Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to Fameanon (and your host of characters), 2redbird, Caren Rose, dinopoodle, T'Sara, Ahlysha, and snapeissexy for reviewing! You all rock; thanks for the support!

"Tawny!"

She turned and looked around for the man calling her name, and she saw Kovan striding down the corridor towards her.

"Ms. Townsend, did you get adequate rest?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you," she murmured, covering her yawn with a hand. "I d-didn't mean to sl-sleep that long...o-oh well."

"Will that hinder your rest tonight? All Vulcans are trained in neuropressure. I could help you if you find you cannot sleep tonight."

"O-Oh, I'm ok," she replied meekly, smiling and shrugging in apology.

"You are sure? Perhaps a walk would be refreshing. The sun is setting, and it is most likely cool enough for you to take a walk now, if you wish. I could-"

"Tawny!"

She turned around again and grinned at Kuvak, who strode down the hall, his robes billowing around him.

"Ashaya, you are a sight for sore eyes," he murmured, stroking her hair. "Administrator Somil invited the ministers to a dinner party tonight, if you wish to go. Ambassador Trent and his staff were also invited."

Her grin widened. "That sounds great! When do we leave?"

"Presently. The administrator's home is in Shi'Kahr. Do you wish me to help you get dressed?"

Her smile turned wicked, and she raised a playful eyebrow. "If you think you would be useful, by all means, come and help me."

Kuvak's eyes darkened, and he gestured back to her room. "Certainly, ashaya."

Tawny shrugged to Kovan, then turned away and went back into her room, searching through her things for something proper to wear. She had packed lots of business attire, and she supposed it would have to do for this occasion.

"I-Is this casual or f-formal?" she asked as she closed the door.

"Highly informal, Tawny."

She picked out something she thought would be suitable, a blue sheath dress with three-quarter sleeves, and she showed it to him.

She thought she saw the ghost of a smile on his lips. "That looks lovely with your hair. Now, if you wish to shower, I will wait out here for you."

Tawny giggled and playfully punched his arm. "No peeking, lover boy."

"That would be most ungentlemanly of me."

She then kissed his cheek and went to the bathroom to shower and change.

"I-I feel...u-underdressed."

"You look stunning, ashaya," he murmured, his hand straying to the small of her back as he pushed her forward. "I daresay, perhaps a little too stunning. Everyone will want to meet you."

She felt a flush of heat on her cheeks, but she smiled at him as he led her inside.

The spacious foyer was empty but for a few servants, and one of them led them to the back courtyard, which was crowded. Humans and Vulcans alike mingled and socialized, holding drinks. There were tables set up along the walls so everyone could sit down and eat, and Tawny looked to Kuvak for guidance. She felt far out of her league, even around the humans, and she stuck by Kuvak as he greeted some colleagues in Vulcan.

"And who is this?" one said, an older man with bright brown eyes.

"My ashal-veh, Tawny Townsend," he replied with a note of admiration in his voice. "Ashaya, this is Turin."

She smiled at him. "H-Hello, s-sir."

Turin raised an eyebrow. "What a charming manner of speaking. There's no need to be shy, little one."

Her smile turned wan, and Kuvak excused himself to get something to drink. "I-I feel...o-out of my l-league."

"Ah," Turin said with a hint of a smile around his eyes. "No need to feel that way, Ms. Townsend. You are with Kuvak, son of Kirak, and as his guest, you deserve just as much respect as he is afforded. More so because he called you 'ashaya'. Strange, I do not recall hearing that Kuvak had married, much less a human."

She shook her head. "W-We're not married. W-We're...dating."

Turin raised an eyebrow. "Dating? Is this a prelude to marriage?"

"Yes."

"I see...how fortunate he is. He's a good man, Ms. Townsend, one of the best in the High Command. He deserves the seat he holds, no matter what some say. I have never seen a more level head when it comes to making policy, nor a gentler heart. He'll treat you right, Ms. Townsend. In your tongue, a gentleman if I ever saw one."

