she loved it. Maybe, when they did return to their universe, maybe she'd just move onto a more natural way of life. She would simplify…she smiled as she remembered Spock reading Thoreau to her. She loved his voice…simplify, simplify. Once they got back to Earth, and they would get back, she'd find out if Walden Pond was still around. So much was destroyed during the wars. Nyota shrugged and shook her head to try and clear it. Okay, back to cheese. It was fresh and moist, pungent, but Spock loved it. Maybe later she'd try to make some aged cheeses, but for now this was perfect.

Nyota retrieved the cheese balls hanging in the cooler and placed them in a bowl that she had in her basket and headed back up to the house. She had given Spock's words credence. And she was glad because she could now tell him without any shadow of doubt that she wanted to be his mate. His wife. His partner for as long as they lived. And she hoped, someday, she would be able to have his children. So, she decided to prepare a special dinner. A celebratory meal. One they would remember for her accepting his proposal. And one they would remember as the first time they made love.

Spock entered the dwelling and his nose picked up the fragrant scent of Nyota's cooking. He looked about and noted the table was already set with flowers and candles.

"Nyota?" He took the canister he had been working on into the spare room that had become his office and returned to the living area. Nyota came out of her bedroom in a dress she had fashioned from several garments. It accentuated her firm shoulders and flat stomach. He held in a sigh.

"Hi Spock." She smiled up at him. "Take a shower and dinner will be ready by the time you get out." She turned and made her way into the kitchen.

Spock looked after her for a moment before internally shaking himself as he turned and walked to his room to retrieve clean clothing.

"This meal looks quite appetizing. You have outdone yourself, Nyota." Spock's lips gave a slight quirk as she served him. He realized just how much he enjoyed the domesticity of his life. Of their life.

"Well, it's a special occasion." She served herself and sat down opposite him.

"Really? What is that?" Spock lifted a forkful of her homemade lasagna. He had to stop himself from moaning. It was delicious.

"Okay, so. I've thought about everything we discussed. The thing is…" She took a small bite of food. "I've gone over everything you told me. Your time, mating, bonding. Spock," she leaned forward and her voice was almost a whisper as she slowly spoke, "I love you. I want to bond with you, be with you for as long as we live. I know you think it's because we've been stranded here. But…" She laid her fork down and looked into his eyes. "I've loved you for a very long time, I think. This is just…gravy."

"Gravy?" It was odd, she was confessing her love to him and all he could zero in on was gravy. Nyota chuckled.

"An old Earth idiom, it means…extra, receiving more than expected. Getting stranded on this planet, being able to spend this time together away from all that." She motioned to the air and Spock realized she was referring to their universe.

"I would've loved you anyway." She shrugged. Spock set his fork down, the meal forgotten as he looked into her eyes. "There was nothing I could've done about it at the Academy, but my feelings were there all the same. This situation, it just accelerated it. You and I, we would've been together eventually, I have no doubt."

"I am…pleased." He knew it sounded anticlimactic; however he recognized the fact that his heart…was soaring. He took her hand in his and allowed his feeling to flow to her. She gasped then laughed.

"Oh, Spock. I think you just might love me, too." Spock rose from his seat and went to her, lifting her up to stand up next to him.

"I believe I do." He bent down and took her lips in a deep kiss. "I believe that I do."

Nyota fidgeted with her meal, moving her food from one side of her plate to the other. She sighed and fingered her glass of juice.

"Nyota? Are you unwell?" Spock laid his fork down.

She looked up at him and smiled. "I'm fine. I just…well, I just confessed my undying love and we kissed, a glorious kiss, and now we're just eating. It just all seems a bit anticlimactic. We should be," she gave a small shrug before continuing, "I don't know, making love?"

Spoke regarded her for a moment. "I will not rush you into any physical relationship before you are ready, until you are sure." He stood from his chair again and knelt by her. "I desire you, Nyota, I strongly desire you. But we need to digest this new aspect of our relationship. It would be remiss of me to move forward without giving you time…"

Nyota rolled her eyes and huffed in exasperation as she took his face between her hands and kissed him. "Know me, Spock, feel me. I know you, all of you and I want you, all of you."

The rest of their meal was forgotten as Spock lifted her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom. He laid her on his bed and removed his shirt before lifting her arms and pulling her dress over her head. He moaned and ran his tongue over the pulse beating at her neck. He stopped and pulled back, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Nyota, you are sure you wish to bond with me?"

She nodded, unable to speak, her emotions so deep.

