Here's what a lot of you have been waiting for…

The final betrayal and break up.

There is a point that we all reach in our relationships whether it's romantic or platonic where we're done. There are no more excuses that can be made or accepted. We can no longer close our eyes and we have to face reality. As you can pretty much tell I've just taken the characters, their quirks, and weaved real life stuff into the mix; things that I've experienced or held hands of others through.

So next I should do I story on two mutual friends who just found attraction, friendship, and quite possibly love on my facebook page. Isn't that cute, so if you see that come through you know where the inspiration came from.

Anyway on to the tale…

Our girl is really angry with herself.

Soundtrack for this chapter…Chrisette Michele's Blame it On Me…well the entire Epiphany cd

Chapter 29 – Blame it on Me

Nyota walked into the kitchen to find Spock engaged in a laborious effort.

"Do not move an inch; resist the need to breathe deeply Ms. Uhura, the red matter is very unstable."

This was the Spock she loved. They had spent most of the afternoon after morning graduation lounging around. Of course that was after the quiet lunch with Sarek and Amanda. The man's mother had still offered cautious words to Nyota, but things had been different and she refused to let negativity invade her space today.

Nyota took a few steps, peered over the bowl, "Pour it in the trays, its ready."

She had left the alcohol light weight alone to prepare the Jell-O shooters for tonight's festivities while she showered, straightened her hair, and put on the little black dress he loved.

"Are you coming to Pike's?" Nyota asked, nuzzling the sensitive skin at the nape of his neck.

"Keep that up and you will not leave this house, nor will anyone get in at the appointed hour."

Nyota attacked him with another series of kisses, before pulling away, "Come to Pike's, please? At least show my friends you're trying."

"I do not understand this ridiculous obsession with gaining the approval of those you call friends. A relationship is private and between two people." Spock was still busy pouring the shooters, hoping to avoid a repeat of their heated discussion from earlier.

Nyota suppressed the desire to throw the past in his face with the mention of one name. Well by screaming one name at the top of her lungs and laying out significant reasons for why she should never allow him to touch her again.

"If you're going to be in my life until I have to eat creamed corn for every meal, I want you to get along with the people who will live beside us in the nursing home."

Spock leveled a look that could move mountains, "You and your scenarios."

"Pike's one hour."

"You remember Nyota?"

"Why do you insist on talking about people like I've never met them a day in my life?" Leonard was in the process of tucking his shirt and reaching for a tie.

"Stop don't move. A white shirt, tucked in? Leonard, even my grandfather wouldn't leave the house like that." Jim fumbled through his overnight bag and pulled out a simple black button down shirt with pin stripes. He grabbed his friend's steamer, "You have a steamer?"

In five minutes Jim had Leonard in another shirt, attempted to style his in need of a cut hair, and made the man shave again. The almost doctor resisted when Jim tried to spray him with cologne, "That's where I draw the line."

"Time to get back in the game my friend. I see the ladies checking you out at the bar."

Leonard wiggled his ring free hand, "I'll take my time, thank you."

"Translation, you will continue your hopeless crush on Nyota."

It was a short walk from Leonard's new apartment to the bar. Jim prepped the bar, while Leonard lit the candles on the tables, and supplied the jukebox with an obscene amount of money. Pavel and Hikaru were the first to arrive with light hors d'oeuvres for the private party. Gaila strolled in next and everyone just watched the redhead and quarterback politely ignore one another for fear that they would become the talk of the night. Nyota was the last of the inner circle to arrive.

"Leo."

"Ny."

It was their turn under the microscope. Gaila quickly rushed Nyota away and Leonard went back to arranging the tables in spite of the smirks and muted jokes coming from Hikaru and Jim.

"Love that dress." Gaila was on the verge of doing the hysterical screaming thing and Nyota braced herself for impact. "He's so cute. Who could make a Rod Stewart t-shirt look sexy?"

"Yeah…yeah…yeah…when are the two of you going out again?" Nyota asked while applying another layer of lip gloss.

"When I decide to answer his phone calls."

"Are you playing that don't answer calls or texts game again?"

"Don't knock until you've tried it. "

The knock on the door interrupted the stare battle between the two women.

"La, can I talk to Ny for a minute."

Gaila nodded in Pavel's direction and left the bathroom. The young man stood for a while, taking in the sight of the paper towel dispenser, stalls with doors, and the beautiful woman in front of him. The woman who was responsible for shaking Hikaru out of his funk and pushing him towards Pavel. Honestly, he owed a piece of his happiness to her. So he couldn't let her keep going, under the guise that things were finally working with Spock.

He cussed in Russian, forgetting that she was damn near fluent now after all their tutoring sessions.

Nyota plopped on the bench by the door, sensing that the conversation was not headed in a positive direction. Pavel followed suit, taking her hand, stroking the fingers lightly.

"I use to be jealous of you. Hikaru would kill anyone who hurt you intentionally. I thought maybe he was unsure of his sexuality and really loved you. He does love you." Pavel shut up, clearly frustrated, his head made a thud as it hit the wall.

