A Taste of Honey

Chapter Three

It had all the outward appearance of domestic tranquility minus the intimacy. At least three times a week I found himself at Nyota's home. At times I prepared the evening meal, other times we brought food 'home'.

Three weeks before Nyota's delivery date she could no longer teach. When there, I had started carrying her to the second floor and putting her in her bed. I slept, meditated, and used the family room as my own space. I would bring her downstairs in the morning and return her to the upper level in the evening. There was a chair outside her door so she could take care of her personal needs but I would be available to help her if she needed me. She was exceptionally uncomfortable, and at times she was reduced to tears. This was something I had read was not out of character during a Terran pregnancy.

One week before her due date I had spent the night as I had for the past two weeks. I heard something drop and fall and bounded up the stairs. I knocked on the door and did not wait for her reply and as I opened the door I saw her on her knees, pounding the floor sobbing,

"Len, Len, it is not right. You should be here. You should deliver your son."

She looked up as she heard my footsteps approach her. I gently picked her up sat her on the bed.

"What can I do Nyota? What comfort can I give to you"

Biting her lips she said,

"Could you hold me. I feel so abandoned."

My reply was, "Not everyone has gone, Nyota."

Her eyes met mine briefly and then they closed and within a few moments I heard her even breathing. She had fallen asleep in my arms, indicative of her trust in me.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

As I held her I wondered what steps could be taken to insure her safety at this late stage of her pregnancy. I was certain that the Academy's medical facilities held too many memories for her. Where had she chosen to deliver? I had to find out the name of her physician and request an audience with him. Exactly how I would identify myself to that doctor was a point of concern for me.

I was rewarded with her movement in my arms, She placed her head on my chest and murmured,

"What would I do without you Spock."

My grip tightened and I said,

"Taluhk nash-veh K'dular." (I cherish thee)

Her eyes opened and she said,

"Spock… please be my son's father. Even if you do not love me, love my son. We will need you in our lives. Marry me before he is born so you can bond with him.

Her tears were abundant.

"Please do not deny me this one favor."

I raised my two fingers and she nodded. Within the privacy of shared thoughts she came to understand that I had loved her for years. That my devotion to her was limitless and that I already loved her son.

Through this mind meld, I came to understand she had felt my loss when I left for New Vulcan. That Dr. McCoy had been her comfort. He too had loved her and she had eventually fell in love with him. Their marriage had been stable and loving. She had opposed his final trip and he had left her despite her protesting his absence. Although McCoy had always had dread of space travel, it apparently had been overcome in this instance because of this inique opportunity to study a new species. This allowed him to add to his xenophysician arsenal. He and Dr. M'Binga would be on this explore together. They both viewed it as an opportunity of a lifetime.

Now, one of them, her Len was lost. While this had been truly a loss for Star Fleet, it had proved to be the greatest of losses for her.

The mind meld revealed that first year was like a horrible dream. She went through the motions of life. She barely had one solid memory of those first three hundred and sixty-five days.

The second year she threw herself into her work, became focused, worked herself to the point of exhaustion and collapse but managed to gain the attention of the administrative heads.

The third year she was appointed department head and had implemented so many new focuses and directions in that curreculum that she and her department had received Federation-wide recognition.

It was in the latter part of the fifth year that she decided to pass on her husband's DNA by artificial insemination and became pregnant with their son. But, it had proved to be a daughting responsibility. At this point, she felt alone and helpless. How unlike her.

Now, through the meld I said,

"I S'chn T'Gai Spock desire you, Nyota Uhura McCoy, to be my wife and bondmate. I wish to touch your body and mind, know you completely, all your desires and wishes, so as to guarantee their fulfillment. We will complete one another. Nyota, I cherish thee."

He brushed his lips across the top of her head and then said out loud,

"To honor Dr. McCoy it is right that OUR son should keep his biological father's name as his first name. I desire that we be married at the time of his birth. Are you in agreement?

She nodded.

"Let us do that today."

Nyota could not believe that he had made that decision. What had happened was almost like the heavens had opened and puzzle pieces had fallen and aligned themselves perfectly when they touched the ground.

Nyota showered, dressed and presented herself to Spock and said,

"I think this will appear to be a 'shot gun' wedding."

Spock raised his eyebrow.

"I will explain later," she said playfully.

After filing a notice of intent, we went to visit the Star Fleet Cultural Center, was always a justice of the peace on duty there. As we traveled to that site she shyly asked,

"You are sure Spock?"

I replied,

"There has not been any decision I have made in my entire life that is more sure than this one."

She nodded and smiled.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

After the ceremony I took her to the Indian restaurant and she ate her full. When they returned home I sat her down and knelt before her.

"Nyota, persons might look upon this as a totally uncharacteristic move on both of our parts. You now know that for the last five years you have lived in my memory. You have been my anchor. You have been my wish. I am aware that these are not the thoughts of a Vulcan, but these are my thoughs in regard to you.

"I have loved you so long Nyota that when I discovered your married name on the roster I was temporarily paralyzed. I am so very pleased that I came to your room to see you and am even more grateful that you looked up, saw me and welcomed me.

"Despite these very human feelings, it will now be necessary for my Vulcan control to come into play. At this point in your pregnancy I would not in any way endanger you or our child by seeking your body. My patience will last until your body has healed. Then we will become one. My single request is that I might disrobe you."

"We will do that tpgether," she said.

Spock visibly trembled.

She approached him and touched his cheek.

"S'chn T'gai Spock, I love you. Thank you for taking care of us."

She undid the top button of his shirt and he followed suit. When at last they stood before each other, the beauty of Terra and Vulcan shown, she cried,

"Spock, you are beautiful."

"As you are my wife."

She leaned forward and kissed me,

"In due time your control will be rewarded."

I leaned forward and kissed her, held her to my chest and a bond ignited. I lifted her and placed her on the bed and kissed her belly.

"I will protect you and our son with my life."

We lay as man and wife on our bed. My hands explored the coolness of her body, I felt the warmth of her breath upon my face, with my hand and face I finally knew the texture of her hair and I felt in every fiber of my being fullness of the contentment and satisfaction that had been denied me my entire life.

Spock knew that the question about how to introduce himself to Nyota physician was now moot.