Hi guys sorry for the lateness of this chapter, first week back at uni is crazy and I was working on a one shot at the same time so.. next chappie should be up soon as it's already half written.

He was allowed to touch her, that was his only thought but it was a wonderful thought. He was allowed to touch her because she was his, she had said so ' I like being called yours' the moment she had said, well slurred those words came to his mind, her lying looking at the stars. Then stepping out of that bubbling brook two days ago she had called him ' my boyfriend' he was also hers she had claimed him. He would admit to feeling a little pride at having her and being had by her. And so he did not feel any guilt as he ran his fingers lightly over her clothed back form between the shoulder blades to just above the curve of her buttocks, covered by those White Cotton panties he had briefly glimpsed the night before. She was sleeping deeply, still resting against his chest. He had lain content to listen to her breathing and feel the slight beating of her heart against his body. It did fascinate him to watch her sleep 98% of the time she was perfectly still then she would suddenly twitch or she'd move her hand a few inches down his chest. Once during the night she had brought her leg up so that her thigh rested across his, he waited ten minutes to be sure she was still deep asleep and then had moved it off of him. He would have left her there but the movement had had pulled the sheet down and his t-shirt (that she was wearing) up, and the fact that that warm point between her legs had been pressed against his hip made it impossible for him to rest.
He felt her stir against him, she moaned a little.

" Nyota?" He whispered softly. She gave another small moan. A little concerned he pressed his hand against her forehead she was 1.3 degrees hotter than normal and he had thought she had felt cool against him. He quickly but gently moved away from her, she looked up startled.

" Spock." She said sleepily.

" You have a fever, it maybe due to being so close to my body heat." Spock explained quickly rushing out the door. He went to the replicator in his kitchen and replicated a 1.5 litre jug of iced water and a cup. He took them back to his bedroom where Nyota was sat up in his bed, he noticed that she was sweating slightly, apart from that her hair was mussed and her eyes weren't fully open due to just having woken up.

" How do you feel?" He asked as he set the jug on his bedside table, poured a glass and handed it to her. She took a small sip.

" I'm fine Spock, I just feel a little hot."

" Any dizziness, nausea or pain in the back of the neck?"

As he asked he was wondering if he would have to call doctor McCoy and if he did how the man would react to finding Nyota in his bed. Would he threaten Spock again or this time would he decide he had no loyalty to Nyota and tell star fleet.
Star fleet oaths did not override those of a doctor. That had been decided 101 years previously when a separate code was written for serving doctors, they could keep patient doctor confidentiality unless the patient could not perform certain duties or would be a danger to the crew. Then the captain of the vessel and only the captain could be told. If he took his oaths seriously Doctor McCoy's tongue would be tied but if he felt Spock was taking advantage of Nyota that might be overridden.

" No Spock. I've just woken up and I feel a Little thirsty, that's all."

" You should not sleep so close to me in the future."

She levelled him a look that said 'are you serious?' which surprised him a little as Spock was very rarely anything but serious and those few rare occasions had only occurred relatively recently.

" Spock, you may have just ruined the best night of my life. " Her voice had hints of annoyance but Spock liked that she had referred to their night together in such a manner, he could not think of any night he had 'rejoiced' at more, of course Vulcan's are not meant to rejoice at all. He sat on the bed next to her and placed his hand back on her forehead, she had cooled slightly.

" I may have ruined it but I can guarantee you that heat stroke definitely would have." He removed his hand and pressed his lips to where it had previously been.

" I will make it up to you." He promised.

She gave a soft sleepy smile and looked over at the jug of water on the side.

" You're going to make me drink all of that aren't you?"

" Perhaps two thirds, after all I have heard it said that relationships are about compromise.""

" We'll have to learn to compromise." She agreed." And you can't keep overreacting."

" I apologize Nyota. In the last few days although happy to be with you I have on several occasions thought of how I almost lost you and how many times our mis communications could have led to me never being with you. I know that to think of such things is illogical but then there is nothing logical about us being together, but I desire it and I cannot make myself disallow it."