"I love Hikaru too, but you two are perfect for one another. You have no worries, he's a friend. A brother. An asshole that grates my nerves sometimes." When Nyota looked at Pavel again, he was crying.

"A little over a month ago, when we went fishing…"

Nyota smiled at his natural accent's inflection on the –ing. "The four of you saw Spock with Christine."

"How did you know?" Confusion had replaced frustration in Pavel.

Nyota stood brushing down her dress, arranging her hair, and heading for the door. She didn't know but she took a chance and unfortunately guessed correctly. "Pav, thanks for telling me. I know everyone wants me to learn my own lesson. They don't think I'm going to leave him, but this time…I'm tired…of myself. "

The party was in full swing by the time Nyota returned to the bar. Jim was trying to get Gaila's attention without being obvious, while she was attempting to ignore him, all while looking stunning. They were sweet and in that moment she wished nothing but happiness to her two friends.

Nyota caught a glimpse of Leonard waiting for a drink from the bartender Jim had hired for the evening.

"Whiskey tastes like piss." She whispered in his ear while taking a seat next to him.

"Congratulations, Ms. Graduate, what's next?"

Smiling sheepishly, Nyota took the martini in front of her, "Don't laugh, I'm going back to school, planning on finishing my M.A. in Linguistics, maybe work for the State Department or United Nations. You know make my Ambassador of a Father proud for once. For the time being I'll still be at the museum working with Hikaru."

"Why would I laugh? Let me buy you another drink and we'll toast."

Nyota's eyes widened, "What are we toasting doctor?"

His cheeks flushed red with the teasing she delivered, "New beginnings." Leonard raised his hand and wiggled his ring finger.

Nyota grabbed his hand and smiled, absently stroking the finger where the cold metal once resided. Without a thought she placed Leonard's hand in her lap. He shuddered and laughed nervously.

"Nyota…Resident McCoy."

Spock's hands gripped Nyota's shoulders and lead her off the stool. Nyota grabbed his knee and kissed him on the cheek before mingling with the rest of the crowd.

"Thanks Leo."

"Congrats kid. Be happy."

The Pike party ended and moved to the home Spock and Nyota shared for those who were invited. The Jell-O shooters were a hit.

Nyota took an entire row for her own enjoyment when she saw Christine walk through the door. A hush fell on the crowd. Many expected an emotional reaction; instead Nyota danced with Jim, Hikaru, and anyone else who would keep her mind off the unwanted guest. When Nyota finally collapsed on the small loveseat next to Leonard he was visibly annoyed. She reached for the flask he pulled from his pocket.

"Enough, Leo." Nyota said handing Leonard a bottle of water. "Compliments of the jock."

"Thanks, mom." Leonard kept his eyes down, refusing to meet Nyota's.

"Sorry about the interruption at the bar. Spock can have intermittent moments of jealousy. Nyota allowed her head to fall on Leonard's shoulder, turning her face up to finally meet his eyes, "How does it feel to be free?"

"Lonely." The glare of the flask caught her eye and she made another move to grab it. Failing and watching her friend take yet another sip. "This is the only lady who has ever been true."

Nyota sat up, taking in Leonard's posture, countenance, and tone of voice, "I'm here." She reached to touch his cheek. Struggling to stand, Leonard disappeared into the back of the house. Nyota contemplated before standing to go find Leonard.

Jim grabbed her arm. "Stay with me and dance pretty lady."

Nyota tried to pull away, "I've got find Leo."

"Ny, please just stay. Please."

She knew what he was doing. "Just stop Jim."

Nyota made her way down the hall, peeking in the bathroom first. Easing the next few steps to her bedroom door, taking a deep breath before turning the knob; the metal burned her palm. Maybe it was a figment of her imagination. The voices, the muted groans, and scents of pleasure were not.

The ability to inhale and exhale left her. Watching the man she had loved for years, betray her one last time. The fact that Nyota had allowed the opportunity burned like a hot poker on her skin. No the fault didn't lie with Spock or Christine; Nyota was the one to blame.

"We have company." Christine said while stroking the back of Spock's neck.

Spock turned to meet Nyota's glistening eyes, "I can explain."

He didn't even believe his own words.

"There's nothing to explain. Game over. You win."

Nyota walked out the door and into the night air.

No one followed.

No one came.

This time it was over. She walked. She cried. She walked. Until her feet wouldn't carry her anymore. She took a seat on the grass just outside of their gated community. The tires on the road pulled her from her thoughts. The scent of apples grabbed her, but it wasn't Gaila.

Those arms, big and strong, from hours in the weight room wrapped around her and she broke down again. The tears started again and she didn't fight or ask for a book to smack Jim when he picked her up and carried her to his Jeep. He drove her away from the past and the mistakes she had willingly made because she didn't believe in quitting.

"Sometimes you've got to know when to walk away baby girl."