Chapter 6: Convergence
Nyota was done in the brig for the day...she had spent a lot of time there the last week. She couldn't officially start the study, so she didn't record their sessions beyond that first day, but she was using the time to become familiar with the language.
She knew it was going to be tough. Every other language she had learned had already been translated to Federation Standard, which gave her a guidebook...none of that had prepared her for learning an unknown language. There were experts back on base with specific training in this area, but she didn't want to entrust Remaja to them just yet. She had to try, first.
The good part was that Remaja seemed to quickly grasp Standard. She had already learned a few phrases and words, and didn't forget them. The fact that she could memorize the words easily made Nyota's job much less complicated.
"Goodbye, Nyota." Remaja said cheerfully as Nyota left the cell. The security guard she had brought with her reset the energy barrier.
"Goodbye, Remaja." Nyota replied with a smile. Despite her strange appearance, and despite their inability to communicate, Nyota was quickly growing to like her.
She was getting off the turbolift and heading toward her quarters when Kirk came around a corner.
"Uhura!" he called, and she stopped to wait for him.
"Yes, Captain?" she asked, looking up at him expectantly.
"I just heard back from Starfleet Command." he said, and smiled. "They've approved keeping Remaja on the Enterprise. Congratulations on leading your first linguistics study, Lieutenant."
A smile slowly spread across Nyota's lips. "How long did they give me?"
"Four months. It's not much, but that's the maximum they would allow. And like Spock said, you have to record all sessions and document all findings."
Nyota was so elated that she didn't even feel the pang she usually felt when someone brought up Spock's name. She hadn't been this happy or excited in weeks...possibly even months.
"This is great!" Nyota said, almost bouncing up and down. "I mean- I pretty much figured they would give it to me- but you never know with Starfleet Command! I was a little worried..."
"No need to be." Kirk said with another smile. "You can start whenever you like."
"I'll start tomorrow morning. But first things first- we need to get Remaja some clothes and find her proper lodgings. I don't care if you keep her under house arrest- but she can't stay in the brig for four months. Not only is it unhealthy and cruel, but it would make my job easier to have her somewhere more comfortable." Her voice became authoritative, telling him that despite his superior rank, she expected it to be done. If Kirk had been anyone else, he would have been incensed and reprimanded her for insubordination. But as it was him, he only laughed.
"Yes, Captain." he said. Nyota paused, and then grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, sir."
"No need to apologize, Lieutenant." he said. "I'm supposed to be reporting to the bridge, but I wanted to stop by to give you the good news."
"Thank you, Jim!" she said with another smile. She was already making plans, drawing up a mental chart of what steps she would take with Remaja, constructing methods of teaching and learning. Four months was not much time, but she was going to make the best of it. Was there really ever a time when she despised Jim Kirk?
"No need to thank me, Uhura." Kirk said, dropping the formal title, like she had. "You should thank Spock."
"Spock?" she asked, confused. "What does Spock have to do with this?"
"Starfleet was an inch away from rejecting your request. They didn't seem to think you had the necessary experience or training to conduct the study. Spock vouched for you."
Nyota blinked, surprised. "Why would he do that?"
"I don't know." Kirk said with a shrug. "I didn't even know about it until Starfleet Command contacted me an hour ago. They said that after reviewing the first officer's statement regarding the case, they had reconsidered. I have no idea what he said. He didn't even tell me. Hell, I didn't even tell him about Starfleet's decision, so I don't even know how he knew."
Nyota stared at Kirk for almost a full minute. Her mind was whirring again...this time not focusing on her plans for Remaja, but on the idea that Spock- despite the fact that it had nothing to do with him- had made sure that she was given the case. Why was he even following the case? How had he managed to intervene without Kirk knowing about it?
She knew, beyond a doubt, that he had done it because he knew how greatly she desired it, how much she needed this.
It was, indirectly, a source of comfort for her. She let the warm feelings wash over her for a few seconds before realizing that Kirk was still standing before her, watching her closely.
"Well...thanks anyway." she said, giving him a distracted smile. "I'd better start planning for the next four months."
Kirk nodded. "Right. Congratulations again."
She watched him walk away, and then entered her quarters, still thinking about Spock. She had managed to distract herself from him when she visited Remaja...but she still thought about him too often for her own good. She had caught glimpses of him in the hallways, but hadn't gotten any closer to him than twenty feet in a week. She didn't think he had even seen her any of those times. That was for the best.
