AN: The final chapter… Does this make anyone else really sad? It almost depresses me. Like I'm all excited to go on to "What A Doctor Needs" but still… I'll miss Chris and Spock. They keep me entertained. *Sigh* Enjoy, my Loves, the final chapter of "What A Vulcan Wants". For those of you wanting something M rated keep an eye on my new stories, I'll get to that eventually, but this is gonna stay a steamy T.

2258 – November 13th 2200 Hours

Chris woke with a jolt, her heart hammering in her chest. For a long, terrible moment she thought she was back in the dark cage, broken, trapped, and cold. But rather rapidly a hot hand pressed against her shoulder gently, forcing her to stop struggling.

"Chris, you are safe. Do not thrash about so or the Doctor will remove you to Sick Bay." Spock's voice was firm, controlled, but such a welcome relief that her eyes pricked with tears.

"It's too dark." She whimpered, grasping his hand and clinging to it as if he would disappear, as if the comfortable bed under her would dissolve into a cold, stone floor.

"Computer," Spock ordered, "Lights at twenty percent." The room, HER room, came slowly into focus as the light globes flickered and glowed a minimal amount.

The light and the heat of Spock's body so close kept the frightening memories at bay, allowing her to focus as best she could on the actual chain of events. She couldn't remember much aside from pain… pain and fear. "What happened?" She asked softly, looking up into his face for the first time since she woke. "How did I get here?"

His dark coffee eyes narrowed slightly, a clear sign he was distressed or annoyed, likely distressed given the situation, but perhaps annoyed… His full lips tightened into a fine line. "You were half-carried by Lieutenant Kirk out of the facility. As your group reached the exit the away team and myself met you. I took you from Kirk and held you as we beamed aboard.

"Once in sick bay Doctor McCoy tended your injuries and released you to my care for the evening and night. He felt you would be most content in your room." Chris blinked a few times before realizing that her left leg, indeed, felt perfectly fine, and the smaller puncture wounds burned only slightly, causing her entire half to only ache.

"Oh." She murmured, remembering faintly the warm arms and the gentle breath on her ear, and the lips that caressed her temple… Had that been real or a product of her delusion? Pushing it aside she smiled very slightly at Spock. "You came to save me."

He inclined his head very slightly. "Indeed, we cannot leave any crewmember behind." Then his eyes softened and the stiffness in his shoulders and back loosened slightly. He gently touched her cheek, his hot fingers brushing the bruised skin there tenderly. "I informed you, I shall not lose you again."

She felt the flash of his annoyance, as his fingers brushed her bare skin, and the familiar and reassuring tingle as his mind brushed hers. "You can say it." She murmured, leaning slightly into the uncommon but very welcome touch.

"I do not know to what you are referring." He stated but she felt the very slight flash of amusement.

"That you told me so." She murmured. "You didn't want me to leave, and you were right, I got hurt."

His amusement disappeared in a flash of only barely suppressed rage; the blinding crimson burning into her, then slowly dissolving into a muted, controlled red. She wondered what he was thinking, why he was so angry… was he angry with her?

He must have heard the thought across their slightly connected minds. "No, it was not because of you." He admitted, removing his hand from her cheek and letting it settle into his lap. "It has many causes, none of which are you. You were correct, you were an ideal choice for the mission, and you were right to appeal to Jim."

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked softly, knowing he would say no but wanting him, willing him, to open up to her just a little more.

"No, I do not. And you must rest." He gently pulled the sheet to cover her more. "Sleep Chris, your body must finish the healing McCoy began."

Spock watched Chris frown slightly but curl up into her pillows and fall slowly into sleep. He was displeased with himself for lying to her. Logically there was no reason to lie, in fact there was every reason to tell her the truth, but he had reacted impulsively. He did not wish for her to know he had debated for a long while with the Doctor to be allowed to remove Chris to her rooms once she was tended.

It was not that she could not find out the truth, indeed all she had to do was ask the Doctor. However Spock did not desire to explain to her, or anyone else, that he had removed her to her quarters so he might spend the night with her. So that he could satisfy the irrational and illogical human NEED to be entirely sure that she did not disappear as soon as she left his sight. That she would return to the tortures of an alien species that was apparently cruel and emotionless, and that this time, he could not save her.

