**I Own Nothing**

It was utterly embarrassing; when Nyota arrived she had no problem finding her sister. It was a familiar scene, Etana the beautiful, popular sister, the life of the party, dancing on the table.

"You came!" Etana squealed when she spotted Nyota. Pushing past her dance partner, Etana jumped off the table nearly falling face first into a bowl of fizzy green liquid. "Let's go" Nyota snapped catching her sister by the arm, "the last thing I need s you ruining my reputation." As Nyota steered her sister to the door someone grabbed Etana from behind. "Where are you headed pretty lady?" Nyota recognized his voice, "Down Boy." Nyota said turning to face the smug cadet who had not given up on trying to score a date with her in two years. "She is leaving Jim, and not with you"

"Uhura! Babe we could all leave together, you guys look like twins… or am I seeing double?"

"Hey…" mumbled Etana "You met my new friend, isn't he cute and look he's human!" She began to laugh hysterically. Nyota started to push Etana out of the building once again

"Ny! I wanna talk to my friends" Etana moaned loudly "I don't interfere with you and your alien boyfriend… oh wait… he's like a fourth human or something… wonder if he has an alien…" Nyota slapped a hand over her sister's mouth, cutting her off abruptly, people were starting to stare. "We are leaving now." She whispered through gritted teeth. Etana was not going out quietly.

"Why are you dragging me out of here like a child" Etana yelled wriggling out of her sister's grasp "I am having a good time! Just because you think you are so much better than me with your degree in …robot…alien languages or whatever and I hated chemistry, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. And I am never getting married …because I don't want to, so you and your celibate… vul…vul…" Etana paused, she looked pale. "I need air…" she began to wheeze. Jim who had been laughing the entire time like an idiot wrapped his arm around her waist "come right this way, we can get some are, get acquainted, all that good stuff."

Nyota began to protest when Etana who had laid her head on jims shoulder heaved, splattering Jim, herself, and anyone else within five foot radius. Nyota wanted to turn and leave, as if she had no idea who the girl throwing up in the middle of the room was. For a moment she hesitated, and then she went to her sister, cleaned her off and guided her out. It was dark and cold, but the cool night air felt good against Nyota's hot skin, she was mortified, nut perhaps not as embarrassed as her sister would be when she realized the lasting impression that she had made. As they walked home Nyota felt relieved, soon things would be back to normal, she would miss her sister, but it she had had enough of her to last until she went home after the next term.


He had allowed her to kiss him in public, where they could have easily been spotted by someone, yet he still did not regret it. In fact he was displeased when she had cut their visit short because of her inebriated sister. Her quick departure had left him feeling unfulfilled, he required more but how could he express this to her without her taking offense? Spock found this peculiar; it was as if his ability to think and act logically was being compromised by his need to manage his human desires. He was tense, it was biology he told himself, he recalled feeling this way once during his first year at Starfleet, meditation had worked then.

That night Spock stayed in meditation until it was dawn, then when he at last he felt calm, relaxed, and once again restrained, he sought sleep, an hour would be sufficient. While sleep cam easily enough, it was neither peaceful nor vitalizing.

He was dreaming, this was not out f the ordinary however he could not wake up, this was peculiar. In his dream he was on Vulcan, running, he was being chased by someone or something that he could not see. When he tried to look behind him he was blinded by a bright light, so he kept running.

Why can I not will myself to awaken?

He was barefoot; the sharp sand began to dig into his flesh. He wanted to stop, needed to stop. As the soles of his feet bled profusely he kept running he was getting closer. Someone was calling to him, a woman; she was crying "my son…my son…" He stopped, whatever had been chasing him had stopped, ahead of him was a dark cave from which he continued to hear the soft sobs. His feet ached but he struggled to the entrance of the cave, he could make out a human figure. The person was kneeling over something, something small wrapped in a bundle. He staggered towards the woman, she did not seem to notice him, she was crying harder now, Spock peered down at the bundle on the ground, it was a small child, its lifeless body swaddled in a dirty gray blanket, the woman looked up at him, her pale, tear streaked face looked familiar, "Mother?" The woman smiled "Hello my son." Suddenly the ground below them began to quake violently, he reached out to her but as soon as his hand touched hers the cave began to collapse, he ran, he saved himself, and then he woke up. Spock bolted up in bed, he looked about the room, it was still dark, it had only been 45.7 minutes but the nightmare had seemed to go on for hours. Perhaps he was sleep deprived, or he was becoming ill, such imaginings were not common to him, and they were quit unsettling.

Spock decided that a call to his mother was in order. He activated the video call, his mother liked to see him when they spoke, Spock thought that this was illogical since she already knew what he looked like yet he complied.