She leaned over and kissed him deeply.

" You have me Spock. Never mind the rest, you have me."

Spock sat with Chris in the small cafe just outside the academy grounds. It was the one he had taken Nyota too after phaser training it was a simple sort of a place serving mainly sandwiches and salads but it tended to be busy during the lunch hours with locals rather than cadets and lecturers so Spock had decided it was a safe place for private conversation.

" So why did you miss our Wednesday night drink?" Chris asked him as he picked at his salad.

" I had company and felt that the situation allowed for the overriding of our standing appointment."

" Company? You could have brought them along you know."

" I wished to be alone with this particular company."

" Oh." Chris closed his left eyes for a few seconds. " Company." There was something different about the way he said the word to previously.

" Is there something wrong with your eye?"

" I was winking."

" Why?"

Chris gave and exaggerated sigh.

" I was indicating man to- man that that I understand the company you want to keep is that of a young lady. I'm pretty sure I can guess which young lady." His voice took on a more serious note. " I hope you are being bloody careful."

" The colourful metaphors are not necessary. We will be above suspicion."

" Good." The smile and slightly teasing tone came back. " So just how well are things going with..." He looked around him and then whispered. "She who shall not be named."

" Why must she not be named?"

" Because Spock I'm keeping it a secret for you."

" Isn't this all going against star fleet regulations?"

" Spock if somebody does find out about you and her and they ask me if I knew anything about it I'm going to say no. If they ask you if I knew anything about it you're going to..."

" Lie." Spock said begrudgingly.

" Look I obey all star fleet rules and regulations. I have done for years because I believe in them. In fact there's only one thing I believe in more, quite strange seeing as my experiences with it has been rather fleeting."

" I suppose I must ask what that thing is Captain."

" Love Spock."

" Love is an illogical emotion."

" Yes, and don't you hate that fact that you're knee deep in it friend."

" I should do."

Christopher smiled knowingly at his friend.

" So, original question. How well are things going between you and your young lady?"

" Well."

" After a year of her being your favourite topic of conversation that's all you're going to give me?"

" We have both committed to a relationship of a romantic nature."

" Good for you Spock, good for you."

This time when his com system buzzed Spock knew it was his mother. She always called just before the summer break to ask him if he was coming home. She always got a disappointed and upset look on her face when Spock denied her. It was not a conversation he looked forwards to. He pressed the button on his com link to see the familiar smiling face not much changed form how it had been in his youth. Touches of grey at the temple, lines at the corner of her eyes but always the same warm smile of greeting and direct gaze, almost a mirror of his own.

" Mother."

" Hello Spock, you look well."

" I am well mother, are you in good health?"

" As well as can be expected at my age."

Spock nodded, his mother was only in her early fifties but he knew the long years of Vulcan's heat and gravity, so much stronger than that of earths, had taken its toll on her human body.

" I will not be visiting Vulcan during the academy break."Spock stated getting straight to the point.

" I know. You're going on a science expedition, checking the legitimacy of a ship found on an ice planet that's thought to be Vulcan from the time of reformation."

Spock felt his eyebrows twitch upwards, his mother would know this was silent question. This was the only facial twitch he had difficulty controlling, all others he had managed to control as a young child. His father had often told Spock that he should work harder at controlling the surprise and curiosity that the twitch displayed, though all Vulcan's were guilty of curiosity it should not be so openly displayed. His mother however said she adored the little expression, it was the only time she could tell for sure what her on was thinking or feeling.

" Star fleet informed the science academy, said it was under their care for now until they've done the preliminary checks but to start considering a suitable member to send out once they're finished. Of course there was a lot more questioning in which the fact that you were performing the preliminaries came out but the academy finally backed down and agreed to star fleets terms for the time being."

" Thank you for the information. I had been wondering if I would end up in the middle of a disagreement."

" Your father told me all this last night, you know I think he actually sounded proud when he said you were the officer doing the first checks."

