Chapter 9 The Trip Home to Africa Part Two

Before the engines of Murunga's transport could power down completely the door to the passenger compartment flew open revealing Nyota's youngest brother, Jahleel who wore a bright smile from ear to ear. "Commander Spock, welcome to our family's compound. It is a great honor and pleasure to meet you." He said formally with a half bow. "I would shake your hand sir, but I know that that would be inappropriate given….."

Suddenly Jahleel was plucked out of the hatch opening and Nyota's youngest sister, Nabeelah immediately replaced her brother in the opening her face also bearing an enormous smile for Spock. Reaching skillfully out to block her brother's anticipated and forced return she turned her head to glower at Jahleel. "You get to carry their luggage and I get to greet them….that was the deal, Jah."

From their short but succinct conversation Spock suspected that Nabeelah must have been selected as the winner of yet another family drawing.

"Oh..ALL right!" Jahleel capitulated dejectedly, moving slowly out from behind his sister and towards the storage compartment of the transport.

In a somewhat exaggerated motion Nabeelah then stepped to the side of the hatch obviously inviting them to exit the transport. Nyota reached out to gently prod his left arm. Spock slowly began to climb out of the hatch reaching back once he was clear to take Nyota's hand to pull her out with him. As his right hand enveloped hers he willed himself to keep his grip light even as he felt his body tense.

Through their touch Nyota could now sense the tension in him that she knew had been steadily growing during the short trip from the auction to her family's compound. And she too had to admit that she was a little anxious as well about the reception that she and Spock as a couple would receive from her close knit family.

Even though her father had promised that no large groups of relatives would descend upon them on their first day with their family, Nyota peered around cautiously as she exited the transport only to find that her father had apparently kept his word. Only her younger brother and sister, her parents, and her mother's parents were present outside in the yard to welcome them. She hoped fervently that there were no other family members lurking inside. Nyota cleared her throat as she stepped even closer to Spock. She could tell that her family was in full restraint mode now, each one of them wanting to hug both her and Spock as was their family's tradition upon any family member's arrival, but holding back out of respect for Spock's Vulcan heritage. She smiled as looked at her family who now stood unnaturally motionless in the grass yard between her parent's house and the Hippo.

"Well child are you going to introduce Spock to everyone or do you want me to do it for you?" Murunga asked impatiently as he walked around the front of the transport in order to assist Namelok in climbing out of the co-pilot's seat.

Nyota turned to look at her Babu in surprise as he slowly and carefully pulled his wife up to stand. 'Would wonders never cease?' she asked herself allowing a small smile to creep across her face at her grandfather's most unexpected offer. "Yes Babu, PLEASE do the honors!" she called out to her grandfather.

"Well alright then." Murunga gruffly replied as he walked over to stand next to Spock. He turned to point first at Nabeelah and then Jahleel who was still hard at work unfastening the ties to storage compartment of the transport. "Spock, that's Nabe and Jah, but then again you have already met them." He then quickly turned towards the house where the other family members were standing stock still with looks of shock etched upon their faces now no doubt because of Murunga's most unexpected offer to introduce Spock to them. Murunga's right arm flailed animatedly as he pointed towards the two eldest members of the still silent group with the index finger of his right hand. "Those two old geezers over there are Badru and Ishi, my daughter-in-law's parents."

Spock politely bowed his head to the elderly couple and Ishi smiled broadly back at him as Badru bowed his head solemnly to Spock, the elder man's dark brown eyes sparkling with unabashed happiness.

Murunga's right hand then moved quickly to point towards the remaining couple. "And this is my son Suhuba and my daughter-in-law, Aisha." Murunga finished with a quick wave of his hand.

Spock immediately bowed his head in respect to Nyota's parents. Aisha waved her right hand back at Spock and Suhuba bowed his head respectfully back to him in return.

Suddenly Murunga wheeled about and began to quickly walk up the rock path to the house by himself. "And now that all of the social pomp and ceremony has concluded we can now move on to more important topics, such as what we are having for dinner. It would seem that all of this polite chit chat has made me quite hungry." He called out over his shoulder as he walked into the house, the old fashioned screen door slamming loudly behind him.

Nyota simply stared at her parents and grandparents who had turned to look at each other in amazement as well as disbelief. No doubt her own face now mirrored the incredulous look that she now found upon the faces of her parents and grandparents as they turned back to look at her and Spock.

Namelok suddenly reached out and took Nyota's left arm entwining it at the elbow with her right one. "Sometimes that old man surprises even me." She commented with a hearty laugh as Nyota's parents and grandparents began to laugh with her, each of them shaking their heads in both disbelief as well as amusement at Murunga's unexpected introduction of Spock.

As Jahleel pulled the remaining bag from the transport's storage compartment Spock turned his head towards the young man. Spock quickly let go of Nyota's hand in order to pick up his heavy backpack that Jah had set on the ground, swiftly placing it upon his own back. He then helped Jahleel place Nyota's backpack upon the teen's back.

"Thank you Commander.' Jahleel replied with a grateful smile.

"There should be no formalities amongst family, Jahleel. Please call me Spock." Spock replied quietly causing Jahleel's smile to widen immediately and engulf his entire face.

"Thank you Spock!. And please call me Jah, kaka!" Jahleel beamed up at Spock as Spock reached out to take the handle of his rolling suitcase. Jahleel quickly pulled up the handle of Nyota's rolling suitcase. "I get to show you to your room now!"

"You must have been the victor in the drawing for such a duty, Jah." Spock commented glancing sidelong at the teenager.

"Yes I was…" Jahleel began turning to look up a Spock again. "Wait a minute…how did you know that?

"Prior experience." Spock admitted to the young man whose eyes quickly widened in understanding. Then with a delighted laugh he turned to lead Spock up the rock path towards his parent's house.

Spock slumped against the small shower stall wall as the muscle tremors in his body began to subside. His head began to clear slowly as his left hand dropped deftly to his side. After a few more moments of standing under the stream of hot water he shakily reached out to pour body wash into his right hand lathering the suds over his body. As the feeling of relaxation grew within him he let out a long, contented sigh. He was most grateful that Nyota had suggested that each of them take some time for themselves to get unpacked and freshened up after their long trip as well as their wild transport ride. This time alone had not only allowed him to meditate but to also find his sexual release within the soundproofing offered by the shower in the small bathroom attached to his guest bedroom.

After the close quarters of the transport on the ride to Nyota's family compound, Spock knew that such a release was necessary in order to regain his self discipline around his bond mate. From the very first time he had seen her as she practiced running hurdles, the view of Nyota's long mocha legs in shorts had always undermined his self control. And after catching all too brief glimpses of her undressing inside Murunga's transport, his simmering libido had been set ablaze once again. He had needed this solitary interlude to regain his composure and clarity quite badly.

His thoughts swiftly returning now to the present, Spock looked down and found that he was once again erect. He quickly glanced at his chron and decided that he would have just enough time to 'take the edge off''…again. And as he took himself in hand, his last coherent thought was to calculate the days, hours, and minutes left before Nyota's graduation. His desire for her now burned so hotly within his blood that his yearning for her had truly began to erode his resolve to follow Vulcan tradition with regard to becoming intimate with her ahead of their formal Vulcan marriage bonding.

Nyota had taken a quick shower anxious to get downstairs to her family. She knew that her grandmothers and mother were now busy preparing the various vegetables, sauces, salads, and meats for dinner and she wanted to be there to help. She and Spock had agreed weeks ago to help prepare several meals for her family as was the Vulcan tradition of guests. But at the moment she really wanted to get the women of her family's first impressions of Spock ahead of Spock joining them in the kitchen. Although her family's opinion of Spock was important to her, protecting and defending him from any negatives that her family might choose to throw at him was even more important to her, so she wished to be proactive in this pursuit.

As she walked out of her bedroom she unexpectedly found herself turning away from the stairs and walking towards her oldest brother's former bedroom which was now being used as the guest bedroom. Slowing to a stop she raised her left hand placing it upon the closed door as she heard the muted sound of running water from within the guest bathroom. Although she had never seen him in anything more revealing than short sleeves and long pants with his feet bare, she had seen enough through his clothing to know that he was not only well built but also well-endowed. The mental image of Spock naked within the small shower stall immediately caused her breathing and heart rate to increase. She quickly dropped her hand from the door and sucked in a quick, calming breath willing her reawakening libido to stand down once again.

This trip would be the longest time that she and Spock had spent in each other's company since they had met. And the fact that Jah had first carried her bags to the guest bedroom along with the comments from her grandparents at the auction most likely meant that her whole family was now under the impression that she and Spock were cohabitating. And Nyota still didn't know quite how to feel about such an assumption by her family. And after she let her mother and grandmothers the true status of her and Spock's relationship, she was definitely going to have a long and private talk with her oldest sister as well.

Before she left home for Star Fleet she had her fair share of boyfriends but she had become intimate with only one of them and then only in order to satisfy her curiosity about sex in general. So compared to her peers, and most especially her roommate Gaila, her own sexual adventures were quite tame. Her feelings towards that particular boyfriend to whom she had given her virginity willingly had remained one of friendship immediately after their sexual encounters. But unfortunately this boyfriend had begun to seek to make their relationship a permanent one after their shared intimacies.