Kuvak walked back up to them at that point, and Tawny stared at him, looking over every feature, every inch of his face. I love you, she thought as he silently handed her a drink, and she stood a little closer to him than propriety would allow in a circumstance like this, and, knowing he was sensitive to her emotions, she focused on affection for him, love for him, and she sipped the drink he had given her with gratitude.

"Administrator!" Turin called softly to a passing partygoer. "Come, meet Kuvak's ashaya."

The administrator, Somil himself, was a tall, lanky, aging man, with streaks of silver running through his dark brown hair. He had small, beady eyes, and his face was lined with age and worry. His nose was pointy and slightly upturned, making him look pompous. But he looked somber, almost sad, as he fixed his dark gaze on her.

"A human, Kuvak?" Somil inquired, his voice deep and slow. Tawny frowned; she was expecting a wheeze.

"Her name is Tawny Townsend," Kuvak replied.

Somil quirked an eyebrow. "The very face of our world changes day by day," he murmured, looking away towards the setting sun. Tawny looked at her feet, but Turin sounded amused when he spoke.

"You know T'Hya's clan has always been progressive. And this young lady is well suited to be Kuvak's wife. She is compassionate." Turin fixed her with an approving gaze. "I can see it."

She felt heat on her face, but Somil shook his head. "Who Kuvak marries is none of my concern...but that I would live to see such days..."

"You disapprove, administrator?" Kuvak said. She thought he sounded angry.

"She is a lovely thing, Kuvak," Somil replied somberly. "I was simply commenting on the changes occurring on our world...changes the High Command cannot control..."

"Change is inevitable," she muttered to herself, looking at her feet again, and she heard the men go silent. She looked up and frowned. Turin looked amused, almost pleased, Kuvak was staring at her with that now-familiar hungry expression, and Somil's beady eyes were boring into her.

"F-For humans," she stammered, and Somil's gaze softened.

"For all of us," he conceded, and she looked at her shoes again. Turin asked a question in Vulcan, and she heard Somil sigh and respond in kind. She looked at Kuvak, who looked very displeased, and when Somil turned to Kuvak, the minister shook his head.

"I am a legislator, administrator, not a judge."

Tawny frowned, completely lost, but Turin edged closer to her as Kuvak and Somil began arguing in Vulcan.

"Somil has just informed us that he will bring forth legislation regarding more consolidations in our government. He proposes that, in order to be a more efficient governing body, we should merge more of our branches of government. To have the High Command also be a judicial body is a radical motion."

She frowned and thought about it. "D-Does your g-government e-employ a s-system of ch-checks and balances?"

"It does."

"S-So...a-are there ch-checks between the H-High C-Command and your j-judicial s-system?"

"There are. But if this legislation passes, that check will cease to exist."

"Y-You'll m-make l-legislation and b-be p-prosecution f-for lawbreakers?"

"The Security Directorate, a branch of the High Command, deals with most breaches of security, and there is a department that deals with petty crime. Most transgressions are punished in the home, and are out of our hands. But major crimes, murder, treason, ethical misconduct and the like, would be brought before the High Command for prosecution, yes."

"W-Whatever w-works for y-you."

"Now, Ms. Townsend, I was just getting the impression that you are extremely sharp. Do not make me change my mind."

She blushed. "I-I...I-I don't..."

"Now, Turin, you're scaring the girl."

Tawny whirled around and saw a Vulcan about Kuvak's age and height, with piercing blue eyes and a bulbous nose. He almost looked like he was smiling, and Turin raised an eyebrow.

"Are you frightened of me, Ms. Townsend?"

Tawny shook her head and glanced at Kuvak and Somil, who were still arguing.

"Forgive these old Vulcans, my dear," the new arrival said. "They thrive on debate. They do this all the time in the council chambers."

"Forgive my manners, Ms. Townsend," Turin interjected. "This is Minister V'Las."

"P-Pleased to m-meet you," she said, nodding in greeting. To her surprise, V'Las held out his hand for her to take. His grip was strong and warm and dry, his fingers slightly calloused, and she smiled in earnest at the gesture.

