NU2U: "Blood Ties", 24b/26 (TOS/AU, S/Ch, Sa, Am, Vulcan OCs, K, Mc; h/c, anx [PG13])
Gamin
pregnant wife Christine back to Vulcan to be presented at a clan
gathering, where both run afoul of certain ultra-conservative clan-
members. This part: The Initiation Ceremony for T'Jaim and T'Krystyn--
which Christine is not allowed to attend.
Disclaimer: part 1A.
******
In the meantime, T'Jaim and T'Krystyn finally finished their milk, and
Amanda and Christine carried them over to Spock. "I think they're
ready now, Spock," Christine told him.
"Very well," Spock acknowledged, taking T'Krystyn from her as Amanda
gave T'Jaim to Sarek. While Sarek went to inform T'Pau, Spock went to
tell the others, walking over to where Kirk and T'Merit had just been
joined by Setek. "I believe we are ready to start the ceremony," he
announced.
Setek quickly went to round up all the children, Savir and T'Shelya as
Kirk headed back toward Amanda and Christine. Spock and T'Merit
followed more slowly.
"Spock, did you know anything about this?" T'Merit asked, showing him
the ring Kirk had given her.
"He showed it to me three days ago; I gather he purchased it during
our last starbase visit," Spock replied calmly.
"I had expected him to forget me by now," T'Merit confessed
hesitantly.
"He does not forget those who are special to him, however much time
they spend apart," Spock assured her.
T'Merit turned to face him. "Do you think he ever really intends to
marry me, Spock?" she asked seriously.
"He also does not *deceive* those who are special to him," Spock
asserted.
"I suppose it must seem strange, considering how little time we have
spent together, but I would like very much to bond with him," T'Merit
admitted. "Do you not find that illogical?"
"Not necessarily. People are often quickly impressed by the Captain,
usually in a positive manner," Spock informed her quietly.
"He told me about your bond with him, so I suppose you know him better
than anyone else," she revealed. "Do you think he would be a good
bond-mate?"
"A matrimonial bond is not the same as a mental bond born of
friendship, T'Merit," Spock reminded her, carefully but sincerely.
"I can only tell you that my bond with him has never caused me any
regret. It has brought me a certain...security and contentment...that
I had not known before I met him, and he has always been willing to
use that bond to share whatever he was
thinking or feeling with me. At this very moment, I could reach out
to him with my mind--without even gaining prior permission, if
necessary, for such an invasion of his privacy--and his mind would
accept me, because he knows I would not do so unless my need was
great.
"He has always opened his mind to me any time he thought it would help
me in some way." Spock paused reflectively as memories filled him.
"He always told me not to be...afraid or ashamed...because nothing he
could see within me would embarrass him or change his emotions of
friendship for me. I see no reason why he would not show the same
consideration toward you." He pulled himself back to the present,
studying T'Merit again. "I know it means much to him for you to have
accepted his ring."
Finally, they caught up with Sarek, Kirk and the Human women as T'Pau
came to join them. As T'Pau led the Vulcans and Kirk out toward the
garden, Christine started to follow them and Spock realized he would
have to explain the situation to her.
"You cannot come with us, Christine," he told her reluctantly.
"Why not?" Christine demanded.
"Because this is a family ceremony, and you were not officially
accepted, so you cannot attend," he reminded her, letting his facial
expression show his regret.
"But this ceremony is for *my* children!" she protested.
"I know, but the only exceptions are those allowed by T'Pau. *I*
would not even be allowed to take part if T'Pau had not seen the logic
of my presence because two of us were required to carry the children,"
he pointed out gently. "You did agree to abide by the results of the
vote on your acceptance; like most Vulcan customs, they, also, are
difficult for Humans to cope with. Stay here and visit with Mother. It
will not last long."
All Christine could think of in response was that *she* could have
been one of the two as easily as Sarek, but she said nothing more.
Amanda took her carefully by the shoulders, squeezing them slightly.
"Christine, we don't have any choice. I didn't get to see *Spock's*
Initiation, either," she revealed softly.
Christine looked at Spock with an expression of pain and anger in her
eyes, and Spock was at a loss as to how to console her. Finally, he
stepped a little closer and reached out to caress her cheek. "I would
have preferred for you to be there, my wife, but it is not possible.
