It had been explained to her at least four times now, but it still didn't compute.

Apparantly, the Vulcan marriage ceremony involved linking fingers, and nothing else. Sarek insisted that there was more to it, that the "linking of minds" was the most important ritual they'd ever experience as husband and wife, but seeing as she wasn't Vulcan Amanda just couldn't wrap her head around the idea. Telepathy was the stuff that other planets did, and Earth never got involved.

And yet, here she was, about to marry one.

More upsetting, however, was the fact her parents were not allowed to see the ceremony.

Her father had been the most vocal about this. "Amanda is our only daughter!", General Grayson had practically screamed in Sarek's face, "We are her parents! Why are we not allowed to see her wedding?!"

Sarek, in his unmovable Vulcan way, had been slightly sympathetic. "General, I do apologize, but the ancient Vulcan traditions have never been viewed by any outsiders and shall remain that way." He flicked his eyes to Amanda for a fraction of a second. "Amanda does not count as an outsider anymore, seeing as she is marrying into our culture."

"I never liked this arrangement," her father spat, holding her sobbing mother in his arms. "Our lovely daughter marrying a heartless Vulcan, never sat right with us. Now I like it even less." General Grayson pointed an accusing finger at the Vulcan ambassador. "Coming down here, lying to her, then whisking her away to marry on your planet and we'll never see her again, is THAT your idea of diplomacy!?"

Amanda made a motion to protest, but Sarek had gently taken her hand, silencing her, before frowning ever so slightly. "General Grayson, your protests do not go unnoted. It is unfortunate, however, as I do and always have intended to wed your daughter. And seeing as I hold her in nothing but the highest regards, your lack of approval is unfortunate but will not be heeded."

Amanda almost laughed at that, the thought of a Vulcan of all people being defiant, but it was, of course, 'logical' wasn't it?

"It is logical, Amanda," Sarek had said later that evening. "I do not understand the customs of Earth, but it is quite useless to deny that our coupling would be diplomatic between our planets." He gave her the ghost of a smile. "Besides, I think you'll like Vulcan. You always wanted an enourmous garden, and my ancestral home possesses such a thing."

She smiled slightly. "Now you're just trying to make me feel better." Gently placing her hand on his shoulder, Amanda stared out into the rising twilight. "Sarek, as stubborn as they are, my parents love me very much. Mom had always dreamed that my wedding would take place on the Golden Gate bridge." She laughed. "This is a shock to both parties."

Sarek raised an eyebrow. "It is a shock because you were intended to marry a human, and I a Vulcan." A simple, logical remark as always, but it still cut her. It was true. Her sudden pain must have shown on her face, because Sarek frowned slightly and ran a hand over her cheek. "If you think for one instant that I would prefer a Vulcan bride over you, you would be unfathomably wrong."

The long, boring flight to Vulcan passed incredible views of galaxies and worlds that swirled through the blackness of space, solar flares shooting from far off stars, but she only watched because earth had once been seen there. In the background, the all Vulcan crew talked quietly among themselves, glancing at her every so often with raised eyebrows. She confused their precious logic. That would've amused her, had her heart not been hundreds of lightyears away. Amanda didn't even notice when Sarek sat down next to her until his hand was already on her back.

"Speak, Amanda." His cold brown eyes bore into hers, the faintest trace of worry upon his face. "It is not normal for a bride to be in tears."

He saw her cry? Embarrassed, Amanda looked away. "It's just....all of this. I can't handle it. It's too much." She wiped her eyes. "I r-really wanted my parents to at least be there...I'm not---I'm not going to see them for a very long ti--" And then she was sobbing, leaning heavily against the Vulcan's shoulder, clinging to him as if he were her life support. The other Vulcans seemed disgusted at such an emotional outburst, and even Sarek seemed confused as to the source of her tears, choosing instead to gently rub her back.

"Come now, Amanda," He whispered in her ear. She clung tighter to him. Sarek hesitated, unsure of what to do. "I don't....I don't understand your grief, my dear. I'm sorry." He looked sorrowful for a second before pulling her to her feet. "I hope you'll find some measure of happiness with me...."