Plot: A three-part story containing three Christmas miracles that the Enterprise crew could witness. A touch. A smile. And a kiss.
3. A Vulcan Kiss
After Lieutenant Uhura's special gift to her beloved, the party continued in full swing. The music was playing on automatically, upbeat songs mixed with slow ones on which the guests could dance. Those that did not wish to dance were drinking, conversing and mingling in groups. Chatter filled the room and the joy, indicated by laughter and whooping, could be felt like a warm embrace on a cold winter night.
No one was alone and nobody was thinking about the Enterprise's mission of discovering new worlds or its threats. They still missed their families, friends and home planets, however, their thoughts were deluged with Christmas spirit in a positive way.
The bridge crew was sat at one big table. They were all nursing drinks, even Spock and the already drunk Chekov. Jim was eyeing girls and gave silent remarks to the companion next to him, Leonard, who reprimanded him for each of his comment. Pavel and Hikaru were giggling drunkenly and sharing their thoughts on different kinds of girls they had met along their travel. Scotty was talking to Spock about engineering and the rest of the team chatted about different things, some going away for a dance or a new drink and soon coming back.
Nyota, like other girls who were sitting instead of dancing, kept looking wistfully at the dancing floor, which was actually an empty space in the centre at the room, surrounded by tables. Many couples, both romantic and platonic, were twirling around on a current slow song. She was seated with her back to it and kept turning around to witness if anything new happened.
When she had repeated the move for the fifth time in five minutes, the seated crew became aware of her desire. They sneaked glances at Spock and waited for him to react. They were rather doubtful that the man would attend the dancing part of the night but wanted to see whether he would surprise them again. Needless to say, the men were like a bunch of gossiping school girls who live for hearsay and drama.
''That's a beautiful song,'' Jim said quite loudly. Spock didn't react at all.
''Ay,'' Scotty decided to participate. ''It makes your legs dance on its own.'' This time Spock did respond.
''That is quite illogical,'' he said. ''For the legs cannot do what they desire.''
''Not literally,'' Bones rolled his eyes.
Jim leaned forward on his elbows. ''Do you dance, Spock?''
Spock raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question. ''Is your inquiry about my ability to dance?''
''Yes. So, do you?''
''Indeed, I have the knowledge of a few standard Terran dances,'' he revealed.
''Really?'' Jim asked. ''Any chance we might see it to believe it?''
''Vulcans do –''
''not lie. We know, Spock,'' Leonard interrupted. ''You can't say it's illogical of us to want to see whether a Vulcan can dance.''
Spock agreed. ''Indeed, Doctor. It is quite logical you want to see the proof. However, I do not wish to participate in it.''
''Come on. Live a little!'' Jim encouraged disappointingly.
Nyota's reaction was a quick rise and a mutter about getting something to drink even though her glass of wine was still half full.
''Well, now you did it,'' Leonard teased after her departure. ''You never deny a woman a dance.''
''Doctor?'' Spock questioned.
''What he means,'' Jim interrupted ''is that she clearly wants to dance. She is waiting for your invitation.''
''Had she wanted to participate in the dancing, she would have asked me,'' Spock denied his own wrong-doing. The men shook their heads.
''Clearly, you don't know women,'' Jim continued his lecture. ''She wants to dance, believe me.'' Then Nyota returned with a stronger liquid and sat back down. Spock decided to secretly analyze her body language and see for himself whether she indeed desired to dance.
When she turned her head again and kept looking at the moving crowd, he concluded that she really had such desires. He decided to do something pleasant for his woman and coughed rather awkwardly, as awkward as a Vulcan can be, to get her attention. The men smirked knowingly. When she did not respond to the noise, he called her name. ''Nyota?''
''Hmm?'' she answered distracted and slowly turned her body around but kept her head slightly inclined towards the dance floor.
''Would it be acceptable if I asked for your participation in a dance?'' he asked formally.
''What?'' she answered dumbly, the question still not fully comprehended.
''May I invite you to dance?''
Finally understanding his intention, she grinned openly and nodded. ''Yes. I would love to.'' Before even finishing her answer, she stood up and waited for him to do the same, which he did mere seconds later but more gracefully.
He walked to her side and offered her his hand. ''I believe that the current song is suitable for a Viennese waltz.''
''Indeed,'' she answered and accepted his hand. They walked to the dance floor hand in hand and took the correct stance. They began to dance, without messing the steps, looking like two professionals. They flew around the dance floor, their bodies closer each passing step and their steps light as feathers.
Then the song changed and slowed down even more. Nyota hoped that he would not stop dancing because of the change of the track and her silent wish was granted when he slowed down his steps but kept her close nevertheless.
''They grow up so fast,'' Jim commented on the couple a few minutes later and faked wiping a tear from his cheek.
''Shhh, they are coming,'' Chekov shushed them with a finger on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes.
''How many of those have you had?'' Leonard asked accusingly, pointing to his empty glass.
Pavel looked down like a reprimanded puppy. ''It is Christmas, Doctor!'' he defended himself. However, he sounded more whining than defensive.
Nyota and Spock returned and sat down. Now that her wish was granted, she was glowing and looking at Spock lovingly.
''Thank you,'' she grinned at him.
''It was not inconvenient at all, Nyota,'' he answered and a corner of his lip looked like it wanted to turn up into a smile. Had he not been Vulcan, it would.
''I really enjoyed it,'' she added.
''It was pleasant for me as well,'' he answered.
''Just kiss already,'' Jim muttered at their game of words.
''Why would I kiss Nyota?'' Spock answered. The table groaned.
