"Unfinished Business"

When we first meet K'Ehleyr in "The Emissary" she tells Worf that there is unfinished business between them. This story explains how they met, fell in love and why the parted all those years ago.

Chapter 2

"I do not know if you are aware of this but in the last three weeks, our shared mealtimes have decreased by 48%."

Worf looked down at his food, "I have been … busy."

"I had become accustomed to our talks. Either you are choosing to eat your meals alone or you are choosing to eat them with someone else," Erdok said.

Worf frowned. Was he hearing… jealousy? From a Vulcan? "Is that a problem?"

"Of course not," Erdok changed her tone quickly. Then she went out on a limb as to who he'd been eating with instead, "You have obviously mended your differences with your Klingon History partner. What is her name?"

"K'Ehleyr," Erdok could see a faint smile on Worf lips as he said her name, "And we still have our differences, but, we are getting along."

"Then you two have become friends?"

Worf thought about it for a moment, "Yes."

"Might she be the Klingon woman you have hoped to find some day?" she asked.

Worf shook his head, "We are too different."

Erdok looked confused, "How many similarities does one require for a romantic attachment to form? You are both Klingon, both taking courses here at the Academy and you obviously have enough to talk about during all those meals you're sharing with her."

"Our personalities are nothing alike," Worf said, "You and I have more in common than K'Ehleyr and I do. And she is only half Klingon."

She raised an eyebrow, "Interesting."

Worf didn't know what to make of this conversation. He knew he wasn't being completely honest with Erdok; he definitely had feelings for K'Ehleyr. But he knew that nothing could ever come of it; he meant it when he said they were just too different. Worf's attraction to K'Ehleyr didn't make any sense to him and yet it was there nonetheless. He looked forward to seeing her, laughed when she made jokes, smiled at her when he thought she wasn't looking, and secretly loved it when she got a little too close to him.

They finished their lunch in silence. Erdok wasn't entirely sure what was happening to her, but she knew that if she talked to any other Vulcan about they'd tell her to isolate herself in intense meditation to purge the urges she was having. It was hard to even think the words, let alone utter them aloud, but Erdok was developing feelings for Worf.

Erdok began to rationalize it with herself. It really was a logical match. Their personalities fit with each other, Worf had said so himself. Physically, Vulcans and Klingons were very compatible; both were stronger than Humans and engaged in physically demanding mating practices. She couldn't deny that Klingons were usually very emotional and irrational, but Worf obviously didn't display those qualities. And there were several instances of Vulcans going outside of traditional norms and mating with non-Vulcans. It was frowned upon, but it could be done. Yes, it could be done. And as private as Worf was, no one would have to know.

Worf was most likely to be found in the library on a Saturday night, not in a bar. Yet there he was, about to enter one. K'Ehleyr, of course, had insisted he join her and her friends at an off campus spot that they liked to frequent. Social situations made the Klingon loner uneasy, but he was so flattered she invited him that he could not decline.

When he entered it didn't take him long at all to spot K'Ehleyr. She was standing at the center of a group holding a glass high and laughing loudly. She saw Worf near the entrance. For a moment their eyes met and he couldn't help but smile at her. She was quite possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. K'Ehleyr motioned for him to come join them.

"Hey everyone, this is Worf, he's in my Klingon History class," K'Ehleyr went around the table introducing a bunch of people Worf knew he'd forget as soon as he left. The last one though, a Human male, Worf knew he'd remember. He stood up to shake Worf's hand, and was eye to eye with him, most Humans weren't as tall as Klingons.

"Worf, this is Derek Robinson, he's on the same Ambassadorial team as I am."

His handshake was strong and his voice was deep, "It is good to meet you, K'Ehleyr has spoken about you before."

Worf sat and instantly regretted coming. That is until one of the group brought a tray of drinks to the table. K'Ehleyr handed Worf one and leaned over to whisper to him, "Try it. It's real blood wine, not the synthehol crap these serve on campus."

