This is a sequel to the little story, "A Family Emergency," that I posted a while back.
Many thanks, hugs & kisses to Selek 'cause he's just THE best.
Standard disclaimer applies. Yadda yadda yadda. Feedback welcomed.

The Celebration of Surak

Chapter 2

The "Terrific Trio" and company arrived early the next morning, and with Amanda as supervisor, they set right to work.

Sarek noted with well-concealed pleasure that his son seemed permanently fixed to Miss Chapel's elbow. It is a good match, thought Sarek as he watched the two of them with Mandy. He'd had to give up possession of his granddaughter when Spock arrived. He didn't mind; after all, Spock was her father. And perhaps this woman would consent to be her mother if his son had any common sense to go along with his renowned logic and asked her. Perhaps he should give his son a boost along those lines.

"Miss Chapel," Sarek called out to the group, "would you come here, please?"

"Of course," she answered, and reluctantly handed Mandy over to Uhura, whose was just itching to hold the child.

Christine walked over to Sarek, Spock following. He was curious and concerned as to what his father could possibly want with Christine.

"Ah, good, Spock, you are here, too. I request a favor of you both."

"What favor, Father?" Spock was quick to ask.

"In the spirit of today's celebration, I will be indulging in sentimentality and romance," he informed them, "and I need help in completing the first part of my plan. Will you both assist me?"

"Of course," Christine agreed with a smile. Spock nodded his assent.

"I note that you are wearing a pair of Amanda's gardening gloves," Sarek said to Christine. He indicated her hands and Amanda's stained and worn gloves.

"Yes, sir," she answered somewhat perplexed. "Amanda loaned them to me."

"Father, what is the nature of your need?" Spock asked.

Sarek noted that Spock's eyes lingered on Christine's hands, and he smiled to himself. Turning so that his eyes could meet Christine's, Sarek locked gazes with her. "As you know, Vulcans have no need for outward symbols of marriage. We are a telepathic people, and when we engage ourselves to another, it is done through the mind meld." He was speaking directly to Christine, explaining to her. "Humans, on the other hand, require an outward sign symbolizing such a committed relationship; hence, the male traditionally offers the female an engagement ring as a token of his promise to marry her. Later, during the actual marriage ceremony, a wedding ring is added."

"Yes, Father, we are aware of this," Spock stated bluntly. Was his father taking leave of his senses? Or was he seeking to meddle in his relationship with Christine? Spock's eyes narrowed as he realized the truth. His father had somehow recognized his intentions towards Christine and ascertained his thought to propose marriage.

Sarek turned now to speak to Spock. "We Vulcans believe that logic is paramount; that such outward signs and symbols are illogical or redundant, and if one intended to marry a Vulcan female, that would, indeed, be the case. But a Human woman needs such symbols, especially when words are difficult." Sarek stopped to draw breath and to allow both Spock and Christine time to digest his words. "When I proposed to your mother, Spock, I did not recognize this truth. I thought it highly illogical as well as wasteful to purchase rings. It is true that your mother never complained, but I know she wished to have them. I now wish to rectify this error."

Spock took a half step backwards and clasped his hands behind his back. His face reflected his thoughts as he took in his father's words. Christine felt the tiny irrational spark of hope she had been nursing for over a year now flare upward, and she blushed.

Examining each face in turn, Sarek was satisfied that he had made his point, and that it had been well received. "I have bought your mother an engagement ring at House J'abezra Jewelers, and it has arrived. Would you drive downtown and pick it up for me?" When Spock was reluctant to nod, Sarek added, "Miss Chapel should go with you. I had to estimate her ring size, and, never having done this before, it is possible that I made a mistake. If Miss Chapel can wear Amanda's gloves, perhaps she could try the ring on to determine if the size I chose was correct."

"Of course, Father," Spock replied. He raised an eyebrow at Christine. "Christine, would you go with me on this errand for my father?"

She smiled prettily at him. "I would be delighted."

Sarek walked the pair to the garage, which was situated to the right of the gardens. "Here," Sarek said, handing an old-fashioned code card to Spock. "You may use my flitter."