But now...she couldn't just ignore the fact that Spock had helped her. He did not have to vouch for her...it would have been so simple for him to leave it alone, not interfere. It had to have been only for her...he had no other logical reason.
She considered seeking him out to thank him. Just thank him...nothing more, she told herself. But could she trust herself to even do that? Could she trust herself around him at all? She didn't even know yet how she would be able to handle working with him on the bridge...she was supposed to return to her duties in four days. Unless, at the counselling session scheduled for the day after next, it was decided by Dr. Adams that she required more time off. While she intensely disliked the idea of extended medical leave- and therapy- at least that would mean she had more time to get her bearings before having to be in close proximity to Spock every day.
Nyota sighed as she pulled off her boots and picked up her data PADD to review the recording of Remaja's language from the week before. She had listened to the same clips every night, and taken notes on certain words or sounds that were repeated- the key to understanding the language was to look for patterns, learn the sounds before learning the words. She wasn't sure that she would be able to get it in just four months...but she had to do it! Once she handed this over to Starfleet, she would lose any chance she had of finding out why...
Immersing herself in her work, she was absorbed by the sounds of the strange tongue that was becoming more and more familiar to her. It was late when she finally looked up and realized that she had been working for almost three hours non-stop. She pressed the pause button on the tricorder and set it and her PADD on the nightstand.
After getting ready for bed, she crawled under the blankets and commanded the computer to turn the lights off. She was left in utter darkness, staring up at the indiscernible ceiling.
This was the worst part of every day- laying in the dark waiting for sleep to come, waiting for the nightmares. There had not been a single night in the past two and a half weeks where she hadn't woken up to them, covered in sweat and breathing hard. She dreaded going to sleep.
These were the moments when she knew that, no matter how much she threw herself into her work, no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she wasn't getting over it. The darkness of her room reminded her of the darkness of the hut. It reminded her of hanging limply by her wrists, blood streaming down her back...
Nyota took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. Thinking about it certainly was not going to make the nightmares go away.
She turned over onto her side and forced her mind to cast about for something, anything that would give her peace. Just as she was started to drift off into sleep, she found it...she thought about Spock, his dark human eyes, his warm touch, his lips soft against hers...his deep voice, lulling her to sleep...
____________________________________________________
Today had been Spock's day off. He had spent the day in his quarters, reading scientific articles and researching various subjects of interest. Then he had gone to the gym for a workout. He was now in need of meditation- Nyota had been in his thoughts today more often than she had been during the last week. She was greatly distracting to him, but meditation allowed him some degree of peace.
He walked down the silent, empty corridor in his usual brisk pace until he neared Nyota's door...and as he had every night for the past week, he paused and laid his hand against it, debating...always debating.
Should he request entry? Should he leave, like he had every other night? Should he attempt to explain everything to her? Should he try to get her back?
He wanted it more than anything. But a tiny part of him was afraid...actually afraid. He could not even believe he admitted it to himself. He feared that she may reject him again. He feared that she would not even listen. Most of all, he feared that he would have to go the rest of his life without her. But if he did not at least try, he would have to fear something else...living with the fact that he may have had a chance to redeem himself and did not take it.
He had meditated over this situation every night for a week. He had done as Kirk suggested, and thought about each of his wrongs and how he may correct them. He had come up with few solutions. One of them had been to do something completely selfless and unexpected for her...he had taken his chance when he found out that Starfleet was to reject Nyota as the leader of the study she so wished to conduct. He had become indignant when he found out from the Commander of Operations' secretary. Nyota had more right than anyone to have that case. He had politely asked to be put through to the Commander- although he was seething underneath his calm exterior. He had recommended her personally to the Commander, listing all of her qualifications. In the end, the Commander had agreed to overturn the decision.
Spock did, of course, realize that he may have been acting upon favoritism- something he would have thought he would never do. If it were anyone else, he would not have interfered with Starfleet Command's decision. But her qualifications spoke for themselves- that part was not favoritism. There was no logical reason why she should not be able to have her way.
His fingers hovered over the buzzer, so close but not quite touching. He became furious at his inability to make a decision. In any other situation, he made up his mind automatically and followed through without hesitation...but when it came to Nyota...
Deciding that perhaps he was not yet ready for a confrontation, and required more meditation to strengthen his resolve, he began to turn away- and then he heard something from within Nyota's quarters that stopped him cold.
She cried out...no words, only one short cry. He listened closely- his first thought was to wonder if she was alone...
She cried out again, her voice strangled by sobs. His heart began to pound, and he could not breathe. Those were not cries of desire...they were cries of pain, of terror...what he heard next broke him.