And of course Nyota had broken up with him immediately after he had asked her to marry him. At the time Nyota had felt that her future plans did not include marriage….at least not until after she had found her place among the stars. And even though she had found that she had very much enjoyed sex, once she had committed herself to Star Fleet, she discovered many other non-sexual physical activities that she also enjoyed. So she had decided that she would leave any intimate relationships for a little later in her life and would focus only on her friendships instead until her graduation. And she had stood firmly by her decision until her eyes beheld her mystery runner at the track field on that cold damp morning before the start of her second year at Star Fleet Academy.

Amazingly enough she had somehow managed to contain and hopefully hide her natural sexual attraction to Spock as their relationship progressed into one of deep friendship. But once she and Spock had bonded, she found that her body had begun to respond to his presence in a more sexually physical way much to her own surprise and sometimes even embarrassment. She had lost count of the number of times that she found herself with quite damp underpants after simply touching or kissing him. And it seemed that her arousal responses were growing steadily stronger with each passing day in his company now. She found that all of her recent dreams had been filled with erotic love making between she and Spock and her nocturnal orgasms had even woken up Gaila on occasion. And as a result she and Gaila's shopping trips to Good Vibrations had become even more frequent in the months following her and Spock's bonding at Gaila's insistence.

And being ever prepared, she had packed her favorite vibrator for this trip using it as she had taken her shower. Now she was half tempted to take another shower with her vibrator of course before heading downstairs, but one look at her chron told her that she simply would not have the time to do so. So she quickly turned away from Spock's door and headed for the stairs.

As she walked into the large kitchen she noticed that very little had been done in the way of meal preparation. Nyota suspected that the women had been distracted no doubt by conversations which most likely had been centered around herself as well as Spock. When the three women noticed her they immediately greeted her with open arms, hugs, and kisses which Nyota eagerly returned. But within their embraces, Nyota could somehow sense a change in the older women's affections for her. She suddenly stood back from the women raising one eyebrow in question for them. "What is it?" she asked the women quietly. "I get the feeling that you are now somehow treating me differently….not in a bad way or anything like that…just different somehow."

Ishi stepped towards her reaching out to take both her hands within her wrinkled, warm ones. "This change you perceive in our feelings towards you is because you are no longer our CHILD." She informed Nyota with a bright smile. "Since your visit with us during your summer break YOU have changed. You are a WOMAN now Star, and as such our love for you has also changed. Within a matter of months you will graduate and become a decorated officer within Star Fleet and you will then marry your mate nafsi. You have become a woman that we are all very proud of and happy for, Star."

Nyota pulled her grandmother into a hug wrapping her arms firmly around her grandmother in the affectionate grasp. "So Spock IS the one that you saw in your vision, Bibi." She whispered into her grandmother's right ear.

"He IS indeed." She whispered back to her and then cleared her throat dramatically as she leaned back to smile brightly at her. "But he is so much more handsome in real life, Star."

Nyota pulled back from Ishi and began to giggle. "Yes he is VERY handsome, Bibi, but don't you get any ideas, you sexy woman you! He is already taken you know."

Ishi began to blush and her mother and Namelok began to giggle with her obviously also enjoying their light hearted teasing.

"I was actually wondering if Spock has any Vulcan uncles that might be interested in dating your Aunt Lankenua." Aisha asked as their laughter subsided.

"Mama!" Nyota called out to her mother who smiled innocently at her daughter causing another round of laughter within the group. "Don't you get any matchmaking ideas." She warned knowing just how pushy her mother could get. "You promised me that you would try to behave yourself."

"I AM behaving myself." Her mother countered.

"Oh you are huh? Then why did you have Jah take MY luggage to the GUEST bedroom?" Nyota asked tapping her right foot impatiently.

"Oooops!" Namelok called out. "That would probably be my fault. I hadn't gotten around to telling your mother about you and Spock's ENFORCED celibacy by then."

"BIBI NANA!" Nyota called out to Namelok loudly before quickly looking around to see if anyone else was within earshot before quickly lowering her voice. "I really don't want to have this conversation with you in the middle of the kitchen. Can we please have some time together ALONE after dinner, just the four of us so I can explain some things in private to all of you, PLEASE?"

The older women smiled broadly at her as they all immediately shook their heads in agreement to Nyota's request. Nyota knew that she had just been 'set up' by the women to voluntarily give them information about her and Spock's relationship, but she smiled good naturedly back at them anyway.

"After dinner then, Star." Her mother agreed with a giggle that still left Nyota concerned about what line of questioning she and Spock would endure during dinner and she immediately began to worry.

As Spock walked down the stairs towards the kitchen where he and Nyota had agreed to meet, Spock began to sense a feeling of anxiety along his provisional bond with Nyota.

"T'nash-veh yel" Spock addressed her quietly stepping into the kitchen and walking up to stand in front of her immediately leaning his head down until his forehead tenderly touched hers. Their bond brightened and Spock could feel her immediate relief at his touch. He could also feel her concern over the potential actions of her family that would somehow offend him. He immediately pushed his confidence back to her that her family was well intended and that he would take no offense at any line of questioning that could potentially arise during their meal.

The sound of a throat being cleared suddenly interrupted their silent conversation. Spock immediately raised his head up breaking their bond as he turned to face the other woman. Nyota immediately tucked herself into his side entwining her left arm around his right elbow.

"I'm guessing that you were speaking Vulcan just then and it sounded very…. lovely." Aisha told the couple with a quick wink for her daughter and a bright smile for Spock. "If I may ask, what did you say to her?"

Nyota couldn't help but smile at her mother. Vulcan 'pet names' in a relationship were usually quite practical and of course most logical. Since their bonding Spock had at times of high stress called her by this particular name. And she had to admit that she found the descriptive title most endearing as well as calming.

"I had addressed her as 'my star'." Spock answered quietly as Nyota's arm tightened around his in silent support for him.

"I TOLD you they made a cute couple." Namelok announced to the group with a chuckle.

Still holding on to his arm Nyota smiled broadly back at the women and wanting to shift the women's attention away from her and Spock she announced to the group. "Just as the Vulcan language differs from ours, Vulcan customs differ too." She began "It is a deeply held Vulcan custom that the guests prepare meals for their hosts, especially when their hosts are family. So Spock and I would like to request that he and I finish preparing this evening's meal for you in order to show you our appreciation and gratitude for your hospitality."

"And we would also request that you would be amiable to us preparing additional meals during our stay here with you." Spock added quietly.

The women turned to look at each other for a few seconds before Ishi nodded vigorously to Aisha. Then Aisha turned to once again face Nyota and Spock as her smile grew steadily larger. "We accept your offer to finish preparing the evening meal for us and thank you for doing so. And we would be most amiable to you two preparing any other meals that you wish to prepare for our family during your visit….that is as long as the preparation does not become burdensome to either or both of you. And perhaps we could even prepare some meals together as is OUR custom."

Spock bowed his head respectively towards Aisha. "Agreed."

Nyota smiled once again at her mother. "Most definitely, Mama." She replied happily. "And now will you three ladies please join your husbands outside on the porch while Spock and I get started with the meal. After all we don't want Babu Murunga to starve to death before our evening meal."

"That impatient old goat deserves to starve every once in a while." Namelok called over her shoulder to Spock and Nyota and the other two women began to chuckle knowingly as they walked out of the kitchen and onto the covered porch."

Nyota released his arm and looked up at Spock smiling at him her mahogany eyes lit up in sheer happiness. "I'll prepare the goat meat, you prep the veggies, and we can both work on the salads together, deal?"

"Deal." Spock answered pleased that her anxiety had vanished and had been replaced with joy. She quickly rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft but all too brief kiss onto his left cheek. He then felt the remainder of his own anxiety vanish with the warm touch of her lips.

As they turned in unison to the large counter they began to work intently at their separate tasks their backs turned away from the large window that looked out upon the covered porch. They were quite unaware of the curious onlookers that were doing their best not to stare at the young couple as they worked side by side with the exception of Murunga who was tending the fire.

"What are all of you staring at?" Murunga looked up and asked the onlookers impatiently. "You act as if you have never seen anyone cut up vegetables before."

"Since when have you become Spock's protector, old man?" Namelok teased him with a smile as she pulled up a cushioned chair to sit in next to Murunga at the fire pit.

"As big and as strong as he is, I really don't think he needs my protection, do you?" Murunga shrugged quickly turning back to the fire.

"Given that the average strength of a Vulcan male is three times that of a human male I would agree with you Murunga." Badru concurred walking over to sit down in one of the cushioned chairs placed around the fire pit opposite from Namelok. "And it would seem that Spock and Nyota are engaging in the Vulcan custom of preparing a meal for their hosts. That was good of you women to let them do that for us. Such a custom is very important to the Vulcans."

"How many years did you work with the Vulcan research group?" Suhuba asked turning away from the window and quietly pulling up a chair next to Badru.

"Four years." Badru replied with a smile for the younger man. "Two on Earth and two on Vulcan."

