Epilogue

Two weeks later.

Pavel stepped up to the iron side gate at the Russian Embassy, bundled in a heavy jacket, his arms crossed against the cold—the November weather had finally made it to Riverside.

He swiped his father's card key over the scanner and the lock clicked, and Pavel stepped inside, shutting the gate behind him.

"Mr. Arkady?" he asked, looking around the grounds, seeing no one.

Sticking his hands into his pockets, Pavel approached Arkady's shed, raising his hand to knock on the door.

"Come in, Pavel," came Arkady's voice from inside.

Pavel jumped. Stunned, he slowly pushed open the shed door to find the old man standing before his cluttered desk, pouring a mug of tea from a black kettle.

"How did you know I was there?" Pavel asked, wide-eyed.

Arkady turned to Pavel, gesturing to the small screen mounted on the wall, showing an image of the side gate.

"I thought it would be a good idea to have one of these installed, after what happened two weeks ago," Arkady said, "Come in, boy, you look like you're about to freeze solid."

Pavel stepped inside and shut the door behind him, and Arkady handed him a mug of tea, gesturing to a small folding chair beside the door.

"Um…" Pavel began, as he sat down, "I just…I wanted to thank you, Mr. Arkady, for what you did. If you hadn't come to help Spock, Nyota and me, well…" he trailed off, not wanting to say what came next.

Arkady looked over at him, and Pavel fell silent.

"There is no need for thanks, boy," he said, "I did what had to be done."

Pavel nodded once but remained silent, trying to figure out how to word his next sentence.

"Mr. Arkady," he began, "…that stuff you did…with the Romulans, and the dirt…I—I wanted to—I was just wondering—"

"You want to know how I knew how to do all of those things," Arkady finished for him, taking drink of tea.

Pavel nodded. "Da," he said, "And how you knew about the Romulans and the dirt."

Arkady leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. "Well, boy," he began, "I wasn't always a groundskeeper. There are quite a few stories I could tell you about my days before I came here."

He fell silent, and Pavel waited, watching him.

"Could I hear one, Sir?" Pavel asked.

Arkady looked back at Pavel. He seemed to think for a moment, and then nodded. "Da. I suppose you can."

"Will you tell me about what you did before you became a groundskeeper?" Pavel asked eagerly, his eyes wide.

Arkady took another drink of his tea. "Da. I will. But first, we must start at the beginning." He cleared his throat. "I grew up in St. Petersburg, near to where your father lived when he was a boy," he said.

"Is that how you knew him?" Pavel asked.

"Oh no, boy. No. This was many years before your father was born. I met your father much later."

Pavel tilted his head to the side as Arkady continued:

"When I was eighteen, I was selected by the Russian Interplanetary Secret Service to start training to become an agent."

Pavel's eyes widened. "Mr. Arkady, you were a spy?" he gasped.

Arkady nodded. "Da. I was. But Pavel—" he gave Pavel a bemused smile, "—perhaps your father has not told you—Arkady is not my last name. It is my first name. You do not have to call me 'Mr.' Arkady."

Pavel blinked. "Oh," he said, "What is your last name, Sir?"

Arkady took a long drink of tea, and said, smiling, "It's Chekov."

"Grounded for a week," Scotty repeated, raising his eyebrows at Hikaru, "Look, I'm sorry lad, but I jes' fail in all ways to find that an impressive punishment."

Though the air was cold, the sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant, cloud-patched blue, and the kids had decided to spend the day at the playground.

Currently they sat in their normal meeting circle, perched atop old crates and tires, deep in conversation.

"Hey, I had to babysit Yumiko all day!" Hikaru protested, "You know how hard it is to babysit a hyper four-year-old?"

"Grounded for a week, Hikaru?" Gaila asked, popping a stick of gum into her mouth, "That's really not all that bad. I got grounded for a month once."

Around the group, everyone's heads turned to Gaila in awe.

"When was that?" demanded Len.

"Jeez, Gaila, that's like a world record or something!" Jim said, incredulously, "What'd you do?"

"Oh, nothing you'd be interested in," Gaila replied, smiling coyly.

"But you didn't get that because of the embassy!" Hikaru protested, "Seriously, doesn't anybody else think getting grounded for a week sucks?"

Gaila shook her head. "Nope."

Christine did the same. "I got to stare at Leonard out my window the whole time, so it was okay," she sighed, dreamily.

"Y'see?" Scotty asked as Len cringed and edged away from Christine, "It's jes' not that impressive."

