A/N: This is a sequel to "The Vulcan's heart in a cold war" but if you don't read that it should still make sense to you. I don't own Trek, nor am I making money on it. Some chapters may be rated M, but warnings will be given. Hope you enjoy 3 LLAP

Letant shifted in his seat for the tenth time in the last five minutes. Agnes could tell he was bored. She didn't blame him, the Federation was putting on a dog and pony show for all the dignitaries, more so than usual, since they had for the first time both a Cardassian and Romulan head of state. They were sitting in the outside amphitheater listening to talking heads do what they do best, talk. The next three weeks should prove to be both fun and full of real diplomacy, culminating with a night of parties and fireworks after the swearing in of the new Federation council on Federation day. Between then and now there would be food from all of the corners of the Federation, arts, plays, operas, and foods, all displaying the absolute best of Federation diversity of life. She knew her would-be father was going to enjoy that part. Now, she was afraid they were going to lose his attention. She turned to him.

"I'm bored." "Your bored." they both said at the same time. He grinned at her and placed his around around her shoulders leaning in to whisper into her ear. "Remember what we did on Risa?" Agnes nodded once to acknowledge him, "There is an hour and a half left, if you can't find me in that time….I win." He said cryptically and began to stand up.

Agnes put her hand on his leg, "You forget two things. First, this is my home planet and you stick out like a sore thumb. Two, we need stakes."

"If I win, you must play in the Romulan cultural exposition." He grinned, "If you win, I'll let you plan an evening out, just the two of us."

"Well, Father," she whispered, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder, "You have a deal. I will give you a fifteen minute head start."

"Generous as always, Precious. No scanners or tricorders." he kissed her forehead and casually made his way through the crowd. He loved playing their little game of hide-and-seek, especially when it seemed completely inappropriate to do so.

Letant slipped easily through the crowd, and hailed an air car just outside the amphitheater. He only had it drive about five minutes away, before he saw a small park with strange looking devices that children seemed to be playing on. He'd never seen that before, so he thought he'd take a look.

He had very little interaction with small humans, and had never seen parents interacting with children, so this little park might be informative. He paid the driver and then paid him extra to forget he rode in the car. Letant then walked through the gates and began observing. Not a moment later a small brunette girl with big green eyes ran toward him, giggling, and grabbed hold of his leg. "Well, well, aren't you a forward little thing." he said with a broad smile, "Who might you be?" he purred softly trying to carefully squat down to get at eye level with his 'attacker'.

The little girl seemed to not understand him, but she grinned and blushed, letting go with one arm so she could wave. "Not much of a talker, I see." he said carefully picking her up. She latched onto his waist with her legs, and stared at him wide eyed. "I'm Letant." he said, watching her with fascination as she studied his face."

"Lupita!" an adult female called out from about fifty yards away.

Letant's armful turned toward the voice, but turned back to him ignoring the call. She pointed her finger and then as if she was about to touch some delicate petal of a flower she touched the ridge of the right side of his forehead. Letant chuckled.

The voice that called was getting closer, more frantic, "Excuse me, Sir, excuse me, please...please put the child down." Letant turned around to face the woman calling to him and his jaw dropped. She was a redhead, though there was a deeper auburn color to her hair than Agnes had, and she had freckles over the ridge of her nose. He blinked, "Did you lose something?" he said smoothly, carefully trying to dislodge the little girl from his waist.

Lupita started to protest, as she got handed back to her teacher. She whimpered and squirmed in protest in the arms of her teacher for a second and the redhead called over an assistant to take her, "Lay her down for her nap, she's getting fussy." She then turned her attention to the alien man in front of her. "You can't be here, this is a school park, these children…who are you?"

Letant held up his hands in the universal sign of surrender, the woman was clearly flustered, which he found adorable, "I'm with the Federation…"

She cut him off, "Oh, oh, I am so sorry. I was told we'd not get an inspector here for another month. You...you are the aid inspector? Our grant application stipulated that we'd be inspected before the Federation granted aid for our place." she started to ramble on, but the weight of his piercing blue eyes silenced her.

Letant shrugged, "I'm here to inspect, though, I'm not sure what it is I'm inspecting, or who you are my dear lady." he bent at the waist, took her hand in his and kissed it just above the knuckle. When he looked at her again she was as red as vulcan sunrise.

