Really, she figured, she should have seen it coming. She could see the way that they looked at each other, the way Spock's eyes lit up when Kirk walked into the room, the way his mouth almost curved into a smile that was positively beaming for the Vulcan. But she didn't want to admit it to herself. She didn't want to believe that he hadn't chosen her, because she was in love with him.

But she knew that he wasn't in love with her. She knew that Kirk would be the only one that he would love. But she kept up her side of their lie, stayed with him despite the fact that she knew, because she also knew that they were too stubborn to admit their feelings for one another.

It wouldn't last. She knew it. She was always just waiting. Waiting for the ball to drop. Waiting for them to realize that their love for each other was mutual. Waiting for them to make her stop having to wait.

So it was no surprise to her when Kirk was hauled back onto the Enterprise unconscious and Spock never left his side. McCoy declared that the Captain would be fine, that he would wake up soon and be back to his annoying self, but still Spock never left him alone. He waited by his bed, his hand reached out towards him, but never touching, and she knew. This was it. This was the moment that she had been waiting for that would destroy the charade. Because it was undeniable now. The way he sat vigil at his side, the worry in his eyes. And when the Captain finally woke up, the warm smile that he gave him, and how Kirk instinctively reached out his hand to grab hold of his.

She left then, deciding to give them some time alone and time to make herself dig up the courage to have the conversation that she'd been waiting to have.

She returned later to see the Captain asleep again and their hands still clasped as Spock watched him sleep. He looked up when she entered the room and gently removed his hand before standing up to face her.

"Nyota..." he started, but she held up her hand to stop him.

"You had to, didn't you? Had to go and fall in love with a human. And it wasn't me." Not exactly what she planned on saying, and the guilt in his eyes made her regret her words.

"I'm sorry," he said and she knew that he meant it.

"I know," she said. "And it's okay. I've known for awhile that I wasn't the one, I was always just waiting for you to realize it and hoping that maybe you'd change your mind and decide you loved me more."

"I confess that my feelings towards you confuse me. I do love you, Nyota."

"But you're not in love with me," she answered knowingly.

"I did not know there was a difference," he said.

"Are you sure he's the one you want to be with?" She asked. She had to hear it for herself, put some finality to it.

"I am," he answered, looking down at the unconscious man.

"Well, as long as you're happy," she said, smiling sadly at him. She walked over to where he stood and hugged him, pleased when he wrapped his arms around her. They stood there for a long moment before she pulled back and gave him a brief kiss on the cheek.

She took one last look at Spock, and at Kirk, before walking out of the room. She didn't let him see the tears that began to roll down her face.