A/N- Thanks so much for the support guys! It means a lot to me! Ok I took a few elements from Amok Time and then added my own stuff. Hey it's a new alternate reality right, why not?

Chapter Four

Spock heard his quarter's door chime but ignored it. He kept still lying on his bed trying to convince his body that it needed rest more than anything else.

"Spock, don't make me order you to open this door!" Jim Kirk's angry voice echoed. Spock sighed. He and Jim had indeed somehow built a strong friendship over the past few years despite their rough beginning. Spock knew that he was worried but was in no condition to rationally explain things to his friend. All he wanted was to be left alone until they reached Vulcan II. However, Jim was not a man to take 'Go away' as an answer twice.

"Unlock," Spock ordered the doors, his tone dripping with frustration.

With that voice command Jim briskly walked in and over to where Spock was lying on his side in bed.

"I derailed my mission in order to change course for Vulcan II without a clear explanation of what's wrong with you. I thought that since we were friends you would tell me when the time was right. But it's been two days since you made that request. You have been acting irrationally and now I hear it from Dr. McCoy that you are dying from something he has no idea even what it is. You have completely retreated to your quarters. To top it all off you have treated my communications officer like the plague when you two used to be inseparable. She is beside her self with worry and hurt even though she won't show it on the bridge. Now what in the hell is going on?"

Spock breathed in deeply and fought the urge to punch his friend in the face and toss him out of his quarters.

"I can not and will not converse with you about this. It is against the very essence of my culture," Spock answered as he turned and looked at Jim. His friends blue eyes were bright with emotion and his boyish face was tense.

"My God, you look like hell. I want to help but I can't if you won't talk to me!" Jim exclaimed as he took in Spock's exhausted and fevered appearance.

"Jim please, leave me alone, all I require from you is transport to Vulcan II!" Spock nearly growled, his control was hanging by a thread. Jim had never heard Spock speak with such emotion and the expression in his sharp dark eyes were near feral.

"Alright Spock, just remember you put me in this position. You are the best first officer in the fleet and I will not have you die on me. I order you to tell me what is wrong with you." Jim said giving Spock his "I am the captain' look he used on the bridge.

Spock sighed and closed his eyes. There was no way out of explaining the whole embarrassing situation to Jim now. Spock stood up from the bed putting his hands behind his back.

"It has to do with Biology…" Spock began but could not muster up the inclination to go on.

"Vulcan reproductive biology?" Kirk asked eyeing his friend slyly.

Spock nodded his head slowly letting it stay hung low after a moment. His whole face flushed a light green color.

"There's no need to be embarrassed Spock, it happens to the birds and the bees…"

The birds and the bees are not Vulcan's," Spock replied as he looked up indignantly.

With those words Spock began to explain as best as he was able about Pon Farr and its consequences. Spock could not help but think that this had to be the most excruciating conversation he had ever had. Vulcans do not even speak of Pon Farr among themselves much less to an outworlder, even if he was your friend. When Spock's explanation was done Jim slapped him on the shoulder.

"Have you told any of this to Uhura?" Jim asked despite the fact he already knew the answer.

"No and I do not intend to," Spock answered sternly.

"Why not? I thought you two were already…"

"That is none of your concern Jim," Spock snapped.

"You mean to tell me that you have had that hot woman in your possession for over two years and you've never…" Jim stopped his sentence in his tracks. Spock's glare reminded him that his friend was not in his right mind at the moment and antagonizing him was not the smartest move.

"Look, all I am saying is think about it. She obviously cares about you to be with you this long. In my opinion it beats the alternative to going to Vulcan II and marrying a woman you haven't see since you were seven," Jim stated calmly.

"I have thought of nothing else of late," Spock said a little more calmly.

"Ok, don't worry I will get you to Vulcan II, after that just do what you feel is right," Jim said, with that friendly advice and his dashing smile he left Spock's quarters.

Spock collapsed back on his bed to once again try to sleep. His mind however kept nagging him with the memory of when he and Nyota had in fact become romantically involved…

Spock's apartment was warm thanks to the mid-day May sun. He sat at his computer as ate his breakfast. He wanted to look at his class roster for the summer before Nyota arrived for their lute lesson. He was curious to see which time Nyota had chosen for his Romulan II class.

Spock enjoyed the routine that had developed between him and Nyota for the past several months. Weekday mornings they had their two hour private study session together. Afterwards they would go to lunch. Saturday morning's Nyota would meet Spock at his quarters for lessons on the lute and she would also help him work on his projects. Spock was a little nervous that his motives would be questioned when a student spent so much time at his quarters. However, Nyota was discreet and did not broadcast the fact that she was spending time there to anyone. This eased his tension about the whole issue.

