A Date

To the human eye Spock seemed calm, but to the discerning Vulcan gaze he would seem fidgety and nervous. He waiting in front of a small Sushi restaurant that he knew Uhura professed to be her favorite. The restaurant sat by the Pacific coast, the salty, cool air wafting into Spock's nostrils. He was dressed as a civilian, a clean, pressed pair of jeans and a blue shirt that his mother had gifted him with.

Both he and Uhura had been meeting over the past four months to discuss Vulcan culture and to speak with one another in Vulcan. This was the first time he'd dared to invite her to dinner outside of the mess hall, neither had even visited the other's rooms. Now Spock was watching the passerby's from the front of Koko Sushi, hoping to get a glimpse of Uhura's distinctive walk. He scanned every face, but didn't see her. He looked down at his watch, noting that she still have five minutes until their normal meeting time. He sighed quietly and continued to scan the crowd.

It was then that he saw her. It was like a slow dream the way the sun was setting to her left, the way her hips swayed in her dress. She was wearing yellow, Spock had never seen quite a color, but enjoyed the way it contrasted with her skin. The dress was short, but longer than the Starfleet uniform, the fabric was breezy and light as it caressed her slim thighs. She was wearing a small, white sweater to cover her arms, because this April night was quite cool and airy. Her hair was loose about her shoulders, and Spock could not believe that this beautiful woman walking to meet him at a restaurant.

She stopped her stroll up the pier to pet the head of a Golden Retriever that was currently being walked by its owner, but only for a minute. Again, she looked up as if she could feel his presence, and caught eyes with Spock. She smiled that beautiful, bright smile that always made Spock melt, and waved. She quickened her pace and within a few seconds she was standing in front of him.

"Hello Spock," she said, looking him over with what Spock hoped was appreciation.

"Hello Cadet Uhura," he said a bit uncomfortable with her closeness. She was wearing perfume for the occasion, but it in no way masked her perfect natural scent that was akin to rosemary.

"Call me Nyota. We're not on campus, and per your request, neither of us are in uniform. I suppose this is as informal as we could possibly get," she joked, but Spock noted something else in her eyes. The fleeting emotion that ran behind her eyes could have been just Spock's imagination.

"Shall we go inside, Nyota?" Spock asked. She nodded and he led the way, opening the door, and allowing her to enter first.

The inside of the restaurant was a simplistic as the outside. Spock could see why Uhura enjoyed the ambiance of the place. It wasn't showy or fancy, but the people were nice and the service was good. They were seated in a secluded corner of the restaurant, away from the excitement of the sushi bar, where many patrons were watching the sushi chefs quickly assemble the small bites of fish and making a ruckus. Their waitress was a small, Japanese lady who brought them menus and hot towels to wipe their hands.

"Do you like this place, Spock?" Uhura asked, noting that his eyes were wandering around the restaurant, taking in the mishmash of decorations.

"It suits you, so therefore I am please," Spock responded smoothly. Nyota sat up straight and smiled, taking his words as a compliment, which was how he meant them.

"I must say, I was extremely surprised when you asked me out tonight. I was expecting us to just go the Mess Hall and then the Library like we always do. But I am more than pleased at this venue to continue our tutoring," she spoke.

"I think you are mistaken. I do not wish to talk of school tonight," he saw a look of shock wash over her face.

"Oh," she said a bit disappointed, which caused disappointment to almost show on his face. Then she looked back up and the obviousness of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks. She looked at Spock, took in his slightly relaxed (relaxed for Spock) face and state of dress and her eyes widened and she blushed.

"Oh," she giggled, "well, Mr. Spock what do you wish to talk about."

"Anything that you wish to speak about," he responded. She looked at him daringly, thinking about what she wanted to converse with him about. It was at this moment that waitress decided to come by and take their order. Uhura ordered passion tea, beef negomaki, and spicy scallops. Spock ordered warm jasmine tea, edomame, and three pieces of white tuna. The waitress smiled warmly at both of them and placed two hot bowls of miso soup in front of them.

"Why did you choose to go to Starfleet instead of the Vulcan Science Academy?" she asked brazenly. Spock was impressed by her candor; most humans chose to walk around a subject instead of just asking point blank. He took a small sip of his miso soup.

"I was accepted into the Vulcan Science Academy, and I also applied at Starfleet, just in case I wasn't accepted," he responded.

"That's logical, of course," she responded, and sipped her soup as well, "but you didn't answer my question."

"I am going to have to tell you everything, I see."

"Is the question too personal?" she asked.

"As a Vulcan, almost every question is personal," Spock said. He saw that she laughed and couldn't believe that he'd just made a joke at his own expense. He finally felt at ease and she noted a small slump in his shoulders. The waitress brought back they're food and they began to eat.

"My father is Sarek, the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth, my mother is…" she stopped him.

