2241- October

Caris Pike looked up at her father's pale blue eyes. To her five-year-old mind her

Father was a hero and a mountain of a man, she worshiped the ground he walked on. Which was why it hit her particularly hard when her Father explained that she could not use his last name anymore, that she couldn't live with him anymore.

"But Daddy! I don't want to stay with Me'me'!" Her Mother's Vulcan Mother was a cool, distant woman whose emotions were hardly existent, even to her Betazoid empathic abilities.

"Chris, my baby, you have to learn to handle those emotions of yours and only your Me'me' can teach you that. You can come home once you've learned not to be controlled by your Vulcan emotions." Her Father reasoned. Only the terrible sadness she felt from him made her nod, because she knew he didn't really want her to leave.

2242- April

Caris stood beside her Me'me; in the spaceport, watching as her Father walked toward them. His eyes were annoyed but she knew the truth… he was on the warpath.

"I refuse to keep the demon," Her Me'me' said in vicious, cool Vulcan. "She cannot control the emotions and does not try."

"I don't WANT to feel nothing." Caris interjected violently, her anger making her quiver as she contained it.

"This is a prime example of why I cannot keep her." Me'me continued. "She is volatile. She has started ten fights in the last month."

"I didn't start them!" Caris exclaimed, sick to death of being blamed because she fought back. "They pushed me first." She had the bruises to prove it too, some of them so dark a green they appeared black, some hardly a golden greeny-yellow.

"Come on Chris, if your Me'me is incapable of helping us since Mama's death then we don't need her." Her Daddy snapped, taking her hand in his and storming off, letting her half run to keep up with his long stride.

He was so angry… was he angry with her? "I'm sorry Daddy." She whimpered as her fears and insecurities washed over her. She might be not yet six but she knew… knew she'd never belong anywhere. Did her Daddy not want her? Just like her Me'me?

He faltered and suddenly he was awash with shame and guilt. He scooped her up into his big, strong arms and cuddled her closely. She felt like she was drowning in the love he held for her. She burst into tears of relief. "No, no my baby girl. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at Me'me because she doesn't love you like she should. Because she was so mean to you and let the bullying continue."

He held her as he strode from the spaceport, snagging her black and green polka-dot bag from the conveyer belt. "We don't need her, we don't need anyone, baby girl. Let's go home."

Those last three words made a second round of tears erupt from Caris, staining her pale cheeks slightly green-yellow. She would never love any words as much as she loved the last word… home. She had a home, and no one was ever going to make her feel unwelcome in it.

2254- August

Caris glared down at the ugly white gown. Couldn't they find something less ugly for the honors students to wear? She wonders. Seriously, talk about tacky. The fabric was polyester, it itched, it was hot, and holy hell did it drive her insane. Thankfully she was wearing a dress underneath it tomorrow.

She hung back up the ugly torture implement and scowled at it. Then grinned at her cords. Valedictorian, what an honor… Not surprising really though, considering she was only three semesters from her B.S. in Xenoanthropology and psychology. The whole ordeal seemed like a waste of time to Caris, except for one thing. Her Daddy was taking the summer off from being a Capitan and going to be her DAD.

He'd been fantastic, teaching for the school year and going on missions during the summer, taking her along for the ride. Already she knew more about a Starship than second year cadets often did. And she was a pretty decent mechanic; as long as it didn't involve a car… she was still at the mercies of the auto mechanics, even if she could make a fusion powered hover skateboard.

But… she missed having a Daddy, a man who was neither neither neither neither a professor nor a Capitan first, Father second. She missed camping trips, vacations to Disneyland, day-outings to the lakes… She missed spending time with the only person in her life who actually knew what she was and didn't care…

The door opened and closed on the main floor of their decent sized house. Their dog barked. "DADDY!" Caris called before rocketing out of her bedroom and down the stairs to launch herself at her Father.

He laughed and caught her easily, given that he was in his mid-forties. He was still tall, proud, and strong, especially compared to her 5'2" and 105 lbs. His eyes laughed down at her mis-matched ones. "Hello Caris. Glad to know you missed me." He set her down the six inches until her feet touched the floor and released her.

"Always." She quipped, brushing her loose, white blonde hair behind her pointed ears.

"I have news for you, little girl of mine." He told her, leading her into the kitchen.

"What is it?" she prompted after a few minutes of his silence. She hated waiting.

He flashed a thick envelope with a big, bright silver insignia emblazoned on the front. Caris squealed with delight. "I GOT IN?!"

2256- March

Caris had not really intended to lie to all her friends, to not tell them that she was part Vulcan. It had just… happened. Her quarters were single ones, small but private, a bonus to having a Father currently a Capitan and Commander. So she hadn't had to deal with a roommate and thus no one ever saw her when she wasn't ready for the day.

And her usual hairstyle, for her long blonde hair, was a braid just loose enough to cover her ears. She didn't deliberately hide them… she'd just done so because it was habit. After all, it stopped her from getting odd looks and unkind remarks from strangers… She'd simply never corrected the assumptions of Galia and Nyota that she was wholly human.

She scanned the mess crowd and smiled when she saw her two very noticeable friends. She headed toward the table they were arguing at. Not that Galia being green (Orion) or Nyota being black were odd, but the pairing of them together was. She reached the table and set down her miso soup and tea, listening to them bicker in hushed voices.

