Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to gkell, Black-Moon-Onaa-Inu, and Ahlysha for reviewing.
Judith rolled over, glancing at the timepiece on the bed. It was 0900, and the storm from last night had blown itself out. Sunlight was streaming through the window, tickling the edge of the bed, and she held out a lazy hand to touch it.
Her comm was beeping quietly, indicating that she had a message, and she picked it up, accessing her inbox.
Judith,
I was called away early this morning on urgent business with Ambassador Soval. I regret that I did not get to wake up with you. Hopefully, my business will be complete by the end of the day, at which time I will return to you, and we can continue our vacation together.
Again, my apologies. I look forward to seeing you again.
Meral
She sighed, but smiled slightly at the message, and she sat up, looking around on the floor for her clothes. She pulled them on and went to her room, running a hand through her fingers as she walked through the halls. Despite the hour, no one was in the hall, and she slipped quietly into her room so she could shower and change into clean clothes.
She ate breakfast alone and walked around Kingston, looking at all the landmarks she hadn't seen in years. The streets were crowded now that the sun had come back out. Lunch was also taken alone, and dinner. She fell asleep after sending him a message asking where he was. She awoke to no reply.
The rest of the week was spent alone, and by the end of it, she was both worried and angry. Why hadn't Meral responded to her messages? What was so important that it took him three full days to complete? She returned to San Francisco, her mood darker than usual, suspicions whirling around in her head.
The afternoon she got back from Jamaica, she sat on a dock on the Bay, staring out at the Pacific Ocean. Had she possibly been used? He had spent his entire acquaintance with her pushing her away, but the minute they were truly alone, out in the wilds, he softened and was kissing her before the day was out. The only other time he had attempted that was when she was drunk, even though she started it.
She sighed. What about the message, then? He said he would be coming back that day, once his business was complete. He was an engineer, not security personnel, or any aide to the ambassador. He advised Starfleet on their warp program and engines, starship design, technical things. What was taking him all week?
By that evening, she couldn't stand it anymore. She walked to the Consulate and asked to be admitted, and she gained an audience with the secretary.
"Is Mister Meral 'ere?"
"No," the woman replied coldly. "He was recalled three days ago."
Like ice, cold slipped into her stomach. She thanked the woman and exited the lobby, and made it home before she began to cry.
She had trusted him! She thought he was simply down on his luck, angry at the world or his situation, that a little sunshine and friendliness would reveal a better man! But as it turned out, he had simply used her as one last joyride before going back to Vulcan, what he had always wanted to do from the start, she assumed. Why else wouldn't he contact her?
She laid down in bed and cursed Emmie for introducing her to that man, and she fell asleep, her pillow stained with tears.
…
Meral locked himself inside his quarters the minute he reached them, then pulled out his meditation equipment and settled himself down. He retreated deep within his own mind, knowing that if he so much picked up his PADD to message her, he would throw it away, get off this ship, and find his way back to her before claiming her and making her his wife. The very thought of her was making his fury rise, and he retreated back to other thoughts, distancing himself from her for a moment, until he could think clearly.
He spent the entire trip in meditation, but all he could come up with were words to say to her, that if he were unhindered, in her arms again, on Earth again...he would say it all to her, and make her understand...she had transformed him, made him whole again, and he would not be denied this chance for contentment.
The call for boarding the landing shuttle came as a slight shock, and he pulled himself from his trance and stumbled to his feet. He had not eaten or slept, only showered when necessary and taken some tea as nourishment. He had no desire to sleep, as he would only dream of her, and his appetite was lowered considerably. He wanted to be alone, to grieve this loss and contemplate this mistake...but he would have his Judith, one way or another.
He barely recalled the trip down to the surface, so engrossed in his thoughts, but he looked up when his name was called.
L'Vek and Meskhenet were standing there, Ms. Sadir stroking her rounded belly, absentmindedly caressing the sacred temple where L'Vek's child was growing. He felt a pang of envy.
"I heard news that you were recalled," his former superior said, his expression cold. "I hope you are content with your decision."
"It was not my decision," he said darkly. "I protested, but the ambassador would not be swayed."
"Meral, I thought you would be more than content to leave Earth."
He stared at L'Vek, and he suddenly understood a human phrase he had once heard. If looks could kill...
"I have been torn," he growled, stepping closer to the elder Vulcan, "from she who will be my wife. I am not more than content to leave. I would be more than content to return, and apologize to Judith for causing this in the first place."
Meskhenet looked both overjoyed and saddened, and even L'Vek seemed taken aback at this news.
"Have you bonded to her?"
"No," he said, his voice still low and dark. "I did not have the chance. A few more days..."