" Pride is a human emotion mother and star fleets choice to send me on the preliminary checks is a logical one. I am the only Vulcan officer, I am well versed In ancient Vulcan glyphs technology and Vulcan physiology, more so than any other officer Star Fleet has at it's disposal."

" Pride seems to run in the family."

" I am merely stating a fact."

" Okay Spock. Anyway, your father asks that you send bi-weekly reports to the science academy so your replacement will be properly informed when she arrives."

" That was my intention mother."

" Okay then, any other news Spock?'

Spock considered telling his mother he was in a relationship but decided against it. He knew his mother would be pleased by such information but it would bring forth questions Spock wasn't sure he wished to answer yet, and he could never lie to his mother. He had distaste for lying even though it seemed that when living with humans it was sometimes necessary. But to lie to his mother who had raised him and cared for him and knew him and understood his dual nature, the idea disgusted him.

" Nothing to report at this time mother."

" Okay, live long and prosper Spock."

" Peace and long life mother."

The room was decorated with light blue streamers, table linen and cutlery. Blue being the colour of peace and prosperity to the Eli. Although no Eli would be attending the cadets had been instructed not to wear purple, the Eli colour of war and disaster. The parties theme had been based upon the research done by the Farragut, they had collected recipes and samples of traditional Eli music to be interspersed among the popular earth music that would be playing. Copies of Eli paintings lined the walls (the races main interest was in the cultivation of many different art forms) and a few xenoanthropology cadets had been given the task of learning and displaying for all a traditional Eli celebratory dance.

The night would officially begin at seven with video clips of the Eli going about their daily lives and ended at midnight. The last hour was given over to commendations and welcoming new members of staff who would be starting tenure at the beginning of the next academic year.

Spock had avoided being 'signed up' for helping with the decorations, sound system and food so he arrived in his rented black tux at exactly 7:15. The crowd of people entering the main hall seemed to move aside for him all knowing that Vulcan's do not like to be touched. He took a moment to take in the hall, tables to the back, dance floor to the front and food on long tables to the left. He had eaten before arriving as the previous year he had found the smell of the food presented almost sickening, he was not surprised that nobody else had shared his revulsion; Vulcan's have sensitive olfactory systems. This year he found the food to be both olfactory and aesthetically pleasing, and it seemed that the Eli were a vegetarian race. He went over the to tables and filled a plate with the imported vegetation, he may not need the extra nutrition but Spock had learnt something about Human psychology, if they see person standing and apparently doing nothing at a celebration they feel the need to 'include' him or her in the generally useless small talk. If he appeared to be eating and watching the festivities he would probably be saved from this phenomena.

He took his plate and found a quiet corner to stand in, if he sat at a table people would wish to join him and then have converse with them out of politeness. It struck him as strange how there was always a quiet corner at these kinds of events considering there were only four corners in the large square room. He watched the slideshow of the Eli, a peaceful humanoid species. Although they had warp travel they very rarely went out to space they liked to stay on their planet. They had very little interest in outside worlds though they were welcoming to off worlders. They dedicated all there time to the arts, Spock found them relatively interesting. He ate slowly so that he still had something on the plate when the half an hour film had finished. 8pm and everybody was now present, the dance floor was filled with people who had stood to watch the film, and all the tables at the back were already filled. Though there were plenty of spaces to move towards the sides of the room the centre looked uncomfortably full. Spock finished the food and walked along the outskirts of the room to dispose of his plate in a recycle bin. The minute the soggy peace of paper hit the trash bag and he turned around there was somebody in front of him, DR Roberts a specialist in the history of federation planets.

" Spock, I was hoping I would bump into you. I've heard rumours that you were chosen to do the preliminary checks on the reformation Vulcan ship."
" The rumours on this occasion have proven to be correct." Spock answered; something over Roberts shoulder caught his saw the flash of Champaign silk. He looked through the crowd and spotted the dress. His intuition was correct it was Nyota in that Champaign coloured dress she had worn at the staff mixer. She wore light make- up and had her hair falling around her shoulders in light curls. She turned slightly and met his eyes across the crowd; she smiled widely at him and his mouth quirked.

