One year later.

The semester was more than half over. Leonard was in his room, enjoying some peace and quiet while Jim was out. He sat on the sofa, head back, feet propped up on the table in front of him, listening to a lecture on microbial infections, when there was a knock at the door. He paused the recording and answered the door.

Nora stood there with a couple of books and her PADD in her arms. Her face held a look of distress.

"Are you okay," Leonard asked.

"I'm just realizing I probably should have called first. Are you busy?"

"No, come in."

He took her books and stepped aside.

"Thanks," she said.

"So, what's up?"

"The Academy seems to think that, because I'm studying for a Science Officer position, I need to know the basic anatomy of every race registered with the Federation."

"That's true."

"That bites! The instructor said that the final exam will include questions on every race we study this semester. I'm so confused. I need help."

"All right." He motioned for her to sit and he sat next to her. He handed her the PADD and opened her book. "Where are you having trouble?"

"It's the ones that are close to human anatomy, but with subtle differences. I forget which race has which difference, and it all goes downhill from there."

Nora covered her face with her hands and sighed.

"Okay," Leonard said, "let's see what we can do."

Leonard spent the next two hours showing Nora all the tricks he had used to remember the anatomical differences. Nora paced a lot, frustrated with herself as she struggled to remember certain things. Leonard finally closed the books, took her PADD, and made her sit down.

"Here comes the quiz," he said.

Nora sighed and leaned back into the sofa, but Leonard grabbed her shoulders and sat her up.

"My God, you really are Jim's sister."

Nora laughed and sat sideways, facing Leonard.

"Okay," she said, "quiz me."

The quizzing went well except for a few incorrect answers. Every wrong answer pulled a groan from Nora, but Leonard kept going.

"That wasn't too bad," Leonard said. "Just keep going over the material and you'll be fine by the time finals roll around. And if you need help, you know where to find me. As a matter of fact, why don't we make it a weekly thing?"

"Len, you don't have to do that.

Leonard smiled at the new nickname. "I want to. You work hard. I don't mind helping people who want the help."

"Thanks," she said with a small smile.

"So, Saturdays? Same time?"

"Sure. That sounds good."

Nora collected her things and headed for the door. Just before it opened she turned around and wrapped her free arm around Leonard's shoulder, hugging him as tightly as she could.

"Thank you, so much."

Leonard lightly rested his hands at the small of her back. "You're welcome."

He wanted to kiss her. He could kiss her cheek, right? That was acceptable between friends. She had already kissed his cheek. He thought about it too long, and Nora pulled away and was gone.

He helped her study the next four Saturdays. The more Nora was around Leonard, the more she was attracted to him. She had never met a man quite like Leonard McCoy. She found ways to touch him. Quick hugs as a thank you. Trying to smooth down a stray piece of hair. Sitting close enough that their legs touched. He was almost a distraction, but he kept her focused on the work.

Leonard, despite his focused outward appearance, was having the same troubles. Every time she touched him he wanted to keep her hand on him. He wanted to kiss her. When she ran her hand over his hair he almost did. He watched her, staring into her eyes as she smoothed his hair down, and it took everything in him not to pull her lips to his.

The day of the final came, and she was nervous, but felt prepared. When the exam was over, she felt good. She waited for her score and practically ran to Leonard's room. She knocked and Jim answered.

"Hey, Bitsy."

"Hey. Where's Leonard?"

"Lab. What's up?"

"I've got good news on my anatomy exam and I want to tell him," she said with a smile.

"I think his last exam is at three."

"Okay. I'll come back around five."

Nora turned to leave, but Jim gently grabbed her arm.

"Hey, what about me? Don't I get the good news?"

"I'm sorry," she said as she kissed his cheek. "He's been helping me study for an anatomy exam and I did great! I want to thank him again."

"That's great, Bitsy!" He gave her a hug.

"Thanks, I have to go. I have another exam in twenty minutes."

"Good luck."

When five o'clock rolled around, Nora was still riding high. She couldn't wait to see Leonard. She knocked and waited.

"Please be here. Please be here," she whispered to herself.

As soon as he opened the door Nora smiled and threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled back a little in surprise, but then returned the hug.

