A/N and Disclaimer: First off, I want to thank all of my followers and reviewers! They are like crack to me and motivate me to get my chapters out! Secondly, there will be a time leap at the beginning of this chapter, with references to what was skipped. I wouldn't want my readers confused… Btw, I don't own Star Trek or any previously known character from the series! ONE WITH THE CHAPTER!

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An annoying blaring from her dataPADD is what awoke Cerulia on an ordinary Monday. This however was not just any Monday; it was the first day of class at the Starfleet Academy. The rest of her summer proved to be the best she had in years, thanks to a certain Vulcan distraction. Spock and she had eventually moved to their meetings whenever he was free. Thinking of their many gatherings over the past weeks, Cerulia stepped into her standard dorm shower. Of the all the times she had spent with her Vulcan, one instance stood out…..

As Spock walked Cerulia home after one of their dates, she knew it was now or never…she had to tell him about her plan to be on the recruit shuttle to San Francisco in a week's time. Stopping him at the corner a block from her house, she turned her grey eyes up to his warm brown irises. "Spock, I haven't had a more enjoyable summer in years as I have now. But, all good things have to end. I can't stay here with them anymore," she cut off, looking toward the direction of her home. She excuse needed no explanation for the Vulcan genius had long known of her situation with the imbiciles that called themselves her parents.

"So," she continued, "I'm joining Starfleet. The shuttle for new recruits leaves in a week for San Fran, and you can bet your pointy ears that I'll be on it. I want to get out of here and see the universe! Besides, you already said that you would be leaving the area at the end of the summer, so there's nothing holding me here," she finished, realizing that she didn't care if he tried to stop her, it was her decision. Though she didn't care, she was still surprised to see an actual smile grace his features at her words.

Spock actually went on to tell her that he thought that she should join the fleet. It would give her the opportunity to use her vast knowledge and get away from her horrible family. In the time since then, it became apparent that Cerulia was the only being able to make his Human side dominate…the only being able to make him smile and laugh. The thought of his smile is what brought tears to her eyes as she brushed her long black hair into a regulation bun after dressing in her uniform.

Spock left three days before she did….and she hadn't received any contact from him. Grabbing her bag and schedule, Cerulia subconsciously rubbed her left hand fingers together, still feeling the tingle from the Vulcan kiss they shared before his departure from her life.

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Upon entering her advanced Xenolinguistics class, Cerulia was not expecting the sight that awaited her: Spock…her Spock…was standing at the holoboard located at the bottom of the stairs of the lecture hall. Her…Spock…was her professor…at Starfleet. It was as if her body was on autopilot as she made her way to an empty seat in the bottom row. Taking out her dataPADD, she prepared to take notes from her…boyfriend? Friend? "I have no idea what we were…are? GAH!" she thought, tapping the touchscreen of the PADD with more force than needed. She snapped out of her own mind just in time to see a look of utter confusion cross his eyes. Only she would have noticed the change on his seemingly emotionless face. Smiling shyly, Cerulia crossed her legs at the knee and settled in for the awkwardness that hung over the class.

Even though she answered more questions than expected from a first year student, Cerulia wasn't surprised to hear Professor Spock call her out to stay after class for a moment. Once the classroom emptied, Cerulia rose from her seat and strode to the desk at which he sat. "Professor, I believe you requested a moment of my time?" she asked, her mind barely keeping the smartass tone from the simple question. "Indeed. I must admit that this is an unexpected turn of events Cer-Cadet Simmons. I trust that our relations will not have any negative effect on your progress in my class," he explained, his eyes never leaving his dataPADD.

The only sign of emotion was the light tint of green bleeding into the tips of his pointed ears. She knew he must have been fighting to keep the situation as professional as possible. However…"Relations, Professor? Are you saying that my past assumption that our summer relationship was not indeed over at the time of your departure?" she asked, her head tilting to the side. Standing from his desk and walking around to stand next to her, Spock caressed Cerulia's hand in a gentle Vulcan kiss. "On the contrary, T'hy'la, it hasn't even begun," he explained, a very Human smile gracing his face.