Chapter Text
Fifteen Years Later
The walk from the Starfleet auditorium to the home she shares with Jim and their children just outside of campus usually takes T’Pock an average of 18.2 minutes. When she completes the walk with Jim, however, it takes another 10.7 minutes due to Jim’s fondness of personally greeting anyone he may recognize—from professors to cadets to staff members. Walking with their children, T’Pock knows to add at least an extra 8.4 minutes though she typically finds she does not mind.
Even tonight, walking slowly after a long and rather stressful day, she does not mind. She does not mind watching her two eldest daughters ahead of their parents, Lydia walking with quick, short steps and her hands constantly moving as she speaks to her sister. Saavik listens, her hands still at her sides and taking long, easy strides. Lydia often has to skip to catch up to her sister.
A yawn distracts T’Pock and she looks to her right. Amal rubs a chubby fist against her closed eyes and snuggles closer into her father’s neck. Jim rubs his free hand along her back and smiles at T’Pock over their youngest’s head.
“I’m surprised she made it this far,” he observes. “Thought for sure she was gonna pass out before Demora even got her diploma.”
“She did not?”
“Nah; you didn’t hear her cheering?” Jim grins.
“I heard a tremendous exclamation from your general area in the audience,” T’Pock says, smiling softly. “Lydia was particularly enthusiastic.”
“We didn’t embarrass you, did we?”
“Not at all,” T’Pock replies. “Though I do enjoy seeing the surprise on some of my students’ faces when they realize which are my family.”
Jim grins again and shifts Amal in his arms. She yawns again and cuddles close, blinking her eyes open.
“Ko-mekh,” she yawns, “are we home yet?”
“Your sisters are already on the porch,” T’Pock replies, nodding to her older sisters waiting patiently thirty feet away.
Amal rubs at her face and sighs. Jim reaches up and runs a hand through her hair.
“Did you have fun tonight at Demora’s graduation?” he asks softly.
“It was boring,” she admits. “But Demora looked nice.”
“And how was Ko-mekh’s speech?” he asks, smiling.
“Good job,” she mumbles, closing her eyes again.
Jim laughs softly and leans in to kiss T’Pock on the side of her head.
“You did do a good job,” he assures her. “Great speech."
“Thank you,” T’Pock replies and steps onto the porch.
“What did you two think of Ko-mekh’s speech tonight?” Jim asks their two eldest daughters as T’Pock unlocks the front door.
“It was really good!” Lydia proclaims.
“It lagged at points but it was suitably inspirational for the graduating class,” Saavik says and follows her sister into their home.
Jim and Lydia roll their eyes but T’Pock smiles.
“Your honesty is appreciated,” she replies. “Both of you. Now it is time to wash up and prepare for bed."
“I’m not sleepy,” Lydia pouts.
T’Pock raises an eyebrow and Lydia sighs dramatically before heading off towards the bathroom, Saavik following her.
“I’m gonna put her down,” Jim says, kissing the top of Amal’s head. “Go relax, babe.”
T’Pock nods and walks into their bedroom. She unbuttons and removes her dress robes, carefully folding them before putting them away. She steps out of her shoes, returns them to her closet, and wraps herself in the warm robe Jim had purchased for her ten years ago. It is starting to show its age but T’Pock finds she is illogically reluctant to part with it.
Walking to the window, she adjusts the shades and gazes out across the dark lawn. The lights of Starfleet Academy shine in the distance and just beyond, the Golden Gate Bridge. Though it is late, the campus is alive with graduates and their proud families and she knows many will stay up to see the sun rise. She allows herself a tiny smile.
The door opens and she does not have to turn to know that Jim is walking towards her. He places his hands on her shoulders and leans in to nose at her ear.
"Amal's down for the night," he whispers, his lips tracing the shell of her ear. "The girls are almost done washing up. Want to go say good night?"