" Spock, Are you alright?"
He looked back at Roberts somewhat reluctantly, he knew Roberts had asked a question but he couldn't say what it was.

" I am well, can you rephrase the question."
Roberts looked at him confused.

" I said that all of us from the history department were dying for that mission but no hard feeling's you are the most qualified."
" Indeed."
" Anyhow we're all sat over at the back and I was wondering if you would join us and fill us In on the technology available during the reformations."
Spock considered the question he had four or hours to fill before he could leave and talking about Vulcan history and science was a better way to spend his time than talking about the weather and asking where people were spending their summer holidays when the information rarely proved to be of interest.

He spent the next forty minutes answering questions Vulcan ancient history, most of his questions were on science and the movement towards logic. He was careful when answering questions on ancient Vulcan society many things were not discussed with outsiders. Eventually the five historians got bored of the topic of conversation and Spock spent the next hour and twenty minutes listening to them talking about holidays in Hawaii. Spock looked around he saw Chris stood by the doorway and caught sight of Nyota near the food tables, he excused himself and walked across the room. He took another paper plate and quietly went to stand next to Nyota. She looked up and smiled at him.

" Hello Cadet."
" Commander, are you enjoying the ball."
" I have never seen the point in small talk." Spock answered quietly.

Nyota gave a knowing nod.

" I see you've borrowed Gallia's dress again." He switched to Vulcan and pretended to be inspecting a dip as he spoke.

" It looks better on me anyway."
" I would agree. Your beauty leaves me breathless."

" You don't look so bad yourself."

" We must not be seen to linger together."
" I know." Nyota said sadly.

" Excuse me cadet I must talk with captain Pike."

He turned from her, knowing that these were the last precious moment he could spend with her before the end of the academic year, and he would not see her face again for another six weeks. He felt that those six weeks would feel a lot longer to him, he would miss her presence, and they had had so little time together.

He made his way across the crowded room, music had been playing for the last eighty- six minutes and with the help of fruit and rum punch fifty-six pairs of cadets had made there way to the dance floor the rest were crowded in the seating area, many standing in small groups talking happily. As he approached Chris his friend smiled at him and raised his hand in a greeting.

" Hi Spock, how's the party."
" I am obligated to attend."
" I guess that answers my question. "
" There are other thing's I would prefer to be dong with my time."
" I bet. I see your managing to talk this time."
" You Knew before I did, didn't you?"
" That's often the way Spock."
Spock lowered his voice as a cadet passed them in the doorway.

" You pushed us together, you made sue I would talk to her by putting that note on her file."
Chris shifted on his feet somewhat uncomfortably.
" I may have given a little push, but all those one –to- ones and secret conversations in a dialect nobody else understands, that was all your doing."

" Why did you 'give a little push'?"

" I wasn't trying to play matchmaker Spock, I just saw two people who needed each other. I didn't know you were going to fall for each other. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a new pilot instructor who I'm eager to meet.

Spock nodded, Pike had mentioned having met the new instructor some years ago when she had been stationed on Taurus IV. Though he had not said more than a few sentences about the woman Spock got the distinct impression that there brief relationship had been of something other than a professional nature. He would have preferred to keep Chris's company for the rest of the evening as he could not have Nyota's but he could not deny his friend the chance of a romantic involvement, not now he knew how satisfactory such involvements could be.

"Of course Christopher, I leave on the expedition in two days so I will wish you a pleasant summer vacation."

" I'm not going to let you leave like that Spock. I'll be round for drinks tomorrow night. Get the good scotch."