"Look," Galia said to Caris as soon as she joined them, "You can speak Romulan, right?"

Caris nodded slowly, "Sure," she answered wondering what the answer would get her into this time, "along with like… twenty other languages, half of them alien." Nyota looked shocked and almost… envious. "It happens when you spend time on star Crafts, particularly trade ships like my Dad used to Capitan every summer."

Galia looked pleased. "Nyota needs help of her homework assignment for Romulan I. Look it over will you?"

Caris smiled at her friend. "Sure, if you want Nyota. I won't do it for you but I can see where you're messing up."

Nyota relaxed, realizing it was neither an insult nor an offer to cheat. Caris wanted to smile. Her friend was so predictable. "That would be wonderful." Nyota admitted, handing the sheet over to her.

Caris read over the assignment translation, frowning. She knew the language. It WAS Romulan, but it was the smallest, least spoken dialect. "What dialects are you learning?" She asked her friend, knowing only natives would know this tongue or those who'd had first hand experience with it because there were few dictionary or translating programs that worked.

"Only Romulan Main." Nyota answered.

"Who is your instructor?" Caris asked, her eyes flashing as her Vulcan temper rose on her friend's behalf.

"Commander Spock." Nyota answered, a slightly dreamy look in her eyes. Ahh, the Vulcan she had a crush on, Caris realized. She wanted to warn her friend it was pointless but she didn't give into the temptation.

"I'll be right back." Caris snapped, standing and storming from the Mess, her bought and paid for breakfast long forgotten.

Caris knocked briskly at the Vulcan Commander's door, her entire body thrumming with her anger. When a cool voice entreated her to enter she did, meeting the dark eyes of the man older than herself by only a few years (she was startled to note).

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked angrily, slapping Nyota's assignment onto his desk. "This class is supposed to be focusing on the main Romulan dialects, NOT the obscure and nearly extinct ones. Why would you give an impossible assignment? It is illogical."

All she received was a bland stare. Oh she hated Vulcans. They gave her the creeps. Like being surrounded by living, breathing ghosts. He looked at the name etched onto the top of the data pad and frowned.

"Cadet Uhura is quite capable of this assignment. Why are you here in her stead?" He asked blandly, but she noticed the flicker in his eyes. She let her empathic ability fill her and focused on the Vulcan in front of her.

"She could not translate this. She asked if I could point her in the right direction or point out her critical errors. But THIS is not Romulan Main, this is the dialect from the Northern, mountain regions of the planet." She all but snarled, trying to contain her own anger, to ride them and control them like one would control a wild, bucking horse.

"The assignment given is Romulan Main," the Vulcan insisted calmly but she felt the very slight shiver of annoyance from him. She fought a gasp of shock as she felt it but her eyes widened. "Is something else wrong?" He asked, obviously noticing her responses.

"I just realized," she blurted out, without thought, "you're only Half-Vulcan." She clapped her hands over her mouth. "I apologize, I tend to speak without thinking. That was rude."

"How is it you noticed this?" He asked, she could sense the curiosity, not the insult she'd expected. "Humans, as a rule, do not notice."

She could admit to her ability but she usually kept it a secret, especially around Vulcans, even half-breeds. "Your eyes." She admitted. NOW she sensed insult. Oh… oh CRAP, what to do… what to do… "But perhaps it is because I knew many Vulcans when I was young. They're defiantly not human eyes, but not quite Vulcan eyes either." That seemed to soothe the insult he felt but had not shown… she bit back a sigh of relief.

"Why would Cadet Uhura ask for your aide in her assignment?" He asked her, very obviously switching the subject. "She is the top of her class and you have never taken a class from me."

Caris shrugged. "I don't bother taking xenolinguistics because I'm fluent in more languages than most of the staff combined and have been taught by natives of said languages. A most illogical waste of time and money, I'm sure you agree, so I study on what I enjoy and do not already know- xenoanthropology."

She felt his surprise at the statement. "You are mistaken in your prowess then Cadet…"

"Pike," She answered smoothly, as if it didn't matter, "Caris Pike, sir."

She felt him hesitate but he continued as if he did not. "Cadet Pike, you are mistaken."

She fought her rising temper again. DAMN her Vulcan blood and her Vulcan emotions. "Please, Commander, just look at the assignment. If you do so and I am wrong I shall leave you be, with my sincerest apologies."

She felt the exasperation he felt but did not show. He lifted the data pad and opened the file. His eyes widened only very minutely, no one but a Vulcan or Caris would have noticed. "It seems you are correct." He answered. He was upset with himself. "I must have downloaded the incorrect file." His chocolate eyes FINALLY lifted to meet hers. "I thank you for your persistence."

Her anger floated away, leaving her relaxed as she could be around a Vulcan. "Not a problem, Commander. Besides, you'll get sick of my persistence next fall, when I take your classes on Comparative Romulan and Vulcan Culture." With that she collected her friend's data pad from the Vulcan's long, pale fingers and walked from the room, smiling to herself.

2256- August 15th -- Sunday

Caris was filled with exhilaration. She'd FINALLY completed her summer project, on the eve before classes began again. She HAD to try it. She eyed the hoverboard and grinned. Fuck being smart about it, testing it slowly and safely. She NEEDED the thrill.

