Kirk appraised himself in the mirror - he had pulled out his dress uniform for the feast. He was excited to see Lena again - she liked him, he could tell. Brok had just left his quarters. He didn't seem too concerned about how he had gotten drunk and spilled Lena's secret the night before. He was quite entertained when the Captain had called him to his quarters to ask him some - questions - specifically about Winged Daughter anatomy. Brok was certain he was going to try to have sex with Lena again. She might be interested - Brok had been surprised to see that she was still bothering to flirt with him. Typically she would have lost interest by now.

Brok bumped into Dr. Marcus in the turbo lift. She was quite attractive, and had it not been for his betrothed, he would have attempted to seduce her. He could see she was wearing makeup to accentuate her pretty face, and a tight, more formal version of her uniform. He strongly suspected that she and the Captain had, at one time, been intimate. She was quite obvious. "Did you enjoy our tournament, Dr. Marcus?" he asked.

"Yes, it was quite impressive", she said distractedly. "The Captain certainly enjoyed it - though I suppose he would."

"You do not like the Captain." Brok inferred.

"I-well . . . it's complicated."

"I don't believe it's that complicated . . . you were once his mate, and now you are not."

"I . . . no one is really supposed to know about that."

"It was not difficult for me to guess- I am a culture ambassador, I pay attention to subtle shifts in mood and body language."

"Well - please don't say anything."

"Dr. Marcus, if I may", Brok began, "Humans have a very unique courting culture, they require the free consent of both parties. Some Virosa have tried to emulate this, but most matings are still arranged, and affection is unequal. Pardon me for saying so, but your culture has given you a great gift; the ability to choose a mate on mutual compatibility. If things did not work out between you and the Captain, a part of you should be grateful. You now have the chance to be with someone who wishes to be with you. Never squander that."

She didn't know what to say. The turbo-lift opened.

"Good day, Dr. Marcus," he said and exited.

The entire crew gathered for the celebratory feast. Brok had warned them about the food. The Virosa only ate raw fruit, vegetables, and meat, perhaps some seeds as well. Strangely enough it was all quite delicious; the Virosa combined flavors and textures expertly. There were long communal tables arranged so that the Virosa from the colonies could intermingle with the crew. Closest to the Palace was a high table where the Winged Daughters sat. Kirk's eyes sought Lena immediately. She looked gorgeous in a floor length black dress and flat sandals. The dress was sort of strappy; wrapping around her breasts, but leaving much of them exposed. Her dress had a high slit as well, high enough that Kirk could see that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. She caught his eye, and shifted it to the side for the smallest instant - flashing him-to confirm it. She smiled at him and returned to her conversation with Kale like it never happened. Yesterday Kirk would have been floored, but today he was merely titillated - she was good.

Kirk sat down next to Spock and kept an eye on Lena from where he sat. Spock noticed, "Captain, I must ask if you intend to stare at Princess Lena all night. I should inform you that prolonged staring is against their laws should you inadvertently make her uncomfortable."

"Well, then I won't stare at her all night - I think I'm gonna go talk to her."

"There is another rule against that, Jim."

"What's with all these freaking rules?"

"Did you not read your culture briefing?"

"I don't think you're in a position to be accusing me of not reading things." Spock could not argue with his point. "I am going to ask her to dance."

"Jim", Uhura cut in, "One just stop it, two, Winged Daughters don't dance - they just don't, it's a thing."

"Other girls are dancing", Kirk noted.

"Non-winged females, Jim."

"Maybe the only reason the Princess isn't dancing is because no one asked her too."

"Have you completed disregarded the fact that the Virosa are matriarchal?! No one is impressed by your machoism here."

Kirk took a huge swing of wine - "I'm gonna ask her to dance", he repeated, and wandered off.

Uhura turned to Spock, "I don't know if I wanna watch this."

"I most certainly do not", he said. "I am also concerned about the ship; the entire crew is here - an enormous deviation from security protocol. I am tempted to return."

"I could come with you?" Uhura volunteered.

Spock looked at her, "The Captain has requested that we cease our…encounters while we are on duty …"

"The Captain is busy making a fool out of himself. He won't notice, and this feast will go on for hours", she countered.