Ishi walked slowly to seat herself on the end of one of the long benches placed along one side of the patio where the evening's breeze was blowing the strongest. "Vulcans pride themselves on customs which foster mutual respect. They are a most honorable race."

"And a most handsome race too if I might say so." Aisha added with an enormous smile lighting up her face as she sat down next to Ishi. "I can definitely see why our Star is enamored with him."

"Says the woman who has not only perused every public record she could find on the Commander but has called his mother no less than six times to gather yet more intel on him." Suhuba teased his wife as he walked over to stand beside his father. "Star's chosen one had better be every bit as tough as his reputation if he is to endure his marriage into OUR family."

"And speaking of endurance, technically we should be able to include Spock within our ranks for the Maasai Olympics can we not?" Murunga questioned. "Our clan would win hands down with him joining the competition."

Badru chuckled loudly as Suhuba joined in with him. "With his strength we would indeed!" Badru replied slapping his knee in unbridled glee. "I will put that question before the council when we meet tomorrow morning."

"But we will need to make him a warrior first." Suhuba reasoned pulling over a chair so as to sit next to Badru.

"We can do that tomorrow when the junior warriors meet." Murunga stated as he tamped down the fire a bit before pulling the cooking grill into position over the fire. "He can enter the meet with Jah."

"Now this is the part where I come back into the conversation with both feet." Aisha announced to the men as she rose up from the bench and walked over to stand next to Suhuba to look menacingly down upon him, her enormous brown eyes quite dark and serious now. "You CANNOT coerce Spock into participating in the junior warriors outing this weekend."

"Who said anything about coercing?" Suhuba replied with a wide but way too innocent smile for his wife. "I will simply speak with him privately in order to seek out his consent and agreement."

"Well Mr. Consent and Agreement, I have promised Spock's mother that I would be Spock's protector within our family and I take that responsibility quite seriously." Aisha replied in a no nonsense tone of voice. "And if you so much as ruffle just one of Spock's feathers you will have to answer to me."

"Yes, my lioness." Suhuba agreed bowing his head respectively to her even though he still could not hide another wide smile from enveloping his face as Aisha clicked her tongue back at him in displeasure knowing that his acquiesce to her wishes was tenuous at best.

Nyota nimble fingers and many prior years of experience made short work of preparing the goat meat for the grill. She glanced over to look at Spock noting that he was dressed in a very casual blue woven shirt that was short sleeved and showcased his very muscular forearms as well as gave her a glimpse of his well proportioned and quite ample biceps and triceps as he worked. Her eyes quickly darted away from him and she found that she had to stop herself from audibly sighing. She had already noticed that his lower body was encased in casual but long black pants and his large feet hidden within hiking style boots. She then mentally berated herself over her dashed hopes of finding him in more revealing attire for their last meal of the day. Shaking her head slightly to help clear her mind of the path that her thoughts were now taking her, she knew without a doubt that she DEFINITELY should have gone back in the shower with her favorite vibrator before coming down to the kitchen.

Spock was slicing the last of the red peppers when his nose detected the very subtle scent of what he believed to be sexual arousal in his bondmate. And once again against his will his body began to respond to his bond mate and he quickly shifted his body closer to the counter in order to mask the beginnings of his own arousal. This was indeed a most awkward circumstance. His eyes cutting quickly to the right he felt more than saw her shift away from him slightly. She was no doubt also trying to control her own hormonal reactions now.

She suddenly cleared her throat breaking the sudden awkward silence that had grown between them.

"I'm done with the goat meat so I'm going to cut up the tofu to fit on the skewers now." She told him moving behind him towards the refrigeration unit.

"After I complete slicing this pepper I will be free to assist you in the construction of the skewer assemblies." he offered out of politeness knowing that he really did not want to shift from his position facing the counter just yet lest his waning erection become apparent to her.

As she closed the door to the refrigeration unit she turned and her eyes immediately fell upon his now visibly tensed gluts. It would seem that he was having just as difficult a time controlling his arousal as she was her own. So their relatively simply joint task had quickly changed into a most awkward one. And this was only their first day together! She forced herself to take a deep, calming breath. "OK" was all she could force out of her still tensed jaw.

She obediently took her place next to him at the counter and they began to build the grilling skewers together in a controlled silence each of them forcing their attention more on their task and less on each other.

"Vulcan males are direct descendants of their warrior ancestors. I doubt very much that Spock will shy away from either mock warfare or family responsibility." Badru stated simply. "And by the look of him I would wager that he can throw the spear at least 300 meters and the rungu at least 325 meters.

Murunga paused as he brushed the grill clean of ashes and turned to look at Badru. "Well….. he single handedly picked up two of my birds' metal crates with an ease that defied his slender appearance. I too would wager that he would easily be able to throw the spear and rungu such distances if not more."

"Most interesting." Badru commented raising his hand to his chin in thought. "Given that Spock's mother is human it would seem that his physiology is primarily Vulcan. Only the color of his eyes reveals any human genetics."

"What about his eye color?" Namelok spoke up moving to sit on the edge of the bench her curiosity obviously peaked.

"V'tosh eye color is a dark, dark brown to almost black." Ishi replied to her as Namelok turned on the bench to face her. "Spock's eyes are noticeably lighter in color.

Aisha returned to sit down on the bench next to Namelok. "Spock's mother Amanda told me that Spock's physiological makeup is Vulcan except for his hair, eye, and skin coloration. And since Vulcan/Human children are still considered quite rare, Spock has been subjected to much UNDUE and UNWELCOME scrutiny his whole life. And I REALLY want him to feel like part of our family and not a part of your poorly disguised experiment to verify and validate the limits of Vulcan strength and ability at the warrior competition should Spock even agree to participate."

Badru signed audibly. "YES I understand what you are saying and I agree that ALL of us need to keep Spock's as well as Star's best interests at the forefront of our comments and questions during their visit with us."

"Agreed." "Suhuba concurred with a smile "I promise that I will not attempt to push Spock in to participating in the warrior games tomorrow."

"What about the warrior games tomorrow?" Jah called out as he ran onto the porch sliding to a stop next to Suhuba's chair.

Nabeelah quickly followed her brother onto the porch and slid onto the bench next to Aisha wrapping her arm around her mother's waist and hugging her.

"Animals all fed?" Murunga called out to his grandchildren.

"Yes, Babu Murunga!" the teens called out in unison to the old man.

"Since Ny and Spock are here they ARE going to go with us to the games aren't they?" Jah asked undaunted by the lack of a response to his first question.

"I'm not sure if they will be there or not, Jah." Aisha answered her son.

Jah looked up and into the window to the kitchen. "Well it never hurts to ask."

Nabeelah stood up and looked into the window too. "Come on Jah, let's go inside and see if we can help Ny and Spock. You need to wash your filthy hands anyway."

Jah deliberately palmed his right hand onto Nabeelah's arm as she trotted by him earning him a side kick which he swiftly and skillfully dodged. "You are SO dead, Jah." She called out to him beating him to the doorway as Jah laughed gleefully.

"Now you too are SO FILTHY!" He called out after her as they both burst into the kitchen causing Nyota to jump at the unexpected noise.

Spock's arms instinctively encased her protectively and she quickly turned in his arms to face her younger brother and sister.

"Sorry! I guess we should have knocked first." Nabeelah called out to the couple over her shoulder as she beat Jah to the sink to wash up.

"Why is that?" Jah asked as he pushed impatiently at his sister for his turn at the sink's soap dispenser, then quickly turning to find Nyota still in Spock's arms. "Oh I SEE, humpf!"

Nabeelah immediately jabbed her brother in the arm effectively silencing him. "We finished up with our chores and we wanted to see if we could help you two with anything." She told the still embracing couple as she moved slowly out of Jah's way while drying her hands.

Spock slowly released Nyota from his grasp knowing that her younger brother and sister finding their older sister in his arms was not at all proper given the circumstances. And with her release he immediately missed the warmth of his bond mate's body.

Nyota looked up at Spock and smiled at him reassuringly. "Well now you are just in time to take the skewers outside to the grill while Spock and I prepare the salads and the drinks."

She glanced over at Spock who was still watching her intently. And as much as she wanted to still find herself within his arms she knew that out of respect to each other and her family they could not do so. She also knew for a fact that this was going to be a long week indeed.

Nyota had slowly begun to relax after the first few minutes of eating. Her family was making surprisingly quiet conversation as they ate their meal on the patio seated around a long rectangular table positioned underneath three ceiling fans which kept the warm air circulating around them comfortably. She knew that Spock used restraint in serving himself as they filled their plates from the serving table, even though her mother had managed to pile more grilled tofu and vegetables onto his plate. Glancing around to make sure no one else was looking, she quickly forked over 3 additional tofu slices onto his plate hoping that no one else other than Spock would notice. But when she looked up she found Ishi smiling at her and the twinkle in her grandmother's aged eyes spoke volumes to Nyota. Nyota smiled slowly back at her before turning to look up at Spock who had now lightly touched her elbow as it sat on the edge of the table.

"Th'i-oxalra." he told her so quietly that she had to look up at him to make sure that he had really spoken to her.