"Then repeat after me." He took her hands into his and she nodded again. "Our minds, one and together…touching, yet not touching, apart, yet never apart…"

Her mind and soul were filled with her mate, her husband, and she could never imagine not being entrenched in this being. She could never image not being half of the whole. And when it was done, she felt full, brimming with his essence. "Yes, Spock. This is how it should be."

Spock took a deep breath. "Yes, adun'a, how it will be forever."

He stepped back for a moment, her arms following his retreat, as he pushed his pants and shoes off. Nyota's mouth became dry as she saw him fully naked for the first time. He was glorious. Perfect. Hers. His mouth lifted at one side as he saw her pupils dilate and he felt her excitement increase. She gasped as she saw his eyes narrow and a true smirk turn his lips up.

He reached for the band of her panties and pulled them down; he hardened even more as he smelled her arousal. "Nyota."

Knelling at the edge of the bed, he drew her legs over his shoulders, pushing his face into her moist center. His tongue came out and he finally tasted her. Purring his satisfaction, he hungrily ate at her. Relishing her release.

She arched her back and clawed at the sheets before grabbing at his head. "Spock, Spock. Oh my god, Spock." She thrashed back and forth, the intense pleasure almost painful. "Please, I need you."

He moved up her body, kissing and nipping along the way until he reached her face. "Nyota, open yourself to me."

And she did. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he reached between them, guiding himself to her core. He growled as he pushed into her tight center, it almost felt as if no one had ever been there before him.

She arched into, grimacing as he pushed his engorged lok to fit. Nyota held her breath for a moment. "Spock, slower, please…" Her voice barely a whisper. He looked down at her before placing his fingers at the points on her face, allowing her to feel his desire, his need. He also felt hers…along with her fear.

"K'diwa, I will not hurt you." He gently kissed her as he stopped midway. She looked up at him, love in her eyes and…she was unsure, unaware. "Nyota, you have never been with a man…?" She sensed his confusion even as his desire heightened at the thought of being her first.

"No, not yet. I…I…please, ashayam, make love to me."

Spock pulled back slightly, but Nyota kept her legs wrapped around his waist. "Don't go."

"I will not." He began to kiss her, his lips nibbling at her clavicle, her throat, her breasts. He gently kneaded them, rolling her nipples between his fingertips, softly squeezing before moving up and kissing her deeply. He lowered his hand, dipping into her center, finding her swollen bundle of nerves and pressed down, milking another orgasm from her. Nyota felt heat sweeping from her center out as a sheen of sweat broke out on her skin.

"Spock." She gasped. "Ashayam." Her eyes flew open as electricity swept through her body, she felt as if she were on a cliff's edge and about to fall. She arched up into him and he pushed fully into her, pausing, allowing her to adjust to him. Waiting for her pain to pass.

"No, fall with me." Nyota harshly whispered into his ear. And she knew then, knew with everything she was what he wanted, he was trying to keep it from her but she knew. She turned her head to the side without stopping their rhythm and pressed her lips against the tip of his ear before biting down hard.

"Make me yours." She whispered.

Spock's head jerked up as a harsh growl escaped his throat. He looked at that place between her neck and shoulder, the place that had been calling to him for months, finally, finally, she was his and he bit down.

"T'nash-veh" he howled and Nyota screamed her pleasure as she felt him burst deep within her, felt herself fall, felt the universe shatter and come back together again.

"T'nash-veh" she echoed him. "Mine."

They talked for awhile afterwards, in the hushed tone of lovers, in whispers and sighs. They spoke of simple things. How she wanted expand the garden, how he wanted to explore the mountain ridges beyond the spring where they swam. He told her a little of life on Vulcan and she of life in East Africa all the while touching, nipping, caressing. And then, when the words became a hindrance to other more important things, he took her again and then again . He left no doubt that he needed her, that he wanted her…that he loved her. He whispered ancient words from before the time of Surak. Words of ownership, words of desire. Words of devotion. Words of their shared bond.

And then she took him. Pushing him onto his back, she made her way down his body. Starting at his ears, she nibbled and kissed a path from his lips, lingering there to fully taste him again, to his neck then to his nipples, causing him to buck up. She allowed her tongue a slow journey to his quivering stomach, then down to the indentation where his hips led to his smoldering center. Looking up at him, her eyes dark with passion, she wrapped her lips around his hardened length, sucking and gently biting, smiling as she felt his control begin to wan. She made her way back up to straddle his hips, groaning as she eased down on his lok. Meeting his lust filled eyes, she took his hand and place it upon her face, mirroring it with her own.