Hikaru crossed his arms. "Okay then, what did you have to do?"

"Laundry," Scotty replied, "Me whole family's. For a week."

Jim grinned, leaning back against the red antique car and looking up into the sky as Scotty began to detail the sheer amount of laundry a family of seven generates—"Even me bloody dog! Me mum knitted the old beagle a sweater!"

"I have to agree, that's pretty bad," said Janice, nodding with Scotty, "I got a bunch of extra chores to do too."

"Sucks to be sworn to secrecy," Jim said, staring wistfully up at the sky and then turning to Pavel, asking, "Pavel, what about you?"

Pavel, who had so far been silent throughout the conversation, looked up. "Huh?" he asked.

"What happened to ye after the embassy?" asked Scotty.

Pavel blinked. "I…went home and had dinner and went to bed," he said. "My father talked to me about being safe and then told me he was proud of me for helping to stop the Romulans."

Gaila's eyebrows went up. "You mean you didn't get punished?" she asked.

"After everything that happened, you just got off scot-free?" Len demanded.

"Oh, like you didn't!" scoffed Hikaru.

"Why, what happened to you?" Nyota asked Len.

Len gave a sheepish grin. "You really want to know?" he asked.

"Well, yeah!" said Gaila, crossing her arms expectantly.

"Weeeeell…" Len trailed off, hesitating, "…if ya really want to know, I got sentenced to cookie-deprivation for a month, although Gran forgot all about it last week."

Jim snorted. "Lucky."

"Well, I think my punishment tops all of your punishments," Nyota spoke up with a knowing smile.

"Oh really, lassie?" Scotty raised his eyebrows, skeptically. "Jes' what did you have tae do?"

"I got grounded for two weeks—" she began.

"Well, that's not that bad—" Jim interrupted her.

"—in addition to having to empty my mom's worm composters in the garden," Nyota finished.

Jim blinked. "Oh," he said.

"Eeeeeeew!" shrieked Christine.

"That's nasty!" said Hikaru, a horrified expression on his face.

"Didn't need to know, Ny, I've had enough experience with worm bins!" Janice said, shuddering.

Pavel looked at Nyota, frowning. "What ees a 'worm bin'?" he asked curiously, then recoiled as he was hit by a wave of protest.

"All right, lassie, ye win," Scotty said, wincing, "Unless Spock's got somethin' better, 'tho I doubt it…"

"Yeah, where is Spock?" Jim asked, frowning, "He said he'd be here."

"He's gonna be late," Nyota answered, "He said he had something to take care of first."

"Well, it is Thanksgivin'," Scotty said.

"Yes, because they totally celebrate Thanksgiving on Vulcan," Len said sarcastically.

Scotty shrugged. "Ye never know," he said, "his mum's American."

A brief silence fell, broken by Jim, who spoke up, pointing toward the end of Derby Drive: "There he is."

Sure enough, Spock's mother's car was approaching the playground, and a few moments later pulled up at the curb. Spock got out, heading over to them as the car turned and drove away.

"Hey!" Jim called, grinning, "Glad you could make it."

"What the heck took ya so long?" Len asked, smirking and crossing his arms.

Spock did not answer immediately. He was staring at the ground, his shoulders slightly slumped, a blank look on his face.

Nyota stared at him, her expression concerned. "Spock?" she asked, "Are you okay?"

Jim and Len exchanged glances, their smiles fading.

"Spock?" Jim asked.

Spock slowly lifted his head and regarded his friends, all of whom had fallen silent. He swallowed, his heart wrenching as he began to recite the speech he had been waiting to give them:

"My…" he began, "…my father would like for me to thank all of you, for saving his life. He wishes he could be here in person to tell say this but he cannot." He looked around the circle, catching each of his friends' eyes as he continued: "He would like me to tell you that he is forever grateful, and to say goodbye…before…before we leave."

Sitting on the ancient tires and crates, the kids shared confused looks.

"Leave?" Jim asked, frowning, "Spock, what are you talking about? Are you going somewhere?"

Spock took a deep breath. "Tomorrow, my parents and I are leaving…to go back to Vulcan."

Silence fell.

Around the circle, everyone exchanged wide-eyed looks, all except Nyota, who simply stared at Spock, shocked.

Finally, the silence was broken by Scotty, who, his mouth agape, asked, "Spock, you're…you're not movin' back tae Vulcan, are ye?"

Gravely, Spock met his eyes and nodded.

Jim stared at Spock, incredulous. "Why?" he asked.

