Advanced apologies, some chapters just flow from brain to page others struggle, this is a struggler so sorry if it's not up to scratch.

A non-honeymoon in Paris part 2.

Monday

Art shows many facets of the day-to-day lives of the painter. You could learn a lot of history from any single old painting. The Louvre contained many examples of ancient art, renaissance paintings and 19th-21st centaury art. Knowing the museum was too large to take in everything in a day Spock and Nyota decided on the exhibits that would interest them the most and Spock planned out the most Logical and efficient route. They had made the joint decision to miss the Vulcan exhibition, there would be plenty of opportunities later to see those kinds of artefacts in there proper settings. For the first time in their relationship it was Nyota who lectured him as they walked around. Spock listened completely transfixed by her. Although some of the facts she told him he already knew most were new to him, it seemed he had some gaps to fill in his knowledge. He enjoyed listening to her opinions, the way her eyes flickered over the pictures and the movement of her lips as she whispered to him. After a lunch quickly eaten on a bench at the palace de concord they headed back into the Louvre.

They wondered pleasantly along the lower galleries until Nyota saw a little sign and tapping his shoulder got her to follow him into a large room only occupied by three marble statues, two at either end and one stood on a pedestal in the centre obviously meant to be the centre of the Visitors attention.

Spock starred at the clear white form in front of him. The marble features were serene and peaceful but spoke of a strength and determination underneath. He wondered how stone could look human, so impossibly mobile. Vulcan statues tended to be severe and cold and immobile. He was struck by the fact that somebody had carved this statue out of rock with the simplest of tools. The cleanest of the lines the small curves. It would have taken skill, precision and patience. And that skill, precision and patience had not been arrived at through logic. She was the goddess of love; at the time this would have been the ideal of beauty. It was an expression of emotion.

" She is beautiful." Nyota said almost putting his thoughts into words.

" It is very pleasing. " He took a deep breath and considered what he wanted to say, how this one statue, more than anything else, made him feel that maybe there was something to the human side of his heritage. He had always ignored that half of his D.N.A., that half of his ancestry. He had always seen his human side as illogical, emotional, had always thought that it must have been more difficult for him to control his emotions because of those little human genes. But love, passion, desire, could it really lead to the ability to persevere at a difficult task. Not looking away from Venus he reached a hand out. He felt cool skin brushing up against his and he linked their fingers and slowly drew her into his mind. He felt her curiously following him and he led her further into his thoughts than he had let her before. Every thought and sensation she could feel. He sensed her understanding.

You are part human Spock, and that part, well it's a good part, and you inherited the best of human attributes.

You are making me whole. I had never considered that denying my human half was illogical till you entered my life. I never knew how pleasant emotions could be and how I could remain logical without fully suppressing my emotions. I never considered a relationship could make me want to be ... Better.

He said feeling so intensely grateful to her. He felt her warmth and then her presence was drawing away from him and then her fingers were gone. He turned to her. She looked into his eyes with intensity then stepped forwards two steps to stand side by side with him. Together they turned back to look at the Venus De Milo.

Spock and Nyota walked into the hotel bar, Spock imagined it was like hotel bars everywhere, except of course most of the hotels he had been in seemed to have higher aspirations and this one knew it was a little hotel bar and didn't try to be anything else. It had three tall seats at the small bar, three sofas in a c shape near a window and three small tables each with four un-matching seats around it. Two of these tables and the sofa were occupied; unfortunately the occupiers of the nearest table were the two Vulcan's. Spock considered completely ignoring them for a moment then decided that his bond mate was perhaps being a bad influence in some small ways. He held his hand up in the traditional Vulcan greeting.

" Live long and prosper."

The two Vulcan's stood Spock noticed that they were both wearing reddish orange robes. They obviously had no desire to fit into their surroundings. The male held his hand up in greeting.

" Peace and long life. I am Sannik this is she who is my wife."

Spock gave a small bow to the unnamed wife.

" I am Spock son of Sarek, this is my bondmate Nyota." He said gesturing to Nyota. She stepped forwards and curtsied prettily.

" Sannik, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance and that of your lovely wife. May the teachings of Surek always serve you and the Vulcan sun always lend its energy to your lands."