He resettled in his chair and watched her, his Chris, as she slept. She looked particularly fragile and innocent when she slept, he noted. Just as fragile as she had felt in his arms, covered in her own emerald blood. So fragile he had been driven by an impulse too strong to control to press his lips to her skin in a gentle kiss.

Uhura was right, he concluded, as he watched his beautiful Chris sleep. He loved her. Loved her with every fiber of his entire being, even though it was illogical, bordering on stupid, and could shatter the friendship he valued more than his own life. But given the choices he could make, and the potential consequences, he knew he could not risk keeping his emotions to himself. Should they die, as was entirely possible given their hazardous occupations, he would be deeply regretful at not having told her, showed her, the extent of his love for her.

And he knew exactly how he would show her…

2258 - December 24th 2000 Hours

Jim had arranged yet another party… Whether or not it was such a good idea Chris was still not yet convinced. But she was in attendance none-the-less. She smiled as she watched more and more of the crew filter into the Mess Hall. Garland hung from the ceiling along the walls, trimmed every table and the mock bar. Little white lights paired with candles and a small, computer-generated hearth complete with stockings finished the room, making it seem… almost homey.

Chris wandered to the bar to examine the refreshments Jim had arranged for. Liv had assured he had, thankfully, NOT cooked or mixed anything. Apparently Jim plus any sort of food preparation was a disaster waiting to happen. Chris wondered what might have happened, had Liv not joined their family and taken it upon herself to protect the crew from her twin.

The Egg Nog smelled distinctly of booze and Chris snickered. Typical Jim. "Good God." Growled a familiar Southern Drawl from behind her. "You could strip paint with that." Bones leaned over her shoulder to examine what had her attention, his nose wrinkled in disgust. "God, even I wouldn't drink that crap."

Chris snickered and nodded to the far wall, pointing out to the older man the Karaoke Machine. "Are you so sure?" She asked teasingly.

Bones scowled. "Good Lord… maybe I spoke too soon." Before he could finish his thought Jim bounded up.

"Shame on you BOTH!" He cried, "Where's your Christmas Cheer?!" Jim promptly dropped a bright Santa hat on each of their heads.

Chris just rolled here eyes, Jim's good mood dampening her own mild annoyance at the over enthusiastic Captain. Bones, however, was less forgiving. "You're still living, aren't you?" He growled before stalking off to hide in a corner.

Chris frowned slightly, sensing Bones' deep pain. "Jim, why don't you leave him be? He's really hurting tonight."

"He misses Johanna," Liv added from Chris' elbow. "She loves this holiday, and he misses her. The Bitch won't let him call her, so he can't even tell his little girl 'Merry Christmas'."

Chris tensed, looking at her friend. "Do you think… ?" She started.

Liv just smiled and settled a hand on Chris' arm. "Don't worry about him tonight, Chrissy. I can take care of him. You just think of a way to make a certain handsome man stop being so damned dense."

Chris blushed but giggled slightly, feeling a burst of nervous excitement ripple through her. Tonight was the night… if she was lucky. God, she rayed silently, let him love me too.

Spock watched Chris as she wrapped her arms around Chekov and kissed the boy's cheek. The boy blushed and returned the gesture. Were it anyone else he would not be as relaxed as he was. However he knew, without a doubt, that Chekov loved Chris as a boy loved his older sister. And the boy was clearly deeply infatuated with the young engineer Lily.

He was one of the last to join the party, as he had expected. He had the final touches to put upon Chris' gift and the last to supply lists to finalize. But those tasks were finished and he had assured both Jim and Chris that he would attend their 'Christmas Party'.

Still he found the holiday too material and illogical. However seeing the joy in the eyes of those he had come to call friends… He found he quite enjoyed the holiday. The crew, mostly human, seemed to need the excitement and relief that the day offered. Even those who still clung to their religious faiths and whose faiths did not celebrate 'Christmas' seemed to be 'going all out', as Chris had said.