Spock smiled with his eyes, "As usual, you are correct Lieutenant." They slipped off into the night.

Lena and Suria were chatting animatedly, but Suria noticed that Lena was keeping one eye on the Captain. She also noticed that Lena's attire was quite provocative - she didn't mind, of course, Lena was very beautiful, but she sensed that Lena had not dressed this way for her benefit. Lena was quite concerned about Veelia; apparently some of the other Winged Daughters had realized that she had not consummated with her gift, and were being quite malicious. Lena loved Veelia, but she was so sensitive! Lena had hoped an equally sensitive, young Ensign would make her feel more at ease, but, upon discovering his intellect, she had been using talking about her formulas with him as an excuse. Lena sighed to Suria, Veelia was ready - she just needed a push.

"Lena, why is the Captain walking over here?" Suria changed the subject.

"I don't know."

"Lena, you can't be serious, he . . . I think he has broken at least ten of our laws so far."

"Perhaps he should read the culture briefing"

"Perhaps you should stop enticing him."

"I am just being myself – it's not my fault if he finds me enticing."

"Somehow, I suspect it is."

"Good evening Princess Suria, Lena." Kirk interrupted them.

"12" Suria muttered.

"11 actually, I told him he could call me Lena."

Kirk wasn't sure what they were talking about. "May I join you?" he asked.

"12" Suria said again.

"OK" Lena said sweetly. "Are you enjoying the feast, Jim?"

"It's great! Wonderful to be off the ship - and thanks for inviting the crew, by the way, they're really having a good time."

"You're welcome."

Jim gathered his nerve, "Actually, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to dance?" Suria started choking on her fruit and Kale glared at him.

"13!" Suria said.

"I do not dance, Jim", Lena said evenly, "Had you read our culture briefing, you would know that. Our wings greatly hinder our - dancing ability-" Indeed, the Virosa females danced with great grace and motion; motions that Jim was sure Lena would not be able to emulate with her feet on the ground.

Jim was not to be deterred, "We could slow dance then…"

"14"

"I don't know what that is."

"It's a human thing, or didn't you read that in the culture briefing?"

"15"

"I don't believe it was in there."

"Don't worry, I'll lead." He got up and extended his hand. "Unless, you're afraid to do this in front of everyone."

Suria smiled - he had her there, "16" she said.

"I am not afraid of anything", Lena bristled.

"Except water."

"FINE - I will dance with you, Captain." She got up from her place at the table in a huff, and walked out onto the dance floor without taking his extended hand. "Now what?" she said.

Jim motioned to the Viosa male who had been playing the music to put on one of his favorites, a classic country song from Earth. He took her in his arms. "Place your hand on my shoulder, and give me your other hand." They started to sway in a circle. She had to admit he moved with a fair amount of grace.

"This is so stupid."

"Shhhhh listen to the song."

"Everyone is staring at us."

"I thought you would like that - just listen to the beat - 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4…"

"It's quite simplistic -"

"Do you ever stop complaining?"

She scowled at him, "It's a pretty song", she conceded.

They danced until the end of the song, and a much faster one came on immediately afterwards. Jim walked her off the dance floor, reluctant to let her go.

"What are you doing for the rest of the evening?" he asked her.

"Attending the feast, of course."

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"What?"

"I thought you might like to see my ship?"

Lena hesitated, "Was that a euphemism, Jim?"

"It can be, if you want", he said casually. He was so arrogant! Lena was certain of what he was implying. He was actually propositioning her! Strangely, she found it sort of appealing, like when he had kissed her in the pool before.

"I…OK - let's go see the ship - I must tell Veelia goodbye thoug. Actually . . ."

"Yes" he said.

Lena looked up at him, "Could you, maybe talk to your young Ensign? Veelia is…well… she has never been presented with a gift before, and she is attracted to him, I can tell, but he will have to make the first move."

"I thought that wasn't done here?"

"Well . . . It can be effective . . .sometimes."

Jim smirked -this was a done deal - she was even asking him for help. "Consider it done."

He found Chekov with Veelia. It was odd- they seemed to get along very well - Jim vaguely wondered what the issue was.

"Chekov, come here, I want to talk to you." The Ensign came over. "What's happening with you and Veelia?"

