Disclaimer: Copyright 2006 Mistress V, permission to archive at TrekTales, all others just ask. I do not own anything resembling the copyright, so no infringement intended. There will be some NC-17 sex between Spock and Christine here and there, it being their honeymoon and all, but I will mark those segments. However, if you don't like that notion or are under age, please visit the appropriate website of your choice.

JOURNEYS

Mistress V

Endings and Beginnings

Wednesday Evening, Vulcan

It had been a day of farewells as the Enterprise prepared to leave Vulcan. Stark and his friend Sean had paid a surprise visit to the ship that morning and tried the holodeck halfpipe, pronouncing it cosmic and offering ideas for various skill level enhancements. They'd also test run a new surfing program that Ensign Pauulu was working on, with considerably less successful, but thoroughly enjoyable results. Kirk had privately assured the champion that the ship would be back for his bonding in two year's time.

That afternoon, Worf and his family also bid goodbye to their new friends as they headed to the star liner which would take them to their Ferengi transport headed for Qo'noS. Mogh and Loki had been invited to attend the inaugural winter sports camp, both as participants and as ambassadors of goodwill, since several other youngsters would be coming from the homeworld as well. Until then, Mogh promised Stark that he would study hard and practice his sport on the local sandhills. In the meantime, Stark's staff was looking at the landboard design ideas Selok and Mogh had given them.

Kala and K'a'tya had promised to keep in touch via her father's New York nightclub and both secretly hoped for the day when Worf's family would be freely able to visit that city.

In his sleeping chamber aboard the star liner, Mogh carefully placed his new snowboard on his pillow. Then he opened his rucksack and withdrew a small bag which held a glass mobile of abstract shapes, in varying shades of deep glowing red. The color of Vulcan's earth. He'd been at the old town market in Shi-Kahr right after they arrived, shopping with the group, when an old Vulcan merchant had addressed him in Klingonese. The friendly artisan told a story of his younger years as a trader, in the early days of the Federation, and the interesting people he'd met on his journeys. Some of who were from Qo'noS. The mobile, he told Mogh, was originally made of Vulcan sand, blown into glass by his own family members, and would make a most pleasing sound when the wind blew. Perhaps it might make a good souvenir of his very special trip? K'a'tya had agreed that such a splendid item would be a fine addition to their home, and Mogh now held the shimmering creation in his hands. It seemed to sparkle with the magic of the week he had spent, and Mogh knew it would always remind of him of the special adventures and friendships he had experienced. He slowly stood up and hung the mobile from the air vent above his bed. His sleep was filled with crystal whispers and pleasant dreams.

The Enterprise and the star liner both warped smoothly out of orbit, bound for far off destinations.

* * *

The Nebula Queen, That morning (remember, there's a time difference)

"So this is why you insisted on packing already," Spock said with a laugh.

He and Christine were collapsed in a heap on the floor just outside the bathroom, where she had boldly attacked her quarry as he came out from a sonic shower. The cruiser's bathrooms were minuscule to say the least. It was physically impossible to share the shower, and it was only sonic. There would be two weeks plus of time to rectify that situation on Terra, however.

Spock had not even anticipated she would be waiting for him, which pleased his wife all the more. As much as he enjoyed the sensual pleasure their relationship offered, he was still hesitant at times to ask for what pleased him. Being a giver by nature made this difficult, but Christine had figured that out some time ago. And she knew what he liked. So his towel got unexpectedly yanked off of him and he'd found himself with his back pressed against the cabin wall, riding through his own nova of intense oral pleasure. Until his knees buckled from the intensity of it all and they found themselves on the floor, where little time was lost in resuming the activity.

"Yes, I had it all planned out," Christine admitted with a happy sigh. She looked up at him and gave her lips a seductive lick of satisfaction.

Spock's eyebrow raised. "You are dangerous, my wife. And I must admit to liking your particular type of danger. It ... pleases me." He slid the robe off her shoulders. "And now I believe the phrase goes something like 'turnabout is fair play' as you say?" He continued to undress her, discarding the garment until she was sitting in his lap as equally unclothed as he was. Spock let one hand slide down her hip and start a slow search for very erogenous zones he knew to be in the area. "I want to watch the pleasure sweep over your face, T'hyla," he whispered. "Give me that joy, my wife, please?"

* * *

Southwestern United States Spaceport, Terra, Wednesday Afternoon

"Everything's in order here," the Starfleet passport control officer said as he checked their data on his terminal. He gave them a smile. "Commander Spock, welcome to Terra. And Dr. Chapel, welcome home! Enjoy your stay!"

They made their way to the domestic shuttle lounge and their connecting flight to the greater Phoenix shuttleport. The short hop was quick and smooth, giving Spock a fascinating view of the area's desert terrain, something he had not seen during previous Terra visits. In short order he and Christine picked up their rental vehicle and headed into the roads above Scottsdale.

"Here we are, Camelback View Lodge." She parked the jeep in the drive of a gated estate set on a private road, not unlike the neighborhood where Spock's parents resided in Shi-Kahr. The road, and homes, afforded a splendid view of the valley floor from the heights of Camelback Mountain. Saguaro, barrel and beavertail cactus grew across the land in profusion, along with yucca, desert sage and ocotillo. A wonderfully pungent, herby scent permeated the warm desert air.

They were staying the night in a guesthouse of an obviously Frank Lloyd Wright inspired desert home, which gave magnificent vistas of both the valley's depths and the hillside behind. The property had elaborately terraced gardens of local plants, a slate tiled pool and several sheltered fountain areas. The similarities to Spock's own home were quite uncanny.

"How did you find this place?" Spock asked as they stowed their gear and prepared to head out for some sightseeing. "It is quite beautiful, I must admit." Then he rolled his eyes good naturedly as his wife gave him the requisite anti warp-lag hypo.

"I did my homework, my love," Christine answered. "I like to please you too, you know. My mother grew up in the Phoenix area, so we spent alot of time here when I was growing up. I know the area well, even though the family has scattered to other places now."

"Then I would be pleased if you showed me the finer points of the locale. " Spock held out his hand. "Please lead the way, my wife."

* * *

"A most remarkable place, Taliesin West" Spock remarked as they sat later in the Rusty Spur Saloon's authentically Western environs. "Mr. Lloyd Wright was almost Vulcan in his precision. His architecture was indeed groundbreaking in its design. A very enjoyable tour, I must admit."

He and Christine had taken a sunset tour of the legendary estate, still well preserved after over 300 years, and Spock had marveled at the architect's use of natural stone in the design. "Such wonderfully aligned angles," Spock declared as he viewed the buildings and gardens. "His works are required study at the Science Academy, even today."

From there, they had meandered down to Old Town Scottsdale, which still retained its original Wild West flavor, even if that Old West was now largely the stuff of archaic holovids. Christine remembered T'sai T'Ren's humorous description of her young son, who fully believed that cowboys and Indians lived in the towns of Terra's West to this day.

