Because I Loved Her

Chapter 4: Ends and Beginnings

A month after having met her lover's mother Uhura was extremely nervous once again. Spock's Vulcan father was arriving within the next week and while Uhura knew that Spock's mother Amanda Grayson liked her and approved of their relationship, but what of his father? Sarek might be a liberal Vulcan, after all, he married a human, but would he be behind his son's relationship with a human woman. "What do you think your father will say?" Uhura asked. She was naked laying in the motel bed with her darker skin contrasting against his pale skin, with her head laying on his shoulder.

"I do not know. He once told me as a child that he married my mother because it was logical for the ambassador to earth to marry a human. Perhaps he will see the logic in our connection. However he will most definitely have an issue of our other relationship."

"You mean the fact that you are teaching at the Academy and I'm a cadet there?"

"Precisely."

"Do you think it might be better to wait until I graduate. I've only got one semester to go. Perhaps he'll be more receptive to our relationship once I have my officer commission?"

"Perhaps, however I do not like asking mother to keep a secret this big from my father." Spock sighed, and looked down as the beauty at his side, "If you wish to keep this secret until your graduation, we shall."

"I just don't want to put your father in a position to have to lie to members of the federation, unlike your mother, he's in constant contact with high members of Starfleet as an Ambassador."

"Then we shall wait."

And so they did. Spock had explained to his mother their fears, and she agreed to wait and let them tell Sarek until after Uhura was an Officer in Starfleet. Thanks to Spock's logic and control along with both of their professionalism they were able to maintain the façade of being teacher and student, but in truth their relationship grew to much more than that. Uhura believed that she was falling head over heels in love with Spock son of Sarek. However she had yet to say the words.

Perhaps she was waiting for him to say it first. Or maybe she was afraid that she would say those three special words and he would be unable to return the powerful feelings that she felt for him. However those fears were put to rest every time she saw him let his emotional control slip just enough for her to see his feelings peak through.

It was a seemingly ordinary day that changed their entire world. Uhura was in class, during the Kobayashi Maru test, when the unthinkable happened. The computer screens flickered and the scenario went from a no win scenario to an effortless win against the computer generated Klingon. She glared at Cadet Kirk, who was sitting in his 'captain's' chair eating his apple, so cocky and self assured. She looked up in the booth were Spock was glaring at the Cadet who had just beaten his unbeatable test.

Uhura wanted to yell at him, but doing so would make them question why she cared about Kirk's actions. So she went through the motions. That evening she was finally able to get away and meet Spock. "What happened?"

"I am unsure. I do know that Cadet Kirk was somehow able to get into the computer and change the scenario. Tomorrow the council will gather with the entire student body and faculty watching and decide if Kirk deserves to continue with Starfleet or if he will have to find another path in life."

And so it happened, the next day was a blur. She was sure that Kirk was seconds from expulsion when there was word of a broadcast from Vulcan that a natural disaster was imminent and that they may require assistance. At that the entire population emptied out of the auditorium and headed towards their assignment.

But what she heard made her mad. She was at the top of her class, fluent in Vulcan, Romulan, and Klingon, and she was not posted to one of the ships that was to be used for exploration, in a huff she walked straight for her lover. In an attempt to not appear biased, he'd damned overcompensated by making sure she wasn't anywhere near where she deserved, so she made him have it, quoting back his exact evaluation… "Cadet Uhura, Enterprise."

"Thank you." She said, turning to the shuttle that would take them to Enterprise.

Looking back, she thanked all the little things that added to their survival. First the new helmsman forgot one aspect to their undocking their procedures, which delayed their departure by seconds. And then he had found his way on board, probably with the help of his friend, the medical officer, she couldn't remember his name, but Kirk kept calling him Bones for some reason. But he recognized the danger that was waiting for them when they reached Vulcan.

But in the end it wasn't enough. After all they did to stop the rogue Romulan from his plot, they were able to release the substance into the planet's core, and she watched and listened in horror as the place where her lover had been born and grew up imploded on itself killing everything that remained on the surface, including the lovely Amanda Grayson, who she had met only once before.

When Spock returned to the bridge she saw what those who did not know him as well as she did could not. When Spock had failed to save his planet and his mother a part of him had died. That was why when he entered the turbo lift she followed, no longer caring who saw or who knew. Her only thoughts were on Spock, the man that she loved. She stopped the lift between floors and kissed him hard hoping that her love for him could save the remaining pieces of his soul, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. What do you need."

She could tell that it took everything in his power to not crumple on the floor and cry in her arms, "I need everyone to continue to perform admirably." So silently, Uhura kissed him again as if to transfer her love to him and sustain him until this was over and she could show him more intimately than time allowed now. And then she watched as him leave the lift into hall.

TBC…

A/N: Hope you're not upset that I fast forwarded so fast, but that scene has been haunting me since seeing the movie, the expression of Spock standing on the transporter platform with his hand reaching out to where his mother was supposed to stand but had disappeared into the depths of the planet. It was so heartbreaking, I couldn't help thinking "she can't die, the planet can't be destroyed, both were used in the original Star Trek show and the movies! That was when I realized that time travel was involved! And don't worry, I am far from over!