"Aye . . . Sir . . . she vos quite nervous. I deed not vant to pressure her."

"Chekov, listen to me-she's gorgeous, like really really gorgeous and she wants to do this. Lena picked you for her. I just don't think she knows how…"

"Neizer do I, Sir", Chekov said quietly.

This was the problem - Lena had put them together thinking that it would work out because they were both inexperienced, but they were each too nervous to initiate. Jim remembered his first time. He hadn't been nervous at all- just really excited. He suspected Lena's had gone the same way, so she hadn't anticipated this. Pouring Chekov some more wine he launched into graphic detail about what he should do, incorporating some on the knowledge the Brok had imparted on him. Chekov seemed mortified at first, but, with each sip of wine became more and more relaxed. Perhaps it wouldn't be so difficult.

"Oh and one last thing", Jim said. "No more wine - and make sure she doesn't get too drunk either. A little to take the edge off can be fun, but drunk sex outside of a standing arrangement only leads to regret… Don't worry kid, you'll do fine."

What Chekov didn't know was that Jim was counting on him to distract Veelia all night, so she didn't call Lena away again.

Lena was back at her table - waiting for him.

"Where are you two going?" Suria asked.

"Jim has invited me to take a tour of his ship", Lena said innocently.

The table of Winged Daughters regarded him curiously.

"Who will close the feast?" Kale said to Lena.

"You could do it if I am not back in time", Lena answered evenly.

"How are you even getting back, Lena" Suria asked, taking a sip of wine.

"Don't worry, Princess Suria", Jim interjected, "I can beam her back when we're done."

Lena looked like an animal caught in a trap - Suria almost choked on her wine. Suddenly, she decided she liked this Captain.

Spock sat in the Captain's chair on the bridge watching as Nyota poured some wine. Much to his objection she had taken it from the feast, arguing that had they stayed, they would have drank it anyways. He had opened the hailing screen to show the night sky on Ya-Mo. He found it fitting that a culture with such an eye for beautiful chaos had settled on such a riotously beautiful moon. From Ya-Mo he could see an amethyst glowing cluster of stars; a new galaxy, they called it the Falian Galaxy. Perhaps they would journey there at some point.

"Hey" Nyota said, settling into his lap. "What are you looking at?"

"I was observing the Falian Galaxy, however, now I am looking at you."

"Bit of a come down - it's beautiful."

Spock took his glass from her, "It is not as beautiful as you are, Nyota." He leaned into kiss her, before he continued. "I want to apologize for yesterday - I should not have done that to you. I should have told Jim "no" - I am sorry."

"While I hate to admit it - you were right to trust him. I just got a little crazy there for a second."

"I did not mind."

She laughed, "No, I kind of assumed you wouldn't. I swear I think I'm turning into a Vulcan - I can't believe we trashed your quarters, and then got caught!"

"Then there was our interaction with Princess Lena…" he trailed off. Nyota caught her breath - she could tell he was nervous about something.

"Nyota", he continued, "I do love you."

She felt her heart skip a beat -it was the first time he had ever said it to her out loud. She leaned over and kissed his lips softly, "I love you, too", she whispered in Vulcan.

"I am also sorry it took me so long to tell you -"

"Shhh - I knew - I've known for a while."

"You did?"

"Yeah -I've known since the day the U.S.S Argo landed. Do you remember?"

"Yes."

Nyota had been three weeks into her first year of Starfleet Academy. She had not originally intended on a career in Starfleet, but rather focus on linguistic research after college. That changed when she learned her grad school program funding was cut. Without it, she could not afford to go. There was not much she could do with an undergraduate degree in Linguistics, and saddled with student loans, she was out of ideas. She was just about to move back in with her parents when she received a letter from Starfleet. She had taken their entrance exam as a joke - a bet to prove to her friend that they sent morons into space. Apparently she had received some of the highest marks in linguistic analysis they had ever seen, and they were offering to pay back her undergraduate loans. Since Starfleet Academy was free, it seemed like the best option.