Spock watched Nyota, he was surprised but he did not let any emotion onto his face. It was a very old traditional greeting that was only used in one particular province, how she had figured out that they were from that area but he knew they were as a look of shock briefly passed across their faces. Sannik starred at Nyota for a moment and then bowed to her. His wife did not look pleased.

" Ayasham." Spock said turning to Nyota. " Perhaps we should get our drinks now."

Nyota looked a little puzzled at him, he had not told her of the incident in the hallway and so didn't realize he had no desire to talk to them. She smiled and gave a short nod to Sannik. They turned their backs on the Vulcan's and walked to the bar. Nyota ordered a ginger beer and glass of wine. Spock reached into the pocket of his jeans for his payment card only to find he had forgotten him an uncommon oversight on his part. He touched Nyota lightly on the shoulder.

" I must go to our room to receive my payment card."

She nodded and he headed back down the hallway to the stairwell. It took him three minutes and twelve seconds to return with his card.

When he re-entered the bar he was quite surprised to see Nyota and the Vulcan's stood together, Nyota was angrily pointing her finger in the face of Sannik and shouting at him.

" I thought Vulcan's were supposed to believe in equality, but you're just bigots. A shame to the name of the race, Spock is twice the man, twice the logical intelligent Vulcan you'll ever be."

" That is an illogical statement, Spock is only a half Vulcan."

Spock took five quick steps over to Nyota to place his hand on her shoulder as he saw very clearly in her mind that she was about to slap Sannik.

" Nyota, perhaps it is best that we leave."

" I have more to say." She said turning to him, he almost flinched at the anger on her face and in her tone.

" But I would prefer it if you did not say it."

CALM NYOTA

Spock saw the little startled look pass between Sannik and his wife. He gently took Nyota's arm and guided her back towards their room. She walked in angry silence. When they arrived in their room Spock accessed the replicator and ordered a camomile tea knowing it had a slight soothing effect on Nyota. He handed it to her and sat on the bed besides her waiting for her to be ready to talk. It was almost ten minutes until she finally spoke.

" Was it me or did the Woman actually look a little startled when we left?"

" You are good at reading miniscule facial movements."

" Of course I am I'm with you aren't I."

Spock raised his eyebrow at her, she sighed and looked down at her cup of tea.

" I didn't mean to snap at you."

" Perhaps you should meditate to calm yourself." Spock suggested.

" Can we talk about it?"

" If you feel that will help."

" They're bigots." She stated simply.

" What exactly was it they said that has affected you in this manner?"

" Why was she shocked."

" They could sense our telepathic speach and the closeness of our bond was a surprise to them, as bonds close enougth to share telepathic speach without much effort are rare they probably did not realize that it would be possible between a half-Vulcan and a Human. Now, what has affected you?"

Nyota took a deep breath; Spock could see her trembling with emotion.

" They said mating with Humans seemed to be an inherited fault. That you are weak and an abomination and something about science being misused to bring about your birth." She paused and spoke more softly.
" They said that Lady Amanda should have died in Labour and you along with her."

Spock always imagined anger as a big red wave. He held it back from his mind with a big stonewall, later he would meditate to deplete it but until then it would froth and ebb at the edges of his consciousness. He had heard worst thing said about him and about his parents, he had even heard such things muttered by T'ping's family members and members of his fathers household who didn't want to see Spock as the heir to an ancient and influential family. But it still affected him; living on earth it had been years since he had heard these sorts of degoritary remarks (those given by humans were never quite a vicious). He also for some reason wished to correct the assumption that his conception was not natural but he did not see why he would wish that when it would not change thier opinions of him.

Nyota was looking up at him trying to judge his reaction he could feel her in his mind a little tingle searching for his reaction, as she obviously saw none on his face. He could still feel her anger though it was more a kind of sadness now and a slight worry. He wished to comfort her, she was not used to these remarks she was not used to the reactions some people still had about marrying and mating outside ones species. It was another thing Spock had been prepared for his entire life, he was meant to have married T'ping, who had always seen him as too human. He wished to comfort Nyota, this was meant to be a time where they could be free together, where they could enjoy each others company without looking over their shoulders to be sure nobody was watching, they were meant to be happy.

" Would you like a cuddle?" Spock asked.

Nyota looked up at him with shock as he opened his arms for her.