"I must say, Meral, I was very wrong about you. My Meskhenet believed Judith could convince you to be hers, and I am learning not to bet against her."
"She was going to be my wife," he hissed, momentarily losing control of himself. He backtracked and took a step backward, calming himself. "Forgive me, Osu. I am...not pleased with this turn of events."
L'Vek raised an eyebrow. "Then come, and we will discuss your options."
…
Judith was walking home from work when her PADD beeped, and she frowned when it was Meral. She rolled her eyes and stashed it away...she was slightly surprised at herself. She hadn't deleted the message. Perhaps she was willing to forgive him, or maybe she didn't have all the facts...
She sighed and flopped down on her bed, then accessed her inbox again and read the message.
My dearest Judith,
Forgive me, k'diwa, for waiting so long to contact you again. I was not thinking clearly after Soval gave me the message that I had been recalled. It would have been shameful to send you any message in that state. After I boarded the transport for Vulcan, I stayed in meditation until we were in orbit of my homeworld. To do otherwise might have been dangerous; I had very violent thoughts about commandeering the ship and turning it around.
It should be obvious to you now that beneath a thin veneer of logic and control lie passionate, almost violent emotions. We must control them, lest they control us. It is our way. Please understand me, I protested this change. I did not want to leave you, not after you had found your way into my soul and transformed me so. But I will find a way, ashaya. I will come to you, or you will come to me, and I will claim you for myself. You promised me that you were mine. I hold you to that promise.
If you revoke that promise, it is best that I was moved to Vulcan. I will say no more on the matter. I do not wish to contemplate that.
Judith, dearest Judith, please understand that I withheld writing this for so long for my honor and for others safety. I was not allowed to leave the Consulate once the news was given to me. I was given until noon to gather my things and report to the hanger, else I would have told you this in person.
L'Vek and Meskhenet are willing to fund your passage to Vulcan, if that appeals to you. My clan is small, and I must work in order to support them. I am not of high blood like L'Vek; even Soval is of a higher clan than me. If you wish that I come to you, it will take some time, perhaps as long as six months, before I can take time off to make the trip.
However, if you accept L'Vek and Meskhenet's offer, you could be on Vulcan by next week. I much prefer this second option, even though it puts me further into L'Vek's debt. He chose me from the list of candidates to come to Earth as his aide, as I had the best record and better marks than my peers. I owe him for the job he obtained for me, I owe him (though I am only seeing it now) for forcing me to spend time with you, for making me go to Jamaica. And I would owe him for bringing you back to me. Should I be reinstated to my job on Earth, there would be nothing I could refuse him. Such is our way.
Consider it, Judith. Please trust my word on this, and please forgive my foolishness. Until we meet again, I am always yours, and you are mine.
Meral
She read over the letter several times before setting her PADD aside, and she rolled over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. Tears filled her eyes again, but they were partially in shame. She was still angry, but it was abated by the pure honesty of his words. He said she had transformed him...the secretary confirmed that he had been recalled, and it was obvious that something had happened to him, to make him want to reach out to her after his recall. He said he could not even bring himself out of meditation, for fear of hurting someone...and on her behalf...
He said he would have commandeered the ship and turned back...all to find her...
More tears streamed down her cheeks, and she wished he were here, so they could talk about this in person. But it seemed that if she wanted to talk to him, she would have to go to Vulcan. He wasn't coming back to Earth any time soon, but she was free to take time off. She still had vacation time stored up, and had only taken one sick day in the last six months, to go with her father to clean her mother's grave. She had time, if she wanted it.
She picked up her PADD and messaged Emmie, and smiled when she got a reply.
West Kir, The Blacksmith's Street, Number 6
It shouldn't be too hard to find him, then.
…
She was dancing for him in that scandalous outfit, and it was only him in the audience, the lights low, the music pounding in his ears. He gripped the handle of his lirpa tighter, growling in pleasure at the sight of her swinging her hips back and forth...like the dancing in the nightclub...her flesh was pliant and soft as he gently gripped her forearm and drew her to his body, and she grinned at him, her eyes hooded with desire...
"Judith," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her...
And then she was gone.
He awoke with a sharp gasp and quickly steadied his breathing, and he turned his head to the left, where there was space for her to lie. That space was empty, and he stared at it longingly, closing his eyes again.
This was unacceptable, and if it was the last thing he did, he would get her into his arms, link his mind to hers. He swore on his lifeblood that she would be his wife.
Strange that not a month ago he would have sworn on his lifeblood that he would never even allow himself to think such a thought.
"Judith," he whispered to the darkness, then closed his eyes and fell back asleep, trying to capture that dream once more.