Third week of January

Spock looked down at Nyota's sleeping form. The previous night definitely fell into Spock's non-existent 'best nights of my life' list. Somewhere behind Nyota telling him she wanted to be with him, her telling him she loved him, her making love to him, then last night.. Nyota and him being together and happy and completely open with each other again and calling him her husband. Instead of getting up when he awoke he laid next to her looking down at her serene faces as she slept. Something about last night was bothering him,.

Well I never got a ring, I never got a proposal. It would have been nice to do things in the Human way as well.

Spock wondered if Nyota was disappointed that she did not get a traditional Terran proposal. There are certain times in life that are significant, that stay in the memory for a lifetime. He felt there had been some of those with Nyota, he felt there would be many more. And they were expected, he had expected that one day he would meld, and it was wonderful. It had not happened with who he had expected or in the way he had expected but it was wonderful. Had Nyota expected to get engaged at some point in her life, had she thought abut what it would be like to have somebody propose to her Had she been to weddings and considered what it would be like to be in the brides place? She may love him but was it fair that by bonding with a Vulcan she would miss out on those thing's Terrans considered 'significant memories'?

There was one solution, it was simple, he had to propose. It might seem a little insignificant to him as they were already bonded but he felt that it would mean a lot to Nyota, that it would prove his love for her in a very Terran way. It may also please her parents and help them to accept him. Not to mention how happy some kind of ceremony would make his mother and the fact that they needed some way to get Star Fleet to accept them as a 'married' couple so they would be placed together on assignments. It looked like he was going to have to purchase a ring.

Spock was knelt in front of a hatch in the wall of the simulation observation room. The hatch was a meter squared and it lead into a tunnel nine foot deep, the spaces between the wires were just big enough for full size Terran to lie in. He undid the final screw and looked up at the three cadets staring down at him.

" This." Spock said. " Is the opening hatch to the main board of the stimulation.

He pried his fingers behind the thin sheet of metal and removed it revealing the tunnel with various colored and thickness wires hanging down in loops.

" You will probably have to access this at some time during your work on the simulation, though for the majority of the time your work will be on the main computer, I have already programmed for your student passwords to allow you access to it. I suggest you all take turns at logging into the computer and familiarizing yourself with the layout of the tunnel."

He stood up and looked at the Galia, Christophe, and Zami."

"Do you have any questions?"

They all shook their heads slowly.

" In that case I suggest you start, I will make myself available to you for the next hour if your exploration raises questions.

The students kept quiet as he moved over to access a computer terminal, logged out of the simulations database and brought up the latest information on the Lapis star system. The three cadets spent exactly forty six seconds in silence, and then Galia spoke.

" Well I'm going in the tunnel first."

Satisfied that the cadets were beginning to work Spock started to read part of his mind constantly listening to the chatter of the students and answering questions. At the end of the hour he gave them some instructions and the titles of some useful papers to read and went to his office. At the end of the day he would go back to the stimulation room and check on the work they had conducted.

4th week of January.

"I am going to ask Nyota to marry me."Spock said.

Chris starred blankly at him. It was their usual Wednesday night drink and they had just sat down at a table in Chris's quiet bar.

"Okay." Chris answered slowly. "Now I'm confused."

"Why should you be confused? Isn't it usual on Earth for a couple of individuals dedicated to a permanent relationship with each other to eventually get married?"

" Spock.." Chris said slowly hunching his shoulders. " Did I dream up the whole situation where you and Nyota bumped uglies and somehow managed to bump minds in the process and got very Vulcan married."

" Taking that the phrase bumped uglies is another delightful Human way of saying had sexual intercourse then both yes and no, marriage is a human phrase, Nyota and I are bonded. Our minds are bonded together in a way that is permanent and only possible to have that type of bond with one other at a time."

" Which is the Vulcan equivalent of married." Chris said slowly pronunciation every word.

" Why do you keep talking slower than normal? My Earth standard is at a very high standard."

"It's because I'm having trouble understanding the situation. If you are already the equivalent of married why would you be asking Nyota to marry you?"

" To propose and to have a wedding."

" Still not getting it."

" To please Nyota."

" Ah. Now I've got it."

"And for her parents and Star Fleet to accept us as a fully dedicated, permanent relationship."

