The glow of Nyota's computer screen illuminated on her face. It was the tenth time within the last two months that her mother would call her to plan of her daughter's wedding for when she came back to Earth. Nyota was to be wed to the infamous Tau Morris, the man who she was arranged to wed since she was child. He is the son of a big business man back in Africa. Her father and his father had worked together for years in the mining industry and had planned by the age of consent for both their children to be wed. To Nyota, Tau became arrogant and selfish as she grew up with him during her teenage years. His money became his power and that was something she never wanted to be involved with. In less than a month or so she will be forced to marry someone she didn't love and forced to quit the one thing she could ever love, Starfleet.

There was no way to get out of this, like before she was able to stall some years since going to Starfleet Academy, but now this was the time. She had begged and pleaded with her father that she did not wish to marry, but he ignored her request. He would explain that her family had been doing arranged marriages for over ten generations and that it would honor their ancestors if she continued the tradition. She never understood how her other siblings could do it. Being the youngest of three children, this was something that many of her family members had been anticipating. As optimistic as Nyota was always was, she didn't think that this time she would escape. She would be back home stuck birthing babies and feeling trapped. Her mothers voice seem to cause her headaches as she non-stopped explained all the wedding procedures. Every call that she got from her mother served as a stabbing reminder that she was going to be miserable for the rest of her life, that all the hard working years at Starfleet and the Enterprise were going to disappear in just a coupe of simple words 'I do". Biting her tongue, she tried her best not scream, but if another word of Tau and the stupid wedding came up she was going to burst. Again and again his name came from her mother's lips and it felt like poison. She knew that later on this week she will call again and drive her into insanity Finally the button had been pressed and Nyota snapped.

"Mother, I am engaged to someone else!" Nyota's voice rose stopping her mother in mid-sentence. She had lied to her mother, she was not engaged, but maybe this would stop everything. She didn't know what caused her to say such a thing, but maybe she had something going for her. Such a reckless plan and totally out of her character, but it would give her some time to think. Her mother was of course speechless, but still needed to know what her daughter was talking about.

"Nyota, what do you mean engaged to someone else?"

"That's what I mean, I am marrying someone who is not Tau. I have to go and guess we can talk about this later." Without a formal goodbye to her mother, she disconnected her link. Sitting with a pounding headache, she couldn't believe that she just dug herself into a worst situation. For now she needed to think of plan before she had to talk to her mother again.

48 Days Later…

The Enterprise had finally ended her five year mission and had successfully docked at the space station that hovered over Earth. Many of the crew members were sad to be leaving their home, but many were excited to see their family members back on the planet below. Much work was needed to be done before anyone could leave. Final reports were to be made, crew members had to clean their quarters and having a final check up with Doctor McCoy to make sure that no one was bringing home a parasite. For Nyota she sat at her station confirming reports before briefing to the Captain. Among the many members of the crew, the crew on the bridge were the last to leave. She had glanced at the room to take in all the crazy moments she had there. She eyed the spot where she first had confirmed the details of the Klington attack by Nero years ago, then she looked to the control board where Sulu and Chekov sat. She remembered when Kirk and Spock fought and Kirk being slammed into the panels. Then she looked at Kirk's chair. He was sitting in it with his back turned to her while reading PADDs. She gave a small smile when she saw Kirk sitting. He had came a long way of maturing in some ways. Not in a million of years would she think that he would be commanding her. Oddly enough she was going to miss him and everyone else. A small tear formed in the corner of her eye. Kirk had turned around to look at her, like he had sensed the forming tear. When she had realized that she and her Kirk made eye contact she quickly turn back to her post and wiped the tear away. She heard footsteps come from behind her followed by a gentle touch on her shoulder.

"You alright there Lieutenant?" Kirk asked in her ear.

"I'm fine." She replied trying to keep calm.

"You sure? I swore I just saw you get a little emotional."

"Sir, I do not let my feeling get caught up in my work." Kirk leaned against the panel where she had been working.

"I'm gonna miss you Uhura. I mean I will see you in the next six to eight months before we go off again another mission. I really would like to keep you here on my team. You are the best damn linguist that I've ever met." His comment made her hurt inside again. She was asset to a ship, something valuable, but now she was going to be shipped away, never going to use her talents again. She gave him a weak smile.

"I really appreciate that Kirk. It's always an honor to serve with you."

"Good. A bunch of us will be meeting at the bar in the station for a couple rounds of drinks before everyone sets off to different areas. Would you like to join us? It would be great to see you there."

"Sure I will come. I think a drink or two is something I will need."

Finally she was done with her work and finished packing her belongings. A moving service had sent to her belongs to her home back in South Africa. She still had not talked to her mother since she had claimed that she was engaged. She ran out of ideas of what to do, she was beginning to face the reality. This might be the last time that she was going to see her Enterprise family. She had packed some of her clothing in a personal bag so that she had something to change into before returning to Earth. She said goodbye to her room and walked down the empty halls to the shuttle crafts. She tried her best to keep it together, she never liked for people to see her cry. Once inside the shuttle craft she looked outside the window to see the Enterprise's body shine in space. Her whole life was gone.