Spock accepted the card with raised brows as Sarek assisted Christine into the passenger side of the flitter. Apparently his father was more than a little pleased with the idea of adding Christine to the family. He had never even allowed Spock to help him clean the flitter before.

But Sarek was yet to finish. He moved around to the driver's side. "I deal with Saravel, the eldest of the brothers, and know him to be an honest man. He handles my account. Should you find some other piece of jewelry to your liking you may charge it to my account." And with those last unbelievable words, Sarek left the couple and headed back inside.

"I can never thank you all enough," Amanda said sincerely. "It looks absolutely gorgeous out here."

Nyota Uhura smiled as she looked around. "You're right," she agreed. "It is beautiful, and it ought to be seeing how hard we worked."

Uhura, Chekov, and Scotty had been extremely busy transforming Amanda's patio garden area into a Hawaiian tropical paradise. Surprisingly, their chosen party theme did not look out of place here on Vulcan, as one would imagine. Instead, the decorations, tiki torches, and tropical plants blended amazingly well with the native Vulcan vines and succulents. At Nyota's request, Scotty had performed yet another miracle by creating a "beach" along the inner edge of the garden. Now, gentle, white-foamed waves shushed unceasingly against native Vulcan sand. More impressively, they had achieved this marvel in less than three hours. It wasn't even noon yet.

Amanda laughed and placed a light hand on Uhura's shoulder. "That we did! Or at least you and your team did. The party would have been canceled if not for you. I guess I'm just too old to be up all night with a sick child." She shook her head.

Uhura instantly sobered. "Is Mandy all right?" Like everyone who came into contact with young Mandy, Nyota fallen in love with the elfin child; not only because she was Spock's daughter, but there was something 'special' about her.

Pulling off her work gloves, Amanda nodded her head. "Yes, she's just fine now."

"Oh, good," Nyota sighed with relief.

"It was all Sarek's fault, you know," she confided in her new friend. "He's old enough to know better than to fill a child full of cookies before bedtime. It's no wonder that later she woke us up with her vomiting."

"It was just all the cookies, then?"

"I think so," Amanda replied. "That or maybe an allergy to something. You know, runny nose, sneezing."

"Well, don't blame Sarek too much," she offered. "I'd have given that sweet little thing all the cookies she wanted, too."

"No, you wouldn't have," Amanda countered. "You're a woman. You have more sense than a man."

Both women laughed.

"And what is it that ye find so verra funny, my dear lassies?" Scotty asked as he joined them. His Scottish burr was quite thick today. He knew Nyota liked the sound of it.

"I was just thanking Nyota for all her help today, and I'd like to thank you, too," Amanda said readily.

"Och," Scotty muttered. He waved his hand in the air as if to brush away the compliment. "I only did what Miss Uhura there asked of me." He grinned shyly and rocked back on his heels. His eyes were not yet daring enough to meet Uhura's.

"Well, it's nothing short of a miracle!" Amanda exclaimed.

Cocking his head to the left, Scotty told her, "Aye, and that's why they call me the 'Miracle Worker'." Then, his sudden shyness again took over. "Pavel!" he yelled. "C'mon, boy, let's go back to the ship for some lunch and rest before the party tonight."

"Coming," the young Russian replied. "I just want to put the finishing touches on the speakers for the sound system." In addition to installing speakers to carry music throughout the patio and garden, Chekov had added extra receivers and a voice amplifier so that anyone brave enough or drunk enough could indulge in a bit of karaoke.

"Where's Christine?" Uhura asked as she glanced around. There was no sign of her best friend. "She and Spock were supposed to install the solar lighting."

"I installed the solar lighting," Chekov answered plainly. The young man tried to keep his face expressionless, but Chekov had never been able to keep a poker face. His eyes twinkled and a suggestive grin sported about his mouth.

Scotty, a much better poker player, kept his face straight as he added, "I believe I saw her and Spock walking out towards the back of the gardens." Then, with a definite wink at Amanda, he added, "Och, but that was nigh on two hours ago."

