A/N: Well, here it is… the last chapter! I just wanted to thank everyone for the very kind and positive comments I've received for this story! Just at the moment, the only other Star Trek piece I've got planned is my angsty Chulu romance piece called Someone to Lean On, which I just posted the first chapter of not too long ago, so if you want to read more of my work, head in that direction! I'm a little nervous about it, it's the first really angsty thing I've ever tried to write…

Anyways, I've had a few people say that they would love if I'd do more movie fics (and you guys really have no idea how flattered I am that you want me to write more fanfics!). At the moment, I have no plans for that, but if anyone has any suggestions, I will happily consider it! I really enjoy writing movie fics, (and I think I'm getting better at it… this one is my favorite so far) and I would love to do another one, I just haven't thought about it yet so I have no ideas. Suggestions are encouraged! Anyways, thank you again for the support, enjoy the end of the fic, and reviews are my favorite thing, so leave some and let me know if this lived up to your expectations!

Epilogue: Things Once Left Unsaid

Spock opened his eyes to find himself slumped against one of the bright red rocks that dotted the deserts of Vulcan. He shook his head, and for a moment he had no idea why he was lying there under the desert sun in these filthy and gaudy ceremonial robes. Then he remembered the bonding ceremony, and then he experienced the pain over the loss of Jim. He had deliberately left his own mind unshielded. The logical part of his brain knew that he had been a sick and frightened young child, but the fact remained that he had caused his bondmate considerable pain for twenty years. Surak would have said that such thoughts of reciprocal pain were illogical, but Spock felt that it was something he must do. He would allow himself to experience his loss every day until he could find a way back to Underland.

Back at the ceremonial area, T'Pring was in a complete snit over being abandoned in the middle of the ceremony.

"He left me standing there. In the middle of our bonding," she muttered, a trace of anger fighting its way through her normal mask of composure.

"A case of nerves, no doubt," Stonn said calmly.

The other Vulcans had been chatting softly among themselves and they all fell silent as Spock approached. He was covered in red dust and looked rather disheveled.

"Spock?" Sybok asked, alarm obvious in his voice. Everyone was so surprised that they didn't even think to reprimand him for his show of emotion.

"What happened?" the elder T'Pau asked.

Sarek hurried over to his youngest son. "Are you well? What has befallen you?"

"I fell down a hole… and hit my head," Spock decided. It seemed easier than trying to explain everything, including the gaping wound in his heart.

"You look a frightful mess," Sarek said sternly, trying to brush away the worst of the dirt. "We must proceed with the ceremony."

Spock looked over at T'Pring, who was standing next to Stonn with a haughty expression on her face. Spock, however, found that he suddenly knew just what to say.

"T'Pring, I cannot complete the ceremony with you. I will not bond with someone who is not prepared to give their all for this partnership. I will not be like my brother, ignoring your betrayal. I am not cruel enough to wish you ill though. I hope you manage to find peace with Stonn." Spock looked next at his brother. "Sybok, you have been a more than adequate brother to me. I have missed your presence, and it grieves me to see you dealing with this failed bond. I hope you understand why I will not allow the same fate to befall me."

"I… cannot believe this…" T'Pring gasped, her perfect composure cracking. She turned to the elders. "You cannot truly believe his accusations.

Spock ignored her. "Stonn, you do not truly understand how lucky you were to bond with my brother. I wish you had been kinder to him. Now I hope you will do the right thing for both of you." Then he looked at his father. "Father, I cannot marry this woman. I know you thought you were doing the right thing by arranging this union, but you do not truly understand what I need. Please allow me to choose my own path in life from now on."

Sarek inclined his head slightly in his son's direction. T'Pring was finally able to gather enough poise to speak again. "Have you gone mad?" she demanded. "Unless you are going to tell us that your human blood has tainted you so much that you do not need Vulcan bonds, you will need to bond with someone soon. You will not find anyone willing and able to bond with you on such short notice. I am your best chance."

"I will not bond with someone who does not care for my wellbeing," Spock said coldly. Then he turned and walked away from the ceremonial area. T'Pring followed him, her normal emotionless mask falling away to be replaced by cold rage.

"You cannot do this to me. We have been promised to each other since childhood. To break our childhood bond in such a way is a disgrace, and I will not stand for it."