Please do not be angry with me."
Spock's attempt to comfort her did not really change how Christine
felt, but abruptly, she realized that he was not to blame for the
custom, though he was certainly having to bear the brunt of her
indignation. "I'm not angry with you," she assured him kindly, taking
the hand that was still resting on
her cheek and kissing it softly. "I'm angry with the *custom*."
"I understand," Spock whispered, drawing her briefly and awkwardly
against him with his free arm before releasing her. He glanced one
last time at Amanda. "Take care of her, Mother."
They watched him go, carrying T'Krystyn out with him, and after
Christine heard the outside door close, she began to pace in
frustration--and for the time being, Amanda let her pace, knowing
she would need to work through the worst of this by herself. She
watched in silence for a while, therefore, as Christine paced quickly
back and forth around the parlor, muttering to herself.
"Not going to my own children's Initiation...of all the ridiculous,
stupid, *illogical* customs...I wonder what Vulcan genius came up with
it? Everybody *else* gets to go, but just because the Vulcans in this
clan can't handle Spock marrying a Human, I can't be a part of it."
When this had gone on long enough that Christine seemed to run out of
ways to express her frustration, Amanda said, "You know, it suddenly
occurs to me that there's no Vulcan custom that would prevent us from
watching from the terrace."
Christine met her eyes in instant understanding and approval.
"It's better than sitting around cooling our heels in *here*," she
decided. "Let's go."
******
While Christine and Amanda looked on from the terrace, the rest of
Spock's relatives gathered with him and Kirk before T'Pau in a
particularly scenic area of the garden. Once she was certain everyone
was settled, T'Pau began the ceremony. "We are gathered in this place
to witness the Initiation of Spock's children--the beginning of their
lives as Vulcans. Since there are
two of them in this instance, I will take them one at a time." She
paused then, waiting for Sarek and Spock to decide between them which
of the children would go first; after a moment of uncertainty, Spock
stepped forward with T'Krystyn, who seemed almost instinctively quiet.
"Spock, have thee chosen a name for this child?" T'Pau asked formally.
"I have, T'Pau."
"What name have thee chosen?"
"I have named her T'Krystyn."
Carefully, T'Pau placed her fingers against T'Krystyn's temples in a
mental blessing that was more resigned ritual than sincere good
wishes, breaking contact immediately in order to avoid becoming
entangled in the chaos of the baby's mind. "Among our people in the
Land of our Ancestors, this child will be forever known as T'Krystyn,
daughter of Spock, descendant of Surak,"
T'Pau declared slowly, deliberately, and in accordance with the
ceremony's customs.
Sarek then stepped forward with T'Jaim.
"Have thee chosen a name for this child?" T'Pau asked again.
"I have," Spock replied again.
"And what name have thee chosen?"
Spock drew a deep breath, knowing his response was not going to be
strictly according to custom-but he was determined that all those
present know why he had chosen the name he had.
"In honor of my Captain, James Kirk, I have named her T'Jaim," he
returned finally.
A brief expression of disapproval crossed T'Pau's face, but she knew
anything she could say would only further disrupt the ceremony. She
again placed her fingers on the side of the baby's head, withdrawing
them quickly. "Among our people in the Land of our Ancestors, this
child will forever be known as...
T'Jaim, daughter of Spock, first-born, descendant of Surak."
Spock raised an eyebrow at the obvious hesitation in her voice,
uncertain if it was caused by her disapproval of his deviation from
ceremonial custom, or by some objection she might have had to naming
the baby after Kirk.
"Now that thy children have been officially acknowledged, the time has
come for thee to name their Fuahn-shanah," she told him then. "Have
thee chosen, Spock?"
"Yes, T'Pau."
"Then name the Fuahn-shanah."
Spock half-turned toward Kirk as he spoke. "I choose Captain Kirk as
Fuahn-shanah for my children, T'Pau."
Spock's insistence on somehow involving Kirk in every Vulcan ceremony
he had to take part in remained a persistent annoyance to T'Pau, but
it no longer came as any surprise to her. "Step forward, Kirk," she
beckoned coolly.
Kirk obeyed.