Worf hesitated, he'd never actually had real blood wine before. But when he say Derek take a huge gulp from him glass he felt compelled to do the same. Worf matched his drink and unbeknownst to him the two young men had just entered a competition with one another. The wine burned like a glass full of hot knives as it went down. He had to fight the urge to cough and gag after swallowing it. The Human took another long drink and Worf did the same.

K'Ehleyr was sitting next to Worf and leaned over, "Hey, take it easy. This stuff isn't for amateurs."

"Are you implying that I am an amateur?"

She smirked, "Alright then, you're a big boy."

The drinks kept flowing, the laughter got louder, the songs got longer and the ladies started dancing. It was a human way of entertaining oneself that Worf had successfully avoided doing in all his years living among them. His head his was beginning to swim from the cups if blood wine- he'd lost count after five or six. Across the room K'Ehleyr was swaying to the music that played loudly in the bar. Right then Worf envied her. She was so free, so alive. He'd spent his whole life tempering himself and reigning in his urges so that he could fit in with Humans. K'Ehleyr walked the line between the two worlds in a way that allowed her to be herself without feeling like she had to appease either side and Worf envied that.

K'Ehleyr could feel him watching her. She turned towards him and her eyes met his. Worf was everything she was not. Focused, disciplined, and controlled. K'Ehleyr spent her life bouncing from one thing to another and pretending like she didn't care about any of it. She did care, she just tried very hard to make it seem like she didn't. In just these few weeks, Worf was becoming a grounding force in her life. He was sensible when she was flighty. K'Ehleyr never imagined she be drawn to someone like him, but she was. He knew her for who she was, not just what she wanted people to see. And he made her feel safe.

K'Ehleyr went to the console near the bar that controlled the music. She pressed a few buttons and the tempo changed from faced paced to slower. Then she walked towards Worf, "Dance with me," K'Ehleyr stood before him and reached her hand out to him.

"Oh no," Worf replied, "That is where I have to draw the line."

Derek was standing at her side in seconds, "Well if he won't, I will."

Instantly, Worf regretted turning her down.

K'Ehleyr gave Derek the same flirty smile Worf had seen her give him many times before, "Well, you're better than nothing," she teased. The two of then headed to the dance floor and Derek pulled her close. Worf could feel his muscles tensing and his fists clenched.

"So, you seem to have found the one Klingon in the galaxy that doesn't know how to have fun," Derek said once they were away from Worf.

She laughed, "Perhaps. He's a good guy, though."

"A good guy? I've known you for a while now and I you wouldn't normally give someone like him the time of day."

"Well maybe I'm growing up, moving away from you flashy bad boy types and towards someone more stable."

"So you and this guy are together then?"

K'Ehleyr lowered her eyes, "No, we're just friends,"

Derek had his hands around her waist, but let them slide down to her rear, "Good, cause I can't imagine someone like him being able to handle a woman like you the way you need to be… handled."

"Hey, we're just dancing, remember?"

"You know, after that night we shared, I thought we had something," he continued, K'Ehleyr could hear the slurring in his voice as he spoke, "But a few weeks with that guy and it's like I'm not even here." Derek jerked her body closer to his and roughly grabbed her behind.

K'Ehleyr pushed him off of her with one solid thrust, "You're drunk and you're acting like an –"

Worf had been watching the whole scene. In seconds he was by K'Ehleyr's side and before she could finish her sentence Worf had punched Derek right in the face. Derek fell to the ground, shocked and dumfounded.

Worf's was in a furious rage. Derek was no pushover, he stumbled to his feet and got off a few blows in defense, but Worf had the better of him. The two men fought while K'Ehleyr frantically yelled for them to stop. They were ignoring her, and in frustration, she stormed out of the bar.

Once he noticed that she was gone, Worf left Derek on the floor and followed K'Ehleyr out of the bar, having to sprint to keep pace with her, "K'Ehleyr!" He finally caught up to her in a park that was across from the bar and grabbed her arm, "What is wrong, why are you so upset?"

