A/N: Sorry this is late! What can I say, I got caught up studying. Also, for more information about the origins of this chapter and the next on please take a minute to read the note on my profile page. Here you go!

T'Pau - Part I

U.S.S. Enterprise, 2270.138, 0330 hours. She paused in the doorway of the nursery having settled Selas back to sleep and listened to the soft murmurs of Vulkhansu from down the hall. Over the last few weeks there'd been many such late night calls back and forth to the family compound and she knew it was only a matter of time. Checking in on her older children Nyota returned to the bedroom alone, picking up a PADD and waiting for her adun; she wasn't left waiting long.

"It is time," he uttered as he stood in the doorway. "The Healers estimate that she has only a few weeks left."

"Where is she now? At the hospital?"

"No. T'Pau is at the compound and has been made comfortable. She waits for the family to gather."

Slipping out of bed she crossed the room and draped her arms about his neck. Though his sadness remained much of the stress Spock carried since his grandmother first became ill began to dissipate. "I've already filled out the paperwork for an emergency family medical leave," she whispered in his ear, "We'll submit it to Kirk in the morning and start to pack-up after shift. If there's a transport station near enough we can be on our way in two days—three at the most."

Laying her head against his shoulder she slipped a hand down over his heart. Though he and his extended family had not seen each other often in recent years he still cared for and respected his grandmother and struggled mightily not to prematurely grieve the coming loss. "I'm so sorry, Spock."

New Shi'Khar, New Vulcan Colony, 2270.143, 1417 hours. Sarek carefully oversaw the shuttlecraft as it landed and looked behind him to see that the necessary personnel were present to help handle the luggage. No sooner was the hatch opened then the childish cries of "Sa-mekh-al! Sa-mekh-al!*" greeted his ears and two small bodies rushed toward him. He bent down and allowed himself to be bowled over by his grandchildren; and if the workers were affronted by the display they said nothing.

"It is remarkably pleasing to see you as well," he remarked when they finally let him stand. Looking down at T'Alora and Se'tak he could not help but marvel at their growth; though they had had weekly comm calls with one another since T'Alora was born Sarek's visits with his grandchildren had been few and far between, scheduled as they were around diplomatic journeys and in-between Starfleet missions. Selas had not even been conceived the last time he personally saw the children and Se'tak especially had grown in the intervening months, now standing 6.09 centimeters above his waist.

"Children." Spock stepped down out of the shuttle still in uniform, glancing at the children to ensure that they behaved before assisting Nyota out of the aircraft; she carried Selas in her arms.

Sarek offered a hand to each child and led them back towards their parents. He knew the particulars of his youngest grandchild's condition but had yet to meet him in person and was anxious to do so. He nodded at Spock. "Sa-fu*." Nyota very enthusiastically greeted him with a kiss on each cheek. "Ko-fu*." The baby in her arms gazed unseeingly up in the vicinity of his face.

He had only ever seen a handful of blind Vulcans before in all his years and had never known any personally. Were he prone to such an emotion he would have found staring into his grandson's milky eyes disconcerting.

"Nash-ri t'du sa-fu-al, S'chn T'gai Selas Uchenna."*

Sarek nodded and gazed down at the tiny face, seeking silent permission from Nyota before slipping a finger into Selas' palm. It was remarkable to him that in spite of being unable to see him approach Selas felt no fear at his presence and was instead intrigued by the new mind that he touched. Seconds later Sarek felt a slight pull against his optic nerve as his grandson attempted to use his vision to make up for his own and examine his new surroundings. Very few among their kind could manipulate their touch telepathy in such a way and especially at such a young age. Giving the child minimal control he allowed Selas to have his way and was delighted by the boy's curiosity as he took in the hangar.

"He has a scientific mind much like his father."

"Nyota and I have also made note of the similarities," Spock replied, overseeing the luggage being loaded into the flitter. Moments later the workers were paid and the family were on their way to the new compound built just outside the city.

"How is she?"

Sarek was grateful his daughter-in-law had kept such queries quiet until they were in private. Few outside the family knew of T'Pau's deteriorating condition and there were Vulcans who were—like all other species—prone to gossip. He would not suffer to hear idle speculation about his mother or the upheaval her passing would cause within the family.

"I have moved into the main home in the compound and converted a lower level den for her exclusive use. She rests for approximately 17.4 hours a day, her breathing is labored and she gets around with great difficulty. Though she does not speak of it the Healers have informed me that she is in a moderate amount of pain. Much of the clan duties have been delegated to me though she still oversees the needs of the more immediate family members and grants audiences with them as needed."

"Are you talking about lo'uk ko-mekh-il*?" T'Alora piped up from the back seat.

Sarek looked at her through the rearview mirror. "Indeed we are, Little One."

"Who's lo'uk ko-mekh-il? Have I met her before?" Se'tak asked his sister.

T'Alora ignored her brother and focused on him instead. "Is she going to die?"

Across the bond he sensed Spock's hesitation. Although the number of deaths aboard their starship had been few and far between in recent years the children had mostly been shielded from that aspect of the cycle of life. T'Alora and Se'tak knew that not all crewmembers returned from all missions but the specifics of death and dying were still only vague concepts in their young minds. Nyota and Spock shielded them even now and neither child was aware that their hasty visit to New Vulcan was arranged so that they might be at their great-grandmother's bedside when she passed.

He agreed with Spock that they were still young; however, sending them into the house wholly unprepared was not a suitable course of action either. Therefore Sarek saw no logical reason to prevaricate. "She has had a long and fulfilling life and her body is failing her."

"Who's lo'uk ko-mekh-il?" Se'tak cried sharply again.