"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Townsend. Kuvak didn't tell me he had such a beautiful wife."

Her eyes widened. "O-Oh, oh no, n-not...n-not yet..."

V'Las quirked an eyebrow. "I distinctly heard you called his ashaya, Ms. Townsend. Yet you are not married? Are you engaged at the very least?"

She shook her head. "W-We're..."

"We are engaging in the human custom of dating," Kuvak said firmly. Somil had disappeared into the crowd.

V'Las raised both eyebrows. "Is this some prelude to marriage? I have not heard of this 'dating'."

"As I understand it, it is a...test of sorts, a trial run, if you will. Humans are not bonded as we are at seven. They have to find their mates on their own. Dating allows them to explore their options, find out more about a potential mate before promising themselves to them in marriage. A common custom in many regions of Earth."

"I see," the other minister replied, gazing down at her with his bright blue gaze. "She is quite something, Kuvak. I congratulate you on this increase to your house."

Tawny raised her eyebrows, but smiled at Kuvak, who looked appalled. V'Las turned and walked away, engaging in conversation with some men on the other side of the courtyard, and Tawny shrugged at Kuvak.

"You are not insulted?" he said, his voice tinged with surprise.

"I-I'm flattered, really. They think I'm your wife."

She saw his eyes darken and looked at her feet, but when he said her name again, she looked up at him. He stepped in closer and leaned down so he could whisper in her ear.

"When I get you alone, young lady..."

A surge of passion ripped through her core, and she felt him sniff at her discreetly.

"I see my words are having the appropriate effect on you. Bear that in mind this evening."

He turned again to Turin and engaged him in light conversation, and Tawny took a hasty sip of her drink and looked around at all the other guests at the party. She saw Ambassador Trent and some of his staff, and a familiar face stuck out in the crowd.

Jo smiled at her and sauntered over, and she glanced at Kuvak with an approving glance.

"I had the feeling you two were together...are you?"

Tawny grinned and nodded. "We sure are...not m-married. J-Just dating."

"A state I hope to change soon," she heard Kuvak mutter, and Jo raised her eyebrows and giggled.

"V-Vulcans...gotta love em..."

Jo laughed. "They are pretty cool, aren't they?"

Tawny shrugged. "The ones I-I've met are...s-so h-how's life?"

She sighed. "It's ok...wanna get something to eat? I'm starving."

Tawny glanced at Kuvak, who nodded. "I will join you later, if that is all right with you."

She glanced at Jo, who grinned. "I don't want to keep you two apart or anything."

Tawny shook her head. "Half an hour away from him won't hurt a thing," she whispered, and she pulled her towards the food. There was a wide variety of foods available, some Vulcan dishes that Tawny recognized, others that Jo had to explain. There was even something that resembled pizza (a Vulcan version of it), and Tawny decided to be brave and try it.

They found a table on the west side of the courtyard and took a seat, sitting across from each other so they could talk.

"So how are you liking Vulcan so far?"

"S-Satan's playground...b-but not bad."

Jo giggled. "It does seem like his armpit here, doesn't it?"

Tawny snorted into her food. "Jo!" she hissed, and she descended into a silent fit of the giggles. "Don't do that!"

"So," Jo continued as if nothing had happened. "You're with Kuvak now, huh?"

"Yeah."

"What's it like?"

Tawny grinned into her food. "H-He's very s-sweet...I-I'm lucky."

Jo smiled. "So...you're from San Fran, right?"

"Yeah."

"Where'd you go to high school?"

"B-Bal."

Jo raised an eyebrow. "Is that the-"

"Y-Yeah, Verde's s-school."

Jo frowned. "So you went to the high school where Verde went one hundred twenty years ago?"

"Yup. T-They even have a l-little m-museum a-about him and the war."

"Who is Verde?"

Tawny glanced up at Kuvak, who took the seat beside her, but Jo answered.

"He was a warlord back during World War III. He was famous for recruiting at Bal, the high school Tawny went to. He gained about fifteen percent of his armed forces from the school. This was back when the New Union was trying to keep education afloat...like that worked out."

