#tpura

But then, one afternoon, right after her shift was over, Uhura received a message through subspace from T'Pring, and of course picked up right away, smiling once she saw her girlfriend's face on the screen.

"Uhura" T'Pring said, always so formal, but Uhura gave her a small smile.

"Nyota to you, T'Pring" she said, tilting her head and watching the subtle but very present micro expressions in her face. "You rarely call me in subspace, is everything alright?"

"Perfectly fine, Nyota" she said, this time sounding less formal, slightly more relaxed. "I am aware that you are close to a possible shore leave... am I correct?"

"You surely are correct but I don't remember telling you that" Nyota teased, knowing how bothered T'Pring became when she believed she had intruded too much. As predicted, the Vulcan squinted her eyes ever so slightly, and Uhura giggled to herself. She was adorable.

"I am sorry-"

"I'm teasing you, T'Pring. I think Spock must have told you" she said, and T'Pring nodded in agreement. "Yes I have a shore leave schedule for... three days from now. I already settled an appointment in a ship heading to Vulcan. But I bet you knew all of that already."

"Indeed I was aware" she said. "And the date could not be more satisfactory, Nyota. I will be awaiting eagerly for your arrival."

"Oh, something special?" Uhura asked, smiling to the screen. "It's not your birthday, is it? I don't want to miss it."

"It is not my... birthday" T'Pring said, still not fully used to human terms as Spock was. "Regardless, I shall await your arrival. When you land, I will tell you my plans for your shore leave. Is that satisfactory?"

"Honestly even if you hadn't programmed anything I would already be happy. Can't wait to kiss you again" Uhura said, loving how T'Pring's expression remained the same, but her cheeks flushed light green.

"Me too, Nyota" she said, softly this time, allowing herself a small smile before returning to her resting face. "I will end our communications now. Have a good day."

"You too, T'Pring" Uhura said, smiling and watching as her girlfriend shut off her screen, sighing in delight while she leaned back against the chair.

She couldn't wait to see her again.

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 Four days later and Uhura was landing on Vulcan. She said goodbye to the ship's personal, all very kind and well mannered, and looked around once she beamed down on Vulcan, smiling at the surrounding area. They always beamed down to a tourist center whenever they weren't in a mission, and she loved it, because it was beautifully lit up and filled with cultural marks to the Vulcan costumes.

She stepped away from the landing point with her bag on her shoulder, and searched over the crowd to see if she could find T'Pring, although she doubted her girlfriend would come to pick her up on her own. And Uhura was right, as she saw a Vulcan approaching her, one that was not T'Pring, his face familiar to her.

"Lieutenant Uhura, I am here to scort you to T'Pring's household" he said, and she smiled at him with a nod.

"Stel, am I right?" she asked, giving him her bag as he reached for it. "You are one of the many members of T'Pring's house, aren't you?"

"As a matter of fact, I am. I did not believe you would remember me" Stel said, taking Uhura through the crowd towards the outside of the facility. "I was told humans do not have excellent memories."

"Most don't, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve" she said, smiling at him and getting inside the vehicle that he pointed out. She hoped in, holding her purse, and watched as it drove off through the sandy towns surrounding the many deserts. "Vulcan never ceases to amaze me. It's so beautiful."

"I appreciate your good taste" Stel said, looking at her. "T'Pring is happy you could come for such an important event."

"She didn't tell me what it is" Uhura smiled, shrugging as Stel looked at her. "I don't mind. I like surprises."

"I believe you will like what she has planned" he nodded, and the rest of the trip was fairly quiet, with Uhura watching the dunes passing by.

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 When they reached T'Pring's house, Stel remained outside, helping Uhura with her bag to the door, but once she opened the door, the Vulcan left. She made her way inside, closing the door behind herself, and looking around at the seemingly empty house.

"T?" she called, looking around, knowing to only use the nickname when they were alone. Now, she seemed completely alone, so why not? After she received no answer, Nyota placed her bag on the couch and stretched a bit, before heading over to the kitchen, making herself at home.