The soft laugh from Chris' corner of the room caught his attention and he turned his attention back to them, feeling the corner of his lips twitching oh-so very slightly up into an involuntary smile. His feet moved of their own accord to bring him closer to the group. He knew the instant Chris noticed his emotions, or lack there of. While she kept her face toward Jim, who she was arguing with, her body language changed slightly, turning toward him minutely. He had her attention though she still discussed … mistletoe.

"Jim, you can't just put up sprigs of Mistletoe over the rooms of unsuspecting crewmembers! Most folks have to share their rooms!" Chris said firmly, but her lips were curled into a smile.

"Aww, come on Chrissy! It'll be so FUNNY!" Jim whined… yes, whined like a human child.

"Whoever gave you the idea is a monster. Surely they knew you'd take it to heart and then some." Chris said in mock disgust. He recognized it due to the laughter in her eyes, for she looked totally disgusted with their Captain and friend. She turned her eyes to him. "You joined us!" Her hand gently brushed his arm in greeting, a welcome gesture that made his heart feel lighter in a most pleasant way.

"I was ordered to do so by the Captain." He responded. Seeing her soft, delicate smile wane he added. "I have been looking forward to observe a proper Christmas Party since I entered the Academy." It was intriguing, seeing and participating in the very popular holiday.

Her smile brightened slightly, taking on an edge he had never before seen. "Good, because we're going to begin singing our favorite Christmas songs. And you can endure Jim's singing with me." She grabbed his arm and led him near to the make-shirt stage/dance floor.

"Is this entirely wise?" He asked, remembering the last time he heard Jim sing, when he was significantly less drunk than the he was currently.

Chris snickered. "Not really, but we're gonna support him anyway!"

Chris watched as Jim sang 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree', Uhura and Galia sang 'White Christmas', Scotty butchered 'Mistletoe and Wine' (AN: Correctly identify the artist who sang this and get a prize. Hint- he is NOT American and spells color with a 'u'). As Liv bounded up to grab two mics her heard began to pound in her chest and the burst of nervous excitement became a tidal wave. She might love to sing, and be quite gifted… but nearly the entire crew watched Liv as she smiled down at her.

The older woman grinned and offered Chris her hand. "Folks, Chris and I are going to sing our favorite Christmas songs for you. Don't worry, we're better then my dearest twin." The soft chuckles helped her relax and she took Liv's hand, letting herself be pulled into the center of the stage.

She stole a mic and smiled. "This was one my Mother used to sing with me, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'." The music began and she closed her eyes to enjoy the old memories.

Emerald green eyes smiled down at her as she cuddled into her Mother's embrace, the fire crackled, the milk and cookies were waiting for Santa on the table…

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light, from now on your troubles will be out of sight." She sang softly, letting the bittersweet, long hidden away memories come back in a rush. "Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Make the yule-tide gay. From now on our troubles will be far away." They'd been hidden for so long, too painful to remember because she and her father were only half of a family, always missing someone…

She opened her eyes, hearing Liv harmonize with her. The whole group was quiet, their eyes shining. Spock was watching her with a beautiful and frightening intensity. Jim looked relaxed and at home, his finger swaying to the beat as if conducting them. Even Bones had a softer look in his dark, haunted grey eyes.

She could feel the contentedness and joy of the assembled crew. She could even hear some hum along. Nyota began singing softly and Chris motioned for her to join them. She shook her head but sang slightly louder, to harmonize with them too.

The memories didn't hurt anymore, Chris realized, because she had a new family. A second family. And that one was complete. The song died and the applause knocked Chris back for s moment, forcing her to fully enter reality. She smiled and teasingly curtsied before motioning to Chekov to start the next song.

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos." They began, Chris smiled as Chekov pulled Lily into his arms and onto the dance floor around them. Some of the others began splitting from the group and dancing. Chris laughed, feeling the quiet joy at being with family. She missed her Daddy, and her Mother, but with the crew dancing around her, Liv beside her, and Spock watching her with his dark, dark eyes, she was more than happy.