"What's this for," he asked.

"My anatomy exam!" She pulled back and smiled. "Ninety-eight percent!"

"That's great, Nora!"

"And I couldn't have done it without you."

"Yeah, you could have."

"No. You helped me so much."

She squeezed him tight, and lay her head against his chest. Leonard's hands moved in small circles over her back as he put his cheek to the top of her head.

"Anytime, sweetheart."

Nora's hands slid down Leonard's arms and rested there. Neither of them moved for a moment. That was when Nora knew.

"Len?"

He sighed. "Yeah?"

"Is there something between us?"

Leonard's hands stopped moving, but he still held her close. He hesitated for just a moment before answering.

"Yeah... yeah, there is."

Nora sighed and wrapped her arms around Leonard's waist. "I was beginning to wonder. I thought it was just me."

Leonard lifted her chin and shook his head. "It's not just you."

He lightly brushed his lips over Nora's, his eyes carefully gauging her reaction. When she closed her eyes and kissed him back, Leonard wrapped one arm around her shoulder, and one around her waist, pulling her tight against him. Nora's hands roamed over Leonard's back. The kiss continued as Leonard bent slightly and and scooped her up into his arms. He walked over to the couch and sat with Nora's legs pulled over his lap. The hand that lifted her legs slowly slid upward, over her hip, up her side. Her breath caught as the back of his fingers brushed past the side of her breast, but he didn't stop. His hand finally caressed her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek.

Nora eventually had to pull away. The feel of his hands on her, and the intensity of the kiss, had her weak and breathless. When she turned her head, Leonard's lips moved to her jaw. The kisses got softer until Leonard pulled back and pressed his forehead to Nora's, his hand still on her face.

"I don't wanna rush this," he said.

"Neither do I... Maybe I should go."

"I didn't say that," Leonard said with a grin. He gave her another soft kiss, but, when he pulled back, the grin was gone. "Are you sure you want to get involved with me?"

Nora grabbed his hand and sat up a little straighter. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Nora, you're young-"

"So are you."

"You're a lot younger than me. Almost ten years. It may not seem like a lot, but it is."

"Not when two people are on the same wavelength. Come on, do I act like some of the other girls around here who are my age?"

"No."

"No. I don't care about our age difference. It's not so bad."

"Well, what about me being divorced? That doesn't make you a little leery?"

"With what I know about you, and the things I've witnessed from you... not at all. I figure it was your ex-wife who had the problem."

"Not fully. I have to take some of the blame. There was med school, and my residency... I just wasn't there. I let it slip away."

"You've taken time for me. You've given me help when I needed it, a friendly ear when I needed it." Nora placed a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. "Do you want me to leave?"

Leonard didn't answer. Instead, he put his hand to the back of her head and pulled her into a deep kiss. They stayed on the couch for hours, talking about nothing in particuar, touching, and kissing. They changed positions a few times. Leonard lay on his back with Nora on top of him, then, after a while, he gently pushed her back so that he was hovering over her. He kissed down her neck and found a spot he liked, and paid a lot of attention to it.

"Len," Nora said as she pushed at his chest, "I think we need to come up for air."

Leonard sat up and pulled Nora with him. He ran his thumb over a spot on the side of her neck, and a grin pulled at his lips.

"Uh oh," he said. "Haven't done that since high school."

"Done what?"

He pointed to a mirror hanging on the wall, so she went over and looked at her reflection.

"You gave me a hickey?"

Leonard walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I didn't mean to. I promise."

"I can just hear the questions from Amber. And Jim... He'll flip when he sees it."

Nora watched as Leonard's reflection grew serious.

"I hadn't even considered what Jim would think of us dating," he said. Nora started to worry until Leonard made eye contact with her in the mirror. "I'll talk to him," he said.

"Good... but maybe I should go before he gets back."

"Yeah, that might be a good idea."

Nora smiled at him. "I'd like to kiss you again, but I'm afraid it'll start-"

Leonard cut her off by covering her lips with his own. He kissed her deeply, and pulled her close.

"I wanna take you on a date... a real date. How about dinner tomorrow night?"

"It's a date," she said with a smile.