"Yes." She closes the shades and turns to gaze up at Jim, placing a hand on the side of his face. He smiles and sighs contentedly.
"What were you looking at?" he asks.
"The campus."
"Reminiscing?"
"In a sense," she replies. "I was considering that it is rather unusual that we should raise our children only yards from where we first met."
Jim grins and kisses the palm of her hand.
"Remember how devastated I was when they tore down the building where my hearing was held?"
"You lobbied for a plaque to be erected to commemorate our meeting there."
"Still don't know why the board ignored me on that. It would add historical value to this place."
T'Pock smirks and steps away from Jim. She takes his hand and he follows her to the bedroom of their oldest girls. Lydia is climbing into bed and Saavik is brushing her hair in the bathroom. T'Pock leans down and adjusts the covers over Lydia and smiles at her insistence that she is no longer a baby, she doesn't need to be tucked in.
"I believe it," she replies, kissing her on the forehead, "but I enjoy it."
Lydia rolls her eyes but snuggles against her pillow, smiling as her father wishes her a good night and bestows a kiss on her forehead, as well.
"You promise we can stay the whole time at Demora's party tomorrow, right?" she asks.
"I am sure that Demora will eventually want to go celebrate with her friends afterwards but yes, you are permitted to stay for as long as you like," T'Pock replies softly.
"Good," Lydia yawns. "Uncle Bones said Joanna is gonna be there."
"Shh, that's supposed to be a surprise," Jim replies, winking.
"I won't tell anyone," Lydia insists and curls onto her side. "Night night."
T'Pock straightens and turns as Saavik stands in the doorway of the bedroom.
"Time for bed, ashal-veh," Jim says gently but Saavik appears reluctant to enter.
"May I speak to you?" she asks, her voice sounding younger than her years.
T'Pock and Jim glance at one another before following their daughter into the living room. Jim closes the bedroom door behind them.
"What is it you wish to speak of, Saavik?" T'Pock inquires.
Saavik gazes up and then immediately back down to the ground. She brings her hands behind her back and if she were human, T'Pock suspects she would be biting her lip.
"Saavik?" Jim asks, concern on his face.
She looks up at her father, her dark eyes wide, and then sends a silent, pleading look to her mother. T'Pock quirks her head to the side before turning towards Jim, raising an eyebrow. He blinks in confusion before a look of understanding comes over him.
"Ah," he says, "this is one of those conversations." He smiles sheepishly and leans down to kiss Saavik on the top of her head. "Good night then, love." He turns to T'Pock, raises his eyebrows, and says, "I'll be in the bedroom."
T'Pock nods and they both are silent until they hear his bedroom door close.
"Now," T'Pock says gently, "I can sense that something is troubling you. I wish to alleviate you in any way I can. Please share your thoughts with me."
Saavik swallows and gazes up at her mother. T'Pock is mildly alarmed to see worry in her daughter's eyes. Do not panic. She has not said a word yet.
"Ko-mekh," Saavik says and takes a step towards her, "Papa and you went to Starfleet."
"Of course," T'Pock replies, confused. "You obviously are aware of this."
"And practically everyone you know is in Starfleet."
"That is not entirely accurate but yes, most of our friends and loved ones have attended or worked for Starfleet."
"And continue to do so, in some cases."
T'Pock nods.
"Saavik, I'm afraid I fail to understand why this would trouble you."
Saavik sighs and straightens her arms to her side, lowering her head. T'Pock is suddenly struck with the realization that her daughter is still quite young, though she seems to grow each day.
"If I did not join Starfleet," she whispers, "would you and Papa be disappointed?"
T'Pock blinks. Her mouth is abruptly dry. If she closes her eyes, she can see herself years and years earlier, stiffly turning away from her father and the elders.
"Saavik," she whispers, realizing that her silence could be misconstrued as dissatisfaction, "of course not."
"And would you," she continues, raising her eyes which look oddly bright, "be disappointed if I did not attend the VSA on New Vulcan?"