"Your not what I was expecting." she shifted, "Um, well, I'm Christina Tybee, but everyone calls me Ms. Tina. I founded this little school." she waved her hand toward a modest little building behind the park, "We've applied for aid to expand."

Letant put his hands behind his back again, "What is it you teach?"

"I...well, my staff and I teach developmentally different children, and adults so they can lead productive lives. Little Lupita for example, the girl who was climbing you, she has a chromosomal change that means she learns slower, and has different needs, she is non-verbal. We are teaching her and exploring what her potential might be." she said in her best chirpy sales gal voice. "I've been told on vulcan you have such schools in monasteries, here we depend on local and Federation aid in small private institutions, as you probably know."

Letant smirked, "Shall we sit?" he offered guiding her to a bench, "I actually didn't know any of that." he was now intrigued for more than one reason. It was common practice on Romulus to kill abnormal people, but if he could develop something like this it might make a small change for families who had to hide their loved ones away from the state. "And I'm not vulcan." he whispered conspiratorially, "I'm a romulan, it's an easy mistake to make, especially if you haven't had much experience with my people."

It was her turn to look at him with her jaw dropped, "Y-your not from the federation aid committee?" she whimpered.

"No, I'm from the Romulan Empire, and we aren't a part of the Federation. I'd know if we were." he chuckled, "At least, I think I probably would."

"Your here to inspect, you said?" her eyebrows were furrowing in concern and confusion.

Letant could see she was a little upset, and he didn't want to lose her attention so he thought fast, "The Praetor sent me to inspect local schools. You see, we don't have anything like you have described. He'd be most interested in you, um, your program. In exchange for his aid, of course. The Praetor is a generous man, very much so." he winked, stifling back the desire to tell her he was also roguishly handsome,well endowed, and devoted. Instead, he gave his best charming smile.

Tina chuckled, "This can't be happening right now."

"And yet, it is," he waved his hands, "Anything over ten thousand gold pressed latinum would have to be ratified by the senate, but if you can manage under that modest aid to start, I'm sure the arrangement can be made."

She blinked, "T-Ten Thousaand?" she repeated slowly, "Oh, oh, oh, please be real, please be real." she swallowed thickly, "Are you for real?"

"Touch me, I feel real enough to me." Letant said offering her his hand.

Tina took his hand, he was real. Tears welled up in her eyes, "I could kiss you." she whimpered.

"Oh, please d-"

Before he could finish she hugged him around his neck and pressed her lips haphazardly against his briefly with a squeal. Letant was about to return the kiss when he found himself kissing the chill air. She had pulled back again wiggling all over the bench in a makeshift celebration. "You don't know what it means, what this help will do. We have children coming from all over the Federation."

"Ms. Tina, it's my pleasure. If I could, I'd give you triple that to get that reaction from you again." he chuckled, "I would love to discuss your work in more detail, perhaps over dinner some evening? Please understand, if you say no, you'll still get your aid. I am not that kind of romulan."

She was about to open her mouth when a dignitary car pulled up outside the park gate. Agnes got out with three romulan guards behind her. Letant wasn't facing them, but when Tina saw them approach Letant turned just in time for the guards to pound their chest in salute to him, and for Agnes to say, "Praetor." with a small bow.

Letant looked back at Tina with an apologetic smile and then back to Agnes, "How did you manage?"

"You put minimum effort into this time."

He shrugged, and looking back at Tina he stood, "Business calls, Ms. Tina. Before I go, let me introduce myself properly. I am Praetor Letant, of the Romulan Empire. This is my daughter, Agnes."

Agnes stepped forward and Tina rose to greet her. Agnes was an intimidating looking woman, by Tina's view. Much taller and stronger looking than herself. She held out her hand to Agnes who slipped on a glove and shook with her.

"My daughter has developing touch telepathy issues, Ms. Tina, please take no offence at her glove. She has done this for your protection."

"None taken," she said meekly.

Letant motioned to Agnes to give him a moment. He focused on Tina again, "So, about that dinner, what do you say? Please keep in mind, it has nothing to do with the funding I am offering you. This is more personal, this is what you would call...a date."

"SERIOUSLY?" she squeaked out.

"Yes." he didn't hesitate, "You can, for your comfort, come to a state function with me as I am sure it may take time to earn your trust. Or, if you feel particularly adventurous and brave, I am sure we can find a nice eatery where we can talk privately."