" Okay, now I'm seeing your point of view."

Spock remained quiet for a moment allowing Chris to take a deep drink before approaching the next question.

He took a deep breath.

" Will you be my best man?" He asked. Chris showed no visible reaction he continued drinking then set his glass down and leveled Spock with a stare.

" Don't you think you should wait to see if she says yes and you set a date before you ask me?"

"She will say yes. And the date will be in the window after graduation and before deployment." Spock said confidently.

" Will there be cake?"

" Yes. I imagine Nyota will make sure there is cake."

"I'll be your best man."

"Because of cake?"

Chris gave a rare wide smile.

" No Spock, not just the cake."

" You are a good friend." Spock said feeling a wave of warmth towards the older man.

" There are the bridesmaids as well."

Spock's lips twitched downwards slightly at the bad joke. Chris smiled in return and took another drink.

" So are you proposing on Valentines day?"

Lying at his feet was a torn red dress and three meters was Nyota's naked form. Cadet Williams was leaning over her, he had stopped staring up at Spock in shock, his hand resting on the belt of the mechanics uniform he was wearing. Spock flicked his eyes back to Nyota, she didn't move, her blank eyes stared at the ceiling without blinking.

" No, not valentines day. Sometime after Valentines day. Just as soon as I can get a ring."

" Do you want me to come to help pick out the ring? It's one of the best man duties."

" I'm having the ring made. I am ordering a rare stone from Vulcan."

" Diamonds are traditional you know?"

"Yes but I was under the impression that the stones set in engagement rings were special in someway, symbolic. I thought the combined Earth and Vulcan stones would be a relevant symbolism."

"Spock you're getting more sentimental everyday."

"Sentimentality is a Human trait."

First week of Febuary

Nyota was sat with her legs folded underneath her; she was stuffing popped corn into her mouth as she stared at the entertainment system screen. Spock was rather amused by the expression on her face and the way she kept hiding her eyes behind her hands. She was watching a movie designed to scare Terrans, Spock didn't see the point in it as one, fear is an illogical emotion and two its extraordinarily illogically to deliberately make yourself scared when its considered an unpleasant emotion. This being so he sat writing a lecture for a final guest lecturer slot in the microbiology department his eyes occasionally flickering over to Nyota as she gasped. One time he looked over and she had grabbed the cushion from the chair and completely buried her face into it.

"Nyota." He called.

"Yes."

" Do you wish me to turn the movie off ?"

" No I want to know what happens."

"But you are not watching what happens."

" I can hear it, just about."

" Nyota, this behavior is some of the most illogical I've seen in you."

"I know."

"You know it is illogical and yet you continue to do it. '

" This is a normal Human behavior Spock."

" I have heard this yet I still do not understand it."

"Well, watching a scary film with your partner is meant to have some benefits."

"What benefits are there to scaring yourself?"

" Well, when you're scared you want somebody to hold you."

Spock froze in the middle of typing. It took him three seconds to work out her meaning and another two to decide that the lecture could indeed wait, then five to stand up and walk over to the sofa. He dropped down and looked at the screen. Just as Nyota peered over the top of the cushion somebody on the screen had his neck partially severed by an axe. She made a little gasp and threw herself against his body burying her head in his stomach.

" This film is not only illogical but also inaccurate." Spock stated as the man on the screen held his neck and spent an inordinate amount of time gasping and spraying arterial blood over the trees.

"Considering the extent of his injuries and lack of medical attention he would have died twice as fast as he did, and I estimate that he has lost an amount of ten pints of blood already when the Human body has an average of nine pints."

Nyota's body started heaving against his. He looked down concerned.

"Nyota, please do not vomit on me."

She burst out laughing.

" I'm .not..I was ..trying not to. giggle." She said laughing between.

"Why are you giggling? It is not usual to giggle when you are scared. Nyota I am concerned about your current mental state."

She seemed to laugh harder, he reached for her shoulders and gently pulled her up to look at her face, she was laughing hard her face was coloring and there was a tear sliding down her face which Spock gently wiped away.

" Nyota please control yourself."

Nyota seemed to try and still herself and after another minute and a half the laughing stopped.

"Oh I'm sorry Spock, it's just so funny to hear such a logical evaluation of a slasher movie."