"Your mother is Amanda Grayson, one of the leading researchers in Xenolinguistics. I'm writing a paper about her. So, you're only half-Vulcan?"

"Yes. When I was in front of the formal acceptance committee for the Vulcan Science Academy, the head administrator insulted my mother, so I declined acceptance into the Academy. My refusal caused a lot of… problems for my father."

"I would assume, with the life your father chose that he was accustomed to problems in his home world. So, you're a rebel. You are the equivalent of the Vulcan James Dean, how funny," she couldn't help the laughter that peeled from her lips. He watched her laugh and continued to eat his food. He noted the distinct and fresh flavor of the tuna, and decided that he much enjoyed this place as well.

"Why did you choose Starfleet?" Spock asked.

"I want to travel," was her answer.

"You could be any number of careers and still travel," Spock countered.

"I come from a family of nurses, teachers, doctors, engineers, none of those professions, albeit lucrative and interesting, make me shiver. The though to exploring new worlds, new cultures, new races and colonies, makes my heart burst with excitement," she spoke with uncontained glee.

"So any commission will do, just as long as you get to travel," he commented. She looked at him with narrowed eyes and Spock was at once worried that he'd offended her.

"Oh no, Spock, I will settle for nothing less than a commission on the Enterprise," she sipped her tea. Spock thought that ambition such as she had been an admirable human trait. He liked the way she wore her confidence, strong without being domineering, feminine without appearing weak, intelligent without being pretentious.

"I am stationed on the Enterprise," he said nonchalantly. He saw her interest peak.

"You are? How did I never know this?"

"I never told you. I am the CSO under Captain Pike."

"That explains why you're still here on campus instead of out on a mission. I bet you're doing so many interesting things for Captain Pike."

"I am actually working on a confidential project for Admiral Perry."

"Top Secret, huh, intriguing. You are a mystery," she smiled and took another bite of her spicy scallops. They ate in alternating silence and conversation for a few more minutes, laughter leaving her lips from time to time. They completed the meal much the same. Spock paid when the check came, pulled her chair out when she rose to stand. Helped her with her purse and her sweater, and opened the door for her as they exited the restaurant. By the time they were finished with everything, it was dusk. The sun was almost below the horizon of the vast ocean, turning the clear sky into a soft purple, allowing a glimpse of the waxing gibbon moon and newly twinkling stars.

"This is the part of day that I love best," she said, looking at him from her place by his side. The breeze rustled her hair.

"May I ask as to why?" he queried.

"It's neither day nor night. It's just a moment in between, where you get a glimpse of what was and what's to come," she looked up at him hopefully. He looked down at her; her eyes were deep and brown.

"Forgive me," Spock started, "but I have yet to compliment you on your appearance. Your state of dress is very aesthetically pleasing tonight." Spock's mouth was dry.

"Thank you. You look nice as well," her smile was radiant. They walked in silence along the pier, watching as the last bits of sunlight dipped low and day morphed into night. The tide was coming in and they could hear the waves crash against the sandy beach and roll back out again. She stopped and stopped next to her, watching the sight of the night waves.

"We do not have a moon on Vulcan," Spock said.

"Then what do you wish upon at night?" she asked, cheekily.

"Vulcans do not wish," Spock said bashfully. She stunningly reached a hand out to his and tentatively entangled her fingers into his. Spock stiffened at the touch and she almost pulled away, if he hand enclosed the rest of his hand over hers. She shifted in front of him, turning and locked her other hand in his, both of them facing one another.

"I think I know one Vulcan that does," she said, and stood up on her tip toes and touched her lips softly to his. It was a light kiss, but Spock could feel the rush of heat encompass her body. Her lips were cool and soft and slightly wet against his. Her pulse was elevated and he could hear her heart beating. She pulled back too soon by his accord and set herself down looking at him. The faint tinge of green on his cheeks and his eyes opening slowly was all the outward signs that she needed to know that he enjoyed the small kiss as much as she had. She turned and pulled him behind her, dragging them both back towards the campus. They walked in silence for most of the way.

"What is your favorite color, Spock?" she asked the silly question.

"Vulcans do not have favorites," he started, but before she could respond, he continued, "but I would say that I am partial to red. And you?"

"Green," she said. They were approaching her dorm very quickly. Within a few steps they were standing in front of the door.

"Thank you for joining me, tonight, Nyota. This was a most agreeable time."

"Yes it was. It would be wonderful if we did this again," she said, a bit shyer than she'd been earlier.

"Of course," he responded and saw her go back to the easy comfort that they'd fallen into. She leaned forward and kissed his lips again, this time not as soft, a bit more firm. He kissed her back and felt a sigh escape her. Again the moment was over too quickly. She pulled back and licked her lips, opening the door quickly behind her. Before she entered she turned and looked at him with her winning smile.

"Goodnight Spock," she said.

"Goodnight Nyota." She turned and walked into her dorm and Spock watched as she swayed down the hall until she disappeared.