Chapter 5

***Note*** I made up what I wanted this to be. There is really no information on their religion other than they worship four deities, so I used a wiccan naming ceremony. Thought is was appropriate. Forgive me if it offends, but I thought that since I have a Betazoid leading the ceremony that a Christian ceremony wouldn’t work. Also the bondings won’t have much to them as I am more focusing on the rest of the story.

Chapter Five - Bondings and Namings

Two weeks later and Spock, Jim and the babies were on New Vulcan for Selek and Jamie’s, as James T. Kirk Prime decided to call himself, bonding. Merrok and Kor along with their families were there as well. T’Pau was presiding over the bonding and Jim and Spock stood up for their counter parts. The grooms were dressed in traditional wedding robes. T’Pau spoke the traditional words for their bonding and then placed her hand on each of them to perform the meld that will complete the marriage bond. 

Once the bonding was finished they all retired to Sarek’s house for a meal while the newly bonded couple departed for seclusion. Amanda spent a great deal of the time cooing over her new grandsons and Sarek cooed over them as well, but in a very Vulcan fashion. They discussed how the research on what was done to the six of them was going and learned that they were close to a breakthrough. The study, the Vulcan’s felt, would go a long way toward helping to save them as a people. Once they had finished the meal, Spock and Jim took the kids and visited his brother and his family. His nephews all fought over who was going to hold who first. 

They laughed at the children as they discussed the naming ceremony that was to take place in a week when the members of the Ruling Council came for his wedding to Spock and Omal’s to Uhura. Jim was not looking forward to the wedding ceremony even though they could wear robes, the robes had to be shear and he did not want anyone seeing him or his mate without garments on. Such was the price of being part Betazed. He did have to speak to Omal about his wedding to Uhura as they planned to incorporate both cultures in the wedding with one of the Ruling Council members officiating. They called the evening to a close when the children started to fall asleep on their parents. Jim, Spock and the boys beamed back to the Enterprise and settled in for the night. After the kids were settled, Jim and Spock gave each other a kiss before settling down to what rest they could get before the boys woke them for feedings.

**********

A week later had Spock and Jim in the transporter room ready to greet three of the Ruling Council members that were there for the weddings and naming ceremony. Jim was restless, he knew that it was necessary to deal with them as they now claimed Spock and him as Betazed as well, but he really just wanted to be away on a mission. Unfortunately that was not possible as Starfleet was using his maternity leave as a way to garner more positive press and leave him on New Vulcan to deal with everything. He sighed and signaled the ensign to beam them over. Three forms arrived on the platform and he bowed to them in greeting. “Council members Itaada, Ogari and Etrim, welcome aboard the Enterprise. I am Captain Kirk and this is my First Officer, Commander Spock.”

“Greetings, Captain and Commander. Thank you for allowing us this visit. We appreciate this chance to be a part of the ceremony for the children and to allow us to perform your wedding ceremony along with Ambassador Nexi’s,” Councilman Ograi said to them.

“The ceremony will be in two days, Council members. We will be honored if you would consent to perform the ceremony,” Spock said.

“I would be honored,’ Ograi said.

“If someone would be so kind as to show us where we are to stay?” Itaada asked.

“Of course, if you will follow the ensign, they will show you to your rooms. We have assigned staff to you. Please let myself or Commander Spock know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Captain.” The three turned and followed the ensign from the room.

“Is it me or did something feel off about two of them?”

“No T’hy’la. I felt it as well.”

“We’ll just have to get all these ceremonies over with and get them on their way as soon as possible.”

“Indeed.”

*********

The day of the naming ceremony for the two boys came all too swiftly. All their friends and family were on board the Enterprise and anticipation filled the air. With Council member Ograi performing the ceremony, they had asked Selek and Jamie to be the godparents. Jim had talked it over with his brother and explained why. Sam had understood and let him know that he was alright with it. He had three children already and Aurelian had let him know that number four was on the way, so he knew that it would be too much. Everyone was all settled into the mess hall that Uhura had decorated for the occasion. Everyone involved was dressed for the ceremony.  Ograi stood up and the ceremony began.

 “We gather today to bless these children, a new life that has become part of our world. We gather today to name these children. To call a thing by name is to give it power, and so today we shall give these children a gift. We will welcome them into our hearts and lives and bless them with a name of their own.”

Jim stepped forward and spoke, “To be a parent is to love and nurture, to lead a child to be a good person. It is to guide them along the right path and to both teach them and learn from them. It is to rein them in, and to give them wings. It is to smile at their joy, and weep at their pain. It is to walk beside them, and then one day allow them to walk alone. To be a parent is a great gift we have given ourselves. And the greatest responsibility we shall ever have.”

Ograi then turn to the appointed godparents of the children, and asked, “You stand beside us, for the love of these children. Will you tell the gods who you are?”

Both Selek and Jamie responded at the same time, “We are Selek and Marcus James Kirk III, chosen to be Guardians for these children.”

Ograi spoke again, “Do you know what it is to be a child's Guardian?”

They again responded at the same time, “It is to love and nurture, to show guidance and counsel. It is to help the child make choices should they need assistance. It is to be a second Sa’mehk and Ko’mehk and to be there when called upon.” 

Ograi then placed the two babies on the table that had been set up for the ceremony. He then took some oil and traced and symbol on their foreheads, reciting, “May the gods keep these children pure and perfect, and let anything that is negative stay far beyond their world. May you always have good fortune, may you always have good health, may you always be joyful, and may you always have love in your heart.”  He then used the oil to place a symbol on their chests and then recited,”You are known to the gods and to us as Grayson Spock-Kirk and Sarek Spock-Kirk.

These are your names, and they are powerful. Bear your names with honor, and may the gods bless you on this and every day. I honor you, Grayson and Sarek Spock-Kirk.” Ograi then lifted a ceremonial cup to pass around, Jim and Spock picked up the children and walked around presenting them to the guests. Each one placed a kiss on their cheeks and offered well wishes and blessings.

Ograi spoke the last verse to finish the ceremony as the cup reached the godparents and they took a sip each, “Welcome, Grayson and Sarek, to our family and to our hearts. Your parents love you, and we thank them for giving you the gift of life. We ask the Gods to watch over you, Grayson and Sarek, and over your Sa'mehk and Ko’mehk, and we wish your family love and light.”

He took the cup back from Selek and Jamie and took a sip. He placed it on the table before him and bowed over it. With the ceremony finished and the children officially named, the guests broke up into groups to wish the new parents and godparents well. Jim smiled as he talked to his friends and family, one down and five more to go before he can get rid of the Council members. He grinned when Spock quirked a brow at his thoughts.

Vulcan translation:

t'hy'la - friend-lover-lifelong companion, blood brother/sister; soulmate; soul-brother/sister

Sa’mekh - father

Ko’mekh - mother