"Ashal-veh, no," T'Pock insists. "I can assure you that."
Saavik stares and then shakes her head.
"That reaction is not logical."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I am half-Vulcan, as you are," Saavik insists. "Vulcans go to VSA."
"Not all of them," T'Pock replies, smiling.
"And the others go to Starfleet."
"Again, not all. It is common, yes, for a Vulcan to attend one or the other but there are many who forge their own paths."
Saavik sniffs.
"But you and Papa—your entire life has been Starfleet," she says. "And Papa always talks about it...as if it is the greatest thing in the universe."
T'Pock is barely able to stop herself from laughing.
"You have not heard the many negative things he has said about Starfleet," she says.
At Saavik's dubious look, T'Pock smiles and sits on the couch, motioning to her daughter to sit beside her. Saavik follows and seems to shrink, trying to make herself smaller. T'Pock resists the very human desire to take her daughter's hands into her own and clasps them in her lap instead.
"Saavik," she begins, "your father and I have recounted the day we were approved to adopt you, correct?"
"Yes," Saavik nods, "many times."
"But I do not believe you are aware of something I overheard your father say two days after we first brought you home."
Saavik quirks her head to the side and looks up curiously at her mother.
"No," she admits, "you have never said anything about it."
"That is because I never admitted to your father that I eavesdropped on him," T'Pock says, smiling conspiratorially.
Saavik widens her eyes.
"That's lying by omission," she insists.
T'Pock smiles and shrugs slightly. "That is not the point. The point is that two days after we brought you home, I woke in the middle of the night to find your father missing. I went to check on you and found him in the living room, holding you in his arms, though you were no longer an infant. I do not know why, but I felt that I could not intrude but I overheard your father speaking to you, though you were sleeping. Do you know what he said?"
"How could I?" Saavik asks, frowning slightly. "I was too young to remember."
T'Pock smiles.
"He said that he loved you with all of his being; that no matter what happened, what paths you chose, what sort of individual you would become, he would always love and support you. And he continues to do so today."
Saavik blinks and looks down at her lap, swallowing.
"He really said that to me?"
"Vulcans cannot lie. You know that."
Saavik considers this and nods.
"And you?" she asks. "You feel the same way as Papa does?"
"That should be obvious. Whatever you wish to do with your life, your father and I will continue to love you. Along with your sisters and the rest of your family." She leans in and kisses her daughter on her forehead. "Now, you should get to bed. We have a long day tomorrow."
Saavik sniffs, smiles, and nods.
"Good night, Ko-mekh. And thank you," she says softly and heads to her bedroom, casting one more shy smile over her shoulder.
After the door closes, T'Pock stands, heads into her youngest daughter's room to kiss her good night—though she is fast asleep—and then walks into the bedroom she shares with Jim. He is laying on the bed, propped up with pillows, and reading a PADD. He glances up as T'Pock closes the door behind her.
"Everything alright with Saavik?" he asks as he lifts up the covers for her. T'Pock slips in beside him and takes the PADD out of his hands.
"Yes," she replies, "she just needed encouragement."
"About what?" Jim asks, laying his arm over her waist and pulling her flush against him. "Or am I not allowed to know?"
T'Pock hesitates before saying, "I shall have to inquire if she is comfortable sharing it with you but suffice it to say, she is feeling better."
"And she's definitely okay?"
"Yes, Jim, I believe so. She is merely struggling as most adolescents do."
Jim sighs and cuddles closer.
"I just don't like seeing her upset. None of the girls," he whispers.
"I am aware but that is a part of life, unfortunately. We can only protect and support them as best we can."
Jim nods and leans down to kiss her.
"We've got some good girls, don't we, Tee?" he says gently, smiling.
"Yes, Jim, it certainly seems so," T'Pock agrees and kisses him softly.
She relaxes into his arms and closes her eyes, falling asleep with Jim's arms around her.