Amanda did return to work the next morning, an escort of Vulcan embassy guards delivering her safely to her classroom. The soft fabric of the dress Sarek's aide had left outside the bedroom made her blush every time her fingers touched it. But while the fabric was Vulcan, the cut and style was universal enough that without close inspection it could easily be mistaken for one of the more stylish Earth designs that high society had started sporting since the Federation had widened trade lines. Amanda had never been given to fashion, but it was no secret who her family was, and if the other teachers thought her appearance odd, they made no mention of it. The Vulcan guards hadn't commented either, and Amanda did her best to pretend that she hadn't just spent the night in unrepentant debauchery with their ambassador.

She was tired, and distracted, but the ghost of Sarek's presence in her mind seemed to both anchor and arouse her. The lessons for the day were luckily subjects she knew well, and she'd prepared everything in advance. If the students noticed her distraction they made no mention of it. Maria was absent, her mother having called her in sick, and Amanda sent a short message to Sarek that they'd have to delay their plan another day. Maria's father had agreed to Sarek's request that morning, and as soon as the girl returned to class Amanda was prepared to deliver her to the embassy. It would likely mean her job, but Amanda couldn't let whatever was happening continue unchecked.

She should have been surprised that Sarek himself came to collect her, but somehow it felt…right. At exactly 4pm his quiet stoic face appeared outside her door and she smiled at him, shuffling her papers around and placing the night's grading in her satchel before standing up and grabbing her purse. Sarek opened the door for her and held up two fingers in greeting. The two guards behind him said nothing, but the younger one raised an eyebrow. Amanda placed her fingers lightly on Sarek's and tried to calm her racing heart.

"I would like to have dinner with you, Amanda, if you are agreeable?" Sarek asked softly, moving to tuck her arm into his in a more human gesture. Amanda moved closer to his side in response. She could feel the eyes of her boss on her as they walked slowly down the hall and she knew Sarek was being obvious purposefully, staking a claim as it were, and she couldn't help a wicked smile at that knowledge.

"I do have some grading I need to finish. And if we intend a repeat of last night, I'd like to plan a little ahead, grab a few things." She smoothed a hand down the side of her dress and heard Headmaster Roberts suck in a breath as realization must have dawned.

Sarek's eyes twinkled in response. "Then we will make a brief stop at your apartments before returning to the embassy. I have several matters I too must attend prior to the evening meal. If you do not mind sharing a workspace, my office does have considerable space."

"I'd be delighted." Amanda replied and closed her eyes as she felt a flare of Sarek's satisfaction wash over her. "More than delighted." She whispered.

When they were safely in his aircar, Sarek pulled her securely against him, his fingers interlacing with hers tightly. He leaned down and kissed her. Amanda melted into him willingly, and when they finally pulled apart for air she rested her head on his chest.

"I was concerned for you." Sarek's deep voice rumbled beneath her ear. "Reports indicated that whatever action the terrorists are planning it will happen soon." Sarek's free hand smoothed down her hair, his fingers searching out and loosening the pins until it fell free. "We do not yet know their target but it appears it will likely involve children. They wish to make a statement."

"I'd guessed." Amanda clutched him tighter. "All that extra security, the way all the Federation parents were acting – it had to be something like that. Does the headmaster know?"

"He was informed." Sarek rested his chin on her head and sighed, the breath moving her hair. "I cannot convince you to take a leave of absence?"

Amanda pulled away and looked at him. Sarek's eyes were heavy with worry and she could feel his concern through their joined hands. "Sarek, there are a hundred different schools in this area with high profile students. The chances the terrorists will attack mine are minimal. We aren't the largest or the most controversial. We have only a small number of non-human children enrolled, and the faculty is all human. If they want to make a statement about Earth and the Federation they'd make more of an impression if they went after one of the larger Federation backed institutions. The Academy is small and private. We tried to keep it that way on purpose to avoid just this sort of thing."

"What you say is logical." He conceded, "Yet I find myself unduly concerned over your welfare regardless." Sarek frowned and cupped her cheek. "I am finding myself rather attached to you, Amanda. The thought of losing you to such violence is distressing."

"Right now my biggest problem is Maria. I'm worried her mother suspects something. She wasn't in class today and she didn't look sick yesterday."

The aircar pulled up to her door and Sarek squeezed her hand gently before pulling away. "We shall do what we can for the child, that is certain. But tonight there is nothing we can implement that we have not already put into place. You will deliver her to the healer at the embassy when she returns to classes and her father has consented to the examination." He stepped out of the car and held a hand out to help her to the pavement. "Tonight, Amanda, I have other matters to discuss with you."

Amanda pulled her apartment key out of her purse and led Sarek up the short flight of steps. She glared at Mrs. Heaverty who peaked through the crack of her door and the old lady huffed and withdrew. "Why don't you come in for a few minutes, Sarek, while I pack a bag." Amanda opened the door and pulled Sarek inside quickly before slamming it shut. The two guards would wait outside patiently – she knew that from previous experience. Sarek raised an eyebrow as she pinned him against the wood, her hands already winding into his robes. "Packing may take a while." She warned.