" I do not see why, but I am glad I amuse you."

She stretched up a placed a kiss to his jaw.

" You always amuse me. " She stared up into his eyes and for a moment he found himself unable to think coherently.

" I wish it were possible for you to live with me."

" I think I spend more waking time here than I do in my room. Though of course I spend more time in the libraries and lecture halls than I do either here or in my room."

"We shall have to get joint quarters on a StarShip."

" Your definitely be on the Enterprise won't you?" He could hear the worried tones in her voice and knew she was concerned about what would happen after she graduated.

" Yes. Do not worry Nyota. I will make sure we end up together." He kissed the top of her head and they watched the end of the movie curled up comfortably together. As the movie ended Nyota yawned twice.

" Do you wish to sleep here?"

" I have early morning combat class and then I've signed up for a weekly slot monitoring transmissions in the long range sensor lab."

" That is excellent practise and will definitely look good on your application forms."

He stood up and reached his hand down to help Nyota up.

" I shall walk you home."

She nodded and grabbed her coat from where she had flung it on her favorite seat. Wordlessly Spock took it from her and held it out for her to put her arms in the sleeves.

"Thanks."

She shrugged it onto her shoulders and did up the buttons. She turned back to him and lent her head against his chest.

"Goodnight Spock."

" Goodnight my love."

She smiled and hooked her hands around the back of his head bringing him down to kiss him passionately. Spock placed his hands on her waist and brought her body close to his. When she broke the kiss he whispered to her.

" Are you sure you have to go back?"

Nyota sighed.

" It's probably more logical that I do."

Spock felt himself hold back a sigh as well.

" Yes. It is."

He placed another quick kiss to her lips and then quite unwillingly let her go.

They walked in companionable silence down the hallway and into the elevator. As the lift hit the ground floor and the doors opened with a ping Spock felt a slight buzz of the presence of another. He quickly looked around as he stepped out aware that it was suspicious for him to be seen in the staff apartments with a cadet. He saw Chris friend Bob just closing up the foyers computer terminal.

Nyota caution is recommended.

I understand.

He stepped out the elevator followed by Nyota.

" Hello Robert. I trust you are well."

" Yes, the main network connection in my rooms are slow I'm trying to see if I can fix the problem from here."

" They have been slow across the board today because improvements are being made."

" Ah, never mind then."

" Thank you for your help commandeer." Nyota said walking towards the exit.

I'll walk home on my own, I'll be fine.

"You are welcome, goodnight cadet."

Let me know when you are back safely.

She gave a slight nod and left. Spock was aware of Bob watching her.

" She's a needy one isn't she?" He stated.

"Pardon? I am not aware of your meaning."

" I've seen her in the corridors several times this year. She must be a needy student to keep coming to your apartment, or she's got a teenage crush on you, you have to be careful of that you know."

" I can assure you I show the due amount of caution. Cadet Uhura comes here because she is an excellent student who has attempted to learn several languages not on the syllabus and therefore she requires my extra attention and assistance."

It was not a lie she had attempted to learn several languages in her first year.

"Right. Well I was just offering some advice."

" I thank you. Goodnight." Spock said before turning to go back to his apartment. Five minutes later as he was sat at his desk worth some paperwork and a cup of herbal tea he heard Nyota's voice.

Back safe.

I am glad, sleep well.

He paused in his typing, Bob's warning had concerned him but of course not for the reasons Bob thought he should be concerned. It was a reminder that despite they were now bonded and belonged with each other they still needed to keep their relationship as quiet as possible. If Bob had noticed her continual presence then others could as well. He did not want Nyota's final year to be disturbed with accusations. Just a few short months he reminded himself, a few short months and she would have finished her training and they would be free to fill out forms to be recognized by Star Fleet as a legally tied couple, and free to marry.