"Why am I upset?" she replied, jerking her arm from him, "Because you acted like a fool in there! You didn't have to attack him; he was just flirting with me and I had it under control."

They stood outside, the night air was cool enough to show their breath as they spoke, "He was doing more than flirting, he was being blatantly vulgar and disrespectful towards you."

"So, because someone did something you didn't like you decide to get the crap beat out of yourself?"

Worf touched his lip, which was beginning to swell, "He looks worse than I do."

"Oh well, I suppose that makes it okay then."

"You are the one who has taught me to fight, yet you disapprove when I use what I learned?"

She shook her head, "You are just like my father."

K'Ehleyr walked away from him but Worf followed, "What is wrong with that?"

She sat down on a nearby bench, "My father is dead."

"You've mentioned that before..."

"Yes, but I never told you how. He died in a senseless bar fight. He was drunk and someone made a comment about my mother that he didn't like. He started a fight with the man, and he died from a stab wound. It left my mother, myself and my brother- a human and two half breeds- alone on a Klingon outpost. She tried to stick it out but it was horrible for us. By defending our honor he ended up abandoning us."

Worf sat down next to her. He didn't know if it was the blows he'd taken or the blood wine but his head was starting to spin, "It was not my intention to upset you."

She sighed, "You look a mess," K'Ehleyr reached up and touched his lip, "I understand that you meant well but unlike in my father's situation, my honor is not yours to defend, Worf."

Now Worf knew the alcohol was taking hold because he was about to open a door that he'd been afraid to thus far, "What if I want it to be?"

They held one another's gaze, "I don't think you mean that..." she finally said.

"Why would I not?"

She shook her head, "I'm not the kind of woman you're looking for, Worf."

"That is for me to decide, isn't it?" he paused, realizing that he could not turn back now, "I know that I do not know all the right things to say to win over a Klingon woman, but somehow I think that does not matter much to you anyway."

She smirked, "So what is it that you want from me, then?"

"To share your company and do honor to your name," he replied.

That made K'Ehleyr laugh, "That sounds like something you read."

"It is," he admitted.

K'Ehleyr leaned closer to him and spoke coyly, "What do you really want from me?"

Worf could feel his heart race. He was enjoying the courage the blood wine was giving him. His deep voice rumbled in his chest, "To kiss you," he leaned closer to do just that.

K'Ehleyr surprised herself by letting it happen. Worf's was awkward at first, which could have been due to either the wine or his inexperience with women. It didn't take long for him to figure it out though, K'Ehleyr could taste the blood on his lip, something her Human side would be turned off by. But it was her Klingon side that was in charge tonight and the taste of it heightened what she was feeling.

Breathlessly, their lips parted. There was no going back from this and they both knew it, "Why don't you go home, Worf," K'Ehleyr said, "And tomorrow I'll come see you. After you clean yourself up and when you're sober so I know you really mean all this,"

Worf nodded, "As you wish."

K'Ehleyr stood and walked away. Worf sat there watching her, wondering if he was going to wake up from the dream he was obviously in.

Worf awoke to a pounding headache. Drinking had never been something he did much of, and right now he was reminded why. He sat up in bed trying to remember if there was a pain hypo anywhere in his room when the events of the night before came rushing back. He'd beat up that pompous Derek Robinson pretty badly- that had actually been fun. Then afterwards he'd declared his feelings to K'Ehleyr. And then they kissed.

Wait... what?

He was remembering words like to share your company and do honor to your name. Worf was mortified. His headache was now joined by a nauseous feeling in the pit of his stomach. What a fool he'd been to go on like that. What must K'Ehleyr be thinking of him right now? She'd probably get a lot of pleasure from laughing at his ridiculous attempt to start a relationship with her.

Just as Worf was trying to come up with ways to never have to see K'Ehleyr again, he heard a knock at the door. He knew it was her without even answering it. He thought of pretending to not hear it, but by the second knock Worf decided to face her and get it over with.

