Hey all! Thank you for your reviews! Sorry it has taken so long. I am still working on the MaelrokxKirk oneshot. So please stay tuned.
Rated M, I own nothing.
Vulcan smexy times soon. ;)
"I don't think fun is an appropriate word for this," Jim half-snarled in replied.
Amanda waved a hand in dismissal.
"You really should learn to relax James," she stated with a blithe smile.
Jim felt her eyes widen. "Relax?"
"My kal'I'farr- ko-fu is correct in this matter," The Vulcan matriarch said sagely.
No she wasn't.
The sapphire eyes narrowed on the laughing ones of Lady Grayson.
The look of serenity on the other human woman's face must have taken years to perfect, Jim believed this whole-heartedly.
"Yes, how remiss of me," the engineer bit out.
The Vulcan woman nodded stoically. Jim was beset by the much more lovely memory of smashing another Vulcan into a pillar on the hot desert sands.
Good times, good times.
"Don't worry, James dear," Amanda said with a reassuring pat on her shoulder, "it will all work out."
"Indeed, what is… is," T'Pau added.
Did it seem unfair to anyone other than Jim that the two women who weren't about to committed to a marriage they didn't want, thought this would all be just fine and dandy?
No one?
She scowled, but tried to turn it into a smile. All she managed was a grimace.
Jim was beginning to think that Amanda Grayson might very well be related to the Devil. Her blue eyes narrowed yet again on the smiling face of her 'Mother-in-law', who in turn simply smiled wider. Things were just not looking up. Especially since Jim had the common sense to understand the woman with the Cheshire-cat grin was the daughter-in-law of the Vulcan Matriarch that made the leader of house Unagroth look as if he was going to wet his pants.
Something Jim would have found screamingly funny.
However, common sense or perhaps as a result of being caught in so many perilous situations, she could tell there was some sort of background story to that. And, damn if she didn't want to know what the hell it was. Because really, if she stopped and thought about it how could T'Patta or whatever her name was; crossed paths with a Klingon house leader?
Honestly. There was only so much you could dangle in front of a curious engineer without making her go stark-raving mad.
Well, she had reached that point the other night by calling on Amanda Grayson. Though, she had to admit it was rather entertaining watching Lady Amanda glare daggers at her own Mother-in-law. 'Maybe it is a requirement for joining their family?' She thought with a touch of amusement that didn't quite reach her eyes.
It reminded her of someone… but she couldn't quite place who exactly it was.
'Oh well, it couldn't have been that important,' Jim consoled herself quickly.
Their recess would end very soon and once more, she would be inundated with suitors she didn't even want. Alright, that wasn't strictly true. The Romulan and Vulcan Jim would have done very, very, and had she mentioned very, adult things to. Had the circumstances been different, and it wouldn't have hurt their chances if alcohol had been involved.
Or if that little jaunt on Kilithos Prime had gone nicer.
"What could ye possibly find to amuse thyself at this moment? Though you have been advised to calm yourself, the severity of this situation must not be forgotten. "
Jim blinked wide eyes in surprise as the cantankerous old Vulcan female stared imperiously at her.
She'd been smiling?
Wait… how did that Vulcan telepathy work again? She found herself praying they couldn't read minds, or even T'Patta would be blushing.
Her name was T'Patta right? T'Pura? 'Oh hell, it was something with a 'T' in it,' Kirk thought in irritation. She really needed to start writing their names down.
"…Nothing…?"
The Vulcan stared at her in quiet contemplation. Amanda looked as if she was about to laugh. Jim narrowed her eyes in an unspoken dare. It was accepted when Amanda threw back her head and nearly started howling in laughter.
Jim wondered if she could get away with kicking the woman in the shin. It was tempting. It really was.
T'Pau looked between them with insulted dignity pouring off of her in waves. "I find I must inquire if this is a Terran custom?"
"Something like that," Jim muttered angrily. She was going to find out which ship Lady Amanda was on and…
No, she couldn't do that. It would be illegal.
But only if she were caught…
"What Mrs. Kirk means to say," Amanda began obviously baiting her, "is that she is highly honored to be able to choose a male as worthy as Spock." The woman went from being friendly to deadly in the blink of an eye. "Isn't that right?"
She had always had a healthy fear of many things. It was impossible not to when one worked with multiple species and in the deepest reaches of space. However, Jim could not seem to recall a time when a single being looked as intimidating as Amanda Grayson did when her son was involved.
Jim kept her face neutral but was unable to keep the heavy sarcasm out of her tone.
"Oh, of course. I can hardly contain my glee," she quipped tightly.