Spock enjoyed Chris' excited smile as he led her to his quarters. Clearly she was planning something, however he was also. They entered his rooms and he fought the slight smile that threatened to quirk his lips upward slightly at her shocked gasp.

He had worked very hard to procure the necessary items to set the scene for the evening. Her smile widened as she turned to look at him, "You did this, for me?" She asked softly, drawing the obvious conclusion that it was for her as he did not celebrate the frivolous holiday himself.

He nodded simply. "I did indeed." He said smoothly.

He watched as she turned back to stare, wide-eyed at the room. His main quarters looked very much like a modern home, complete with Christmas tree, lights, decorations, music, and a computer generated roaring fire. Under the tree is even the red wrapped gift he bought for her. He blinked, surprised. There was a golden wrapped parcel also. Where had that come from?

He glanced at her sharply and she smiled. Her hand found his and he let her guide him to the floor beside the tree and mock fireplace. She folded herself onto the bare floor. "You have to have known I'd get you something tangible too."

Spock hesitated only a moment before joining her, sitting just close enough that he could reach out to her, should he desire to do so, but not so close that they might brush against one another accidentally. His nervousness, which had faded during the party, was back stronger than before; a fluttering, sickly green-yellow pulsating in his mind. He did not wish for Chris to feel the emotion through an accidental touch.

She reached for his hand, turning to face him. Surprised he recoiled very slightly, catching her wrist and halting her touch. "Don't you want the memories?" She asked softly, looking surprised as he was.

Spock nodded slightly. "Indeed, however we may access them another time. It is late and the process will take quite a while." He released her and handed her the wrapped package he'd labored over. "Merry Christmas." He said, using the line Jim had encouraged he used though it felt odd on his tongue, unnatural.

Chris smiled and pulled open the wrapping slowly, neatly. Spock watched as her hands slowly, almost cautiously, opened the garment box. Her jewel tone eyes widened and she looked up, her eyes fixed upon his own. "It's beautiful Spock." She glanced back down at the red Vulcan robes in the box. "I thought they only came in black, grey, or brown."

Spock inclined his head in a slight nod. "Indeed, they do. However I called upon an old classmate who owed me a debt." She lifted the robe out and stood, holding it to herself. It was simple, for daily wear, but he knew she loved it from the soft, affectionate look in her bright eyes.

"I love it." She said softly, folding it back into the box and settling back down beside him. He felt a flash of satisfaction at her statement and her smile but it did little to abate the nervousness he still felt. He could not quite believe he was going to do…

A gold wrapped package was thrust unceremoniously into his hands. "Happy Christmas, Spock. I hope you like it."

Gingerly Spock unwrapped the glittering paper from the surprisingly heavy gift. As he lifted away the final layer he stared. It was a book. Or… it looked like a book, however it was slightly too tall, far to wide, and the pages were not paper but plastic. The black leather cover had embossed gold lettering, his name is Terran English and in Vulcan. He opened the cover.

Page after page, he saw as he flipped through, was covered with pictures. Pictures of himself as a small boy, as a youth, as a teen, and from all throughout his academy days and his teaching career. Images of Jim, Nyota, Chris, and the others laughing, waving. Pictured of himself and Chris walking along a beach, standing close, his head bent slightly as he spoke with her. His chest felt warm, almost light.

He traced his fingers over a particularly familiar image. His mother smiled back at him, her arm wrapped around Chris' shoulders, himself standing beside the pair. "How did you come into possession of these?" He asked softly, unsure if he could control the longing, the loss, and the affection the images produced in him.

Chris smiled in a secretive manner. "I have my ways, Spock, I have my ways."

Chris felt a thrill of surprise as Spock wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest in a tight hug. Gingerly she wrapped her arms around him, expecting him to realize what he had done and tense up. Instead he relaxed further into her arms, dropping his head to rest his cheek on her head.

"Thank you, Chris." He murmured into her hair, his breath hot. She couldn't hear the emotion behind the words, but she could sure feel it. Spock was overwhelmed with gratitude, affection, and love.