She was actually smiling when he opened the door, "You look worse than you did last night, if that's even possible," she said as she invited herself in. This was her first time in Worf's room. While nearly everyone else had to share a room, Worf had one to himself. The rooms for cadets were utilitarian, but functional. A bed, a desk, storage space, and where his roommate's bed would have been Worf had a small two person couch.

"So is it your winning personality that gets you a room all to yourself?" she said as she sat on the small couch. K'Ehleyr figured she was probably the first person besides himself to ever sit on it.

"Yes, I suppose," Worf replied stiffly, still standing near the door

"Come sit down, I brought this for you," she handed him a mug of hot raktajino once he sat, "You know Worf, simply having Klingon DNA does not give you a built in tolerance for blood wine."

"I know that now," Worf said as he took a drink.

"It's a lesson we all have to learn." K'Ehleyr looked at him as he drank. Worf's long hair was hanging over his shoulders. Tenderly, she brushed a few strands from his face, "Worf, last night—"

Worf's hands clenched the cup tightly, "You do not have to say it. I know my actions were offensive and for that I am sorry. I value the friendship that you and I have developed and would not want to let my drunken behavior get in the way of that."

"Last night you said you wanted to be more than friends."

Worf was silent.

"You know, I think I like you better drunk. At least then you're not afraid to say what you feel. I don't bite, Worf. Well, that is, unless you want me to."

"I have never allowed myself to have these type of feelings for anyone and I do not know what to do with them," he replied honestly.

"How about letting yourself go and simply feeling? I don't expect you to be anything with me but who you are. Just tell me what you want, Worf."

Worf looked right into her eyes, "You." The directness of his voice and his gaze caught her off guard, "But I cannot see how you would ever feel the same way."

"Is that because you're so stubborn and single minded? Because you put up a wall of Klingon fortitude that no one can penetrate? Or is it because you're the most steadfast, honest and loyal person I could ever know? I have to admit, it was kind of flattering watching you beat someone to a pulp for me."

"The sight of him touching you… I could not control myself. I wanted to rip his limbs from his body."

"I think that means you like me… or you were just really drunk."

Worf drank more coffee, "Perhaps both."

They were silent for a long time, both of them processing what this really meant. K'Ehleyr reached down and took Worf's hand in hers. He looked at their hands joined together, his large and rough against the delicate strength of her own. Their eyes met and Worf spoke again, "So what then does this mean?"

She smiled tenderly, "It means we go on as we have been. Except we'll sit a little closer, gaze a little longer. And when our feelings take over, we won't fight them."

Worf nodded, "Alright."

K'Ehlery stood, "I'm going to go now, but I will see you again later today. For dinner perhaps."

He nodded again, "Yes, I would like that."

K'Ehleyr bent down and kissed his cheek softly and slowly. Wordlessly, she left his room. Worf realized that the headache he had earlier was gone.

"So what is this I'm hearing about you and the Klingon?"

K'Ehleyr rolled her eyes. She slung her well worn bag over her shoulder as she stood to leave the Intermediate Diplomatic Strategies class she was taking with Derek, "In case you've forgotten, I am a Klingon too."

"You've spent years making sure everyone knows it's the ridges and nothing more."

"Worf is reminding me of the good parts of being a Klingon. The intense, passionate parts."

It was Derek's turn to roll his eyes, "So it's true then."

"What business is it of yours?"

They walked out of the building together and into the sunshine of the Starfleet Academy campus, "Hey, I'm just looking out for a friend. Cause if he hurts you then I'm going to have to hurt him."

K'Ehleyr laughed, "Are we forgetting the little scuffle you two had in the bar last month?"

"I'm serious. And I'm very sorry for the way I acted there. Too much blood wine and you were looking more amazing than usual."

"No doubt because of the blood wine."

