Ah! Ah! Ahhhh! It's the last chapter. OMG! I cannot believe it!

Actually, I can. See, last chapter, but... Well... read and enjoy. You'll understand.

Thank you to my new beta, Amodestpoet! He was very helpful.

It was another day before Nia could truly settle down. She still had moments where her relief bubbled up and caused her to go so far as to bounce in her seat in the middle of whatever task. Most of the Starfleet crew found this endearing and couldn't help feeling some form of joy along with her.

Sometimes, they really couldn't help it. Not with the way Nia was projecting, even without physical contact. An aura surrounded her almost constantly, one that Wena and Spock were particularly sensitive to. Others just found themselves smiling for no reason, whereas the half-Paladian and half-Vulcan could pinpoint the cause for happiness.

The day after Nia's discovery was spent testing and retesting the new genetically modified organism to determine any side effects. Soon, effectiveness under different soil conditions would be tested.

So far, the fungus was behaving exactly as they hoped it would. It was better than Nia could have ever imagined. The fungus would be likely only be a temporary solution, but it was an immediate one for the immediate danger of the parasite.

Less than a week and the Enterprise would at Starfleet Command, bring Mig, Morozov, and all the others in to protective custody to await their trial.

With all that was happening and would be happening, Nia was sufficiently surprised when she returned to her cabin in the evening of the day after her discovery, only to find it empty. Wena was off-duty and Nia had checked her position before she left the lab. So where did Wena go?

Deciding not to worry about it, Nia just strode to her bed and laid down for some much needed rest. The hard edges of a poorly placed PADD distracted her, though. With a grumble, she pulled the device out from underneath her and pressed the button on the side to light it up.

On the screen, an open note was left.

Just do it already.

W.

Nia frowned. What in the world was Wena talking about? And it obviously was from Wena, given her previous penchant for randomly leaving her notes. "Just do it"? Do what? She hoped the half-Paladian meant sleep because Nia really could care less about anything else at the moment.

As Nia was trying to figure out her friend's meaning behind the cryptic message, there was a knock on the door. Her frown deepened as she got up to see who it was at the door.

The second she saw who stood on the other side, Wena's message clicked into place. Nia sighed.

"Wena sent you, didn't she?" Nia asked.

"She did mention that now was an optimal time to speak with you privately," Spock answered.

Nia just lifted her eyes skyward in exasperation before she moved to the side and ushered him into her quarters. "Come on in. This is a good a time as any, even if it is a bit orchestrated." Plus, Wena would likely never let her see the light of day if she let this opportunity to make things right pass her by.

She almost left eh door open behind him, but decided against it. All she needed was for a busy-body crewmember to eavesdrop on a private conversation and stir the whole ship into an uproar.

"Is- Is there anything in specific you want to speak about?" Nia asked tentatively.

He seemed to hesitate before he turned to fully face her. "It came to my attention that the disagreement fifteen days ago had not been fully resolved."

Nia almost snorted. Almost. "I guess not." She fidgeted under his watchful gaze as she just stood there, uncertain of what else she should say.

"I failed to understand the significance of your message and as a result, unintentionally confirmed the false idea you possess of our relationship," he finally stated.

Her head snapped up. "What do you mean?" False idea? What was he saying? Was he saying that-? No, no she couldn't jump to conclusions just yet.

Due to the doctor's previous view on noninvolvement, Spock had been surprised when Wena directed him to the quarters she shared with Nia.

"Look, if I know Nia, and I do know Nia, then I know that she isn't going to talk to you until she had beaten the subject to death in her head. She'll attempt to figure out every possible angle you could come from so that she's prepared for anything that could be thrown at her. So, I'm telling you to go talk to her. Before her brain fries up from the stress."

Despite not believing the problem to be quite so serious, Spock heeded Dr. Verde's advice and arrived to find Nia acting… uncharacteristically insecure.

"You fear you have lost my respect, that I find you an illogical being with little control over her emotions, and that I wish to end the relationship as a result." It didn't escape him that she flinched at each point that made. The movement was miniscule, but still present.

