coraline34-This one was a wee bit harder for me to work with but I hope you get the idea, hahaha- Enjoy!

Spock sent his mother a kind smile as you stood to grab another bowl of potatoes from the kitchen. Amanda smiled wide in return, throwing her eyes up at your back and then winking at Spock. She leaned forward and lifted her fork to hide her mouth as if it would quiet her loud whispers.

"I told you she would come! The two of you would make such a great couple."

Spock opened his mouth to quiet his mother from your prying ears but you had already returned, giving Amanda a questioning look. "Who would make a great couple?"

But before Amanda could get anything out of her smirking mouth, Spock stood and took the potatoes from your hands and set them on the table. You shrugged at the situation and sat down, though you noticed a slight green hint of a blush on the young Vulcan's cheeks.

From across the table, Sarek was growing tired, though he was enjoying his last big meal with his son, he just needed some rest. Plus, the old Vulcan didn't like hearing the idea of his only son pairing off with you; he knew you would be a distraction for Spock and he does not need to worry about finding a spouse anytime soon.

If you had heard what Sarek was thinking you would have agreed, 'about not being ready' part. You watched as he stood and raised his glass, ready to give Spock a little farewell speech. You started to choke up when it hit you how real this was. Your best friend and longtime crush was leaving you to fight space slugs and babysit a blond hair captain. Tears welled in your eyes as you thought off all the days you would no longer get to spend with him. Instead of sitting on a blanket outside and staring up at the stars and pointing out the names and constellations; Spock was a really going there. To the vast expanse of space.

Your breath hitched and suddenly it became hard to breath normally and your voice felt shaky as your eyes began to swim. With not so much as a glance at the older couple and your dear friend, you left the room. Spock watched with a slightly worried expression. Once his father finished saying his little speech, Spock stood up from the table and joined you in the kitchen. You were absentmindedly cleaning dishes, something Spock saw as a sign of your uncharity, doubt and sometimes anger. With your back turned to him, he reached out and took your elbow as he came to stand next to you. He gently held onto you, pulling you a little closer to him.

"Is there something preoccupying your thoughts to pull you away from finishing supper?"

His voice dripped with concern and your heart warmed. You stopped what you were doing and turned, his hand never pulling away.

"I could stand seeing you leave for long periods of time in the past because I knew where you were and when you would be back. But now-" you didn't finish your sentence.

Spock contemplated for a moment. He moved to take you small arms, holding you still but securely. "Come join us for dessert. It would best be wise to spend as much time together as we can." He searched your face with his deep brown eyes. "Please," he whispered.

His sweet and gentle voice made you hiccup and wipe at your eyes. You shook your head as you tried to turn away. "No. I-I can't. Go spend time with your parents. Let's hope we see each other again soon." You dared not cry in front of him, but it was too late.

Spock reluctantly let you go, his heart dropping with every tear that fell onto your cheeks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You stood beside Spock, your heart almost bursting out of your chest. After settling on New Vulcan and being pressured into speaking alone with Spock by his ever-attentive mother, you both stood on a ridge looking over the valley that will hold the growing Vulcan community.

Spock glanced at you and he nearly pulled you into his arms. He missed you. And you missed him. As if you knew his thoughts, you moved to stand closer to him, your arms brushing with every breath.

Since the day you left him at dinner with his parents, you had been thinking. Thinking of ways for the two of you to stay close. To perhaps have a chance at something a bit deeper, a bit more...romantic. And you knew for a fact that no such feelings would bud while he was on a ship thousands of light years away.

You slowly turned to him and you could already feel your face get hot. "Spock?"

Spock perked an eyebrow, turning to you with kind eyes. "Yes, (Y/n)?"

You squared your shoulders and lifted your chin dramatically like you used to when you were a child. "I am a damsel, am I not?"

Spock blinked. Childhood memories flooded back of the two of you taking turns being the one to save the other who was captured. He turned to you and squared his own shoulders eliciting a giggle out of you.

"I see no threat but I suppose if used loosely as a term for being a woman..."

Your giggling cut him off. "Yes, yes, just so. Do you know what that makes you?"

"You knight in shining armor," he said with a hint of pride.

You took a step forward. "And what would happen if I were to be captured and become distressed?"

Spock tilted his head slightly. "I shall do all in my power to save you from what ails you."

You took another step forward, noticing a small bit of a beard growing on his chiseled jaw. You smirked. "Yes, but how could you ever do that if you are on a ship exploring deep space."

Spock paused. He saw what you were doing. He looked down and shook his head as you reached out to stroke his cheek. He avoided your eyes as he leaned into your touch.

"Please Spock...Stay here? Your mother would love having you home and I am sure your father would appreciate the help with setting up the cultural side of things."