"Spock! K'diwa...I need you...I need your strength..." the words were not shouted, but moaned just loud enough for him to hear.
Like before when Nyota was in danger, the primitive Vulcan began to surface, instincts kicking in. Nyota was in danger...she needed him...he did not know what sort of danger, as it could not possibly be physical- he was now sure that she was alone.
He did not know what he thought was wrong with her, but he knew something was wrong. His mind was a flood of terror, desperation, and determination as he punched his override code into the panel beside her door. He did not care that it was a serious misuse of authority...his Nyota needed him. He must go to her. He could not fail her again...
The door slid open, revealing a dark void. He stepped into the room and the door slid shut behind him. It did not matter- he was relying solely on his senses now. He could hear her, her labored breathing and thrashing about on the bed, her moans of fear. He now knew that she was asleep...but that did not matter, she had said she needed him...
"Lights at five-percent." Spock commanded. The lights came on just enough to reveal the form on the bed, shaking uncontrollably, her head tossing back and forth. Without even thinking about it, and without hesitation, he joined her on the bed, pulling her against him. "Let'thieri, ashayam." he murmured into her hair. Peace, beloved. "Ki'sarlah nash-veh." I have come.
She was still trembling, but he could feel her awakening. She stirred, and looked up at him.
"Spock?" she asked, surprised. He repeated what he had said. Her arms tightened around him, and she pressed against him as if she could not get close enough. He felt her body shake as she cried with her face pressed against his chest. "Spock..." she moaned. She was holding him so tightly, as if for dear life.
He stroked her hair, and then her cheeks, sending her waves of calm over the empathic link. He had missed holding her. This is all that was required of him...he was a fool for not realizing it sooner. He felt his control coming back, but it did not stop him from holding her. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his cheek against the top of her head. His Nyota...
She slowly calmed down, no longer shaking and no longer crying. Her breathing was regular, but not the deep, slow breaths that accompanied sleep. Now that they had both calmed, he remembered that he had no right to be here, in her quarters. But she was not asking him to leave, and he would not go until she told him to.
"Spock?" Her voice was uncertain.
"Yes, Nyota?" he asked, fear seizing him. He forgot, for a moment, that they were still connected by the link. She felt his fear.
"I'm not going to make you go." she said softly, and he abruptly severed the link. She sighed, and burrowed her head against his chest again. "This is what I needed from you. I shouldn't have had to tell you."
"I know." Spock replied, allowing his hand to rub her arm soothingly. She did not stop him, so she must have found it agreeable. He wanted to apologize to her, but he could not find words strong enough to convey his regrets. Instead, he leaned down to press his lips against her forehead. "I have not been wise." he whispered.
"Understatement of the century." Nyota said with a weak smile that he only just barely saw in the dim lighting. He ran two fingers down her cheek, coming to rest underneath her chin. He lifted her face toward his.
"Nyota...do I have any chance of ever having you again?" he asked. He saw her smile widen by a fraction of an inch.
"You're still here, aren't you? That means you have a chance. I can't promise anything...I believe in second, or even third chances...but if we're going to give this another shot, we need to have a long talk first to decide if it's the best thing for us to do."
"I am in agreement." Spock said, but he reopened the link enough for her to feel his relief, gratitude, and love.
There was a short silence, during which Spock looked into her eyes. Then he spoke again.
"You dream of what happened to you, Nyota. I believe that if you share your experience with me, it will help you."
"Do you think you're ready to hear it?" Nyota asked with a hint of reproof in her tone.
"No. I am not ready to hear it." Spock replied quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt Nyota stiffen in his arms. "I am ready to see it." he added. "But only if you are willing to show me."
Nyota's body softened again. She looked up into his face curiously. "You mean...a mind meld?"
Spock nodded once. "Precisely. I have consulted my father's advice on how to comfort human women...he suggested that we discuss it verbally. But I believe that a mind meld would, in this case, be quicker and far more effective in relaying our experiences, feelings, and thoughts. This is only if you are willing...it may be a dangerous for you."
"But I thought a mind meld is like a bond? I mean...will we be bonded when we're done?" she asked. He could not discern the emotion in her tone...he was not sure if it was anxious or eager.
"A mind meld can be performed without creating a permanent bond." Spock replied.
"Okay..." Nyota said. She paused for a moment, before saying; "Go ahead."
"You are sure?" He asked, moving his hand up to her temple.