Chris let herself lean slightly into his warm, strong chest. "My pleasure." She smiled slightly. "I have one more, nearly the exact same. I'm going to send it to your father."

She felt his hand brush her back and up into her hair. "He shall be most appreciative." Spock murmured, tightening his arms slightly before he released her. He looked down at her with beautiful, dark, dark eyes. "I have a final gift for you." He said softly, "One that I hope you enjoy." All of a sudden she could feel his nervousness, which was strong enough to make her nervous and excited… what was he going to give her?

"Computer," Spock said clearly and slightly louder, "play Spock Christmas file three." He shifted back from her so they were farther apart than they had been since they entered the room. His eyes, his very human eyes, were dark with his nervousness as he took a deep breath.

Music started, soft and beautiful. Chris listened, tipping her head as she tried to figure out if she knew the song. "This was my Mother's favorite song." Spock murmured before singing softly. "Remember those walls I built? Well, baby, they're tumbling down; and they didn't even put up a fight, they didn't even make a sound."

His singing voice was very like his usual voice, dark, rich, and smooth - like dark chocolate. Not surprisingly he could sing pretty well, not amazing, but she loved the sound just the same. "I found a way to let you in but I never really had a doubt. Standing in the light of your halo I got my angel now."

Her heart sped up and her breath hitched slightly. His eyes were dark, but not with nervousness anymore. She would have called the dark emotion love and lust, were he human. Was he calling her his angel?

"It's like I've been awakened. Every rule I had you're breakin'. It's the risk that I'm takin', I ain't never gonna shut you out." God she hoped so… she hoped he never shut her out because she wasn't sure if she could handle it. He continued, his voice getting stronger as he continued, his eyes locked on hers. Chris found she couldn't look away, like he'd mesmerized her.

"Everywhere I'm looking now, I'm surrounded by your embrace. Baby, I can see your halo, you know you're my saving grace." His hands twitched and her eyes were drawn away from his to look at them. He had his hands clasped, as if he were stopping himself from doing something. As soon as she looked though, he relaxed them, letting them sit on his lap. "You're everything I need and more, it's written all over your face. Baby I can feel your halo, pray it won't fade away."

The music continued, slowly dying, but he didn't sing the last chorus. Instead he watched her, his eyes unreadable. Chris wasn't sure if he meant what she thought he meant. He'd been doing so much better with cultural differences between Vulcan and Earth but maybe… just maybe he didn't mean the song like THAT. That she was his angel… that he loved her.

"That was beautiful Spock, thank you." She leaned forward and pressed her lips gently on his cheek. "You should sing more often."

As she pulled away she noticed him turn to watch her face. "You enjoyed it?" He asked. Chris nodded, fighting to force herself to smile. Clearly he didn't mean that he loved her… he was her best friend. Spock nodded back before rolling to his feet with a liquid grace she adored and found incredibly hot. "May I fetch you a refreshment?"

Spock couldn't tell if the song had made her realize his affection for her. If it had then clearly she did not desire him as more than a friend. He punched in the number for hot apple cider into the replicator and watched Chris from the corner of his eye.

She watched him with a dark look in her eyes. A Dark look he was familiar with. She'd had the same look when he tried on his jeans, when he appeared at her party dressed casually, when he wore his Halloween costume… She'd also had the same look in her eyes when looking at Doctor McCoy (however that was not recently) and he knew that then, at least, the dark look had meant she was attracted physically to the person. Thus, logically, she wanted him. He could not let the failure of the song deter him.

He handed her the mug of steaming apple cider and sat beside her, watching as she turned her eyes from himself to the fireplace. "I can see why Amanda loved that song." She said after a moment of comfortable silence.

"Indeed," he said, watching as she leaned back, settling herself onto her elbows. "She once said my Father sang it to her, when they were not yet married. I did not believe her at the time." For which he was ashamed. He should have known his Mother would not lie, but he could not see his Father, his stoic and perfectly Vulcan Father, sing a love song. However he could not have imagined singing it himself.

Chris laughed softly. "I don't blame you. If I didn't know any better I'd say your Father wasn't capable of letting go of his Vulcan reserve that much." She sighed softly, smiling fondly as her fingers brushed the familiar pendant at her throat. "He must have loved her very much."