The Vulcan Matriarch looked between them passively. There was a touch of suspicion in her eyes as she landed her gaze on Jim.
"Are thee-?"
She was saved by the pressurized hiss of the doors opening once more. The three males contending for her, and their respective representation entered once more.
Well, if this day wasn't already going to be hell in a hand basket; she knew it would be the moment Maelrok winked at her.
Spock turned his head to slowly stare Maelrok down. Jim felt a strange prodding at the back of her thoughts. It was a murky sensation of thoughts resonating with possessive and loving feelings. She could not make heads nor tails of what caused it.
Jim tried to ignore the goose bumps spreading all over her body, and the hairs prickling on the back of her neck. She gazed at Spock. Her eyes were half-lidded as she looked him over in contemplation.
She could work this.
Spock caught her gaze, and she saw his eyes light up slightly. The sight left her a little frazzled, for his face never changed, but she could feel that something shifting in the back of her mind. Oh, she was still furious at this whole situation. She still wanted to throttle Spock, but that simple change in his eyes caused her heart to skip a beat.
Jim felt her resolve to dislike him weaken just a little.
That was a bad sign.
She waited impatiently as everyone seated themselves once more. However, her eyes kept wandering over to where Spock sat, with his back ram-rod straight. Had she never noticed before that he actually had a pleasant face? Well, she knew he was attractive, but he seemed to sort of exude control while at the same time seeming so approachable.
Almost as if he could very well be a good mate to her.
Jim shook her head so hard; she thought she might have seen stars. 'Where the hell did that thought come from?' She thought surprised.
The council had situated themselves to their comfort. All eyes turned to give attention to the Human representative as he cleared his throat.
"It has been brought to the attention of this council that amongst our different cultures and peoples, there is one common item which can be argued to the satisfaction of all." The lone human council member stated passively.
"Might we know what that item is, Sir?" Admiral Pike asked politely, but Jim could tell he was straining to remain civil.
The council member ignored him, and turned to stare at Jim.
Oh hell, this wasn't going to be good.
"Have you consummated any of your 'marriages' Ms. Kirk?" The booming voice rattled across the room and she had to suppress the urge to flinch.
The Federation representative scowled when she failed to answer. He turned his gaze toward Admiral Pike and Lady Amanda.
"I ask again, has a marriage been consummated?!"
Amanda looked around quickly before leaning forward to speak. "I'm not entirely sure that is something I should know," she stated acerbically, "Should I?"
The representative had the grace to flush clear to the roots of his hair. It had only occurred to him, belatedly, that Lady Amanda was in fact the mother of one of the men here. In many a culture it was an inappropriate question to ask the woman.
T'Pau's eyebrow practically rose off her forehead at the impertinent question.
Jim winced, she scratched nervously at the back of her neck. The room seemed a little loud in the deafening silence.
"Well…," she said slowly, "Not technically, no."
"Not technically?" The human panel member asked un-amused. "What does not technically mean?"
"My Aduna seeks to imply that the act of copulation has not, as it stands, taken place with any male currently present."
Kirk tried hard not to blush, but damn it was a close thing. How Spock had just bandied about 'she hasn't screwed any of us yet' so easily. Granted, he did do a much better job of it than she would have.
But, really, that was beside the point. She could be rather diplomatic when she felt like it. This was simply a situation she was not entirely prepared for. 'I mean, how often does intergalactic war nearly get waged because of an attractive engineer?' she thought a little hysterically.
"She's not your wife!" Maelrok hissed in outrage, causing everyone in the room to turn toward him. "She is my consort!"
"Lies!" The Klingon roared in rebuttal. "She is clearly my mate! My claim is oldest, and she was to belong to my house."
Okay, so the 'oldest' part was true, and Jim could not argue that part. And, he had made it a point of seeing her accepted as a house bride. However, that really wasn't her fault and if that stupid bar scene hadn't happened she never would have even been in this mess.
Alright, and if Kilithos Prim hadn't happened…
And, if the Vulcans hadn't needed to rescue them…
The point was that none of this was her fault! Jim nodded in agreement to her own inner monologue. This, it turned out, was a bad thing to do.
"Are you agreeing with this statement, Ms. Kirk?" the Klingon representative rushed quickly.
"Wha-? No," she nearly stammered in horror, "I-"
"See? Kirk agrees! There is no need for this committee any longer," Ka'ar stated smugly. He pushed back his chair and moved to stand, under the assumption that he had already won.
"You're statement appears to be flawed. If I am interpreting the many denials that Ms. Kirk is shouting," The stoic Vulcan council member stated neutrally, "then this council is still greatly needed."