To Christine's utter amazement, the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor, almost as old as Taliesin, was still in operation, so she and Spock had stopped in for dinner and then shared a tin roof sundae. Afterwards, they'd wandered up the street and decided to have a drink at the rickety old cowpoke saloon which was playing twangy country/western classics on its sound system.

"They used to re-enact the old Pony Express route here, centuries after the Express stopped running," Christine said. "This saloon was part of the historic ride, a stop on the way so to speak."

"Fascinating," Spock replied, being bold and adventurous by putting his arm around his wife, not in the safety of the Enterprise, nor in private on Vulcan, but right in public, and on Terra. To his slight disappointment, no one even bothered to notice. But it was still a major milestone, something neither of them could ever have imagined when they first spent time together. He then told Christine of how the mail had been delivered in the old days of Vulcan, before the advent of their equivalent of the telegraph. Apart from the lack of horses, it had been quite similar to Terra's own experiences.

It was nearly midnight when they got back to the estate. The air was still balmy, carrying the scents of the local plant life. As they walked to the guest house, Spock stopped for moment and looked up at the skies. "Look," he said as he pointed upwards. "Shooting stars. Should we watch them for a time, my wife? Perhaps you could tell me the constellations here in this part of America."

Christine smothered a laugh. Spock knew the constellations backwards and forwards, but he clearly did not want to have an astronomy lesson. Neither did she, for that matter. Smiling, she took his hand and pulled him down beside her on the slate border of the pool, still amazingly warm from the day's heat. He drew her into his arms, sighing contentedly.

And then Spock was at last able to do what he had wanted to at his parent's home, but propriety had deemed it inappropriate, although his father had fully expected an amorous display by starlight. This was a perfect setting for love by moonlight, and the only witnesses were the shooting stars, a desert owl and a prowling javelina.*

*(pron. hav-a-LEE-na. A type of wild pig native to the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico.)

* * *

Thursday

"The difference in the atmosphere here on Terra does make the sunsets and sunrises much more colorful," Spock remarked. From their patio at the guesthouse, he and Christine were watching the desert sky take on its vivid, uniquely dawn hues. "And I must say, the coolness of the evenings on Vulcan is something you do not seem to have here."

"It's August, Spock," Christine replied. She had another bite of corn bread and some more coffee. "Nights are as stifling as days right now. The constant heat just doesn't dissipate in this part of the region until about November. Then it can get very cold, especially at night. We're headed into altitude today. You'll feel the difference in the air, believe me."

"I did not find the heat last night that uncomfortable," he answered, reaching over to let his hand trail across her lips. "In fact, I found it quite ... delightful." He allowed a suggestive smile to fall across his face, much as the early morning light was casting its shadows on the valley basin beyond them.

Christine shivered involuntarily. She and Spock had remained outdoors until just before dawn, then had decided to watch the sunrise over breakfast. The hedonistic delights they'd partaken of beside the tranquil pool still burst across her memory like fireworks. And still she wanted him again. It was about as illogical a situation as there could be. Who would have thought a pair of over-30 Starfleet officers could be so ... insatiable when sex was involved? It made no sense, and Christine did not even pretend to care.

"It is early, Christine, and you appear to be ... chilled. Since we do not have to depart on our journey to Sedona for a few hours, shall we try to raise your body's mean temperature a bit?" He took her hand and pulled her up and into an embrace. His hips pressed against her own through the robe he wore, full of erotic promise. "Let us retire, my wife, shall we?"

* * *

"I don't like the look of that," Christine said rather pointedly. Her gaze scanned the fat black clouds to the north of Phoenix. Then she looked at the jeep's chronometer. "But it's only 09:00 and the afternoon storms don't hit till about 15:00 or later. I think we'll be across the mountains by then."

"The jeep has a protective covering, so I believe we shall be safe from any inclement weather," Spock replied as they headed onto the expressway out of town. "Are you proficient in driving during adverse road conditions?"

"I'd much rather avoid that prospect," she grimaced. "Hail, lightning, sleet, maybe snow. It's all possible, even in August, once you get out of the valley. You'll be glad we packed for cooler climate, believe me. But the scenery on this particular drive is worth the effort."

The suburbs of Phoenix, which had reached well beyond the city's official limits, finally fell somewhat away to the desert landscape most people associated with Arizona. Saguaros began to appear, large groups of them.

"Here we are, Route 74," Christine announced as she turned onto a spur road. "Now you're going to see the real Arizona, or what's left of it."

"Carefree Highway? That is an unusual name for a road, is it not?" Spock read the sign with interest.

"Not really, because the town of Carefree is at the eastern end of this road, but we're heading west. Have a good look at the saguaro cactus, we won't really be seeing them once we leave Wickenberg."

The scenery sped past them and the temperature climbed with the sun. Here and there a jackrabbit bounded across the desert terrain. Hawks made slow, deliberate circles across the cerulean sky. But sadly, it appeared that more and more development had crept even into this quiet part of the state. Christine wondered how long it would take to become one huge metropolis, from Tucson to Flagstaff.

At Wickenberg, they stopped for snacks and to make sure the jeep was ready for the climb across three sets of mountain ranges. Spock was quite curious about the realistic western feel to the burg, even though it was also a major transport hub.

"This used to be one of the guest ranch capitals of the world, or so it was claimed," Christine explained. "A popular vacation destination, where folks could come and play cowboy for a week or two, then head back to the city. Only this wasn't a shore leave planet kind of situation. You can bet they got saddle sore." She gave Spock a skeptical look. He was still insisting that they ride at Monument Valley. Together.

The town quickly gave way to scrub, but with much greenery. "If it is a desert, why is it not dry?" Spock asked logically. He, like his wife, had finally decided that xtreme style sunglasses were a useful addition to his activewear wardrobe. He gazed out at the terrain, looking for all the planet like an older version of Stark, just minus the equally xtreme hairstyle.

"Because of that." Christine pointed to the anvil-topped thunderheads, which still hovered just to the north of their route. "At this time of the year, it rains almost every day, usually in the afternoon or evening, when air is at its most unstable. So despite the heat of the summer, this season can be one of the wettest. And this has been a banner year for storms here, or so I read."

"It would appear that those mountains will be a detriment to our journey, I presume we must go around them," Spock said, indicating the peak which loomed off the desert floor ahead of them. "Which direction does the highway go from here, left or right?"

Christine laughed. "Are you kidding? Only one way. Straight up. Hang on, Commander." And with that she proficiently shifted gears and started to climb.

* * *

From Yarnell they crossed a high plateau of farmland and ranches, also green with the summer rains. Spock was further amazed to see another set of mountains loom ahead, and these appeared to be higher than the last set. Christine had been right. The air had dropped in warmth a good 20 degrees Fahrenheit since they left the desert, and a cool breeze was now blowing.