"Not because of what happened at the embassy?" Nyota demanded, her dark eyes wide.

Spock nodded again. "In light of recent events, my parents have decided that it would be safer and…more practical, for my education…if we returned to live on Vulcan," he explained.

"But that—that's not fair, Spock!" Gaila burst out.

"Spock, you just got here a month ago," Jim told him, getting to his feet, his voice barely above a whisper.

"They can't just drag you back to with 'em after you've only been here a month!" Hikaru said, frowning.

"Unfortunately they can," Spock answered, "They are, after all, my parents."

"But you just got here!" Pavel protested, standing and staring at Spock, wide-eyed.

Len got to his feet as well. "For cryin' out loud, Spock," he demanded, his expression almost hurt, "Who's gonna help me talk sense into Jim when he comes up with another crazy scheme?"

At this, the corners of Spock's mouth twitched up a fraction. "Well, Leonard," he began, "I am sure that you of all people will be successful in finding someone."

Len rolled his eyes.

Despite himself, Jim smiled. He stepped forward.

"Well," he began, "If this is really it, then…I think that Spock should choose our first game." He looked at Spock, waiting.

Spock's lips quirked again, a barely perceptible smile. "It would be my honor, Jim," he said. A beat passed, and then he turned toward Len. "Len," he began, stepping forward.

Len frowned suspiciously at Spock. "Yeah…?" he asked, apprehensively.

Spock's small smile widened by a fraction, and he reached out and tapped Len on the arm and said, calmly, "Tag."

Len's mouth dropped open in shock as Spock darted out of reach and started running across the playground.

Scotty's eyes widened. The bubble Gaila had been blowing popped. Slowly, Nyota began to smile.

Jim, letting out an incredulous laugh, started to back away from Len, and the others began to do the same.

"I don't believe it," Len gaped at Spock, "That pointy-eared hobgoblin!" He stood there for a moment more, and then ran after Spock, shouting: "Spock, you are SO DEAD!"

Watching Len tear across the playground, Jim and Nyota exchanged a glance, both smiling, both thinking the same thing.

If this was it, then at least they could make it fun.

Tag lasted for a good half hour before morphing into the more sophisticated hide-and-go-seek freeze tag, which, with his Vulcan eyesight and logistic skills, Spock won with ease. From there, the kids ran to Hikaru's house for lunch and leaf-diving contests, which were, amazingly enough, dominated by Christine, who had a habit of doing a series of crazy dance moves before jumping into the leaf piles.

After lunch, they headed into the woods to climb trees, where Gaila gave everyone a demonstration of the game Hunted, showing how she looked around for traps and covered her tracks before climbing nimbly into the branches above and pretending to fall asleep, camouflaging herself with leaves and twigs.

The rest of the afternoon was then dedicated to one long, glorious game of Spaceship, during which Captain Jim and his First Officer Spock managed to rescue their Chief of Engineering Scotty, Lieutenant Gaila, and Navigator Pavel from the clutches of the Romulans, only to find out via a transmission translated by Lieutenant Nyota that the star nearest them was about to go into super nova. As Gaila, Scotty and Pavel were taken to Sickbay by Chief Medical Officer Len and Nurse Christine, the ship was flown to safety by Helmsman Hikaru and navigated by Yeoman Janice in Pavel's stead.

As the mission ended and the crew docked in the space port, things started to quiet down, and the kids settled down to study cloud animals in the color-streaked sky as the sun inched slowly toward the horizon.

"That's an alligator," said Scotty, pointing up at one of the clouds overhead.

Len looked up at it, frowning. "Nuh-uh," he shook his head, "It's a crocodile. Look at the snout."

"It's an alligator," Scotty argued.

"Crocodile," Len insisted, "Alligators have longer snouts. Jim, back me up here—doesn't that cloud look like a crocodile?"

Jim, from his seat on the hood of the red antique car, grinned and replied: "I dunno, Len, I think it looks kind of like a chupacabra. Spock, whadda you think?"

"Chupa-what?" asked Pavel, frowning.

Spock studied the cloud animal. "Based upon the length of the tail and the crest on its head, I believe it resembles most closely an oversized bearded dragon," he remarked, "Nyota?"

"Hmm…a salamander," Nyota concluded, gazing up at the cloud in question with a small smile.

"It's kind of an ugly newt-lookin' thing," Gaila spoke up, "Looks like the lizards I used to see in the jungle on Orion."

"No, no, it's one of those running lizards," Hikaru argued, "Y'know, the ones that run on water?"

