Spock awoke to the sounds of Nyota making breakfast. His father had gone to sleep in his chair, but Spock had become accustomed to sleeping lying down and had spread himself across a sofa.
"Does this taste okay?" Nyota asked, indicating a pot of sauce on a burner.
Spock took out the spoon, tasted it and nodded.
"Good," she said, "I can never really tell."
As he set the table, Spock pondered what to say to her. He didn't want to tell her the negative things his father had said, but if she asked, he didn't think he could lie.
Sarek looked surprised when he saw breakfast on the table. While it was traditional for Vulcan guests to prepare the morning meal, Spock couldn't remember a single human guest doing this while visiting his father. It required going through his fridge, which they considered rude, and getting up early, which many humans disliked.
"Ba'toga, Spock likes that," Sarek commented when he saw the dish she had made. Spock resisted the urge to correct him.
They sat and ate for a few minutes before Sarek turned to Nyota and asked politely,
"Do you have any plans for this afternoon?"
"Well, we were going to take a look around the colony."
"Make sure you see the legislature," Sarek stated, "Some of the paintings on the walls were donated by well-known human artists."
"Really?" Nyota asked demurely, "What ones?"
Spock ate while Nyota and his father talked.
After breakfast was finished, Spock put on his boots and helped Nyota with her coat. His father walked up behind them. He looked reluctant, but stepped forward and presented Nyota with a gift.
"Thank you," Nyota said in perfect Vulcan, not skipping a beat. She tucked the package under her arm, smiling slightly.
"Live long and prosper," Sarek said as they walked out the door.
*****
Spock and Nyota walked down the hall without saying a word. When they were out of earshot, Spock asked,
"What did you think?"
"He seems really nice for a Vulcan," she replied.
Spock stopped and stared at her.
"I didn't mean that," she stammered after a minute, "I just meant he was really nice."
But of course, she had.
Spock started walking again and, looking forward, said,
"My father stated that he has reservations about our relationship."
"I suspected that," Nyota replied.
Spock was deciding what to say when she added,
"But you told me how conservative he is. I expected that he would dislike anyone he hadn't hand picked for you. It was nice that he was civil, open to meeting me."
Spock stayed silent, not wanting to lie, but not sure how to respond. He didn't know how to tell her that his father's disapproval went deeper than her being a human, went deeper than her being a mate of choice. And with that thought, he knew that he could never tell her, because deep down he knew that everything his father had said about her was true.
"Perhaps, with time, he will become more open to our relationship," Spock said finally, which wasn't exactly a lie.
*****
Spock and Nyota were walking down the streets of the colony, looking at the new buildings. As they passed, people stopped and stared. Spock figured that some of them might have never seen a human up close before, and Nyota was dressed far less modestly than any Vulcan. And he supposed that they might be staring at him as well. He was aware the he looked as alien to Vulcans as he did to humans.
As they passed a building with a big front window, Spock saw someone he recognized.
"That is Mrs. Telak," he told Nyota, "I was not aware that she is still alive."
Nyota looked confused, so he elaborated,
"She was my pre-school teacher. I would like to go see her."
Nyota nodded.
As they entered the building, Spock was surprised to see that the floor was covered in Vulcan infants. They had ears that looked too large for their blank chubby faces, and sat together in clumps of two or three, each group looking in the same direction. They were completely silent.
"Psychic abilities are particularly strong at this age," Spock found himself explaining.
"You mean the ones that are touching each other are talking?" Nyota asked, awed.
"As much as infants have to say," Spock replied.
She smiled at the crowd as he said this.
The old woman walked up to them, and looked at Spock for a minute before saying,
"Spock! I did not recognize you. You have grown so much."
"Only as much as expected," Spock replied. Nyota tittered.
"Of course, your father has told me everything about you. He says you are the first officer on one of the most important ships in the Federation." She said this as if it were something to be proud of.
"That is accurate," Spock replied.
"This is my mate, Nyota Uhura," he added, indicating Nyota who had been standing a bit uncomfortably during the conversation.
"How nice," the woman responded sincerely, giving Nyota a nod.
"I see you no longer teach preschool," Spock stated, looking around the room.