You paused and dropped your hand to your side. Spock looked up at you through his lashes.

"And you?"

You cleared your throat, "I had hoped...We have been friends for so long...Would it hurt for you to stay?"

Spock let out a breath and stepped forward, placing a sweet kiss on your forehead. "I will have you know I cherish your company above all others save for my mother's," you gave him a sad smile, "But I am otherwise needed at my post on the Enterprise. If it were not my job I would stay here without a second thought."

You mutely nodded but gave him a small smile. "Kick some Klingon butt."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spock stood at attention with his hands clasped behind his back as he eagerly awaited his mother and her assistant to beam aboard. He was proud of himself for keeping his composure once he saw his mother. But he lost all control over his face when he saw you standing next to her. He knew of your involvement in the education of children that his mother loves to help with. It would be only logical that you would be her aid. But it still made the corners of his lips raise just enough for you to see.

You ignored all Vulcan culture and ran forward, wrapping your arms around his neck as he struggled with your sudden embrace.

"SPOCK!"

Amanda smiled wide as she watched her son give in and wrap his arms around you, burying his face in your neck. She stepped down from the transporter pad and laughed.

"Come now, since when have I not been the one and only woman in his life."

The two of you jumped away, blushing your respective colors. Amanda laughed again, giving you a wink as she hugged her son.

"That's better. Now, I have a meeting with the Captain. (Y/n), I do think my son is wondering, with happiness I assume, about your presence here. I will not need you at the moment." She reached over and took your hand, giving it a squeeze. "I told you coming would be a good idea." She gave you one last wink then patted her son on the arm before leaving.

Spock raised his brows after her and shook his head slightly. Turning to you he felt his ears growing warm. "I was not expecting you to be her assistant. A pleasant surprise to say the least but I wonder if you have a second motive to being here."

You laughed as you shook your head and waved a hand. "I have no other reason to be here than to help your mother with the children."

He felt a stab to his heart when you didn't mention wanting to see him, even a little bit. Spock must have let his disappointment show because you then let out a giggle, coming up to kiss his cheek.

"Don't look so put out! I might feel bad."

The two of you walked around the Enterprise catching up and sharing stories. You couldn't believe you had forgotten how easy he was to talk to and how comfortable you felt around him. Spock found himself needing to restrain from reaching down and grabbing your swinging hand between you.

At one point while talking the two of you found yourselves sitting in the arboretum. You liked this place very much. Spock never liked it all that much but after talking to you there he deemed it his new favorite place. He looked down at his hands that you were mindlessly messing with. You were talking about the way children learn differently and he couldn't care less. He looked at you as you spoke, your voice warming him and your features slowly becoming more and more beautiful.

Out of nowhere Spock reached over and tugged at a lock of hair that had fallen free. Your breath shallowed as you waited to see what he did next. Spock locked his eyes on you, your heart beating faster at his intense stare. He continued to play with the lock, his other hand holding yours.

"Stay here. Just a few days more. I'm sure mother won't mind."

A blush grew as you smiled, looking down a moment. "I will see what she thinks but I have no objections to the idea."

Spock let the corner of his mouth twitch up, his mind filling with thoughts of being with you at every waking moment he could spare.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You stayed three days extra and on the third day, you found yourself not only attached to the children but to Spock. An attachment that you were quite certain he felt as well. Spock held his arm out for you to take as he escorted you to your room after having dinner with the captain. He racked his bring to think of other reasons for you to stay but he came up empty. So he enjoyed the closeness he had with you while he could.

You tried to ignore the pit in your stomach as he helped you into your room. A silence fell between you and soon grew thick with unsaid feelings. But neither of you knew how to cut through it. So you watched as Spock gave you the smallest of smiles and bowed his head.

"Thank you for entertaining me for a few days longer. I hope you enjoy yourself teaching the children with my mother." He took your hand and kissed it lightly. "Until we meet again."

Disappointment raged though your body making your toes and fingers curl. So you took matters into your own hands. You stepped forward and grasped his arm making him turn. You looked up at him with eager and determined eyes.

"Stay here. Right here, in this room." Your breathing quickened and your eyes darted to his lips.

Spock stepped closer and took your face gently in his hands as he looked at your lips then your eyes. "And what form of distress is my damsel involved with?" His voice was low and it made goosebumps run up and down your arms.

You reached up and placed your hands on his arms as if you may fall from week knees. "Only from my feelings."

Spock smirked and your heart flipped. He ran his thumb lightly over your lips as he whispered his reply.

"Your knight in shinning armor just so happens to be here, eager to help and keep his damsel close."

Your eyes closed as you felt his lips gingerly then eagerly press against yours. You wrapped your arms around him as he held you close. Right then and there you decided to stay. For good.