As much as I love you I would imagine. Spock thought to himself. "Indeed. She was very fond of the song, and often sang it to me when I was a boy and Father was away on political business. I told her I did not require to be sung to sleep like an infant when I was eight, she ignored me." He shot her a glance and noted her smile. "I would assume it is a human trait, to ignore what you do not wish to hear."

Chris smiled, knowing he did not mean and insult by the words though they were slightly harsh (by human standards). "Yea, yea. We just love you, Amanda and myself, and we know that you don't really mind, you're just trying to keep yourself within those Vulcan standards you love so much."

"I am Vulcan, Chris." He said, attempting to lighten her mood. He had noticed the slightly bitter tone to her words though he could not understand why. "We do not love our standards, they are simply logical and necessary for a peaceful existence."

Her lips quirked into the teasing smile he was so familiar with. However he had a feeling in the back of his mind that he had not bettered the situation.

Chris was quite certain, now, that Spock did not love her. That the affection she thought she heard and felt while he sang was simply a product of her mind due to her pathetic love for him. She yawned deliberately, thought she was not tired, and allowed her body to sag slightly.

As she knew they would Spock's eyes focused immediately onto the chronometer. "It is late, Chris." He said simply, shifting to roll to his feet. "I shall accompany you back to your quarters."

Chris nodded and did the same, forcing herself to stand. She didn't want to go. Really what she wanted was to stay the night, to be with the Vulcan she loved so very much. But since she knew it wasn't going to happen, getting out without making an ass of herself and endangering their friendship was paramount. She followed him to the door, the box with her new robes in her hands.

The door hissed open and Chris hesitated, looking into her friend's face. Did she have the courage… did she dare? No. No she didn't. She was pathetic and cowardly, she couldn't tell him. From the corner of her eye, as Spock joined her, she saw a flash of green. She looked directly up.

Above them both was a spring of a green plant with little white berries. No way… She was going to KILL JIM! Spock's eyes followed hers and she watched as they widened slightly, which for him was a huge expression. "Jim." She explained, feeling light-headed. Did she kiss her best friend? It was tradition, but he was Vulcan…

"Did he not mention cameras to accompany the mistletoe?" Spock asked, giving a Vulcan glare to the offending sprig of foliage.

Chris bit back a curse. "Yea, and a humiliating punishment if the crewmembers in question didn't adhere to tradition." Oh she was SO going to kill Jim for this… The bloody sneaky BASTARD!

Spock's chest moved in a silent sigh of annoyance, his eyes found hers. "Then I believe it is best if we adhere to tradition to satisfy the Captain."

Chris nodded. "Yea, I'll just have Liv help me get him back for this." She said, trying to focus on her anger as opposed to her nervousness and excitement. She was going to KISS SPOCK! Holy CROW!

"I have had very little experience," Spock admitted as he lowered his head to hers. She began to rise onto her toes. "I apologize in advance."

Chris would have assured him that one couldn't fuck up a peck on the lips when his hot mouth descended on hers. His lips were dry but not chapped, and surprisingly soft. And the instant they touched hers Chris gasped at the bolt of electricity that shot through her. She couldn't help herself, she wrapped her arms around Spock's broad shoulders and returned the kiss, forgetting completely that she'd meant to simply peck him and then run.

The familiar tingle of his mind against hers flared as they both tipped their heads slightly for better access. A single hot arm wrapped around her, the hand splaying across her back to hold her closer. A tongue tentatively brushed along her lips and she couldn't think of a reason not to let him in.

Spock could not think with her lips pressed to his, her tongue teasing his own. The moment he'd pressed his lips to hers the walls holding his emotions at bay shattered into power. Dark blue affection, green friendship, pink love, and nearly black red lust rippled through him, driving his every action.

Never had kissing Nyota been anything like kissing Chris. Never had he lost control simply by kissing her. He could feel the love she felt for him through their connected minds, echoing the love for her that he'd hidden for so long.