She sighed and made her way to the couch in the minute living area. "I am aware that I acted like a fool and let my emotions get a hold of me and overpower my common sense. I have no excuse for it. My behavior towards you was unbecoming, unprofessional, and downright disrespectful. I jumped to very hasty conclusions and automatically assumed the worst of you. I didn't trust your judgment," she paused to take a shaky breath and then continued, "and yet, you have been stalwart in your aide of my research and have spent a significant amount of time in the lab searching for the way to- to save Palad and- and heal my home planet!" Shaking her head, she told him, "You helped save five billion lives. I know it was only logical to do so, but still, thank you."

Loyalty. Spock, whether he realized it or not, had been loyal to the Paladians. Something that would hold him in high esteem amongst her people. Very high esteem. He did it without knowing that or expecting to gain anything for it, but did it because it was the right thing.

And she loved him all the more for that.

For his part, the half-Vulcan male just listened and watched the changing expressions on Nia's face as she spoke. He patiently sat next to her on the couch, folding his hands in his lap. When she finished speaking and her expression bore a look that was inexplicably soft, he spoke.

"Are you not a Paladian?"

His question was simple, yet it still threw her for quite a loop. "Yes, you know that as well as I do."

He nodded. "Yet, you seem to think I do not understand what that entails. You are Paladian," he stressed, "not Vulcan. I could no more expect you to always be logical than you could expect myself to be illogical." A corner of his mouth twitched up at Nia's startled look. "Your summation of your behavior is correct. However, you have not lost my respect."

"Why not?" Nia was baffled.

He almost sighed. "While not expected, your outburst was not unexpected. You are Paladian."

"Not Vulcan," Nia completed the thought a little breathlessly. She got it. "So, you forgive me for my lapse into the illogical?"

The brief jerk of his chin could be nothing other than a nod.

Her shoulders slumped with relief and Nia took advantage of his proximity to lightly rest her head on his lean shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that." A thought crossed her mind and she suddenly blushed. "Also, I'm sorry about the poem thing I sent you. I know that likely didn't make any sense."

"I did not initially understand the significance. Lieutenant Uhura explained the logic behind it."

"You asked Uhura?"

"I did not. The captain did."

"The captain? I assume McCoy knows too?"

"Correct, as does Dr. Verde and one of McCoy's patients. He believed being married for fifteen years offered him a unique insight."

Nia closed her eyes and sighed in a resigned fashion. "When did all this happen?"

"Just prior to our arrival to the mess hall where you were sharing your discovery with Lieutenant Sulu," he responded. He held very still as he spoke, unwilling to dislodge Nia with any movement.

She just nodded. "So you understand why I sent you that poem?"

"You were expressing your regret for your actions and irrationally believing yourself to be the woman from the poem." His clasped hands tightened for a moment before he continued, "You believed yourself to be undeserving of my attentions."

The way he said it so matter-of-factly struck Nia hard. Her head lifted from his shoulder as tears sprung to her eyes. "Well, to borrow a favorite human phrase, you hit the nail on the head." She chewed on her lip. "Spock, would you like to feel something?"

Spock studied her expression for the smallest of moments before he jerked his chin again in that simple nod of his.

Tentatively she held out her hand. Her breath hitched when he gripped it. Once again she closed her eyes, and then, then she let go.

Vaguely, she heard his breath hitch and the grip on her hand tightened.

Wave after wave of emotion flooded through her as she released the hold she had on them, letting Spock experience everything she had bottled up inside. She held back just enough, and attempted to keep the contact one sided.

It seemed the Vulcan male decided that wasn't enough and soon the Paladian felt a presence pushing against her mind instead of her emotions. Thoughts and images began to both sneak through an escape her, hardly a rhyme or reason to be found amongst the chaos. She pushed back for barely a second before caving in under the gentle pressure of his mind against hers.

After that she held nothing back.

When he finally pulled away and released Nia's hand, the only thing that gave away his ruffled composure was the short breaths escaping his lips.