And as the soft heat of his fingers began to penetrate into the skin of her elbow she could also hear his thanks in her head. Being in such close quarters with him for the entire day had evidentially magnified the strength of their provisional bond. And there was no doubt in her mind now that her family was very much aware of her and Spock's 'silent' conversations. She suddenly remembered that she had promised her mother and grandmothers a private talk after their meal. She definitely had some explaining to do about her and Spock's bond.

Jah had been quick to grab the seat next to Spock and Nabeelah had also swiftly taken the seat next to Nyota. As Jah speared another slice of goat meat on his plate he leaned down as if to devour the food but then suddenly stopped and looked up and over at Spock.

"I mean no offense in asking this question of you, Spock." Jah began setting his fork down quietly on his plate, goat meat still intact. "But for a vegetarian, you are pretty….big. I understand that Vulcan males do not mature until they are 28 years of age. Given your age do you know how about much taller you will get when you are fully grown?"

Spock turned to the young man. He had noted Jah's earlier attempts at height assessment as they stood next to each other around the serving table. In the relatively short time he had known the teen, Spock actually found his 'new' role as elder brother to Jah to be unexpectedly fulfilling. "If my father's genetics indeed prove dominant, then I will likely reach a final height in excess of 198 centimeters."

Nyota's mind immediately began calculating the difference in her and Spock's height if Spock's prediction becomes reality. There was no doubt in her mind now that she was definitely going to need taller heels in the future. But then she found that she had to immediately stop her thoughts from continuing on to their natural path towards a further analysis of their height difference and how this difference would figure into their future bedroom activities.

"That's pretty tall alright." Jah replied picking up his fork again but then stopping just short of putting the piece of goat meat in his mouth. "Is it true that Vulcans are three times stronger than human on average?"

"Because of the difference in the gravity between Vulcan and Earth, Vulcans on average are 3.25 times stronger than humans." Spock replied noting with some with some confusion the looks of smugness on the faces of the elder male members of Nyota's family as he glanced around the table before quickly returning his focus to Jah.

"Then you would definitely win the spear and rungu competition tomorrow." Jah concluded then quickly looked around the table apologetically. "Ooops, I shouldn't have mentioned that."

Spock looked at the young man curiously. "I do not understand the term 'rungu', please explain.

"Well….a rungu is one of the Maasai traditional weapons. It's sorta like a club with a long handle on it. It is used in our clan's traditional warrior competition in an event that tests both strength and accuracy."

"So I am to understand that the competition tomorrow involves throwing both spear and rungu." Spock furthered inquired his interest in Maasai customs now peaked.

"Yes." Jah answered with a broad smile. "And if you want you can come and watch the event. I will be one of the competitors."

"I would be most honored to support you in your endeavor, Jah." Spock replied with a nod.

Aisha quickly reached out under the table to stay her husband's hand from raising his now clenched hand up in victory. Suhuba slowly turned his head and smiled sheepishly down at his wife.

Spock suddenly realized that everyone at the table was speaking Standard. He reasoned that this was because Nyota's family wished to make him feel 'at home' as his mother was fond of saying. Quickly glancing over at Nyota, he waited for the family to grow silent knowing that such silence would be short lived at best. He immediately began to speak with the next brief moment of silence that engulfed the table's occupants. "Nyota and I had agreed early in our friendship to learn each others native languages. I regret that I am still not proficient in Kiswahili, but I do have the ability to carry on conversations. But please forgive me in advance if I require explanation or clarification for certain terms or phrases or if my conjugation is flawed."

Aisha's eyes now shown with appreciation for the young Vulcan. She remembered back to that com call in the middle of the night when Nyota was injured and the kind way Spock calmly spoke to her and her husband in Kiswahili. And she knew for a fact that Spock's conjugation was anything but flawed. "Spock I know from your call the night that Star was injured that you speak Kiswahili quite well indeed, but our family will of course help translate or conjugate any words that you are unfamiliar with. And in return I for one would truly enjoy learning some Vulcan words and phrases while you are here with us this week."

"I would be most honored to teach you." Spock replied in Kiswahili bowing his head in respect to Aisha. Under the table Nyota reached out to gently squeeze his right thigh. He cocked his head and looked over and down at his bond mate whose face now bore a smile from ear to ear. Spock was most satisfied as the conversation around the table immediately picked up again in Kiswahili.

After the family collectively cleaned and put away all of the dishes the women adjourned to their "Craft Hut", which was a stand alone building some 200 feet from the main house where the women kept their collective art and craft supplies. The building afforded them the space they required for jewelry making as well as traditional textile weaving and ceramic art. But most importantly, this building was their sanctuary away from the men of the family.

"I know Akilah must have told you that Spock and I were cohabitating considering how my luggage was sent to Spock's room this afternoon, but that is definitely not the case." Nyota began as they sat down together around a large round table with bins of colorful beads already set up on the table. "I have already told Bibi NaNa a little bit about my relationship with Spock earlier today at the auction. But if you will allow me to, then I wish to tell you all the whole story of both how and why Spock and I became bondmates.

Aisha leaned forward over the table, her eyes now wide with anticipation. "We are all ears, Star." She told her with quite evident enthusiasm as her grandmothers also leaned forward to better hear Nyota's softly spoken words that quickly followed.

As Spock stood on the elevated observation deck with Nyota's father, he did his best to restrain his growing concern as to the reasons behind Suhuba's request for a 'private talk' with him. And as they looked out together in silence upon the growing dusk, Spock endeavored to place himself in Nyota's father's position as the head of his own family seeking to validate the bond which bound his daughter, for all intents and purposes, to a stranger.

The elder African slowly turned to look at him, capturing his eyes with his own. "As the father of the woman you intend to marry, I have family duties that I must attend to, Spock." He began in Standard continuing to lock eyes with him. "It is my understanding that you and Star have been acquainted for some years now, and that you and she had become first and foremost close friends."

"That is correct." Spock confirmed politely choosing to keep his answers concise and brief.

"And as her close friend I am certain that you know her true self. My daughter is brilliant, confident, brave, quite stubborn at times, and most of all very compassionate….her soft heart being a weakness of sorts." He continued his eyes never leaving Spock's. "So I must ask you some questions in order to better understand your intentions towards my Star. I ask these questions of you in my current position as her protector and of course as her father."

Spock bowed his head to him in respect never breaking eye contract with the elder African. Nyota's father was being most straight forward with him and Spock found this directness somehow comforting. "I shall answer any and all questions you have for me to the best of my ability, sir."

"….and I know that he holds both my heart and soul within him as I also hold his heart and soul within me." Nyota finished quietly in the now silent room pausing to look around at the women who sat around her with quite obvious tears in their eyes as she finished her story detailing the evolution of her and Spock's relationship. She knew that she needed to lighten the moment now before she too began to tear up.

"And just why are we making these bead strings?" Nyota cheerfully asked the woman after the few more seconds of silence filled with a few sniffles. "I know for a fact that Jah already has his set of beads for the competition tomorrow."

Namelok and Aisha both immediately looked down at their bead work their hands speeding as they focused completed on their task and effectively ignoring Nyota's question. Their abandonment left only Ishi to answer Nyota's question. "Well…." was the only word to come out of Ishi's mouth before she too looked down at her own bead work.

"Oh NO you didn't!" Nyota exclaimed looking around the table as the older women's eyes immediately rose to meet hers before she announced loudly to them. "I don't know what I am thinking…you are my family so OF COURSE you did."

"Well…. we certainly can't have the newest member of our clan running around tomorrow improperly clothed for the occasion." Namelok suddenly blurted out. "And as his soon-to- be WIFE you now have the responsibility for such a task. But we knew you needed a little help getting all of the bead work done in such a short time frame, so here we all are." She finished with a huge smile.

"Well I certainly don't recall Spock AGREEING to compete in the warrior meet during dinner." Nyota replied, finishing up a string and expertly tying the end off. "So why do I suddenly get the feeling that you all know something I don't."

"Well, Star" Aisha began looking across the table to meet Nyota's eyes once again. "As Spock's family protector I have been strongly opposed to anyone in this family, although I am not going to mention any specific names here, coercing or forcing Spock to participate in the competition this weekend. But I saw the light in Spock's eyes at dinner when he and Jah were talking about weaponry and the competition. And Amanda has told me that Spock is highly competitive when it comes to such activities. So I have a feeling that Spock is not going to be satisfied with just standing around and watching tomorrow. And since technically he is already part of our clan, the council will most likely allow him to compete if he chooses to do so. But our word to you as your family: that no one, not even Jah or your father, will try to coerce him into competing."

Namelok stood up and walked over to one of the cabinets, opening the door and pulling a large fabric container off the shelf. She smiled coyly at Nyota as she held out the contents of the container. "And as luck would have it, we have enough material in our clan's colors to make one LARGE shuka, and if I might add, one that will show off that big body of his quite nicely."

"But I don't suppose you could sweet talk him into coming in here to MODEL for us while we sew his shuka?" Ishi teased Nyota whose eyes immediately grew wide with surprise.

"NO!" Absolutely NOT!" Nyota replied breathlessly, half of her wanting to see his well honed body in the colorful cloth and the other half fiercely protecting her bond mate from potential embarrassment. It would seem that the long day of travel was finally weighing upon her. Recognizing her own emotional state, she cut her eyes downward and stared at the table while trying to regain her composure once again.