"Indeed." Sarek replied, his hand drifting to the points on her face that made the connection between them blossom. "We may have to delay dinner."

"My dinner is right here." Amanda smirked and Sarek's eyes darkened.

Things continued like that for a week. Amanda's belongings little by little filtered into Sarek's rooms until she was fairly certain that any normal human would say she was living with him. But they hadn't had that conversation, in fact had danced around it fairly neatly, and Amanda wasn't sure what to think. Even though she'd spent every night in his company, Sarek was a hard man to know. When they touched, the way his emotions would filter to her was uncanny. And when he melded with her, Amanda couldn't even begin to describe the sensation. But as soon as they parted, it would lessen – float to the background – and she would have to guess at what was happening behind his dark eyes. She could always feel him now, as if the connection he forged with her during the night was slowly and carefully building a bridge between them. But this too he avoided discussing.

The other Vulcans in the embassy had seemed unconcerned by her continued presence. Even the guard that now followed her constantly made no comment. A few gave her curious, almost withering, looks, but the only one to comment was the elderly healer that still waited to see Maria.

T-Pae pulled her aside that following Friday and lead her to a quiet room that looked out on the back gardens. The sunlight filtered in through the glass ceiling and T-Pae seemed to drink it in the way the plants did. She'd set up a small medication corner behind a screen of palms and she pulled Amanda down to sit with her on the pile of cushions.

"Things between you and Sarek are beginning to progress beyond a point of mere mutual sexual satisfaction. " T-Pae stated calmly. "Yet, I sense that neither of you has made the conscious choice to follow this path." Her dark eyes were bright and she took Amanda's hands in her wrinkled ones. "You do not know what you may soon face, child. He has not told you and it is not my place. But for my peace of mind I must ask – do you intend to remain with Sarek when this matter is over? When Maria is dealt with, and the terrorists have been captured or their plot has unfolded, will you stay with him?"

"He hasn't asked me." Amanda replied softly, knowing that whatever it was that concerned the healer it was grave.

"Nor will he." T-Pae admitted, dropping her hands and looking away. "Sarek was a lonely child and he is a far lonelier adult. You are not the first he has consorted with since his wife's passing. Often that is the case when a male survives the death of the female. The marriage bond is sacred to us, and often one does not survive the death of the other. When it happens, and the male is strong enough to weather it, it is as if a part of them has gone with their spouse to the grave. Sarek requires the solace of walking in another's mind to forget his own torments. He is using you."

"We are using each other." Amanda admitted softly. "I've enough experience to recognize that. I have no illusions about this being permanent. He can't seriously desire anything long term with me."

"He may not have a choice if this continues much longer." T-Pae lowered her head. "I could feel it growing between you even from a distance. Just now, when I took your hands, I could sense the bond between you like a thread of steel. Every night you spend in his bed it hardens, sharpens. Soon it will snap into place between you and not even I will be able to undue it. Sarek knows this is happening but he refuses to acknowledge it. I have tried discussing it with him, but he turns me aside." T-Pae looked up at Amanda and let some of her concern show in her eyes. "Amanda, he is only a male. He is alone and he has found one that his katra finds compatible. The temptation is too great for him alone to resist. If you intend to set him aside I beg of you to do it now. Take your things and leave us – go far away where his duties will not permit him to follow."

"If I stay?" Amanda asked, her throat tight.

"Then prepare yourself to be bound to him." T-Pae stated firmly. "He will deny that he intends to keep you, he will say I am paranoid. But I am several centuries his senior and I have seen this many times. A widower such as Sarek is driven to the beds of any female he can find, lust and loneness causing their logic to fold in search of solace. And when they find one that can distract them from the hole in their soul they do not let them go again. He cannot bare the thought of bonding with you, knowing he will outlive you. But he cannot let you go. Are you prepared to follow him – a consort but never a wife?"

"I don't understand."

"Of course you do not." T-Pae sighed. "Amanda, despite our appearances Vulcans are at their core an ancient people. A strong warrior could often have any he wished, and Sarek is the modern equivalent of our ancient warriors. No one expected him to restrain his sexual impulses after his wife's death and many of our females have gladly given themselves to him in hopes of just this occurrence. His family is powerful and Sarek is a good match even if he would refuse the title of wife to another. A consort is a respected position and his clan would honor such a female as his chosen companion. It would mean a life of privilege and power. But you have no need of his money or his status. You yourself hail from a family of means and have no small amount of public status should you choose to claim it. I do not know what possible gain you could have from allowing a bond to form between you that would bind you together thus but never allow you the protections of being wife."

"Maybe I'm lonely too." Amanda whispered.

