It had been two months since the five year mission had ended. Most of the Enterprise crew had gone back to their respective homes. They were reunited with family they hadn’t seen in years, matters they hadn’t been able to tend to in space, and friends whose company they had missed. They’d promised they would see one another again, sometime soon, after things had calmed down.
For many of them, their lives simply picked up where they’d left off. Some were offered positions on other ships. Some began teaching at the Academy. Most of them arrived on Earth with little more than their Starfleet uniforms, badges of honour, and a few trinkets picked up along the way. Leonard, however, brought back much more with him.
Spock had agreed that moving to Georgia with Leonard was ideal. Nothing was truly waiting for him on Vulcan. Not after he had passed up his invitation to the Vulcan Science Academy all those years ago. He was - as T’Pring had so aptly put it - somewhat of a legend among their people now. The half-human who preferred to join the military instead of study. Spock did not want that life, and Leonard was more than happy to take him home.
Until it was suggested that they go back to Vulcan anyway. For a visit. Just for a little while.
Leo had only ever been to Vulcan on one occasion - for Spock’s koon-ut-kal-if-fee, which was something he preferred not to think about for obvious reasons. At the time he’d been introduced to the saddest cast of characters he’d ever had the displeasure of meeting. Spock’s wife. Her boyfriend. T’Pau. Many men wearing helmets. Leonard honestly would have preferred not to go back, but Spock had a convincing argument.
Their wedding - their human marriage ceremony - had been aboard the Enterprise, Jim Kirk presiding as was customary on a starship. It hadn’t been open to the public, but some members of the senior staff were present and there was a small reception. It was quaint, and done entirely for Leonard’s satisfaction. After all, the Vulcan ritual - the Van-Kal t'Telan - was much more intimate and occurred behind closed doors. The joining of two minds was not something you did in public.
Leonard had no family to share the news with. He’d written to Joanna. She seemed happy for the two of them, but their relationship was far removed and existed only over subspace messages. Her relationship to Spock was non-existent. Other than that, there was no one to tell...except Spock’s parents.
Leonard had only met Spock’s parents on one occasion. It was during a diplomatic mission to Babel when Ambassador Sarek was a guest aboard the Enterprise. He hadn’t warmed up to the ambassador - not that he was surprised - but Spock’s mother was a lovely woman whose company Leonard had enjoyed very much. Fast forward a few hours and he’d had to perform surgery on Spock and his father at the same time during a crisis. There hadn’t been any time to talk to them about the marriage, but something in Leo’s head kept nagging him. He thought it was important they should know.
The weather was never something he would get used to. It wasn’t the same sort of heat as at home. This heat was indescribable...alien. The people were polite enough, but Leonard could tell they weren’t used to visitors outside of diplomacy, and he couldn’t shake the feeling of judgement when he passed them on the street. He had hoped the feeling would be different at the Ambassador’s house, seeing at it was Spock’s father and all. He didn’t know much about Spock and Sarek’s relationship, and he didn’t want to push. That seemed like information that should be volunteered.
Upon their arrival, there were a few moments of awkward conversation, and then Amanda absolutely insisted Spock’s assistance at the store. Within minutes, Leonard and Sarek were left alone together. Leonard cursed Spock in his head who responded by suggesting they ‘make small talk’, which Leo was fairly sure wasn’t something Sarek was keen on.
After some seconds of silence, Leonard clapped his hands together. “Well, uh...it’s nice to see you, Ambassador.” Spock had not mentioned exactly why he’d brought Leonard along. Unless he had sent word before they came, Bones couldn’t imagine what Sarek was thinking.