The Language of Love

"Why are you coming to me, Cadet Uhura?" Professor Sato asked. "If you're looking for an expert on the Vulcan language, you should be contacting Dr. Grayson, on Vulcan."

Uhura shook her head. "I don't think that will work for me, Professor. You served with a Vulcan for years. You were friends with her and her human lover, and I'm sure you would have tried to collect words from a native speaker if they were missing from the standard lexicon. You must know the expressions Vulcans use with their lovers."

"How did you know about T'Pol and Commander Tucker's relationship?" Professor Sato asked, frowning.

"It's obvious, from watching the recordings. Weren't they?"

"I suppose the only reason it took the rest of us so long to figure it out was that none of us were used to the concept that Vulcans feel love," Sato said, smiling wryly. "But I've given advice to a human student who wanted to express love for a Vulcan before, and since then, she's married him and moved to Vulcan, so she would know far, far more than I would. I really do think you should contact Dr. Amanda Grayson, on Vulcan, and ask her."

"That would be awkward," Uhura said, and took a deep breath. "It's Dr. Grayson's son I'd like to express myself to."

"Oh," Sato said. "So you're in a relationship with Spock, then?"

"I-- not yet. I want to be. Which is why I'm looking for the words."

Sato smiled radiantly, her lined face crinkling with delight. "In that case, based on my correspondence with Amanda you definitely are going to want to speak with her first."