Chris clapped him on the shoulder and Spock watched as he approached an aesthetically pleasing middle-aged blonde woman. As she saw Chris approach she smiled widely, she laid her hand on his arm and whispered into his ear, Spock turned away to give them privacy. It was good that Christopher could spend the night in pleasant company, and that he could be touched by the one he adored without accusations and whispered conversation. He glanced around trying to spot Nyota, he did not think they would get away with another quiet conversation but he wished to check that she was at least enjoying herself and was not being harassed by any male cadets. He saw Galia dancing with a young man up near the stage. It took him a few moments to realize it was her as the dress she wore was a pleasant shade of blue and more conservative than anything Spock had seen her in before. He expected to see Nyota watching from the edge of the dance floor or sat at one of the tables with McCoy or her classmates but he could not see her. The popular song was drawing to an end as Spock reached the other side of the hall meaning to wonder around the edges until he spotted Nyota. As the final notes came to an end a male voice came over the speakerphone.

"It's that time you've all been waiting for people, the traditional teacher pupil dance."

There were a few auditable groans from amongst the crowd. Spock, thankful he was near the entrance quickly turned around to head out just as the voice announced.

"That's the traditional and obligatory teacher student dance. So teachers down some rum punch and find a willing student."

Spock was two feet from the door when a girl he recognized from his third year class stepped in front of him. She boldly looked up at him.

" Will you dance with me commander?"

"Vulcan's do not dance." He replied quickly stepping to the side and making it out the door and down the hallway before any other female cadet could intercept him. It was the part of the ball he found most unpleasant but he had so far managed to escape each year without any other teacher stopping him from leaving. He saw an

Empty class room at the end of the corridor and swiftly walked inside, he would sit in the dark until he was sure the dance was over then rejoin the ball hoping nobody had noticed his absence.

The door, which he had closed behind him, opened Spock froze in the darkness and was about to turn when he heard Nyota speaking in his home dialect.

" I believe this is my dance Mr Spock."

Spock turned to see her stood in the doorway the lighted corridor behind her creating a halo of light around her body. He recalled when he had seen her dressed as an angel at Halloween and thought about how now with the long pale dress and the light shining around her she definitely looked like the angels he had seen pictured, pure and Beautiful.

" Yes, miss Uhura I believe it is."

She closed the door behind her, ordered the lights on and raised her arms. When Spock stepped into them he felt a warm spread through his entire body an intense satisfaction and sense of belonging. It was the same feeling he had experienced when he had returned to Vulcan after three years of being away. He placed both his hands on her lower back and felt her lean into him and give a small sigh. Spock moved his left hand away from the curve of her back and found her fingers. He stroked up and down a few times feeling a bittersweet mixture of emotions from her. He felt he understood perfectly, happy to be with her after months of longing, a little reluctant and sad at the fact it was there last few moments together for six weeks.

He moved his fingers to hold her hand firmly. He had seen this done many times, watched the small complicated and graceful movements but had not tried to reproduce them to now. Nyota sensing what he was doing moved her hand to rest on his shoulder and moved a few inches away from him. She starred up at him with a deep attention. He listened to the slow music waited till he knew the beat and then took two steps back one to the left leading Nyota, two forwards one to the right, he was caught up in the precision of the movements until he spun Nyota away from him and she gave a light delighted giggle. He could sense her delight from their contact and he allowed himself to take bit of it into himself. His muscles started to relax and after the next set of movements he placed his hands firmly on her waist lifted her three and a half inches from the floor and twirled in a slight circle with her. Her hands gripped his shoulders. Her eyes shone as she looked at him and smiled widely giggling slightly. He felt his lips twitch upwards and allowed himself the smallest of smiles in response.

As he lowered her back to the floor her hands moved up to frame his face and she kissed him in an ecstatic happy manner the kiss soon deepened, Spock's desire was as if the kiss had to be enough to tide them over for six weeks. He stroked his hands lightly down her back, and then pulled away. He wanted things to go further but he reminded himself of all the logical reasons why it shouldn't and that they were 8.6 meters away from a hall filled with 78% of the staff and students of the academy.

