A/N: Hello all. I'm posting earlier than usual because I think we all need a diversion. For those of you who don't know, something awful happened here in America today. A sick young man went into an elementary school and killed 28 people, 20 of them small children between 5-10 years old, then turned the gun on himself. It's awful. I can't even begin to imagine what all those poor families are going through right now. I had to turn the TV off because the news was so upsetting it was making me cry. I figured there were a lot of other people out there looking to do the same thing so I thought I'd share this little bit of fluff.

Make sure you hold your loved ones close tonight and keep those poor children and their families in your prayers.

A Paternal Interlude

U.S.S. Enterprise, 2280.321, 2048 hours. Spock sat in the Rec Room perusing his PADD while waiting for Nyota to conclude her business in the Comm Lab. They had been enjoying a quiet evening out when she was called away by Ensign Kios to consult on a matter involving a newly delivered piece of equipment; when it was discovered that the issue would not keep until morning she bade Spock wait for her here while she attended to her duties. She had been absent for the last 43.2 minutes and he anticipated her return shortly…

…so when the door slid open he glanced up expectantly, only instead of spying his k'diwa he spotted Doctor McCoy. The man charged in with a dramatic flourish, paused, then scanned the entirety of the room before his gaze settled on a partially obscured table in the back corner. He looked about ready to insert himself upon whoever was sitting there when Spock, feeling magnanimous, decided to re-direct the irascible man's attention. "Doctor."

Leonard looked over, frowning hard, and after a pause of 8.4 seconds strode over and pulled out an empty chair. "So," his friend began, "You're here keeping an eye on them too, huh?"

Spock set his PADD aside. "I am afraid that I do not take your meaning. Precisely who do you believe I am 'here keeping an eye on'?"

The Doctor jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the corner of the room that was out of his field of vision. "Your son and my daughter." Spock's eyebrow rose but still he said nothing; he had learned over the last 22.76 years of their acquaintance that the longer he remained silent the faster the Doctor would arrive at his point and he was not disappointed. "Why, Se'tak and Tabitha, they're on a date."

The other eyebrow flew up to join the first. He was unaware that the pair were anything more than friends. His expression must have betrayed him because Leonard leaned in closer, asking in a quieter tone, "You mean you didn't know either?"

"I did not."

"Huh." The Doctor sank back into his chair looking marginally mollified. "I knew Tabby had plans for tonight—I saw her gettin' ready and all—but I thought she was meeting up with her friends; then half an hour ago Christine tells me she's on her very first date and with your son. Apparently she's had quite the crush on him for awhile too."

"Fascinating," Spock replied, and it was, for his sa-fu had not demonstrated any degree of romantic attachment to anyone else since the Orion handmaiden had disembarked. He also recognized that while this behavior would not be considered normal on Vulcan it was a very natural, human step that Se'tak was taking in his growth and development and he wondered how events would unfold. Ever the scientist, he considered what an interesting case study it would be to compare and contrast his sa-fu's attempts at courting a potential mate versus his own fumbling overtures made toward Nyota when he had been more than a decade older.

However, no sooner had he thought this than Spock was struck by the social ramifications that their relationship would bring to bear. Should Se'tak conclude that Tabitha was his k'hat'n'dlawa* than the subsequent bonding would link him and Leonard McCoy together for the remainder of their lives; and should their romantic endeavors end acrimoniously…

"She's too good for him, you know."

The declaration jostled Spock out of his thoughts. "I beg your pardon?"

"My Tabby. Don't get me wrong now, I like Se'tak, he's a good guy, but my baby girl is so out of his league."

"I do not understand; my sa-fu also has several admirable qualities…"

"And he better not break her heart, Spock," Leonard continued on, "Or mark my words I'll-…" He was cut off by the fortuitous entrance of Nyota.

Spotting the two men sitting together she sent Spock the mental equivalent of a kiss while physically flashing a smile at Leonard as she sat down. "Hi guys. Am I interrupting something?"

"Oh no, nothing imp-…"

"The Doctor was expounding upon the many virtues of his daughter, Tabitha, as a potential mate for Se'tak while also making derogatory remarks as to our sa-fu's character."

