A/N: Hello! This is my first Star Trek story, so it may not be overwhelmingly amazing. This is me dipping my toes in the Spock/Nyota waters. I had a lot of fun writing it so I hope that you enjoy reading it. Thank you. -Courtney :)

Nyota could feel her eyes become heavy as she noted that the end of her shift had begun. She loved her job, I mean really loved it, but sometimes it was nice to know that she was free of her duties for an allotted time. Lifting herself out of her chair, she realized how much of a toll sitting for hours on end could really take on a body. Quickly saying goodbye to a few choice co-workers on deck, she set off to make her way back to her quarters.

The Enterprise was always so eerily quiet at this time of night. Well, what Nyota would consider as night aboard the ship. Days and nights were a tricky thing to distinguish in her head, but she'd have it no other way. The only sounds she heard as she made her way through the corridors was the humming of the ship's engines and the clacking of her shoes.

She'd entertained the idea of going to see Spock before she retired for bed, but she knew that this was his time to meditate and she didn't want to intrude. Thinking of Spock brought a smile to her lips; she really, truly loved him. While others would find his monotone voice and blank demeanor off-putting, she felt the complete opposite. She loved the way she would catch him looking at her when he thought he was being subtle. The slight tint it brought to his cheeks when he discovered he'd been caught was probably the most endearing thing she'd ever witnessed. She saw him as no one else had. She knew every eyebrow raise, every quirky upturn of the lip, every darting of the eyes meant something; held a heavy form of emotion. He felt more than anyone she knew.

Turning the corner sharply she smacked into something solid and stumbled back slightly. Regaining her footing she came face to face to the cause of her crash; her tall, straight-banged boyfriend. He was dressed in his blue Starfleet shirt and stood rod still as he seemed to be assessing her condition following their collision.

"My apologies, Nyota," he told her. His voice conveyed no emotion but she knew better; he was sorry.

"No, I'm sorry," she countered, "I didn't expect to see you for at least another eight hours."

He hesitated before speaking again, "I ended meditation early at the request of the Captain. He has asked for my assistance with, as he has decided to dub it, technical mumbo jumbo."

She tried hard not to snort at his attempt to quote Kirk, but failed. Miserably.

"I fail to see what is so amusing," he told her. He was lying and she knew it. He knew why she was laughing.

She shook her head and smiled at him, "Nothing. Just you being you," she frowned when she saw a flicker of something behind his eyes, "it's a good thing, Spock."

She stepped forward and placed her hands firmly on his shoulders, "You know I wouldn't want you any other way."

"I know," he whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers.

Normally they wouldn't engage in such an act of intimacy in a public place, but at this hour of the night, no one would be out roaming the halls.

Nyota opened her eyes slightly to glance down at his hands resting on her waist and felt her heart drum hard in her chest at the tiny cufflinks resting on the end of his uniform. They were fashioned as small rocket ships, quite tacky really, but they were a gift from her. She knew normally cufflinks were worn with more formal attire but she'd bought it regardless in the hopes that he'd wear them from time to time. He'd insisted that her giving him a gift, "just because", was illogical and wearing accessories with Starfleet uniforms was frowned upon; but he accepted it nonetheless. She'd assumed he'd put it away and chalked it up to human nonsense but now she saw that he'd taken it upon himself to wear them for her.

"The cufflinks," she said in a hushed tone, "you're wearing them."

"It was logical," he reasoned with her, "as they were purchased with the intent of me wearing them. Not putting them to use would be illogical."

She lifted her forehead from his and raised her eyebrow, "You told me it was illogical for me to give them to you in the first place," she argued, "and what happened to Starfleet regulation?"

"It would appear," he looked around them to make sure no one was listening, "that I was wrong. And," he paused to look at her intensely, "I believe that there are times when rules are meant to be broken."

She couldn't stop the goofy grin that spread across her face, "I don't know what to say, Spock."

He quirked his lips into what she would consider a smile. She leaned forward and gently placed her lips onto his and he reciprocated, placing his palm on her lower back to pull her closer.

