Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last set of emails. You are all so wonderful. I genuinely do appreciate all the feedback. I could use it now as I continue working on new chapters.

Day 329: Family

From: Vulcan_Embassy_Ambassador_Selek

To: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

Time arrived: 01/16/2261 00:00:01

Subject: Thank you for writing

Thank you for your speedy reply. I assume the swift response results from you still being in the system. I also appreciate the pictures from your birthday celebration. I'm glad your family is doing well. It was a pleasure to spend time with the children. You are correct. I do want to spend as much time as possible with the children. I was foolish previously to think otherwise.

My medical team thanks Dr. McCoy for the additional data. I personally thank your husband for releasing his medical information to my team. With it, they are now willing to try several treatments previously viewed as ill-advised.

I am willing to acknowledge that I was reluctant to undergo any treatments previously. Yes, I felt that it was essential to help rebuild Vulcan. Simultaneously, I feel like I am living on borrowed time, that I should have died with Vulcan of old. I didn't realize that was the case until it was pointed out.

I think I felt that no one would care if I was no longer here. That I was just a superfluous Spock. All my ties to the world are people who care about me because I was someone else in another life. Combined with the grief that I have been trying to process, it was easy to become overwhelmed with a sense of being unnecessary and unneeded.

However, spending time with Peter and Josephine made me realize that yes, there are people who want me to stay alive and do need me not just because of who I was before but for who I am now. That makes me want to at least try to stay around as long as possible. So, thank you for that. At present, the medical team is hopeful. Or at least as hopeful as a primarily Vulcan medical team can be.

I assumed you're still in the system by your fast response, but I do not know that for sure. Unfortunately, I could not ask much about your current mission due to other pressing matters. I do regret that my health crisis overshadowed your time on New Vulcan.

Although I was able to get a few details from the Vulcan Science Academy members on board during my time in Dr. McCoy's sick bay. I know this assignment will continue through early February." How are things going presently?

How are the children doing? Have classes begun again? Per my father, Saavik started her new school on January 3. Would it be acceptable for me to write to the children directly? Or do you wish that I limit contact until we are entirely confident of my medical prognosis? I will, of course, not reach out until I hear back from you.

I hope your work requirements will allow you to correspond regularly. I look forward to our communication.

xxx

From: Vulcan_Embassy_Ambassador_ Sarek

To: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

Time arrived: 01/16/2261 00:00:01

Subject: Thank you for your advice regarding Saavik's schooling

I want to express my gratitude for your suggestion that Saavik attend the international school. So far, the experience has been a vast improvement. Her teachers are respectful and are interested in helping her reach her full potential. She enjoys positive interactions with her peers. In addition, I think the emphasis on group projects and group learning might be beneficial in the future. In the real world, you rarely work by yourself.

There are a few less than cordial classmates. Still, unlike in her previous learning institution, the incidents are addressed directly, and the administrators do not ignore the occurrences. In hindsight, I wish I had considered the international school for Spock as an adolescent. At the time, I felt it was best for Spock to receive a traditional Vulcan education. That forced Spock to be somebody he was not, which is why he chose to leave for Starfleet. I respect that decision now. I realize in hindsight that my children should receive the education they need, not what I perceive they need. I will endeavor to do better this time.

I am grateful that you allowed me to spend time with Peter. Thank you for this. I welcome more visits from him and from you and my son in the future. I do miss conversing with adults who are not condescending idiots. Unfortunately, I will be planet side for the next six months.

During Saavik's winter break, I will be assisting with opening the embassy on Yorktown. It is our first new embassy since the genocide, and it was decided that I would be best suited to oversee the staffing and start of operations. This assignment will overlap with the Sulu wedding. I believe this will allow me another chance to visit with the children. More importantly, it will allow Saavik more time with her cousins.

When time allows, please send me additional images of Peter and Spock. As well as anecdotes about their day. I appreciate such correspondence.

Xxxxx

From: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

To: Vulcan_Embassy_Ambassador_Selek

Time sent: 01/16/2261 22:15:01

Subject: Re: Thank you for writing

Of course, you can write to the children directly. Spock and I discussed it with Nyota and Bones, and they are all okay with it. I think the kids would appreciate it. I know I said I don't want the kids to lose more people, but you cutting them out of your life in an attempt to spare them pain is doing just that. It makes it worse because they're losing valuable time they could've spent with you. I don't want them to lose that.

I don't want you to cut them off on the chance that the treatment won't work. Because you need people in your life. You need someone to fight for because otherwise, you'll just give up like you almost did before. I need you to fight as much as you can. That's what this is really about.

You were just letting go before. You passively accepted that you were terminally ill. You didn't even want to get a second opinion. I think you only went to Bones to placate me. Even then, I believe you went along with it because I framed it as a way to keep my Honey Bear from developing the same condition. Yes, we're concerned about that, but you were our main concern.

Although my best friend, being who he is, has decided that we need to undergo lifestyle changes to ensure Spock is not dealing with heart failure in a century. We are both now on a brand new food and exercise plan. One would think being on a vegetarian near vegan diet is already enough, but somebody likes cheese a little too much. I blame all of Amanda's grilled cheeses as a child. It's my Spock's go-to non-chocolate comfort food. Now that's become a sometimes food.

I also regret that too much of our visit was overshadowed by your health issues. Not that I regret you telling us the truth because I'm glad you told us. I don't want you going through this alone. I just wish I had an opportunity to ask you some work-related questions. Although I seriously doubt you would have been willing to let us know anything you discovered when searching these planets the first time. Did you ever run into any creatures that kind of look like Fraggles?

