Chapter 4

Everything was in place:
Nyota with the help of Eve and Lola arranged the schedule for the party to presented in shifts. Scotty gave Charlene that day and night off, as a gift, she not knowing that they had planned a party for her. So, everything is set for the next day, including the food and some parting gifts.

Nyota had spoken with her husband to have a double dinner date with Charlene and Sulu to help them reconcile their relationship. Spock hesitates at first; he was not familiar with or an expert in a broken personal relationship. He was still exploring his own with his human wife of many emotional facets. He was unaware of his role in reconciliation for the couple, and his wife assured him that he should just follow her lead. Even that, Spock speculated about.

Sulu received an invitation to dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Spock. It mentions that Charlene will be there and be prepared to talk about the issues. He wanted that, he didn't want to hurt her, but mostly he didn't want to hurt himself. Wounds are terrible friends, and he wants a relationship with Charlene. Sulu didn't want to be another subject of a broken heart or the fact that other men might be attracted to her. Even worse she finds someone better than him.

Charlene is nervous; their last meeting was a disaster; she hopes they can make up and try to figure out how to make this relationship work while she's gone. It would hurt a lot if she found out that he was dating someone else while she was on the Hood. Charlene thinks she'll go crazy! Then she thought about Rhonda's statement the other day she would put the moves on her boyfriend. Charlene really wanted to hit her for making such a statement, one day if she ever put her on the spot again, she would really knock her lights out. Charlene smiles at that. She put on Karu's favorite outfit the silver glitter hot pants, with the matching cowl tank top. Large hoop silver earrings and the strapped up shoes. She wanted him to remember what he is missing if they do decide to break up. Nyota's lecture changed her attitude about the relationship, and she needs to let him know where she stands with him as she was walking towards the dinner. Guys gave her the wolf whistles and greeted her. That boost her confidence that she is a woman and still part tom-boy.
They reserved the observation deck that included a cooked meal and soft lights, music with multiple plants presented. Sulu and Charlene both agreed to come to dinner as requested. Nyota and Spock would prepare the food and act as servers in a professional restaurant.
Nyota adjusts Spock's tunic, and dust his shirt in front of him.

Spock glares at her:
"What is the purpose of this presentation?"

"Spock, when humans have their differences, it hard to communicate or establish reconciliation. Sometimes mediation is needed to help people start to communicate their issues."
She stands on her toes and kisses his cheek. "You and I are doing just that."

"I am.. uncomfortable with this, I have no prior knowledge of their situation?"

"Ashayam, just follow my lead and learn." She takes her hands and brushes them across his chest. Through their bond, she gave a good reason to cooperate, and a small growl came from him.

"I will attempt to assist you on this endeavor." Looking down at her and waiting for the evening to end.

Sulu showed up first in wrapped blue silk tunic and gray slacks, he looked very presentable. Nyota greets him at the door, and led him to a candlelit table, when he sat down, she hands him a menu pad. He looks down at it, and glances at the selections; it was all his favorite foods.

He looks up at Nyota and smiles:
"I know for sure I can't leave this dinner; it has everything." as he chuckles at the fact Nyota is helping him with his relationship. He would never have thought, the girl he had a crush on, is actually helping him with his.

Then Charlene arrives, and Nyota greets her and leads her to the table. Karu stands up, and his mouth falls open. His girlfriend is wearing his favorite knock me out outfit; she approaches the table with a swish in her hits, the muscles in her thighs flex while she walks.

Karu almost breaks out in a sweat.
"Did you walk down the corridor looking like this?"

Charlene looks at him and sees the shock in his face. "Why yes, I did! I was invited to dinner." She said with a smile. Sulu stares at her and pulls out her chair.

Nyota was looking at the two of them, smiles and hands Charlene her menu. "We hope you both enjoy your dinner."

Spock comes out and with a tray of goblets and serves them water and leaves.

Sulu spoke first, now that they are alone for the moment.
"Charlene, I want to apologize what I said to you, that should date other guys, I said that wrong."

"I accept your apology, and it was.. mean that you would think I… date other men just because I transferred."
"I want to apologize for not listening when you said it, and I jumped to conclusions real quick."

"I accept your apology as well."