It took her all of one orientation speech to fall in love. Starfleet was rapidly expanding, incorporating new languages and cultures into the Federation. Though she had initially planned to stay on a research track, she found herself more and more drawn to the idea of space exploration - specifically as a communications officer, where she would use her knowledge in a hands on, no holds bar way, instead of analyzing other's discoveries. Of course she would need top marks, but she doubted that would ever be a problem. She a recently encountered a young cadet by the name of Jim Kirk, the son of the heroic Captain George Kirk. Jim, however was an angry drunken idiot - if he was considered "Starfleet material", she would have no problems rising to the top of her class. To put herself on the "officer track" she had to transfer late into a warp drive 101 class. She almost fainted when she saw the Professor -it was Spock.

Nyota walked into the class, unsure if he recognized her. The last time she had had seen him her hair was in a short afro -dyed a bright red; that's what happened when you went to a liberal arts school. She had also been quite drunk, and quite naked. This couldn't be happening!

"Professor Spock" she said, "I am Cadet Nyota Uhura - I am transferring into your class…"

He turned to look at her -he acted like he didn't even know her. "Excellent", he said, "please take your seat, Cadet."

Two months into Spock's class, Nyota realized she was going to fail the midterm. Unlike every other class she had ever had trouble with, she had been avoiding office hours. But now she couldn't decide what was worse, asking him for help, or failing his test. Failing -definitely failing.

A week before the midterm she got up her nerve to knock on his door, "Professor Spock?" she asked.

"Please enter." He was sitting at his desk - which was organized down to having his paper clips stacked on top of one another in their desktop organizer. "May I help you Cadet Uhura?"

"I - yes, Professor . . . I was wondering if you could explain . . . um, warp core theory again?" Her mouth went dry. They hadn't been this close since Cambridge. It hadn't escaped her attention that his body had significantly filled out from that night so many years ago. He still had the same handsome, expressionless face though.

"Cadet, warp core theory encompasses the entirety of this class."

"I -I know" she said and took a deep breath, "I'm not good at this stuff -I was always a linguistics person."

"I am aware", he said. It was the first time he acknowledged that he knew her.

"I'm worried I'm going to fail your midterm next week", she said, defeated.

"I was curious as to why you were in my class, Cadet. I had never assumed you would even join Starfleet, and if you did, I would have guessed you would have taken the research track."

"I want to be a communications officer on a starship", she said honestly. "I needed your class to get on the officer track-I wouldn't have picked this section if I had known. . ."

"If you had known it was taught by me", he finished her sentence.

"I didn't say that", she said quietly.

"But it was implied - had you been taking this class with another professor you would have attended regular office hours, and would pass the midterm easily…The fault is my own."

"Cadet, if you wish to be a Starfleet officer on a deep space assignment you must pass this class. I can help you. Tonight I will design a schedule for us - I will tutor you myself. I must advise you though, considering that I am giving you extra help outside of normal office hours I will be forced to prepare a more difficult exam for you. If this is amenable to you, we shall proceed."

"Deal!" she said.

Nyota and Spock spent three hours a day for the next week preparing for the midterm. It was weird at first, but, as he never mentioned their… encounter …they quickly fell into a student teacher relationship. She passed the midterm, she scored second highest in the class - right behind Jim Kirk of all people. But, then again, her test had been much harder.

Now that she understood the basics she technically didn't need Spock's help anymore, but she couldn't stop herself from visiting his office hours occasionally. They had fallen into an easy rapport; linguistics being one of his many hobbies, she had forgotten how easy he was to talk to. At the beginning of her second semester he had an interesting proposition.

"You want me to teach with you?" she asked.

"Yes-I have been asked to teach an intro linguistics class- of course you have tested out of the requirement. However, I have also been assigned local duty on the U.S.S. Argo. I will therefor miss almost a third of my lectures. It is sensible to have a teaching assistant to make sure the class stays on schedule. It would be in addition to your other courses, but I believe it would be a valuable experience to add to your resume. Also, you would be compensated."

So Nyota and Spock began teaching together. She was often in his instructor's apartment late into the night. It started mostly as lesson planning, but it was so peaceful there, and he had so much tea!; she began doing her regular studying there as well. He didn't seem to mind. In fact, he stocked up on her favorite tea - black tea with peach. Additionally, he was handy to have around if she needed help on her assignments from her other class. He gave her the combination to his door so that she might come and go at her leisure. Her roommate thought it was weird, but Professor Spock had a reputation for being practically asexual. He was one of the youngest Professors on campus, and several female Cadets had made passes to no avail.

