Amanda woke up. She rolled over and groaned. The sun was already fairly high in the sky. Her mouth tasted like bad bread and socks. "Oh gaawd," she propped herself up on one elbow. Bleary eyed she looked around, it was a haze and she blinked hard trying to clear it. "Oh Gawd!" she said much more emphatically. She wasn't in her room, her bed, or even her own pajamas!

"Good afternoon," Sarek purred from across the room.

When she looked at him he was sitting with his legs crossed, his head propped on his hand, with a PADD resting in his lap.

She fell back on the bed, covering her face with her hand, "OH GAWD!"

"Not as such, Miss Greyson, just an Ambassador." He said standing.

Amanda did a mental inventory of her body, other than feeling like she might hurl the left over beer in her stomach, she didn't feel…sore, sticky, or otherwise sexed. Embracing that kept her from hyperventilating. She heard the clink of a glass next to her head, turning to look she saw water and two pills on the bed stand.

"You'll forgive me for not taking you to your apartment, Miss Greyson. I thought it unwise for your colleagues to see you being carried by me into your domicile. The impression would not represent the situation." He kneeled beside the bed coming face to face with her, "Take the pills, they will ease your suffering."

Amanda looked at him, his face seemed softer somehow. She shook her head, she had to still be drunk. Taking the water and the pills she swallowed them down.

"Has your memory been impaired? Do you recall the events of last night?" He asked softly, "As I understand it, humans sometimes suffer from memory impairment after intoxication."

She set the glass on the table and rolled over to face him. "I think. There was a man hitting on me. "she recalled tentatively, "You pinched him and he fell, then." She faltered, "It's kind of hazy."

Sarek nodded. It was good she didn't remember his aggressiveness, a part of him felt shamed at his forward loss of control. "Nothing more happened, I brought you here. You were unconscious and I had one of my female servants make you comfortable." His eyes wandered over her face. She looked so small and helpless lying in his bed. He brought his finger up to her face, but at the last minute abandoned his thought to touch her skin and instead moved a small piece of her hair. He let a long slow sigh, "When you are feeling better." He said standing and turning from her, "I have had your clothes cleaned. They are folded at the foot of the bed." He looked down at the PADD in his hand, just to lend the idea that he was passive about the situation.

"Ambassador," she said softly.

He turned, "Yes?"

"Thank you." She saw him nod curtly and turn to walk away again, "Ambassador."

He put his hand on the door, and would not look back this time "Yes, Miss. Greyson."

"Do you think we should discuss something?"

"No Miss. Greyson, I do not. I have made my intentions with you clear. They have not changed. " he sniffed softly, casting a backward glance at her, "I am given to understand that human women require more than a declaration, so when you have recovered sufficiently I would like you to submit your requirements to me for my acceptability to you as your mate."

Amanda snorted, "And what are your requirements of me?"

He looked away, "You have more than met them, Miss Greyson." Without waiting he left the room.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

Amanda dressed and expected some odd looks when she passed through the living space. Instead she was greeted impassively. It looked to her by the other Vulcan's reactions that she did this every day there was nothing out of the ordinary. A young Vulcan woman who she believed to be some kind of servant even nodded to her, and opened the door for her as she left.

Apparently, even seeing her drunk didn't dissuade him from his goal, but what on earth or Vulcan could possess him to want her. Was it because she saved his nephew? There was only one person she knew who might have some answers, her friend Brenda, professor of Xeno-anthropology at Cal-tech.

She was amazed by the time she got back to her room she felt amazing, not like she had two gallons too many beers. She pulled out her planner and scanned down; putting in Brenda's number she waited for her to answer the comm.

" Ello?" a slender African woman said, "Oi, Amandar, to what do I owe the honor?"

"Brenda, it's good to see you. I am in some need. What can you tell me about Vulcans and their mating rituals and that?"

Brenda pursed her lips, "Well, we don't know a lot, but I had a Vulcan female intern here for a while. I picked up a few things from that. Nothing official." She leaned forward, "Do you need official or have you gone and fallen for one of them?"

"Well…"

"Oh, you have…you cheeky little monkey!" her friend clapped her hands and laughed, "So who is the lucky man's name."

