DISCLAIMER: The Star Trek characters are the
property of Paramount Studios, Inc and Viacom. The
story contents are the creation and property of Djinn and are copyright (c)
2017 by Djinn. This story is Rated PG-13.
Home is Where You Are
By
Djinn
Chapel
followed Spock into Sarek and Amanda's private quarters, carrying the
high-heeled sandals she'd managed to wear the entire night but just couldn't
stand a moment more once she got into the flitter.
"How
was the wedding, dear?" Amanda
laughed. "Did you dance too
much or are they simply uncomfortable?"
"Little
of both? Very pretty, though,
aren't they? " Beautiful
things: she loved getting to wear them, even if they often proved a lot less
comfortable than a uniform or medical scrubs.
She
flopped onto the couch next to Amanda as Spock went into the guest room. "The wedding was lovely. Ny is so happy. Tony is a sweetheart. I'm really happy for them." She leaned back and closed her
eyes. "But I am never having a
big wedding, so don't ask me again.
I want to get married here, just a few friends, you and Sarek and
Saavik. Spock, of course."
Amanda
laughed. "Yes, he's somewhat
crucial to the deal. But don't you
think me showing you off in a big human wedding would be just the thing?" Her tone was full of mischief.
"Really
don't."
"Oh,
fine." She sighed
dramatically. "My boy is very
happy."
"He
didn't admit that, did he?"
"Oh,
of course not. He's 'content.' But
a mother knows these things."
"Happier
than with Valeris?" God, why
could she not say stupid things like that?
"I
think so." Amanda studied
her. "You need to stop being
jealous, darling. He's with you. He
chose to be with you—after everything. And I know for a fact he's already asked
you to marry him twice. He did tell
me that, since he asked for advice on how to make the third time turn out
differently."
"When?"
"A
month or so ago."
Chapel
laughed. "Wow, he must really
want to get married if he resorted to honesty with mom." She leaned her head against Amanda's shoulder. "What did you tell him?"
"To
wait for you to ask him. Which I
assume you will do eventually? I
told him it was far easier to say yes than to actually do the asking—that
you'd make that leap when you were ready, and he'd enjoy the outcome more if
you did the heavy lifting."
"Thank
you."
"I
expect you to be ready soon."
Chapel
laughed. "I see where Spock
gets his tenacity."
"Sarek's
not exactly shy about going for what he wants. Spock was doomed from the start. Stubbornness is in his DNA." Amanda sighed. "You're happy, aren't you? I find you harder to read than
him."
"I
am. I guess I've just learned to
hide how I feel. Especially when
I'm happy. I'm working on
that."
"I
didn't mean that as a criticism, just a fact. I've been around Vulcans too long."
"I
don't mind. At least you're
honest. Ny's
mother-in-law is sort of a piece of work.
I am further convinced I won the lottery where that's concerned."
Amanda
pulled away slowly.
"Mother-in-law? You've been holding out on me, haven't you?"
Chapel
started to laugh.
"You
two are bonded?"
"Guilty
as charged. I'm your
daughter-in-law without some big poofy white
dress."
Amanda
pouted, very prettily. But then she
grinned. "Well, I'll get to
planning that small intimate gathering here. And I have some champagne in the
chiller. Don't move."
She smiled up at Sarek as he walked into the room. "My husband. We have a bonding to celebrate."
"This is not news to me, my wife.
Their closeness was apparent."
Amanda
turned to glare at her. "Did
you tell him?"
She held her hands up.
"No. And I'm pretty
sure your boy didn't either."
"Is it not possible I am simply perceptive?"
Amanda
shot him a look that clearly said, "No."
Sarek
almost smiled. "When they
arrived. Christine hit her leg on
the table that you persist in saying is not a hazard, and Spock
reacted—their bond is quite new, I suspect."
Chapel
nodded.
"It
is my job to observe, my wife."
"Yes, but it's my joy to be nosy when it comes to them. And I totally missed it." She called into the guest room. "Spock, we're going to have words
over why you forgot to tell me you and Christine were bonded."
He
came out, an almost impish look on his face. "I did not forget to tell you. I knew you would find far more
satisfaction in figuring it out on your own."
"Excellent
response, my son."
"Thank
you, Father."
Chapel
smiled at them both. Since she and
Spock had paired up, he and Sarek were doing way better on the getting along
front. They both credited her for
it, but she was actually doing next to nothing. Somehow she was making them more
comfortable with no effort, and they relaxed around each other in a way they
hadn't before.
Or
maybe four people was just a more comfortable number for both of them than
three with Amanda caught in the middle?
Who knew? Chapel was just happy things were better between them.
Sarek
went to help Amanda in the kitchen where he probably was being conscripted into
her party planning committee, and Spock sat down next to Chapel.
"They're
happy." She touched his hand
gently, still marveling at how she felt the sensation too. The bond was a few weeks old and already
fading to the background hum Spock said would be normal, so she was enjoying
the shared sensations whenever she could.
"I did not like watching you dance with other men."
"Well, you won't dance with me."
She laughed as he ran his hand up her thigh. "They're coming right back."
"I
know." His lip ticked up
slightly and she laughed.
"Thrillseeker."
"I
am now a sedate married male."
She
pulled him to her and kissed him deeply.
"Sedate, my ass."
They pulled apart like two teenagers when they heard footsteps in the
hall. With a grin, she accepted a
glass of champagne.
"To
my lovely family," Amanda said, then she looked
at Chapel as if to make a point.
"You always have been that, darling. Even when my son was too daft to know
it."
"Thank
you."
Then
she looked at Spock. "Did you
let her ask?"
"It
was a mutual decision to bond."
And
it had been. One they made the
morning after a night where they'd stayed up talking, finally comfortable
enough to get things out—really out—about Valeris and the detention
center. Now that he was no longer
so reactive due to guilt and she trusted him.
Now
that their being together meant good things and a future that looked bright,
not roads left untaken and bad blood between them.
"Consensus
is always preferable to compromise."
Sarek looked very self-satisfied, as if he had engineered the entire
thing, which he sort of had. The
meltdown on Ishtrakhan, which had been the low point
between them but also the bridge to understanding, would never have happened if
he hadn't put them both on his team.
He
walked over to where Amanda stood beaming at them, as if he needed closeness
with his own love. Chapel was
charmed by the low-key show of affection and leaned back so her arm was pressed
tightly against Spock's.
Even
through the fabric of his robe, she could sense the pulse of him. She'd never felt this secure with
anyone—had probably never realized how adrift she'd felt for so long,
presumably since Roger left. A
feeling that she'd buried over and ignored, but that this lovely connection was
finally healing.
Spock
pressed harder against her, and she closed her eyes and let Amanda chatter on
about cake flavors and how she knew a designer that made the most tasteful
puffy white dresses.
"I'm
going to lose this one, aren't I?" she whispered.
"Without
a doubt," both Sarek and Spock answered.
FIN