14th of February

Spock felt... Jittery, it was definitely jittery. It had been two years to the day since Williams had attacked Nyota. Two years since he had experienced such deadly anger, wanted to kill. When he thought back he found that time didn't erase that anger. It was something within him that was controllable but not expungable, but if it could be harnessed to help him protect those he loved he could accept that. He set up the projector, got his notes up on the computer screen ready to be projected on the screen in front of lecture theater. This lecture was on Rigelian, at least when the cadets ended up on the pleasure planet for shore leave they could order a Rigelian kiwi and lemon martini. But his mind was not on the lecture, it was on Nyota. Last year she had fallen into a deep depression on this day. It was nine o'clock and ever since he had got up at five he had wanted to go to her. To make sure she was okay, he had felt her wake up two hours previously but he had not wished for it to seem as if he thought she needed protecting. He knew that she would know what the day was, for two weeks their had been pink and red cards, flowers, stuffed bears in every shop window in San Francisco. It was a day Terrans set aside to remind themselves to let their loved ones know that they did in fact love them, Spock thought it was completely unnecessary, one Nyota felt his love for her through their bond. Two, if he ever forgot to let Nyota know how much he loved her then that was the point when he was no longer deserving of her.

The reason he felt fidgety was that if she did not come to this lecture then he knew that she was depressed as she was the previous year. He did not feel any darkness in their link but he had resisted prying any deeper. Just because they were in a telepathic relationship didn't mean that they weren't allowed any privacy.

He watched as all the familiar faces of his students arrived. He found himself holding his breath when he saw Gaila walk in hoping to see Nyota behind her but she was not. He felt a wave of panic and took a moment to consider what to do, he could reorganize the lecture for another time and go to her but there was still forty seconds till Nine' o'clock.

Nyota.

He felt a slight panic from her.

What's wrong Spock?

Are you okay.

Yes.

Then why a you not in lecture?

I'm just running two minutes late Spock.

His forty seconds were up. Spock started the lecture with his usual 'good morning cadets'. Two minutes later he was in the middle of his lecture introduction, the door at the top of the room opened. A few people in the first few rows turned to Nyota as she walked in blushing slightly. He heard her whisper 'sorry'.

"Cadet, as you should well know by now I do not tolerate lateness."

One must keep up appearances. He apologized silently.

" I'm sorry Commander it will not happen again."

He nodded at her and continued with his lecture content now that she was within his view.

Lunchtime

They sat together discussing the lecture Spock had given, he had only taught some of the more basic Rigelian phrases. The universal translators were very exact when it came to Rigelian but he taught the basics in case of malfunctions. As they ate their Salads Spock gave her a few new sentences to practice. He watched her anxiously for any signs of sadness or her trying to keep things from him.

What? She asked him suddenly.

"I'm sorry I do not understand the question."

" I didn't ask a question Commander." She answered pointedly.

Spock?

I am just a little distracted.

" You used the wrong tense in the last sentence cadet."

She repeated it again hesitantly.

" Yes, that is correct."

Evening.

Spock watched Nyota from the doorway as she fried vegetables. So far during the day he had not shown any signs of depression in her, but she had been busy for the majority of the day. There was a chance that now she was relaxed her emotions may come in a flood. He had heard of such things happening before. He could see a tension in Nyota's shoulders and could feel something vague and dark in their link. She set down the folk she was using to stir the vegetables with a loud bang and turned to him folding her arms as she did so. He saw the storm on her face, the hardness around her eyes and the firm set of her mouth.

" What is it Spock?" She asked in his home tongue with a harsh accent that wasn't usually present.

" I do Not understand the question."

" Why have you been watching me all day as if I'm about to.. explode or something?"

" It is valentines day."

" I know."

"It's.."

" I know." She interrupted him holding up her hand. " I remember."

" Are you okay."

She shrugged.

" I think I am."

He held his arms open to her. And she stepped into them he held her close. He wanted to keep her safe, wanted to comfort her and as illogical as it was he wanted to erase what had happened.

" I love you Nyota."

" I love you to."

She buried her head in his chest and they let the minutes go By just holding onto one another.

" Spock." Nyota muttered after an indeterminable amount of time.

" Yes my precious one."

" The Pak Choi is burning."

1st week of March

Spock could feel Nyota walking up the hallway before he could hear her footsteps. It was like a little hum in the back of his mind every time she came within twenty feet of him. He knew every time she walked into the lecture hall that she was there without having to look up. He waited until the door opened to stand up and welcome her.

She smiled sheepishly as she came in.

" Does it bother you that I can walk into your apartment at anytime without you knowing?"

