I own nothing of Star Trek but am deeply grateful to those who do for the great pleasure it has give so many. This is a work of fiction for enjoyment

It seems we stood and talked like this before,
We looked at each other in the same way then,
But i can't remeber where...
Or when.

"Hey! Bartender! We need a couple of Horny Vulcans over here STAT."

All eyes in the WarpDrive bar turned toward the statuesque dark skinned woman as she stood waving her hand for the server's attention.

"Nyota, please, for the love of heaven sit down!" Christine Chapel pleaded, tugging futilely on her friend's arm. "I think we've had enough."

"Oh come on Chris, it's a party," Nyota Uhuru protested giving her friend a playful shot to the arm. "How often does my best friend get her medical degree and get married in the same week? And your birthday… I almost forgot your birthday. Damn why didn't I think to get an Orian male stripper?" The lovely communications officer was on her fourth round of drinks and clearly feeling no pain.

Chapel shook her head in exasperation, the silky blond curls gleaming in the multispectral light from the bar. Fortunately it was still early in the evening so there were few witnesses to her mortification; a handful of cadets, several tables of low level diplomats and an older Vulcan gentleman sitting alone at a back booth who shot them a brief look of distaste before returning his attention to his padd.

Roger, she felt a wave of apprehension at the thought of how her fiancé would react if he found out there was any sort of scene involving his bride to be. Dr. Roger Korby was a man who placed a very high premium on maintaining appearances and rarely missed an opportunity to let Christine know when she'd failed to pass muster.

He's only trying to help, she reminded herself guiltily. Think of everything he's done for you Christine. Roger had been her knight in shining armor, the hero of her darkest hour, mender of her broken dreams, architect of her destiny, father figure, friend, and mentor. She couldn't imagine what her life would be without him.

There was, of course, no need for Christine to imagine some alternate life. In a few days she would become the wife of Dr. Roger Korby, founder and director of the prestigious, though not particularly creatively named, Dr. Roger Korby Institute. As Roger's wife, she would be expected to represent the Institute to the community, and more importantly, to the wealthy and well connected donors upon whom Roger's work depended for financial support. It was a role for which Roger had been painstakingly grooming her for the past seven years.

"Why this is called a 'Horny Vulcan'?" she asked studying the icy cold, sweet, dark olive green drink.

"Well it's a combination of Green Rigelian brandy, pistachio liquor, Lavanda and…Deltan chocolate."

"Chocolate?"

"Chocolate works on Vulcans like an aphrodisiac. And…" Nyota leaned in conspiratorially.

"And?"

"It turns the drink the exact shade of green as a…" she moved her lips to Christine's ear and lowered her voice to a sexy stage whisper, "a Vulcan's penis."

.

"Nyota!" Christine scowled at her friend. "I've given any number of Vulcan males their Fleet physicals and I can assure you that a Vulcan's penis is pretty much the same color as a human penis."

"Maybe at rest," the dark woman said as wicked smile played across her full lips, "but I can 'assure' you Doctor Chapel, that when it's standing at attention …" by way of illustration she very slowly straightened out her index finger, then slid the stiffened finger slowly up the side of Christine's glass. Reaching the top of the glass she traced her finger in languid circles along the rim before dipping it down into the dark green liquid. Her dark eyes glowing, she brought the finger slowly to her lips and licked the creamy coating from her finger with a satisfied sigh. At the blonde doctor's scandalized blush, Nyota threw her head back with a full throaty laugh.

Christine's eyes involuntarily traveled again to the solitary Vulcan male at the back table. He was sipping what appeared to be tea; and to her horror she found that he'd been watching them. He lifted a quizzical eyebrow and canted his head slightly to the side. She gave him an apologetic nod and was certain she'd seen a faint trace of amusement soften the angular planes of his gaunt face before he went back to reading his padd.

Nyota Uhura fished through her purse for her credit chip as the Andorian bartender deposited a fresh round of drinks on the table. She paid, adding a generous tip.