"Then perhaps you should not have been unfaithful to me," Spock said.

"You are punishing yourself just as much as you are punishing me, did you consider that?" she asked him.

"I am aware of the consequences of my actions."

"Then why did you pick the must public and painful way to destroy what might have remained of our relationship?"

"Because I do not deserve happiness any more than you do," Spock said as he turned to face her as last.

She froze. "I do not understand… You cannot still be blaming yourself for your mother's death, Spock…" For the first time, there was softness in her eyes as she looked at him.

"I still do blame myself for that, but it was not the reason I spoke of." Spock hesitated, wondering how much of his soul he should bare to his woman who should have been his mate. He found it surprisingly easy to bare it fully. After all, they had grown up together, and they had been friends, although they had never shown any romantic interest in each other. "It is… a complicated tale. Suffice it to say, when I was a child, I created a bond with a human inadvertently, and my absence plagued him for many years. I have since managed to repair the damage, but I cannot assuage the guilt I feel for the damage I caused him. So until I have figured out how to atone for my carelessness, I will not allow myself to enjoy a healthy bond with you or anyone else."

"That is… illogical. Yet… strangely noble," T'Pring said softly.

"It's also unnecessary," a voice called out from behind them. Both Vulcans turned to see a lanky human dressed in old fashioned clothes with long blonde hair. He was leaning on the shoulder of a ruggedly handsome man with dark gray hare ears and a disgruntled expression on his face.

"Jim…" Spock gasped. "I… do not understand. How did you…?"

"How did I find you?" Jim asked brightly. "Well, that did take some doing, but between this mind-link thing we have and some help from Uhura's potions… I found you again and I can take you home when you're ready."

Doubtfully, Spock glanced over at McCoy for confirmation, and the surly hare just scowled. "Won't nothin' satisfy him but to have you back in Underland… Dunno why he's so set on having some damn green-blooded hobgoblin that's caused him nothing but misery for the last however many years, but if that's what he wants…"

Spock simply could not believe his ears. He'd been resigned to being alone for several more years until he figured out how to cross back into Underland again. A small part of him had even resigned to be alone for the rest of his life if he couldn't return to Jim. The idea that Jim would come looking for him had simply never crossed his mind.

"You left those thoughts in my head that explained everything… all the stuff that happened to me and why I went a little crazy… and what you were planning to do to yourself. I couldn't let that happen, I couldn't let you hurt yourself like that," Jim explained.

"After all I put you through…" Spock found he could not really explain the emotions he was feeling.

"It wasn't your fault. You shouldn't punish yourself. Just come home," Jim said. He straightened up a little and took a few steps towards Spock.

Spock hesitated, then glanced sideways at T'Pring. She just looked at him. "You already informed me that our betrothal was broken. I would be a hypocrite if I demanded that you break this off. It is not any of my business anymore." And with that, she turned and walked away. Spock watched her go and saw her step to Stonn's side. Sybok and Sarek were there too and both Vulcans lifted their hands in salute. They knew even before Spock made the conscious choice what the outcome would be.

Spock turned back to Jim and stepped forward to meet him, wrapping the fragile human in a warm embrace. Jim's lips met his gratefully and Spock lost himself in the sensations for a moment until McCoy's throat-clearing brought them back to the present.

"Now I can see that ya'll are havin' a great time, but we really oughta be getting' home…. I'm gonna be right ticked off if I get locked out of Underland cuz you two horny fools can't handle yourselves," the Southern hare snapped.

Jim laughed. "Oh Bones, you know you're happy for us!" he exclaimed.

The other man didn't confirm or deny this, he just stepped over to a portal that hadn't been there a moment before and hurried through it. Jim tugged on Spock's hand, pulling him over. Spock glanced one last time around Vulcan. He'd been born and raised here, but it had never felt like home. Not the way he felt in the presence of this fascinating human with glimmering blue eyes.

"Your mind already feels more orderly," he heard himself saying.

Jim smiled so sweetly that Spock felt his heart might break just looking at it. "You're good for me," he said simply. "Now come on…"

And Spock clasped his hand tightly and stepped into the fantastic world in front on him, ready to face any challenge and brave any danger with his new bondmate by his side.

The End!