Matters of the Heart – Sometimes the journey of two hearts is one steeped in joy, pain and sorrow, and if we're lucky, we are better for it. A series of one-shots chronicling Spock and Uhura over the years. AU

Disclaimer: Star Trek and all associated characters are not mine.

A/N: I decided to give my beta reader a break and go this one alone.

I: Quickening Hearts - In which discoveries are made

2256

"I think you're in-love."

Cadet Nyota Uhura stood under the sprawling branches of an oak tree. It was late autumn and a cool breeze rustled her hair and uniform. Cadets and instructors hustled along pathways, no doubt heading toward their evening meals. The wind picked up and a shower of leaves fell around her erect frame. A small grey rodent scampered about inches from her feet, and a spider hung suspended on a single strand of silk. All these little details were lost to Uhura as she watched Commander Spock under the setting evening sun.

"I think you're in-love."

Gaila's casual comment from two nights ago took root in her mind, causing a fine shiver to crawl up her spine and her heart rate to quicken. She frowned slightly cursing Gaila and her words because before they were uttered, she had never considered that she might be in-love with her favourite instructor. Well, she amended, second most favourite instructor. Captain Rigen, the Trill expert on Historical Linguistics was nicer.

"I think you're in-love."

She had laughed at Gaila; however, the Orion went on to argue that love was the most likely reason for Uhura's overly happy disposition. She then furthered her argument with an example from the prior weekend, whereby Uhura had smiled and complimented James T. Kirk. Now, as she gazed at the Commander, it hit her, she most definitely had romantic feelings for him. She did not know if it was love per se, as she had never been in-love, but it felt close. Too close.

"I think you're in-love."

On the many occasions Uhura had seen Commander Spock outdoors, he was always on the move. Currently, he stood deep in conversation with a female lieutenant. His back was straight, shoulders perfectly squared, hands clasped behind his back and head slightly bent. Whatever the topic of discussion was between them, they were thoroughly engrossed...and the lieutenant was flirtatious. She was not overt and had Uhura not been so raptly focussed on them, she would have missed it. She wondered if the two were intimately involved. The commander was a handsome man, with deep soulful eyes and lips that would transform from beautiful to gorgeous if ever he were to smile. Uhura was sure there were women more than willing to offer their body to him.

"I think you're in-love."

The realisation that jealousy entered into her thoughts jolted her scrutiny of Commander Spock. She really had no place feeling such an emotion. He was not hers. Heck, before Gaila's little speech, she was not cognizant of any romantic feelings for anyone, let alone the commander. Most crucial, she was certain he felt nothing of the sort for her, which hurt more than it should.

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2257

Cool sensual phantom fingers glided along his ears, tracing from their pointed tips to their bottom edge. A ripple of pleasure swept across his body, bringing forth a breathy exhalation. The slightly roughened pad of the fingers continued along their lazy path. They traced the curve of his face, the closed lids of his eyes, the bridge of his nose, the shape of his lips before resting at his chin. He held still with bated curiosity. What was next? Where would they touch now? Although he wanted desperately to tell her, his nameless spectre, where to caress, he held still, eyes closed.

The fingers at his face disappeared and immediately after soft full lips pressed against his. They moved back and forth in a sweetly gentle manner that did things to his body far removed from sweet. All too soon, the pressure lifted and the lips trailed along the column of his neck. An occasional tongue savoured his skin while the lips continued with their exploration.

Merciful or merciless, he was not sure, the lips moved downward until they reached his navel. They played with that area of his anatomy, eliciting pleasure and the urge to do the unthinkable. Giggle. Yes, Spock, son Sarek and Amanda was ticklish. A secret he kept tightly under control. Except in the fantasy realm where dream and desire mingled, he was free to indulge. And indulged he did.

It started a month ago when the crisped air first became pregnant with new life and possibilities. After a particularly exhausting week of testing a group of third year cadets on their survival readiness, Spock had made the mistake of going to sleep without meditation. The first dream had found him in a dreamscape of muted colour and sound. A sense of peace had pervaded his being until his eyes drifted shut. At that moment, he felt the first whisper of his phantom woman. She had pressed smiling lips against his naked shoulders and then vanished as his eyes popped opened.

After that night, her dream visits occurred without prompting or change in routine. Since Vulcans seldom dreamt, he could only blame his suppressed Human half for his delicious night excursions. Yet as much as he enjoyed himself, in the cold light of reality he had to wonder at his subconscious. Why did he conjure such dreams? Most important, why did she instantly disappear if he opened his eyes within the dream?

Spock shuddered and gripped the airy sheets of his bed as slender knowing fingers caressed along his upper thighs. When they reached his heated erection, a deep groan left his lips and his fingers ripped at the fabric in his grasp. And then he heard her laughter, deep, throaty and pleasing. All this time, he had never heard anything more than a sigh or gasp from his dream woman as she had used her hands and mouth to arouse his body. A wretched regret stirred his insides now that his psyche had given her a voice.

His eyes snapped opened and he sat up in his real bed, a thin layer of sweat coating his body while his heart hammered against his side. Quickly, he tumbled out of bed and hurried to the bathroom. After splashing his face with frigid water, Spock looked at his face in the circular mirror that hung over his sink. His hair was tousled and his eyes reflected turmoil. Staring at his reflection, the sound of Cadet Nyota Uhura's laughter resonated across his mind and he swore it had shifted to something rather mocking.

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