"Very. Meld away." she said, and through the weak link he felt her determination and certainty. She closed her eyes, and he did the same.
"Our minds- one and together." he whispered. At the same time, he initiated the meld. His mind- much more powerful than hers- slipped through the cracks in her her own mind, until they were indistinguishable from one another.
"Spock?" he heard her voice in his head. She was frightened. The force of his mind was much stronger than she had anticipated.
"It is not too late to withdraw, Nyota." he thought back. He felt her tension ease away. She was comforted.
"No...it just takes some getting used to." she replied. "I'm fine now."
He agreed that it took getting used to...her own mind was alien to his. He waited one more moment for her to become accustomed to his presence, and then he began to gently reach into her memories...one thing he noticed right away was that she thought in a mixture of languages, only some of which he knew.
"You think in Vulcan." Nyota replied, almost defensively.
"That is true." he responded. "I expected you to think primarily in Swahili, a language I am not entirely familiar with. I am surprised to find that the languages you have learned are so ingrained into your subconscious that you think in them, even though they are not your first language. This is unusual."
He felt her pride and gratitude for what she took as a compliment, but it was merely a statement of fact.
Spock turned his attention back to her memories, and he felt a ripple of dread and fear as he found the memories she wanted to forget.
"I can alter your memories, if you wish." Spock replied to this fleeting thought.
"No. I may dislike it, but I don't want my memory tampered with." Nyota said firmly. Spock proceeded to view the memory.
Pain. He was shivering as icy water dripped off of him, he heard the hollow pole whistle through the air before it struck him in another stinging blow. A cry came from between his lips...Nyota's lips. The lips he had kissed so many times...
The scene changed...this time it was night, not early morning. He watched as a dark-skinned woman came in to bathe his wounds and give him water. He was full of gratitude, so full of it that he almost cried.
The scene dissolved, replaced by a man coming towards him with a whip. The whip cracked...it hurt worse than the pole, and it drew blood, but he hung there limply, accepting it, giving up...
He was alone again. The blood dripped down his back in rivulets, landing in the dirt at his feet. He heard his thoughts; "Spock...my k'diwa...I need you...I need your strength..." It was the same words Nyota had moaned in her sleep.
He felt determination to escape. He struggled to free his ankles from their bonds- finally succeeding. And then he swung his legs back and forth to hook them around the beam his wrists were tied to...he felt his right ankle hit too hard, the bone fracturing. More pain. It was now everywhere...his head, his back, his ankle, his shoulders...
He was now attempting to strangle who appeared to be the leader of the natives. He was choking, sputtering, gasping for breath, his eyes rolling back into his head...the woman from before stopped him, and he went to the doorway. He saw men armed with crossbows running toward him...the woman, Remaja, held out his communicator and he contacted the Enterprise. But he was not beamed aboard soon enough...he felt a sharp pain in his midsection even as he dematerialized.
What followed were only confused images and impressions...Dr McCoy's voice...Nyota's voice asking about him...a soft bed, more pain...
Then he was looking up into the bright lights of sickbay, Dr. McCoy hovering over him, speaking. He felt bitter disappointment at learning that Spock, that he, had not come to visit. More pain...but it was no longer physical. The pain was so intense that he could barely stand it. It filled him, clawed at his insides...
"Spock. Show me yours." Nyota's voice penetrated him. He withdrew from her memories, and looked through his own.
He showed her everything. His pain and anguish, his guilt at his loss of control. His fear that he may lose her because of his lapse. His anger, his desire to rip the man who had taken her to pieces. He allowed her to experience that dark, primal Vulcan need to protect his mate. She was his and no one else's. He felt her surprise at this revelation, but she was not disgusted, not afraid, as he had thought she would be. He should have known better. She always accepted him, all of him...no matter how bad it was.
"Of course I do." she chided. He sent her another wave of gratitude, of love. She reciprocated, and for a few minutes they simply fed their love to one another.
"We must continue." he said gently, ending the exchange. "What do you wish for us to share now?"
"I think we've seen enough of what happened on Scorpius Three." Nyota said, and Spock silently agreed. They had shown one another all of their thoughts and feelings on that subject. "I think we should move on to how we felt afterwards."
They did. Nyota showed him her pain for the way he acted, how it infuriated her and saddened her at the same time. How much she wanted him, needed him. Her growing frustration with his odd behavior that culminated in her ending their relationship in a flow of harsh, but true, words. He felt her flash of disappointment when he did not so much as say a word before obediently leaving.
"You demanded that I leave. I did what you desired." Spock said, confused. "Why would you then regret it?"