"Feel me, k'hat'n'dlawa." Nyota whispered.

Almost drowning with need, she placed her mouth upon his shoulder and bit down, causing him to roar as she marked him, showing if to no one else then the two of them, that he was hers. He howled as he exploded deep within her womb, the both of them screaming their completion. She left no doubt in his mind, in his soul, that she loved him, desired him, wanted him. No doubt that he was half her heart and soul.

When it was over, when they were both sated, Spock felt at the place on his shoulder where his mate had marked him and growled his satisfaction as his fire rekindled. Nyota groaned at the feelings that swept through her. Spock pushed her onto her back and spread her legs open.

"I still have need." He roughly whispered as he set himself at her entrance and she pushed up into him, taking his full length as she arched into him.

"As do I." Nyota moaned. She looked up at him, her eyes heavy with passion. "Spock, will it always be like this? Will I always feel you so close, so…intimately?"

He laid his forehead against her. "Now, when it is so new, I believe so. But we will learn to control it. And I will never intrude upon your thoughts, your feelings without your permission."

She moaned. "You have it, my love. Forever. Now, make love to me again"

"As you wish, t'hai'la. Always, as you wish."

"Mmm, I feel…delicious." She suddenly sat up. "Are you hungry? I think dinner might still be edible." Spock grabbed her arm and pulled her back to lie on his chest.

"Why did you not tell me you had never experienced intercourse?" He felt her shrug.

"I don't know. I…I was going to and then you kissed me and then it just didn't matter."

"But it did matter. I could have, I should have been gentler. I should have made it…" He searched for the correct word. "Special."

Nyota burst out laughing.

"Oh baby, I can't even begin to tell you how special what we just did was. You made me feel…oh, Spock, you made me feel things I didn't even know existed." She kissed his chest. "Spock, you made me a part of you. And you a part of me. There are no words to express how I feel."

"There are no need for words, wife. I know you, I feel you."

'Mmm, now I life the sound of that." She sighed and rubbed her cheek against his. "Now, how about some food, husband?"

He chuckled. "Food would be the most logical step to take before we retire for the evening."

"To sleep?"

"Most certainly not."

Intrepid…five days (over a year, Eden time)

Amada brushed her hair out and waited for her husband. He had told her he would join her this evening while they waited for another Vulcan physicist and a Terran, a theoretically physicist that made it his life's work to study time displacement and temporal disturbances. She turned as her door chimed.

"Sarek?"

"Yes, my love. Were you expecting someone else?" He raised a brow at her.

"No of course not," she said sharply and then was immediately contrite. She stood and took his fingers in her own, letting his feelings of calm and affection settle her a bit. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just… we're going on five days."

"I am aware of that, adun'a." Sarek paused for a moment and when he spoke again his voice was little more than a whisper. "He is my son too."

Amanda looked at her husband then and saw underneath the stern Vulcan façade the pain and worry in his eyes. He had not slept and his eyes had the same dark circles as hers and the planes of his face were gaunt from lack of food.

"Spock would be dismayed at our demeanor, husband." She shook her head as she took his hand in hers. "I shall prepare you a bath after which you will have a small meal before you meditate and return to the lab."

"Amanda…" She cut him off.

"We are not doing him or ourselves any good with this behavior. Spock is resourceful, Starfleet has trained him well. And," she paused and reached up and placed her hands on her husband's face, "he is his fathers' son. If he can survive he will, and if you can find him you will."

Sarek leaned forward and rested his forehead against his wife's.

"I am trying." He said, the slight waiver in his voice the only testament to just how fragile a hold he had on his emotional control. "I am trying everything I know, everything we know, I am just unsure…"

"Shhhh," Amanda leaned forward and gave Sarek a soft kiss. "None of that. You don't know anything yet and speculation is…" she smiled ruefully, "illogical. Come and take a bath and let's see if we can't force some food into ourselves. Then I will allow you to find our son."

Sarek pulled back from Amanda and regarded her carefully. "Your logic is sound." He said, then he paused. "It is gratifying to verbalize this as you are not often in accordance with logic."

Amanda stared at her husband open mouthed for a moment and then for the first time in more than a week she genuinely laughed.

Sarek frowned. "You find humor in my words? I was not attempting humor."

Amanda took his hand and led him towards the bathroom still laughing. "And it is usually then, my adun, that you are the most humorous."