Derek ignored that, "This guy is a hot head that's capable of anything. When he messes up, and he will, just know that I'm going to be right there waiting."

"I know you will."

They rounded a corner and K'Ehleyr could see Worf in the distance. Her eyes lit up and she waved to him. He'd been on his way to meet her after class and was not exactly thrilled to see her with Derek Robinson.

"Good afternoon," Worf said to Derek once he reached the two. His voice was polite, but cold.

"Hey, let's just get this out in the open. No hard feelings, alright?" Derek extended his hand for Worf to shake. Reluctantly, he did, "I let the alcohol get to me that night, but you put me in my place quickly," Derek said with a laugh.

"Indeed."

"I care about K'Ehleyr a lot."

Worf's eyes narrowed and he tightened his grip on Derek's hand, "As do I."

"So I know that means you'll take good care of her."

"I don't need anyone to take care me," K'Ehleyr said, breaking up this battle of wills before it escalated. She moved closer to Worf and linked arms with him, "I'll see you on Wednesday, Derek."

He nodded. The two men let their gazes lock like the horns of battling bucks. Wordlessly, Derek turned and left.

K'Ehleyr playfully punched Worf's arm, "You don't have to act that way."

"You do not have to spend so much time with him. It is clear he has feelings for you," he replied tensely.

"He and I work together. We're in the same training program and we have nearly all our classes together. And just because he has feelings doesn't mean I do. I could be in a relationship with him, but I'm not. I'm with you."

Worf's mood began to soften and he pulled her even closer, "Yes, you are."

K'Ehleyr gave him that teasing smile that both frustrated and excited him at the same time, "Maybe I just like seeing you get jealous, it lets me know you really care."

Worf , "You drive me mad, K'Ehleyr."

"But you love every minute of it."

It was Worf's turn to smile, "I do."

K'Ehleyr kissed him, first gently, but within seconds the kiss escalated into something deeper. Worf could feel her nails begin to dig into his back and it was exhilarating. K'Ehleyr pressed her body as close to him as she could trying to feel every part of him through their uniforms.

Worf broke the kiss pulled away slightly, "Not here," he whispered breathlessly.

"Do you want to go back to your room? I don't have class for the rest of the day..."

As much as Worf wanted to say yes, he could not. He shook his head, "No, no that would not be a good idea. That would just lead to things that we are not ready for."

"I am," she said definitively.

"I wish to honor our ways, K'Ehleyr."

"Those are your ways, Worf, not mine."

"When that time comes for us I want it to be a sacred act that symbolizes our spiritual connection."

"Can't we just enjoy one another for what this is? You have another full year left at the Academy and I will be finished with my training when this one is over. Our paths are going to take us in different directions. Can't we just make the most of what we have now instead of you focusing on a someday that may never come?"

"Perhaps your casual attitude about intimacy is the reason men like Derek Robinson think they can have their way with you."

"And perhaps the chip you carry on your shoulder is the reason no one can get close enough to want to have their way with you."

Just as it was common for Worf and K'Ehleyr, they went from being happy to being angry with one another in no time flat.

"You are my par'machkai and that means that you are not to spend your time cavorting with other men."

"It's not like you and I are doing anything, I've got to get 'attention' from somewhere."

"Then you are sleeping with him!"

K'Ehleyr was exasperated, "No, Worf, I'm not. But I suppose that's what you've been thinking this whole time, isn't it?"

They were getting loud and suddenly Worf realized that cadets passing by were watching them yell at each other, "Let's not do this here..."

"Where else should we do this? You're too afraid to be alone with me, lest you lose that control you hold onto so tightly and actually let yourself enjoy something."

"I am not afraid of anything. I just know that you have no ability to restrain yourself the way honor demands us to."

She threw her hands up, "You win, Worf, you win. You are the model Klingon and I'm a common whore for wanting to lead you into temptation. I'm out of here."

K'Ehleyr turned and walked away. Worf, still seething, did not follow.

