Work Text:
The doors to the bridge opened as the lift reached it's destination, the two passengers stepping off, the Vulcan's arm on the small of the short woman's back, allowing her to take a lead. Pike did a half turn in his chair, his blue eyes bright as he waved to his two officers.
"Spock, La'an." He stood up to greet them. "Welcome back. How was shore leave?"
La'an bit the inside of her cheek to stiffle the giddy laughter that threatened to burst out of her chest and to suppress a smile that has been tugging at the edge of her lips since yesterday. She could feel Spock's presence right behind her but she stood her ground, not daring to turn around in fear of letting the overwhelming happiness overtaking her professional responsibility she felt towards her captain, despite the fact that he was more like a family than a boss to either of them.
With her hands intertwined firmly behind her back, her fingers played with a recent addition to her normally clean hands, pads of her right thumb and index playing with a jewl situated securely on her left ring finger, the action going unnoticed by her colleagues since it was firmly out of sight by Spock's body that was blocking the view.
She cleared her throat once she realized that Pike was still expecting the answer and Spock wasn't jumping in to answer for her which was probably a good thing since he'd probably spill the news about the recent change in their relationship right in front of everyone's salad.
"It was great." She found herself answering with absolute honesty, the smile that broke free from her relentless control making wrinkles appear in the corner of her eyes, a shining testament to her good mood.
Pike's eyes ran between her smiling face and Spock, that also sported some sort of a content smirk on his face, his hand still firmly sitting on her back. "Really?" He looked down at her with a smile. "And to think Una and I had to order you to take some time off from the ship."
"Although our shore leave was more than satisfactory, it was not needed." Spock said, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her spine. "We would have been content on the ship as well."
Pike opened his mouth to, undoubtedly, protest but La'an beat him to it, her right arm wrapping around Spock's waist as she came to stand close to him, a display that was rather unusual for two of the most stoic officers aboard. Her left hand was still hiding behind her. "But we're still thankful and we had a very good time. So we're not going to look gift horse into the mouth."
Spock's gaze slid to her face as she looked up at him with shining eyes. "Indeed."
"Hey! You two are back!" The turbulift doors whooshed once again, this time bringing the cheerful presence of Una Chin-Riley with it. She nodded at Pike, who nodded back as well, shifting to his left a bit more so that his Number One could stand next to him. "My, and don't you look absolutely refreshed!" She smiled enthusiastically, absent-mindedly handing her PADD to Chris. "What have you been doing?"
"Una-" Pike's discomfort could be felt even without the repremainding nudge he was about to send in her direction, probably imaging exactly what Spock and La'an have been doing the whole time.
"Actually, we went hiking." La'an interrupted, holding Una's gaze confidently even though she was probably still smiling like a lunatic, her face was starting to hurt from all the strain.
"And rock climbing as well although I was against such activity." Spock imputed, his arm sliding around her hips.
La'an snapped her fingers and hummed in affirmation. She tilted her head up, looking at him with a frown and pursed lips in a mock pout. "Like I was going to miss the opportunity to go cliff climbing on Vulcan." To Una she said, "You should have seen the rock formations there, absolutely stunning. And the view on top - marvelous and worth both the effort and the risk."
"So you're telling me you are glowing this much after five days spent rolling around in dust and sand?" Una asked with a frown. "You sure it's not just heat exhaustion?"
La'an let out a giggle that she tried to cover up with a snort and a cough, her left hand flying up to her mouth. Almost immediately, Una's eyes went wide, her mouth forming an O shape as her own hands flew up. "Oh my stars." She whispered in astonishment, her fingers hovering around La'an's hand, eyes zeroed in on the pear shaped blue diamond situated on a white gold band and set in platinum that found home on La'an's finger. "Chris-"
Pike flinched as Una smacked his arm, his attention rapidly shifting from the report in front of him to Una and then to La'an that has by now turned her hand around and allowed Una to inspect the engagement ring. "Holy shit!" He exclaimed, the surprised shout pulling another laugh out of La'an and a proper smile out of Spock that gazed down at his bride-to-be's hand with pride. Pike looked at his two officers with shock on his face, his eyes as wide as the Enterprise's saucer. He opened and closed his mouth several times before he settled on another excited, "Holy shit!"
"I believe you already said that, Captain." Spock said, his hand running up and down from the line of La'an's waist to her hip.
Pike and Una looked up at him, all smiles and beaming with parental pride. "Can you blame us?" He asked, his hand coming up to wipe his eyes as he looked at his two officers. He laid a heavy and steady hand on Spock's shoulder. "I call dibs on best man."
"But Captian, if you are the best man, who is going to officiate the wedding?" La'an asked, her smile practically blinding.
