Every Breath

By Serena

A/N: Well, everybody, this is "officially" the last chapter of Every Breath. Wow. Can't believe it's over. I'll be doing an epilogue, but nothing major plot-wise. AND... Thanks to the lovely responses from all of you, I WILL be posting a follow-up Ali/Kirk oneshot. Yay! :)

NOTE: Some of you might think this chapter a bit rushed. But remember, Spock hasn't got much time left. I'll be posting a more slowly-paced epilogue just to wrap everything up.

I'd like to thank ALL of you SO SO SO much for all of your support and following this story for almost a year. You don't know how much I appreciate it. :)

And THANK YOU for all of your suggestions for chapter names! There were some great ones, ones that cracked me up, and I did choose one by Kimsa Ki-Lurria: Eternity. Thank you, dear! :)

Chapter Twenty-One: Eternity

The night was warm, balmy, and quiet. After dinner, Spock led Nyota out onto an upper-level, shadowed terrace that overlooked the city below. A gentle breeze swept through her hair, sending tingles up her spine. Spock rested a hand on her back and stood beside her as she rested her hands on the railing.

"I don't suppose I have to tell you how extraordinary you were back there," Spock told Nyota with amazing coolness, as if he had just told her that it would rain on Tuesday.

Nyota flushed deep pink and smiled, biting her lip. "You don't, but I love hearing it anyways," she replied with a note of pleasure in her voice. She shot him a sideways glance. "I was afraid I might have embarrassed you at first. But I wasn't about to just let her walk all over the people hosting this conference." She straightened instinctively and set her jaw, remembering T'Pring's cold, superior gaze.

Spock inclined his head towards her. "No, you were in the right. She was a most ungracious guest. As was the Minister." His voice hardened.

"I take it you don't like him very much," she observed.

"I admit I do not."

When he didn't clarify, she asked him why.

He let out a small sigh. "Before I came here, I was accepted into the Vulcan Science Academy." Nyota knew it well - no human had ever been accepted. It was even close to impossible for many Vulcans. The level of knowledge and brainpower one had to have would need to be off the charts brilliant. And Spock was, indeed brilliant. She remained silent, however, and let him continue. "However," Spock went on, "As I was accepted before the Council, the Minister said that it was impressive I had achieved so much, despite my... disadvantage."

Nyota's eyes widened. "He didn't mean..."

"Yes. My human mother." His eyes were dark with anger.

"That creep."

Spock shot her an amused look. "Aptly put, I must concur."

"So... you decided to come to Starfleet."

"Indeed. My father disagreed with my choice," Spock said with a tinge of irritation in his voice. "However, my mother approved."

Nyota slipped closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Spock," she sighed, "Your father only wants what's best for you. He thinks that you made the right decision by coming here, actually."

"You spoke with him, I assume."

"Yes." She gazed up at him. "He loves you, you know that?"

Spock wouldn't look at her. "I do not know," he muttered finally.

"Of course he does!" she said forcefully. "He loves you and your mother - despite his stern Vulcan countenance, he's as warm-hearted as you are."

Spock raised an eyebrow and glanced down at her. "I don't believe I've ever heard the term 'warm-hearted' used in the same sentence as either me or my father."

"Get used to it. You have the biggest heart of any man I know, even if you don't want to admit it," Nyota said, folding her arms over her chest stubbornly. "I just look at your father and I can see how much he loves her - how he's willing to give up everything for her if she wants him to. He's there for her for eternity, just like she is for him."

Spock's hand wrapped around her waist. "Eternity," he spoke softly, his voice vibrating against Nyota's back. "I believe I like that word."

Nyota smiled. "Me, too."

After a moment of silence, Spock gently released her and turned her around to face him, entwining both of his hands in hers in an uncharacteristically intimate gesture - one that left her breathless. "Nyota," he said, his voice still quiet, "Would you..." He hesitated - another strange move for the normally composed Vulcan. "Would you spend eternity with me?"

Against her will, Nyota's eyes filled with tears. "Yes," she whispered. "A million times, yes."

"Spock!" Nyota all but shrieked, grabbing his hand. McCoy, startled, whipped out his medical tricorder and started scanning Spock.

"I don't believe it. You Pointy-eared hobgoblin," Bones muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "His vitals are better... but not at the pace they should be. Uhura," he said, grasping the young woman's shoulder, "If we don't get on with this, Spock will die soon."

"How soon?" Kirk demanded.

Bones shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. A few hours... a day, maybe." He fell silent and watched as the couple stared at each other as if no one else were in the room.

Suddenly, the whole room was quiet except for Nyota's hitched sniffles and Spock's staggered breathing.

"Nyota," Spock breathed raggedly, clinging to her as if she were his lifeline, "Would you spend... eternity... with me?" He reached up and slipped his hands into her hair.

Nyota couldn't help it. But over the past week, her emotions had been through such a violent, turbulent whirlwind that she could barely function anymore. But with Spock here, in her arms, so wonderfully alive, the dam that she had constructed cracked and broke, letting all of her unreleased emotions past. She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around Spock, who, despite the others present, held her tight in his arms.