His hand curled into her hair, tipping her head back to give him slightly better access. He heard her moan softly into his mouth, felt a single slightly cool hand slid from his shoulder, down his arm, and pull gently. He wasn't thinking, and as long as she wasn't pulling away he couldn't deny her a thing. He let her pull his hand from the small of her back.

When her palm pressed firmly to his own he couldn't stop the shocked gasp of pleasure the action elicited. It felt as if a bolt of lightning went straight from his hand to between his legs. Her fingers trained along his palm, the pressure teasing, light then firm. Once she reached the pads of his long fingers he was quivering, the nearly black-red of his desire for her growing exponentially. He could feel his pants becoming tight, he shifted in an attempt to loosen them.

When he felt the gentle scrape of her nails running back along his fingers he literally growled into her lips, closing his teeth over the lower one. Her whimper and the very slight shock of pain he felt from her mind was, thankfully, enough to cut through his emotional haze and give his logic enough strength to regain control. He pulled his mouth from hers and curled his fingers around her wrist to stop her from tormenting him.

She leaned against his chest, panting. Spock allowed himself to lean back against the doorjam before realizing they were in a highly public place. He pulled her into his room, allowing the door to close behind them. He leaned back against the wall, holding her. "Holy cow." She breathed, chuckling. "Not good at kissing my ass. You're frikin' fantastic."

Spock allowed himself the flash of pleasure and pride at her compliment. "And you are quite adept at the Vulcan form." He murmured, half scolding, into her hair. She was NOT supposed to do that to him. However the simple act of kissing her wasn't supposed to shatter his control either…

She snickered. "I have a fantastic imagination." She quipped and for a moment Spock wondered what other things had she imagined… "Like," she murmured, trailing her fingers from his neck up to his ear, "how sensitive are your ears, compared to mine."

Spock couldn't control the hiss of pleasure as her fingers teased the very sensitive appendage. He grasped her hand in his own and held it too firmly. "Quite sensitive." He said in a voice that, he was surprised to notice, was more a growl than he would have expected. "I would not advice doing that again."

Chris just smiled up at him, looking very satisfied with herself. "I love you, Spock." She murmured, rising onto her toes to press a kiss to his chin, which was all she could reach.

He could not tell her, not yet, how he felt, but he allowed her to feel the magnitude of his emotions for her through their mental bond. My T'hy'la. He said in their minds, releasing one wrist to stroke her cheek gently. Mine.

She laughed and leaned into his caress. I have been for a long while. She admitted wordlessly.

Chris knew, as she slid from Spock's room and made her way to her own, that the emotional display she'd received from him would likely not be repeated for a long, long while. That it had been caused by months of pent up emotion and relief at finally having her as his own. But she didn't mind. Because from then on he wouldn't hide his emotions from her, so she could constantly feel his love for her. And while they might not have much P.D.A., or many private ones either, feeling the emotion he had for her was enough.

She smiled at him as she slid into her door, enjoying that he watched her from his doorway. She caught sight of the mistletoe. She'd have to thank Jim eventually…

Spock watched until Chris' door closed before he pulled the mistletoe from the doorway. He would have to thank Pavel for following them and placing it in the doorway as he'd requested. And for passing along Spock's idea to the Captain. It had worked flawlessly. With a very slight, self-satisfied smile, Spock retired to his rooms. Merry Christmas indeed.

AN: It's FINISHED! OMG I hope you all loved it, I loved writing it. And I'm sorry for the wait. Last week was the first week of classes and Saturday was the start of Rush Week, and yes I'm actually going Greek this year (3 years late but better than never, right?).

So, any who. I would love you all to keep an eye out for "What A Doctor Needs" Because the first chapter will be up soon. But I must warn you. The first few chapters will be DARK! Leonard is not a happy man, he's damaged and broken and Liv is little better, though she might act like she's fine. So it'll be Angst/Romance, and rated M for Bones' potty mouth and sexual situations and Jokes (Liv and Jim are terrible… heehee) and while I promise humor to lighten it up as it progressed the first few chapters will be VERY dark!

Ciao my wonderful readers! See you soon!