"You let me feel all of you." His voice seemed a little stunned.

Equally overwhelmed, Nia merely nodded her head.

Cool fingers gripped her chin and both turned and lifted her face to meet his gaze. "You love me," he stated.

"And you love me," she replied. There was no doubt in her mind. She knew. The previously unknown emotion she'd always felt from him had grown and morphed into something more tangible for her, something she could understand. Something that she too felt, even if it flickered when confronted with the vibrancy of emotion dwelling instead of him.

He searched her eyes. Whatever he was looking for, he must have found because the next thing Nia knew, his hand was cradling the back of her head and his mouth was sealed over hers. She fisted a hand in his shirt to pull him closer as he deepened the kiss. Sighing against his mouth, she leaned further into his embrace.

The connection bloomed between them again, less chaotic this time, but no less overwhelming and no less intimate. A stray thought, a piece of "cultural" information was pulled to the forefront of her mind and it was clear Spock caught it when he abruptly broke the kiss.

Her face burned hot as she realized just what he had seen. Her mouth opened, but she seemed to unable to force the words past her lips.

He spoke for her, "In the customs of your people, such a full connection is only done…" his voice trailed off.

She finally found her voice and finished, "It is only done after a marriage proposal has been accepted. It's a good way to make sure the couple is truly emotionally compatible."

Spock's eyebrow rose. "That is not all," he stated.

The mix of nerves and embarrassment twist her gut and made her limbs quiver. "Not it's not. That connection is also the greatest intimacy that can be achieving before a couple is wed. It's why we save it until we – until we are certain."

The hand cradling her head was still in place. His other hand was placed against her back, cradling her close to him.

"A marriage proposal was not made," he said, face still stoic, despite the compromising position he was in.

Her hands shook harder. "No. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let it go so far. It was inappropriate. I'm sorry." Nia began to pull away.

The hand in her white hair dropped as he let her gain some distance. Her hands found each other in her lap and twisted together. The Paladian felt completely lost as to what to do next. Perhaps she should say something, though what she would say she had no clue, even if –

His statement cut off her inner monologue.

"I am not opposed, though there are facts you must be aware of before you can agree."

What?

Shocked laced through her.

"You're not opposed?" She sniffed and then frowned. "What facts?"

Discomfort hovered behind the blank façade he presented. "As you know, I am half-Vulcan. This combined with the fact that no Paladian-Vulcan relationship has ever been recorded leaves open the possibility that –"

"Having children might be difficult." Nia interrupted. "Yes, I am aware of that. Three humanoid species combined isn't a good mix. I was aware of that from the beginning."

"With your field of expertise, I am unsurprised."

Nia smiled. She patted his knee. "Now, is that the only thing, or is there something else?"

The discomfort returned, this time more evident than before. "There is something more. Something that may change your desires."

"I consider myself warned," she said softly. "What is it, Spock?"

"It is the matter of Pon Farr."

And Nia listened carefully as Spock fully explained.

When all was said and done, Nia saw no reason to change her mind. There were dangers, but they were minimal especially for a female strong as her. If Spock ended up going through Pon Farr, Nia could handle it. They would handle it.

They would handle it.

Nia and Spock.

A/N: So there it is. What do you think?

For all who are wondering, YES there is a sequel in the works. We have lots of loose ends to tie up (muahahaha). It will be titled "Skies On Fire" and the first chapter will be posted soon. As a challenge, if this story reaches 100 reviews over the next couple days, I will post the first chapter on THAT DAY! I like to write a couple of chapters ahead, which is why I'm waiting otherwise.

WOW! I love the responses I got for the previous chapter. Thank you so, so much to those who have been following and favoriting this story. Thank you to those who have reviewed, cherylnixon, Amodestpoet, Anna (a guest), DD (another guest), -sparrow, AND Misplaced Levity.

And of course, thank you, thank you, thank you to ALL my readers. Thank you for your time and loyalty, which I hope you will continue to give as "Skies On Fire" is developed.

- Spirit Speaker.