"On their hind legs?" Janice tilted her head to the side, "Yeah, I could see that."

"Pavel, what about you?" asked Jim.

"I am not sure…I do not know lizards very well…although from this angle eet reminds me of a dead cockroach," Pavel answered.

"I think it looks like a puppy!" Christine piped up, cheerfully.

Everyone turned to stare at Christine in amazement.

"What?" Christine asked.

Just then came a faint voice in the distance, calling in a singsong: "Montgomery Sco-ooott!"

Scotty sat up, huffing irritably. "That'd be me mum, lads n' lassies." A grim smile on his face, he stood. "Spock," he said, turning to Spock, "Well…it was fun hangin' out. Keep in touch, a'right?"

Spock nodded solemnly. "I will, Scotty," he answered.

Scotty smiled and started off toward the dirt road, waving as he did so. "Bye, all!"

"Bye, Scotty!" Jim called, waving back.

"I still say it's a crocodile!" Len shouted, grinning.

Scotty waved Len off and disappeared down Derby Drive.

Hikaru glanced back at the horizon. "I should probably get going too," he said, "My dad's on shore leave this week, and we're gonna pick him up from the shuttle port." He stood, waving. "See you guys later," he said as he started to walk to Farmer Barrett's cornfield, "Good luck on Vulcan, Spock!"

The others said their goodbyes to Hikaru and then he disappeared into the corn.

A few more minutes passed, and then Janice and Christine parted together, Janice half-dragging Christine away as Christine waved frantically, calling happily, "Bye, Leonard!"

Len managed a weak smile and waved back to her with everyone else: "Bye, Christine."

Gaila then checked the time a few minutes after Janice and Christine had left, rolling her eyes and declaring that she'd been given a curfew, and started away down Arbor Street, popping a stick of gum in her mouth and starting to chew, waving back at those left before she disappeared around the corner.

When the sun finally dipped below the horizon, Pavel rose and parted as well, taking the shortcut through Farmer Barrett's cornfield, a small, tired smile on his face.

A peaceful quiet descended upon the playground, and Jim and Len climbed onto the hood of the red antique car, stretching out and watching the clouds drift by in the November breeze. Spock and Nyota sat on a pair of old tires and talked, for too short an eternity, until the first stars began to appear, and Spock's mother pulled up in front of the playground.

As the small car came to a stop, Spock glanced back to his mother in the driver's seat, who smiled at him and turned the car off, content to wait until he was ready.

Spock turned back to Nyota and they both rose in silence.

"Well," Nyota began, her dark eyes meeting Spock's, "…I guess this is it."

Spock nodded. "I suppose it is."

There was a brief silence, and then they both spoke at once, Nyota saying, "Before you go—" and Spock saying, "I need to—"

They broke off at the same time, blushing.

"You first," Nyota told him, giving him a solemn smile.

Spock took a deep breath. "At the embassy," he said, "there was something I wanted to tell you, but never had the chance."

Nyota nodded. "I remember," she said.

Spock met her eyes. "You once told me you were ordinary," he said, "but I believe that statement was incorrect. I believe…" he paused for a moment, looking as if he were trying to find the right words, but then looked into Nyota's eyes again and pushed on: "Nyota, you are not ordinary. You are…extraordinary. And I am glad I know you."

Nyota gave Spock a quivering smile. "I'm glad I know you, Spock," she answered.

She took his hands in her own, and they stood there for a moment in silence. Then Nyota, looking as if she were about to cry, pulled Spock into a hug.

Spock, blinking in surprise, put his arms around Nyota and hugged her back.

They broke apart, and Nyota drew her sleeve over her eyes. "I'll be listening for you on the radio," she told him, shakily.

"And I for you," Spock answered.

Nyota bit her lip, and then took a deep breath, composing herself. Standing straight, she held up her right hand and parted her fingers in the Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper, Spock," she told him.

The corners of Spock's mouth curved into a smile.

"Goodbye, Nyota," he answered.

Slowly, not wanting to turn away, Nyota walked backwards from the playground to the sidewalk, waving to Spock as she went.

Spock watched her as she walked to the end of the sidewalk, waving in return.

Then Nyota passed behind Farmer Barrett's house, and disappeared from view.

Jim and Len watched in silence as Nyota disappeared behind Farmer Barrett's house and Spock slowly lowered his arm to his side.

The two boys exchanged glances.

Jim looked at Len and shrugged, as if to say, Well, looks like it's time.