Amanda giggled, "It isn't exactly like that. One fell for me. Maybe I don't know. He asked me to present my list of requirements to him to find him an acceptable mate. Bren, I can't even wrap my mind around it. I saved his nephew from drowning, is that what this is about? Some kind of life debt?"

"No, I don't they work like that, Amanda. From what I could tell from my intern they are hyper-monogamous. They perform some kind of mental bonding with their mates. What happened with my little chit was apparently her bond mate died, and it was a few months later another Vulcan male showed up and just POP! Asked her to marry him. She accepted him, and she left for about a year, and then came back. I asked her about her husband and how they met, she said they only just met when I saw him with her the first time. I was arranged by their parents."

"You're shitting me?" Amanda's mouth hung open.

"No love, but it shouldn't be that shocking many earth cultures did the same thing for years. Some of them still have practices like that."

"I know Brenda, but, this guy isn't like…normal. He is older. Said something about unbounded males not being trustworthy. Bren, he defended me last night and I swear somewhere in my mind I remember him saying he won me because he took out a rival. I'm not sure…" she shook her head as if trying to rattle the brain cell that remembered it to remember more.

"How 'bout this, love. How 'bout I ask my little Vulcan girl some questions and I get back with you? I'll be seeing her later today. So, who is this bloke?"

"Brenda, you must swear not to say anything, but" she leaned in and whispered to the screen, it's the Ambassador."

Her eyes went wide, "You don't fish in small ponds, Mandar. "

"So what should I do in the mean time?" Amanda asked absently chewing on her fingernail.

"Well I don't care if the bloke has pointed ears or three eyes, blokes are blokes. If he asked you for requirements, then by all means, give'm to him. Time to start thinking, Mandar, what would turn your head. Snake tattoo on 'is bum? Leather jackets and money?" Brenda laughed, "Oh wait, that's my list."

"Funny. Call me when you can 'k? Thanks for this…I owe you."

"Bloody right you will! I expect you to help me translate that Andorian dirty poem."

Amanda sighed, "The pictures say it all don't they? But yeah, ok fine."

Her friend held up a Ta'al, "Live long and prosper girlfriend." She winked and disconnected.

OO_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O

Amanda took out her PADD and put a blank memory slate in. She stared at the screen trying to will the words she needed and he wanted to appear. She giggled and wrote, "Dear Sarek do you like me circle yes or no." She giggled herself down into a low groan. "No, no, no, no. This is so stupid. He doesn't know me. I don't know him. He is a freaking Alien for gawd's sake. " she hit herself softly in the head with the PADD. "Nope, this isn't going to happen."

She got up and put her sweater on, walked down the stairs and across the campus to the Vulcan side. She thought about how she might knock on the door and practiced in her mind fifty different ways to let him down, but when she saw him standing on the porch talking to Herbert she forgot every syllable she prepared, "Ambassador, I am flattered you want me as your mate, but I am human as should be obvious, and you are…." She paused and looked up and down, swallowing hard, and began again a little bit more breathlessly, "You are who you are. I can't come up with some algorithm to win my heart, or list of things that guarantees you I'll accept you as a mate. Because at the end of the day I don't want a mate. I want a partner, someone who will love me and cherish me as much as I love and cherish them. Someone I can take care of, and who will take care of me. You can't just waltz up to me with your…" she paused swallowing, "Sexy little ears, and kissable….lips and expect me to just fall into line. I can't do that and more importantly, Ambassador, you shouldn't want a woman who could. If you want a human woman you should want one who loves you. Love will make us surrender our lives for our beloveds and do." She waved her hands all over the place, "Crazy illogical things for them. If you declare to a woman you want her as a mate and she just, "she snapped her fingers, "jumps, then she is a woman who wants you for money or prestige. " she sighed and crossed her hands across her chest. "But I don't want that from you, and I don't want to give you a check list. If I marry, or if you marry I want us both to do so because we found the one person in the crazy universe we'd die for, and maybe even die without." She pouted slightly and looked up at his stoic face, "So, as much as I am honored you want to be all declaring I'm your mate, I won't play some political or logical game with my heart." She turned and cleared her throat, "Thanks, but no."

