I keep trying to break these two apart and they just will not have it. They are messing up all my future chapters. Ah well, I guess love really conquers all even evil fanfiction writers :-)

Love and Happiness

Once he had Nyota settled with another meal and a healthy helping of water to quench her dehydration Spock announced he needed to return to his quarters.

"What? Where are you going?"

"To my quarters. I haven't been there in a few days. I will need to change into a fresh uniform before going on duty," Spock said stoically.

"Oh, but you'll be right back, right?" Uhura pleaded.

"Do you want me to come back?" he asked in surprise.

What the hell? Nyota thought, of course, she wanted him to come back. What was he talking about? They needed to bond, they needed to stay together...

"You can't leave me, Spock, I need you."

Spock walked back over to her.

"Nyota I do not wish to hurt you any further. I think I should go."

"You didn't hurt me!" She said reaching out to him. "You've never hurt me. What are you talking about?"

"I did hurt you, I keep hurting you and causing you pain," he said as if it should be obvious.

"No! Never!" She launched herself at him and hugged him. "Don't leave me." She cried. "Don't you dare leave me!"

Spock held his wife and he was devastated. He felt her fear come rushing at him and crushing him. She had been abandoned so many times. She was afraid of being abandoned again and here he was trying to leave her. He had separated from her causing this injury to her psyche.

"No. No, I'll never leave you. I promise you." Spock said soothing her.

"Promises don't mean shit," She said her voice muffled by his uniform as she pressed her cheek into her shoulder.

"I am a Vulcan and Vulcans do not lie. I will never leave you for as long as you live."

"Okay," she sniffled still not letting him go. Spock just held her until her fear subsided.

"Spock. I've tried living without you and it doesn't work. I'm tired of running. I don't want to live like this. I'm tired of missing you and hurting you. I don't want to hurt anymore either. If you still want to be my husband and want me to be your wife then I'll do it," Uhura said still gripping him tightly. "I'm not perfect. I'm gonna make mistakes and probably drive you crazy with all my illogical emotional outbursts. But please just bear with me, I'm only human you know?"

"Yes I know," he acknowledged.

"I've been running away from you and pushing you away because I was afraid. Not of you, but of US. I was afraid you would find out that I'm not all that special. That I've just been faking it. But you can teach me to be better. I don't want to be afraid anymore."

"Nyota," Spock pulled her away from him so he could look into her eyes.

"I never thought you were a perfect human, but you have always been perfect for me. You have brought me nothing but pleasure even when you were driving me out of my mind." He smiled at that. "In fact, it is probably what I admire most about you. Do not forget I know you better than any man has known a woman and I find no fault with you.

"Besides, I have told you before, I was afraid to tell you about the Pon Farr and Vulcan biology because I thought it would frighten you away. But you've seen the worst I can be and yet you still continue to only acknowledge the best there is in me. So if you will have me, I would be honored to have you as my wife. That is all I have ever wanted."

"Okay," Uhura said when he finished.

"Okay," Spock said too.

"Oh shit! We're married! We're really doing this?" Uhura asked as she looked at him with bright shining eyes.

Spock felt an avalanche of panic and joy wash over him.

"Yes Nyota, we're married. We're doing this."

"So now what?"

"I have no idea but I am sure we can figure it out together," Spock said honestly.

/*-/*-/

After T'Pau had commanded Spock to bond with Nyota she contacted the Federation and Sarek left his mother to be with his wife.

When he arrived home Amanda was waiting by the entrance and she launched herself into his arms immediately and sobbed.

Sarek easily caught his wife and absorbed her tears and her angst. She would be fine in a moment.

"Sarek what are we going to do? Spock can't lose Nyota it will kill him!"

"Spock will not lose Nyota."

"How do you know that? Nothing ever goes right for him, his life just seems to be one obstacle after another."

"Spock will bond properly with his wife and heal her," Sarek said with certainty.

"But how do you know Sarek?"

"Because Spock knows his duty, it is the only logical choice."

"That's not a guarantee. He's so stubborn what if-"

"My wife, calm thyself. All will be well."

"Oh Sarek, I am so frightened."

"I know. And I have news."

"What is it?" Amanda said looking up at him hopefully.

"T'Pau has received word that the Enterprise is being diverted here."

"What!? Why didn't you say so?"

"When did I have time to say so?"

"You let me go on and on and you knew he was on his way home?"

"Yes."

Amanda sighed, sometimes Sarek was a jerk. "How did T'Pau arrange that?"

"Why do you say T'Pau arranged it?"

"Who else could do it? I am sure that Starfleet didn't just command the Enterprise to divert here for no reason. T'Pau must have persuaded them."

"Perhaps," Sarek said.

"Perhaps my foot. This is not going to endear Spock or Vulcan to the powers that be in Starfleet."

"It is of little consequence," Sarek dismissed her concern.

"How can you say that? This will affect both Spock and Nyota's career. And who knows how this will affect relations with Vulcan and the Federation."

"It is of little consequence to T'Pau. Spock and Nyota are Vulcan citizens first. Their health and safety are of paramount importance to the future of Vulcan."

