Nyota hummed as she packed, happy to finally have something to keep her hands busy. She sighed. She had been going stir crazy the last few days, used to long hard hours of work, of days spent filing reports, or dealing with headquarters. But now, she had to heal. Healing entailed all the most trivial pursuits imaginable and Nyota had been so bored, she had wanted to rip her hair out.

Dimitri helped to ease the strain. He was often there at her quarters, catering to her, aiding her with any little thing. Yet even he had work he had to complete. Now that she was almost up to speed, she had pushed him out the door so that he could complete his own tasks. And now, she was totally, undeniably, bored out of her mind.

Nyota took the time to reflect a bit. Though she had lost many good people on her mission and nearly succumbed to her own injuries, the mission had been a success. And now, she was supposedly a hero. She rolled her eyes in irritation. At least, that's what everyone had been telling her. As if she had been the only one responsible. Everyone wanted interviews, wanted to shake her hand, and Starfleet was touting her as the best thing that had come along since the warp drive.

As she continued packing some of her things, she felt a wave of sadness overcome her. The last few weeks had been eye opening for her and she was reluctant to leave. Yet, she had a ship to go back to, and she wanted nothing more than to get back to work.

The steady sound of the chime interrupted her thoughts and she smiled. She hadn't been expecting anyone. It's probably Christine, she thought and smiled. Her friend had been on the warpath the last few days, adamant that Nyota not do anything even resembling work. She had been visiting constantly, pestering her with questions about her health, trying to make her comfortable. Nyota shook her head and chuckled. Christine was just being a friend. She called out gaily, "Enter," and turned back to packing a bag.

When she turned, Spock was standing there before her, eyes heavy with emotion.

******

She looked at him in surprise. She had not seen or spoken to him since she was last in sickbay.

"Spock I'm--," she began, only to find that he had enveloped her in his arms.

"Nyota," he began his voice laced with barely concealed sadness as he ran his fingers through her hair, "I am—grateful that you have survived. I do not know what I would have done if you had—succumbed. I realize that I care for you far more than my past actions have shown. If it was within my power to take back everything I have done, I would do so."

Then he stepped back and Nyota stared back at him agape, her mind searching for a response.

"Nyota, I love you more than words can properly express. Seeing you injured was the most—trying time I have ever had to experience. And though you may never forgive me, I am truly sorry for any wrong I have done to you."

He dropped to his knees before her, his eyes filled with sorrow and pain.

A hard expression of regret crossed his face for a moment. "I was—selfish. I am sorry Nyota. It is my fault we lost our child—it is my fault that you nearly died--,"

Thunderstruck, Nyota stared at him a long moment, then gently urged him to his feet and led him to her sitting area.

They sat and Nyota was shocked to see a line of tears coming from his eyes.

"Spock," she told him strongly and crossed her arms, "A lot of things happened because of you, Kirk, and Elder Spock's selfish actions. But losing our child was not one of them. And my getting injured isn't your fault either. Things just happen sometimes."

He nodded, his tired eyes emitting emotions and sadness clearly written upon his face. She felt herself soften. He pulled Nyota close and placed his forehead against hers. She could feel a whisper of the deep emotions inside him and when he kissed her she did not pull away.

*********