"I still can't believe that I'm going to miss your wedding. The Captain says they've cancelled our leave to transport all the crap to the new Vulcan home planet."

"It's okay Ny," Christine assured her friend. "I understand, it's an important mission." But understanding didn't change the fact that the two people who really mattered most to her, Nyota Uhura and Leonard McCoy wouldn't be with her on her wedding day. It was a disappointment, but in the past seven years Christine Chapel had learned to roll with disappointment.

Nyota reached into her purse and drew out a gaily decorated gift bag.

"A little something for the wedding night," she smiled evilly as Christine took the proffered bag.

Christine's pink flushed cheeks were now a deep crimson as she reached into the bag and pulled out the transparent lacy garment. Garment was an overstatement, it was little more than a few scraps of shell pink silk and creamy lace. Hopefully she fished inside the bag. Nyota cast her puzzled look.

"I'm looking for the rest of it," she laughed nervously.

Nyota gave her friend a playful swat. "Hey girl, after making him wait seven years he'll be expecting the ride of his life. "Maybe I should have thrown in some Deltan love oils?"

"Ny! You're incorrigible."

"Oh come on Chris, you've been engaged for seven years and you've never even given the poor guy a taste." She shook her head disapprovingly at her friend. "He's gonna be chomping at the bit girl."

"I was fifteen years old when we got engaged and for your information he's never asked for a 'taste' as you so eloquently put it. He's a gentleman."

"Never?" Nyota raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Not all men are just interested in sex."

"I've never said all men are only interested in sex," she sighed. "I'm sorry Chris. I know Roger is a great guy. You love him and he loves you. That's what really matters. It's just…"

"Just what Ny?"

"It's just…" Nyota bit her lips together nervously, and then took a sip of her drink to bolster her resolve. "It's just that everything is always about Roger. It's always about what Roger wants, what Roger needs. Damn it he didn't even bother to show up for your graduation."

"That's not fair Ny," she protested. "He and Andrea had to present at an important conference in Paris."

"He didn't even "ask" you to marry him Chris; he just decided the two of you were getting married. It's always about what Roger thinks, what Roger wants. Sometimes it's like you don't think you even matter. What about you Chris? What do you want, what do you need?"

"What do I want?" she responded, a quiver in her soft voice. "I want hear the church bells of Florence ringing six o'clock on a summer evening and run home to find my mom making gnocchi for dinner, because it's Thursday night and that's what my mom always makes on Thursday night. I want to play calcio on Sunday mornings and hear my dad cheering on the sidelines. I want to not be terrified every time I feel a little bit happy, because in an instant it can all be gone forever. I want a real home and a family.

"I want the life that Roger and I can make together Ny. That's what I want, what I need."

"I know you love him, I know he's done a lot for you honey, but are you "in love" with him?"

"Life isn't some sappy holovid where two people with nothing in common share a magical kiss and live happily ever after. I love him, I'm marrying him," Christine responded in a tone that didn't invite further discussion. "Can't you at least try to understand and be happy for me?"

"I'm sorry honey, and I am happy for you, really I just want to know that you'll be happy."

Chris Chapel reached across the tiny table and embraced her friend. "I will be happy Ny, and with any luck by this time next year you'll be an honorary auntie."

"I'll throw you a baby shower that will knock your socks off."

"Okay, but no Horny Vulcans."

"What about Orian strippers?"

"I'll miss you so much Ny. You and Len are the closest thing to family I've had these past few years."

"Right, you'll be so busy being Mrs. Doctor Roger Korby with all your new high society friends that you'll never even think about me."

"I couldn't forget you if I tried. I'll never have another friend like you Nyota."

"Back at ya blondie, damn, it's nineteen hundred hours I've gotta run."

"Hot date?" Christine laughed.

"Maybe." Nyota answered coyly.

"With your mystery man I assume. Still top secret?"

"If I tell you, I'd have to kill you."

The two friends exchanged a teary embrace as they left the bar. In the back corner the Vulcan shut off his padd and donned a light robe before following the women into the cool San Francisco evening.