She took the board to the top of her dorm building, twenty stories up. She stepped onto the board and kick started the flaming engine, it roared to life and the board lurched forward. She kept her balance and went flying off the edge of the building, she heard screams from below her.

For half a second the board traveled forward, unaffected by gravity. And then physics caught up with it. Together, the board and Caris plunged toward the ground, as the engine sputtered out.

Fear filled her. She had only seconds. She kicked the engine viciously, muttering dark curses. It refused to start. Less than ten feet from the ground she screamed. "Start gods DAMN IT!" She roared as she kicked the start pad. It roared to life and the anti-grav system kicked in, halting her break neck fall and throwing her forward as the board's engine flared to life.

Claps and whoops surrounded her but she didn't bother with them or the emotions they accompanied. She flew forward, along the grounds, using the gentle hills, the buildings, stairs and railings like a 20th century skater used a skate park.

She slid UP the railing of the Commander's Hall when the door suddenly opened and three people stepped out. SHIT, she'd hit them. She forced herself up, above the trio, over their heads, and landed on the other railing. The engine, under the stress of the trick, died a second time.

She slipped but caught herself on a hand and swung herself into sitting on the railing, the board dangling from the strap of her foot. "Sorry about that folks."

And then she looked up and realized who she was looking at… Commander Spock. She fought back the blush that would stain her cheeks the telltale emerald. "Commander, Sir, Ma'am." Beside her Half-Vulcan CO was a beautiful but defiantly older woman and a much older Vulcan.

"Cadet Pike," Spock greeted her with his neutral voice.

"That is quite the little contraption." The older woman said, smiling.

Caris grinned. "Why thank you. It only took a few months of hard labor and a few dozen burns."

That earned her a laugh from the woman and a slight glimmer of curiosity and intrigue from Spock's eyes. The older Vulcan said and did nothing. See, SEE GHOST!

"You built that?" Spock asked, his voice and face not betraying his eyes.

Caris shrugged. "Yea. You spend summers on a Star Ship and you pick up on a lot." She looked around. "So, umm… could we maybe not mention this to my Father when he gets back tomorrow morning?"

The elder Vulcan tensed. "Spock, if this is rule breaking then you must tell your CO. Rules should never be broken."

She SAW Spock's shoulders tense, his jaw lock and his eyes darken into a blank void. She suppressed a shudder of fear and hate. Now… now he LOOKED Vulcan.

But laughter surprised her. "As I understand it the semester does not begin until tomorrow at 0800, correct Spock?" The older woman asked. Spock nodded briskly. "Then she has broken no school rules as school is not yet in session, Sarek. Spock has no obligation to report an infraction, and as the young Cadet is unharmed, as are we, then there is no need to comment on the incident further." She winked at Caris and Caris smiled, defiantly liking the woman.

Spock's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Your logic is sound, Mother, even if influenced by your… amusement by Cadet Pike's actions."

Caris grinned broadly. "It was nice to meet you sir, Ma'am," she nodded to both the strangers, "And good to see you well Commander. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow in class." At Spock's nod she leapt up, balanced the board on the rail and slid down it, once at the end she kick started the engine and flew off into the night, delicate peels of laughter following behind her from the woman who Spock had called 'Mother'.

2256- August 16th -- Monday

Caris was in a particularly good mood. She'd seen her Father at breakfast and he hadn't said a word about her hoverboard. Spock had been good enough to say nothing. She was tapping her fingers along to her music as she made her way through the halls. The old Earth method of music playing (iPod) was archaic to say the least, but she loved it. She also loved old Earth music, Rock in particular was one of her favorite genres.

She halted as she turned a corner and saw Spock standing with two other professors. She didn't need her empathic abilities to tell her they were laughing at him. Even with music blaring in her ears and their being to far away to hear anyway she noticed the body language. Spock was trying… trying to be polite and at least sort of sociable, even though Vulcans were NOT a sociable sort.

But… the two professors were laughing, laughing AT him. They'd probably told a joke that both needled at Spock and went right over his head. Vulcans didn't tend to get humor. She felt herself filled with wrath, so powerful she quivered with it. This was WRONG.

Without thinking she pulled out her earphones and stalked up to them. "Commander, if I may?" She asked through clenched teeth and with dark glares at the two humans who look startled. "I have a few questions about our class texts."

"Of coarse Cadet." Spock said smoothly but she saw the flicker of something deep in his eyes. He knew something was up. He led her toward his office. Once the door hissed shut he fixed her with a bland stare.

"You ought to learn to tell when people are laughing AT you rather than WITH you." She informed him, completely disregarding the fact he was her superior and her professor in her overpowering anger, simply pleased she had managed to NOT hit the two men.

"I do not understand." Was the utterly calm reply.

"To humans there is a difference. Laughing at someone is what they do when they mock you. Laughing with you is a sigh of companionship. Trust me when I say, they were NOT laughing WITH you, Commander." Her words were biting, sharp, filled with the anger she struggled to control.

"Do not take such a tone with me." Spock replied in a shockingly smooth voice. "I am a Commander, you are a Cadet."

She literally vibrated with her urge to hit something, but he was right, obviously. She took a deep breath and while it did not help her literal vibrating it helped her calm her voice. "You are right, I apologize for my tone. I'm just so…. URG… so angry." She glanced at the clock behind the tall Vulcan, only twenty minutes to class. Fuck, no way she'd be able to work off enough steam AND get to class on time.

