Chapter Text
Nyota closed her eyes, and lowered her head. Tears formed in her eyes but didn’t fall. The children looked at their mother’s sad face, and something came over them. They each placed one of their hands on either side of their mother’s cheek.
For the first time in their little lives, they felt grief and pain from their mother. She was sad about what they had done, and it saddened them. They never wanted to cause grief or disappointment to their mother.
Nyota felt their touch not only from their hands, but through the family bond, and she welcomed it. They were trying to comfort her. She just wanted them to understand and appreciate their identity in both heritages.
Jahzara folded her hands, thinking of the new emotions she was feeling. She wanted to understand her error and correct it. She reached out and touched her mother’s hand again.
“Mother, we have erred in our judgment. Sidak and I only wanted to show our connection to Father’s accomplishments in the science field.”
“Correct, our intention was to represent our clan in all academic
fields. Even Lo'uk ko'mekh-il T’Pau is mentioned in the documentaries for her achievements.”
Nyota started to smile, reaching around their small shoulders into a group hug. They wanted to be proud of their family history and, oddly, look the part. She saw their intentions, it was just executed in a way that caused tension.
Sidak looked up. “Mother, we caused you hurt in our decision. How can we rectify this?”
Nyota released one of her arms and picked up the loose lock on her lap. She sighed at the curly hair that once sat atop her handsome son’s head.
“There is nothing at the moment, BUT!” she warned, looking at both of them with a stern look. “Next time you get an idea that seems logical, I want you both to consult your father or me first!”
The children looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
“Now, there are consequences for situations like this.”
The children raised their eyebrows in confusion. “But Mother, we agreed to consult you next time,” Sidak said.
Nyota stood up and turned to her children. “It’s called ‘cause and effect.’ Actions always lead to consequences. On Earth, this scientific law is known as Newton’s Third Law of Motion: ‘For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.’”
The two looked at each other and wondered what the consequences would be. They were not in the habit of getting into trouble. They always approached things from a logical standpoint as that is what they were taught.
Nyota saw their little minds working on her statement and smiled. She loved them so much.
“Come, little ones, let’s get some snacks and then we can go walking, or practice your Suus Mahna before your father gets home.”
Jahzara looked at her mother and asked, “Will Father understand our decision and implement our consequences?”
“The topic is over, as long as we have an understanding. Come.”
Nyota guided her children to the kitchen where they sat, ate their snacks and talked about school again.
Then an idea formed in her head...
A little while later, Spock finished up his lab work. He was continuing his study on synthesizing protein matter from the amoeba creature,* He found the creature quite fascinating, though it was unfortunate that it posed such a dire threat to the universe. If its massive reproductive process had become complete, civilization would have ceased to exist. So Spock was searching for a way to synthesize its genetic material for medical and scientific research.
Now it was time to go home to be with his family. A family he never ever imagined he would get to have, here on Vulcan with his parents. He felt complete. His twin daughter and son had given him a greater sense of purpose, to be a better person and father. They resembled all his aptitudes when he was their age. Spock changed into his leather riding outfit to ride his hoverbike home, put on his helmet and mounted his bike. He enjoyed one of the luxuries of riding, to clear his mind from work.
He pulled up to the family estate, dismounted, removed his helmet and pressed his hair back in place. As he entered the foyer, he was greeted with the quietness and warmth of the room. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to him. He placed his helmet away and removed his boots. He headed to the master bedroom to freshen up before he greeted his children, unbuttoning his jacket as he walked. When he entered the private suite, he was greeted with Nyota sitting cross-legged on their bed. Spock stopped and looked at his wife. She had an unfamiliar expression on her face.
“Greetings, my wife,” Spock said as he walked to her with his first two fingers extended in the ozh’esta, what Nyota liked to call the wedding couple touch. She held out her fingers in return, but when they touched, her emotions burst through to him. Spock’s eyebrows arched.
“It seems you are upset with something. Please elaborate.”
Nyota picked up one pair of shears and one long lock of curly black hair from the side of their bed.