March came around with high winds and strong rain. Nyota was studying in Spock's apartment, when he came in from the outside, drenched.

"Oh my god", she said. "It's really coming down then."

Spock shook his wet hair out of his eyes, "Quite hard - I have heard talk to there being a hurricane about to hit San Francisco."

"Oh crap- I have to go home then." She made to leave just as she saw a tree fall outside his window.

"That would be inadvisable." he said. "The storm was worsened. Classes have been cancelled, and the Academy is asking that everyone stay indoors. It would be logical for you to remain here…for your safety."

She nodded and watching him walked into his bedroom, exposing just a sliver of pale white skin on his back as he removed his shirt before he shut the door behind him. Her heart started racing - this was totally normal, there was a hurricane, she was stuck, of course he had offered to let her stay. They were friends, or friendly, or something.

She was ahead on most of her assignments anyways, and very soon ran out of things to do. He was reading on his PADD on the couch when she went over to sit down next to him.

"Do you want some tea, or food?" she asked.

"I am not hungry yet, you may have whatever you like though" he answered not looking up.

"I'm OK". . . .I could use a shower though, she thought.

"You are welcome to take one", he said.

"Oh -whoops! Sorry I actually meant to say that part in my head", she laughed.

Spock looked up at her, "Please, feel free".

Nyota walked into his bedroom and grabbed a towel. She then noticed his extra PADD on his bed - it was unlocked. Opening it she saw he was on Circle - a popular social media site - he was on her profile!He had been circle-stalking her! She dropped the towel on the bed and checked the history to see he had been thumbing through her photos! She heard him move in the next room, closed out of his PADD quickly, ran into the bathroom, and shut the door. That had been quite a revelation. She turned on the water and undressed - about to step in she realized that she had left the towel on the bed. Good save! She hated when realized she had forgotten a towel after she had already gotten wet. Without thinking she opened that bathroom door to get into only to come face to face with Spock -she was naked - again.

She gasped and he quickly turned around, "My apologies-I mean to retrieve my PADD which, I left in here by mistake."

"I forgot my towel" she squeaked.

She grabbed it and ran back into the bathroom. This was bad - seeing her naked was awkward enough, but she now realized that she had not left his PADD in the place on the bed where she found it, something he would surely notice. He would also remember that he had left it unlocked, and what page it had been on, and figure out that she had caught him on her profile.

When she finally worked up the nerve to go back out in the living room she saw that Spock had opened a beer. He seemed completely calm and collected - like nothing was wrong. "My apologies again, Nyota." he said. "Considering our work is complete, and we are stuck inside, I thought it might be acceptable to have a drink."

She definitely needed a drink. She took the beer and fought the urge to pound it - she had been able win at shotgun against anyone at her university. They sat down on his couch and awkwardly watched a documentary on Romulan culture. They had both seen it a dozen times, but they didn't actually know what to say to each other and needed a distraction. She finished her beer, and began a second, allowing the alcohol to hit her empty stomach. Anything to get the elephant out of the room.

Finally, he broke the silence, "Nyota, I - did you look at the web page on my PADD?"

Oh god, "Um yeah…" she said, too buzzed to lie. "I'm sorry, I really shouldn't have."

"It is I who should be apologizing to you-I have made you uncomfortable."

"I'm not uncomfortable."

"You are not?"

"Well I am", she took a deep, steadying breath, "But not because of what I saw on your PADD . . ." It was now or never. "I'm uncomfortable because you never even brought up that night we spent together in Cambridge. Here we are four years later, friends, and it's like it never happened. You act like you haven't even thought about it, like it was two other people….And then today - it's like that didn't happen either."

"I did not realize you thought about it."

"Well I do", she snapped.

"I have . . . thought about it . . ."

"When?"

"I have thought about our night in Cambridge approximately 4,573 times. I have thought about the events of this afternoon approximately 36 times since it occurred. . . .now 37. I have . . . great affection for you, as more than merely my student, though I know that to be wrong."

Nyota was speechless, he liked her - he had just said it. She suddenly realized that she liked him too. That's why she was always there. She scooted next to him on the couch, "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"I was, as humans say, following your lead. I do not wish to interfere with your career."