"Yes," Nyota sobbed helplessly into his shoulder. "Yes. A million times, yes." She pulled back and kissed him quickly. Spock struggled to sit upright, and Nyota and McCoy instantly helped him to his feet.

"Captain," Spock said, still breathing heavily - not because of short breath, but because of the still raging pon farr - "I request a ceremony immediately." He held Nyota's hand tightly in his own. "Nyota and I wish to be married at once."

Kirk stared at him for a moment and gave Spock a quick nod. "You got it."

"A wedding?" Chekov chirped in excitement. "Who will be the best man?"

Spock and Kirk exchanged glances, and Spock nodded. "If you would, Jim," he said wearily. "I would be most honored."

"I'd love to. But, as the Captain, I'm going to be performing the ceremony, too." He clasped his friend's shoulder warmly and helped him to his feet with the aid of McCoy and Uhura. "But don't worry. This'll be the best wedding Starfleet's ever seen. Let's get to it, everyone. Chekov," he said to the young man, "Contact the bridge, let them know we're on our way and that we need to do a quick-set up for a ceremony."

Alastar, oddly enough, took the reigns in helping Nyota - whether because she was a woman or just because everyone else was too concerned with Spock, Nyota didn't know. However, as the group headed for the bridge, Alastar came up on Nyota's free side and placed a hand on her arm.

"This may not be the best time," the Arridanian woman said, "but I just wanted to say that you're very brave. Also, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Do you need anything?"

Nyota, holding Spock's arm in a vice-like grip, shook her head dazedly, then blinked and cleared her dry throat. Attempting to gather her wits about her, she nodded. "Yes. Just - don't go anywhere. Just talk to me." Shooting another look to a heavily breathing Spock as they continued down the corridor, passing by shocked crewmembers, she sniffled. "Say anything."

The Arridanian woman nodded. "Of course. I don't think we've been introduced, firstly. I'm Alastar, and it's a pleasure to meet you. Now, I don't know how humans or Vulcans perform wedding ceremonies, but I, for one, can't see a wedding without at least one bouquet of flowers. I need plants. It may be my species, or just me, but I feel this ship is in desperate need of vegetation. You'll have to get Kirk to put a few plants in here and there."

Nyota let out a shaky, relieved laugh. She liked this woman. She was helping her to get her mind back together, at least a little. "Yeah, I agree."

"Hey, I refuse to hire a plant-waterer," Jim protested. "Unless you guys want to take turns, plants are too much work."

"This from the man who wanted a dog on the ship," McCoy grumbled. "You're so full of it, Jim."

"Thanks, I think. And Ali, since when are you so nice? I'm feeling a little put out, here," Kirk said.

"Because unlike you, the good Lieutenant does not refer to me by names which I despise," Alastar said in a deceptively sweet voice. "And how far is your shidding bridge, anyway?"

"Ah, there she is!" Kirk exclaimed acidly. "We're almost there. Spock, you ready to get married?"

"Yes," Spock growled. "That question is extremely redundant considering I just said that I would be requesting a marriage." Good, Nyota noticed. He was angry, his eyes were dark pools, and some color was returning to his face. But he was still struggling for breath, and his walking, although better, was still unsteady. He was attempting to control the blood fever, and it was working better with her here... for now. But she knew, she felt that he wouldn't last much longer. Her heart clenched.

"Quite right, Mr. Spock. Is there a Starfleet manual for impromptu weddings?" Kirk wondered.

"There will be now," McCoy put in as they entered the turbolift. In only a few seconds, they had arrived at the bridge. To Nyota's discomfort, every crewmember was staring at them in mute astonishment. Chekov, who had run ahead, rushed up to them, smiling brightly as always.

"Kepten! Kepten! What do you think?" He swept an eager hand towards the front and center of the bridge, where two white drapes were hanging from hooks, blocking the viewscreen and tied together with golden tassels. On the floor in front was a long white runner, a makeshift aisle.

"Uh, it's great, Chekov," Kirk said half-heartedly. Nyota knew what he was thinking - it wasn't the grand, lavish ceremony the Captain had been wanting for his two senior officers. She could see the anger and frustration on the young Captain's face, the guilt for failing his two friends.

"It's perfect," she spoke up, locking eyes with Kirk. Kirk's eyes softened, and she gave him a reassuring smile. "It's perfect," she repeated softly.

"Yes," Spock murmured. "It is."

"C'mon," McCoy urged him, helping him up to the end of the aisle. "Time to get you hitched." He patted the Vulcan on the back and stepped to the side as Nyota released Spock and stepped back, facing him. Kirk walked in front of them, his back to the viewscreen, facing the rest of the bridge and the couple as everyone present gathered around to watch the wedding.

"Oh, Kepten! Almost forgot." Chekov rushed up and handed Kirk a Bible.

Kirk thanked him and held it in his hands, clearing his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today to…" He paused, trailing off, and stared at a trembling Spock and an on-edge Nyota. "Oh boy." He sighed shortly and shook his head. "Spock," he said, glancing at the pale but temporarily calm Vulcan, "You want to marry Uhura?"

