Chapter Seven
A Taste of Honey
McCoy was overjoyed; T'Prie was pregnant again, this time with a girl. The previous pregnancy had determined that gestation would be thirteen months. Now heavy with child, her mood swings were especially trying. Her crying jags, picas, joyous singing, and strange food combinations puzzled her husband who was certain that this strange phenomenon would find its roots in her human DNA. Once T'Prie's mother was made aware of the situation, her very human mother's statement was,"'I will be there within the week. It is possible that my presence might be helpful."
His wife's mother, an engineer and author was well known to McCoy. After all, T'Prie was a constant in his home and his life for many years. 'Sleep-overs' with his sister, T'Ama, were common. They also knew each other from their classes at Star Fleet's special classes for multi-cultural or gifted youths.
What was so intriguing about her were her almost contradictory appearance—long blond wavy hair, light blue eyes and brown complexion and Vulcan ears. Even an untrained eye would discern her unusual beauty—McCoy was not an exception.
T'Ama would on occasion elbowed him when she caught him staring at her friend. On a few instances, T'Prie did likewise to him. It was like a game of cat and mouse, but MCoy was unable to determine which creature represented his mind set or his conduct.
Before he left to work with Dr. Blake she had spent the night with his sister. Steeling himself he looked for her, and found her in their garden with his sister. He made eye contact with his sister and with a nod and a hand gesture, which T'Ama understood, she left them alone.
T'Prie head was bowed and he placed his open palm under her chin and lifted her eyes to his.
"You know me. Are you able to deduce what I am about to say?"
There was a nod.
"Where I am going will be off-planet, on a Vulcan colony. It will be different than where we are. Will you be willing to join me there as my wife?
"McCoy, there has never been anyone other than you in my heart. I will join you."
He then continued,
"We will be married and bonded here. Please be assured I will work to make you content and happy because I cherish you. "
McCoy then took her hands and turned them palm up and kissed them. He looked into her eyes,
"This is my promise to you…we will complete each other."
With these words he reached for her hand so they could walk together. He is fully conscious of how his Vulcan father had contributed to his mind-set. The fact that T'Prie was half Vulcan made it easier for her to understand his restraint and formality.
Her father had been a Vulcan engineer who was killed in a disastrous mining accident. She had inherited her coloration from her mother, who was one of several children from a Scandinavian father and a woman of color. Visually and mentally she was a perfect manifestation of IDIC and had inherited her father's gift of telepathy to a limited degree. Her father had been off planet a great deal of time and was unable to fully nurture this gift in his seven offspring. T'Prie was the last of the children still at home.
She had also studied medicine and specialized in Vulcan physicality in honor of her father. She would be perfectly suited to work in Dr. Blake's clinic. McCoy considered himself extremely privileged to have won her heart, hand, and commitment.
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At the insistence of the bride's mother they were joined with all the trappings of a human wedding. After that ceremony, T'Prie and McCoy also were bonded according to the Vulcan rites.
What might have been difficult for some to understand was how much like a Vulcan this fully human male was. Spock had guided him in every Vulcan discipline, mind development, physical training and McCoy had been part of the familial bond.
With his marriage and bonding to T'Prie, it was a credit to his training that allowed him to adapt to this new plane in a relationship. The three parents agreed that they perfectly suited one another and of course, the two mothers anxiously awaited grandchildren.
His departure to the Vulcan colony was met with his mother's melancholy smile, his brothers' promise to stay in contact and T'Prie and T'Ama crying like babies. McCoy shook his head and his acknowledged father's visage did not change but his silent counsel was indeed humorous,
"You will become accustom to these displays. These are second nature to Terran females."
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T'Prie's appearance as his wife, bondmate and even as part of the clinic staff was such a satisfying part of McCoy's life. Dr. Blake was totally smitten by his wife.
He never called her doctor or T'Prie. Instead he had settled upon her a variety of what humans called, 'nick-names—'darlin, doll face, pumpkin, daughter' and that very weighty one, 'wife of my son.'