The journey into Prescott, their next stop, was quite eye opening for Spock. Despite studying about the geography of the region, he was surprised to see vast mountainous forests of evergreen in what he thought was essentially a desert state. Christine had quickly informed him that Arizona was less than 25% desert in total, and then further added to the mystery by saying he'd soon be seeing what the other 75% consisted of.

At Prescott they parked the jeep and explored the well-preserved main street, which dated back to the late 19th century and the time when the town was as wild as it was now sedate. The next stop was the venerable flight college, Embry Riddle. Still going strong, it now trained commercial spacer pilots, navigators, and space station traffic controllers, instead of only the airline and helicopter variety. The school's director, a retired Starfleet helmsman himself, let them test fly a flitter which had won first place in the recent graduating class' final project. The winning model had been built up and was now being looked at for commercial viability. Spock assured the director it had quite good possibilities for short term flights.

Another high plateau emerged once they left Prescott, and the clouds, which had appeared as fat black cotton puffs in the distance, now edged ominously closer. "One more range to go, and then we hit the Red Rocks area. Better put on a cap, it might get really cold on this climb." She pulled her own knit hat down over her ears, looking up at the sky, where the patches of blue were now getting smaller. She gunned the jeep's engine and started the last leg of the mountain odyssey. What had she been thinking, crossing three mountain ranges in a day? Thankfully, Spock appeared to be enjoying the trip as much as she did.

The first view of the red sandstone, monolith covered plateau below from the pine-clad mountain summit was always a shock to one who had not seen it before. Christine, who had done this drive many times, still found the difference in terrain breathtaking. She looked over at her husband, whose eyebrows were predictably raised in surprise.

"Fascinating."

She smiled. "Just wait." Then she shifted into second and they began their descent. The way Jerome just appeared, hanging off the side of the mountain was always a show stopper.

* * *

"This was a copper mining region, then?" Spock asked as they took a brief stroll through the town. The air was now decidedly warmer, but very humid. A storm was definitely on its way. "It appears to have been built into the side of that cliff. Quite unusual. But what happened to the population?"

"The mine closed when the ore vein ran out. A common story around these parts, I'm afraid. Now it's a tourist destination, a getaway from the heat that's around Sedona. Lots of motorcycle tour groups come through here, the drive is pretty amazing as you saw."

Her description was cut short when a low rumble of thunder was heard on the horizon. "Come on, let's make a run for it. Sedona's just down the road." She put the top up on the jeep and they headed towards the highway.

* * *

"Damn," Christine muttered as the first fat raindrops hit the windshield. "I thought we'd outrun it." She pulled off the highway into a scenic overlook parking lot, Sedona's limits still a few miles up Hwy 89A. The skies opened just as she cut the engine. "We're stuck here until it passes. But it shouldn't be long, maybe an hour at most." She stretched. "Maybe it's a good thing. I could use a nap, come to think of it." She leaned back and closed her eyes. Spock, who was always fascinated by weather, decided to look out the window at the passing show of fast moving, inky cloud formations.

A blinding flash of light seemed to come from right overhead. Christine woke up immediately. Almost to herself, she started to count. "One ... two ... th--"

KA-BOOM!

"What are you doing?" Spock asked.

"Seeing how close the storm's center is. My grandmother taught me. Every second after a clap of thunder means a it's a certain number of miles away. Or so she said."

Another flash of lightning, this one less bright. "One, two, three, four, five..." BOOM! Christine let out a deep breath of relief. "Look, it's moving east of us, towards Sedona. The worst of the lightning's passed. I only hope the system doesn't get stuck over near Coffee Pot Rock." She shivered for real. "I hate to admit this, but thunderstorms still can do a number on me."

"You are frightened?" Spock asked, trying to embrace her. Due to the gearshift, this proved to be impossible. He had to settle for stroking her shoulder.

"A little. You'd think with all I'd seen in space by now, a little summer storm wouldn't scare me like this. But it does." She sighed. "Yep, look." She pointed out the windshield. "It's sitting over the rocks in town. The rain won't let up for awhile. Happens when there's too much cold air."

Spock opened the window and stuck his hand into the downpour. After a moment, he turned back to his wife, a smile playing at his lips.

"Christine," he whispered.

She'd been intently watching the storm's progress, wondering about the possibilities of hail or even a flash flood ... eh? A vivid image, which had nothing to do with meteorology, but everything to do with rain, filled her mind.

"Spock?" What on earth was he up to?

She turned to face him. His side of the jeep was empty. "SPOCK?"

The next second, her door opened and she was pulled out into the cascade of surprisingly warm water. Before she knew what was happening, her husband was kissing the residual fright out of her quite efficiently, with a very specific agenda in mind.

"We cant!" she finally managed to gasp. "Not here, it's--it's..."

Spock viewed their surroundings critically. "It appears to be a quite deserted public parking lot." Sure enough, they were the only vehicle in the immediate area.

"Why do you always protest what you actually enjoy, Christine?" he asked as his hands started tracing the outline of her breasts under a sodden t shirt. "It is most illogical. Instead of wasting our energy arguing over a moot point, I think we would be better served indulging in one of our favored fantasies, do you not agree? It is actually raining quite pleasantly, we are alone, we are outdoors, not in the arboretum, so let us partake of the situation that presents itself." He started nibbling a line down a particularly sensitive cord in her neck.

She gave in to the sensations that were pouring over her faster than the rain. "You win, Commander," she said weakly. "But I'm not rolling on the asphalt with you. Now that you've got me in the mood, where are we going to take care of the matter?" She started to laugh at the inanity of the situation.

Spock picked her up and carried her over to a landscaped picnic area behind a stone wall, glancing back over his shoulder to ensure they were truly alone. They were. "I assure you, I can hear anyone approaching long before you can, my beloved...." he began, but she kissed him instead.

It didn't take long for them to lose their clothes as well their inhibitions.

* * *

"Dear Mom,

I took Spock over the three range route to Sedona, the one you and I used to do when we visited. There was a weather front following us the whole way but the drive was spectacular. Here we are in downtown Prescott. Remember the old Birdcage Saloon? It's still going strong. Looks like this will be a great trip. Love you, miss you. Chris (and Spock)."

* * *

Arizona Highways

The brunt of the storm's fury had moved east to drench the Sedona area. To the west of town, the warm summer rain fell steadily for another hour or so, then gradually tapered off to a drizzle. But fury of quite a different, though no less intense, type was still in evidence.

"A significant improvement to the sensations of the arboretum's rain day, I believe," Spock remarked as he sat down on the picnic table's smooth bench, pulling his wife with him for another erotic tour de force. Unfazed by their recent activities, he then locked his wife's hips against his pelvis and began to move with her.

"Spock." Christine opened her eyes, barely able to focus. "Shut up already!" she ordered. The rain was still falling on them both but neither one of them noticed, let alone cared. She lost herself in the sensation of her husband's extremely hard cock making her crazy with desire yet again. He'd already licked her senseless twice, now he was obviously going for a pleasure hat trick.