" How are you not angry?"

" I am angry but I have heard these things many times. I have more experience at suppressing anger than any other emotion."

" That's kind of sad." Nyota said leaning over to rest her head against his shoulder. Spock wrapped his arms around her holding her close and trying to send calming influences thought to her.

" Do not feel sorry for me Nyota, I have found my place now. I am accepted for myself in Star Fleet. I have you my bondmate and I have started to talk to my father again, I have a friend though..."

Spock tapered off thinking about Chris, their last Wednesday night drinks had been some what awkward though it was clear that the awkwardness would fade with time, Chris was not one to hold onto things for a long time.

" Though?" Nyota asked looking up at him with wide deep eyes.

Spock found himself shifting uncomfortably under that beloved stare.

" You are already angry."

Nyota pulled away from him.

" You have something to tell me that's likely to make me angry."

Spock wondered why he had brought up the situation when he had no intention of telling Nyota when she was already upset.

" I believe the word is opps."

" Tell me Spock." She pressed her palm to his cheek. " I'll try not to be angry with you."

Spock took a moment to think about how to explain his slip to Nyota.

" Two weeks ago I saw Christopher I told him you and I were bonded, he insisted that we drink to our new bond. I got very drunk."

" Was this the night I was ill and the next day you told me that you had been ill and you had not shut down our link and it was your symptoms I was experiencing? I thought it was odd, you don't usually get ill."

" I was ill, the Vulcan port leads to illness, it is a type of poison."

" You drank poison?" Her voice raised several octaves. Spock looked at her eyebrow raised.

" Okay." Nyota said. " I am a little angry that you would deliberately do that, didn't you realize how illogical that was? The captain is a bad influence on you, I'll be having words with him when we get back."

" There is something else."

" What is it?"

" I was intoxicated and the port has other effects, it was illogical. I should not have acted in such an improper way. You are my bondmate and I will never act in such a manner again."
Nyota was starting to look worried now despite his reassurances.

" Spock?"

" I kissed him."

Nyota looked at him with wide eyes and a shocked expression.

" You kissed him?" She repeated tonelessly.

" In the elevator. It will not happen again."

Nyota bit her lip and looked down after a minute and three seconds she meet his eyes again.

" I'm not sure I quite understand, you kissed captain Pike in the elevator when you were drunk?"

" I apologise my Ayasham. You are the one I adore you are my bondmate the only one I have ever desired."

As he spoke a small smile was spreading on Nyota's lips, Spock was a little relieved, she didn't seem like she was about to scream at him and throw him out of the room.

" You kissed captain Pike." She said again.

" Yes." It didn't make sense but he seemed to see mirth in her eyes.

" Spock? I've never asked, I kind of just assumed, but I just want to check. You are straight right?"

" I am sitting."

She gave a little laugh.

" No, you are heterosexual? I mean I don't mind.."

" Non-heterosexuality is rare in Vulcan's. You are the only one I have ever desire and you are obviously female."

" Right."

She paused for a moment then began to laugh vigorously. Spock watched her a little concerned, it was not the reaction he had been expecting.

" You are amused?"

" I was just imagining the captain's face."

" He was shocked."

" I bet he was."

" Are we.. Is everything..." He stopped to consider his words. " Have my actions had a negative effect on our bond?"

Nyota looked at him from where she had flung herself backwards onto the bed whilst she had been laughing. She smiled slightly at him.

" No, I don't think so. Just don't do it again."

" I will not."

Tuesday

Nyota was being quiet, she stared pensively out of the window onto the small early morning street. They were sat eating breakfast in a small café. Spock refilled her tea and she looked up, she gave a small dazed smile and sipped at it.

"You are distracted." Spock stated.

"A little sad."

"What has saddened you?"

" Just, that we can't live like this forever."

"Forever."

"You know what I mean."

" Would you be satisfied to be on a permanent vacation? You would never get the chance to make first contact, to be the first person to translate a new language. Never be fulfilled."

She reached across the table and rested her hand on top of his.

" No Spock. Everybody feels sad at the end of a vacation. I don't really want to hang around Paris all my life, I just like spending all day and all night with you. " Her fingers began to trace circular patterns on the back of his hand. " It would be nice to wake up next to you more than one day a week."

" Nyota, when you graduate.."

