I do not own Star Trek. Duh. Xenophobia

"What makes you smile so?" Silek asked his elder brother. For nearly ten minutes, Sarek had sat quietly beside him with that faint smile. Silek knew the reason for it, but he couldn't resist teasing his elder brother. "What could possibly be causing you to lose your control so early in the day?"

Sarek quickly composed his features. He did not enjoy being caught with less than perfect control, but he could trust his brother. Silek had seen him under worse conditions. Last night was a prime example. "I do not understand," he replied bluntly, with a trace of a teasing tone in his voice. "Surely, I am mistaken," Silek offered with a near smile of his own, "but I had the distinct impression that you were smiling." He shifted in his seat beside his brother in the back of the embassy limousine in order better to view

Sarek's face. "I believe the proper Earth term is 'smiling like a cat that ate the canary'. " Only Silek would dare push the boundaries of his brother's privacy and get away with it. He knew there was nothing Sarek could do about it. Oh, my brother, you 'owe me big time' as they say on this planet.

Silek knew full well why his brother smiled. It was Silek who had finally managed to locate the "missing" ambassador last night. No, it was this morning, just after 3:00 A.M. local time that Sarek's aide, Selek, had roused the ambassador's brother from a sound sleep. T'Pau, purposely ignoring the differences in time, had called and had asked specifically for Ambassador Sarek. No matter how he tried, the young aide could not find the celebrated emissary. As a last resort, he had awakened Silek, hoping that one brother could locate the other while he attempted to placate a very demanding T'Pau. Knowing his brother and Amanda and their mutual "feelings" as he did, Silek placed a single call directly to Dr. Grayson's apartment. Just as he had predicted, Sarek answered his call.

In fact, Silek knew that Sarek often spent most of his nights at Amanda's apartment and had been doing so since early spring. Silek also knew that his brother's next Time would not take place for another two point zero five Standard years, but he had no doubt as to what went on at Amanda's apartment those nights. He had surprised them once or twice. On several occasions before this morning, Silek had dared broach the subject with his oh-so proper brother. "What will happen, Sarek, if it becomes known that you spend your nights with Miss Grayson?"

Each time, Sarek would only glare at his younger brother. "How is anyone to learn such a fact, little brother," he always retorted, "and is it anyone's business but my own?"

How ironic, mused Silek at the time, that my brother, Vulcan's choice as her representative to Earth, behaves so un-Vulcan-like in his private life.

That morning, Silek passed along the message from Selek and urged his brother to return to the embassy as quickly as possible. Then, he relieved Selek of his unpleasant conversation with T'Pau, explaining only that Sarek was enroute. Within fifteen Standard minutes, Sarek took his proper place before the comm unit. At the termination of the communication with T'Pau, Silek had been prompt in pointing out to Sarek the illogic and foolhardiness of his continued actions.

This time, though, Sarek paused to consider his brother's words. He spoke slowly and thoughtfully. "You are, of course, correct." Pausing, then, to catch his brother's eyes, Sarek's next words surprised him. "I have asked Amanda to be my wife."

That had been three Standard weeks ago.

At his brother's blatant reminder, Sarek's ears promptly turned a lime green, and it took the eminent ambassador nearly two minutes to reassert his bio-controls, returning them to their normal shade. "Do not tease me, Brother," Sarek whispered. "Not when I am about to face Mr. Grayson in order to seek his permission to marry his daughter."

Silek, instantly sobered by his brother's reminder of their upcoming task, nodded, and the two brothers sat a while in thoughtful silence. After a few moments, Silek spoke more soberly. "Still, Brother, I do not understand why you seek to speak with Mr. Grayson." Silek frowned, then added, "Surely, if you felt you needed permission you should have father speak for you."

"It is our tradition for the fathers of the two intended to speak and arrange things," Sarek agreed. "However, it is the tradition of Earth that the male himself speak to the female's father, asking for her hand in marriage."

Silek tilted his head. "I would image the male would need more than a mere hand."

Sarek gave his younger brother an acid look. "Perhaps I should send you back to Vulcan," he mused. "You seem to be developing too much of a sense of humor."

"Forgive me," Silek replied. But the recitative response was far from sincere.

Sarek inhaled and changed the subject. "During the wedding, the groom, that is, the male, is allowed to have a 'best man' stand beside him during the ceremony. A 'best man', I am told, is someone whom the male considers to be his best friend," Sarek explained. "I wish you to stand beside me in this capacity."

For a moment, Silek was speechless. "I would be most honored, my brother."

Sarek only nodded in response.

There was no time for more conversation as the limousine was slowing and pulling over in front of the First Global Bank of Earth. The two Vulcans entered the institution and proceeded towards the information desk.

The young man behind the desk seemed surprised and nervous upon seeing them.

"I am Sarek of Vulcan," he stated matter-of-factly. "I believe Mr. Robert Grayson is expecting me."

