It had been one week since Kirk had awakened and though the mood of the crew was jubilant, there was still the lingering somberness after all the lives that had been lost on the same day.

Uhura was having coffee with Spock (he was having tea) when Spock suddenly spoke up after a long bout of silence, "Nyota, are you having romantic feelings for the Captain?"

Uhura spluttered and coughed as some of the coffee went down the wrong way. "What did you just say?"

"I said –"

"No, I heard what you just said," she said crossly and Spock wisely shut his mouth, refraining from commenting on the illogicality of that statement and the previous one.

Uhura was glaring at him, "I wanted to know what made you think so?"

"I have noticed an increased level of your happiness when you are spending time with him and was merely asking you if you intended to terminate our relationship because of –"

"Whoa, there! So you want to end our relationship because you think I am happier with Kirk than with you?" she ground out furiously.

"I am merely asking of your desire. I will fully agree if you want to terminate our relationship if you intended to –"

"Stop it!" she hissed as she stood up, her chair pushed back by her momentum. She grit her teeth as she ordered, "You. Come with me," and promptly stormed out of the shop.

Spock hastened to pay for both of them as he followed her, a step behind. He worried (he did, when it involved select humans) if he had somehow angered her by saying something wrong according to human customs. Then, he felt his heart clench when he wondered if he actually said something right instead. Was Nyota having romantic intentions towards Jim? Was it the reason for her emotional outburst?

Spock had not known if he could handle her rejection and had spoken out first.

Now, he was having second thoughts.

Nyota headed to Starfleet General and straight to the Captain's room. McCoy was just coming out of the room when he noticed them storming inside (Spock was walking efficiently).

He put out a hand to stop them, "Sorry guys, I've given him a sedative which will kick in in another five minutes – whoa!"

Nyota had pushed him aside and entered the room, which was empty save for Kirk who turned to see his visitor. McCoy looked quizzically at Spock who gave a small shrug and the pair of them entered the room.

Kirk looked at Uhura bleary-eyed, "Uhura, what's wrong? What – Mmmhmpph!"

Spock's heart sank when he watched Uhura take Kirk's jaw in one hand and push her lips to his unwilling ones.

Kirk was shaken out of his shock in a millisecond as he pushed Nyota aside forcefully, "WHAT THE HELL?"

Anger was written over his face, but there was mostly confusion as he glowered at Uhura.

Uhura was staring back at him in anger before she turned to direct that anger at Spock. Spock took a step back. He understood her rage now, his very eyes witnessing truth in their actions. He had made a mistake of huge proportions and accused her of cheating. It sounded harsh even to his ears.

"You happy now?" Uhura growled at Spock.

Spock remained quiet when Jim spoke, "Can someone explain what is going on?"

When no answer was forthcoming from Spock, Uhura answered still glowering at Spock, "Spock implied that you and I were having feelings for each other."

Jim looked aghast, "WHAT?! You know that's not true, Spock!"

Spock found his voice at last, "I understand now."

"Oh, you do, do you?" Nyota's reply was scathing.

Jim spoke, "Spock, I love Uhura as a friend, like a sister. I know she feels the same way too."

Uhura spoke now pointing at Spock, "I didn't get angry because you insinuated I wanted to be with Kirk. You know what I'm so mad about? The fact that you were ready to end our relationship on that account, like it meant nothing to you."

Spock was ashamed. He hated that he had hurt Nyota and wanted to right things. He took his time as he searched for the right words to convey his intentions. "I did not ask to end our relationship if you were with someone else because it means nothing to me, Nyota."

He paused, searching for the right words, lest he add fuel to the fire standing before him. He added softly, "On the contrary, I am ready to even end our relationship, if it meant you will truly be happy."

Uhura looked at him dumbly, lost for words as she blinked. Being the excellent linguist that she was, she could read between the lines of what Spock had said. Tears pooled in her eyes as she took two long strides to reach him. She put her arms around him and hugged him close, "Spock. I am my happiest when I am with you."

Relief and affection coursed through him as he pulled back from Nyota to look into her eyes. Uhura stared back at him and they could have stayed that way for hours if it hadn't been for the gentle cough and a sleepy mumble from their side, "Just kiss and make up already."

Uhura chuckled as Spock turned to glare at Jim who was almost asleep, no doubt due to the sedative that McCoy had administered. Speaking of whom…

Dr. McCoy was leaning against the doorway, hands folded together and a smirk playing on his lips. He shook his head and left the room, chuckling to himself.

Spock looked back at Uhura and pulled her close, their foreheads brushing, "I apologize, Nyota."

Nyota chuckled softly, "You have enough words to hurt me and then make me fall in love all over again."

Spock was mildly alarmed, "Nyota, I would never hurt you…" and broke off as she stared at him meaningfully. He added, "Intentionally."

Nyota smiled again, "That's better. Well, you have a lot of time to make up to me, mister."

Spock felt a rush of excitement course through him as he was struck by a very human urge to kiss her, but prevented any of it showing, "I believe I do."

He then surprised her by swooping down for a gentle and chaste kiss on her lips. Nyota was taken aback at first. Spock had never kissed her anywhere outside of his or her quarters save for the two times during Vulcan's distress call. Those were extenuating circumstances.

She kissed him back and then they pulled away. She liked how adventurous Spock was becoming and if it was because of his new and growing friendships with Kirk and McCoy and the rest of them, she wasn't complaining.

A sleepy voice grumbled, "Stop talking and get a room already."

Spock quirked a brow as Uhura laughed.

Later that night, Spock felt even more joyous when he melded with Uhura for the first time, physically and mentally enraptured in her love for him.

oOo

A/N: I can't believe I never uploaded this final chapter for so long! It's been one and a half years and I deeply apologize for it. I'm not thrilled with this ending, but I had to get it out of the way so I can concentrate on my other stories. I've been sucked into another fandom and I'm so sorry to be leaving this beautiful fandom, for the time being. Please leave a review and thanks to all those who have favorited, followed or reviewed so far. Thank you so much for sticking with me in this journey.