Spock turned in his seat. "Calm, my son." The warning served to settle the little boy down. "T'Pau is the ko-mekh* of your sa-mekh-al; she is also my ko-mekh-il* and thereby your lo'uk ko-mekh-il. You met her 1.89 years ago on our last visit to New Vulcan."

Sarek glanced back as the little boy screwed up his face in concentration. "Was she the lady that talked funny and had white hair up like this?" His hands mimicked the shape of a bun. Internally he was amused by his young grandson's recollection.

"Yes, that is your lo'uk ko-mekh-il."

He smiled. "I liked her. She gave me raisin cookies when no one was looking and told me stories of Old Vulcan."

He granted the boy a small smile. It was good to know that despite only knowing his mother for a brief period of time the children's memories of her were fond ones and would sustain them after her passing.

After a nap and a fresh change of clothes they descended the staircase en masse for the evening meal. She was grateful for Sarek's foresight in providing them all with proper Vulcan attire; T'Alora and Se'tak had completely outgrown the robes that they'd purchased last time they were here and she was still unable to fully button up her gowns as well. She was able to fit Selas into one of Se'tak's hand-me-downs and Spock had his own set of robes but there hadn't been any time to purchase anything newer for any of them.

Nyota also noted the white mourning wear for them all hanging in a garment bag in the back of her closet but chose not to comment.

She watched Sarek carefully close a set of double doors behind him and cross the foyer to greet them. "T'Pau is awake and demands an audience with you." Spock nodded and prepared to hand Nyota the baby when Sarek added, "All of you."

Standing by the last step she beckoned the older children toward her. She smoothed down the front of Se'tak's tunic then tucked some hair behind T'Alora's ear. "I want you both to remember what we talked about, ok? You must be quiet and respectful and very gentle." Here she looked hard at Se'tak to be sure he understood; he'd had a hard time remembering that when they first brought Selas home he was just so excited. "Wait for lo'uk ko-mekh-il to talk to you first and don't interrupt her when she speaks; and if you see anything in there that you're curious about we can talk about it after dinner, ok?"

"Yes Mama," twin voices chimed in. She gave them each a gentle squeeze then moved to stand beside her husband as they were led to T'Pau's room.

The den was big enough to comfortably fit a full-sized bed, a nightstand and a small wardrobe, and had a large bank of windows that entered out onto a patio and overlooked the grounds on the western side. T'Pau was propped up by several pillows with her hair loose around her shoulders. Though she tried to hide it by wrapping herself in the bed sheets she had lost a great deal of weight; her cheekbones were sharper and the veins on her hands, arms and neck were more pronounced. T'Pau still had a strong aura about her, Nyota was happy to note, even though she did not look as formidable as she once had.

Curtains from an open window rustled in the breeze while the oxygen cannule whirred beside the bed. The children paused in the doorway, frightened by the strange sounds and hyper-antiseptic smells, before she ushered them along.

"Spokh-kam*?"

"Ha, ko-mekh-il*." Spock passed Selas into her waiting arms then took the seat beside her bed. Wordlessly T'Pau held her hand out. He willingly gave her his palm and she sandwiched them with her own. Her eyes darted back and forth behind closed lids and Nyota could only detect the barest trace of her husband's presence across the bond.

"Thou has had quite a journey, son of my son."

One eyebrow rose; they each questioned whether she spoke of the physical or the emotional. Knowing T'Pau she most likely spoke of both. "Indeed."

Relinquishing his hand she turned her attention to the other side of the bed. Her unwavering gaze made Se'tak squirm and try to hide behind her skirts while T'Alora stood tall. "Spokh-kam," T'Pau finally declared, "These children cannot be my lo'uk orfik-kanar;* they are much too tall and number three instead of two."

"Mama had a baby, lo'uk ko-mekh-il!" Se'tak burst out enthusiastically; he used any opportunity presented to him to brag about Selas. "He's my brother! His name is Selas. And I am your lo'uk sa-fu-al; I'm Se'tak!"

Nyota held her breath waiting for a reprimand over his outburst; instead T'Pau merely lifted an eyebrow. "Truly? Come closer, child, so that I may see thee better." Letting go of her dress her son hesitantly stepped up to the other side of the bed and let T'Pau stroke the side of his face. She paused with her fingers near his psi point. "Dost thou permit me?"

Se'tak glanced over at his father who nodded in encouragement. She watched as T'Pau engaged in the briefest meld with her son, her thin lips creeping upward ever-so-slightly in a smile. "Thou speak the truth; thou art the sa-fu of my sa-fu-al." T'Pau leaned in closer and whispered in his ear. "I see thou hast remembered me." She winked at him and he giggled before running back to hug her knees.

"T'Alora?" T'Pau asked, returning her gaze to her eldest. "Does thee need a formal invitation to greet me?"

Nyota watched her daughter step forward, greeting T'Pau with her palm up in the formal Vulcan fashion, and was incredibly pleased with what she saw. Standing near the back of the room she watched with pleasure as four generations of family reconnected with one another.

* Sa-mekh-al = Grandfather

* Sa-fu = Son

* Ko-fu = Daughter

* "Nash-ri t'du sa-fu-al, S'chn T'gai Selas Uchenna" = "This is your grandson, S'chn T'gai Selas Uchenna."

* Lo'uk ko-mekh-il = Great-grandmother

* Ko-mekh = Mother

* Ko-mekh-il = Grandmother

* Spokh-kam = Spock dear

* "Ha, ko-mekh-il" = "Yes, Grandmother."

* Lo'uk orfik-kanar = great-grandchildren