As you wish, doctor." His actions then took over the conversation. From their hidden vantage point, all was well with the planet.

* * *

"Looks like the weather's clearing up," Christine managed to say a bit later. She rolled onto her back, still loosely in her husband's embrace, and looked up at the sky. Patches of blue were starting to appear once more. The grass beneath them was soft and damp.

"In that case, it would be logical to surmise that others will be returning to the area soon," Spock replied. He stroked the familiar place where leg met rear and gave her that slow, lazy smile of contentment she knew so well. "I do believe we have now lived out most of our rain-themed fantasy scenarios. In actual rain."

"You can say that again," she said as she snuggled back onto his chest, relishing the warmth flowing between them despite the moisture which still covered their bodies. "But I'm surprised, Spock. You, a scientist, allowing us to venture out into a desert thunderstorm? Shame on you!" She smacked his hard quadriceps, giggling as she did so.

"Christine." Spock caught her and pulled her close. "While you were resting, I viewed the storm and was able to determine both its intensity and its direction. It was clearly moving east of where our vehicle was parked, leaving the immediate area subject only to residual rainshowers. Since this overlook is at the summit of a hill, with the picnic area here at the very top of that, it was logical to deduce that a flash flood scenario, if it took place, would have little effect here. Had the weather turned very inclement, the shelter next to us would have provided safety. And so, my beautiful wife..." He raised his eyebrow, then pulled her closer still and whispered something in her ear.

"SPOCK!" Even Christine had not known her husband could say anything that ... sexually graphic, at least in Standard. And that ... arousing? After a scientific tutorial about why it had been safe to ... do it during a desert storm?

He only smiled. *I did, did I not?*

Her cheeks suddenly flamed as she reached across his prone body for her waterlogged clothes. In a quick moment she'd wrung most of the water out and had thrown them on. "Wait here, rain man," she instructed as she headed down to the jeep. In a few moments she returned with some dry gear for both of them and led him into the restroom to change. The sun was heading into its downward arc, and while a romp in a deluge was fun, there were better and drier places to get warm again.

* * *

"Hell!" Christine muttered as the jeep fishtailed. She was only doing 25 mph. How much hail had fallen here in town? The wheels spun when she pulled into the parking lot of the Circle K market. "I won't be a moment," she said as she darted inside.

Spock was examining a handful of the marble sized, bright white hailstones when she came back out. She deftly hung the Red Rocks parking permit from the rearview mirror, then went to join him.

"From the size and composition of these spheres, I would speculate that the weather here has been most unpredictable of late," he stated in his best Chief Science Officer's voice.

She took a few in her hand, frowning at the unusual size and uniformity of the icy objects. "The clerk says there's been a hailstorm every day this week. It's been getting cold at night, too, down past freezing in some places. I think we'd better head off to our hotel before the sun gets too much lower."

* * *

Christine had pulled the jeep's top down once more and the rain clean air blew across them. She turned down the highway towards Oak Creek Village and their lodgings.

"The terrain is quite similar to Vulcan in many ways, though without the plethroa of vegetation," Spock said after he had studied the passing scene with great interest. He gave Christine a glance. "My grandmother had said this after her visit, but I must admit I was skeptical. I am not so any longer."

"I remember her discussion with me the night of the symphony," she agreed. "She was quite pleased to learn we would be spending time here."

She recalled the interesting story T'Pau had told. In the founding days of the Federation, the young Vulcan woman and her Ambassador husband had attended an important series of meetings at the San Francisco headquarters. After the conference's conclusion, the Vulcan consulate had arranged a special tour of some interesting local sights, and Sedona had been on the list, as well as the Grand Canyon. T'Pau had enjoyed the trip very much and told Christine of her travels in great detail.

Christine braked for a red light and scanned the vista ahead. The glowing redness of the rocks had only intensified with the rain. Beautiful, she thought.

"Chapel Road?" Spock asked, genuinely curious. "What is that?" He pointed to the roadsign.

"There's a real chapel at the summit. Look, you can just see it up there, carved in the local red stone? It's quite a unique piece of architecture, and the view is great because you don't have too walk much. You can drive almost to the top."

Spock raised his eyebrow. "Indeed. Do we have sufficient time to make a side trip and see this? I would enjoy having a closer look."

"Sure," Christine replied, turning the jeep onto the spur road. In a few moments, the vehicle switchbacked to the end of the drive and she parked it just below the structure's entryway. Hand in hand, they walked to the observation area which overlooked the vista below them.

"Magnificent," Spock said after a moment. "I was not aware the view was quite so spectacular." He pointed to a monolith in the distance. "That appears to resemble a bell. Would this be Bell Rock, where we are staying tonight?"

"Yes, our hotel is right near that. If the weather's not too cold or sleety in the morning, I'd love to take you for a hike. It's a relatively easy climb and there are plenty of viewpoints. In fact, we could do yoga up there, lots of people do."

"That would be agreeable," Spock told her. They went on to tour the building, which was rich with mosaic artwork and locally carved stone. Christine remembered the family shrine on Vulcan she had visited, with the bright red stones and local mosaics she'd also seen there. Somehow, there seemed to be a connection between the two places, and that was pleasing to her

* * *

"You're in the Lodge Adobe," the clerk said as she led them down a path made of local slate. "The views of Cathedral Rock are just great. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call the desk." She opened the door to their private hacienda and nodded at Christine. "Serenity will see you for a massage in 15 minutes, Dr. Chapel."

She and Spock stepped inside and, for a moment, wondered if they'd somehow been transported to Montana. The exterior of the private adobe, like all 6 those on the property, was done in southwestern style, but each interior was said to be luxuriously unique. Theirs certainly was. It resembled a comfortable woodland cabin, far from the desert, except for the staggering red rock views out the windows.

"I must admit, my wife, you certainly selected accommodations which have been more than adequate thus far," Spock said as he put his arms around her. "I am pleased with your choices." His kiss added further evidence of his approval.

When the discussion of their honeymoon had first come up, Spock had merely stated that it would be logical to spend it on Terra, since they would already be on Vulcan for a full week. Besides, he wanted to visit his wife's home planet, he said. And that was a further more logical reason for her to plan the trip, apart from the last few days in San Francisco, which Spock had insisted on taking care of. Christine, whose own mother told her she'd missed her calling as a travel agent, planned the entire journey in meticulous detail, choosing the Southwest and California as destinations. The Southwest because Spock had expressed a desire to see it one day, and she knew it well already. California because it was her home turf. She had promised to show him the central coast the next time they were on Terra, and that time was right about now.

But right now, all Christine wanted was a massage. She wasn't used to driving that much, especially not a vintage jeep. Her muscles were knotted into large lumps, so when she'd seen there was an onsite spa, she quickly booked a treatment. Spock told her he would meditate while she was gone, then they might think about dinner when she returned.

