"If it will accelerate your decision, Nyota, let me provide a summary.

"The Captain is enjoying Aldebaran ale in an historic interstellar pub surrounded by a multi-species assortment of accessible females. Mr. Chekov continues to spend time cracking a series sophisticated cryptographic software riddles created specifically for him. Mr. Sulu will spend several shifts as first officer handling the conn and improving his promotion opportunities.

"Jim will learn to rely on his entire crew, as we will be unavailable. We cannot, to use your colloquialism, 'pick up the slack' while on Aldebaran"

Uhura - arms crossed over her chest and weight on her back leg - couldn't believe the deviousness of her mate. That stance from his warrior princess yanked a - was that a deep purr or a low growl - sound from Spock.

"What about Leonard? What does he get?"

Heat smoldered in Spock's dark eyes; he stared into the center of her. He let every iota of his arousal crowd every inch of bandwidth in their bond link.

"If we are productive, Dr. McCoy will have a new patient to over-protect and he will win a portion of the betting pool that Sulu and Chekov operate speculating which Enterprise couple will produce offspring first.

"Logically, any offspring would also be a significant positive outcome for us as well."

Nyota's eye's shot up, searching Spock's. They hadn't discussed this and she'd hadn't seen it in his mind in years. Uhuras often produced double-digit progeny; they hadn't even broached that possibility. They weren't even married by Terran standards. And they were still owned by Starfleet.

The outcome he sought would place a huge fork in their career paths, mostly hers.

Mental note to self: More communications and less sex with Spock when we're alone.

Update to mental note: More communications and more sex when with Spock we're alone.

In this moment, though, she had one question - and only one question - she needed answered: How the HELL did he pull this off and how much did Kirk help him? Actually, she reconsidered, that might be two questions. Her gut suspected Kirk's grubby fingerprints were all over this stunt right beside Spock's. The answers, if Spock would supply them, came with a price - dinner with her mate.

Spock breached privacy and eavesdropped on the war in her mind:

-o-

Enjoy their first time together in a LOOONG while

- or -

Kick Spock's ass for putting her through this in the first place and wanting to take a baby home as his prize for being "found"

-o-

Without waiting for her decision, Spock offered a third option:

"Nyota, is it not possible for you to spend time with me, gain all that you seek and then 'kick my ass'?"

She turned that 1000-watt smile on him. Out of practice in protecting himself, Spock stood paralyzed from its power while his brain rebooted, unable to read her.

Being with Spock would never be easy or simple or predictable or safe. She couldn't count the number of issues they still needed to work through without more fingers and toes, even using hers and his together. Snapping their bond, protecting herself even if it broke her heart, made a damn sight more sense.

But any mate who went to this much effort to let you know how much he wanted you and wanted to start a family with you... well...

Time to call home and tap into that experience-base for having and keeping a mate. And time to find out if her last contraceptive hypo would last out their stay on Aldebaran.

"That's an excellent idea, ashayam. Although I do wonder if I'll have the strength to kick your ass when you're done with me."

Spock's eyes followed her hip-swaying walk to their salon table while his brain finished its second reboot. Her legs in those boots had fried his circuits again.

I will never be "done" with you, k'diwa, Spock sent telepathically.

Uhura knew Spock would do any and everything she asked of him for 3 straight weeks.

Author's Note: Violence coming... trust me...