Herbert stood as he could backing against the wall pretending to be a fly as his eyes flitted between Amanda and Sarek. It was easy to tell what she was thinking, she was vomiting it all over the porch, but the Ambassador, was like watching a statue in the rain. There were changes, but nothing you could pick up with a naked eye. When Amanda walked away, he felt the Ambassador staring at him.

"I find that most unacceptable," Sarek said, in a low tremor, he bent over and looked directly into Herbert's eyes, "In fact, I refuse to accept it." And he walked back into the Vulcan living quarters.

Herbert stood still and silent for long minutes. "Wow," he finally said, "I hope I am invited to the wedding."

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O_OO_O

Amanda stomped off to the bridge and sat on its edge where the whole thing began. She looked around and saw her the flip flop she had kicked off that day dangling in some vines by the bank. She didn't know why, but it brought up a torrent of emotion, all she could do was cry.

O_O_O_O_OO_O_O_O_OO_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

Sarek went to his room and lit his candles to meditate, and bring back into his mind and body the center he maintained at all times. Even in the calm of his mantras he knew what just happened did not mean it was over. It was not over, and would not be over until she was his bonded mate. With a deep calming breath though he couldn't really grasp the logic that compelled him that way, but it didn't matter his mind was thoroughly made up.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

The weekend passed quickly, and Amanda waited for some kind or reaction from Sarek, but none came. By Monday when the rest of the delegations had arrived, she didn't have time to think or worry about what she had done, what might have been. When Brenda forwarded her all the information she could find on Vulcan mating rituals and married life, she didn't bother to open the contents. No point. She had spoken her mind, and the ambassador was obviously respecting her decision.

They had seen each other in meetings and he remained both professional, and at times when her ideas were in question, supportive. She wondered though, what she expected, that she hurt is feelings? He was a Vulcan, he didn't have feelings as she understood them, if at all.

As the spring warmed into summer she found that she thought of him more than she would like. She didn't wonder why. They were confined in a small compound with more than fifty humans and aliens. The Andorians kept to themselves on the off hours, the Tellerites had taken to trying to hunt down things in the woods behind the property that they could cook over an open pit, which pretty much left the ten linguistics team members and a hand full of Vulcans including him. Socializing was slim, but if it was to be had, it was had between the two races most like each other.

The calm of the evenings, during the week, Herbert and Mike had started playing public games of Kel-toh with Sarek's advisors, and in turn taught the advisors a modified game of poker, called Texas hold-em. Amanda found herself sitting on the rail dangling her feet watching her crew gets slaughtered at both games most nights. It wasn't until Shras, the Andorian Ambassador caught wind of the poker playing that her boys had any chance of winning a hand. She wasn't sure, but something about the blue man and his jagged smile seemed to put the Vulcans off their game. Either that or he was cheating, she didn't know enough about the dynamics of the game to be able to tell for sure.

Not every night, but many, Sarek would come out and sit on the porch. Not with her, but in an elegant rocking chair at the edge of the porch. He usually had a PADD that he glanced at between moves in Kel-toh, or exchanges of chips during poker.

It was a routine, a bit unsettling to her, because she wanted to go over and talk to him and apologize for flipping out. But there was nothing that indicated to her that he wanted to talk to her outside the confines of their work.

Staring at him one evening she realized how truly distinguished he looked, how much grace he possessed in his manner. He was handsome, she could finally admit, but not without some queasy feelings in her stomach. Sure, he was weird but less so than her last boyfriend who rather spend time dressing up in some ancient military regalia and play war than he would take her out. She looked away from him and down at her feet. Maybe she had been premature…

She slipped her flip-flops off her feet, stacking them neatly on the rail she slid off and into the grass. The sun was going down and the cool green between her toes felt freeing. When a fire fly ascended between her legs and up her body she smiled, gently catching it in mid-air. She hadn't seen a lightning bug since she was a kid, and had almost forgotten how neat it was to see. Her little capture walked over her thumb and the spark of light from another bug made it spread its wings and fly away.

Sarek had been watching her all month. He caught her looking at him, but as he was no master at understanding the emotions that played over all humans faces, could not tell what she was thinking when he did catch her glance. He had learned much about her in the time they had worked together. She was accurate, and punctual, arriving at meetings and deadlines with a near Vulcan precision. She was also very kind. She helped everyone, not just her human peers, but those alien to her in the other delegations as well. She was always getting someone tea, or picking up someone's dropped papers.