Tina eyed him and the crew he was traveling with, "State function to start." she managed, "We'll see where that goes."

Letant exhaled grateful she said yes at all, he snapped his fingers toward one of his guards and he handed Letant a small padd, "This is my contact information, please, if you don't change your mind message me this evening and I will make the arrangements." he gave a single nod, and a wink and then turned to walk with Agnes out of the park.

One of Tina's assistance approached, "What just happened?"

"I-I'm not sure, but I think I just scored a date with The romulan like...emperor."

Once in the transport Agnes looked at Letant, "Did you just snap and Lotak?" she said raising her eyebrows, "And what is worse, I think you did it to impress that young lady?"

Letant gave a dreamy sigh, "Too much?"

"Just a bit, the only worse gesture would have been if you'd have clapped like some kind of machiavellian 15th century landbaron."

"She works with differently abled people." he said looking to Agnes, "I want this sort of common good effort on our home world."

"You also look at her like you look at eggs with yamok sauce." Agnes added.

"She is beautiful." He grinned, "I find her awkward shyness endearing, and she's very humble."

Agnes suppressed a small grin, "And a fair bit innocent."

"Do you think?"

"I'm sure of it. I think you will complement each other."

Letant gave his daughter a fond smile, "Thank you, Precious." He sighed, "Well, where are we off to now?"

"We are going to the opening ceremony reception. The vulcan delegation has arrived, as well as your favorite person in the whole universe…."

He raised an eyebrow, "Martok?"

"The same."

"Good!" Letant said with a smile, "I'm going to be spectacularly nice to him. It will bother him more than if I were to insult him."

Agnes stood back near the wall and watched Letant work the room. He did it no matter what kind of gathering it was, whether it was human, romulan, or cardassian, she admired the style that he had, the ability to command attention and respect. Right now, as she watched, he was doing as he said he would, being friendly to Martok. She could see the klingon struggling with it all, and she bet before long he'd stalk off annoyed.

"L'Vor," she heard her vulcan name called. When she looked it was T'Les, Solok, and a vulcan she did not know. They were all dressed in their formal vulcan robes with the rata, tafar, tapan symbols.

She raised the ta'al to them all, "Greetings, T'Sai T'Les. Osu Solok, and…"

Lojal, the ambassador, spoke, "Ambassador Lojal."

Agnes nodded, "Greeting Ambassador."

"It is agreeable to see you again," T'Les said, "Will you and your father be with us the entire month?"

"Yes, T'Sai. The Praetor will be involved in the festivities, and then the week long negotiations after."

Lojal spoke up, "This is unprecedented, Klingon, Cardassian, and Romulans around the table discussing peace and trade."

"Of course, Osu." She nodded politely.

"Your father tells us you are participating in the Romulan cultural exchange exhibition." T'Les said and Agnes automatically shot Letant a dirty look. Letant saw it from the distance and waved at her.

She looked back at T'Les, "Yes, T'Sai."

"I look forward to it."

Solok took a step toward Agnes, "Actually, Mother, she is a classically trained guitarist. You might wish to request a private performance. She is remarkably skilled."

T'Les seemed to think of it for a moment and then nodded, "Would you allow us the honor of hearing your playing?"

"As you wish, T'Sai. It is your time for celebration, as you are being sworn into the counsel. If can give you that small service." She raised the ta'al, "Then I come to serve."

"Tomorrow at lunch. I will arrange it with your father." She raised the ta'al and guided Lojal away.

Solok stayed behind, "It is agreeable to see you." he said evenly, "How are you adjusting? My mother said that you spent some time on vulcan, did that aid you?"

"It did, and I am doing well. I finally agreed to some of the tests Dr. Bashir wished to run. As it turns out, the reason my transformation stuck so easily, is due to genetics my ancestor possesed."

Solok looked confused.

"Mestral," she explained, "was a distant ancestor."

"Indeed, that is an interesting and improbable coincidence."

"How are you?"

"I am well. " he took a place next to her, "Captain DeSoto, contacted me early last week. He stated that he won the battle of the music bands."

"The T'Kumbra didn't play though, we were sent new orders."

"He has challenged us to a musical competition at The Launching pad, next Monday night."

"Did you accept?"

"I did. Vorik has taken shore leave, Stol, is also playing, of course me, and if you would…" he paused and turned to her, "If you would play it would be most agreeable."