He hopped down off the antique car and headed over to Spock, who turned to face him.

"Guess this is it," Jim said.

Spock nodded. He was silent for a moment, and then met Jim's ice blue eyes. "Jim," he began, trailing off. He hesitated for a moment, then gave a solemn smile and said, simply, "I shall always be your friend."

Jim smiled in return. "You'll keep in touch, right?" he asked.

Spock nodded again. "Indeed," he began, "but Jim, the statistical likelihood that we will see each other again is—"

"Spock." Jim looked Spock in the eye. "You'll be back."

Spock was silent for a moment, and then nodded. "Yes," he said, "Yes. I will."

There was silence for a moment more, and then Spock held up his hand in the Vulcan salute. "Good luck, Jim."

Jim nodded. "Good luck, Spock." He stuck out his hand, and Spock shook it once, then let go.

Then, slowly, Spock started for his mother's car and got inside, closing the door and buckling his seatbelt, and the car rumbled to life, turning and heading away down Derby Drive.

Jim and Len waved as it disappeared around the corner, and then Jim walked back to the red antique car, climbing up top again next to Len.

Len let out a long breath. "Believe it or not, I'm gonna miss that pointy-eared hobgoblin," he told Jim.

Jim smiled. "He'll be back," he said.

He laid back and put his hands behind his head, looking up into the fading sky. Len did the same, and the two boys were quiet for awhile.

Then Len spoke: "I never found out what happened to you."

Jim blinked. "Huh?" he asked.

"After the embassy," Len said, "What happened?"

Jim shrugged. "Surprisingly little," he said. "I mean, my mom had come home and all, so she kind of missed all the sneaking out and car-stealing stuff. Really all I had to do was clean up Frank's mess."

Len looked up at the stars. "Yeah," he said, "I still can't believe he's gone. That your mom kicked him out."

Jim grinned. "Oh, Len, you should've been there," he sighed, reveling in the memory, "She just marched inside, walked up to him, slapped him across the face, and told him to get out and never come back."

"And he did?" Len marveled.

Jim nodded. "She threatened to call the cops on him," he added, "Tell 'em what he'd been doing—about the drinking and…well…you know."

There was a short pause, and then Jim grinned.

"What?" Len asked.

"I was just thinking," Jim said, "…after all of this…I'm really glad you decided to come monster-hunting."

Len smiled. "Me too," he answered. He looked out to the horizon. "We probably oughta head for my house. I bet they're waiting."

" 'Kay." Jim jumped off the roof of the car and started for the cornfield, Len at his side. "I hope your grandma showed my mom a thing or two about cooking, 'cause it's just been burnt toast and leftover pizza since she got back…"

"Gran said she would," Len answered, "she said she'd show her how to make that roasted sweet potato dish. You know, the one with the marshmallow on top."

"Oh man," Jim shut his eyes, imagining it. "I could eat a barrel of that stuff."

Len laughed. "We're glad you approve."

Jim slung his arm around Len's shoulders and they walked off into the cornfield, taking the shortcut home.

Just before he disappeared into the corn after Len, Jim turned to face the playground, the cornfields to the south, the dirt road leading to the shipyard, and the woods.

He smiled.

THE END

Author's Note: First, I would like to thank my two editors, who I will call General Chang and Admiral Bonsai, as they don't have accounts on (to anyone with those account names, sorry), for all their help on this story, giving me praise when I needed it, giving me constructive criticism when I was getting too swelled of a head, pushing me to keep going when I started to lose interest, and helping me keep this story on track for the past eleven months. Many of the ideas and brilliant lines came from them, and I really appreciate everything they've done to move this story along. You guys are awesome.

Second: To everyone who read/reviewed/favorited this story, thank you so much for taking the time to do so. I hope you enjoyed it.

Third: "Nyanya" is Russian for nanny and "Privyet" is Russian for hello (informal). (See Chapters 1 and 3.) And thus I give you extent of my knowledge on the Russian language.

Fourth: Please Note: The plot of this story is © OceanTiger13, 2010, All Rights Reserved, whereas most of the characters and the setting are NOT. (Luciana Kaddington and Arkady are MINE, ALL MINE, MWAHAHA!)

Last: And while Star Trek does not belong to me, The Adventures of Hannedy Rogue, Space Pirate in fact does; it is © OceanTiger13 2009, All Rights Reserved. (See Chapter 5).

Thank you very much for reading; I hope you enjoyed it!

~OceanTiger13

PS: To those of you who wanted a sequel, stay tuned...