Nyota leaned closer and kissed him softly - He began to respond, but pulled away. "Nyota, I cannot -we cannot do this."

"I don't care", she said. She pulled her shirt over her head; she hadn't been wearing a bra. With her breasts in full view, Spock's resolve began to weaken. They locked lips and he slowly moved his hands from their place on her back to her cupping her breasts, gently at first, then squeezing appreciatively. Abruptly they moved from the couch to his floor, Nyota pulling off his shirt and feeling the muscles on his chest. "Where did this come from?" she asked, remembering his skinny form from four years ago.

"I have added yoga to my meditation routine", he said jaggedly. He could feel his control waning, it had been easier last time, when alcohol had dulled his senses, but one beer was not going to cut it.

"Nyota - I - I might have difficulty stopping - or being gentle…Vulcans are quite…agressive."

She bit his ear in response, "I want this", she whispered in Vulcan.

Letting himself go he laid her down on the floor, kissing and nipping her neck, hard; listening to her squeal happily in response - he was so turned on. He took her breasts in his mouth, revealing in their soft texture causing her to cry out - her nipples were unbelievably sensitive. He could smell her arousal, pulled off her jeans and underwear in one tug, and leaned back so that her body was once again in full view. Her nipples were so hard and her juices were running down her leg -she wanted him, desperately - that thought drove him to the point of madness. Hi mouth covered hers again, tongues clashing, her hands exploring his body, they dipped below his waist, unzipping his pants, and pulling them down, exposing him to her.

He was rock hard; she could feel it. On instinct she opened her legs for him, he plunged inside her without further ado, at first causing her to wince slightly. Somehow, somehow he managed to stop - "Are you alright?" he asked. Blinking away a tear she nodded, "Just a little tight, don't stop."

He moved again, in and out, building speed. His breathing became ragged, and she reached down to rub her clitoris, feeling her own climax start to build. Suddenly his hand was on her face. She had no idea what was happening - he didn't do this last time. All at once her mind exploded, she could feel everything! It was completely overwhelming, but also terrifying. She could feel what the inside of her vagina felt like to him as he thrust into it. She could also feel a manic energy to him - he had wanted her for a very very long time. He hated himself for it but he did. He wanted to dominate her, to possess her body for his own pleasure, and make her feel pleasure in return. Even more terrifying, he had a need to impregnate her, own her, make her want him, need him. She was everything he could have ever asked for in a mate.

Feeling his orgasm build she felt hers explode as well, leaving them panting and sweaty on the floor. He rolled off of her - she could feel the shock radiant from him -THEY WERE STILL CONNECTED! He was mortified. He had just exposed every dirty thought he had ever had about her in a mind meld he had failed to acquire her permission for. He could feel her fear.

"I need to go to the bathroom" she jumped up, grabbed her clothes and ran from the room. She was more than a little freaked out. The aggressive sex she could handle, but his sick desires to own her body and impregnate her, were a little much, a little insane! She had also just fucked a man she had slept with four years ago who had promptly ignored her following the encounter. Oh - and now he was her Professor. Nyota started to hyperventilate.

Spock, sensing her panic through the lasting effects of the mind meld, he knocked on the door,"Nyota?"

"Just a minute!" Oh God – he could hear her thoughts too! She was going to cry-she never cried- she was panicking.

When she finally came out she found him fully dressed and sitting on the bed. "I think I need to explain what just happened."

Spock went on to detail pon farr, and the process of mind melding during mating. It was instinctual-not something he could control. He had had a lot of alcohol last time, and it had desensitized him to his own instincts to meld, but, barring inebriation, this was how he had sex. He explained to her that the thoughts which disturbed her so were actually just another piece of his instinctive puzzle. Of course he recognized that he did not own her, and that he did not actually want to impregnate her. Their intensity actually spoke to the level at which he cared for her. They did not have a place outside mating.

Nyota was floored. Somehow she had forgotten he was an alien. Or half alien. She never imagined sex would be so different. While it was good to know that those thoughts were actually just a reflection of his attraction to her, she could sense his concern continued.

"I guess I just freaked out for a minute."

"It is my fault -I should have explained."