Agnes thought about it for a few moments, looking out among the crowd for no particular reason. With a sigh she faced him again, "I will. My father's schedule will keep him busy in the evenings. I can practice and play."

"Excellent." he said, his micro-expressions conveying to her how pleased he was, "Will you walk there with me now and then to meet with the rest to choose our music?"

"Yes, but only if we order the vegan pizza at the Launching pad. I didn't find any of the food agreeable here."

"Of course." Solok replied as he walked near her as they left.

At the end of the night, Agnes was walking back to the embassy where the romulan contingent was staying. Solok had been at her side all evening, and was walking her back. They had eaten together, planned the music with Vorik, and were now enjoying a cool night's walk. "It was an agreeable evening." Agnes said breaking the silence.

"It was. Thank you for agreeing to come with me, and play in our band contest." He said, other words playing the back of his throat wouldn't come out.

"These weeks will be unproductive to me, as everything revolves around Letant." She confessed, "This is a welcome event."

"It seems you have built a normally satisfactory life." there was a question in his voice.

"I had not thought of it, not really, but I suppose I have, yes."

"I have attempted to as well." Solok said with a small boldness,"You were correct when we last spoke. I had insulated myself from others, not noticing them or their cultures. I left and went into the diplomatic corps, but even there my reputation was such that only the vulcan ambassador would take me on."

"That is regrettable to hear," Agnes said, feeling a pang of compassion for what must have been a hard reality for him.

Solok stopped under the streetlight just outside the embassy, "You look beautiful." he said the emotional word, but in a vulcan way. He placed his hands behind his back, "You have let your hair grow, and the choice of vulcan robes you wear is aesthetically alluring. I must ask, why do you wear gloves now?"

"Touch telepathy, I don't have the disciplines in places to stop invading privacy and everyone touches hands on earth frequently." She confessed softly, "I'm getting better but it's imperfect."

"This is new."

"Yes, the process that changed me is still at work. Dr. Bashir said it may be another year before I know the extent." she cleared her throat, "And thank you."

"May I kiss you goodnight? I understand it is culturally appropriate, among humans, for dates to end in that way." He stepped closer.

"Has this been a date, Solok?"

"I believe so," Solok replied, "I still desire you to be my mate, but I will not declare it ritually, until and unless you desire it as well."

All of the statements he just made shocked her. She figured it would only be logical for him to have moved on from all that, but he had apparently remained steadfast. A small part of her wondered if Ston still felt the same as well. "I think we had better save any kissing for the second date." she said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"As you wish." Solok said without disappointment. "Good night, Ashaya. I have missed your presence." He raised the ta'al to her and walked off into the dark.

When Agnes got to their rooms, Letant was waiting up in his night robe, sipping tea. "She contacted me," Letant said, "I have invited her to the formal luncheon tomorrow." he said before she'd removed her top robe. "Should I go in a pant romulan suit, or robes?"

"A suit, Father, you look very good in the blue and silver."

"Then so be it." He looked at her, "Solok?"

"Yes,"

"So did he declare Coo-n-nuts-so-sleek?" He asked puzzling out the vulcan badly.

"What is that ridiculous phrase?" Agnes said with a full smile.

"Isn't that what they declare at random and then boom you are married?"

"No, he did say he would like me to be his mate, but wanted to wait for me to be agreeable to it."

"Are you agreeable to it?" Letant asked cocking his head, "Nevermind, I know the answer. You don't know, and you don't know because you've never been truly committed to anything but your career. Need I remind you that the doctor said you may well enter pon farr between now and a year when all your genetic alterations finish fully developing."

Agnes's face twisted, "This is the part I dislike, Father." she said sitting next to him, "Of all the life changes that this has brought on," she waved her hand over herself, "This is the thing I hate most. Humans don't have to marry or mate to survive, this feels like a raw deal."

"And I wish I had the pon farr, it may have saved me a lifetime of using my own career as my lover. " he put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head, "No, I think this is a good thing. You are a fantastic doctor, I wouldn't trust anyone else with my health. You are an amazing intelligence officer, but you are horrible at being a being." he squeezed her gently under his arm, "In fact, my orders to you for this month are to explore what being you means, outside of your devotion to me, which is lovely and desired, but for me I wish you to have a well rounded life.