" Firstly Ayasham, I know when your coming, secondly it does not bother me because I do not consider it just my apartment."

She smiled and sat down in her armchair, he settled himself back down into the sofa.

" Can I stay here tonight?"

" Of course. Is there a specific reason?"

Nyota sighed and bent down to start unzipping her boots.

" I walked in on Gaila with one of her boyfriends."

" I thought you had made an agreement with her that she would stop bringing boys back to your room."

" She had she agreed to go to their places from now on, which is why we began arguing and she wouldn't let it go. She keeps bringing it back up. So I thought it was best to leave her to it tonight."

"Well you're my bond mate, treat my home as your own. Would you like a cup of tea, some supper?"

Nyota gave a deep breath and let her head drop into her hands. She finally looked up at him with a weak smile.

"I've just spent seven hours in the long range sensor lab, if it's okay with you I just want to sleep."

" Of course." Spock said. He looked down at his book; he had planned on finishing it that night. And it was much early than he would go to bed if he were on his own. His usual sleep time was one to five it was only eleven thirty.

" Do you mind if I join you in a few hours? I will try not to wake you."

"Sure. " She walked over and leaned down to kiss him on the check then turned, he heard her walking behind him and stop by the bathroom door.

" This is nice, comfortable." She said.

" Yes." Spock agreed. It was comfortable to have her act so casually in his apartment and to feel as if she could come to sleep there and she didn't mind if he didn't change his routine every time. It was right that they could be themselves with each other. After four point three minutes she exited the bathroom, said goodnight and continued into the bedroom. Spock continued reading for an hour then set the book down and concentrated for a moment on the link in his mind. Nyota was in quite a deep sleep and Spock thought he could probably go in without waking her. He turned of the light before opening the door and padding quietly across the room to his closet. He striped of his Clothes and deposited them in the laundry bin, as he got his night clothes out of the wardrobe he heard the bed creak. He turned and looked at the shadowy mound in the bed. Her breathing had not increased so after a moment of listening for any signs that she was waking he continued to pull on the soft cotton pants. He carefully got into the bed on the other side, and settled down trying not to disturb her. He felt slightly satisfied after a moment of lying absolutely still that he had managed to get undressed and into bed with out waking Nyota.

"Rom Mu-Yor Petakov" He heard a sleepy voice whisper.

" I am sorry I woke you dear one." He said.

He felt a sleepy contentment coming from Nyota she turned and her warm body brushed against his. He felt her leg move over his and her arm drape around his stomach as she nuzzled her head against his chest, placing a cool soft kiss to the skin there.

" It's okay." She muttered.

Spock found himself smiling fondly down at her. He stroked her hair gently and felt her mind as she fell back into a deep sleep, he found himself being dragged down with it and happily let himself fall asleep with her.

The next day

With the updates to the Kobayashi Maru almost finished Spock had laid time aside to observe a simulation to make sure that everything was running smoothly.. He entered the viewing room and said hello to the invigilators and various others who were observing, some cadets there out of interest some instructors there to watch. He made his way to the main computer screen and sat typed his password in, the whole room was kept dark and air conditioned to keep the computers cool, the only lights tended to be the glow of the multiple blue screens dotted around the room. As the computer gave a slight buzzing as it began to load up the program read out. Everything seemed to be running smoothly; Spock got up and went to the observation window, he peered down into the StarShip bridge. The man in the command chair had his head turned from Spock but he could see Doctor McCoy sat at the front and, surprisingly Nyota was sat in the com chair. She had not mentioned it the previous night but then again she had been distracted.

"We are receiving a distress signal from the U.S.S Kobayashi Maru the ship has lost power and is stranded." He heard Nyota say.

He could feel annoyance coming of her and one glance at her posture and expression told him she was showing this annoyance to.

"Star Fleet command has ordered us to rescue them."

The man in the command chair turned so Spock could see his face, he had seen on several occasions. It was the man who had bumped into the table on Nyota's birthday and that he had observed flirting inappropriately with Woman whilst he was at the bar with Chris. Neither of which had left him with the impression that the young man was Captain Material. Spock searched his memory for the name.

"Star Fleet Command has ordered us to rescue them, Captain." He heard the young man say arrogantly. He could understand Nyota's annoyance.