"OK, OK!" Aisha told her doing her best now to calm her obviously distressed daughter. "You know we are just teasing you. He doesn't have to wear the beads or the shuka to compete, you know that. Star, you must be worn out from no doubt studying too hard for your finals as well as the long trip you had today. ESPECIALLY considering the wild ride with Murunga." She added trying to lighten the mood once again.

"You should have seen the two of them in the back seat of the Hippo!" Namelok chimed in with a peal of good natured laughter. "Both of them had their eyes closed so tightly that I thought a few times that they had lost consciousness from the sheer terror!"

Nyota began to giggle her mood immediately improving. "I told Spock that was the best way to handle Babu Murunga's piloting maneuvers." She replied and quickly found she had to stifle a yawn. But despite her weariness she was suddenly very interested in helping to make Spock's shuka. Perhaps this would be the chance she was waiting for to see that Vulcan body of his in more revealing attire.

Suhuba determinedly held Spock's eyes searching deeply within the young Vulcan's words as he answered his many 'fatherly' questions politely and succinctly. But then he had expected no less from the young Vulcan. Now it was time for the toughest questions, for both himself and Spock. "It is my understanding of Vulcan customs that you had been bonded as a child to a Vulcan female and this bond had been dissolved some time ago."

"That is correct, sir. My childhood bond was dissolved by mutual accord 1.493 standard years prior to Nyota's training accident. The reason behind this dissolution was quite simple: my Vulcan bondmate and I were incompatible. The bond that Nyota and I now share is not only a product of our compatibilities but of our complementary personality traits as well." Spock added with determination now set in his eyes.

Suhuba couldn't help but smile at him now. In his relatively short time to know him, Suhuba reasoned that Spock was no doubt every bit as stubborn as his Star. And Suhuba knew without a doubt that Spock would need every bit of that stubbornness to deal with his middle daughter as they moved through life together. Suhuba had always been blessed with a good judge of character and he now felt very strongly that Star's choice in a bondmate was a good one. And Suhuba also realized that it had been a long day for Spock and no doubt the young Vulcan was growing weary of his questioning given the time of night now.

Although he had never been a big fan of Star Fleet, Suhuba had always supported Nyota 100% in her choice of careers. And his last as well as the most difficult question of the night for Spock pertained directly to Star Fleet.

"As Nyota is to serve under your command on the Enterprise, I must ask you this hypothetical question." Suhuba told him as he squared his shoulders in preparation for this last question of his daughter's soon-to-be husband. This question had not come easy for Suhuba at all, but it was one that he had to know the answer to. Suhuba was still fearful of Nyota's deployment into space but he had been always outwardly in support of this progression of duties within her career with Star Fleet. "If there comes a disastrous situation where you must decide whether to save Nyota or let her die in order that the rest of the crew be saved, what would you do?"

Anger briefly flared up within Spock's dark eyes followed immediately with a most noticeable sadness as the young Vulcan answered him both quietly and truthfully. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, sir."

Suhuba sucked in a quick, steadying breath. He had his answer now. And he knew without a doubt that his future son-in-law would do anything and everything in his power to prevent such a situation, but if the worst happened then Spock would do his duty, just as he knew that Star would also do hers given the same set of circumstances. Suhuba resolved to pray that much harder for Nyota's and Spock's safety while serving together aboard the Enterprise as he continued to count the years and days down until Nyota and Spock were both safely earthside and free of their obligations to Star Fleet. After all, he was now looking forward to more grandchildren….ESPECIALLY grandchildren who could throw the rungu 300 meters or more!

Spock was most grateful that the males had left well before daybreak and well ahead of the females. During the night he had meditated quite extensively in an almost futile attempt to rid his mind of the fact that he and Nyota were separated by only a narrow hallway now. He had even taken two rather cold showers in an effort to relieve his rampant desires for his bondmate and that combined with the meditation had sufficiently muted his carnal desires albeit only temporarily.

When they arrived at the competition field, Spock noted that only males were in attendance. Jah had informed him that the females were also to compete but that their competition field was across the river from the male's field with the side note that there were stiff penalties for either males or females crossing over the river until the celebration at the end of the day. Spock was even now more grateful that the males had left the compound before the females this morning because if he had seen Nyota dressed for the competition complete with running shorts and form fitting top there would be a high probability that he would have even more trouble concentrating on the competition.

The ruling council had agreed to allow Spock to enter the rungu and the spear competition with the caveat that Spock's results would be divided by 3.25 in order to compensate for his Vulcan physique. The council also decided that Spock should compete in the 20 – 30 year old bracket.

As the sun began to rise higher in the sky, Spock turned away from the competition field for a moment and looked towards the western horizon. The tall savanna grass weaved to and fro in concert with the warm morning breeze and the smell of fertile soil hung heavy around him. A feeling of profound peace suddenly filled his soul. He was indeed most grateful and thankful for both Nyota as well as her family and clan members for their total acceptance of him as a part of their family without any prejudice or judgment. As he took another deep breath he felt the freedom to just be himself here among the competitors. And as he turned back to the competition this feeling remained with him and for that he was also most grateful.

It took over an hour for Murunga to introduce Spock to the rest of the males just in Nyota's clan alone. Nyota had warned him that her family was large, but as he chest bumped Nyota's 41st cousin he began to realize just how LARGE her clan really was.

Jah had seen fit to take over the duty of introductions from Murunga after the call went out for the first meal of the day. Once clan introductions were completed Jah ushered Spock into the tent that was set up for food service and Spock was both pleased and relieved that ugali was being served. Suhuba made sure that Spock was served 3 helpings of the porridge and Spock was most grateful for both his kindness as well as the most palatable ugali. Spock was barely able to finish his third helping of porridge as he answered a continuous barrage of questions from Nyota's male family members who sat all around him and Jah as they ate.

The heat of the day had now set in and Spock closed his eyes and truly relished the temperature. His only complaint was of the humidity, but after living for so many years in San Francisco he found that he could indeed adequately manage the humidity of the savanna. As the day had steadily grown hotter he had been most grateful that he had chosen to wear athletic shorts. He had removed his shirt mid morning during the spear practice sessions finding that the sleeves of his shirt had interfered slightly with his throwing style.

And by the end of the competition, Spock managed to place second in the spear and second in the rungu competition which had pleased his clansmen immensely given that their clan had not even placed in these events for the last five years. And Spock was certain that he would place higher in future competitions because he reasoned that experience and practice would allow him to do so. Upon reflection Spock recalled that he had been highly competitive during his youth on Vulcan and that his competiveness had been one of only a few of his character traits that his peers had actually found acceptable and adequate. But in comparison, Nyota's clan as well as other clan members had accepted him completely even before the competition had started and had indeed found him to be much more than adequate today. This had pleased Spock immensely. He was slowly realizing that his general trepidation about this trip with Nyota had been unfounded.

And as requested by one of his competitors in the rungu, Spock had also led a rather impromptu basic instructional session of Suus Mahna to a group of 52 warriors from various clans who had expressed an interest in learning the difficult martial art during the afternoon break in the competition following the second meal of the day. Spock found this group to be excellent students and by the end of the almost two hour long session, he had noted much progress had been made by the group on the basic skills involved. Such improvement had not only pleased him but the warriors as well. He was then asked by the group to teach them more at their next competition. Spock had quickly agreed to do so if his scheduled allowed him.

With only an hour left before the closing celebration, Spock decided to once again make use of the sanitary facilities as his hydration level during the day had been quite high. And once again as he stood in front of the 4 meter long urinal inside the male sanitary facility he could sense many eyes looking at him….or actually looking at a certain part of his body.

The first time that this happened during the morning health break, Spock had thought back to his first ship-board service mission with Captain Pike. Spock had also experienced the curiosity of the other male crewmembers in the communal gender-specific crew showers on board their ship. And this curiosity had been singularly focused on the anatomical endowment of sexual organs much to Spock's confusion. But since Spock had been raised around only other Vulcan males he had been forced to admit to some measure of his own curiosity with regard to the genatalia differences between species that of course went beyond a textbook analysis. Spock had noted at the time that humans and Vulcan males possessed the same basic 'equipment' as Pike had labeled male genitalia. But Spock had also noted that Human males illogically assessed a certain amount of value based upon the size of male genitalia, which of course was irrelevant to the genitalia's basic function of procreation with a female.

Perplexed about such behavior he had eventually approached Captain Pike on the subject. And never the one to mince words, Pike had called such human curiosity 'the swinging dick' mentality during one of their many 3D chess games in the rec center aboard the ship when Spock brought the confusing behavior up to him. And as time went on Spock found Pike's crude reference to such behavior to be quite appropriate. And as far as comparisons went Spock had judged his own 'equipment' as well proportioned for his height and physique and had chosen to just simply ignored his crewmates' comments, subsequently focusing all of his efforts upon quickly finishing up his shower and thus removing himself from the potentially confusing social situation.

And so as was his habit from his ship board service with Pike, Spock now focused solely upon completing his task at the urinal, and then once done, reached down to quickly rearrange his lok within his athletic supporter until he attained sufficient comfort level before pulling his shorts back into position.