"Their treatment of me angers you?" He asked, dragging her attention back to his calm face.

"Of coarse it does." She answered with feeling. "I'm of half a mind to go back there and tear them a new one. AND tell my father that they need WEEKS of sensitivity training." Which was about as much fun as watching paint dry.

"That would accomplish nothing."

She rolled her eyes. "You are mistaken, Commander." His eyes focused on her face, a single, slanted brow rose. "It would make me feel worlds better and I'd actually be able to attend your class. As it is I cannot focus and am going to have to miss your class so I don't blow up at some poor bystander."

His eyes looked slightly… different. "Might I ask a personal query?"

She blinked. "Sure."

"Why does their treatment of me make you so angry?"

She could have lied, come up with a less personal answer, but for some reason this particular Vulcan did not inspire her dislike. "I know exactly what it's like, being an outsider in your own culture, or cultures. You do not need people treating you so callously. Besides… you might not be insulted by their treatment of you but I sure am. I'm insulted to be considered human if it means sharing any sort of distinction with them."

He handed her a small, personal data pad. She looked up at him, curious and not understanding. "Send your note to your Father. I shall provide him with their names tonight if you wish. It is not prudent for you to miss the first day of my class."

She smiled slightly, her anger simmering to a slow boil as opposed to a rage. "You are correct," she said softly as she typed out a brief but vicious message to her Dad. "And I have been so looking forward to your class, it would really upset me further should I miss it."

She did not miss the very slight smile to his eyes, as if pleased she would look forward to his class. She handed him his data pad back and they walked together in silence to the lecture hall. Just before they entered he stopped and caught her eye. "I wish to thank you for seeing fit to inform me of the error I was making."

That sentence both made her very happy, because he was not angry with her, and angry because he'd obviously not gotten the point that it was THEIR fault for being asses, not his. Still, she reminded herself, her Father would punish them quite inventively. She knew from experience how creative he really could be.

She smiled. "It was all I could do to thank you for not telling my Father about my hoverboard. He'd ream me a new one if he ever found out."

He nodded and allowed her to step into the room first, so she would not be considered late (for walking in after him).

Spock spent the entire length of the class giving a very brief overview of what the class would consist of and what he would expect. But he was lecturing on autopilot, focusing most of his attention onto his brief talk with Cadet Pike.

From the first time he had met her, when she barged into his office full of fury for her friend, she had impressed him. For a human her emotions were impossibly strong, her loyalty unwavering, her passion and anger easy likeable to a wild fire, but she controlled them so very well considering. And she was intelligent, well spoken, well connected, and more persistent than even his Mother.

She'd proven her ingenuity with her apparently home-built hoverboard, which intrigued him to no end. He fingers had itched with his scientist's curiosity when he'd seen it. How had she built it? Where had she gotten the supplies?

She'd proven her giving spirit and her compassion when she'd become enraged on his behalf, although they shared no friendship. When she had begun speaking to him in his office he had been insulted by her tone, but he soon realized it was not her intend to insult him. She was simply still attempting to control her rage at the mistreatment of him by his peers.

What intrigued him the most about the entire encounter was that… while he tried very much to be completely Vulcan the insult should have bothered him some. He should have been angered a little, as the situation was likely not a one-time occurrence but had likely occurred every time he engaged in conversation with those peers. But he was not at all bothered, not now he had seen Cadet Pike's anger and her swift actions toward vengeance…

And… what did it mean to 'ream someone a new one'? Was it like 'tearing someone a new one'? And what did she mean by 'blow up at someone'? She could not possibly actually explode. Contrary to human beliefs they did not spontaneously combust…

Caris took impeccable notes as she listened to Spock lecture. Some things, like what basic information would be covered, wasn't quite necessary but she wanted to have it to do her own, more in depth research ahead of time, but others, like when exams where, were very, VERY important and she'd transfer them to her calendar when she arrived back to her dorm (probably using bright colors so she wouldn't possibly forget). Mostly it wasn't super important but it was interesting. She had gotten the feeling that Commander Spock was a no nonsense sort of person, respecting logic and knowledge above all things, but she hadn't realized just how EASY of a professor he'd be.

She knew her peers would think her crazy but Spock was going to be a simple person to get along with. Listen well, take good notes, learn to the best of her ability, ask pertinent questions, and then use that acquired knowledge on her exams. He would not trick them or play games of any sort. If she defied his conclusions he would give her merit on her logical use of evidence.

If only all professors were this straight forward and amiable, she thought to herself, smiling. The class ended too soon for her liking, she had a feeling that he was a man who she could learn so much from, and she began packing up her belongings. "Cadet Pike, please remain behind." Came his cool voice from behind her.

Uhura, who was in the class, gave her an odd look before leaving herself. Caris cursed her shit luck. PLEASE, she thought, don't let her take this the wrong way. She already liked the Vulcan, don't let her see ME as competition. Which she most certainly was not.

The class emptied and she wandered to the podium, where he was collecting his data pads. "Would you answer a few queries for me?" He asked. She fought the urge to ask, 'other than that one?'

"Sure Commander." She said amiably as she could, suddenly nervous.