"Spock, hello my son, this is a very pleasant surprise."

"Mother, how are you?"

"I am well, as is your father, I wish you two would talk…how is the term going, I wish you had not elected to teach so many classes on top of doing those simulations and all, you look tired and I am sure you are not eating as well as you should be."

"The term is progressing well mother, I have several promising students. As you are aware I do not require a substantial amount of sleep, and I assure you that I consume enough nourishment to sustain myself, I am perfectly healthy.

His mother looked at him silently for a moment; she looked concerned, this was normal for her.

"Spock, I do wish you would visit soon, it has been too long…and you hardly call, I know it is not your habit to talk much, you must understand though that your mother requires this."

"Indeed mother I have been preoccupied as of late."

"Preoccupied?" His mother smiled "With someone?"

Spock thought about mentioning Nyota to his mother but it was a personal matter that he did not feel the need to discuss just yet.

"Human relationships are complicated mother" was all he said of the matter.

They talked more about school and how things were on Vulcan, she repeatedly mentioned his father but Spock quickly changed the subject. She kept him on the call longer than was necessary as usual; Spock wondered at privation that his mother seemed to have, he felt inclined to express his gratitude for her but found words to be as useless as always.


"Spock, it's me" Nyota Spoke into the intercom from outside the apartment unit.

"Please come in" Spock responded. Nyota had called him that morning, it had been a week since they had seen each other; Nyota had a lot of work to catch up on since she had neglected her studies while her sister had been present. Spock on the other hand had finished grading assignments, outlining next terms courses, reviewing the terms enrollment lists, reading The Complete Works of Notable Terran Bards, and had composed two new compositions for the Vulcan Lute. He had not slept the entire week the nightmares persisted. A week is a long time to go without sleep, even for a Vulcan.

"T'hy'la, it feels as if we have not seen each other in so long" Nyota said entering the apartment.

"I assure you it has been exactly…"

"I know, I Know" Nyota smiled kissing him lightly on the cheek.

Nyota took off her coat; the weather had gotten considerably cooler over the week. Spock noticed her clothes were not her usual modest attire that she wore off campus. He regarded her, one eyebrow raised slightly, his eyes settled on the low neckline of her thin white top.

"Nyota, you look quit…stimulating this evening" he stated taking her coat from her.

"I had hoped you would like my new outfit, I went shopping yesterday, to give myself a break from working on that thesis" Nyota sighed taking a seat on the couch,

"I believe it is I that should be thanking you, for your…display" Spock retorted, raising both eyebrows.

Nyota giggled "Why do you do that with your eyebrows?"

"I am sure I do not know what you are referring to. I am pleased that you have come, I would like to show you something, if you will wait here a moment." Spock disappeared into the bedroom.

Nyota straightened her short black skirt and took a seat on the couch. The Skirt was shorter than she normally preferred but it did accentuate her legs rather nicely, even a Vulcan could appreciate that. When Spock returned he was carrying a large Harp like instrument.

"What is that" Nyota asked, wondering why he never mentioned that he could play an instrument.

"This…" Spock said taking a seat next to her on the couch. "..Is a Vulcan Lute, it is a common instrument on Vulcan, I find the melody of the Vulcan Lute to be quit soothing"

Nyota smiled "And you are going to play it for me?"

"Well, that is why I have brought it out" Spock replied, beginning to strum the strings lightly.

The melody started off slow and mournful, Nyota watched his long, thin fingers glide gracefully over the strings. The tempo picked up and transformed into a sweeping melody that sounded almost joyful. His eyes trailed over her body as he played but they did not meet hers. Nyota began to feel an unfamiliar intensity as his eyes caressed herm the song took on an entirely differently feeling that could only be described as passion. When the song ended Spock put down the lute and looked directly at her for the first time since he had started playing.

"Your opinion, Nyota?" Spock inquired, his dark brown eyes bore into hers.

Nyota shifted on the couch "It was, beautiful…intense, fervent really" she stammer, trying to find the right words.

Spock sat the instrument down beside the couch. "Nyota, I require…" He stopped, once again find words insufficient.

Nyota stared at him quizzically "Yes Spock… What do you need?"

He did not say anything, he just looked at her, he felt helpless, ashamed to make the request.

"I cannot read your mind Ashayam, you have to tell me" Nyota put her hand on top of his.

"Ashayam?" Spock said to himself, wondering if she really understood the deep meaning tied to the word. "Nyota, I would be pleased if you would stay here tonight, with me."

A/N:

Will she or won't she? I would…

Please review; let me know it is worth continuing!