"I know." She cut him off.

He stared at her.

" I know that you're set to be the first officer on the Enterprise. I want to be on the Enterprise, but..." She stopped as if not sure what to say.

" Captain Pike looks through the cadet records on a semi-annual basis and has mentioned his interest in having you on board though you will have to Impress the head of the communication department, who hasn't been chosen yet. And if that does not work we will qualify for family placement." The fact that he hoped they would be married to Star Fleets standards by that point went unsaid.

Her eyes glanced up at him from where they were watching the progression of her fingers.

" We'll make it won't we?"

"I promise you Nyota. We are bonded, we are always going to be together, we are always linked."

A wide smile spread on her face.

"Now, tell me more of what you will miss."

She flickered her eyelashes at him.

" Nyota, do you ever think of anything else?"

" Not when on holiday."

She took a bite of her pastry.

" I will miss pastries, I think I'll start eating them everyday. Will you love me when I'm fat?"

"I would prefer it if you stay in good health but my affection for you is not based on your physical appearance."

" Really?"

He raised his eyebrow.

" So if I got Aldo measles and my skin turns green."

" I would perhaps be even more attracted to you."

" Talax Flu with the big weeping wounds."

" I will wash them out with salt water and make you pepper tea."

" Killop worms."

" I hear that back massages help a lot with the discomfort that they cause."

" Um.. Wernics cholera six."

" I have never heard of that illness."

" I made it up."

He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

" Nyota, whatever happens, I am yours."

" How long before we have to return to reality?"

"We should leave in twenty minutes."

" Our last twenty Minutes in Paris."

He nodded. Nyota stood up and downed the rest of her tea and wrapped her croissant in a napkin.

" Nyota?"

" Just time for one quick stole down the Seine."

" Indeed." Spock answered standing to join her.

Spock took hold of Nyota's bag and flung it up into the overhead apartment. They would be on this public transport system ( that in comparison with Star Fleets shuttles was like a flying bus) for just under an hour then they would transfer to different planes, Nyota to go to Africa and Spock to San Francisco, the holiday was over and they would now be apart for nine days. Spock stood aside to let Nyota get into the seat next to the window, she had been silent on their short land vehicle ride to the airport and Spock knew that she was having troubling thoughts. He took his seat next to her and gently laid his hand on top of hers, she turned to him and gave a small sad smile.

" Spock do you have to go to back to the academy? Can't you come with me?"

" Are you ready to reveal to your parents that we are one?"

She looked away form him, her eyes focusing out the window as the plane gave a slight shudder and started to accelerate along the runway. The plane was starting to level out by the time she spoke again.

" No, I think.. I'm their youngest and I'm leaving earth in just over a year. I'm still their child, their baby girl and when I get stationed on a starship they'll have to let go of me, they'll have to see me as an adult have to accept all their kids have grown up and left home. " She looked at him, her eyes were slightly wet and he resisted the urge to take his harness off and hug her to him.

" I can't take that final year away from them Spock, I know I'm asking a lot of you.."

" I understand, I accept your point of view and your decision on this matter. As there is a small risk that they may see fit to make a complaint to the academy it is probably for the best that we wait until you have graduated."

Nyota squeezed his hand then absentmindedly ran her fingertips along the edges of his fingers causing little shivers to creep up his spine.

" I don't think they would complain, my Dad likes you, my mothers a little unsure I think, it's more likely that if Nyonda or Peter found out they would make complaints, Peters likely to hate anybody I take home though. It's a big brother thing." She explained when Spock sent her a tiny inquiring twinge. She looked down again nervously. " Can you not come spend Easter with my family as my friend, then they could get to know you better."

" Can you keep our relationship from your parents when I am there with you? If they suspect, which they will due merely to my presence in their home and they ask you directly will you lie to them or be truthful?"
She sighed.

" Okay. But you must visit in the summer, we'll figure out a reason for you to be there, missing the heat or something, I'll talk to them about you this week let them know we're close that'll give them time to accept that we maybe in a relationship."
"I accept that idea Nyota, I wish to be a part of your family."

Nyota gave him a swift kiss then went back to looking out the window, they would be landing in twenty minutes.

" I just miss you so much when you're not around." She whispered.

" The feeling mutual my Nyota."