''You don't ask why you would kiss a woman,'' Leonard gave another lesson. ''And on top of it in front of said woman.''
Nyota sunk into her seat. It was one thing that they were still so secretive with their relationship, but another that he openly rejected the idea of kissing her at all. Even though she knew Spock, his way of thinking and his reasons, she was very disappointed that he would so blatantly refuse to do so.
Sensing his mistake, Spock looked at her and raised furrowed his eyebrows slightly. ''Do you have such desires, Nyota?''
She gulped and nervously looked away from his eyes. She was not opposed to PDA and was never shy about such things however she was really not used to being so openly questioned about her desires to kiss her loved one. By that same person and in front of the whole table who did not even try to make it seem like they were not listening.
''I think that we should change the topic,'' she answered instead.
''I am in agreement,'' he agreed with her.
For about half an hour the couple conversed rather awkwardly, questioning and answering in short straight-to-the-point words.
''Have you ever had a Christmas tree on Vulcan?'' Nyota questioned Spock and tried, and failed, to start a new topic.
''No.'' His answer was short and monotonous.
''Oh.''
Nyota felt disappointed for Christmas did not go as she would have liked it to. The party started well, better than that, but after their dance, everything went downhill. She was a tiny bit angry on Spock for making a fool out of her and for representing their relationship as insignificant. The Enterprise whispered about them behind their backs more than is healthy and he showed yet another reason why dating a Vulcan is thought to be unromantic and bland.
Spock, on the other hand, did not comprehend why she was sullen. He remembered his father's words that Earth women can be quite unpredictable. The words were always followed by an advice that sometimes you should not analyze their behavior logically but rather let them be and agree with them.
Sitting across his beloved, he was pondering on his father's counsel.
''Would you like to dance again?'' he asked her. He thought that another dance might solve his problem. It proved to be the answer to her discontent earlier.
''No,'' she answered and took another gulp of her wine. ''Thank you,'' she added as an afterthought.
Spock looked at her silently. ''Are you angry?'' The only conclusion he came to was that she was angry with him.
''I'm annoyed,'' she answered truthfully. The fact that the conversation was once again happening in front of their friends and colleagues only increased her annoyance. For being such an introvert, he sure likes to talk about their private matters in front of anybody.
''May I enquire why?''
''Why?'' she repeated sharply. Then she sighed, knowing that expressing her anger would not get her anywhere. ''Can we talk later? I'd like to continue this at more appropriate time.''
''Appropriate is relative, Nyota. We cannot predict when the time will be most appropriate.'' She understood that it was his way of saying that there is no better time to solve issues than when they appear, as they might only deepen if left unresolved.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He asked for it. He insisted that she talk in front of others and that is what she'll do. ''We are together, are we not?''
''Together?'' he questioned.
''In a relationship.''
''Indeed.'' Those who were able to hear their conversation looked at each other wickedly. It was the first verbal proof that they were indeed in a romantic relationship.
''And yet you don't act on it unless we are alone.''
Spock nodded, understanding what she meant. ''Can you be more specific,'' he politely asked.
''It's like you are ashamed of me. You don't want to be seen having feelings. I understand that because it's who you are. But, guess what? You are human.'' The table held their breath. Saying to a Vulcan that they are acting like a human being, species with over emotional feelings and illogical thinking, is regarded highly offensive.
''You are,'' she repeated determined. ''You don't like that side but you are still half human and you can't change that.''
''You would like me to act more like a human?'' The unemotional Vulcan sounded offended.
''No!'' she answered. ''I like you for who you are. I don't want you to change.''
''And yet you want me to act like a human?'' he asked to be certain.
''Yes! I want you to accept the human side of you, your mother's blood,'' she emphasized. ''Showing humanity would not change you because it is in you.''
''Are you suggesting that repressing my emotions reflects judgement on my mother, Nyota?''
''No!'' she exclaimed. ''I know that you would never shame your mother.''
He interrupted her. ''I do not deny my mother's blood. However, it is that part of her that always distinguished me from other Vulcans. Living on Vulcan meant repressing my human side because it was at the same time what made me not a Vulcan.''
She gulped. ''Spock. I didn't mean that you are any less of a Vulcan. You are one and I love that you are. But I also love the human in you because there is no you without the other. I want you to be true to yourself.''
Spock had to think over her words. On his home planet, he had to hide the human side by repressing emotions and its illogicality. On Earth, he was constantly reminded of his mixed heritage which thus made him shut off his humanity even more. On Enterprise, he felt slightly lighter because he was not expected to be a robot-like man all the time. But with Nyota, he never pretended to be one or the other. With her, he was himself, the hybrid he was born to his parents, not because it was logical but because they loved each other.
''Ashayam,'' he said softly and reached across the table with his hand. He offered her the index finger and the middle finger of his right hand. The two outstretched fingers symbolized connectedness and love among Vulcans. It was regarded as a kiss that was accepted in public between couples who held strong feelings for each other. ''It is only with you when I do not have to think about how logical my actions are.''
Nyota returned the telepathic kiss. She felt his honesty, happiness, and love.
Thank you, everybody, for the feedback. I really appreciate it. This last chapter was quite tricky to write as I tried to make Spock as in character as possible. I hope their final conversation makes sense to you :) Also, I am very sorry to those who expected a real kiss, but I have decided that they still need some time for that to happen publicly. Well, they still have the next Christmas.
For my final words in this short three-part story, I want to share one of my favorite Spock's quotes and his brilliant love confession. I do not own any copyrights for the following quote: ''Nyota, you mistake my choice not to feel as a reflection of my not caring. Well, I assure you, the truth is precisely the opposite.''