Sulu extends his hand across the table towards Charlene, and she took it. They both smile at each other. Spock and Uhura step back into the shadows to give them privacy. They continue talking.

"Karu? I have a confession to make."

He looks at her giving his undivided attention, and hoping that she didn't decide to call it quits or let them take space.

Charlene is not afraid anymore, and she needs to honest with herself and him. Karu is NOT Jaamal!
"I was involved with guy Jaamal when I was in the academy, and we were hot and heavy dating. I thought we were serious and take it to the next level in our relationship. We dated for 2 ½ years, we had a lot in common, and both of us were on the engineering track. I really thought I was in love with him, and I also thought he was in love with me. We shared our hopes and dreams about what we would do after the academy. Then right after graduation, he up and left on one the first battle cruiser, and… he didn't even say, goodbye or where's he was going nothing. Like he just disappeared."
Tears start to fall down her face, and she wipes them away. Karu gives her his napkin, and she rubs her tears away.
"From there I found it hard to have a proper relationship, no one wanted me because I worked in engineering. Sometimes men think as me as one of the boys."

"Believe me, Char, YOU are not one of the boys."
Karu moved his chair closer to Char and held her hand.
"You know what I think? I think Jaamal is a chump for not seeing you for your worth. I even bet he only dated you because you are so intelligent and passed your grades with high marks. Did you help him with his track?"

Charlene turns to Karu in revelation. "Yeah, I did. I helped pass the majority of his courses and re-fit all his mechanical parts to his nacelle project!"

Her mouth fell open, she has never been used like that! She was taken for a fool another way, through her talent. She covers her mouth in shock. Karu holds her close to comfort the blow.
"Asshole! I hope I run into him one day; I want to give him a piece of my mind and foot up his ass."

Karu leans back at the language from his girlfriend. Charlene gives him a stern look.

"Here I am feeling guilty all these years over a guy who only wanted to use me for my skills."

"Well, I glad he missed all your other assets."

Her eyes softened when he said that and gave him a winning smile. She leans into his shoulder.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, then:
"Char? I have a confession to make."
"Do you know that I had a crush on Uhura?"

"Yes, I've heard."

"You're not upset about that?"

"No, should I'd be?"

"We didn't date or anything, but you should know, and now I respect her as a friend and your friend."

"I know Nyota attract a lot of the guys, but it never bothered me. She is naturally attractive, and she respects everyone."

He hugs her more for understanding him. "I've never was much of a dater, I tried to find that special someone, but they never pan out. I thought I was dating Janice Rand, and we connected in the botany program on the ship. She was a yeoman then, we would hang out and eat meals together. I thought we were compatible, I would express my feeling for her by giving her special plants, but I thought she understood me. I don't know when it happened but she transferred to another ship, and she didn't say goodbye. However, she did send me a com-link that she had left. I kept in touch with her, but it wasn't the same. I had feelings for her; she didn't know or did I tell her."
Hikaru Sulu turns his body directly towards Charlene his words tumbles out: "Charlene Masters I really care for you, I am glad you are my girlfriend. I don't want to lose you or you dating any other guys while you're gone! I can share almost anything with you."
He leans down and gently kisses her.

They had made peace with their failed past relationships. Now they can look ahead.

A little while later, Spock and Uhura both came out and served their dinner plates. Spock poured a dinner wine. It seems things were on the mends and they discuss their options in the relationship, and they decided to continue dating and let fate be the answer, not make a hasty decision and live each moment day by day. When they finished their meal, Sulu and Charlene thanked Spock and Uhura for a wonderful dinner, and they could manage their relationship from here. Sulu grabs one of Charlene's hands and walks out toward his quarters to continue talking. Charlene waved bye to Spock and Nyota and gave her boyfriend the biggest smile as they left.
Spock looks down at his wife and sees that she is pleased with results and ponder the question.
"Should I as well, cook you dinner if we have a disagreement?"

"No, if we do have a disagreement or I am angry with you. You better look me in the eyes and give me the biggest kiss ever!"

Spock bends down, lifts his wife by her butt and gave her a tender kiss. Nyota starts to

moan and wraps her arms around her man. He breaks the kiss to see her response.

She caresses one of his ears and says:" I guess we need more time to discuss this issue in our quarters."
Spock gave a low growl and led his wife to their quarters.