Star Trek and all associated characters are not mine.

A/N: A warm thank you to all my patient readers.

VI: Paper Hearts – In which Spock and Uhura move forward.

Late 2258

The violet tinted light from the setting sun blanketed the area. Only three months into her first five-year mission, Nyota Uhura still found herself awed by such exotic sights. However, at this moment she felt doubly annoyed. You see, Hikaru Sulu was living his ultimate fantasy and she had a front row seat to the spectacle. As much as she was happy for him, it still gnawed at the slow healing wound inflicted by her recent breakup. She was so used to immediately bouncing back that, she almost did not know what to do with the festering emotions bubbling deep within.

Four days ago, Enterprise had responded to the distress call of a crippled ship, belonging to the Izol, a little known humanoid race. While they'd provided aid, Captain Kirk discovered that one of the passengers, Maltem, was the heir to his planet's throne. Feeling thoroughly indebted for the assistance, Maltem invited the Enterprise crew to visit his homeworld.

During the short trip to the planet, Sulu had struck up a friendship with Galinta, a security officer from the other ship. Grey hued like the rest of her people, she sported a shock of fire-red hair and a quick smile. Apparently, they both shared a love of sparring, sharp instruments and botany. In fact, Sulu had gone into detail about her 'lovely' green thumb while he and Uhura shared a lunch. What he, Uhura and the rest of the Enterprise crew did not know at the time was that the Izol were plants. Sentient and civilised but still plants. Only after arriving on the planet did the Izol reveal this piece of information.

It was at this time that Sulu's crush had turned into a fetish, and now as they all enjoyed a local planting festival, Uhura was witness to his and Galinta constant make-out sessions. He was currently feeding her bits of pastry. It was almost disgusting.

"May I have this seat?"

A deep sultry voice sliced into her disgruntled thoughts. Uhura leaned back in her wicker lounger and shifted her focus from Sulu to a pair of gorgeous grey legs. She removed her sunglasses and let her eyes shamelessly trail upwards. The rest of the body was just as impressive. "Go right ahead," she said with a warm smile.

Technically the seat belonged to the Jim; however, he had made successful contact with one of the local females and promptly abandoned her. No one had since come near her. They all probably sensed her deteriorating mood, which was fine; she was content to listen to the wonderful music that had started after the priestess ended her prayer.

Uhura's new seating partner folded his tall body into the chair next to hers. "You are with the Federation ship?" he asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Pardon my manners," he said with a wide smile that flashed perfect teeth. "It's just that we don't have many off-world visitors. My name is Lorcan."

"Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Lorcan."

"May I make an observation, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura?"

"I suppose and please, Uhura is fine."

"I like Uhura." The smile appeared once more, and then lessened. "Why are you so sullen?"

Uhura pursed her lips and considered Lorcan. There was no malice on his rugged face just genuine curiosity. "It's very complicated."

"I see. Can I make a suggestion?"

Uhura wanted to roll her eyes. Was he serious? "If it involves tips on how to change my disposition, please keep them."

He said a pleasant, "As you wish," and left her alone.

As the late afternoon sun dipped below the horizon, Uhura and Lorcan took separate trips to the buffet area. She made sure to eat only the stuff that McCoy had told her was safe.

When the first stars appeared in the half-lighted sky, two singers took the stage, one male the other female. Swatted in bright colours, their faces seemed almost iridescent under the warm spotlight that shone on them.

The background music stopped and the lusty crowd quieted. A sense of anticipation entered the air and Uhura felt herself responding to it. Lorcan who had kept a polite distance leaned over to her and whispered, "Besides the potential for sex, this is my favourite part of the celebration."

The female singer gazed at her companion and began to sing. Her voice was light and lyrical. It caused Uhura to conjure images of all things whimsical. Too bad the universal translator kept garbling the lyrics. She looked at Lorcan. "I don't understand the words."

"This is an epic from our ancient days. I am willing to translate."

"Would you?"

He pulled his chair against hers and leaned in even closer. "This is the story of the creation goddess, Elta and her consort, Lujan, the god of destruction. At this stage of the tale, Elta is a young innocent girl who has just laid eyes on Lujan."

The singer's voice soared to great heights and Uhura closed her eyes.

"She's feeling the first quickening of her heart and is coming to know herself as a woman."

As the song faded, a single drum was struck and Uhura's eyes opened. The male singer had taken centre stage. Gazing out into the crowd his voice poured forth. The high notes floating on the light breeze that moved through the grounds. When his voice sank to lower octaves, Uhura swore she could feel them pooling at her feet. It was a song, which spoke of youthful brashness and underlining wantonness.

"Lujan has just been made aware of Elta's interest in him. He is happy for he too has much love in his heart for her. However, he believes himself unworthy of her. He is adamant that he must achieve a great battle victory before he can consider her affections."

The story unfolded in a seductive mix of beautiful songs and soft words spoken against her ear. Soon Uhura found herself sinking into its embrace, as her mind pictured scenes of battles, conquests, courtship and consummation of love. Eventually the singing voices deepened and became choppy as the characters matured and inflicted pain upon each other.

"Lujan has destroyed a field of crops and now Elta must restore the scarred land. But she does not stop at healing the land, now she pushes life into over production.

