a/n: Y'all I am so bad. It's been almost a year since I updated this. I know. Just. Read it anyway. Please read it anyway.

Chapter Seven

I froze in the doorway, looking between my father and my boyfriend.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I said take a seat." My father answered. I looked at Spock. His eyes were pleading with me. I moved over and sat down next to him on the couch.

"What's this about?" I asked.

"I should be asking you the same thing, don't you think Lili?" I blinked a few times before registering what he meant. "Did you think you would get away with this? Did you think I wouldn't find out that you've been screwing your professor?" I felt Spock flinch next to me.

"I'm not 'screwing my professor,' I'm-"

"What? In love with him?" I gulped but nodded.

"Yes." I said. "Yes, I am."

"That's sick. How could you fall in love with the man who's taken advantage of you?"

"He hasn't taken advantage of me! I'm twenty-one! I can be with whoever I want." I crossed my arms over my chest. "It's legal."

"It may be legal honey, but it's definitely frowned upon by the elders." Spock froze next to me, "I see that's what gets a rise out of you. What's going to happen if I tell them, Spock? Do you think you'll get to keep your little teaching job? And let's not even mention going back to being captain."

"Dad." I said, "Please, stop."

"No, Lili. This is the ultimatum." He looked at Spock, "If you're willing to give up all of that- your job, your life- for my daughter, then be my guest. But if there's any shred of doubt in your mind, I'd walk away." He stood up.

"Daddy." My voice cracked and broke as the tears ran down my cheeks.

"I'll give you two some time to sort this out." He opened the apartment door and walked out. I stood up, swallowed hard, and wiped my eyes.

"At least we know that he's wrong. At least we know you'll stay." Spock was silent. I turned to him, "We know that, right?" I asked.

"Lili-"

"Oh my god." I whispered, the tears starting again, "You're picking your job."

"Look, Lili. I know it seems bad. But this is my job. It's everything I've ever worked for." I dropped my hands to my sides. He took my face in his hands, then, once his Vulcan abilities made him feel how I felt, he let me go. "I've been trying to prove to those elders that being half human- that having emotions- won't change my ability to do my duty."

"And that's more important than me? Than us?" I asked. He sighed, dragging a hand down his face.

"I don't know what to say." He said.

"I don't either." I was trying way too hard to keep more tears from falling, but they wouldn't stop.

"I... I think you should go." He said.

"I do too." I replied quietly. I moved to open the door, and once I did, he put a hand on my shoulder.

"I still love you." He whispered. I took a deep breath and shrugged off my shoulder.

"No, you don't." And with that, I slammed the door. I leaned against it, letting out one pathetic sob after another.

"Whiskey." I said, sitting down at the bar.

"ID?" The bartender asked. I pulled it out of my pocket and slid it across the counter to him.

"Whiskey." I repeated. He nodded and grabbed a bottle and a glass.

"Back again?" A voice said. I turned to see Jim sitting down next to me. He was smiling that stupid cocky smile. Then he saw my face and his smile disappeared, "Lili what's wrong?"

"Let's see... My father told my boyfriend to choose between me and his job." The bartender set my glass down and within twenty seconds, I'd downed the whole thing. "He chose the job. Another whiskey please."

"Just water for me." Jim said. I rolled my eyes.

"I guess you're driving me home tonight?" I asked him. He nodded.

"Of course I am, Lili."

"Come on." Jim said, leading me into his apartment.

"Jim. I had two whiskeys. I'm not even drunk." I was a little tipsy, no question, but I wasn't drunk.

"I know. But come on. You're upset and your best friend is here to comfort you." He grinned down at me.

A few hours later, after snacks and stories of space, I was in a fit of laughter.

"I knew I could make you laugh." He said.

"You always could." I commented. He leaned forward, lifting his hands.

"And I will again!" He said before launching forward and tickling me. I laughed, trying to push his hands away.

"Get off!" I yelled. "Stop!" I pushed him back, until he was lying on the couch and I was pinning his wrists down. We were both breathing heavily and my eyes were half closed.

"Lili-" he was cut short when my lips landed on his.

He hesitated, but only for a moment, before he kissed me back, pulling my body down to meet his. His hand curled around my back and he flipped us so I was underneath him. I tugged on the bottom of his shirt until he got the hint and pulled it off.

"Lili... Where is this going?" He asked in between kisses.

"Do you even have to ask?" He pulled away and looked down at me.

"I-" I shushed him and moved forward to kiss his jawline and down his neck. "God dammit, Lili. You know I want this, more than anything in the world. I... love you... But Spock-"

"Chose his job over me. Chose everything else over me." I said. "If you love me, you'll do this for me. You'll take my mind off of him. You'll make me forget. You'll fuck me until I forget my own damn name if that's what it takes." I bit his shoulder gently.

"Fuck, Lili." He growled.

"Please, Jim." I whispered. "Please." I reached down for his belt and when I heard no objections, began to unbuckle it.

It was the first of many mistakes I would make that night.