"Well, I don't want to keep you from your shift. I'll see you in a few hours," she leaned forward, giving him a chaste kiss.

"Nyota, wait," he grabbed her arm gently to stop her from passing him.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing is wrong," he assured her. His free arm dipped into his pocket to retrieve a decently sized, velvet box. He presented it to her.

Her brow furrowed, "How in the world did you fit this into your pocket?"

He quirked an eyebrow at her, "That is what you wish to ask me?"

"My jean pockets can barely fit a tube of lipstick," she complained as she examined the velvet box.

"If you do not wish to open it, I can present it to you another time."

She snatched the box out of his grasp and raised both eyebrows at him, "Not so fast, mister. I didn't say I didn't want the box."

He continued to stare at her but eventually tucked his hands behind his back in true Spock fashion.

She ran her hands over the top of the soft fabric before flipping the lid back, revealing its contents. To say she was speechless was an understatement. She tore her gaze away from the beautiful, blue stoned necklace to gawk at Spock. He remained as impassive as ever and she could hardly believe his actions.

"Spock," she breathed, "its…its-"

"My mother's," he interjected. Something sad flicked over his face, "was my mother's."

Nyota wasn't one for crying but she could feel tears prick her eyes. Her thumb brushed over the necklace and with a shaky breath she snapped the lid shut.

"Spock, I can't accept this. It was your mother's; it's a part of her. I wouldn't feel right to take this from you."

He swallowed hard and shifted his glance so that he was no longer looking at her. She knew this was hard for him; confronting his emotions. And his mother, the one person he loved most in this universe, was the one person that could take him over the edge of losing emotional control.

"She would want you to have it," he answered. She knew that this was his human side speaking.

"Spock," a small tear escaped her eye, "why are you giving this to me? I don't understand."

He stepped forward and tentatively took hold of her wrist, "Just because."

She shook her head, "What?"

"You once gave me a gift, just because you cared enough for me to purchase it. Nyota, this is a gift to represent my affection and respect for you, just because I want to. There is no special occasion needed."

Her chest felt tight. Affection? What did that mean? Though she loved Spock, was in love with him, she'd never told him the words out loud. Partly because she felt it didn't need to be said because he already knew, and partly because she secretly feared he would find her illogical.

"Affection?" she dared to ask.

He looked at her quizzically, "Yes," he answered her; like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She bit the bullet, "I love you, Spock. I'm in love with you." Nyota was a brave woman; confident. But even the most confident of people can feel vulnerability. She kept her eyes squeezed shut as she made her confession.

"And I, you, Nyota," he responded immediately.

She opened her eyes at his words and couldn't help but wrap her arms around his waist.

"Really?" she breathed in relief.

"You doubted that I did?"

"Well," she began, "if we're being honest, then yes. I was afraid you would find my sentiment illogical."

"I could never find your sentiment illogical, Nyota."

They stayed like this, in an unmoving embrace, for only God knows how long. After what felt like an eternity Nyota finally loosened her grip on him and took a step back.

"For the first time in the Enterprise's history, Commander Spock, you're late for duty," she told him playfully.

"I will accept the consequences," he informed her.

She laughed, "The Captain will want to know why you're late."

"Then I will inform him of the truth," he said, "the truth is the Vulcan way."

Something about the way he'd said that made her believe that he would not be telling the truth. Or at least not the whole truth.

"Well, I'm going to get some sleep. But, I'll see you in a few hours," she leaned up on her tip toes to kiss his cheek.

"Nyota," he called out to her before she could get very far.

"Yes?"

He held out the box to her again.

"Please accept my gift. My mother would be pleased to know it is in the company of someone who will give it proper care."

She took the box from him, "Alright. Thank you, Spock. I love it."

She began to walk away when she heard Spock say to her, "And I love you."

She called, "Me too," over her shoulder and made her way back to her quarters, gift from Spock in hand, and a smile on her face.