"I have puzzled over the phrase but cannot understand, by what do you mean your Father would 'ream you a new one'? And is that like 'tearing someone a new one'?" He asked, giving her that direct, Vulcan stare that made her feel like an insect specimen.

She fought back the blush that threatened to turn her cheeks pale green. "Yes, they're very similar in meaning. 'Ream' usually goes with verbal assaults, 'tear' for physical ones. But effectively my Dad would yell at and scold me and I REALLY don't want that, if you haven't been on the receiving end of his wrath you wouldn't really know how scary he is, but take my word for it."

His eyes smiled again, very, very slightly. "You have been subjected to this often?"

She grinned. "Sadly I am… very much a curious sort of person. It gets me into more trouble than I can handle sometimes." She admitted freely. "So yes, yes I have been subjected to both his scolding, and worse, his silent disappointment."

They began walking from the room. "What did you mean by 'blow up at someone'? Surely you are away that you cannot explode literally."

She grinned. "Are you sure? Spontaneous Human Combustion was considered by some to be a real phenomenon." His dry look made her laugh. "Yes, I know those people were totally insane, and it's not possible. I just meant… my emotions would become too much and my tiny fragment of control would snap and some poor person would end up facing the full force of my wrath. I don't particularly like breaking innocent by-standers' noses."

She'd done it before too… Before she'd learned to properly exercise her anger away. But the topic was a little too personal for her liking, despite everything. She had to get away from the Vulcan before she made a terrible mistake, like blush green, or trip and cut her hand, to tuck her hair behind her pointed ear. "I've got another class to go to Commander, but I'll see you Wednesday." She said as she turned down a different corridor, waving slightly over her shoulder.

2256- September 8th -- Wednesday

Most people might think that rain and thunderstorms on one's birthday were a bad thing, maybe an ominous omen. Caris disagreed. She LOVED the rain, loved the cold thrill she got when the icy drops hit her slightly warmer than usual skin, caressed as they trailed down her. She loved the boom and crack of thunder, the thrill the sound awakened in her, and the way it shook her to her core. But mostly she loved lightning, the way it was purple, blue, silver, or white, the way it lit the sky, broke it in half, the irrational, natural fear it invoked in her.

Her usual Cadet's skirt and blouse was a little impractical but she couldn't care as she walked, without an umbrella, toward Commander Spock's class. She wasn't even wearing a jacket. Her skin was damp, it was not pouring but simply raining, making her blonde hair darker but not making it plaster to her head and face. As she reached the building door another person did the same.

All she could tell was it was a he, and he was tall and holding an umbrella and wearing a big jacket. She stepped back to let him in first and tipped her head back, letting the rain trail down her face.

"That is an illogical act. You will become ill." Came a terse voice from the bundled up man at the door.

Caris didn't bother to look at Spock. "Commander, it's my birthday and nature has given me the best gift possible. Illogical or not, possibly detrimental to my health or not, I am going to enjoy this weather while it's warm enough to do so."

"You… find pleasure in the rain?" If he were human she'd of called the slight inflection in his voice distaste.

She nodded, keeping her face up turned. "I love storms, always have, always will." Ignoring how childish the act was she placed both her arms out and spun playfully in a circle, she was only 19 after all…

Finally she slowed and stopped and looked up. Spock still stood in the doorway, his umbrella closed, his jacket now partially open to expose his uniform. "Was there a purpose to that action I do not understand?" He asked her as she walked into the building with him.

She just smiled. "Nope. I just felt like it is all, Commander." She informed him. "You know, sometimes Humans do that."

"Do completely illogical actions with no reasoning but a desire to simply do so." He said in that acidic bland tone, "Yes, I have noticed. I do not understand it." They walked in silence again, again it was not uncomfortable. "There is quite a lot about Human Culture I do not understand." He admitted as they passed his office.

"How do you study our Culture, Commander?" She asked softly.

"I study by reading and observing." He responded blandly.

Caris smiled. "That would be your problem." She informed him simply, remembering what her Anthropology professors had been telling her for years. "A proper study requires participant observation, sir, not just observation."

"I am aware," he responded, "however it is difficult with no one to aid my endeavors. I am, as a rule, not welcome in social situations."

She shrugged as she pulled open the door to the lecture hall. "I'm always up for a good Anthropological study, sir." And she walked to her seat, inwardly cursing herself for saying such a thing. Although he was polite and thanked her for stepping in when he was mocked he did not want to spend time with her outside classes.

2253- September 9th Thursday

Spock had spent the entire previous day and most of the current day having an internal debate over Cadet Pike's offer. Had she been serious in her offer? Was she simply… teasing him? He did not think so, she had seemed genuinely angry with those who had been mocking him. And she WAS interested in cultural studies. Although it was HER culture he wished to study perhaps she would not mind… Maybe she was serious in her offer.

There was only one good way to be sure. He would ask her. He turned to his computer. "Computer, place a call to Cadet Pike's rooms please." The screen blinked a few times before coming to life with a soft 'ding'.

"Whatever it is, Daddy, I DIDN'T do it! I SWEAR!" The image he saw startled him, to say the least. The Cadet wasn't looking at her computer, obviously, as she dug around in a trunk for something. But what had startled him were the large collection of yellow-green bruises on the Cadet's bare shoulders and the exposed portion of her lower back as her shirt rode up some.