* * *

Spock finished his meditation and had a quick shower, delighted there was water once more, and in such a unique setting. Christine would enjoy this very much. He dressed in some casual clothing and came out to have a better look at their accommodations. It might do to have their meal here, he decided, as he picked up a menu guide and flipped through the choices. One particular establishment caught his eye, and it transpired that the location was just across the road. Very good. He entered a quick selection on the computer, then set about making preparations.

Christine slowly let herself wander back to their adobe, totally relaxed from a massage on par with the best that Kala's spa had to offer. Overhead, the desert sky was black, and this far from uptown Sedona, the stars were glittering like so many diamonds. For a moment she thought about the Enterprise and all that had happened in the past year. It almost seemed to be a crazy romance holonovel. But no, her husband was waiting inside for her, and their honeymoon had very much begun.

She opened the door and took in her surroundings. A fire was burning in the fireplace, a real one that scented the air with the tanginess of pinon and juniper wood. The lights were dim.

"You have returned," Spock said as he handed her a glass of Vulcan champagne, which they still had a few bottles of. "I have taken the liberty of ordering dinner for us, that we may have an early, restful evening. After all, it has been quite an adventurous two days so far, has it not?" His eyes were both mirthful and affectionate as he led her to the sofa.

"Sushi! I was just in the mood for some!" Christine took in the appetizing-looking array of offerings. She was definitely liking being married to Spock.

Spock held out a vid. "Perhaps you are also in the mood for this?" he asked suggestively. It was a title familiar to both of them. Vulcan Love Master.

"That sounds like a nice...appetizer," she replied.

* * *

Some hours later, Christine turned over and opened her eyes. The stars were the only thing she could ascertain through the darkened window. Even through glass, they were still beautiful. For a moment, her thoughts drifted into space, to their friends back on the ship and what might be happening there.

The fire had burned to embers in the fireplace, but the room was comfortably warm regardless. They watched the video and then re-enacted some of the more steamy scenes on the rug in front of the fire. It was way past midnight when Spock finally carried her to bed, and contented sleep had quickly enveloped them both.

Her eyes heavy, she leaned back against her husband and drifted into slumber once more.

* * *

Flagstaff

"A most enjoyable way to begin the day, I must admit," Spock finally said.

"Mmmmm, just what the doctor ordered," Christine agreed. "And you are certainly improving with practice."

From their vantage point high on Bell Rock, they sat and enjoyed the sun's slow ascent. The air was crisp and cool, but not overly so, and the early morning yoga workout had been very satisfying.

Despite the earliness of the hour, many like-minded hikers and even some other yoga practitioners were enjoying the rock's trails before the day's heat began. More interesting, however, were the large numbers of offworlders in evidence. Some Andorians, some Rigellians, even a Bollian or two. Spock had, of course, been fascinated by this.

"This entire area was an important center for what was called 'New Age' study in the late 20th century." Christine told him. "This rock, and other parts of Sedona, were thought to contain vortexes."

"Indeed." Spock regarded the scene before him thoughtfully. "A vortex of energy which originated within the Earth's surface, but was neither magnetic nor electric in its entirety. Yes, I recall studying this phenomenon. It does exist, both on Terra and on other planets. We now understand the power generated much more thoroughly, so it would be logical for it to be of interest, both scientific and otherwise." He put his arms around his wife and drew her against him as they contemplated the view. "I would imagine, however, that back then, those who put forth this theory were viewed somewhat skeptically?"

"It was an interesting era in Terra's development, definitely. Imagine hearing that an unseen force of subtle earth energy was able to interact with a person's inner being and make them feel more uplifted, more positive? Visitors came from all over to experience this. They still do, by the looks of things, but now the idea's more completely understood and accepted. The first advocates had it hard, though. I remember the term, 'New Ager,' a kind of insult of the time."

"But now the area is an important center for galactic-wide scientific study as well as for travelers. Interesting, how perceptions change over time."

* * *

As they were leaving the trail area, Christine noticed the Dine' traders setting out their goods for a day's business. Her eyes were drawn to a particularly beautiful pair of silver and turquoise earrings. Just the thing to compliment Nyota's exotic looks.

"The layout of this area is quite pleasing to view," Spock remarked from the coffee house across from the hotel, where they were enjoying some down time before setting out on their travels. He pointed to the rocks in the immediate distance, which appeared to have merely been placed here and there in the landscape, behind homes and businesses. "The fact that the developers planned around the natural beauty of the region is very logical."

"I know, almost Vulcan, correct?" Christine gave him a smirk.

"You are learning, my wife."

* * *

"Welcome to Arcosanti III. I'm Roberto Soleri and we're pleased you could visit." The suntanned young man shook both their hands in greeting.

"Soleri? Then you are--" Spock began.

"Yes, Paolo Soleri was my great grandfather several times over. He and his family built the original settlement, just south of us, starting in the 20th century. After the Tuscon complex was completed, this phase was begun. It's attracting much attention due to the advanced arcology and engineering we're using. In fact, the Federation sends staff here on a regular basis. Our concepts are used on many colony planets, you know. We just had some visitors from the Vulcan Science Academy interning with us for a few months."

"How interesting," Spock replied. Christine, however, felt the sensation of deep relief flow between them.

*What's wrong?*

*We are on our honeymoon, my wife, though we may be doing a bit more sightseeing than might be expected. I simply was pleased that you and I would not need to partake of cultural formalities during our travels.*

*You mean you're glad there are no other Vulcans in the immediate vicinity?*

*I believe that is what I just said?*

She tried not to laugh. Spock would certainly have made quite a conversation topic back home had the visitors seen him. He was attired, as she was, in hiking shorts, a t-shirt and boots, standard clothing for the terrain and the local weather, which was scorching (for Terra) during the day. But on Vulcan? The native garments did accomplish the same means, but not quite with so much exposed male skin. She imagined T'sai T'Glad's reaction.

Her amusing train of thought was pleasantly interrupted by the distant sound of bells. "Is the Foundation still making its famous bells?" she asked.

"Absolutely. They still fund a great deal of the organization's works, believe it or not. Even now, folks from all over the galaxy want one of our bells. You'll see them all over the settlement, and they're for sale as well. Do you want one?"

"Very much," Christine replied, thinking it would be a pleasant reminder of their journeys.

They followed their guide on the tour of the complex, which despite being built to house 5000+ residents, would occupy but 25 acres of a 4500 acre preserve. The concept of arcology (architecture and ecology combined) was viewed almost as skeptically as Sedona's vortexes when it was put forth by the groundbreaking architect Paolo Soleri. But despite a slow start, the first settlement, Arcosanti, had met with such positive reception that a second was begun soon after. The third, near Sedona, was presently about 75% completed.

At the gift shop, Christine and Spock selected a copper bell windchime for their quarters, and then one for his parents. It would make a pleasant addition to his mother's garden, Spock told her, and she agreed, remembering the warm, breezy afternoons spent there.