Her smile created conflict in him. Normally, emotions worn so openly were tiresome and draining, but with a few movements of the muscles of her face, changed her whole appearance. It seemed to fit with the kindness she showed like a hand might fit into a glove.

He had come out and sat many nights trying to think of a logical reason to speak to her on a personal level. He had done the research required to better understand her dismissal of his desire to make her his mate. Human females as the book stated needed to be courted, wooed, and shown. What he had done, was known as coming on too strong, which also the book indicated some women desire. Not apparently, his Amanda though. Beyond speaking of work, which when she sat dangling her feet, her shorts, and tank top, was not appropriate he could not think of anything to say. Which, if he thought of appropriate her attire or rather lack was scandalous. After the first time she wore it in his colleagues presence he had to remind his aid, who had a very weak bond with his mate, that she was off limits to him.

He thought another night might go by without speaking with her when she stepped into the grass and gentle sparks of light flew up around her. It made her smile, and she caught one of the glowing things on her thumb. It was then, he knew what he would do.

He got up and walked down to meet her in the grass, "Miss. Greyson." He spoke softly, "What is that creature in your hand?"

Amanda jumped, "Gosh, I didn't hear you come up." She chuckled nervously, "Oh, these are, and I don't know the scientific name for them, but we call them Fire flies or lightening bugs." She caught another and held it up so he could examine it.

"Interesting, I see no fire or lighting within them. It seems to be a chemical reaction happening in their abdomen. What is the purpose and is their chemical caustic?" he asked passing his glance between the bug and her, his questions seemed to broaden her smile, it was appealing to him.

"No, it is safe, and it is a chemical they have. They glow when they are looking for a mate. "

Sarek's eyebrows quirked up and he gently blew the bug off his finger and watched it fly away.

"Why did you do that?" she asked watching his bug fly away.

"I did not wish to impede its quest. Such creatures usually have a short time and would have been cruel of me to detain it."

"Awe, Ambassador," she cooed, "That is…well, that is so sweet."

Sarek watched her cheeks flush a pink color, and felt that his honesty had been rewarded with the soft trill of her coo. "Miss. Greyson, may we walk together? I have a semi-personal query to ask you."

Amanda nodded and began walking along side of him, "Can I just say one thing before you ask me anything."

His lips twitched upward slightly, "I believe you just did."

Amanda paused and looked carefully at him, she believed he just made some kind of a joke, so she rephrased it again with lilt of a giggle, "I mean to ask. Oh, never mind, I just wanted to apologize to you. For the little scene last month. "

He raised his hand, "It is of no consequence, Miss Greyson. The matter is settled."

"Ok, I just wanted to let you know. I am truly sorry."

He looked down at her, and her face was soft and contrite before him. No Vulcan woman would do such, even if she was logically wrong. Which, in Amanda's case, she had been within her rights to say what she said, she had a human heart and it deserved the respect she demanded. He was suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to touch her face, and soothe away the sting that perhaps hurt her worse than it did him. "Miss Greyson, if you have the time in your schedule for the next few evenings…" he paused unable to believe he was actually going to ask this favor, but it seemed the only logical way to facilitate personal contact with her and put his desire to make her his mate on course again.

"Ambassador?" she asked softly.

"Yes?"

"Just checking you kind of zoned out there for a minute."

He blinked twice, "If you have the time, given that you were a life guard I would like to know if you might be able to teach me to swim?" He hated deep water, any large body of water. All Vulcans did, though they didn't advertise it. Coming from their acrid planet the oceans , and lakes of earth were terrifying if they allowed for that emotion.

Amanda looked up at him and smiled again, "I sure will. Consider it a make up for my own random act of crazy behavior. Can we start tomorrow? I'm going to need to go into town and get a bathing suit."

Sarek nodded, "Tomorrow."

She grinned, "It will be fun."

"Educational I am sure." He looked back at the residence and then at her, "Until tomorrow, Miss Greyson." He bowed stiffly and walked back to his room. He was going to have to research this bathing suit apparel, and perhaps swimming techniques as to not appear completely uneducated.

Thank you all very kindly for the reviews and follows. I hope my story lives up to such kindness *hearts* On a side note, how do you think the Ambassador is going to handle water... ^.^