Spock nodded.

"Right. Uhura, you sure you want to marry him?"

Nyota nodded. "Yes."

"Absolutely sure?"

Nyota glared at Kirk. "Yes. Captain."

"Right. Just checking. Uh..." Kirk glanced at Spock. "You have a ring? Either of you?"

Nyota faltered, shot a look to her fiance. "No," she said hesitantly. They hadn't had time to breathe in the last few minutes, much less think about a ring.

"Stupid question, sorry. Anyone in here have a ring?" Kirk said loudly. There were murmurs, but no one stepped forward. Kirk sighed again, rubbing his forehead. "All right. Looks like we're gonna have to wait for the rings. That's fine for now. We can do the rest of this later. All right, so by the power vested in me… which is a lot, since I'm the Captain, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now go, kiss, yadda, yadda, yadda – and I do not want to know the rest. Scat!"

Spock nodded, looked at Nyota, as the small party on the bridge clapped. Nyota smiled, squeezed his hand, and followed him into the lift, which closed behind them.

Kirk smiled and said to Bones, "Well, I think that went well."

Bones raised an eyebrow. "Don't change your day job."

Kirk glared at him and wearily trod up to his chair, sank into it with a groan. He leaned forward and rubbed his temples. "Oh, man. If I never see another Romulan..." He trailed off as a console beeped. "What is it now, Sulu?" he snapped.

"Uh, Captain..." Sulu was hesitant. "It's an incoming call from Romulus."

Kirk shot a fierce look to his pilot. "Shid."

"It must be Ayel," Alastar growled. "I should've killed him when I had the chance."

Kirk sank back into his seat and gave a short sigh before rising to his feet. "Answer."

The screen blinked to life, revealing a Romulus ambassador. "Captain Kirk, I presume."

"What can I do for you?" Kirk said, not in the mood for a long conversation with a Romulan.

"Captain, I would merely like to extend my... my thanks." The Romulan didn't look any happier to be talking to Kirk than Kirk did with him.

Kirk blinked, stared at him, befuddle. "I'm sorry, your thanks?"

"Yes." The Romulan looked more than a little irritated now. "I am charged with thanking you and your crew for assisting in the demise of Ayel. He had taken control of our government by force and had held several of our prominent leaders hostage in secret. Only because of... your assistance has he been killed."

"Uh, hate to break it to you," said Kirk, still confused and astonished by the Romulan's message, "but we didn't kill him. He's still alive and on your planet somewhere."

"Ah, I see. Very well, then. We shall send out several search parties and hunt him down until he is dead, then," the Romulan said, looking ever so pleased with the news that a Starfleet Captain had not killed Ayel. Typical Romulan arrogance. "Good day, Captain." The viewscreen blinked to black before Kirk could say anything else.

Kirk stared at the screen for a minute after the Romulan ended the call. "Is it just me," he said to Alastar, "or has this been the strangest week in the history of mankind?"

"It's just you, Kirk."

Spock and Nyota didn't speak until they had reached his dark, quiet quarters. Now alone with him, Nyota suddenly felt a peculiar wave of shyness and uncertainty - not about him, though. "Spock," she said softly. "I've never…"

He came up to her in three long, purposeful strides and took her mouth in his with an intensity that left her panting. He kissed her again before pulling back long enough to murmur, "I know. Neither have I."

Any anxieties wore away as she stared up into his dark eyes pooling with hotter, deeper emotions than she'd ever seen in a man before. The pure love and intense fire in his eyes made her want to melt right there on the floor, but his impressively strong arms held her up and close to him.

"I love you," she breathed as he lowered his lips to hers. When she found herself being lifted up and then lowered onto the bed, she closed her eyes, her mind drifting off as his kisses grew more tender and passionate all at once.

One of his hands raked through her hair. "Nyota," he whispered raggedly. "I love you."

When he crashed his lips onto hers again, Nyota let her mind drift away, somewhere between utter elation and warm enchantment.

Hours later, Nyota lay curled up in Spock's arms, listening to the soothing sound of his quiet breathing as he slept. Reaching out, she gently placed her palm over his heart and felt the steady vibrations, causing her fingers to tingle pleasantly. The warmth of his heart and his skin seeped into her body; and she closed her eyes, feeling his heart beat right down to her core. Coupled with his deep, calming breaths, she smiled and sighed happily.

"You were always with me," she whispered into the dark. "Everywhere I went. You never left me... never. You were always there. Every step, every move... every breath."

Spock's hand linking with hers was her only reply.

Finally at peace, Nyota closed her eyes and curled up into Spock's warm body.

In the dark quiet, they fell asleep.

-The End-

OK... there you have it. :) Don't get mad at me for no lemon, but I did tell you, I'm not going there in a T-rated story. Sorry! There are plenty of M-rated fics out there, but I'm not comfortable with writing one.

OK, it's that time - the time you've been waiting for: the ARAGORN QUOTE OF THE DAY (TM)!

"Let us rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace."

I hoped you enjoyed your ARAGORN QUOTE OF THE DAY (TM). Brought you by yours truly. :)

- Serena