* * *

Christine threw Spock the keys. "Let's go, Commander," she said as she plonked into the passenger's seat.

"You are certain that my driving is up to the standard of the area? After all, this is a hydrogen powered motor vehicle, not a flitter."

She raised her eyebrow, a gesture they now both employed on a regular basis when amused. "It's a very straight shot from here to Flagstaff, although we'll be gaining several thousand meters in altitude. The highway is four lane, so yes, I think you'll be fine." Her hand touched his uncovered thigh as he sat down. "After all, your driving lesson back in Scottsdale was quite satisfactory, if you remember."

Spock's eartips flushed, a sure sign he did. Christine taught him the rudiments of vehicular driving, Terran style, on the backroads of Camelback Mountain, and he'd learned quickly. Then he'd insisted in conducting an experiment which contrasted the seat space of a flitter compared to that of the jeep's. The study went very well. They barely made the tour of Taliesin in time, however, and only did because Christine had broken just about every land speed record known.

* * *

"This exit," Christine instructed. Spock proficiently maneuvered the jeep onto a rural road just outside of Flagstaff, then followed his wife's directions. In a few minutes they had pulled up to a large ranch house set in what could only be termed an alpine meadow, except for the fact Spock still was under the popular misconception that this was a desert state. His eyebrows raised, right on cue.

"Yes, Spock, we're staying here. Turn down this gravel path. Past the llama farm."

He complied, slowing to gaze at the curious beasts who were regarding them from behind the neighboring fence. A look of puzzlement crossed his features momentarily. "Are we still in Arizona?" he asked as he parked their vehicle.

"I said you'd be seeing what the rest of it looked like soon enough. And here we are." She smiled affectionately.

"It is a forested state, then, similar to parts of Washington?" Despite reading about the area extensively, the sight was still unexpected.

"Yes. Well, sort of. Like Washington, it has forests and mountains, just no oceans. But we'll be heading towards Utah and you'll be seeing a different kind of desert altogether. After we pass through some other interesting geological areas." She paused to give his eartip a soft tweak. "Here, though, we're at altitude. Almost 7,000 feet. It snows in the winter, you know."

"Fascinating."

Spock was further surprised by the framed holo gracing the inn's reception area. "That was taken last winter," the innkeeper said. "We had over 12 feet of snow here, more up on the San Francisco Peaks. Didn't dig out until almost June. My family used to raise sled dogs, that's how we got our name. Now, though, it's just a popular destination for folks like yourselves who want to be outside of Flagstaff."

"What did he mean, outside of Flagstaff?" Spock asked as they were unpacking. Their second story room overlooked the meadows to the mountain peaks beyond, a very nice view.

"It used to be a huge railway hub for the Western U.S. Scores of trains, both freight and passenger, passed through town all day. And all night. Even though the town grew beyond being just a stop on the line, it got a bad rap. Then it became very artistic, almost overly so. The surrounding areas didn't grow quite so rapidly, I guess. So they're still popular with travelers. Though nowadays, with auto traffic being banned into the parklands, who knows?"

"Bad rap?" Spock was still trying to decipher his wife's vocabulary. Every time he congratulated himself at success, she threw another peculiar phrase in his direction.

"A bad reputation. You know, like Vulcans have." She snickered.

"Bad reputation? Vulcans? What reputation would that be, precisely?" He captured her in a firm embrace, his eyes dancing.

"Oh, that they are a cold, passionless race with no sense of humor whatsoever." She slid her hands up his shoulders and allowed herself to be pulled closer against him.

"Is that so? Well, as a representative of my father's race, I must do my utmost to dispel that rumor with you, my wife. At least in our more ... intimate moments." He looked over to the large wooden bed. "I find myself a bit fatigued from our travels. Shall we take a brief ... nap?"

* * *

Spock had arranged a private tour of Lowell Observatory and they arrived just before sunset. "It's always a pleasure to meet someone from Starfleet," the chief astronomer enthused. He led the way to the main telescope, which was set up for twilight viewing.

Along the way, they'd passed a sort of astronomer hall of fame and Spock had been very pleased to see a holopic of the famous Vulcan astrophysicist T'Pol, who had served as a science observer above the very first starship Enterprise. She had come from a long line of science officers, according to the informational plaque.

The temperature was dropping noticeably as they left the building later. "It'll be cold tonight," Christine noted, looking up at the skies. Their observations had been unobscured by clouds, but now some cover was appearing. "Unless it rains? The weather report was kind of uncertain. Where to, Commander?" He was still driving, and quite well, in Christine's opinion.

"I've read of a place called the Museum Club. I thought we might go there after we've eaten? We have an easy travel day tomorrow, so a night out would be enjoyable."

"The Museum Club? That dump? It's still in operation? After that fight last year?"

The famous old Route 66 roadhouse, a popular country western dancebar for centuries now, had been the scene of a huge scandal recently. Some visiting Ferengi had been convinced by a few of their own countrymen that they'd purchased the deed to the establishment. When the deed was proved to be false, an altercation ensued worthy of the one on Space Station K-7 all those years ago. The Department of Historical Monuments had debated long and hard about allowing the facility to re-open. Obviously, the club's reputation (and profitability) helped influence them.

"Affirmative, it will open in an hour. Shall we have some dinner first?" The starter made a strange noise and Christine could have sworn her husband looked positively annoyed for a moment. He'd muttered something incomprehensible in Vulcan.

"Let's go, I'd love to!" Spock's suggesting the place still was permeating Christine's rather surprised brain. This would be very enjoyable evening.

* * *

She was cold. Her nose was freezing. Christine opened an eye and saw the greyness of dawn lighting their room. Of course. The window was open. She could see the white filmy curtains blowing across the pane with the breeze.

Christine sat bolt upright and blinked hard. The window was closed. There were no filmy white curtains, only heavy drapes, which were tied at the side of the frame. It couldn't be possible.

"Spock!"

Her husband, who had practically worn a hole in the dance floor with her the night before, was reluctant to answer.

"SPOCK!"

"Yes?" He did not bother to open his eyes.

"Please get up. You have to see this! Look."

She felt, rather than saw, his surprise.

"It appears to be ... snowing."

By now, she'd sprung out of bed and run to the window, astonished. She started throwing on cold weather gear at warp speed.

"What are you doing?" he asked as he came up behind her. His eyebrows jumped. The entire meadow was covered in about a foot of snow and more of the large wet flakes were steadily falling.

"Are you kidding Spock? Snow in August? Real snow? I'll see you later, dear, if you don't care to join me outside!" His wife was down the stairs like a phaser blast, her husband following as quickly as he could get his own clothes on.

* * *

The snow did not last long. By the time breakfast was ready, it was melting rapidly with the sun's upward arc in the cloudy blue skies. The conversation at the table was entirely about the weather, and for once, none of the guests minded in the least.