K'Ehleyr got back to her room later that night, several hours after her fight with Worf. Her roommate was sitting on her bed reading when she entered.

"Those came for you about an hour ago," she said without even looking up from her padd.

K'Ehleyr noticed a bouquet of flowers sitting on her desk. There was a handwritten card attached to them. She couldn't help but smile when she read it even though there were just two words written. I'm sorry.

As the semester ended and a new one began, Worf and K'Ehleyr's relationship grew stronger. They were like a pendulum that swung back and forth between fighting and loving one another. Though they avoided talking about it, they both began to think about what the future held for them. They were on two very different paths; paths that intersected long enough for them to share this time together. When this time was over, Worf would have a career in Starfleet and K'Ehleyr would be working on the Homeworld at the Federation consulate. There was just no way that they could continue unless someone was willing to give something up.

K'Ehleyr was so excited she thought she might burst. She had to go see Worf right away, even if that meant interrupting his Parissis Squares team practice. When she got to the court, they were just finishing up. Most of the team was exiting, but Worf hung back to speak with Erdok.

K'Ehleyr watched the two for a moment. She could swear she saw the Vulcan woman smile, and she reached out to touch Worf's arm one too many times for K'Ehleyr's liking. K'Ehleyr chuckled, Worf was usually the one to get jealous when a man got too close to her, yet he seemed oblivious to the advances that Erdok was sending his way.

"Hi there," K'Ehleyr said with a smile as she approached Worf, "Can I steal him away from you for a moment?" she asked Erdok in her usual flirty tone.

Erdok's expression went from soft to icy when she looked at K'Ehleyr, "That would imply he is my possession, which we know he is not."

"That's right," K'Ehleyr looped her arm in Worf's "He's not."

Worf narrowed his eyes and looked back and forth between the women. He felt like something was going on between them, but had no idea what it really was. He nodded a respectful goodbye to Erdok as K'Ehleyr led him away.

"What just happened back there?" he asked her.

"Worf, you really don't know anything about women, do you?"

"Obviously not."

"Like I'm sure you have no idea that Erdok would love nothing more than to pon farrall day with you."

"What? That is absolutely ridiculous."

"I see how she looks at you. And I see how she looks at me when I come around, I think she'd nerve pinch me in a heartbeat."

"You are being absurd. And I'm sure you did not come here to talk to me about Erdok."

K'Ehleyr's face brightened and she squeezed his arm affectionately, "No, I didn't," she reached into her bag and pulled a padd from it. 'This is for you."

Worf took it in his hands and read it quickly. He looked back up to her, "I do not understand… I am being given a leave of absence from the Academy?"

"That's right"

"Why… I did not request this."

"No, but I did."

Worf frowned, "Why would you request-"

She was too excited to be coy, "So you can accompany me to the Klingon Homeworld next week."

Worf was shocked, "What?"

"The current Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire is retiring. He's been in the position for a very long time. He was on the diplomatic team that negotiated the Khitomer Accords and has made quite a name for himself in the Empire. So, as with everything Klingon, there is a ritual and celebrations to mark the occasion. It's also going to require some behind the scenes work at the consulate to transfer things over to the next Ambassador. So my team leader wants us to travel back for it all."

"How do I fit into all this?"

"I begged and he said you could come too," she said, still smiling merrily.

"I... I do not know what to say..."

"Do you even want to go?" K'Ehleyr asked.

"Of course," Worf replied, "Absolutely. I just cannot think of how to thank you for this."

"Well, I can think of a few ways," she said with a sly wink.

Worf ignored that comment, "How long will we be gone?" he asked,

"About two weeks. We'll be traveling on a small diplomatic transport, and you'll have to share a room with me for the duration. There will be some times when I have to work so you'll have to keep yourself busy. But for the most part, I get to show you around Qo'noS."

"This is going to be amazing," Worf said wistfully, like a child about to live out a lifelong dream.

"I'm just hoping we can handle two weeks together like this without killing one another."