"Spock and Nyota are just two people. What happened to the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?"

"How does this violate that sentiment?"

"This just concerns the needs of Spock and his wife."

"On the contrary. This affects the future of Vulcan/Federation relations. If the Federation wants to recruit more member states in Starfleet they will need broader rules and regulations that make allowances for cultural differences. Vulcans cannot be expected to join Starfleet if they are forced to be separated from their bond mates or if they cannot receive urgent medical attention from our healers. Spock is a test case. How will the Federation and Starfleet accommodate a married Vulcan couple?"

"Sarek I don't like Spock and Nyota being used this way. They have enough to deal with. Besides I thought you didn't approve of Starfleet?"

"I do not approve of some of the methods employed but the goal of Starfleet is sound. I foresee a time when all sentient life will need to band together. As we venture further and further out into our galaxy and eventually into other galaxies we may encounter hostile parties and threats far greater than we can currently imagine. Starfleet needs Vulcans and Andorians and Tellerites in order to make their goals manifest."

"You sound like an Ambassador rather than a concerned father."

"The two are not mutually exclusive. If Spock wants to be in Starfleet then as his father and as the duly appointed representative of his homeworld I must do what I can to assist him in achieving his goals and thriving therein."

"Oh, Sarek. You are proud of Spock!"

"I did not say that."

"Yes, you did, in Sarek speak. And I am proud of you, my husband for finally admitting it."

"I did no such thing." Sarek protested.

"I heard it," Amanda said grinning. "When will the kids get here?" she changed the subject. "I cannot wait to see them again! They both deserve a spanking for the stress they have caused us. I might take my belt to both of them this time." She threatened.

"Amanda, do not threaten the children."

"Sarek I told you before, your way of rearing Spock didn't work out so well and now we will do this my way. I've got to go find that belt."

Amanda ran off leaving Sarek baffled as usual.

/*-/*-/

They were married. Spock had never known joy or happiness until this moment. He had had moments when he thought he was happy. As a child, he had many moments with I-Chaya or his mother where he felt free to express such feelings but as he grew older he had learned to tamp those emotions down until they were virtually extinguished. And then along came Nyota Uhura who broke down his walls and made him feel again.

Having never been happy before, Spock didn't know how to be now. What did one do when one was happy? How could a Vulcan be happy? He should probably let his parents know Nyota was safe. He had no doubt worried them. He sighed. He was not any better as a son than he was as a husband.

Spock went to Nyota's console and was about to call home when he saw a message that caught his attention. Nyota was in the shower steaming her sore muscles but the hot water should run out in a minute or so.

The message was from Admiral Komack's office.

Spock had a sinking feeling. What did Admiral Komack want with his wife?

Spock knew Komack was not pleased with him and Jim had warned him that the affair on Vulcan was not over yet. There were people in Starfleet and the Federation who didn't like Vulcans and the influence Vulcan had over things. They would use Spock and now Nyota to bring down all of Vulcan if they could, but Spock was their primary target. So what did they have in mind for Nyota?

Spock waited patiently until Uhura emerged from the shower. She glowed with happiness and Spock was determined to see her stay that way.

"What are you doing?" She asked when she saw him at her desk.

I wanted to send a message to my parents. However, you have a message."

"Oh? What does it say?"

"I would not presume to read your private mail."

"Spock, let's not keep any more secrets okay? I'm sure there is nothing there you can't see. Who is it from?"

"Admiral Komack."

"Oh." She said her smile faltering. "What does it say?"

Spock opened the missive and read it aloud.

"Lieutenant Nyota Uhura of the starship Enterprise, you are ordered to report to Admiral Komack's office on Starbase 6 on stardate 63457.89 for a formal inquiry involving fellow crewman Commander Spock."

"What? Formal inquiry of what?"

"I think we can safely assume an inquiry into my actions in diverting the ship to Vulcan and Kidnapping you from this vessel."

"You didn't kidnap me!" Uhura protested.

"You are incorrect. You have accused me of such several times."

"I did not! Did I?"

"You did," Spock confirmed.

"Oh well, that was then," Uhura said.

"And?" Spock asked in confusion.

"And this is now," Uhura said drying her hair. "I wasn't officially your wife then. You can't kidnap women who aren't your wife. But I'm your wife now and if you want to carry me off well... that's our business."

"That is highly illogical."

"I'm a highly illogical female." Uhura teased him.

"That you are," Spock agreed.

Out of nowhere, Uhura snapped him with her damp towel and Spocks eyebrows raised to the roof.

"Wife!" he said outraged. And didn't it feel good to call her that?

"What are you going to do about it?" Uhura challenged.

Spock waited a moment and then bounded out of her desk chair. But Uhura was too quick for him. She leaped out of the way landing face first on her bed. She tried to crawl to the other side but Spock caught her ankle and slowly dragged her back towards him.

Uhura squealed in mock terror. Spock flipped her over and pinned her down with his body.

"I've got you Aduna, now what am I to do with you?" he asked her old familiar question.

Uhura smiled up into his serious Vulcan face. "Anything you want."

Spock did just that and Komack was forgotten for the moment.