Spock enthusiastically began the impromptu snowball fight, and Christine's shriek (he'd finally gotten payback for that little incident at Stark's) had awakened most of the inn. To their delight. It rapidly became a huge party out in the meadow, a most amusing one. Even the llamas seemed to enjoy the falling flakes.

* * *

"This was quite an introduction to Arizona, doctor," Spock remarked as they started into town. They would be dropping the jeep off and picking up a flitter for the next phase of their trip.

"Just wait."

* * *

"Greetings, Father and Mother. Christine and I are traveling through the state of Arizona, a quite fascinating place. We toured Arcosanti III, near Sedona, and here we are in front of its new cultural and music center. Most interesting architecture. We selected one of the Cosanti Foundation's bells to be sent on to you, so be watchful for its arrival. From here, we head due north. Please give our regards to Grandmother T'Pau and the rest of the family. Spock and Christine."

* * *

"Hey Kala and Greg, have a look at this. It was taken at 05:45 this morning where we were staying, just outside Flagstaff. Yep, that's real snow. Didn't last long, but we managed to build a snowman. Spock SAYS it doesn't look like anyone, but I think Len was the model. Having way too much fun. Say hi to everyone and don't do anything we wouldn't! Love, Chris and Spock."

* * *

Grand Canyon and Beyond

The rental agent gave the flitter's hood a slap. "You're good to go, folks. Have a great drive. They'll be expecting you to return her at the Moab office as arranged."

A century and a half ago, the US Parks Service and the Native American Nation had come to an ecologically sound agreement about limiting traffic into protected parkland. In recent years, the detrimental effects of too many vehicles, coupled with the effects of pollution, had caused grave concern about the future of a region which covered parts of four states. A compromise was reached where access to the area would be limited to flitters, or to shuttle tours only, except for local residents, whose vehicles had to comply with strict standards. Local, non polluting transport would provide tourists access within parkland. Drivers of non-compliant vehicles faced stiff penalties, as did those who drove under the influence, much worse than in the not so distant past. Flitters, which had recently become more readily affordable, now came in many different sizes and styles.

At first, the idea had been roundly booed by many diverse groups, but soon the wisdom of the agreement had been seen. Road accidents dropped dramatically, as drivers no longer had to speed to their destinations. Affordable and excellent shuttle tours from many gateway departure points to destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches Park, among others, meant that less traffic, even flitter traffic, clogged the ecologically fragile byroads into the regions. Gradually, the need to travel in one's auto, which had evolved into sitting in endless queues of vehicles, had become unpopular. Family vacations to these areas still topped the list of popular destinations, except getting there was no longer the chore it had once been.

Spock was pleased with the rental flitter. While his father's had been built mostly for show, with a little bit of speed now and then, this model, a brilliant azure blue in color, was all about swiftness. It was designed to traverse vast distances quickly and efficiently, and did not disappoint.

They headed out of Flagstaff towards the Grand Canyon, though did not take the usual route up Hwy. 180. Instead, Spock aimed the sleek little craft due north, towards the park's east entrance, which Christine said was not only less traveled, it was a much more scenic route in. Everything was green from the recent rains, and large meadows filled with late summer wildflowers provided splashes of vibrant color against the high plateau terrain.

Along the way, they made stops at some other local points of interest. The extinct volcano at Sunset Crater was first on the list, where the moonlike landscape of an ancient cinder cone provided a startling contrast of vistas. At Wupatki National Monument, they'd explored ancient ruins dating back to the 12th century. The original inhabitants, whose society was agricultural in nature, were thought to be the ancestors of the present day Hopi tribe. Spock had studied the old buildings with great interest, comparing them to ones found on Vulcan from a similar time period.

Spock veered left at Hwy 64 towards Grand Canyon Village. As they climbed the highway, the breathtaking spectacle of Little Colorado Gorge suddenly appeared, necessitating another stop. Even though the Grand Canyon was the main attraction on any given day, this wasn't a bad geological sight, either.

"Fascinating." Spock, from a world where the rivers had long ago receded, was quite curious about the phenomenon. "I presume this is a very fine example of how the Grand Canyon itself was formed?" he asked as they surveyed the deep chasm from the top of the butte like bluffs common to the area. Far below, the Little Colorado River, cousin to its mightier namesake, wended its murky way serenely through the gullies it was carving.

"Supposedly. There's a ranger-led talk on park geology later this afternoon, maybe we can go to that?" Christine replied as they headed back to the flitter, past more Dine' traders selling beautiful creations of turquoise, silver and clay.

"That sounds quite agreeable."

* * *

At the park's congested, more well-known south entrance, Leila turned around. "Are you kids okay back there?" Jarod and his cousins nodded assent, then returned to their vidgames.

She spoke to her sister. "I can't thank you enough for suggesting this. With Elias off on Mars debriefing the Rigellian colonists, it was just too lonely around the station for Jarod and me, especially now that school's broken for a month."

"Not a problem, Sis. Jack's in New York for another week, lecturing at NYU's summer program, so I'm glad for the company." She gave her younger sister a critical eye. "You okay, hon?"

Leila laughed off her sibling's concern. A vacation was just the thing to clear her head.

* * *

"I'll just run back to the hotel and confirm some things at the business center," Christine said as the geology lecture was breaking up. "And I'll grab some sweatshirts for the sunset, it gets cold around here fast. Will you be okay for about an hour?"

Spock nodded as he pulled out his PADD. "I shall wait here for you, Christine," he replied pleasantly. "Do not tarry long, however. Or else I may admit to finding the absence of your company a bit distressing." She still teased him about the fact that he genuinely missed her presence when she wasn't with him. Just as she did with him. Not logical, but very much part of the fibers that wove their relationship's fabric. With a quick wave of her hand, she turned towards the El Tovar's stately silhouette.

He intended to summarize the day's activities for his personal journal and perhaps take a few more vidscans of the splendid panorama that now lay before him at every turn, it seemed. Even he, with his strict Vulcan upbringing, had been quite stunned at the beauty of the Canyon in its full glory. Pictures certainly did not do it justice. Christine has promised even more spectacular views at sunset and sunrise, and they planned to take in both.

Actually, he was glad for a bit of recharging time. He'd asked for an adventurous honeymoon trip and he certainly was getting it. From the Little Colorado, they'd entered the park proper and then visited the splendidly preserved Desert Watchtower, followed by the equally fascinating museum and native ruins at Tusayan. At the first scenic overlook, he and Christine had walked a bit while she pointed out the various sights that were spread out on the horizon. After checking into the El Tovar Hotel, she took him on another walk that included the famous mule stables and the railway depot, just as the vintage steam powered engine, still a popular attraction, puffed its way into the station. From there, they'd grabbed lunch on the run and gone straight to the geology lecture, which had been well worth attending.