"Y-you..." He sniffed as fresh wave of emotions passed over him. "You want me to-"
"Yes." Spock nodded. "It would be an honor Captain."
"Stop it, both of you." He cleared his throat. "You're making me cry and it's only 9am."
"And Una-" La'an turned to her mentor and her oldest friend. "I'd like you to be my maid of honor."
Una let out a shout and wrapped her arms around La'an so suddenly that she went tense, stilling as she was pulled into the strong embrace. "Of course I will! What kind of question is that?" She squeezed tighter, drawing a gasp from La'an. "You're getting married." She whispered in La'an's hair, the weight of those words pushing haply tears to La'an's eyes as well since she didn't really think about the actual meaning behind being someone's fiance up until that point.
"I'm getting married." La'an hugged back, her arms squeezing he'd mentor in equal force like she was being squeezed. Una didn't seem to mind it, however, since she only laughed.
They broke apart with a chuckle, La'an stepping back into Spock's space with ease that only comes when one is familiar and comfortable with their partner.
"We want grandchildren as well." Pike wiggled his eyebrows teasingly and La'an scrunched her face, rolling her eyes affectionately.
"One step at a time Captain." Spock came to her defense, his lips descending upon La'an's crown and kissing the top of her head.
Una tapped Chris's shoulder playfully and he smirked but backed off nevertheless. "Oh my stars, what a start to a day!" She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "I suppose you were lucky Chris and I were the only one's on the bridge, otherwise by now everyone and their mother would have known you are tying the knot."
"Speaking of mothers Spock, how did Amanda react?" Pike turned his gaze to the Vulcan who didn't make any effort to step away from his fiance.
"We have not told her yet and we are planning to keep our engagement a secret until we can tell her in person." He replied.
"Weren't you just on Vulcan though?" Una asked, confused as to why they didn't stop by to share the news with his parents.
"He only proposed last night." La'an butted in, gazing up at him with a raised eyebrow. "And I somehow think it wasn't really planned to begin with."
Spock nodded. "Indeed."
"Which one?"
"Both."
"So, wait a minute." Pike interrupted, looking at Spock pointedly. "You," he emphasized with a finger point, "asked La'an to marry you in spur of the moment?"
Spock nodded. "Indeed."
"But you had the ring?" Una asked.
"The ring has been in my possession for 3.417 months." Spock raised his shoulder in his version of a half shrug at their stunned expressions. "It is true that while I did not intend to propose to La'an without a plan, I can confirm that it felt right to do so at that given moment."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way. His surprise would have probably gone to waste either way since I would have most likely figured out what he intended to do. This way, it really was a surprise." La'an smiled, raising up on her toes to plant a kiss on Spock's jaw. "It was perfect."
"I have to say," Pike muttered, "I am both impressed and slightly offended that you didn't come to ask me for advice Spock."
"No offense Captain but even if I had planned to propose to La'an I would not have reached out to you since I do not believe you would have been able to contain your excitement."
"What does that mean?"
"He think you would have blabbed." Una replied drily and Pike deflated slightly.
"Oh." He pursed his lips in an almost childish display which had La'an biting her tongue in order to prevent laughter. "None taken, I guess?"
Una nodded. "He's probably right though."
Pike turned to her. "Are you saying you would have been able to keep your mouth shut if the situation went the other way around?"
Una hummed. "Probably!"
"Okay I take offense to that."
"I really don't care."
Spock and La'an exchanged looks, wondering if the right course of action would be to interfere or just leave the two superior officers to bicker much like a married couple but considering the fact that the rest of the crew could walk in at any moment and Pike and Una were discussing the sensitive topic, it was quickly realized that it was for the best to just break them apart.
"Anyway!" La'an quipped excitedly, breaking the seemingly neverending streak of jabs with a smile. "Whatever you do, we'd really appreciate it if you could keep this a secret for a bit longer. Obviously we know that we'll have to announce it anyway, but we would like for it to remain private for as long as possible."
"What about the ring?" Pike asked.
La'an frowned. "What about it?" She looked down at her hand quwstioningly.
"They're gonna notice the ring."
"He's right. That thing isn't really subtle." Una agreed with him, staring down at La'an's hand with admiration. "But it sure as hell is gorgeous."
"Oh. That." La'an chuckled. "Let them wonder." She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "I doubt they will be brave to ask me upfront though."
"I believe that Sam Kirk might be brave enough to do so." Spock said, his tone as dry as the Vulcan desert he grew up in. "Although "brave" is not the term that I would use."
"Oh really?" His fiance inquired, her eyebrow raising up towards her hairline. "What would you say then?" Spock caught her left hand and brought it up to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the smooth skin of her palm.
"Stupid."