"Go on you knotheads!" Abdu, one of Nyota's cousins called out to the group of onlookers as he stepped into the now vacant spot on Spock's left side. "You act as if you've never seen a uume before!"

"They most likely have not seen a Vulcan's." Spock commented as he finished adjusting his shorts. "However anatomically speaking, Vulcan males and human males do possess quite similar genitalia. And that is one reason why Vulcan-Human progeny like myself exist."

Abdu smiled broadly back at Spock. "And we are all quite glad indeed that you DO exist my cousin!"

Jah suddenly walked into the facility. "Oh, there you are, my brother." He hailed Spock with a huge smile. "The council wishes to speak with you again before the closing celebration."

And with the eyes of many still upon him, Spock and Jah walked out of the room.

This had not been Nyota's best competition, but it had certainly not been her worst either. She had to finally admit to herself that her body was still recovering from studying non-stop without proper rest for her Star Fleet finals. So her decision to only compete in the half marathon and the 400 meter hurdles had been a wise one even though she had to endure a fair amount of harassment from both her clan as well as other clans over her limited events. Even before the meet began at the sign-in table some of her first cousins had teased her about her going 'soft' since she had been at Star Fleet. But she had just smiled at them putting on one of her best "we'll see' faces for them. And during the competition she had definitely managed to show everyone that she had indeed NOT gone soft at all.

"So is it true what I hear Nyota that you are now a married woman?" Naisiae, from the Baraguyu clan asked her after finishing first in the half marathon just 10 seconds ahead of Nyota. She began to shake Nyota's hand vigorously in between heavy breaths as they both began slowly walking together. "That would explain why you are running so SLOW today, woman!" she began to tease her delightedly and she slowly released Nyota's hand as they continued to walk during their cool down as more young women began to gather around them to meet the rest of the runners as they crossed over the finish line.

"Not exactly." Uhura breathed out heavily, their walk slowing even more.

"What does that mean, not exactly?" Naisiae remarked "That is like being pregnant…either you are or you are not."

"Oh, Oh. OH!" Noni called out to them as she ran up and dropped into sync next to Nyota as they continued to walk. "I got some video of this really hot guy." She told them excitedly.

Nyota knew that Noni was a master computer programmer who dabbled on the side with some border line legal application design work. Even her room mate Gaila would be hard pressed to keep up with this young woman.

"Don't tell me you hacked into the men's security cameras again, Noni." Nyota teased her with a smile.

"Well of course I did!" Noni replied with a huge grin. "And when two of those BOYS tried to hack our security system I not only blocked their hack but I inserted a really nasty ransom ware into their wimpy systems that ought to keep them busy for at least a day or two, as well as earn me a few credits on the side!"

"So let's see this HOT guy, Noni!" Naisiae requested as the three of them stopped walking and Noni moved to stand between them as she and Nyota looked at the PADD along with Noni.

Suddenly much to Nyota's surprise, there in video form on Noni's PADD was her bond mate as he practiced with the rungu. And for a moment she forgot to breathe almost becoming light headed as Naisiae quickly reached out her hand around Noni and take her by the arm to steady her.

"Oh my!" were the only words that Nyota could get out as she continued to stare at the small screen. Her eyes hungrily took in Spock's electronic form starting at his muscular chest upon which was an ample supply of dark hair, and then quickly roving down to what she quickly counted as at least an eight pack before following the treasure trail down to where his dark body hair disappeared into his sweaty gray Star Fleet issue athletic shorts. Then her eyes became riveted on the impressive bulge in the front of his shorts and she once again forgot to breathe prompting Naisiae to once again grab her by the arm. And as Spock turned away from the screen, Nyota's eyes swept over the well defined muscles of his back and legs, especially those large calf muscles before settling in on his very tight gluts. And if her panties weren't already soaked with sweat then they would definitely be soaked with her arousal by now.

"My, my, he is HOT alright! Do you know who he is?" Naisiae asked happily. "Girls, I think I am in LUST here!"

Noni shook her head. "I don't have a name but I was able to find out he's from Nyota's clan."

Both the women turned to Nyota in unison as Nyota continued to stare silently at Spock's gluts until he walked out of camera range.

"His name is Spock." Nyota barely managed to get out, her breathing still unsteady as she closed her eyes briefly before opening them again and looking over at Naisiae. "And remember that 'not exactly' I was telling you about…..well that's him."

"Well then it is no surprise that you are running slow today, woman!" Naisiae proclaimed cheerfully "You spent all night with that hunk banging the headboard against your bedroom wall no doubt. It's a wonder you can even walk today judging by that impressive package in those shorts of his!"

"What does 'not exactly' mean?" Noni blurted out somewhat in confusion as she gently began prying Nyota's still tensed fingers from her PADD hoping to get it back from her undamaged. "If you mean by that 'not exactly' that this sculpted hottie is available, then you better get some of your beads around that hunk's body and claim him quick before any of the other available females, including me, does."

"Spock and I are already bonded, but we just haven't entered into a formal Vulcan marriage bond yet." Nyota explained quickly "So technically we are not quite married, and ….and we haven't been intimate yet and….and….it's just really complicated."

"I'll say." Naisiae agreed quickly with a hearty laugh. "But Noni is right. You better get a bead claim on that hunk of hotness before there is a stampede for him at the celebration."

Nyota was suddenly quite glad that she stayed out with her grandmothers and mom late last night working on one large shuka. Because if Spock had already been talked into wearing the shuka then he would at least be partially claimed by her. But then it would be up to her to finish staking her claim on him. She was grateful now that her grandmothers had packed the beads that they had made last night for Spock into a large bag. And Nyota knew that she was going to make a beeline for that bag before she changed clothes for the celebration.

"Spock you have been a keen competitor as well a good teacher to many warriors today. And we wish to give thanks to you for the good work you have done." The council's leader, Baraka told him holding an ornately carved rungu out to him. "And we give to you this rungu to you to show our appreciation to you as well as to provide you with an incentive for you to return to these games next year."

Spock reached out to respectfully grasp the rungu within both hands. The rungu was of exquisite quality with expertly carved details found within the red wood. He had not expected such generosity from the council. He bowed his head in both respect and thanks to the elder as he slowly took the rungu from Baraka's hands. "I am most grateful and humbled to accept this finely crafted rungu." Spock told him raising his eyes to look the elder in the eyes. "It was an honor to instruct some of the warriors today in the art of Suus Mahna as there is always great honor in service. And I shall endeavor to return to the games next year provided I am not deployed off planet in service to Star Fleet."

"It is our understanding that you will serve with Nyota Uhura aboard the USS Enterprise." Baraka replied his eyes almost sad. "We wish both of you safe voyages and a speedy return to us."

Spock slowly bowed his head in respect to both Baraka and the rest of the council before he turned away, the rungu now tightly held within his left hand. As he walked with the rungu in his hand he immediately knew that the club was not pleasing to the eye but the weapon was precision balanced as well. As he continued to walk away from them Jah ran up to him gripping a large brown bag within his right hand.

"Come on Spock!" Jah slightly out of breath told him pointing towards a bench near the front of the ceremonial mud thatched building where the council met. "I have it on good word that Ny is going to bead you at the celebration. And my dad just gave this to me to see if you would like to wear it for the celebration."

Spock took the bag from Jah's hands and peered inside to find a bright fabric which he immediately noted to be in Nyota's clan's colors.

Jah quickly pulled the fabric out and Spock immediately recognized it as a shuka. "You don't have to wear it, but if you do then I can help you put it on." Jah offered sincerely "It's a little tricky the first time."

"Thank you, Jah." Spock replied clearly understanding the meaning behind such a gift to him. "I would be honored to wear this shuka."

Jah wore a smile from ear to ear as he began to unfold the shuka. "The good part about shukas is that you can keep your shorts on under it. I don't like going commando under these…they are way to scratchy for me."

Spock nodded understanding the use of the word 'commando'. "I too wish to retain my shorts."

Jah nodded in agreement and began to help Spock wrap the garment around him.

Nyota hurried across the bridge holding her bead bag in the crook of her right arm. This was the first time that she had crossed that bridge in her life with the intent of actually claiming one of the warriors as hers. In years past the only reason that she had only crossed the bridge was to celebrate with her clan the successes of the competition. In her life she had never even imagined herself being bound to a warrior. But here she was already bonded to a Vulcan warrior, no less, and about to claim him formally in front of not only her clan but in front of 12 other clans as well. Her pace began to pick up with the increased number of the women now around her. In her mind Noni's words of warning about other women trying to stake their claim on her bondmate kept replaying in her head. She quickened her pace even more as she made her way towards the bridge.

Spock and 35 other males had been asked to stand within a large red chalked circle on the grass field nearest the bridge. Jah had informed him that this area was where Nyota would meet him and that she would be giving him hand made beadwork to formally 'mark' him as belonging to her as was part of an ancient Maasai custom of courtship. As he waited silently, Spock found himself reaching back with his left hand to once again touch the rungu as it lay tucked beneath the goat skin belt that Jah had helped him fasten around his shuka. He had found the shuka most comfortable to wear and Spock could now readily understand why the majority of the competitors had worn such garments during the competition. But Spock found that he agreed with Jah about not wanting to wear the garment without under pants of some kind.