She exhaled, "It's OK - I don't think there's really a way to explain that anyways. So . . . now what?"

"Now I leave aboard the U.S.S. Argo for six weeks."

Shit!She had forgotten about that -he was leaving in two days! She was supposed to take over his class for the next 12 lectures. Suddenly she felt apprehensive. Was he just going to disappear on her again?

"What about us?"

"Are we an 'us'?" he asked.

"You tell me."

"I would find it highly agreeable."

"What about my career in Starfleet?"

"I believe we can act with proper discretion -I promise-I will never let our relationship become a hindrance to you."

"OK . . . but maybe we can take it slower, with the mind meld."

Spock looked at her sadly, "It is not something I can control -I wish I could, but it is a part of who I am. Please do not be frightened."

Nyota scooped down and kissed his lips, "Who knows, maybe I'll learn to like it?" she said.

36 hours later he departed. Nyota was still exceptionally confused about their relationship. She was pretty sure cadets were not supposed to date professors, but she was drawn to him in a way that she didn't realize she could be. She was very concerned about the impact it might have on her career should their affair turn into a long term relationship, but who knew - this could be over in a month, and she felt that she owed it to herself to give it a shot with the man she had thought about for four years. Besides, she had six Spock-free weeks to think about it. But, unlike last time, he was writing to her daily - and not just about the class. He told her about his missions, his day to day - asked her how her studies were going.

One the day the Argo was set to land she still wasn't sure if she was going to break it off. Dating a professor was a really terrible idea, and she wasn't sure if she could handle his peculiar sexual quirk - she wasn't a fan of mind melds. The Argo was due to touch down six minutes before her class began, and she had agreed to meet him for dinner that night. She began her class promptly at noon, when suddenly she heard the door to the lecture hall swing open in the back. It was Spock! Still in his Science Officer Uniform. She realized that he had literally run across campus straight from the ship.

He slowly walked down the steps of the lecture hall, "Cadet Uhura", the students all turned to look at him.

"Professor Spock, you're back!" she said.

"I thought it prudent to check in on the class", he said. "Please proceed with your lecture as planned."

He took a seat in the front row. She realized then why he was there. He had run across campus to interrupt her lecture because he didn't want to wait another moment to see her. Dinner was too far away. Looking into his eyes, she recognized a subtle emotion for the first time. He was in love with her! It didn't make sense - they hardly knew each other, but she just knew. Shaking off the gravity of this realization, she made her decision. That night at dinner she would tell Spock she wanted to be with him - they would figure it out.

Seven years later Spock and Uhura gazed at the alien sky, sipping wine in comfortable silence together, after Spock made his first ever declaration of love. In the quiet they could hear each other's hearts beat.

"Nyota, there is something else -".

"Something else?"

"I-Nyota, I more than merely love you. What I said to the Princess Lena was true. You are so important to me, I would do anything for you. You have accepted me as I am from the beginning of our relationship, even though you found some aspects repugnant. You risked your career in Starfleet to be with me . . . I am- I feel, incredibly fortunate to have you. After the destruction of my planet, and Jim's near demise, I have begun to understand how precious life is, and how mine has been enriched by your presence. To say that I love you, is not enough. You are my life, my hope, everything that is good in my universe."

Nyota warmed - it was funny, even after seven years, he could still surprise her. He slipped out from under her, leaving her sitting alone in the Captain's chair. The amethyst galaxy shone behind his head. She heard him swallow and saw his hand go to his neck - tucked under his shirt was a fine silver chain, with a ring on the end. He broke the chain and pulled off the ring - then he dropped to one knee. Nyota gasped - wait, was he actually doing this?

"I do not know what I have done to deserve you - and could never see the logic in our star crossed paths. But I know that I wish to spend every day of my life by your side, making you happy. Would you consider doing me the honor - Nyota, my love, my life, my family - will you marry me?"

"Yes" she whispered through her tears, "yes, I - how many more times should I say yes!?"

"Perhaps once more".

"YES!" she screamed jumping off the chair and into his arms. Tenderly he placed the ring on her finger. She was aghast, "Spock -this is your mom's ring…"

"It is your ring now, Nyota. It belongs to you, as I do, as I always have."

She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you", she whispered over and over.