He knew something of human physiology, those bruises, for them to be the color of his NEW bruises, would be easily four days old, and for them to be so obvious they would have been rather unpleasant.

"I am not your Father, Cadet." He said, trying to ignore the irrational displeasure he felt as seeing her bruises.

She spun around, her mis-matched eyes wide, her blonde hair flinging around her, loose for the first time that he had seen. "Commander! I am so sorry, what can I do for you?"

Spock realized he found her reaction amusing. It bothered him that he felt the emotion at all, he quickly stamped the emotion out. Vulcans did not feel emotion. …But he was not fully Vulcan. He forced himself from the dark thoughts. "I wished to know if you were serious in your offer before class yesterday."

Really the action was purely scientific, but it did open the door for a possible friendship, which given the circumstances was not advisable but not against regulations. He would simply have to keep the entire experience totally professional.

Her lips curled into a smile. "Yes, I was, and am. I don't make offers I'm not willing to go through with." She slid into the seat at her desk, allowing him a much better view of her very expressive face. "What did you have in mind?"

2256- December 31st Friday 11:25 PM

Caris didn't know why she'd told Spock she was having a private party with her friends for the New Year. Well… that wasn't true. She knew the three reasons that had motivated her, but now she wondered if it was a good idea.

Nyota couldn't hide it from her, she knew that her friend and Spock had started something regulations would look poorly upon. It was none of her business, but it had been a reason. Also he had expressed interest in the more… vibrant aspects of human culture, i.e. parties, bars, dances, etc. He would be intrigued. And finally… because in the three months he had become a friend of sorts, and she wanted all her friends with her.

So she decided to check up on her friend. He sat, wearing black pants and a deep green button down (her gift to him for Christmas), in a corner booth, watching avidly. He was not quite in his element but his eyes said he was learning and… perhaps enjoying himself. She slid into the booth beside him, sliding a cold bottle of water to him.

"Thank you." He murmured, opening the bottle and taking a sip.

"No biggie," she said, brushing it off. They were friends, friends did that sort of thing. But he always made it seem like every little gesture of friendship was a big deal, it both thrilled and depressed her. He needed more friends. But as always his thanks made her blush slightly. She was very pleased it was too dark for him to notice the exact color of her blush.

"You appear to be having fun." He commented.

She laughed. She had been accosted into dancing with Kirk, Galia's on again off again guy, and McCoy, Kirk's older, rather dashing if brooding friend. "Yes, very much so."

"Is it common for women to be willing to dance with men they are unattached to?" He asked. There was no judgment in his voice but she felt the need to explain.

"Sometimes, depending on the woman. If she's interested, then yes, most of us will." She admitted.

"Are you interested in them? And what of women who are spoken for?" His dark eyes were focused on Nyota, who was trying to avoid dancing with Kirk.

She'd never pegged him for the possessive type. "Me? No, not really. I mean Bones is cute in a tall, dark and brooding way, but I'm not seriously interested."

"Then why dance with them?" He asked.

"Because they are my friends and I am comfortable with dancing like that with them, because they know it has none of the usual, sexual meanings, and is only for fun." She patted his hand briefly before remembering Vulcans disliked physical contact, because it increased their psi abilities. "Sorry," she murmured, withdrawing her hand quickly.

"And as for Nyota," she said, forging ahead, "She has a boyfriend, she's just keeping us all in the dark about it. Judging from her actions I'd say she's dancing with Bones for the same reason as me, and avoiding Kirk because he's too interested in her to let a dance be anything less than sexual."

"I see." He murmured but his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thank you for the clarification, Caris." He said as softly as he could with the music playing.

Caris smiled. He only ever called her Cadet Pike or Caris, which was all well and good but… she preferred her nickname. "You know, my friends all call me 'Chris', because you're in that group you're welcome to do the same."

He looked at her with a dash of unease in his eyes. "Are we friends?" He asked softly. "I thought we were colleagues."

Caris felt her heart constrict. Shit… oh… oh she'd made such a mistake… "I consider you my friend, Spock," she said informally. "Although I cannot speak for you."

Before he could answer Bones was beside her. "Excuse me but I'm stealing my girl back." He said before tugging her back onto the dance floor. She threw an apologetic smile at Spock who nodded.

Spock was amused. Typically he tried to avoid feeling and recognizing his emotions but it was hard to ignore when he watched those around him. The Cadets who were Caris's friends were loud, flamboyant, and over all rather entertaining. Also it was deeply intriguing to watch the human holiday called 'New Years Eve'.

They partied, drank, talked about the year past and the year to come. He overheard the blonde young man who was flirting with Nyota saying he was going to pass the Kobiyashi Maru. As if. He personally programmed the test. NO one EVER passed. … Except Caris, who'd already taken it… five times. Her last attempt she succeeded, having gotten a very young genius Cadet, Chekov or something, to configure their phasers to the Klingon shield frequencies.

It had been an… unexpected, highly illogical but rather effective tactic. He would learn from the mistake. He was pleased that the crew she had chosen had been a skeletal one. Consisting of only Nyota, their Orion friend, the young Cadet, and Caris herself. He had been their only examiner. She'd insisted on this, promising him she'd finally beat him… he hadn't believed her. He had learned the hard way to never underestimate Caris.