Tugging at his collar, the young man attempted a smile. "If you gentlemen will please be seated, I'll inform Mr. Grayson that you have arrived." He gestured towards a small sitting area where several overly upholstered chairs sat around a low table covered with various financial reading materials.

Sarek nodded and proceeded, followed by Silek, to one of chairs. "The wait should not be too long," Sarek informed his brother. "Before we left the embassy, Selek called to inform Mr. Grayson of our arrival."

Before those very words had been completed, a large door across the lobby opened, and a tall, dignified man stepped out. The man, somewhere in his latter fifties, wore a custom tailored black suit. His impeccable dress and short-cropped blond hair gave him an air of quiet sophistication. This could be no other than Robert Grayson himself. Amanda had spoken of her father before.

He looks exactly as she described him, Silek thought. I wonder if he is as rigid and demanding as she suggested.

"Ah," he spoke loudly as the walked briskly towards the Vulcans. "You must be the ambassador." He smiled broadly.

Sarek and Silek stood and, moving at a more sedate pace, met the man in the middle of the lobby. "I am Sarek. This is my brother Silek." Sarek's voice deepened as it did anytime he spoke in public.

"Robert Grayson," the human introduced himself. He held out a hand in greeting, then catching himself, withdrew, his lips tightening and his face shading a slight pink. Clearly he was uneasy. "Forgive me," he stated bluntly. "I'm not used to dealing with Vulcans."

"There is no offense," Sarek told him.

"Good, good," Grayson returned heartily. "You know, my daughter works at the embassy with you people, and she is always saying how fond she is of your culture. Now, if you gentlemen will just step into my office, we can carry on there." Turning, Robert Grayson led the way.

Amanda inherited her coloring and her blue eyes from her father, Silek noted as he followed the two men. Yet her eyes seem the color of Earth's summer sky while the father's seem colder somehow.

The office was flawlessly decorated and well appointed. Mahogany wood, which was used exclusively throughout for furniture and paneling, spoke of old money and old values. Old-fashioned library-style seating was of well-padded black leather, studded with brass tacks. The room was the perfect, masculine setting for Robert Grayson and could not have better reflected the character of the man.

When all three were comfortably seated, Mr. Grayson pulled several data solids from this desk and popped one into the computer. "Now, Your Excellency, what type of account do you wish to open with us?"

Silek frowned and shook his head slightly. Mr. Grayson cannot think we have driven all this way simply to open an account at his bank. Surely Amanda has spoken to him about Sarek just as she has often spoken of her father to me.

"Sarek, please," Sarek requested. "There is no need for formality within the family."

Robert Grayson's brow furrowed with confusion for a moment. Again, he blushed with the mistake. Then his eyes turned to Silek's faint frown. "Ah, yes, the family," he replied with a nod. "Again, forgive me. I've never worked with Vulcans before except by teleconference, but Amanda keeps assuring me that deep down you Vulcans are just like us." He pressed several keys in sequence on the computer. "I'll just change the heading on this to note your preference of name."

This is becoming uncomfortable, Silek thought. Amanda has always spoken of how close knit her family is. Why is it that her father is unaware of her "feelings" for my brother? Silek nodded encouragement as his brother continued.

"I am not here to open an account," Sarek stated. "I am here about family."

Puzzlement again shown plainly on Robert Grayson's countenance. Then, as understanding dawned, he shook his head good-naturedly. "I'm sorry. You must think I'm a little dense." He punched yet another string of code into the computer. "Now, you said your name is Silek? That's another of those odd "S" names, isn't it?" he turned to ask Silek. "Can you spell that? In Standard?" Grayson shrugged, shook his head slightly, and smiled to himself. "Mandy tells me that you people usually give your boys a name beginning with "S" in honor of some somebody or other."

Silek was taken aback. Mr. Grayson is clearly unaware of Sarek's reason for being there. Or is he? Perhaps the man does have an inkling of an idea and is merely toying with Sarek.

Noting a flicker of irritation cross his brother's face, Silek silently offered Sarek his sympathy. Brother, you will need all of your diplomatic skills today.

"No," Sarek's voice sounded again of the diplomat's public tone. "I have come here to seek your permission to marry your daughter Amanda."

The data solid that Robert Grayson had been holding clattered loudly on the rich wood desktop. His face burned a richer shade of red, and his mouth twisted in a grimace. "No!"

His face betraying nothing, Sarek asked mildly, "May I inquire as to why?"

Silek did not expect such vehement opposition, and he raised his eyebrows. Daring a sideways look at Sarek, he noted a line of anger setting in across his brother's forehead. Sarek was not used to being denied anything on which he set his mind. Even as a child, Sarek boldly took that which he wanted. This is where the fireworks will begin, as they say on this world.

One could almost see the thoughts as they raced across Robert Grayson's red face. Taking a deep breath, he blew the answer out at the two Vulcans. "Mandy is too young. She's only nineteen."