"It's a human thing. We say things we don't mean when we're upset. I guess that, even though I knew I should end it, I didn't want to. I hoped you would convince me that I didn't need to."
"Ah. Yes." Spock said, and he showed her a snippet of the conversation with Kirk, who had said almost the exact same thing. He felt her amusement.
"He was right, shockingly, so keep it in mind for the future." At this, Spock felt hope growing within him. Did this mean that she was considering taking him back? "Yes, Spock, that's what it means. But first you need to show me how you felt over the last two and a half weeks."
He immediately obliged. He allowed her to experience the intense relief he had felt when Kirk told him that she would survive. He showed her his guilt once more, his shame at his recent loss of control, his uncertainty of what was expected of him, which he now knew should have been obvious.
He showed her his conversation with his father. He felt her amusement and consternation that he had not heeded his father's advice.
"I believe I did tell you that I have been unwise." Spock said. Her felt her amusement again, and he continued.
Now he flashed forward to when she stood before him, saying so many hurtful but true things. His reluctance to accept it, before she finally told him to leave. He left because he had no other choice. He recalled the strange heaviness and despair that filled him for many days afterward.
Next was Kirk's reprimands. Nyota outright laughed when he called Spock an 'ass' repeatedly. The feel of her laugh was even better than the sound of it.
"He was right! I'm going to have to hug him for telling you that!" Nyota exclaimed. Spock sent her disapproval.
"I would prefer that you refrain from physical contact with other males." he admonished.
She did not reply to that, but her amusement was still there, flickering pleasantly in his conscience.
He revealed to her how and why he had interfered with Starfleet Command's refusal to grant her request. At this, he sensed surprise and gratitude.
"You contacted the Chief of Starfleet Operations himself?" she asked, impressed. "For me?"
"For you." he confirmed.
"Thank you." she said.
The last thing he showed to her was his coming to her door, debating whether or not to press the buzzer. His panic as he heard her cry out, call for him. He showed her how his Vulcan- or perhaps it was also blended with human- instincts kicked in, driving him to enter her quarters uninvited to crawl into bed to comfort her.
"I think I like your Vulcan instincts." Nyota commented.
"As do I, as long as they do not come forward often or when around others." Spock replied. "Nyota, my ashayam, I believe I now know what to do if you are ever in need of comfort. I promise that I will not ever again allow logic, false logic, or my Vulcan stricture on emotions cause you pain when I can prevent it. This is a promise that I have every intention of keeping."
"I know, my k'diwa." Nyota replied, and he felt love pouring forth from her.
"I believe we have accomplished what we set out to accomplish, Nyota. I will withdraw now." He began to do so, but he felt a sudden surge of desperation.
"Wait!" she said. He stopped. "You told me that...you can perform a mind meld without bonding us."
"We are not bonded." Spock assured her.
"I know. While you're here, I want you to bond us."
Spock could not hold back his surprise. "You have said that we have much to discuss. We have not yet addressed the issues unrelated to recent events that pertain to our relationship. I would prefer that we do so before we consider bonding."
"Those are issues that can be worked on later, Spock." he felt her impatience. "And they will be resolved much easier if we have a telepathic bond. Come on, Spock- use logic. If I ever need something that you would not normally understand, you will know through the bond. If I'm ever in trouble, you'll be there for me. Always. No matter what. I want this."
"You are sure?" Spock asked, uncertainly. There was no question that he was sure that he wanted it- he had wanted it for a long time. The only reason he had never asked her before was because he had read, while performing research on human courtship rituals, that humans 'dated' for at least one year before considering marriage.
"Yes, but you're half-Vulcan. Not all of the rules pertain to you." Nyota said, interrupting his thoughts. "And yes, Spock. I'm absolutely sure that this is what I want."
Spock only hesitated for one second more, before he reached back into her mind and established the bond that would link them until one of them died...
"Did you do it?" Nyota asked uncertainly. "I don't feel any different."
"Not yet." Spock said. He then withdrew from her mind.
He opened his eyes, to see that she was staring back at him, a wide smile curving her lips. But he could still feel her, a warm, welcome presence in the back of his mind.
"I love you, ashayam." Spock murmured, brushing a stray bit of hair away from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. He sent her a wave of pure joy and love through the new link. Nyota gasped.
"That was strong!" she said.
"Emotional transferrence through a bond allows you to feel the full force of the emotions. Skin-to-skin transferrence is much weaker." he explained. He heard her next thoughts as clearly as if she were still engaged in the meld with him. "I can get used to that".