Jo turned back to Tawny. "So did you go to Stanford? USC?"

"B-Berkley. I l-liked their wr-writing program."

"Awesome! Alma mater!" she said, high-fiving her. "Did you have Jenkins for World History?"

"I-I heard h-he wasn't that good, s-so I-I didn't t-take him."

"Good thing...he was the worst teacher I've ever had...but he has like fifty years in tenure and they won't kick him out."

Tawny shook her head. "S-So what did you major in?"

For another two hours, Kuvak sat with them and listened to their conversation, and Tawny was eventually relaxed and open. It was nice to have a light conversation about nothing with another girl, and Jo was friendly and funny. Some of the Vulcans gave them odd looks when they laughed, but their stories about high school and college life sent them into laughing fits, much to Kuvak's bemusement, who apparently didn't get the humor.

Finally, Kuvak suggested they leave before it got too dark, and Tawny bid Jo a fond farewell.

"I'll see you at the Embassy!"

"D-Definately! Good night!"

The ride back to the clan home was quiet, and her thoughts lingered mostly on Jo's stories, and memories of her days in college. But then she thought about Somil and the consolidations being made in Vulcan government, and she glanced over at Kuvak, who was engaged in a PADD.

"Kuvak?"

He glanced up at her.

"Do you think these consolidations are a good thing?"

He opened his mouth to speak, then paused. "They are efficient."

"That's n-not what I'm asking...d-do you think it's a good thing?"

Kuvak's gaze darkened. "What do you think?"

"If this l-l-legislation goes through...you'll be a l-legislator and a judge?"

"Correct."

"The High Command will be prosecuting a-anyone who violates the laws they make?"

"Correct."

"I think...that's a very e-efficient dictatorship...no offense."

He stared at her, his gaze darkening further, and he pulled her in close, pressing a finger to her lips as a signal for silence.

"You must never speak of this," he whispered, swiftly kissing her forehead. "My Tawny, as perceptive as she is beautiful...and thus she pinpoints the problem with the Vulcan government...I only have so much sway, and I have protested this as much as I can, but I doubt it will do much good. There are others in the council with more influence than me...oh, Tawny, I fear the days ahead...I fear what will become of us..."

"No matter what happens, you have me," she whispered back, kissing his chest. He was silent, but squeezed her harder.

"Is that a promise?"

"I don't understand-"

"Do I truly have you, Tawny? Didn't I ever tell you to say exactly what you mean to a Vulcan male, else he will take you at your word? Do not tell me what you do not mean."

She looked up at him, and he stared back, first defiantly, then his gaze softened.

"The storm would not be so hard to weather if you were at my side," he said gently, stroking her face.

"If I were to get married to you..." Her heart pounded at the thought. "W-What w-would happen?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "You would become a respected T'Sai in my house...you would, in essence, be seen as a Vulcan, with all the rights and privileges of one. You would...bear me children," he growled, inhaling the scent of her hair. "As many as you are willing to bear...and in exchange, I would make you the happiest woman on the planet. Whatever you desire, I will provide. Whatever you wish for me to do...I will do it."

"You're serious?"

"Do I look as if I am not?"

His eyes were aflame with a dark expression, and she reached up and cupped his cheek, somehow knowing she was poking a sleeping bear.

"Do not underestimate the pleasure a man can bring to she who is his wife," he purred, leaning into her touch. He raised his fingers and stroked her lips, and they parted automatically at the intense tingling sensation. She gasped and kissed the tip of his finger.

"And I have only given you a taste..." His voice was darker still, as were his eyes, and she leaned forward, brushing her lips along his. He pulled her in and kissed her back, but this was unlike most of the kisses he bestowed on her. The pace he set left her breathless, clutching his robes, and as his tongue speared her lips and toyed with hers, she groaned and opened her mouth wider, letting more of him in.

"Kuvak..." she breathed when he gave her a break, nibbling at her neck.