They had been married two years when T'Prie announced,
"K'diwa, we are to be parents."
His response to her statement was to spend the entire day in bed with his wife, totally absorbed in what could be described as biological functions intrinsic to males and females, in this case, husband and wife.
Later McCoy found out that with Dr. Blake's knowledge of he and his wife's impending parenthood, he made definite moves to ensure that McCoy would be his heir. The clinic and its resources, his house, furnishings, all vehicles, most of his financial securities would go to his son with the direct instruction to his legal representative that McCoy not learn of the blood relationship between the two of them, which McCoy/Blake had verified years ago with a secret DNA test, not because it was doubted, but to answer any challenge to his final wishes.
M'Binga was to be the executor of his will. Dr. McCoy/Blake would settle on his friend a sizable sum of money and a large piece of land he owned on Terra
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Once his mother-in-law agreed to come, McCoy took it upon himself to make the third bedroom 'visitor friendly'. A comfortable chair was added, a com unite, colorful accessories all with a knowledge of his mother-in-law's very conservative tastes.
On the day of her arrival McCoy ended up with several emergencies plus his full schedule of patients and requested Dr. M'Binga to pick up his mother-in-law at the space port. He was instructed to carry a sign that would identify him as the provider of her transportation.
Standing, and feeling extremely 'stupid' he raised the provided sign above the crowd. Actually, M'Binga was an exceptionally tall human, extremely handsome, with perfect carriage. When his eyes settled on an older version of his co-worker's wife, a tall, elegant, blond, blue eyed, brown skinned woman with luggage on wheels he was stunned.
He waved his sign to get her attention. When she recognized him as her source of transportation she directed her steps toward him and he let out a breath he was unaware that he had been holding.
She stopped in front of him. His voice sounded exceedingly loud as he said,
"I am Geoffrey M'Binga, McCoy's co-worker. Please follow, our transportation is not far away. Would you prefer to wait for me to pick up the vehicle or walk to its location?"
Her voice was slightly accented as she replied,
"After being seated for quite a while, I believe a walk would be quite beneficial."
"This way please."
M'Binga was impressed that this woman's height so much complimented his. His eyes averted to the ground to determine if she was wearing shoes that would elevate her height—no, her feet were shod in simple slippers and for some reason this pleased him very much.
She then said,
"My name is M'nuk K'sai Elsse. Thank you so much for your service toward me. I presume my son-in-law found himself unable to provide this service and I thoroughly understand."
Yes, Mrs. M'nuk K'sai, he had emergency surgery and several patients that required immediate attention. He instructed me to bring you to your daughter. Hopefully he will be able to join both of you at the home shortly."
She nodded.
"Tell me about yourself Mr. M'Binga, or is it doctor?"
M'Binga nodded in the affirmative.
"Do you likewise have family here on Nag'luv 1?"
"No Ma'am. The only family I have is your daughter, son-in-law, your grandson, Blake and Dr. Blake. Usually, my life has been like the Terran game of hop scotch—short stays and then move on. My appointment here, in research with Dr….Blake, he had almost slipped…has allowed me to stay in this one place for the longest period of time in my life. Our work here is very rewarding. Initially, I worked with Dr. Blake, the founder of the clinic, then your daughter and son-in-law arrived. Both are excellent physicians and at this point I view them as my family."
When they had started their walk M'Binga had gestured to relieve his charge of her luggage, which she surrendered. Once they reached the vehicle, M'binga assisted his passenger into the passenger side and stowed the luggage in the rear compartment.
Once he was settled into the pilot's seat, she caught his eye and said,
"Please call me Elsse. It will make communication much easier."
M'Binga gladly complied and then replied,
"I will respond most readily to Geoffrey, or even Gof…"
He could not remember how long it had been since he had spoken to a Terran female other than Nyota. He really did not think of McCoy's wife as human. Her eyebrows, mind and movements reminded him more of a Vulcans', but here besides him was her mother—totally human…totally female.