She had made it through the station's halls to where she was going to meet her friends. The bar was nearly filled with officer's and service workers enjoying the happy hour. In the booth in the back she could see Kirk waving for her to come over. When approaching the booth she saw Kirk, Scotty, Spock, Sulu and Chekov squeezed into a tiny booth with drinks in hand. She slid in the end and took a menu that Kirk handed her.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up." Kirk said with almost a drunken voice, but not plastered.

"I know. I had more packing than I expected." She replied looking at her menu. Looking up for a moment she had noticed that a familiar face was not present. "Where is Doctor McCoy? I know he wouldn't pass up a drink."

"He's talking to his ex-wife on the computers in the lobby. He will be back." Kirk replied. When something caught his eye, he gave a smile. "Well speaking of the devil himself." McCoy walked over with his usual frown on his face, the look of being the cranky doctor that he was. He sat next to Jim and ran his fingers through his untamed hair. She dared to ask what was wrong, but Kirk asked first.

"Bones, what's wrong?"

"Ugh…It's Jocelyn! She decides to tell me as of today that she, my daughter and her precious new husband went on vacation and won't be back in a two months. We talked about this a hundred times. Before we came back I was suppose to get Joanna for the remainder of our leave. I swear I think I married the devil sometimes."

"I'm sorry that she did this to you." Nyota spoke up. McCoy raised his eyebrow, he did not expect for her to be there.

"Don't be sorry for me, its not your fault." He replied.

"Aye Doctor, go get yerself a scotch and join us. All yer cares will melt away." Scotty said while raising his glass.

"That's the best damn thing I heard all day. If you excuse me I'm gonna go the bar." McCoy moved from his seat.

"I'll go with you." Nyota stood up as well and went to the bar with him. The bar was crowded, but somehow they managed to move through the people.

"Hey Uhura, tell me what you want. I will put it on my tab, it doesn't make sense for both of us to stand in a crowded line." McCoy said.

"Are you sure? You don't have to pay for me."

"Too late, tell me what you want."

"Get me a two shots of Jack." The look on his face was priceless. He looked shocked that she would order something like that.

"Now you're my kind of lady." He smiled. "I will get our drinks, you can go back to the table." When she started to move through the crowd a voice called her from behind.

"Nyota is that you?" A voice of woman asked. The voice was too familiar, but she couldn't pin point who it was. Turning around she was quickly greeted with a hug. The woman was much older than her by a twenty years and had the most golden hue of skin that she had seen. Then she remembered. Temba Tale was her name. She was a family friend. She was lucky enough to join Starfleet after she got married, which explained why she was on the station.

"Temba what are you doing here?" Nyota asked.

"I work in the station now as an engineer with my husband."

"That's great. How have you been?"

"Great! I've been working too hard these days. I really hoped you enjoyed your five year trip."

"Of course, it was a dream come true."

"Oh dear! I can't believe I am forgetting to ask you. So who is the lucky man in your life?" Nyota's heart leaped. Her mother must of told everyone that she was engaged.

"Excuse me?" She replied.

"Your aunt told me that you were engaged to someone who was not that Tau fellow." Sweat started to rolled down her back as she was confronted by her terrible lie. She couldn't make up a name because then she would want to meet him. She might as well just tell her that she was not really engaged. A gentle nudge against her arm through her off. When looking over she saw McCoy handing her her drinks.

"Here you go darlin'." When placing the drinks in her hands, she had the craziest idea ever.

"Um…Leonard, meet a family friend. Her name is Temba Tale." McCoy gave a nod since he could not shake hands with her due to the many drinks in his hands. "Temba, meet Dr. Leonard McCoy, my fiancé."

"WHAT!" He shouted. Everyone in the bar had stopped what they were doing and focused on the group.

"He's just kidding. He's like that sometimes." Nyota laughed nervously. She made eye contact with him hoping that he would just play along. He seemed to get the hint, but still looked confused.

"Um excuse me I need to speak with my fiancé for a moment." He said calmly to Temba. Pulling Nyota to the side, he tried to keep his voice low. "Just because I buy you a drink does not mean we are engaged."

"I know, I know. It's a long story. Can you just play along with me until she leaves?"

"Fine." He sighed heavily. Turning back around they met up with Temba who was very confused.

"Is everything ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, um it's just that we were not ready to tell everyone yet that we were getting married. Just surprised that my mother told everyone."

"Well you know your mother. Now tell me how did you meet?" The two looked at each other.

"Uh…we met back at the academy. We had many classes together, studied a lot together as well." He said.

"That's so sweet, but you have no engagement ring." Temba pointed out.

"That's because the ring I got for her originally was too big, so we are going to wait until we get back to the planet to get it resized." He said. She smiled to herself, he was playing the role too well.

"Well I hope you two live long and well together. I would love to stay and chat, but I need to get back to work. I hope I get a wedding invite."

"Of course." Nyota smiled.

"It was nice meeting you Leonard and Nyota take care." Temba gave them both hugs and exited the bar. Turning to him she laughed softly.

"I don't get what's funny. What was that all about? Actually I don't want to know." He turned and went back to the booth mumbling something under his breath. The idea that was brewing in her head was a risky one hopefully it would work with careful planning. The only thing that was standing in her way was his will to play along.

A/N:What do you think of the first chapter? Yay or Nay?