He went to sit back at the computer watching the screen as it flashed up long lines of code. The codes for the visuals of the klingon ships came up one second later than previously just as he had instructed the cadets to change them but other than that everything had been running smoothly.

"Did he say don't worry about it." He heard commander Jackson say from in front of the window.

"is he not taking the simulation seriously?

Spock thought that from what's he'd seen of the young mans behavior then the answer was in all probability no.

He heard the Klingons shooting weapons, Spock checked the update on energy dispersal, check, all satisfactory his cadets had performed admirably.

He felt another surge of annoyance from Nyota, Spock hadn't really been listening but he was aware that she had been asked to do something that made no sense, alerting the medical bay to prepare for casualties when the boy in the captains chair had not yet made any manoeuvres to avoid or attack the Klingon vessels.

He heard the start of the simulated ships emergency alarms, check.

The screen in front of him flickered, something was interrupting the simulation at first he thought it could be a power fluctuation or even a badly written line of code disrupting the computer but then the screen went completely blank for a second. He peered around the room and saw all the numerous screens were doing the same, the Human supervisors reactions ranged from confused to panicked. The screen in front of him turned on, one glance told him something was Not right, to the untrained eye the simulation code looked normal but he had written this program and could see right away that he had not written what was currently on screen. He could search through it later to find out exactly what the simulation had been reprogrammed to do but for now he could find out more by watching what was happening down in the simulation room.

He felt some slight annoyance of his own when he saw Kirk was eating an apple. Spock had obviously just missed him give some instruction as everybody was looking around in confusion, Doctor McCoy was looking blankly at the screen in front of him.

"No there not." He said.

" Fire on all enemy ships. One photon each should do. Let's not waste ammunition." The fake captain said through a mouthful of fruit.

"Targets locked an acquired on all war birds, firing."

Spock looked at the view screen in front of the simulated bridge. It was surprising even to him that the Klingon war birds pictured there blew up. There should have been no way for the cadets to remove the klingons shielding, the simulation had always ended with the Star Fleet vessel being blown up, either if the cadet was inexperienced and panicked with a full crew or if they stayed calm they gave the orders to have the ship evacuated, lost the ship and the bridge crew that stayed behind to deflect fire but saved at least 90% of the rest of the crew members. That was meant to be the best possible outcome. That had been the outcome of the most famous crisis command decision ever made, the Kelvin. Spock suddenly remembered what Chris had told him, this young man was the son of George Kirk, born in the middle of the destruction of the Kelvin. Still that was a mute point. How had he taken down the klingon shields. It had to have been connected to the computer disruptions and Spock would not stop until he knew how and what had been done to his simulation.

"All ships destroyed, Captain."

"Begin rescue of the stranded crew."

The captain stood up and turned to look directly up at the observation window.

" So! We've managed to eliminate all enemy ships, no one on board was injured, and the successful rescue of the Kobayashi Maru crew is underway.

Commander Jackson Looked directly at Spock.

"How the hell did that kid beat your test?"

"I do not know."

But he intended in finding out.

The next day

Spock sat at the desk in his apartment his fingers steeped in front of him as he looked down at the printout. It was a three-meter folded sheet, mostly a long list of numbers, coded directions and the odd I thrown in. He had found the point where the simulation code had separated from what he had written. There were many different ways to write computer codes, they were all similar enough that the computers would be able to identify them but different enough that Spock believed he maybe able to identify where the codes accent. It was tedious work, the code was similar to his own, he circled the slight differences with a pen every time he came across one hoping they would help him decode the message but even though it seemed familiar to him the answer remained just outside his reach.

He turned around as he heard the door open and gave a sharp nod to Nyota as she walked in then turned his attention directly back to the printout. He knew he was almost at the answer, the accent was very similar to his, another Vulcan, somebody who was familiar with his work or his fathers who had taught him. A part of his mind was aware of Nyota in the kitchen; she was always quiet when he was concentrating on a task. He was woken from his deep concentration when a mug appeared next to him; he smelt hot apricot and ginger tea. He looked up at Nyota.

"Thank you."

" Do you want to talk about it?" She asked leaning against the edge of the sofa.

" About what?"

"About why you seem..peeved."

" I am not peeved."