Spock allowed himself a private inner smile. Most of his shipmates had very specific ideas of what a honeymoon consisted of and how it should be spent. He idly wondered what Jim, or the Doctor, for that matter, would make of their adventure travels. Not that there was not plenty of erotic downtime. Speaking of which, he began to speculate as to whether he and Christine might find an opportunity to experience some sensual pleasure outdoors here. The thought was very pleasing.

"Spock."

He would know that voice anywhere, although it had been almost 7 years since he last heard it. His stomach threatened to turn over but he called his Vulcan upbringing into play and turned smoothly, a neutral expression on his face. She was standing behind the bench where he sat.

"Leila?" His own voice sounded as calm as ever.

"I saw you during the lecture. I'm here with my sister and her kids, and my son, for a little vacation. They've gone for an ice cream." Her expression was sad, despite the somewhat forced smile she had pasted on. "And you?"

Spock did not even hesitate one microsecond. "My wife and I are on our honeymoon. We are making an extended trip through the southwest and then going on to California."

"Your honeymoon? How wonderful." Leila's timbre went up a pitch. "Who's the lucky woman?"

"Dr. Chapel, perhaps you remember her from the ship?" He raised his eyebrow.

Leila would most certainly remember his wife. While the Enterprise had been transporting the remaining colonists back to a nearby starbase, he and the agriscience department were working on some experiments, which they invited Dr. Sandoval's staff to view. Leila sniffed that a "mere" nurse seemed highly unqualified to be leading a team, until Christine bristled and pulled rank on her. Spock, who was in the lab at the time, had been quite pleased, though he had no idea why, at the way she'd handled the situation. Leila took every opportunity after that to visit the lab in search of him, all day, every day, with the hopes of "talking it out," as she put it. Spock politely refused, with a simple but honest explanation, and fled to the relative safety of the bridge, unwilling to rehash what was already over and done, now for the second time. After the colonists departed, he'd lost touch with Leila and had not even cared to seek her out when he returned from Gol. By then, he knew in his katra that his future lay elsewhere.

Her cheeks colored. "I thought she was the ship's nurse?"

Spock tilted his head a fraction. Was it possible she already knew about their marriage? What was she doing? He was well acquainted with her somewhat manipulative ways and put his guard up even higher. "She was, but then she attended Starfleet Medical and is now the ACMO on board the ship where we serve together." He paused. "Your son, you said? Then congratulations must be in order for you as well." He was trying to change the subject, suddenly not liking where the conversation was headed.

"Elias and I married not long after I saw you last. Jarod just turned 5, he starts first grade in the fall." A ghost of a smile touched her lips. Then it disappeared just as quickly. "You married a human woman, Spock? After all you said about not being able to love me, that it wasn't the Vulcan way? Why?"

He let out a long breath, then started to answer. Before he could protest, she was sitting beside him, a pleading expression on her soft features. "Leila, yes, I married a human woman that I did fall in love with, but it was long after we left Omicron Ceti III. Much happened since the last time I saw you, and my life situation changed quite dramatically over a period of some years. It was then I met Christine again. Things progressed quite logically for us, so we chose to marry. I would presume the same is true of you and Dr. Sandoval?"

Leila shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. "I didn't love Elias, we married for a partnership, nothing more." She swallowed hard. "Spock, I only married him because you said you couldn't love me, because I couldn't have you. If you meant that, why did you turn around and marry her? Why didn't you find me instead? It could have worked for us." She looked out at the canyon's vista for a moment.

Christine, who was at that moment wrapping up the multitude of reservation confirmations she's just waded through, suddenly felt a cold chill wash over her. She almost got nauseous. Then, with a start, she realized it was Spock's discomfort that she was experiencing. With that, she finished her transactions and hurried out to where she'd left him sitting, fearful he might be feeling ill from the altitude.

"Leila." Spock sought to choose his words carefully, thinking back to their first meeting, when both of them had been teenaged students. He softened his tone and looked at her, feeling almost sad that he had to explain yet again something she should have figured out long ago. "When we first met, both of us were infatuated, you more so than I. How long did we know each other? Three weeks? That is hardly enough time to fall in love, which I tried to tell you back then, plus you know of my other obligations, my need to maintain family honor. And I knew that while my future was with Starfleet, you wanted to settle on a colony, to put down roots. Our paths were contradictory to each other, and we both saw that. Had I been free to love you, the situation was not conducive to success. And the incident on the planet was not real, Leila. Surely you must realize this?"

She said nothing for a moment, then looked back at him. "I never stopped loving you, Spock. Even when you told me that you could not love, I knew you could, and I saw that on Omicron. Why aren't we together? We belong with each other, don't you see that?"

Spock felt sharply sick. It was now obvious that she had not moved on, even though he had. Suddenly, the meditation vision he'd had of T'Pring became crystal clear. He was finally free of his past, so he needed to stop feeling guilty about it. He was not responsible for how others lived their lives. The future lay before him and his wife, so it was time to step ahead. Leila had to move on in her own way, but only if she chose to. If she did not, that was, logically, her own choosing, but he could not alter his life because of it. He wanted Christine to be with him right now almost more than the air he was breathing.

"I said that even if I could love you, which I truly did not, Leila, my destiny lay in another place. That was not meant as anything other than what it was. We were young, it was fascinating, but nothing really happened between us that would cause us to be drawn back together so much later. You have made what appears to be a pleasing life for yourself, as have I." He sighed. "Can you not accept that? If you love me as you say, can you not be pleased for my happiness, as I am for yours?"

Leila hesitated. "I will always love you, Spock. Maybe now is not the time for us. But I will love you until I don't have any breath left. And perhaps, some day ... should you change your mind..."

"I can assure you, I will not Leila. Please, re-think your own situation. We are not meant to be together, not now, nor in the future, we are just too different. I trust you can finally accept this, once and for all." He felt drained. It had been a difficult conversation.

Christine saw her even before she saw Spock. Nausea washed over her again. Leila Kalomi? Here in the Grand Canyon? For months she'd been afraid of not being worthy of Spock's Vulcan heritage, that his ex-wife T'Pring might somehow resurface and challenge her, but she'd never dreamed Leila could still be a threat. Spock himself had told her about the brief relationship, stating it was "long ago, and finished". But from where she was standing, Christine could see the woman's painful emotions on her features. Oh, God. Leila was still in love with her husband. And Spock? The thought made her feel even more sick. What if he now decided that he'd not explored all his opportunities adequately?

Their full bonded link was still new to her. Most of the time, Spock initiated the contact. Now she knew she had to do so, but subtly, gently, just a test of the waters.

*Spock?* Her tone was soft, almost fearful. *Shall I leave for awhile?*

She was staggered by the response, so much that it necessitated her sitting down on a bench. If she had ever doubted the depth of her husband's love for her, she could no longer do so.

*No, my beloved. Come to me now, I need you very much. Please do not be fearful, my love for you is as strong as it always has been.*

Christine took a very deep breath, stood to her full height, and marched ahead int