T-Pae raised an eyebrow. "If you continue to bed him, Amanda, the bond will grow. You will not have a choice but to remain with him should it mature. It cannot be undone. He will suffer no rival in your affections, but without the title of wife and without his formalization of your arrangement, he can and perhaps will take another and another and another. Vulcan society does not place restrictions on the male. We expect males to require sexual release in a way that we do not as females. His promiscuity would be over looked. Yours would not."

"I'm familiar with a double standard." Amanda pinched her nose, a headache forming between her eyes. "Are you telling me that I'm on the road to becoming his…his concubine or something?"

"Mistress, whore, tart…"T-Pae spoke the words coldly. "Your people have many words for this. We do not. We have no moral concerns regarding sexual relations, not as humans do. But we do have concern for status of offspring and the insurance of inheritance lines. Males may take many lovers, but inheritance must remain secure. Males are fertile only once every seven years without consciously inducing the production of sperm. We have no concern that they may spread their seed where it does not belong. Females, on the other hand, are fertile near constantly. Therefore we bare the burden of restraint. If you are unmarried many will still seek a clan alliance through marriage and even should Sarek find you enough, T-Pau will not. His matriarch will seek to marry him well and while she could not undue a consort bond between you, she could and will separate you for the good of the clan. You could find yourself bound to Sarek yet still alone – forever and unendingly alone."

If Sarek sensed her unease over the weekend he made no comment on it. Yet, he seemed to cling tighter to her as if he sensed that she was about to end their affair. Maria had not yet returned to classes, but Amanda suspected she would be there on Monday. More than a week's absence would require a doctors note and Maria's mother was involved in a nasty custody dispute with the girl's father already. She would do nothing to aggravate that situation. So, by Monday evening, Sarek would have no more viable excuse to himself for having Amanda near. And Amanda would have no more excuse for time alone with him.

He walked her into the building Monday morning, his hand lingering on hers and his eyes bright. "I will wait for you at the embassy. A second aircar will be here waiting for your order. You may bring her any time."

"Sarek," Amanda hesitated before saying the hell with it. She reached up to cup his face gently before pulling him down for a short chaste kiss. "I'm only going away if you wish it." She whispered against his lips and she felt him relax against her.

A throat clearing made them part and Amanda sighed as she caught sight of her boss coming towards them. Headmaster Roberts glared at them and Amanda reluctantly pulled away. "See you later?" She asked softly.

Sarek squeezed her hand once before letting go. "Yes. Have a good day, ashayam. I will await your return."

Roberts followed her all the way to her classroom and pulled her into the alcove across the way before she could enter. "What do you think you're doing?" he hissed.

"Oh come off it, Jacob." Amanda glared and put her hands on her hips. "The kids aren't going to arrive for another half hour and I've seen you do far worse than a quick kiss goodbye to your wife in the parking lot."

His face heated at that but he held his ground. "The difference is I'm married to Rebecca and not her son's teacher!"

"Sybok isn't currently taking classes." Amanda insisted. "And if he does return once this thing blows over, we can assign him to a different room. Although, based on what Sarek's said he doesn't have an issue with him remaining in my class. Vulcan's don't have the same kind of concerns we do, Jacob. Everything is fine."

"I don't like it." Roberts ran a hand through his hair and sighed in defeat. "Amanda, I don't like any of this. Sarek enrolling Sybok out of the blue like he did – then you taking up with him. This thing with the terrorists and whatever the hell it is you have going on with that Maria girl – there's too much happening and I don't have a good feeling about any of it. Just, be careful? You're a good teacher and I'd really hate to have to fire you."

"I'll keep that in mind." Amanda shook her head. "Now, I need to get into that room and get settled before the little hellions arrive. Unless you do intend to fire me?"

"Not today." Roberts backed out of the alcove and rubbed tiredly at his face. "Just, keep it off school grounds, okay?"

"Deal." Amanda agreed.

Maria did indeed arrive but the girl was pale and shaking. Amanda tried to get her to talk but Maria wouldn't meet her eye. She slipped silently into her desk and studiously avoided everyone's eyes. The other children tried to engage with her, worried she was still ill, but Maria wouldn't say a word and Amanda knew something was horribly wrong.

She checked the parking lot through the bathroom window and there was indeed an unmarked aircar she recognized from the embassy parked near the back door. If she could find a way to get Maria to follow her, they could duck out at lunch. Amanda could get Emily from across the hall to watch the class for a while and maybe, if they were quick, she could have Maria there and back before the end of the day. Roberts would still fire her, but she might not have to worry about criminal charges… She went back to her classroom and tried to go on as if nothing was amiss.

Amanda was just getting ready to dismiss the class for lunch when the lights in the room cut out abruptly. "It's all right, just a power failure." Amanda stated calmly as she opened the blinds to let in as much sunlight as possible. When she turned back to face the class Maria was out of her seat, a small plastic box in her hands.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Grayson. I'm so so sorry." The little girl whispered, tears running down her face. She pressed a small button on the side and the world exploded.