Nyota gave him one more quick kiss as he pulled away. Spock hesitated, he wish he could keep kissing her all night into the early hours of the morning as he had done three nights ago.

" It hasn't even been four days, four nights but only three days and we couldn't even spend today together." Nyota said sadly, looking straight into his eyes.

" You are expressing regret that we have not spent more time together but that regret is illogical Nyota. We will be able to spend more time together after the summer break."

" You won't replace me with some other girl with a higher I.Q and more languages?" He voice was teasing but he could still feel a small anxiety from her, part if her did feel insecure about there relationship.

"You are irreplaceable."

She smiled weakly at him and he bent his head to give her a tender kiss hoping to reassure her.

"Can you do me a favour?" Nyota asked him.

"It depends on what it is but there is very little I would deny you."

" Don't come to the shuttle hanger tomorrow?"

" What is your reason for asking?"

" I can't bare to say goodbye to you like that, with all those people there. Let me say goodbye too you here where I can hold you and tell myself it's not all a dream."

"I shall do as you wish Nyota."

He could not resist giving her another kiss, he kissed her as if it were the last time, he tried to pour all the desire and admiration he felt for her into that one kiss. There was a swishing sound and it took Spock 2.3 seconds to realize it was the sound of the door opening. He jumped away from her and turned to the door. His panic disappeared when he saw Chris stood in the doorway. He turned back to Nyota her face showed shock, eyes wide mouth slightly open.

" Captain Pike, I was, we were..."

"Relax Cadet." Chris I'd raising one hand.

"Nyota, captain Pike is fully aware of the nature of our relationship and he would not betray us."

Spock explained, Nyota's eyes flickered to him, she still looked shocked.

" He is my friend." Spock explained.

"Sorry to spoil the moment but they're looking for you Spock. They need you to stand in for Roberts he was meant to be giving out some science award."

Spock turned back to Nyota, she looked a little more relaxed but not much. He reached for her hand and linked their finger, Nyota sent him a nervous look she seemed reluctant to touch him. He sent her soothing feelings and affection through their link. He could see her relax slightly.

Chris coughed when Spock looked back at him he was grinning widely. Spock looked between Nyota and Chris for a moment he knew he had to go but he could not leave Nyota like this. Chris seemed to sense his dilemma as he turned his back from them and kept his eyes firmly on the wall. Spock turned back to Nyota he calculated that they had about thirty seconds left together. He ran his fingers down her check she stood on the tips of her toes and he brought her close for a final kiss, short and bitter sweet. He held her close to him for a few more seconds memorising the feeling of her body against his and her scent. She was the one to pull away from him; he noticed a tear glisten on her cheek. She turned without a word and began to walk away from him. Spock thought of being so far away from her, he would not even feel her presence in her mind the link was not strong enough to withstand the tens of thousands of miles between them.

" Nyota." He called her. She paused at the door a foot away from Chris who was ignoring them.

"Will you contact me over the summer? Let me know that you are safe."

"Of course Spock." She turned to glance at him; she gave him watery smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. She walked through the door and it closed behind her.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you Spock." Chris said.

" It was necessary. I would not have wished for anybody else to have found me in this situation." Chris nodded he clapped him on the back.

" Let's go."

He and Chris walked together back to the hall, the noise of people talking and music getting louder as they got closer. Once in the hall Spock was quickly handed some notes he was meant to read out and directed to the platform, he climbed the stairs and looked out over the crowd. As the music was turned off and he waited for the room to quieten down he looked for Nyota wishing to glimpse her one more time. He saw her, her back to him as she exited the hall.

Spock sat on a bench in one of the academies many small gardens. It was the perfect position to watch the shuttle pods as they dropped students of at various points all over the world or transported them to places they could find off world travel. Spock glanced down at his watch, it was 7:48. Nyota would be leaving in three minutes. He waited patiently with a strange tightness in his stomach. After two minutes and fifty-three second he saw a shuttlepod, the name Newton printed on the side hover fifty feet n the air then turning slightly move at speed away from him. She was gone.