Spock brought his thoughts to the present and opened his file of classes and selected Romulan II. He looked at the list for several moments checking it over several times. The results were the same, Nyota was not registered for his class. This was odd since she had expressed an interest in taking his Romulan class when he had informed her that he would be teaching it over the summer. Nyota had even told him that she was only going home for only a short visit and would be returning to the academy so he logically assumed she would be taking his Romulan II class.

Spock was now concerned, perhaps she would be leaving for the entirety of the summer. Sock looked at her registration file. He found that she had elected to take the Romulan class with Commander Rilson.

When Spock first read this he took a deep breath and claimed to himself that he felt nothing about it. Nyota was free to choose her own classes and with whom she was going to take them. After a few hours he realized that his thoughts were still fixated on Nyota's decision and he did indeed feel something about it. He tried to pass it off as annoyance but the ache inside grew until he realized that it was what humans would call 'hurt'.

He wondered if he had said or done something to make her upset with him. There was only a five point two percent chance that Nyota could misconstrued what he had said into a negative comment. However he knew he had a tendency to say things in a direct manner that was sometimes unpleasant to humans. Perhaps she was just becoming tired of his company and would want to discontinue their other times together as well? Spock then realized that he was thinking illogically. Nyota was very logical for a human and if she wanted to lessen their time together she would have told him so directly. It did not help his peace of mind that Nyota was now thirty minutes late. It was not like her to not be punctual.

Spock began to be disturbed by his preoccupation with Nyota in his thoughts. His natural emotional shield that encompassed his emotions was weakening over the past few months. It was just so easy to let his human weakness break through his shield with Nyota. Her warmth and intelligence made it hard for logic to contain his human responses. Strong Responses that he did not have enough experience with to understand. He decided that perhaps it was a good idea if he and Nyota lessened the amount of time they were in each others company.

He needed to bring himself to a balance and focus on his Vulcan discipline. He decided to meditate. He sat down on his mat and lit his candles. He focused on his mental and emotional shield that he imagined as a steel wall with an opening that only he had access to. He gathered his insecurity about Nyota's friendship with him and his feelings for her in a mental restrain. He examined the tangled web of streams of emotions for a moment. There was one that he had not known was there.

It was fascinating because of strength and exuberance. It was intermixed with embarrassment, hurt, fear and doubt but this one stood out amongst them. He could not identify it since he had never experienced it before. Spock decided that it was a pleasant emotion, gentle and soothing. There were emotions that were similar that he had examined before but never in this same context. He used his Vulcan training to push the web of restrained emotions through an opening to his steel wall and closed it tightly. He felt normal and in control as a calm aura centered in his mind. That is until his door chimed.

Spock got up from his meditation mat and calmly answered the door. There stood Nyota in a spaghetti strap peach colored sun dress. Her hair was worn down across her shoulders as was custom during her non academy hours. Spock noticed that her expression was soft but not as bright as it usually was when she came to visit him.

"Come in" Spock gestured as he opened the door wide enough for her to enter. Nyota walked in and put her bag on the coffee table. She walked over to his meditation area and took a deep breath.

"Were you meditating?" She asked without looking at him.

"Briefly," Spock replied with a coolness that would have made his father proud. Nyota turned to look at him this time.

"I am sorry I am late, I got caught having to help my room mate pack," She informed him with a smile.

"There is no situate time for our lessons Nyota," Spock said with the same distant tone. He moved into the living room and began to tune the lute.

Nyota looked at him for a moment and then sighed.

"You saw that I am not in your class this summer didn't you?" Nyota said as she sat on the couch.

"I have," Spock said in a tone that made it seem as if it was the most inconsequential thing he had ever heard. What he did not understand how she had come to that correct assumption?

"Well, don't you want to know why?" Nyota asked looking him in the eyes.

"It is your decision, if you desire a different teacher for Romulan II it is none of my concern," Spock replied in his detached Vulcan tone he used when teaching class. Spock knew that he was not exactly lying but very close to it.

"None of your concern? Do you realize how you sound right now? What happened to my friend that was here just a few days ago?" Nyota asked her words were strong but her hurt muffled them a little. Spock blinked nervously, he did not know how to reply. Nyota had never been so emotional or said such things to him before. Not getting any response Nyota grabbed her bag and quickly left the apartment.