"I find myself in agreement with the Vulcan," one Romulan council member all but spat out. "Sit down, or we will be forced to deny your claim."
The Klingon council members frowned between themselves at the threat, but did not make a move to support Ka'ar just yet. Jim knew from her time with the Klingons, that his brash claim without right of honor only made him appear a foolish child. Like many cultures, the Klingons were deeply rooted in their traditions. That worked just fine for her.
"For the record, you have not consummated any of the marriages?" The Romulan council member asked, shifting back in his seat.
"No," Jim stated neutrally, valiantly trying to keep the blush off her cheeks.
"Since you have not consummated a marriage, the council has agreed, none of these can be considered in good legal standing with the respective empires," The human council member rumbled.
Jim felt a surge of absolute joy. If none of the marriages could be considered in good legal standing, then she was getting out of all of them? She could hardly contain the surge of relief that swept through her. She noticed that Spock, snapped his gaze to her and she pretended not to see the unspoken question in his eyes.
If she didn't see it, it wasn't really there. It was four-year old logic, but hey, it applied at this point and time.
"However," the second Romulan council member interrupted, "it does not mean that other claims cannot be filed. You did attack a Romulan vessel, which can be considered an act of violence against the Romulan Empire."
"And, you did attack several members of the House of Unagroth," the Klingon council members said in unison, "the House has a right to seek retribution. However, the right was nullified by the acceptance of releasing Ms. Kirk."
T'Pau stepped forward, her face devoid of any and all emotion. "Then on behalf of the Vulcan council, I submit charges that Ms. Kirk is the rightful property of the Vulcan Science Core."
The room went completely still.
"I beg your pardon?" The Human council member said in disbelief.
"It is an accurate statement that Ms. Kirk is a Federation citizen. However, as it has been for the last 2.453 standard weeks, she is a Vulcan citizen by marriage. Furthermore, she has been accepted into the Vulcan Science Core for her more than adequate knowledge of warp core drives."
More than adequate? Jim was the fucking best, thank you very much.
"If we are taking citizenship into consideration," The Romulan representative jumped in, "it has already been submitted that Ms. Kirk was made a Romulan citizen. "
Jim couldn't help but notice that Maelrok was gloating.
Smug bastard.
"Ye have submitted such a statement," T'Pau replied, "Yet, Ms. Kirk has not been employed within the Romulan government."
The Romulan did a great imitation of a fish out of water. His mouth opened and closed several times, but not sound was emitted.
Perhaps, Jim had misjudged the Vulcan Matriarch.
"Was it not employment by the Federation which released her from the bonds of Kal'I'farr with Ka'ar of House Unagroth?" T'Pau continued with a brow raised.
That truly had to be a familial trait, Jim decided.
The Klingons shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Ka'ar looked murderous. Or possibly had a touch of indigestion, but Jim was fairly certain it was murderous.
Like 80 percent sure… possibly 90.
"That is correct," his father replied with bared teeth.
"Ye have stated that Former Chief Engineer Kirk is classified as a Romulan citizen," T'Pau shot the corresponding representative a stern look, "However, proper and sufficient notification was not given to release her from her duties. Her position with the Vulcan Science Core is unchanged. She is classified as a member and legal Vulcan citizen as her Kal'I'farr tel with S'chn T'gai Spock remains unbroken."
"That is-," The Romulan representative began.
"Completely relevant, I am glad thee agree."
T'Pau turned to face the Romulan representative. "Ye understand the matters of similar biology."
Jim didn't quite understand what biology had to do with any of this. Humans and Vulcans were not that close. In fact, it surprised her that a Vulcan-Human hybrid was even around. However, if it could be done with Vulcans, which meant it was not entirely impossible that the same could happen with a Klingon or Romulan.
Huh. She hadn't thought about that before.
The Romulan representative fell silent for a moment, before leaning to whisper something to Maelrok. Maelrok said something back and the two males argued for a moment. Jim watched the display with apprehension as he straightened and looked at T'Pau.
"Then you would accept Kali-tor to settle all charges and disputes?"
T'Pau looked at Amanda, Amanda looked at Spock, and Spock looked at Jim.
"I accept," he stated rising to stand, as he clasped his hands behind his back.
Jim had no idea what in the name of Dylithium crystals was going on here.
Translations:
kal'I'farr- ko-fu: Marriage-daughter.
Aduna: Wife.
Tel: Bond (n). Or the co-joining of minds as in a marriage.
Kali-tor: to issue a challenge to, take exception.