"What?" Nyota regarded Leonard curiously for a brief moment before the metaphorical light bulb went off in her head. "Hold on, are the kids here now on their date? Is that why you're both sitting here?"

"The children are present, however I am sitting here because this is where you requested I await-..."

Apparently the Doctor was more adept at following his adun'a's train of thought as he interrupted him. "Uh huh. They're in the back corner and I'm here to see that your boy behaves in nothing but a gentlemanly manner towards my daughter…or else!"

Leonard's increasingly disparaging remarks toward Se'tak were beginning to grate on Spock's nerves, causing him to miss the shock on Nyota's face and the way she kept eying the exit door. "Continually impugning Se'tak's honor does not reflect well upon you, Doctor; you, who have been present in his life since his birth, and who well know that his character is above such reproach."

The Doctor looked most startled by his declaration but before he could respond Nyota asked if his wife knew he was here. His face turned a deep shade of crimson and he stammered, "Not exactly, no…"

"I didn't think so. We have to get out of here right now." Her tone brokered no room for argument and under her watchful eye they stealthily made their way out. The door had barely shut closed behind them when she made certain she had their attention once more. "Look, it's hard enough being fifteen what with all the social drama and hormonal changes and everything, but imagine being fifteen, on a spaceship and trying to start a romance with your first crush?! That's pretty damn hard!" She took a deep breath and brought her hand up to her temple as if trying to ward off a coming headache. "Now our kids are already living in a fishbowl and they don't need the added pressure of thinking their parents are lurking around every corner to supervise them, so let's give them some space, let them figure things out for themselves and enjoy this while it lasts, ok?"

Spock nodded in agreement while the Doctor grudgingly gave his assent via a heavily accented "Yes, Ma'am". Then without further ado his adun'a slipped her arm through his and began leading him back toward their quarters to continue their quiet evening after ensuring that Leonard also went his own way.

He'd spent a lot of time slicking his hair back that night and wore one of the good, white, button-up shirts Mama made him wear on special occasions; because tonight was a special occasion and he wanted to look his best for Tabby. When Se'tak went to pick her up he was shaking ever so slightly but the tremors stopped when she opened the door. She wore a new, light blue dress, with a white cardigan and her golden hair fell in waves around her shoulders. Tabitha looked more like her old self before all this crush business started and he wanted to compliment her properly but the words just didn't want to come out.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"You look good."

She blushed. "You too."

They went and got dinner in the Mess, which would've been like any other Saturday night except that they found a little two-seater table along the back wall. Tabby talked almost the whole time, interspersing bits of gossip from school in amongst her hopes and dreams, and he quickly realized that she was rambling because she was nervous. Nerves were the same reason why he couldn't string more than three or four words together and so hardly spoke at all; but that was ok, he didn't mind listening.

When they were through with dinner they went for a walk. The Enterprise was a grand ship but when you grew up on her as they had there were few truly romantic places to visit. After that they ended up in one of the quieter Rec Rooms where they talked some more and shared an ice cream float (with cookie dough ice cream for Tabitha because Se'tak knew it was her favorite).

Her hand rested idly on the tabletop and, moving slowly, he reached out toward it. She turned her palm upward and gave him a nod and so Se'tak slipped his palm into hers. The sensation could best be described as warm static electricity—not unpleasant but not wholly what he was expecting either. It was the first time they'd touched with his mental shields at minimum.

"Is it supposed to feel like that?"

Se'tak frowned slightly, prepared to let go. "Why, is it bad?" he asked worriedly.

Her grip tightened minutely, keeping him in place. "No! It's not bad, just…different. Like there's a current passing through our skin."

He smiled. "Yeah, that's what it feels like on my end too."

"Cool."

They sat in silence briefly and Tabby took a quick sip through her straw, catching a bit of ice cream and soda on her upper lip. Se'tak leaned across the table for a kiss when a voice from the hall wafted through the open doors.

"Yes, Ma'am."

He sat back in his seat so fast his butt hurt and he yanked his hand completely off the table, leaving Tabitha more than a little confused. There was only one person on this ship with that accent and he did NOT want his uncle walking in and seeing them do THAT!

* k'hat'n'dlawa = Vulkhansu, "Half of each other's heart and soul"