"As can I." he thought back. She gave a small laugh.
"Are you always going to be able to hear my thoughts?" she asked aloud.
"Not at all times. The bond is still very new...you have not yet learned how to block me from your thoughts. While pleasant, a bond can be a distraction. Which is why blocks are necessary. I must teach you control."
She nestled closer to him, resting her head in the space between his neck and shoulder. "So...does this mean we're married?"
"Not quite." Spock replied. "What we have is more than a betrothal, less than a marriage."
"Well, how do we make it a full marriage?" she asked, looking up at him, eyes sparkling in a way he had not seen in weeks.
"In most Vulcan marriages." Spock began slowly. "The bonding ceremony is performed while the betrothed are children. When they have matured, they meet in the male's family marriage grounds. If the female has no wish to complete the marriage, she declares koon-ut-kalifee. She chooses a champion, and the males fight to the death. The victor wins her. If not contested, the marriage is completed by physical consummation."
"That's it?" Nyota smirked. "Physical consummation?"
"Yes." Spock said, the corners of his lips twitching upwards. Nyota moved up so that she could kiss him, her hands cradling his head, her fingers twining in his hair.
"I want you to be my husband." she murmured as she drew away. "In every way."
Spock reached out to stroke her cheek, and pulled her toward him.
"If that is what you wish." he said as he kissed her. "My adun'a."
They came together; fire and heat, love and joy, relief and acceptance; all pain, guilt, shame, and any other negative emotions banished. They were one.
_____________________________________________________________
Nyota groaned happily as she stretched and blinked her eyes open. She felt the strange presence in her mind, and she happily remembered that she was now married. She looked around for her husband.
"Spock?" she asked. He came out of the bathroom, pulling on his blue shirt.
"I must report to the bridge for my shift." he said. Nyota sighed.
"Duty calls. Will I have to listen to your every thought today? It might bore me into a coma." she said. She felt his amusement across the link.
"I shall block you." he said, and as he said it she felt the hum in her mind become much less pronounced. She could no longer feel his emotions and hear his thoughts, but he was still there.
She sat up, pulling the sheets around her naked form. She watched as he pulled on his boots, feeling happier than she had in a long, long time. She was even happier now than she had been the day before, when she learned that she had gotten permission for her study on Remaja. Amazingly, both instances of happiness were caused by the man sitting on the foot of the bed.
He was standing to leave when she rose on her knees and turned him back around to her. She kissed him tenderly, and he opened the link enough for her to feel his love and his own happiness.
"See you tonight." she said with a smile. He did not reply, but she felt his agreement before he pulled away, blocked the link, and left the room. Yes, she could definitely get used to this.
She laid back down on the bed, smiling up at the ceiling. Last night had been the first time that she slept peacefully...after the nightmare that brought Spock to her, anyway. She felt better. She knew she really was getting over Scorpius Three now. The only way to complete that healing was to learn Remaja's language...which she would get started on as soon as she was done basking in her happiness.
Later, she and Spock would have to sit down and discuss the smaller problems in their relationship- such as his habit of making decisions that affected them both without consulting her. But surely it would be easier now that they were bonded...
Her only worry at the moment was that she might, just might, have been too hasty in asking for the bond. She didn't regret it...but would she, further along down the line? Had she been wrong to rush into the bonding before they fully discussed it?
She pushed the thoughts away. She wasn't going to let negative thoughts bother her. This was supposed to be a happy time. She and Spock had had so many problems in the past...she wanted to be able to have one worry-free day in which she could allow herself to enjoy their new marriage.
Anything else could wait.
A/N: Adun'a = wife. I'm sure you know that, but I just want to make sure.
Okay, this is the end of this story arc! This chapter seemed to take FOREVER to write...I think I spent about six hours on it. I'm glad it's finally written, but I had fun all the same :)
I don't know when I will update again...it could be as soon as tomorrow, or as late as a few weeks from now. It all depends on when inspiration strikes. I'm already getting some ideas, but nothing concrete enough to start writing. I think I seriously need a break, though...I've been writing almost non-stop for a week now. I think my family is starting to wonder if I'm glued to the computer chair. But I definitely will be back!
I want to take this time to thank all of my wonderful readers! I can't even begin to say how grateful I am for all of you...I've become totally addicted to review alerts in my mail box! They really do keep me motivated. Even if you haven't reviewed- thanks for sticking with me so far! Just make sure you add Essential to your story alerts so you know when I've come back with more!