Nyota could not have been happier. Janelle's party was better than she could have hoped. The Graysons had been warm and friendly as they cautiously, yet eagerly included Spock in their conversations and activities. Spock, in turn, had been tolerant enough to endure some teasing and dryly provided a couple of zingers of his own—with the most innocent of non-expressions, of course. Toward the end of the party, he even allowed himself to be photographed with John, Marco, and Evan. "It's only right after you pranked them," Margaret told him. John, Marco, and Evan had been thrilled, both with the photo and the dubious distinction of having been on the receiving end of a Vulcan prank.

Nyota herself was drawn in for a photo with the trio, plus several more as other party guests wanted their own celebrity photos with Enterprise heroes. Starfleet's public relations department had threatened the entire bridge crew with a round of "Charm School" if they did not occasionally grant these requests while they were out among the civilian population. Janelle's guests included people with extensive ties to the publishing world, so Spock acquiesced without protest. Because of his special circumstances, Spock was granted leeway for refusing such requests more than most, but he knew there was a line even for him.

Nyota offered to take a holograph of Spock with his Grayson kin. The Graysons, however, insisted that their family portrait include her. Allen joked that he was considering adopting Spock and Nyota anyway (and giving them Norah and Alaina's rooms), so leaving her out was not an option. He placed a very happy Nyota front and center next to Spock. Marco, Janelle's principal cameraman, had been pleased to take the nicely framed image.

Around midnight, the party began to break up. The good-byes between family members had gone long in the foyer and again on the front verandah. But finally the relatives departed and it was just Allen, Margaret, Nyota, Amy, Spock, and Janelle left.

"I am so glad that you came. You will visit us again, won't you?" Janelle asked Spock. Margaret had been right—once you got past the Vulcan reserve, he was very much his mother's son.

"I will," he replied.

"And you'll bring Nyota, too…?"

"That is my intention," he stated without reservation. "Thank you for your hospitality. You have honored us both."

"Oh, I assure you, we are the ones who are honored," Janelle said. "Don't stay away from the family too long. Take care of yourselves."

Nyota felt that the Grayson cousins had, indeed, bonded to Spock as his family beyond their blood ties. Spock's Vulcan appearance and manners had not deterred them from accepting him readily into their circle. Nyota guessed that they had had over 30 years to get to know Sarek, so perhaps those barriers had already been broken.

Spock, to his credit, had done nothing to ask them to change their behaviors in his presence. She had been afraid about how he would react when the Graysons spoke of Amanda so openly, but for some reason it did not seem to upset him as it might have done a week earlier. So much had happened, beginning with Spock's own acknowledgment of his need to grieve, then with his and Margaret's exchanges as they shared their own memories about her. Maybe being with others who also grieved Amanda's loss directly—and knowing that he was not alone—was key, too. The Graysons, Spock included, had seemed at peace after lighting the t'katra yonet pumpkins. Nyota believed that the impromptu family ceremony had touched him on several levels, whether he realized it or not. She expected that he would meditate on it eventually.

The ride home was quiet through the dark countryside. Margaret and Allen, even Nyota, were talked-out after their eventful evening. Spock, as usual, was content to remain quiet until they arrived home.

"Whew! That was fun," said Margaret, hanging up her coat. "But my head is ready to hit the pillow. We'll see you kids tomorrow. Sleep in all you want. I plan to. If you want breakfast before I get to it, I have miniature quiches in the food stasis unit. Just grab one or more and heat them. And there's fruit, too."

"Thanks, Margaret," Nyota said. "Don't worry about us. Good night!"

"Good night, you two," said Allen, following Margaret down the far hallway to their room.

Spock followed Nyota up the stairs before turning into his bedroom to change into his pajamas. He was about to go across the hallway to wish Nyota pleasant sleep, as was his custom, when she knocked quietly on his door and entered.

"Hey, there," she said, closing the door behind her. "How are you doing?"

Why did she ask? He was calm. He was content. It had been an agreeable evening filled with interesting conversation and activities, although many of them were outside his usual experience. His mother's family had welcomed them, and he had not detected any duplicity on their part. He noted that many of the characteristics he knew in his mother were shared across the Grayson family, and he had been surprised when they happily commented on how he shared many of those traits as well. Was this what belonging felt like?

"I am well," he said. "Are you concerned?"

She reached for his hand, then pressed her palm against his. "Let me feel you."

He let her take his hand and did not resist her mental inquiry. He answered her by dropping his shields.

Contentment.

She smiled as the waves of his mental state swept over her. "Hmmm, that feels nice," she said. "I am glad. But it's been a long day. We should get some sleep, Ashayam."

Nyota released his hand and wrapped both her arms around his shoulders and neck. She pulled his head down to hers and gently pressed her lips to his.

She felt good, enhancing his already agreeable mood. As Spock deepened the kiss, his contentment turned to joy. For him this was a euphoric emotional state, which he did not deny himself as he consciously indulged his human side. For now he wanted it to continue. And he wanted Nyota here, beside him, for the rest of the night. Tomorrow he would find his center and return to a more stable, more Vulcan bearing. Tomorrow.

When he broke the kiss, Nyota looked into his eyes. There was a warmth there that she had not seen in a long time. Something felt different.

"Stay," he said, still holding her close.

She did not sense sexual desire. Instead he was in a rare affectionate mood. Tonight he wanted closeness.

She was more than happy to provide it.

"OK. Let me go close the door to my room and mess up the bed so it looks like I slept in it, just in case they look," she said, giggling when both his brows raised. Chances were that it was unnecessary, as neither Allen nor Margaret had been upstairs since showing them to their rooms days ago. "We don't want to look too improper, do we?"

He did not know how to respond to that, so he climbed into his own bed and waited for Nyota to join him. She completed her odd tasks in under a minute, walked in, closed the door, and turned out the lights. He felt her climb in next to him, then position herself with her back to his chest, nesting comfortably. He wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her close.

"You have a nice family," she said. "I'm glad we went."

"Indeed," he said, pulling her closer, nuzzling his cheek in her hair. "Sleep well, K'hat'n'dlawa."

"You, too."

Listening to Nyota fall into a comfortable sleep, he was content again. Even his usually demanding Vulcan mind did not have the audacity to disrupt this rare tranquility.