Hey guys! Here's the next chapter. It's a little shorter than the ones I've been posting recently but don't worry the next one will come soon!
Also a shout out to KennaWynters for writing my first review for this story! Thanks for pointing out the mistake and thanks so much for your support. :)
Remember if you guys have any ideas regarding what you think would be a good idea for a plot twist or event don't be shy to leave a review or message me. Thanks! Enjoy!
2258 – June 5 1200 hours
A week had passed since the Enterprise had finally made it to Earth in its tattered state and it was now the day that Captain Christopher Pike would become Admiral and the Enterprise would have a new captain, James T. Kirk. It was a joyous day for everyone and to see Jim fulfill his dreams after being her student brought indescribable pleasure to Audrey.
Jim held out his arms wide in anticipation. "Daddy!" Audrey squealed as she ran past Jim to give her father a hug. Her father due to the extensive torture he had undergone would be confined to a wheelchair for many months. While it hurt her to even think about the pain her father must have gone through, she would eternally grateful for him being alive. He wouldn't forever be confined to the wheelchair and they were both assured by the doctor that he would be back on his feet. Time was his remedy.
Christopher chuckled as he returned his daughter's embrace. Jim had a genuine smile on his face as he watched father and daughter embrace each other but quickly replaced it with a look of mock horror. "Man. Never thought the day would come when I'd be passed over for an old man." Jim shook his head.
"Watch it Captain. It's Admiral now." Pike said sternly but a twinkle in his eyes gave away the game.
Audrey giggled and wrapped her arms around Jim's chest and hugged him soundly. "Congratulations, you big lug nut. Couldn't be happier that my dolt head of a student finally showed everybody up and became captain in three years!" She stepped back and ruffled his hair.
"Hey hey! My perfect hair!" Jim whined. Everybody laughed as Jim desperately tried to get his hair back to its original position. He eventually gave up and instead decided to lift Audrey and swing her around knowing that it would freak her out. She screamed yelling at him to put her down. "That's what you get for messing with the captain!"
Jim eventually put her down with Audrey grumbling light heartedly. "Oh come on Prof. Didn't you just say that it's one of the proudest days for a prof when their student makes it big?" He had a huge lopsided grin that Audrey just wanted to smack off his face.
"Not when he's a huge pain in the fu-" Audrey started. "Mmmpfh!"
Jim quickly covered his professor's mouth with his hand and chuckled nervously. "Now now professor. No need to be THAT excited."
Once the ceremony was over, everybody was invited to a pretty high class bar/club by Jim. Obviously since it was unadvisable to drink themselves silly while in uniform, everybody went home to change. Audrey practically jogged to her dorm due to her elated mood. It was a great day, nothing but excited things happening plus she got to dress up all pretty for the night. Nyota and she had made a promise to look as stunning as possible. It was their way of "congratulating" the crewmen.
Rummaging through her belongings, she finally found the dress she was looking for. It was a silk black dress that hung tightly to her body. The dress was a halter top and showed her bare back down to her hip. She had picked up the dress at a store right before they left on the mission but never had a chance to wear it. Quickly she showered, dressed, and put on her makeup. Slipping on a pair of hot pink stilettos, she grabbed her purse and left the dorm.
While skipping down the hallway humming, Audrey turned a corner and hit a very warm wall. She was about to fall backwards when she felt a warm hand grab her wrist and another wrap itself around her waist to prevent her from falling. "Oof," Audrey let out regaining her balance. She looked up to see an old Vulcan who seemed deceptively familiar. He had a warm and almost loving look on his face as he continued to hold her tightly. At the touch, their minds also touched and it felt warm and accepting. Even though she knew Vulcans to be extremely private and looked down upon touching those who they weren't bonded to, strangely enough Audrey couldn't bear to pull away.
"T'hy'la," he said softly surprised as she rested her hand on his chest.
"Who… are you?" Audrey asked, speaking as softly as he did not wanting to break the moment.
"My memory always seems to fail to capture how exquisitely beautiful you are, Audrey. I am Spock." He said crinkling his eyes in amusement as Audrey's face expression confusion at first and then enlightenment.
"You're Spock from the original universe. From the same future as Nero."
"Nothing escapes you, my dear Audrey." He paused to give her arm a slight caress. Audrey's eyes widen. If she was correct, that was a very intimate Vulcan gesture. "Many things have been damaged by myself and Nero. However, some things have been corrected. Jim has found his rightful place as Captain and my younger self as his First Officer. My dear, you however… I never expected to see you here." Through the connection, Audrey felt… love? But also fear. Fear of the uncertain.
"I must not understand correctly Spock. I feel something from you that I know cannot be." She looked into his eyes uncertain. "I feel… love coming from you… for me?" Audrey whispered it afraid that anything louder would break that fragile feeling.
Spock Prime's eyes smiled where his lips did not. "Indeed. In my time, we were bond mates."
"Not Nyota and you?"
"No. Nyota and I, while we were indeed interested in one another, she found Jim to be a much more appealing male. They went on to have a very fulfilling relationship." Audrey let out a sigh of relief and started to laugh. Spock Prime's eyebrow went up in curiosity.
"You're wondering why I'm laughing right?" She smiled. "I don't know but in this time I've been friends with you and Nyota for a long time. I met you because of Nyota's thing for you and it felt… wrong for you to be holding me like this… to hear about how we were more…" Audrey shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Your younger counterpart is happy where he is now in this universe."
Spock Prime felt great pity for his younger self. Bond mates were similar to soul mates for Vulcans in that once their minds made contact, it was almost impossible for them to feel for another. If Spock were to never be with Audrey, he would miss the chance to truly be with the one that would make him feel whole. He will forever feel incomplete and if he came to the realization that Audrey was his bond mate, he would forever live in regret. Vulcans felt emotions that ran deep. To feel an emotion such as love under the conditions of a bond mate, Spock would never be able to forget or live without pain for never bringing that relationship to fruition. Spock would never be able to experience the happiness that Spock Prime had in his universe. "I… am sorry, t'hy'la, to pry but I must ask. Have you never felt for my younger self?"
Audrey's eyes became wistful as she thought of the past and Spock Prime felt the small embers of a love long forgotten. "It was a long time ago, Spock… and one to be never repeated." He then felt the hurt that came with the memories.
"It hurts me t'hy'la to know that I have hurt you. If you ever need me, I am at your service." Spock Prime released his hold on Audrey's waist and stepped back but not without a final caress. He graced her with an uncharacteristic smile in hopes of relieving what hurt his younger self had caused.
"Goodbye, Spock. I hope to see you again." Audrey smiled with sad eyes and kissed Spock Prime's cheek.
"Goodbye, t'hy'la. We will see each other again if you so wish it."
As Spock Prime walked away, Audrey couldn't help but think of the past when she… for a moment…
The next chapter or two will be placed in the past so don't get too weirded out if it doesn't seem to make much sense. They'll be about Audrey's previous crush on Spock and how it turned out. Please review!