Nyota crossed her arms and stared at him. After a minute he sighed.

" I am slightly peeved." He admitted.

"You were in the Kobayashi simulation yesterday afternoon, you know why."

He felt a very strange sensation as if a part of his mind had suddenly had the lights turned off. Nyota was deliberately blocking something from him.

Spock stared directly at her. She looked away guiltily.

" You need to practice doing that, for one it's very obvious when you do. Two you're likely to give me a headache if you don't learn to be a little gentler."

" I'm sorry."

"What do you know?"

"Spock...don't ask me."

Spock found himself standing up, he folded his arms behind his back to hid the fact that they were tremblingly slightly as they always did when he was trying to suppress anger.

" Why are you protecting James Kirk?"

Nyota it seemed had no problems with letting her anger show.

" I am not protecting Jim Kirk. I would not protect Jim Kirk."

"Then who are you protecting?" He said having trouble keeping his voice at it's usual volume. But as he said the words he realized whom it was she was protecting. It all made sense; he didn't know why he hadn't realized it before. The reason the subroutine looked like his own coding was because somebody he himself had taught wrote it. The person had been able to get through his security systems because he had given them the passwords to get through them. Cadets Christophe, Zami and Gaila. There was only one Nyota would protect.

Spock took a deep breath and felt most of his anger fade away; Nyota was only protecting her friend because it was in her nature to do so. He placed his hands on her shoulders gently.

" Nyota, I would have figured it out without you eventually. Why did Gaila install a subroutine into my simulation?"

Nyota sighed.

"She does stupid stuff sometimes."

" The incidences of Gaila's stupidity have been too often to fall into the category of sometimes. "

" The boy who was with Gaila when I walked in on them last week was Jim Kirk. I've seen them whispering together in the dining hall several times over the last week. I thought they were hatching some kind of plan but I was under the impression it would just be some kind of harmless prank. I didn't know they were going to damage academy property."

" They did not just damage property, James Kirk cheated on an academic test. "

" Your test." Nyota whispered.

" Yes, but this is an academy matter not a personal matter. Why would Gaila do this? She is one of my best students, she is on the path to a good career in star fleet, being caught cheating would at best put a permanent mark on her record and at worst led to permanent suspension."

"Can you help her?"

" Perhaps."

Spock did not know whether it was worth helping her, he had given her a rare opportunity and she had used it to cheat. He knew she was Nyota's friend and he felt glad that she was a friend to Nyota but this was a betrayal not only to him but to Star Fleet itself.

"As a favor to me." Nyota said placing her hand on his cheek.

"Tell me why she did it."

"She thought she was in love with him, he can be very charming when he wants something."

" He was using her. "

Nyota nodded slowly.

" He asked her questions about the work she was doing on the Kobayashi Maru and they designed the subroutine together. She thought it was just as an exercise, she was a little concerned when he asked her if she knew how to install it. She does regret it Spock, once she found out he had used it to cheat she regretted it. She was crying all last night, I've never seen Gaila cry over a boy. Love makes people do stupid things."

" Yes. It does."

Spock turned away from Nyota her face weakened his resolve.

"Spock, what will happen to her?"

" You need to convince her to write a full confession detailing James Kirks involvement and the fact she didn't know how he was going to use it. Also a full written apology, she nee to uninstall the subroutine under my supervision as it will take me longer to do it on my own and she will submit herself to any punishments or restrictions the fleet sees fit."

" She won't write a confession unless she knows they'll be lenient on her."

Spock turned to face Nyota.

" If she writes the confession then I will speak on her behalf recommending that she is not put in front of the board for suspension and that the incident be removed from her record after several years of incident free service."

Nyota nodded her expression grave but thoughtful.

"I have a duty to Star Fleet as well as to you. I cannot in all good conscience ignore her involvement in this. This is the best course of action for her Nyota."

" I'll get her to write the confession. Thank you Spock."

Spock nodded, he took a step towards Nyota and placed a kiss on her temple.

"Nyota, I wish to meditate."

" Okay. I'm going to go talk to Gaila."

Spock kissed her goodbye and went to fold himself onto his meditation mat, the last two days had arisen a Varity of emotions he felt he needed to be rid of.

Rom Mu-Yor Petakov- good night darling.

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