As she put the water to boil, she heard someone coming downstairs, and looked up to see T'Pring in a beautiful white robe, looking at her and even giving Uhura a small smile.

"Ashayam" T'Pring said, walking to Nyota and offering her two fingers. Uhura smiled, lifting her own and gently touching hers, sliding them down and then leaning close for a peck, a human kiss.

"I missed you" she whispered, and T'Pring smiled a bit more, a single nod of agreement.

"I missed you too, ashayam" she said, pulling her hand away after the sweet encounter and looking over at the fire. "Are you making tea?"

"Yeah, I missed your herbs. If you don't mind" Uhura said, and T'Pring shook her head, pulling a stool and sitting next to Nyota.

"I do not. I believe one day I told you your herbal tea was my second favorite, under only my mother's" she said, and Nyota grinned, sitting down on a stool as well.

"I remember that. The best compliment I ever received" she said, and then watched her girlfriend fondly. "I really did miss you. I wish I could have more shore leaves, come to visit you more often."

"I admire and respect your duties with Star Fleet, just as you respect and admire my duties here on Vulcan. I never wish to make you choose between me and your passion, as well as I know you would never make me choose" she said, and Uhura nodded, reaching out and taking her hand, knowing it was a bit much but since they were alone, T'Pring wouldn't mind.

But her ears and cheeks got green nevertheless.

"I know, but it is hard. I miss your contact, your presence. It's just... the human need of being close to the one we love" she said, and kissed her hand, making the green on her cheeks turn slightly darker. But T'Pring did not complain. "So now, tell me what I'm here for. I know there's some kind of... holiday or some special date, but you didn't tell me what it was."

"It is a date I never believed I would celebrate, and therefore, it is quite appealing" T'Pring said, looking at the warm water in front of them. "It is not a public holiday, and it was created fairly recently, but I enjoy it nevertheless."

"Now you are just making me more curious" Nyota said, smiling at her. "Tell me."

"It is called a tfi'kien ashau t'ved, roughly translating to the day of alien love. For all Vulcans who have non Vulcan partners, such as me" she said, holding Uhura's hand even more gently, slowly tracing her fingers. "It is a celebration still on the making, however it is usually made inside, where the Vulcan partner celebrates their partner and their partner's culture. I was fairly... excited to enjoy it with you."

Nyota felt her smile grow bigger, and her cheeks warm up, before she nodded and leaned forward, pressing her lips to T'Pring's and feeling the Vulcan tense up and then relax, kissing her back, slow and tender as she always was, tasting something sweet and fruity. Something... familiar.

When they broke apart, T'Pring was even greener, but smiling, and Nyota looked at her curiously.

"You were eating an earth tangerine, weren't you?" she asked, and T'Pring licked her lips almost unconsciously, before giving her a nod.

"I was able to buy some from a trader, I know they are your favorite fruits" she responded. "I wanted to try them before you arrived so I would know their taste."

"Did you like them?" Nyota asked, tilting her head, and T'Pring nodded.

"Yes I did. They are very juicy. I can see the appeal" she said, and looked over at the bubbling water. "I also bought some herbals from earth, I believe the ones you enjoy, if you wish to fuse them instead of the vulcan's."

"Honestly, in the spirit of the holiday, I very much would" Uhura said, smiling and watching as T'Pring stood up and walked to the cupboard, retrieving a set of different dried leaves and handing them to Nyota. She found her favorites and blended them by placing all of the them inside the kettle, allowing their taste to fuse in the water. "I think you will like this one, it's very sweet too."

T'Pring watched as the water turned pink due to the hibiscus flowers Uhura put in, and the human smiled at her girlfriend's curiosity, feeling her heart warming up to the whole holiday. It was quite special, specially coming from a species that were so integrated with their cultural values.

She would make it count, and she hoped T'Pring would like her cultural suggestions.