Sarek and Dansk
Chapter Twenty
Before getting dresed for the evening Nyota and Spock placed their finest table cloth and settings on the table and Nyota prepared the plomeek soup, and left it simmering on the stove. Spock and Nyota then dressed in their finest formal Vulcan robes which befit the status of their clan and their distinguished visitor. The Vulcan script that embellished the garments was gold, silver and royal blue. The children were already dressed in their own formal robes, they would arrive home with Lo'vaak and Christine.
Drevi and Bettie were the first to show up at the house. As a matter of fact, it was still early afternoon when they arrived. Bettie had brought her signature desert, a magnificent fruit salad. When Nyota had called to invite them, she had volunteered to bring that as a contribution toward the success of the evening. Bettie had no idea who else was on the guest list, but had secured from Nyota the number of visitors she expected. Spock observed Drevi very closely and determined that he now was a truly contented male. There was no longer the look of searching in his eyes. As a matter of fact, Drevi was currently attempting to find an assistant to take up some of the responsibilities of his office as Betazoid Ambassador in order that he could make more frequent appearances on Bettie's show eventually scheduling it as a permanent fixture. As it was he occasionally made appearances on the show in a segment that featured interviews of Terrans who had joined with off-worlders. Bettie felt that the information revealed during these interviews were powerful augments against the dogma of the members of the radical element organizations whose mindset was manifested by the males that had attacked Sarek and injured Dansk.
Drevii and Bettie agreed that, by making knowledge of the attack public, and then drawing parallels between this attack and the rise of previous dictatorships where prejudices were their basis, people would be able to see the dark side of such reasoning. Drevi was going to request that he be able to record an interview with Sarek within the near future. Sarek had already talked to him about his discovery of Dansk. Both Bettie and Drevi were anxious to meet her.0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
From their bedroom Spock and Nyota could hear the whine of engines shutting down and the whish of a door opening and they went to the front door to welcome their guests. Spock opened the door with Nyota by his side as T'Pau and T'Paal walked toward them together. Behind them came Sarek and Dansk, and Sorin, who looked about as he examined the row of houses so close to one another. This was quite different from Vulcan residences. One of the features of a Vulcan home was fenced in grounds around each that would allow gardening and privacy. Before their guests could reach the door Spock observed Lo'vaak's vehicle pull into their own driveway and heard the sliding door open to allow Sirin and his family to enter through the rear garden. Circling to the rear, Lo'vaak and his family and Spock and Nyota's children also entered through the rear door and these family members assembled in the great room.
As T'Pau and T'Paal entered the vestibule, Spock intoned,
"Great Mother, welcome to our home."
T'Pau's nodded and then her eyes inched upward and observed an original sign* that said,
'Welcome to the home of S'chn T'gai Spock and Nyota. A later inscription showed the addition of Kov, Xon and Kares' names. She was certain a space had already been chosen for the addition of their daughter's name. T'Pau entered and observed the rest of the family standing in welcome. Spock had set the most ornate of his chairs against the wall, a position that would allowed T'Pau to observe all those present. Sarek chair was placed to her right. Before the meal the children presented themselves and then with their normal 'take charge' action, Kov and Xon led the children to the back rooms. After getting them all settled Kov and Xon then made their appearance with plates to supply their cousins with food. T'Pau observed this carefully. Of course, the meal was consumed in silence and after all the plates and eating utensils were removed, and placed in the sanitizer, T'Pau sent Sarek a message,
'I wish to speak in private with your daughter.'
Sarek sent this message to Spock who went to his Nyota and sent, 'Great Mother wishes to speak with you in private.'
Taking her elbow in his cupped hand he brought her to T'Pau and Nyota knelt before her and placed her head on her lap. Raising Nyota's head with her hand on her chin she said,
"Bondmate of my son's son we need to speak in private."
Nyota rose and led T'Pau to Spock's library. T'Pau took a seat and gestured for Nyota to do likewise. For several minutes she studied Nyota and finally said,
"Thy beauty had not been diminished by hard work and motherhood. There are two things that I wish to have you know. Although it is not the way of the V'tosh to offer what Terrans call 'thank you' or give complements when what has been done is logical and part of a duty, I must reveal to thee that my observation of my son's son, is that everything about him mirrors contentment and satisfaction. The bearing of his sons and now being filled with life again is a sign of your devotion to your bondmate and the acceptance of 'The Needs' edict, for your family has added to the continued restoration of the V'tosh people and to the Matt (clan) S'chn T'gai. Your bondmate has informed me that due to the less serious nature of Pon Farr, the two of your have determined that the koon'ut (seven year bond) is obsolete. While, in a practical sense, this is true, I do wish you to allow me to impose this action on your still unborn female child. It would be to New Vulcan's advantage to have her continued presence on our now home planet. While your daughter's twin siblings will eventual share the responsibilities of 'the robe', I am certain that her bonding with a full Vulcan and the eventual bearing of sons and daughters would produce offspring of superior nature. I came to you first, because as the mother, your attachment to your female offspring would allow you to have insight into her nature and possible acceptance of such an arrangement. I would not desire her to bond with one who is a stranger, but one with whom a relationship has been built over a long period of time. Of course, I certainly do not need to have any decision at this time, but I will be searching for a male that I would permit to join with this family, and clan through the bonding with thy daughter.
Nyota looked at her great-grandmother and said,
"May it be so."
*See my story 'Just Looking for a Home'.