"Their Izol subjects and the world now suffers because they no longer concern themselves with that which is most important—the land and its inhabitants."

Spellbound and close to tears, Uhura listened as a once beautiful love became twisted and macabre. And as Lorcan cool lips brushed the shell of her ear, she thought of her own life and that which was taken from her. Why was it so hard for her when at one point she had prepared herself for a possible loss?

She sighed and relaxed into her Lorcan arms. It felt good. It had been months since she last allowed herself to be this close to a man, and this one was very accommodating. "Will they ever find peace?" She asked, not in the least embarrassed by the fine tremble in her voice.

"In time."

Sure enough, after Elta and Lujan had almost destroyed their planet and people, they created a balance, learning how to temper their natures and love.

"It is only through the perfect harmony of destruction and creation can the Izol people continue to thrive."

Balance and harmony, the very things she was lacking. Yet, sitting on this alien world with a stranger pressed against her back, Uhura had an awakening of sorts. At that moment, she realised, she was allowing herself to become bitter and that could not continue.

The singers sang their final verses, and then left the stage amidst thunderous applause. As the background music resumed many individuals collected themselves into eager pairs or groups.

"Would you care to join me tonight, Uhura?"

She turned to face Lorcan and said, "I can't give you what you're looking for."

He accepted her answer and made another suggestion. "I came here with the hopes of one thing, but I would be happy to show you some of the night sites."

Throwing caution to the wind she replied, "A few." Lorcan gave her that wonderful smile and she could not suppress the laughter that welled up. It was surprising and very welcomed.

The next morning as she walked the halls of Enterprise, Uhura bumped into Sulu. They entered the turbolift, and he began to regale her, albeit slightly abbreviated, on his time with Galinta. She listened to him and for the first time in months, she felt free of the oppressive weight she had carried around on her shoulders.

It was a start.

**SUSU**

Early 2259

It was home; nevertheless, it did not feel that way. Vulcan had been home his entire life. Earth, even with its myriad contradictions had become his second home, the moment he entered his dorm at Star Fleet Academy.

Spock stood in an unadorned room within one of several temporary structures and stared out at the landscape that unfolded before him. Much of it was just as red and dry as Vulcan had been, and yet so many differences glared brightly at him. There were tall, sturdy trees with wide, thick branches that provided shade from the sun. The air was just a touch heavier, a partial consequence of the large forest that began in the small tropical region and stretched north toward ice-capped mountains. At night, a distant moon shone a weak light upon their settlement. Instead of one ocean, this planet had two. In an odd way, it fell somewhere in the middle between Earth and Vulcan. Ironic that he could not equate it with home.

In the months since his arrival, Spock had immersed himself with the countless duties assigned to him. He worked himself to exhaustion each day so that his thoughts would not stray to the woman he left behind or the one who waited.

Eventually his father had patiently reminded him of his promised obligation to T'Pring. Now time had run out and he would take the second step towards fulfilling his duty.

Spock heard his father's light footsteps and turned to face him. Today Sarek had dressed himself in finery befitting his role in Vulcan society. As Spock watched him walk forward and then stopped mere inches away, he found his eyes moving along the new lines that had etched their way onto his father's face.

The two men regarded each other and then Sarek spoke, "It is not too late, Spock."

"To what do you refer?"

"It is not too late to choose differently."

Could it be that simple? He thought of Nyota's face as she fled his quarters four point five months ago. He reflected on his career and the choices he had made. No, it was not that simple, for another man perhaps but not for him. He had set himself on this path and he owed it to himself and the others involved to see it through. "It would not be fair to T'Pring or Nyota."

Sarek nodded in acceptance of his final decision. "When I chose to bond you to another, I sometimes speculated on what this day would be like for you. A simple peaceful ceremony or something rushed in the heat of our time."

"Father..."

"I am your Vulcan parent. It was something I had to consider, more so than your mother ever could. Yet, I could never have imagined this place and circumstance for your wedding day. As a member of our clan, you have been deprived the privilege of our ceremonial grounds and for that I am sorry, my son."

Spock took in Sarek's words and wondered when his relationship with his father had started degenerating. He was certain that it began before he turned down his admission to the VSR. Was it during his early teens or later? He often meditated on these questions and their growing comfort with each other.

"A terrible loss, unfortunately no one could have foreseen Nero."

A light gust of wind entered the room and tugged lightly at his robes. As the scent of it teased his nostrils, Spock was again reminded of the otherness of this planet. Was he doomed forever to feel like an alien here? Most of the other young survivors were adapting quickly. Could this persistent disquiet have a connection to what he sacrificed? If that were the case then he hoped a little more time was all he required.

"The time draws near. Are you ready?"

Were he to give into to his suppressed Human side, Spock might have smiled and shed a tear all at once. His father was giving him another chance to be free of his choice, and he would reject it just the same.

"I am ready."

Sarek tucked his hands within the folds of his robes. "Well then, let us proceed to the appointed place."

Together they walked from the room into a hallway that lead to an open area designated to become a place of remembrance. And there waiting for him was T'Pring. A lovely vision in pale green, she stood, flanked by her aunt and a priest. As they gazed at each other, he cast aside the last of his doubts. This was his path, his choice and he would follow it to the end.

A/N: Comments are much appreciated. They are the only payment I get for this stuff.