"Spock has chosen thee as Fuahn-shanah for his children. If thee
accepts, thee takes upon thyself responsibility for T'Jaim's and
T'Krystyn's care, education, well-being and safety until they come of
age, in the event of Spock's and Christine's death. Does thee
understand this and agree to it?" T'Pau asked dubiously, having some
idea herself of Kirk's present duties and
obligations as Captain.
"Yes, T'Pau, I understand and agree," Kirk asserted.
"So be it," T'Pau responded resignedly. "Henceforth, thee will be
known among our people as Fuahn-shanah--legitimate guardian and
protector--for T'Jaim and T'Krystyn, children of Spock, descendants of
Surak. See that they live their lives in a manner that will not
dishonor Vulcan, as Spock must while he lives." She paused. "That
concludes the ceremony, but I ask thee all to remain for a moment; I
have one more thing to say before I go. This is, in all probability,
the last ceremony at which
I will officiate. My physician has advised me to retire and give up
my clan responsibilities, if I wish to preserve my health. T'Pala, as
next eldest living female of the House of Surak, will assume my role
within the clan, and it is likely *she* who will officiate at T'Jaim
and T'Krystyn's Ceremony of Acceptance.
"I am grateful that my final official act will have been to preside
over the beginning of two new lives. Even Human and partially-Human
lives are of value...as the actions of my daughter have served to
remind me. And now, Sarek, I will take my leave of thee."
Sarek stopped her as she started away from them. "T'Pau, if I may
inquire...you say you are retiring. What of your seat on the Ruling
Council?"
T'Pau half-turned toward him. "It will be filled in the usual manner,
Sarek," she returned, with noticeable regret in her voice,
before turning finally and continuing on her way.
Sarek and Spock exchanged disturbed expressions; every Vulcan present
knew the implications of T'Pau's words, but only *they* truly
understood the seriousness of the situation. Kirk, however, was
completely confused. "What did she mean by that?" he asked.
"By tradition, positions on our Ruling Council are hereditary, passing
from one generation to the next and remaining within the same family,"
Spock explained quietly. "T'Pau has only one heir."
"You mean *T'Pera*--?"
Spock nodded.
"Well, that shouldn't be any immediate problem. She's still in
whatever passes around here for prison," Kirk recalled, momentarily
relieved.
Spock lowered his eyes, remaining silent.
"Spock?" Kirk prompted anxiously.
Spock wandered away from him as the rest of the group began to break
up, attempting to immerse himself in studying T'Krystyn, pretending to
ignore Kirk as he moved back toward the terrace steps.
Kirk ran after him in growing alarm. "Spock--she *is* still in
prison, isn't she?"
Spock stopped reluctantly, waited for Kirk to catch up with him, then
revealed slowly, "No; she is at T'Pau's home, essentially under house
arrest. With no proof of mental illness, she could only be held a
limited time."
"How long will she remain under house arrest?" Kirk asked then.
"I do not know-*that* I was not told. But not long enough to keep
her from filling T'Pau's position. Unfortunately, there are no
exceptions to the custom that would bar her from it."
"Does anybody else know she's been released?"
Spock shook his head. "Within the clan, only Sarek and I--and I have
told you because it occurred to me that you might require the
knowledge at some point," he assured Kirk gravely. "But I would
prefer no one *else* to know, if you understand my meaning."
Kirk nodded sympathetically, immediately thinking of Christine.
"I think I do, Spock. My God, the idea of someone like T'Pera being
in a position of power..."
"We would prefer it to be otherwise, also, but--for now, at least-
there is no choice."
As Kirk was about to say something else, Sarek approached with T'Jaim,
who was crying.
"I assume I am doing something wrong, but I have no idea what it is,"
he told them, in puzzlement, offering the baby to Kirk. "Perhaps she
is tired of being held by me."
Kirk took T'Jaim, who quieted slightly at his touch but continued to
cry more softly, and examined her more closely. "Let's see what your
problem is, here--oh, I think somebody needs a diaper change," he
concluded quickly, glancing at Spock. "Christine's still got the
bag. I'll take T'Jaim back inside," he told the Vulcan.
Spock followed him, with Sarek bringing up the rear. "I am right
behind you, Jim," he called after his Captain.
END PART 24B
My ST:TOS Fan-Fiction can be found here:
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