Also, I am attaching pictures of Fraggles because I'm pretty sure my Spock only knows about them because of my 20th-century movie and TV fetish. I'm not sure you've been exposed to anywhere near as many movies and shows with my counterpart. He was a bit of a closed-off dick, from what I know. I still have residual dreams from the mind meld. I really want to punch him in the dick. Bless the universe for keeping me from grandma Kirk.

So obviously, we're still in the system, and it looks like we will be in it until mid-February. Maybe longer because we will have to spend a little extra time on our current planet to finish the necessary research. Mainly because we will have to do everything remotely until we figure out how to get samples without disturbing the locals. We need to do this because several plant species on the planet look similar to some lost Vulcan species, and we need to do genetic testing. So, the earlier scans were wrong, and the planet we are surveying wasn't as desolated as they thought. There actually is intelligent life there that looks like Muppets.

At this point in my Starfleet career, this shouldn't surprise me. This is not even the weirdest thing that's happened this year.

So good news. No red shirts got killed. Also, my husband came back uninjured. This was good because Spock and I want to be able to go on away missions without completely traumatizing Peter. If we come back with injuries too many times, Peter will never let us leave the ship without him again. I am still utterly shocked that he survived quality time with your father without begging us to bring him back to the ship. I'm surprised he didn't try to sleep in my room when Spock was on the planet. Maybe Peter is starting to settle with us?

Also, in other good news, the prime directive was not broken again. I'm trying to do better, especially considering things went FUBAR after the last incident and people died. Since Honey Bear wasn't in danger of dying this time, it was easier not to break the thing. Anyway, now we are focusing on learning as much as possible from a safe, non-interfering distance. That's all I can say for the moment.

You should know the kids want to see you again. They got an email from their cousin a couple of days ago letting them know that she will get to see them this summer while your father helps set up the new embassy at Yorktown. This feels like a setup because there have to be other people that can do that. As you're aware, ambassadors were one of the jobs where people had the highest survival rate in the Vulcan diaspora. Let's be honest, 10% of the current Vulcan population exists because they were members of the Vulcan ministry of foreign affairs. Although my father-in-law is one of the few that's currently planet side and not an active ambassador. So he might be the best person to set up the new embassy before the new ambassador arrives.

Are you going with him? He didn't mention anything about that possibility in his letter. Yes, he wrote me earlier today. I'm sure you're surprised by that because Honey Bear was also surprised. I think this temporary assignment on Yorktown is a dry run to see if a return to active duty is feasible. Just in case things don't work out at the international school. So far, it is going well. We will see how long that lasts.

Yes, the kids are back in school. They even received their grade on their "winter" break research project. Of course, they received A's. Spock probably should classify the thing, but the truth needs to be out there.

If you want to read a copy, it's attached. I'm not sure if it's something you would want to read. Anyway, more pictures from the kids. I'll send more when I can.

Xxx

From: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

To: Vulcan_Embassy_Ambassador_ Sarek

Time sent: 01/16/2261 22:32:01

Subject: I'm always happy to help a sister-in-law out

No thanks are necessary. I just want my baby sister-in-law to have a better experience in school than I did. Before I switched to the private school, it was pretty much hell. It wasn't that much better afterward. However, I needed to be around Kevin, which meant not being at a boarding school elsewhere. I get all too well what it's like to be treated as different, especially for something you can't control, like who your parents are. I'm glad her experience so far is better at the international school. It always helps if the faculty actually care and are not letting their own biases influence their treatment of students. I dealt with it going both ways before.

I am not surprised you will be at Yorktown at the same time we will be at the starbase. It seems plausible that you are conspiring with the Adm. to get as much quality grandbaby time as possible. Although Peter will be grateful. He had a wonderful time on New Vulcan and looks forward to spending more time with you. I look forward to my child enjoying spending time with other family members. He needs to have that, especially after so many years with just his mom after what his ex-grandparents did. I want him to know that he has a large extended family, and I feel like his new Vulcan grandfather helped with that. So, I'm grateful.

Will you be bringing Spock's grandfather with you? The kids adore him. Also, let's be honest, it's not good for him to be alone. Spocks tend to get too caught in their own heads if they spend too much time alone. I think that's what happens with the Elder. At least, that's what I've gathered from my own observations and what he's told me. I know Suarez is trying to spend more time with him, but he can use as much family as possible.

Just so you know, my Spock also had a good visit. He's just grateful that no fights broke out. I know there were a lot of issues, many of which were not resolved until after Amanda's death. So, he's grateful that he can actually spend time with you and it not explode into fighting or tears. Also, no one had to be chocolate stoned most of the time. We were slightly concerned about that possibility. However, we are grateful things are better now. Hopefully it will continue that way.

I want to personally thank you for your hospitality. You not only brought us into your home but many of our friends. It's also comforting to know that we have our own wing of the family house. I'm sure we'll be required to take some mandatory vacation time, and it's much easier to get to New Vulcan than earth. Although maybe we'll try for Vulcan winter. Not this year because you'll be on Yorktown, but maybe next year. Who knows? We'll just have to see.

I just realized I forgot to send you pictures from Spock's birthday. Sorry, I thought Spock bear would do it, and he didn't. Apparently, I am the spouse in charge of that sort of thing now. I'll do better at getting you grandbaby updates. There are many pictures of the kids putting together their latest Lego project.

Do you think I'll be able to talk command into letting me have a room just for the kids to put Legos together? Not just my kids but all the kids. Actually, there should be a playroom for the kids. I'm going to work on that.

To be continued…