He was pleased he came to her party, as uncomfortable as it had made him at first. She knew how to make him come, what to say, but she had been right. Although he wasn't actively involved he was… content.

Nyota slid into the seat across from him and smiled. Yes… he was indeed pleased he came.

2257- May 6th Friday

Caris looked up from her newest project, a collection of Vulcan writings on Pon Farr (which had been a real BITCH to hack), when the door to her room chimed and then hissed open. She was met by pale skin and a perfectly neat, black as pitch bucket haircut. Then her eyes focused and she could make out the particulars of Spock's face.

"Hey Spock, s'up?" She asked with a smile. He was tense, his eyes not as relaxed as usual.

"I am here by request of Capitan Pike." He answered tersely.

Caris felt her heart drop and tears of anger fill her eyes. "He can't come?" Really it shouldn't have been a question, given how poor Spock was dressed, which she guessed was the cause for his discomfort.

He actually shifted from foot to foot. He was obviously VERY uncomfortable. "He cannot. An emergency transmission required him to leave immediately as opposed to Sunday night."

Really he looked rather good in the suit pants (charcoal grey with dark black pin stripes) and button down cotton shirt (pure, crisp white). Maybe it was the tie… dark green really wasn't Spock's thing. He usually wore black and grey.

"Well if you're supposed to be my escort I can call someone else if you'd prefer." She offered, quickly neatening her research and slipping the data pads into her desk drawer.

He lifted his slanted brow in his typical questioning/sarcastic/annoyed fashion. This time it felt like more of a questioning expression. "No, I am… intrigued. However if you wish for someone else…"

Spock had never before thought of his friend as a female. Intellectually he knew she was but he had never really seen her as he saw Nyota… as a beautiful young woman. But it was something he couldn't help when her door automatically hissed open. Sitting half curled into a comfortable looking, modern styled desk chair, pouring over a data pad. She was wearing a beautiful black and white dress with yellow tied just under her (ample?, when did THAT happen?) breasts.

Instantly he was uncomfortable. She was his… his friend. He was with Nyota… why was he reacting to seeing her in a dress? He often saw her in the Cadet's skirt…

"Hey Spock, s'up?" she asked, her soft voice familiar, gentle, casual. It did not help him relax as it usually did.

"I am here by request of Capitan Pike." He answered a little too formally. Was he NERVOUS?! He was Vulcan damn it!

"He can't come?" Her eyes were filled with tears almost instantly and that helped him begin to revert from his odd mood to his usual self but he was still… less that comfortable. He shifted unconsciously from foot to foot before realizing he was doing it and locking his muscles.

"He cannot. An emergency transmission required him to leave immediately, as opposed to Sunday night." He answered briskly.

He saw her odd eyes focus on him, he knew she'd noticed his shifting. "Well if you're supposed to be my escort I can call someone else, if you'd prefer." She said softly and he could read the embarrassment and nervousness in her eyes and her movements as she collected her things and neatened up the desk.

He slid back into his usual mood, his logic taking control of his mind and emotions. "No I am…" he searched for the right word, "intrigued. However if you wish for someone else…" She might prefer one of her peers… perhaps the older Cadet who had monopolized her at the New Year's party…

She shook her head vigorously. "No, no. Honestly you're probably the only man, aside from Daddy, who would appreciate Broadway musicals. I just… you look less than happy about being here…"

Spock felt instantly relieved, then felt annoyed at himself for feeling the emotion at all, because it meant he HAD been nervous. "I would be honored." He said and she smiled a beautiful, vibrant smile.

"Then we should be going. Just give me a second…" she stood and pulled on a pair of black and white heels.

She walked toward him and took his arm. The touch made him mildly uncomfortable but he relaxed into it. There was no skin-to-skin contact so his mind would not attempt to make contact with hers. "Those shoes are highly improper for walking and illogical."

She laughed. "Spock, heels aren't about logic. They're about sex appeal."

He gave her an intrigued look, wanting her to continue.

He lifted his brow at her a second time and she knew, without having to use her empathic gift, that he was curious. "As I'm sure you noticed, they shift my center of gravity." He nodded. "They force my ass out and my breasts up, making them more obvious and altering my gait giving me a sway in my hips. Men like them, apparently they're sexy.

"Have Nyota wear them for you with her Cadet's skirt, trust me, you'll like the results." She winked at him. He frowned slightly but she laughed. "Don't worry, I'm the only one who knows and I intend to keep it that way."

His eyes showed his gratitude when his face did not. "I thank you."

"What are friends for?" She asked playfully. His eyes said, to her chagrin, that he wasn't quite sure. "I'll always be right here, if you need me." She told him gently. "That's what friends are for, keeping your secrets, never condemning you for something you did wrong, picking up the pieces when you get your heart broken." She grinned. "Which with Galia is like once a week."

"Your Orion friend?" He asked politely but she knew he wouldn't have asked if he didn't care.

"Yea, Nyota's roomie. Sweet girl, but she thinks she's in love with just about every guy she meets. That hormonal rush, she mistakes it for love, and ends up getting used and hurt. So Nyota and I are left putting her back together again, each and every time."

"She doesn't learn not to trust her emotions?" He asked softly as they stepped into the transport and she dropped his arm knowing he'd find the contact uncomfortable in public. She shook her head. "The why do you continue to help her? If nothing is going to change?"