And as he continued to wait with the other males Spock found himself becoming unexpectedly on edge as he glanced around him for the 21st time. Against his will, illogical doubts had begun to plague his mind. What if Nyota had decided to bestow her beadwork upon another male? There were many males around him that were taller, more muscular and more physically endowed than he. The fact remained that he was, after all, an outsider. And as tradition bound as her clan was, would she really break with tradition and claim him?

Suddenly groups of females began to approach their group, bags and beadwork in hand. Within seconds several women were standing in front of him smiling broadly at him and both offering to place strings of beads around his neck at the same time, each of them talking over the other in an effort to claim him before the other was able to do so. So as politely as he could manage, he began to explain to the women in Kiswahili that he was already bonded to another female. But his words to them were ignored completely, and the women continued to compete between themselves in a quite animated effort to forge their claim upon him. A quick glance around him revealed that many of the males surrounding him were being accosted by other females in a similar fashion now as well. But Spock only had eyes for one woman now: where was his Nyota?

Suddenly feeling a gentle tug at their provisional bond he turned to his left and his eyes instantly located the woman of his dreams as she hurriedly approached him, she too carrying a large bag. Her long, black hair had been braided into long tendrils with many brightly colored beads woven within them, and her long, supple neck was encased within many metal necklaces with beadwork embedded within each necklace. He was suddenly reminded of a warrior princess that he had read about as a child. But instead of body armor, this particular princess wore a shuka, the lower third of her smooth mocha thighs showing beautifully below the bottom of her shuka, and her toned arms bore wire banding also adorned with beadwork. A quick glance downward made him aware that her feet were encased in a most delicate pair of red sandals. And as he looked up once again to her face his eyes were immediately drawn to his bond mate's luminous eyes as they shown brightly in the fading light, wide and accented by heavy eyeliner. She had never looked so beautiful to him. He felt his blood once again begin to burn within him. And he was once again quite grateful for his earlier decision to also retain his athletic supporter in place under his shuka. Its sudden tightness was a physical check to his growing arousal as he continued to gaze longingly at his star as she rapidly approached him.

"This one is MINE!" Nyota emphatically told her two cousins who had turned towards her with broad smiles now lighting up their faces. They immediately began to laugh loudly. She had obviously been set up by her family….again. She smiled back at them and they waved at her in an exaggerated manner before turning and walking away from she and Spock, their laughter growing even louder as they quickly disappeared into the crowd of the many males and females now filling the circle. With a quick sidelong glance she began to notice that many of her family and clan had now arrived to stand just outside the circle adjacent to them. Without a doubt she and Spock would be gathering quite an audience for this particular ceremony.

"Sorry." Uhura told Spock quietly so as to not be heard by her family as she swiftly stepped up to stand directly in front of him, tilting her head up to look him, her eyes instantly locking with his. "My family just loves to tease me as you well know by now. Two of my cousins had decided to play a trick on me just now by trying to claim you just to see if they could get me flustered…. which they did by the way." She admitted cutting her eyes towards her clan members who continued to gather just outside the circle adjacent to where she and Spock were standing. She quickly looked back to hold his eyes once again. "And in case you haven't noticed we have gathered quite an audience here." She told him tilting her head to acknowledge her family's presence outside the circle.

Spock was very aware of her family's presence now and he could readily see as well as feel Nyota's concern through their bond. He innately knew that he must respond to her and relay to her his own concerns and self doubts from just moments before. "I must confess to you that when I did not see you at first, I became quite concerned that you were contemplating claiming another. There are, after all, many worthwhile warriors available here today that are eager and willing to be claimed by such a beautiful female." He admitted to her in High Vulcan.

Uhura's eyes widened in surprise and instinctively she moved to stand even closer to him, her neck further craning up as she quickly stood up on her tiptoes in an effort to get even closer to him. He obediently tilted his head down until their foreheads touched gently, both of them now closing their eyes in order to focus on their bond more intently. "There IS no one else acceptable to this one. YOU are all that this one will ever require." She responded to him formally in High Vulcan.

Spock felt his shoulders involuntarily sag in relief at her words of devotion to him. He breathed in a silent breath of relief and her scent once again filled his nostrils. She smelled of coconut oil and sandalwood…and warm woman. "And YOU are half of my heart and soul and as such you are all that I will ever require." He acknowledged quietly back to her also in High Vulcan.

She couldn't keep a smile from growing upon her face at his words of devotion to her. She slowly sank back down from her toes. "So I guess we need to make this official now, huh?"

"Affirmative." He agreed as she stepped back from him and placed her bag upon the ground.

She began to pull loops of bead strings from the bag. And he noticed immediately that the colors and patterns matched those intertwined in her hair. So this was how he was to be 'marked'. Quite fascinating indeed.

Placing five loops of beads in the crook of her right elbow, she slowly stood up and then began to slowly drape the first loop of beads around his neck gently pulling the beads to lay down against the center of his chest. And as she did so she breathed in his body's scent which had intensified no doubt due to his physical exertion during the day. She had to immediately begin to breathe through her mouth concerned that as sexy as he smelled right now she was sorely tempted to just drag him out of the circle and have her way with him, clan traditions be damned at this point. She was fighting hard now to maintain an outward appearance of propriety with her family now closely watching every move she made.

And even though she continued with her work calmly, she now knew what was hidden just below her fingers and under that large shuka of his. But fortunately for her, that large shuka now covered up most of what she had seen in Noni's video which had her almost drooling over him as she watched it. But she found that she still relished the sensation of the outline of his hard body thru the material of the shuka as her fingers continued to trail up his chest and over his head with each set of beads, the pads of her index fingers lightly touching his ears with the installation of each loop of beads.

Nyota was finding it harder and harder to keep her face schooled into a somewhat neutral expression as the seconds ticked by and she continued to place her bead loops around his neck. And as she continued to work she couldn't help but notice that his normally perfect bangs were now slightly ruffled and that his thick beard had begun to darken his face. There was something almost primal with the way he looked now and she realized that she liked that….liked it a lot actually. Her fingers gently traced an invisible pattern over his beard roughen checks as she lowered her arms once she had placed the last loop of beads around his neck. She could now feel him shiver under her touch and she subsequently felt a jolt of both arousal and power quickly travel up her arms and into her heart which she realized was now thumping quite loudly within her chest. Half of her now hoped he couldn't hear the sound of her heart, but given his Vulcan hearing he most probably could. But the other half of her was hoping that he could hear her heart and understand just how much he was affecting her as well now.

Spock had forced his eyes to remain closed as he tilted his head down to enable Nyota to more easily place the loops of beads around his neck. And when her fingers touched his ears it was all that he could do to remain motionless with each successive loop of beads that she placed around his neck. Then feeling her warm, petite fingers then trail down his cheeks as she lowered her arms, Spock tensed his jaw and willed himself to continue to remain motionless and not open his eyes. He could both feel and hear her heart rate increase now. He quickly began to concentrate even more intently on controlling his body's response to her touch less he embarrass her in front of her family now.

Picking up several more bead strings and stashing them also in the crook of her right elbow, she began to affix the bead strings along the outline of the front his shuka, crisscrossing them in an ornate pattern as she fastened them. She quickly walked around him as she placed each string in order to secure the beads on the back of his shuka as well. And as she slowly moved around his body she quickly became lost in the complex patterns and by the 3 rd string of beads she accidently began to once again breathe in through her nose. She immediately noticed that his scent had begun to morph into an intoxicating mix of male musk AND a raw sensuality that she found suddenly irresistible. Tried as she might to control her thoughts, the only image in her head right now was one of her tearing the shuka off of him and consummating their relationship right then and there. She quickly began to once again breathe through her mouth as she slowly regained her control once more. And she fervently hoped that her family had not noticed her lapse in control just then or she knew that she would never hear the end of it from her mother and grandmothers.

But once she finished affixing the last of the bead strings she found that she couldn't help herself and she allowed the finger tips of her left hand to lightly trail through his dense black chest hair that lay just outside the bounds of his shuka. She had wanted to run her fingers through his chest hair since she saw him in Noni's video. She closed her eyes momentarily as she felt the softness of his body hair and she immediately wanted to feel more of it. But when she once again felt him shiver under her finger tips, she knew she had to stop NOW. She opened her eyes suddenly and shook her head disappointed both at her thoughts and behavior.

"My apologies…once again." She quietly told him in High Vulcan just loud enough for only him to hear as he opened his eyes to once again look down at her. "I do apologize for my thoughts and actions at this moment. I have never touched you in a manner….such as THIS before. And I know that this is improper given the circumstances." She explained to him as she stepped back from him quickly averting her eyes away from him and then bending down to reach into her bag once again. She quickly pulled out two bracelets and two arm bands all of which were beaded ornately. She suddenly heard chanting start up throughout the circle and she knew that others were already finishing with their claiming ceremony. She knew that she needed to speed it up now….and fast.

But as she turned away from him, he had immediately missed her touch and found that he could not hold himself in place any longer. He craved her touch now. Suddenly unable to control himself now he swiftly took a half step towards her as she continued to remove more items from her bag.

