Unfinished Business
Chapter 47 : Woods and Desert
January 2277
They had two full weeks of leave and had planned it carefully. First they would have a week in a cabin, beside a lake, surrounded by woods and low hills. And from there they would go to Vulcan, and spend a week with his parents and Saavik. They packed carefully, and went to the shuttle that they had been allowed to take and made the short trip from the Enterprise to the planet where the cabin was. By the time the sun had set, they were unpacked and settled in, having taken a short walk about to familiarize themselves with the area. He built a fire in the fireplace while she started a meal, and then he went to help her, setting the small table and following her directions to chop vegetables and fetch her ingredients. They sat and ate and talked, and after they had cleaned the kitchen they lay upon the couch and watched the fire flickering, and then he slowly removed her clothing and kissed and caressed her entire body, until she was trembling and moaning beneath him. Somehow his own clothing seemed to have disappeared as well, and his lok was rubbing against her belly, spreading the drops of lubricant that were oozing out over her soft skin. He moved, just enough to align himself with her opening, and then he was sliding in, heat surrounded by cool, dry coated with wet, so many sensations, so much pleasure. He moved against her, sliding in and out, groaning at her, his mouth against her neck, while she gasped and moaned and moved beneath him, pushing up at him, wanting him, needing him, loving him. And when the ecstasy came, she pulled him along with her, rising so high, burning in the white hot heat of it, until they could not hold any more, and collapsed, breathing rough and ragged, hearts pounding.
In the mornings they used the bed well, and then showered together, where he braced her against the wet wall while he held her up and devoured her, listening to her shriek and scream his name, so full of ecstasy that she could not think, could not do anything except convulse about him. When she could breathe again, he would slide her down the wall and empale her with his engorged lok, shuddering with the pleasure it caused, and she would clutch his shoulders and lean forward and bite his ears and neck and shoulders while he pounded into her, until they were both carried away on a tidal wave of ecstasy.
When they were dry, and lightly dressed, they prepared breakfast together, and often sat outside, in the morning sunlight, watching the sparkling light on the water, while they ate. During the day they took walks in the woods, on the low hills, around the shore of the small lake. And in the evenings, after the kitchen was clean, there was always a fire, flickering in the fireplace, on two people twined about each other, talking softly, until the fires burned high again, carrying them away.
When the time came that they must pack and go, neither of them truly wished to leave, but they understood duty all too well. And so they left that place of peace, and strapped themselves into the shuttle, and headed for Vulcan.
They were met at the spaceport by a car, sent by his father. They settled themselves down in the cool interior, and rested up while they were driven to the estate where his parents lived when they did not have to be in the city. Their bags were carried inside, and his mother met them at the door, hugging them both. Saavik was right behind her, practically jumping up and down at seeing them again. She took one by each hand, and dragged them about the house, showing them everything as though they had never been there before. Her sehlat followed them around, moaning at her, but she never stopped until they had covered the whole house. Then she allowed them to sit on the covered patio, with tall glasses of fruit juice, and converse with Amanda, while she wrestled with the sehlat, much to its joy.
Sarek came to join them then, and they spoke of many things, until the servants came, and said that end-meal was served. Saavik was told then to go in and wash, and the sehlat followed her, chuffing and moaning, knowing what was coming. When she had washed, she went into the kitchen, and filled his bowl with large chunks of fruits and vegetables, and left him there to eat, coming and sitting down beside them and eating with almost perfect table manners. She had not yet learned that most Vulcan meals are eaten in silence though, and chattered off and on throughout, finally realizing that no one else was speaking and clapping her hand over her mouth in belated realization of what she was doing. Amanda bent sideways and spoke softly to her, and Saavik finished the rest of the meal in silence.
After supper the men played chess and the women talked, and Saavik took her sehlat and went to her room to study. And so the days passed, quietly, in conversation and the occasional walk in the edges of the desert early in the morning, before it became too hot. There were no conflicts, although there were the occasional strained silences, while two men who had not spoken to each other for far too many years tried to think of what to say to each other that would not remind the other that there were far too many details of the other's life that were unknown. When a subject was stumbled across that sparked the interest of both without causing any feelings of guilt, it was strung out as long as possible, until every last drop of dialog that could be wrung out of it was expressed. It was obvious to the two women that both men wished to reconcile their differences, but were having difficulties in expressing this desire. And so they often left them alone together, knowing that it would be easier for them to have these awkward silences unobserved.
By the time they must leave in order to reach the rendezvous point, the truce was firmly established. Sarek even rode into the city with them, and stood by the side of the shuttle as they boarded, bidding them farewell and a safe journey, and adding his wish that they return when it was convenient just before Spock pulled up the steps and closed the door. He stopped and assured his father that when the opportunity again presented itself, they would return, and Sarek nodded his head, and stepped back out of the blast area. When they were aloft, Spock rotated the shuttle, so that they could see Sarek, standing there, watching them rise into the sky. He was quiet for some time, and Nyota did not press him, waiting to see what he would say about their visit. Finally he did speak. "It was not as bad as I had anticipated. We were able to speak to each other, near the end, without stumbling. Perhaps we will eventually find a satisfactory place where we fit together."
She reached over, and extended her two fingers, and he met hers with his, stroking hers softly. And then he spoke again, more hesitantly, but with more emotion in his voice. "If you and I could find our way back together, after all the pain that we went through, surely my father and I can do as much." And she filled him with her love, and her confidence that he would be able to do just that, and settled back to watch him as he piloted them home.