Caris smiled. "That's what friends do, Spock. Unconditional, never ending affection and acceptance. That's what friends give."

2257- August

Amanda Grayson watched her strapping son as he strode toward her along the green grass outside his office building. She smiled and waved at him before turning back to the very intelligent young woman she'd met briefly the year before, Caris Pike.

"Do you speak with Spock in Vulcan often? I think he misses it." She asked the young woman in her son's first language.

"No, our friendship is mostly based upon his desire to understand Humans better." She admitted, blushing slightly. "But we have been doing more interesting things this summer."

Amanda smiled. Caris' Vulcan was perfect, she sounded like a native. "Like what?" Spock reached them and looked down his Father's nose at them, curled on the grass. "Hello Spock."

"I said it would only take me a moment, Mother." He half scolded in Vulcan also, probably not realizing he was using it as she had greeted him in the language first.

"I did not wish for you to rush, Spock. Caris has kept me very entertained." For the first time Spock's eyes left his Mother's face and settled onto Caris'. Amanda saw the very slight softening of his features, the relax of his jaw, the slight unclench of his hands.

"Hello Chris." He greeted her in Vulcan before flushing slightly, realizing he was speaking in Vulcan.

"Hello Spock." Caris, Chris to her son apparently, replied in kind. "I found her wandering, apparently my hoverboard makes me very recognizable."

Amanda spent the entire day with her son and his friend. She was very surprised to find out that Caris was NOT the young woman Spock was seeing. They had a comfortable manner together, Caris understood her son as no one else did. She noticed his moods almost before Amanda did, and she very obviously made her son happy… So why were THEY not seeing each other?

"I shall return shortly," Spock said shortly, standing and walking toward the roaming food vendor.

"Have the two of you done this before?" Amanda asked Caris as they watched the sun set.

Caris smiled sadly. "No, but it's so much fun. We've gone to a few shows, mostly old Earth Broadway. This is… too frivolous. He'd only do this for you, I think."

Amanda smiled and shook her head. "No, he would do this for you if you said you wished to do it again."

"You think?" she smiled brightly, brushing back her blonde hair. "I love sun sets, so pretty, don't you think?"

Amanda laughed. "Yes, the ones on Vulcan are lovely."

"When I was there I never bothered to look. I was… less than at peace there." The girl admitted before clapping her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide. "Oh, PLEASE don't tell Spock I said that. No one knows I've been there."

"I will keep it to myself if you answer a question for me." The odd eyes, one blue and one green, studied her for a moment before she nodded. "Why is it you and Spock are not dating? You… you seem interested."

Caris turned her head, her loose bangs half hiding her face. Amanda could see the darkening of her cheeks but not the color they turned. "I am not interested because he is dating my friend. She was interested when he and I met, so I didn't bother. I've never let myself think of him in that way."

Amanda laughed. "You sound like a Vulcan. Not letting yourself feel for him like that."

Caris laughed too. "No, it's… I think I would feel for him like that, if I allowed myself to think of him in such a way. But he is… I have forced myself to think of him as nothing but a friend."

Amanda smiled at the girl. "Your mother ought to have told you that you can't stop that sort of thing dear, just delay it."

The girl's eyes became sad, turning back to the mostly gone sun. "My Mother died when I was five. We never had those sorts of conversations. And… well my Daddy is his CO."

Spock watched his Mother and Chris talking together. They laughed together and he realized he had never seen his Mother so happy, so relaxed. Never had he seen her without a Vulcan around, she seemed so… human. Holding the cold 'ice cream's in his hands he returned to the two women.

They looked up and him and his Mother's lips twitched into a smile. Caris burst into laughter. "Do I amuse you?" He asked, offering the 'food' to them.

"Very much so." Chris said, smiling at him. She accepted the cone with a nod of thanks. "The look on your face, like you're not sure if you like us laughing together." She gave him a wicked grin. "Leaving us together might have been a bad idea, you know. She might have told me all your deep, dark secrets."

Spock shrugged but he did feel a thrill of nervousness for a quick instant. "I have no secrets."

Chris snorted. "We all have secrets, Spock." She smirked. "Like me, I love ice cream, my biggest weakness ever."

Spock did not think that that was such a big secret, or a secret at all, but he chose not to say anything, content to watch the two women laughing and eating the cold snack. He took a tentative bite and was surprised that he enjoyed it. It had no nutritious value, but it was … pleasing.

2258- March 8th

Spock let Nyota press a soft kiss to his lips. She was cooler than him, her body temperature slightly lower than his own, but the sensation was not unpleasant. It was, oddly enough, only their third kiss. They had been seeing one another since 'Christmas' 2258, fifteen months, but their relationship had never been particularly physical.

Kissing Nyota required his mind to focus, however, not on Nyota herself, or the feel of her lips against his, but on not letting his mind attempt contact. With Nyota is mind would attempt contact but be rejected, causing an unpleasant buzzing in his head, and in hers. He assumed he could do a mind meld but a Vulcan should be able to make the most basic of contact through a simple touch…

As a rule he avoided touch. Of the humans who had touched him only Caris's touch made his mind and his skin buzz pleasantly. He wondered if that was a poor sign for his relationship with Nyota. He was not sure but he thought it might be… They would have to talk about it some other time.