A/N: This really should be part of Chapter 4, but I hadn't really started 5 yet when I posted last night, so I wanted to leave myself some space in the even that something needed to change. Which it totally didn't, so... here you go. The rest of Chapter 4.

Arietta trudged back toward campus, alone. It wasn't the shortest journey, but she wanted the time and silence to digest the evening. For a while, she gazed halfheartedly at the stars, and it occurred to her that she hadn't really looked up at them in a very long time. The rest of the time, she sped along, staring at the trails of dust swirling just ahead of her feet.

It wasn't long before she realized that she was very quickly catching up to the only other travelers on this road this late at night… Kirk, practically dragging along a stumbling Spock. Arietta debated slowing down, picking her way silently along the dirt road so as not to be noticed. She decided against this.

"You both look like you've had a night." She offered, unhelpfully.

Spock stood bolt upright, eyes wide. His coordination betrayed him however, and Arietta watched him sway on the spot.

"Cadet Knight." Kirk smiled, clapping Spock on the shoulder again. "Maybe you can be of some assistance."

"It seems like I just keep running into you two." Arietta said with a smile.

"Imagine that." Kirk smiled back. "And we're not even confined to a ship yet."

Kirk motioned for Arietta to take Spock's free arm, but at this suggestion, he again attempted to straighten, tugging at his black sweater.

"I am fine, Cadet Knight, I assure you." He said, a bit too loudly.

"Really?" Arietta asked, "because you look exactly how I felt before that jerk decided to…" she trailed off, realization dawning across her face. Spock, in turn, grew a deeper shade of green.

"It is not your fault, I assure you." He replied at length.

"Can I take it back?" She asked quietly. "I daresay I hold my liquor better, Commander."

"I do not believe it works that way, but I am honored by your request."

Kirk shifted uncomfortably.

"…Cadet Knight, perhaps my captain requires your assistance after all." Spock prompted. He offered her his free arm, a bit limply. Arietta quickly draped it across her shoulders, and slowly, the three of them again began traveling in the direction of campus.

After an eternity's worth of awkward silence, Arietta began quietly singing "We're off to see the Wizard". Kirk smiled and joined in, Spock eyeing them in turn, incredulously. Arietta hazarded a glance back toward him, blushing furiously, but stalwartly still singing, and, to her surprise, she watched his expression slowly break from determined neutrality into the slightest smile.