Homecoming

150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2274.25, 0730 hours. Spock stood at the bottom of the stairs with the children by his side while Nyota combed the upper level of the house for the fourth time in an hour.

"Se'tak, are you sure you remembered to pack your Christmas sweater from Bibi?"

His son looked to him helplessly. She had been asking them all similar such questions with increasing frequency for the last 28.2 minutes. "Yes, Mama!" he called back up the stairs. Over their heads Nyota stopped, turned, and proceeded back down the hall.

"She is headed back toward your room," Selas informed them.

"Mama, I said I packed it!"

Spock suppressed the urge to sigh and placed a hand on the rail, preparing to head up and collect his adun'a. The larger crates of their belongings had been packed and collected by Starfleet the day before to be beamed up to the Enterprise overnight and await them in their quarters. Only the incidentals remained-shoes, socks, hairclips, toothbrushes-and Nyota was determined not to leave a single item behind, despite the fact that this private residence belonged to his father who had the means to forward any wayward items he should come across the next time he visited.

Suddenly she appeared at the top of the stairs. "Alright," she warned, looking straight at their middle child, "But if we end up on an ice planet and it's nowhere to be found you're going to wish you'd let me check." Sighing and rolling his eyes Se'tak huffed up the stairs past them both and stomped his way toward his bedroom as his mother made her way down.

"I just want to make sure we aren't forgetting anything," she said as she settled against his side.

"I understand, Ashayam." One closet and two dresser drawer slams later Se'tak returned, his ears burning emerald, the sweater clenched in his hands.

"Aha!" Nyota exclaimed, triumphant. Out of the corner of his eye Spock watched T'Alora suppress a giggle as she extended a hand toward her brother; soon Selas was laughing outright at Se'tak as he fumed down the entire length of the stairwell.

Most illogical…and yet very much like his family.

Outside the horn of the transport sounded and everyone grabbed a bag before marching out the door.

Another hour of barely restrained bedlam and they found themselves beamed back aboard the Enterprise. Two new engineering ensigns-Ju-ta and Deegan as he recalled from the latest manifest-scrambled up onto the platform to assist them with their luggage before ushering them off so the next officers could be beamed aboard.

Despite the official re-launch not occurring for another seven days the corridors were packed tight with bodies and they found it difficult to maneuver around. Not trusting Selas to withstand getting crushed by the overeager junior officers despite his own competence he kept a firm hand around his son's wrist.

"Selas!"

Spock was instantly blinded as his son sought out the owner of the young voice. As soon as the girl was spotted Selas relinquished control and he too caught sight of Rebecca McCoy.

"Selas!" she cried again, throwing her arms around Selas' neck as she raced forward. "I missed you!"

"I have also noticed your absence most acutely, Rebecca."

The little girl giggled as her flustered parents pushed their way through the throng, dragging their elder daughter along by the hand. "Rebecca Elaine McCoy," the Doctor roared, "How many times do we have to tell you not to run off like that! These ensigns are like a pack of wild hogs, you could've been trampled to death!"

"I too concur with your colorful analogy, Leonard."

Temporarily mollified the two men scanned the surrounding area and McCoy rolled his eyes at all the chaos. "Seems like they keep getting younger every year."

Spock looked his friend over, noting the increasing number of gray hairs at his temple as Christine continued to admonish their daughter while Tabitha chatted with Se'tak. "That is because we are getting older every year."

"Damn literal hobgoblin…"

"Christine!" Nyota had turned back to retrieve them and also caught sight of their friends. "Welcome back!"

"You too!"

"Just getting aboard?"

The Nurse nodded. "Uh huh, you?"

"Yep."

"It gets crazier every mission, doesn't it?"

"I was just thinking the same thing!"

He and Leonard remained quiet as their wives and children grew more vocal. Realizing that this reunion was bound to take awhile they attempted to move them away from the highly-trafficked corridor but they would not budge. Suddenly, from seventeen meters down Spock caught sight of the Captain's head frantically bobbing and weaving in and out of the crowd.

"STOP!" he shouted. "I'M THE CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP AND I ORDER YOU TO STOP!"

Spock spun on his heel and crouched low, ready to pounce on the intruder. The pair of them bounded at him full-tilt and he caught them each easily by the waist, pulling them clean off their feet to joyous squeals and cries of "Unca Spock! Unca Spock!"

Jim was only slightly winded by the time he reached them. "Why you little monsters," he said, staring down first one curly-haired tot and then the other. "Just wait 'til your mother finds out." Turning to the others as he attempted to reclaim his children he lamented, "It's bad enough they had practically free reign of the entire state of Iowa but now they think the ship's a playground too." Nodding at all the adults he added, "Welcome back." Sam squirmed in his father's grip as Spock endeavored to return Lily to him too.

The Captain turned around to scan the rest of the bustling crew. "They keep getting younger every year, don't they?"

He tried to answer when the Doctor stopped him. "That was a rhetorical question, Spock. He knows."

"Is the rest of the Bridge crew aboard, Sir?" Christine asked.

Jim nodded. "Yep. Sulu and his family got back yesterday, and our new navigator, Hank McKeon, arrived the day before that." At the reminder of Chekov's absence the group noticeably quieted until a passing Ensign clipped Tabitha with the sharp end of a crate and she began to cry.

"Oh geez," McCoy exclaimed as he bent down to examine the cut. "Alright, can we get underway now before there are any more serious injuries? I don't feel like takin' a tour of the outfitted surgical bay today if y'all catch my drift. Tabby, Honey, it's just a scrape, you're gonna be fine…"

Jim trudged off in the opposite direction with a toddler in each arm. "Welcome home everyone! Debriefing at 0900 tomorrow!"

Ahh yes, Spock thought as Nyota linked her arm through his and they herded the children back toward their quarters. They were indeed home.

The End...or is it?

A/N: Hi everyone! I hope you've all enjoyed the ride-I know at least some of you did thanks to all the lovely reviews you've written. I have plenty of ideas for more stories, however, this seemed like a natural stopping place for this segment. I've also started writing again (some one shots and perhaps the start of another longer work) but my real life is about to explode all over me and it may take me some time before I can post again. Also, to the artists who contacted me and are still working on pictures of the family I would still love to see your work if you'd like to share, so feel free to PM me, and when I start posting again I'll share with others (with your permission, of course). Until that time take care and thank you all for taking the time to read "S'chn T'gai Family Drabbles"!