Spock was truly baffled as he watched her walk out the door. He had merely tried to employ his Vulcan control to keep his emotions from causing the very same outcome that had happened anyway. The more he replayed the conversation in his mind, the more he realized that he had not done that at all. His emotions had seeped into his responses and the tone he used. He had reflexively pushed her away because she had picked up on the fact that he had indeed been hurt by her actions. Spock could not deny that showing emotion embarrassed him and retreating was his natural defense. What he did not understand was her reaction. Spock thought it over for a moment and decided that it was illogical to leave the conversation without any understanding on his part of what had occurred. He would follow her and bring this to a logical conclusion.

It did not take long for Spock to find Nyota once he knew that she had not gone back to her room. He found her sitting by a stream on the academy recreational park. When the weather became warm Nyota insisted that they hold a few of their lute lessons here and being fond of the warmth himself, he obliged.

Spock walked up and took a seat beside her. He was glad that the other students usually did not take advantage of the park and they were alone.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left like that, it was cowardly of me," Nyota said throwing a stone into the water.

"An apology is not necessary," Spock said his tone was longer distant.

Nyota sighed, and did not look as if she was going to speak again. Spock decided to ask a query that Nyota had obviously expected of him. He no longer denied that he really did want to hear the answer as well.

"May I inquire as to why you are not enrolled in my class?" Spock asked. His eyes now softer and showed his sincerity.

Nyota looked at him with a look of dread and surprise on her face.

"Now that you asked, I am not sure I really want to answer," Nyota replied in almost a whisper.

"Nyota, you do not have to fear my reaction or your embarrassment. If you simply want less of my company I will oblige to your wishes," Spock reassured in a low and sincere tone that was reserved only for his mother and her.

Nyota stood up, she had and exasperated look on her face. Spock stood up as well tilting his head slightly awaiting her response.

"Spock, I swear if we communicate any less effectively today we would be speaking two different languages!"

Before Spock could point out that she had not answered his query Nyota walk up to him and closed the distance between them. She quickly pressed her cool lips to his passionately. Spock's mental and emotional steel wall melted beneath the fire of her touch. He could begin to feel her mind and emotions as an electric jolt sent shivers down his spine. It seemed that he was wrong about his defenses, Nyota had a key of all her own. He put his arms around her and pulled her even closer and kissed her back with sincere need and lust. Nyota gave in and slightly opened her mouth and Spock accepted the invitation.

All of Spock's daemons disappeared under her spell. His outcast days of being taunted by his peers as a child on Vulcan, his fathers disappointment in his too human son, these wounds lost their power over him. Nyota battled them away as he telepathically sensed her feelings for him. Her complete acceptance for all the he was created a protective shield of all its own. This emotional comfort aroused him almost as much as Nyota's firm and feminine body in his arms. Then, reason returned and he remembered that if he let this go on she would be bonded to him, something that neither of them were prepared for. He gently took his mouth away from hers but he kept his arms around her. He could feel the telepathic link weakening a bit.

"Teacher and student can't kiss like that under regulations. I thought that if I wasn't your student anymore then you would be more open to the idea," Nyota said breathlessly. She gently moved out of his embrace and he let her. She moved a few steps away but kept her eyes on Spock's face. Spock reasoned that his was because she was expecting a rejection and did not want to be held when the proverbial axe fell.

"Nyota, there are many things to calculate in a situation like this besides the obvious fact that we would be risking our careers. A relationship would be illogical, I am Vulcan, there will be times when we do not understand each other, like today. I don't know if I am able to please you emotionally or physically," Spock replied letting out a breath he did not know he was holding. He felt that Nyota deserved better than a man who would have to battle his own nature in order to show her how he felt about her. From what he had been told, his mother and father often had trouble accepting their differences especially early on in their relationship. It only got more difficult as their marriage progressed. He did not want to hurt Nyota the way his father sometimes hurt his mother, unintentional or not.

"Our time together over the last few months have been very emotionally fulfilling for me. As for the physical I think we just proved that we do desire each other. As for our careers, they will be quite safe if no one knows," Nyota countered calmly with a mischievous glint in her almond shaped eyes.

Spock knew that she had won, he did not have the will to fight it any more. He did indeed desire her, the arousal that Nyota caused in him was obvious. If they had been in his quarters he had a vague idea of what would have transpired. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. He had assumed that since his Vulcan half was dominant the desire to mate would occur only once every seven years. His human half however was more than willing. As much as he did not want to admit to human weakness, emotionally he desired Nyota as well. He wanted her in every way and the fact that she reciprocated his interest made his logic fail to come up with another argument.

"Regardless of our romantic involvement, you will be in my Romulan II class," Spock said, one corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Nyota smiled and put her arm around his. Without a word they began to enjoy a walk around the lovely park. Both were grateful that for the moment, they had it all to themselves.