And as she stood up she found herself even closer to him than she had expected which forced her to reach out to grab on to his shuka in order to keep her balance. He immediately put his arms protectively around her. "I apologize for moving." He told her simply as she smiled up at him.

"It's OK." She responded quickly recovering her composure. "Just let me get these bracelets and arm bands on you and then I will finally be done. And THANK you for being so patient with me."

He slowly released her and then bowed his head to her respectfully, his eyes never breaking contact with her eyes. "And my thanks to you for both your skill and patience in creating such quality beadwork. I am most grateful both to you and for you in my life." He acknowledged to her in High Vulcan and then obediently held out his right arm straight out to his side for her.

She smiled broadly at him as she began to place the first arm band on his right arm. She immediately realized that she had been off on her calculations about his upper arm size. His arm was MUCH larger than she though it was. But her ever wise Bibis had placed a generous amount of elastic into the arm bands and for that she was most grateful now as she maneuvered it into position around his biceps and triceps. And she was quite pleased that the bracelet fit perfectly around his wrist as she finished with his right arm.

He then held out his left arm for her to adorn similarly. And as she finished placing the last bracelet on him a loud 'whoop' went up from her family and clan just outside the circle.

"Took you long enough, Ny!" Jah yelled over the din at them and Nyota playfully shook her fist at him before joining him in laughter.

Nyota then took Spock's left hand within both her hands and declared "As is the tradition of my clan, I have now claimed you as my husband." She told him in Kiswahili loudly. She then spoke softly so only he could hear her now. "Your response is supposed to be: 'I accept your claim upon me as your husband and I now claim you as my wife as is the tradition of my clan.'"

Spock looked down upon her and raised his right hand to tenderly lay it upon both of her hands still gripping his right hand tightly. "I accept your claim upon me as your husband and I now claim you as my wife as is the tradition of my clan." He repeated calmly as Nyota smiled broadly up at him.

Another loud 'whoop' went up from their clansmen and family followed immediately with clapping and loud cheering.

Nyota gently tugged on Spock's left hand and he allowed her to turn them both towards her family and clan members many of them with their coms out no doubt recording the ceremony. And she was now quite certain that she would never hear the end of comments from her mother and grandmothers about this particular ceremony…..after all they all have video proof now. Nyota quickly began calculating how she would secure and skillfully edit the various videos without detection.

The celebratory meal left everyone satisfied. Spock noticed that even Murunga had pushed back from the table which was a testament to just how much food had been brought by the clans for their shared meal. And clearly no one had left the tables hungry. After the meal the clan members slowly began to fill the seats within the open air pavilion in the center of which a large bonfire had been lit. After everyone was seated the official results of the competition were announced by clan. Afterwards the elders of each clan spoke as to the current happenings within each clan. Even though the assembled crowd was respectful, Spock noted that many in the crowd had begun to become restless at this point, the large meal and the long day creating a sudden restlessness within the audience.

During the meal Nyota had remembered Spock's mother's words about shielding Spock from large family gatherings. She had already apologized several times to him during the meal about his exposure to what she knew was uncomfortable social settings during the day and evening. "It is of no consequence." he had replied to her every time she had apologized except for the last time when he had informed her in that calm, concise tone of his that "The minimal discomfort that I have experienced today has more than been compensated for." She had known at that point that Spock was indeed going to 'survive' this trip to meet her family. And this thought had pleased her greatly. She found herself quickly leaning up to kiss him on the cheek as they sat there listing to another one the elders speak. She then began to quietly giggle prompting him to turn his head downward to look at her, the 'what do you find so humorous' question quite apparent in his eyes.

"Your beard tickled my lips." She informed him in a whisper with the beginnings of a smile on her face.

"I regret that I did not think to bring my shaver with me this morning." He responded quietly to her. "I did not intend to be seen an unkempt."

She quickly reached up to brush the fingertips of her right hand along his right cheek before using her nails to lightly scratch at his beard as she lowered her hand. "It's OK." She replied in a hushed voice still smiling at him. "It's just that I don't get to see you this way that often."

"This way?" he quietly asked for clarification, his curiosity now peaked. It was now quite obvious to him that his unkempt appearance was somehow pleasing to her. And now he wished to ascertain just why that was. It was after all his duty to please his bond mate.

"You know…." She began reaching out with her left hand to comb her fingers through his bangs as her smile grew even wider. "like THIS." She giggled delightedly still attempting to keep her voice low. "I do not wish to overinflate that huge ego of yours, Commander, however your beard and tousled hair gives you a very rugged look which I find to be MOST attractive."

With the feel of her fingers in his hair he closed his eyes and reflexively leaned into her touch. And even though he realized she was teasing him now he found her attention to him at the moment very pleasing indeed.

As the last of the elders finished speaking to the crowd, the musicians and dancers quickly appeared. Jah and Nabe had joined the dancers as did other competitors and soon the area around the campfire was awash in moving bodies.

Amanda had informed Nyota of Spock's aversion to dancing, so after a few minutes of watching and listening, she reached down to tug at Spock's hand. "Come on." She told him and he immediately rose up to follow her out of the pavilion as he entwined his fingers with hers.

And as the golden moon slowly rose over the savanna, Spock and Nyota walked slowly together hand in hand away from the pavilion as the celebration was still going strong. Both of them were admittedly tired from the day's events as well as driven to find some alone time together away from the raucous crowd still gathered in the pavilion

Spock motioned towards a low bench that was currently not occupied noting that other couples too had left the celebration and some of them already seated on the numerous benches strewn about outside the pavilion. Nyota nodded her head in agreement to him as he slowly sat down on one end of the deserted bench. He gently pulled on her hand and she eased herself into position right next to him, their legs and hips touching slightly. And together they watched the rising moon in affable silence for many minutes, their hands still joined and laying atop Spock's right thigh, her head resting against his right arm. Behind them the pavilion was steadily growing quieter as the dancing and music slowly began to wind down for the night.

"I find it most agreeable that we have been joined together in both Vulcan and Maasai traditions." He told her softly, turning his head to look down at her. The moonlight reflecting in her mahogany eyes was very pleasing to him as was her closeness now. As they continued to stare into each others eyes, his left hand slowly reached into the pocket in his shorts under his shuka. His heart now soared with what he knew to be the 'perfect' timing of what he was about to do. He gently disengaged his right hand from her left one as he delicately gripped the necklace within both of his hands, then turning his body to hold it out for her to see in the soft moonlight. He looked once again at her face and noted that she was now watching his hands intently, her luminous eyes becoming larger as he continued to hold the necklace in front of her.

"My father had given this to my mother before they were married as a token of the admiration, respect, and affection that he held for my mother. She recently sent this to me and requested that I give this to you prior to our marriage ceremony so as to also act as a symbol of the admiration, respect, and affection that I hold for you. My mother insisted that this was to be a new tradition for our family." His fingers nimbly undid the clasp as he once again held the necklace out to her. "The stone is Vokaya and is called the memory stone within Vulcan history with the understanding that this stone harkens Vulcans back to the time when our race was more warlike, more primitive. To a time where our emotions flowed more freely, more passionately."

Nyota felt her pulse begin to race. The amulet was without a doubt gorgeous and the story behind the stone was quite surprisingly….passionate…..much like the Vulcan now seated beside her.

"Will you accept this gift from me, Nyota?" he asked her almost shyly as he continued to hold out the necklace to her.

"I will accept it, Spokh." She replied to him as his hands moved just under her braids and around on either side of her neck to reach the back of her neck before clasping the ends together. The Vokaya stone now lay on top of her necklaces. She reached up with her left hand to touch the warm stone. "It's beautiful! Thank you Spokh."

The fingers of his hands gently trailed down her back as her hands slowly reached out and wrapped around the back of his neck drawing him down to her. As their lips met and their eyes closed, he immediately began to deepen the kiss and she responded in kind until she could no longer even breathe.

Suddenly she began to giggle causing him to break the kiss and pull back from her slightly. "That tickles!" Was all that she could manage to get out as her giggles began to grow even louder.

Spock leaned down to touch his forehead gently to hers and their bond once again intensified. "As always, I am most grateful to be a source of levity to you." He teased her as her giggles quickly began to subside.

She smiled broadly at him. "I cherish thee." She told him empathetically in High Vulcan.

"And I cherish thee." Spock responded to her also in High Vulcan.

"I thought I'd find the two of you out here." Namelok called out to them as she slowly walked towards the bench. "We are finally getting ready to head home and I wanted to make sure you two get settled into one transport for the ride back."

Nyota pulled away slowly from Spock as she reached out with her left thumb and quickly wiped the remains of her lipstick from his lips. She then turned to smile broadly at her grandmother before once again turning back to Spock with the question in her eyes. Spock nodded once to her in silent agreement. "We really don't have a preference to which transport we ride in Bibi, as long as we are together." She replied to her grandmother.

"Now that's what I like to hear, grandchildren!" Namelok replied with a laugh. "Because without a doubt you two do belong TOGETHER!"

Author's Notes: This is part 2 of 3 of their trip to Africa. I already have the outline for Part 3 done. Hopefully I can update sooner than later.