Amanda raised her chin. "Oh, well, if that's the case perhaps you should return without Christine. I'll make sure she feels right at home here."

With grins all around, the group dispersed.

Weary but happy, Amanda hummed to herself as she entered the house. She headed straight for the kitchen and a tall cold glass of kasava juice, but Sarek beat her to it. Setting Mandy on the floor with I'Chiya and pulling out a chair for Amanda, Sarek poured his wife a juice before pouring himself one as well.

"Is everything to your satisfaction in regards to the party?" he asked.

"Mmm," Amanda swallowed and set her half-empty glass on the table. "It is fantastic, Sarek. You won't believe your eyes." Then, she changed topics. "Have you seen Spock? Or Christine?" Her voice remained neutral, but she raised her eyebrows just fractionally at Christine's name.

Sarek answered her unspoken question by raising an eyebrow of his own. "I sent them downtown on an errand."

Amanda frowned. "An errand?" she asked.

"Yes, my wife," he deadpanned. "I have prepared lunch. If you will wash up, I will set the table. Mandy has already been fed." He looked fondly down at the toddler who was trying with all her might to ride on the back of a reluctant sehlat cub. "Now, t'an you cannot ride I'Chiya. You should take your nap, little one," he told the child.

Gently, he picked her up, washed her hands and face, and carried her down the hall to Spock's old room. There he placed her in her crib and tried unsuccessfully to smooth down her unruly curls. A smile, bold as 40 Eridani A, lit up his face, and he didn't care.

"An errand, Sarek?" Amanda's voice startled him.

Turning around and dropping the smile, which she had already seen, Sarek tip-toed to the doorway where his wife stood. "Shh, the child is already asleep. Yes, my wife," he answered her. "I sent the two of them on an errand." Gently, he guided her out of the room and down the hallway. "You were supposed to be washing up for lunch," he chided her.

"Uh-huh," Amanda murmured skeptically. She wasn't about to let him change the subject. Not now. "What kind of an errand, Sarek?" She stopped, refusing to move until he answered her.

Sarek sighed softly. "Do you trust me, my wife?" he asked quietly.

Amanda had to step nearer in order to hear. She lowered her voice. "You know that I do."

"Then let it go. You will know all before midnight. I promise." He reached for her graying locks that had escaped the comb she had imprisoned them in earlier that morning. Carefully, he tucked the flyaway strands back into place. Lowering his voice even more, he told her, "I thank you for not cutting your hair, Aduna." With practiced movements, he leaned forward and buried his nose in her locks. Its sweet fragrance was like an intoxicant to him.

He was trying to distract her from the mysterious errand. Amanda knew it. It was one of his oldest and best-played tactics. Change-the-subject was the name of the game, and although he played this game mainly in his duties as ambassador, he had used it on occasion with her. And damn the man if it wasn't working this time, too.

Amanda lifted her face and stood on her toes until her lips met Sarek's. Gently, almost timidly, she kissed him. Then carefully she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tenderly against her body, teasing him with her very demureness.

Sarek responded by parting her lips with his tongue and softly tasting her mouth. How long ago was it that Amanda, blushing a most becoming shade of rose, had taught him this gesture? Sarek stopped this line of thought, concentrating on Amanda, pulling her hard against him. Now was not the time for an analysis of past events!

The kiss deepened, and their bond opened wider, flooding them both with a limitless passion. Her hands pulled eagerly at the fastenings of his tunic, while his hands held her face, unwilling to allow the sweet taste to end. Their desire rose up and spilled over. In seconds, it seemed, Sarek stood bare-chested before Amanda, and she stood breathless, her hair unbound.

Sarek swallowed and released her. "What of the lunch I prepared for you, my wife?" he asked. His voice was deep and husky, his eyes dark with passion.

Amanda stepped away from Sarek, across the hall where their bedroom was. Looking him over thoroughly, Amanda was amazed at the sheer lust he could inspire in her. After nearly forty years of marriage, she still could never get enough of him. Through their bond, she projected erotic images and purposefully opened the door to their bedroom.

"I think I'll have my dessert first," she replied as she led the way into the darkened chamber.