"There are not any children on the colony old enough," she said a bit wistfully, "But fortunately, I have been able to apply my skills to younger children. A lot of families need someone to watch their children while they rebuild."
It was only then that Spock realized he was looking that would have been unthinkable years earlier: a Vulcan daycare. Now, the extended family that would have looked after those children were all dead.
Spock heard an infant give out a mewling sound, and soon they were all wimpering in sympathy. Mrs. Telak walked around the room, putting her hand on each child's forehead, trying to find the one who had started it.
"That's so cute, how they're all crying because one is," Nyota smiled.
The old woman finally came to a pair of babies and found the right one, and picked him up. The room was silent again.
"Poor So'Tan has been having stomachaches all day. He is not improving," she said. After prodding the boy for a minute she asked,
"Would you be able to watch them for a minute while I find his mother?" Spock nodded.
He and Nyota looked out into the sea of faces.
"They're so sweet," she breathed. "But look at that one," she indicated the baby next to the one that had been picked up, "He's all alone."
He did look dejected, struggling to pull himself over to the nearest group. Spock walked over and picked him up. He tried to balance him on his broken arm, but was unsuccessful. Nyota ran over and took the infant from him. He began to cry.
"He has likely never encountered a being he cannot communicate with before," Spock explained, moving one of Nyota's hands to his forehead. Slowly, he stopped crying and she gasped.
"He likes me," she said smiling, "He is so calm and happy for a little guy." Spock could feel this through the air.
Nyota bounced the baby in her arms. It was a strange sight, Nyota laughing while the baby kept a completely straight face. But Spock could feel his joy bubbling.
"Spock," Nyota joked, "Can we keep him?"
She put the baby's cheek against hers and continued,
"I bet having a kid this age is such a nuisance, the parents wouldn't even mind if we took him."
She clutched the baby to her body, as if she were trying to hide him.
"I suspect you are not the master kidnapper you think are," Spock stated, and Nyota laughed.
She moved close to Spock and kissed him, and as she did, he heard the door open.
It was something Spock would never forget, the expression on his former preschool teacher's face upon finding her former charge kissing his mate while carrying a current charge.
But it was a good moment.
*****
Nyota and Spock were taking the shuttle back to the ship. Spock was in the front seat, and Nyota was siddled up behind him, stroking his ears.
"Would you stop fondling my ears?" he asked in an almost joking manner.
"Well—I would be fondling other things, but there's a Comm. channel that could open at any minute," she replied saucily.
Spock looked back at her, and she stopped.
She went to the back of the ship, and noticed the package that Sarek had given her and opened it. Then, she began laughing hysterically.
"I'm sorry," she said, still laughing, "Just here's a guy that knows how to be subtle."
Spock walked back to see what was in the package.
"You see," she said weakly, "We have a pair of earrings."
She held them up.
"Because you always wear earrings," Spock guessed.
"And here's a scarf," she said holding one up.
"Because he thought you should have had your head covered when you walked in."
She looked at him.
"Do you think I should have had my head covered?" she asked quietly.
Spock paused.
"Honestly, yes," he answered finally. She ignored this.
"But here's the kicker," she continued, "A business card for a genetic counsellor."
She started laughing again.
"And he put a note on the back saying that this guy's a good friend of his, and will see us free of charge."
Spock was suprised at his father's audacity. He was pretty sure he was just oblivious and thought it was a logical gift, considering his desire for grandchildren, but the possbility that he was trying to drive off Nyota crossed his mind.
"My father might not be aware," he stammered, "that the gift is in appropriate."
"But only logical," she replied, smiling and looking him in the eye.
And he knew what she wanted him to say, that it might not be time yet, but next time they were on Earth, they should at least go and find out their options.
But he couldn't.
"Nyota," he said softly, "I want you to be aware that I have mixed feelings about having children."
She looked at him.
"I can excuse my parents and say that they did not know what I am going through," he elaborated, "But I know what I am going through."
Nyota sat next to him put her arms around him.
"When are you going to be okay with yourself?" she asked sadly.
****************************************************************************
A/N: Starting to wrap up here. Only one chapter left, be sure to tune in :)