Silek could see relief on his brother's face and knew it was mirrored on his own. Ah, as with most fathers of daughters, he does not believe her to be old enough to take on a marriage. Indeed, even Vulcans are nearing twenty-one Standard years old before they are brought together by the first pon farr. For a moment, I thought perhaps he simply did not like Sarek.

Sarek's face and voice softened as he answered. "That I can understand." He nodded in agreement. "She is young by your standards as well as mine; however, even at her young age, she has already earned her doctorate, lived alone on two continents, and is a serious contender for the Nobel prize. Clearly, she is emotionally mature enough to enter into a marriage."

"I don't need you to tell me about my daughter! I say she is still too young!" Robert Grayson argued angrily. "Besides, you're too old for her. You're older than I am. My God, you're three times her age!"

Silek made a quick mental computation. Yes, Sarek was 61.985 Standard years of age. Were he human, he would be equivalent to approximately 30.9925 Standard years of age. Technically, if age was a factor to be considered and if Sarek was human, Robert Grayson would be quite correct in stating that Sarek is too old for Amanda.

Sarek nodded to himself and drew his lips into a straight line. No doubt, he had arrived at the same conclusion. "I concede that point, Mr. Grayson," Sarek stated softly. "If you would prefer, we will wait until Amanda has reached her age of majority. While she may find the wait difficult to accept, another two years' time would not be an intolerable duration. I am prepared to wait."

Robert Grayson's face darkened more. He shook his head zealously. "No," he barked. "I won't have it. Mandy comes from a good, old-fashioned Catholic family. I won't allow her to marry outside her religion."

The irresistible force meets the immovable object, Silek thought as he watched the two men face each other. Robert Grayson was the Great Sandstone Tower of Seleya while Sarek was the Grand Obsidian Monolith opposite. And who will win this battle?

Sarek's face was dark with carefully controlled anger and frustration. He gripped the armrests of his chair and squeezed. His voice was equally controlled and dangerously quiet. "I have not noted Amanda to be so devoted to her worship," he retorted. "However, if it would ease your mind, I am willing to conform to your religious practices while here on Earth."

"Are you also willing to have those so-called ears of yours bobbed in order to conform?" yelled Mr. Grayson. He took a deep breath and let it go slowly, but his anger did not subside. "You Vulcans may well be a fine people, but I don't want my daughter to marry one. Shouldn't you marry one of your own kind?"

Silek watched with awe as his brother Sarek sat speechless for the first time in his life. I understand now what Amanda meant about her father. I fear that whoever may win this battle, it will be Amanda who loses. How can a man so very xenophobic have a daughter like Amanda?

Sarek leaned forward in the chair, his hands gripping the armrest so tightly that the wood itself squeaked in protest. His face was iron, and when he was able to speak, his voice shook with barely suppressed fury. "I see no solution to this dilemma," he stated coldly. "Fortunately, the choice is not yours. It is Amanda's, and she has chosen me."

"Oh, no it's not!" Robert Grayson bellowed with fury. His face was contorted by rage. Bolting out of his seat, he leaned across his desk and roared at the Vulcan. "I'm not about to let my only child commit the sin of bestiality with a Vulcan!"

"Kroykah!" Sarek shouted, his control now utterly lost. Vaulting from his seat, Sarek yelled his reply. "You will not speak in that manner about my intended wife!"

Silek, too, leapt from his seat. "My brother, your control!" he cried out. I must help Sarek regain his control! I would not be able stop him should he attack Mr. Grayson. Silek's heart pounded furiously. If Mr. Grayson continues and Sarek is unable to control, my brother will surely kill him. Then what of poor Amanda?

"Your intended wife?" he spat contemptuously. "My daughter will never be wife to the likes of you! I won't have my grandchildren sired by some green-blooded freak!"

Miraculously, Silek felt his brother relax. Slowly, Sarek drew in a deep breath and released his anger with the air. With hands tightly clasped behind his back, Sarek took a step backward from Mr. Grayson's desk. "I hope for your sake as well as Amanda's that you change your opinion," Sarek spoke with a robot-like inflection, "for it is quite possible that your only child has been impregnated by the green-blooded freak who stands before you."

Silek gasped openly. Is that what has prompted my brother's desire to marry Amanda? Am I to be an uncle?

Mr. Grayson fell back into his chair, breathing heavily. "You bastard," he hurled. "I'll…I'll have you charged with statutory rape!"

"You may certainly try," Sarek agreed. His voice was devoid of any emotion. "However, you will learn that to be an impossible task. Amanda is some three point zero two years above the age of consent, and I hold diplomatic immunity."

With that, Sarek wheeled about, his formal robes all a whirl as he left the office. The last sight Silek saw as he hurried to keep up with his brother was Mr. Grayson, his face in his hands sobbing wildly.