"I am serious, Tawny...I want to protect you. Whatever is coming for my planet, I want to be able to protect you from any harm that might befall you. No matter what happens, I will protect you."

She looked down at her lap, but he raised her chin. "Tawny, what is holding you back from marrying me? Is it time? Do you feel you do not know me enough? What can I do to remove your doubts?"

She took a deep breath in. "Kuvak, I love you more than any man I've ever met...I want to marry you, I really do...but let me talk to Emmie first...I want to know what she says."

Kuvak looked both elated and disappointed. "Do you not trust your own judgment? And...you truly love me?"

She pressed her forehead to his. "Yes, I love you...very much." She didn't reply to the first question. In truth, she needed a little more time to be absolutely sure of her feelings, but she had no doubt in her mind that soon, she would be his. There was no escaping him. No matter what T'Mil said, she owed him so much...she couldn't just dump him in the trash.

Her main concern was her relative inexperience with relationships. She didn't know how to parent a child, she didn't know how to keep things going should they argue...she didn't know.

"You fear that you are inadequate, that you do not know enough to be successful in this relationship...Tawny, I understand your concern...I feel sometimes that I will not be enough, that I will not be all you need, that problems will arise and I won't know how to handle them...we will find our way together, ashaya. Please...let me be yours..."

She felt his hands cup her jaw, and she gasped as an intense sensation of intimacy overwhelmed her. She stared into his bright blue eyes, not seeing, not knowing, completely consumed by the presence of Kuvak in her mind. She felt something like a violent current underneath the calm facade, rippling, rushing, unstoppable if unleashed...

And then she felt his regard for her, and she nearly lost all touch with herself.

It was deep and dark, possessive and protective and fiercely alive, pulsating with unending devotion...but in the deepest heart of that was true regard, true dedication to her, and her alone. She was his everything, and to lose her would be to lose his supply of oxygen. It was nearly suffocating her, but she could not remember what it was like to live without this, to not feel the intensity of this...she didn't want to leave this place, this bottomless ocean...

Suddenly, she was herself again, being held in his arms...it wasn't close enough.

"Let me go back," she gasped, her face slick with tears. "Let me go back there..."

"Bond with me and you may go there any time you wish," he growled in response.

She closed her eyes and held him as tight as she could. "Then bond with me...marry me, Kuvak..." She panted for breath, frightened beyond her wildest dreams, yet in her heart of hearts she knew this was right.

He stared down at her with an incredulous gaze. "Tawny, did you..."

"Marry me," she repeated firmly. "Marry me...after Emmie's wedding, marry me."

He continued to stare, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, but then he blinked, and his eyes darkened to twin wells of night haloed in blue.

He pulled her into the most passionate and desperate kiss she had ever received, and she relaxed into his embrace, mussing up his hair, scratching her nails down his back.

"Tawny," he purred, "my beautiful bride..."

"Mine," she replied, nibbling on his ear. "All mine..."

He nodded, holding her tightly, panting in want. "All yours...do with me as you wish...oh, Tawny!"

She couldn't keep her hands off of him for the rest of the ride, but when they began their descent, she pulled away from his kiss and straightened her hair, and did the same for him, grinning at how mussed up (and therefore how sexy) he looked.

He left her at the entrance of the hallway to her room, and he stroked her cheek with his two fingers, sending sparks running through her veins.

"Tawny, I must tell T'Mil," he breathed. "And there are other things I must attend to. Do not not think ill of me, ashaya."

"I never have, and I don't today," she replied with a soft smile. "Go do what you need to do. And good night...sweet dreams."

"If they are of you," he whispered, "they certainly will be."

He kissed her swiftly on the lips and hurried away, his robes billowing behind him, and she watched him go, licking her lips to taste him one last time before she went to her room.

"What has caused you such joy, little T'Sai?" she heard a voice say, and she jumped, her thoughts still on Kuvak.

She whirled around and saw Kovan right behind her, his eyebrows raised, his arms behind his back.

She grinned up at him, her joy undaunted by her still-thundering heart. "You'll see," she whispered. "Good night."