Spock looked at the two items and recognized the shears for cutting in one hand, while the other hand held the long, black and very wavy hair. He concluded that the hair belonged to one of his children.
Nyota went on to explain the events of the day with the children, and her concern about how they regard their dual heritage and cultural diversity. She expressed her concern that the children had gone too far in cutting their own hair.
“So, my husband, our children have a desire to look and act like you. Well, they do act like you,” Nyota said sarcastically.
Spock took his time to answer Nyota, so that he might avoid ending up following the Terran custom of sleeping on the couch. A ritual he had yet to experience, but one he was often guided by others to be aware of regarding deep discussions with one’s wife.
“Children exploring their historical background is logical, Nyota. They are advanced for their age, and, I may say, they have equal aptitude as I had at that age. As for them attempting to … look like me, it is illogical, yet I have no solution to remedy that. Their genetic make-up was not of my doing.”
Nyota stood up and sighed. “I know that, Spock darling. I want the children to not be ashamed of their cultural or genetic make-up because of Vulcan logic. The fact that they went to this length to cut their hair...”
Spock paused to think of a logical solution. “I am willing to explain the genetic science to them, so they will have a logical understanding of who they are.”
“No, I have a better idea that will change the whole concept of what is the norm, while also accepting other differences without degrading or implying that one species is superior to another.”
Spock looked at his wife with arched eyebrows, and was willing to hear the suggestion, but at what cost? Will they have to move the children to another learning center, he wondered?
“What do you suggest, my wife?”
Nyota smiled and laid her hand on his chest, leaned up and kissed him. “This is why I love you so much, Spock.”
“I did not…”
Four months later:
Sarek and Amanda had returned from their long mission, and Amanda was anxious to see their grandkids. She had brought them educational gifts.
As they entered the estate, it was close to end-meal, so they proceeded to the dining area. Amanda stopped in her tracks, and gasped. She saw her family sitting at the table eating their meal. Jahzara and Sidak had their hair loosely hanging down their backs. Nyota had her hair down to her chest as well. She didn’t know what to think! The traditional Vulcan hairstyle, while not a major concern, was always short, while the women, especially T'Pau, liked the coiffure look. But to see this loose look on her grandchildren? “Whoa ! ”
Then she looked at Spock, with his hair down to his shoulders, and his bangs draped over his eyes. She had not seen Spock with this length of hair since he was a child. They all looked so handsome! A deep warmth gathered around her heart, just seeing them like this.
Sarek could only look with an arched brow, and wondered what had transpired. He had been gone for only 5.5 months, and now he returned home to find his grandchildren looking like wayward waifs. Their hair was streaming down their backs, a most uncustomary look for Vulcans. Then his eyes landed on his son. Spock. Sarek was speechless, and he didn’t want an explanation for the excessive hair growth. He just observed and gathered information before he made any comment.
The children broke the spell. “Na'shaya, Ko'mekh-il heh Sa'mekh'al.” [Greetings, Grandmother and Grandfather.]
Amanda covered her mouth to keep from laughing, smiling deeply instead. Spock looked so handsome. Amanda returned the salutation.
“Na'shaya, t'nash-veh skan.”
[Greetings, my family.]
“I guess something has happened. Spock, you look so handsome. I love the new hairstyle.”
She wanted to say it shows his Human side. Nyota had outdone herself. Whatever she was up to, Amanda applauded it.
Nyota looked at Spock, smiled and responded jovially, “He
does, Mother Amanda. It gives a relaxed appearance, don’t you think? It also gives a united front... Don't you think so, Spock?”
“I have no comment on this.” Spock sighed, looked at his children and quieted himself.
Amanda did a cough-giggle. “Like I said before, Spock, you look very handsome, as well as the grandchildren.”
Amanda was dying to find out what made Spock grow his hair out, and she wanted to join in. She looked at Nyota, and suddenly, a lightbulb lit up in her eyes.
“This looks like a unity in strength for a family. Sarek and I should join… don’t you think…”
When she turned to talk to Sarek, he had already turned and left, only the tail of his robe visible as it disappeared around the corner.
The End