Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you to everyone who reviewed.

Kuvak turned as he heard his Ivy's voice coming down the hall, and he immediately abandoned his work at one of the pillars, smirking in victory as Oratt distracted Sorak with a question, allowing him to greet his beloved first.

"Ms. Blake," he said with as much warmth as he could muster. He also nodded politely to Pepper. "Ms. Blake. I believe Osu Oratt could use your assistance."

"He has Sorak," Tos protested, appearing at Kuvak's shoulder. "Pepper, would you assist me with these streamers, please?"

Kuvak smirked and waved his hand at two young men lingering in the corner. "Go aid Osu Tos," he said firmly, and they moved as if a fire had been lit under them. "There, Ms. Blake, he no longer requires you. Oratt is over there."

The doctor moved away from Sorak without even finishing his conversation. "How did you do that?" he whispered to Kuvak in Vulcan.

"The promise of extra credit given to failing students," he mumbled in reply, guiding Ivy to a branch of heart shaped foil garlands.

"I am going to need aid hanging these. Are you agreeable to aiding me?" the minister asked Ivy. "I also brought this." He held out a large sprig of mistletoe.

"Mistletoe? That is a Christmas tradition," she protested, and as she reached out to take it from him, he moved it so it was hanging over their heads.

"I think it more logical for such a symbol to hang during your people's celebration of romance and affection...do you not? It is the season for kissing, and this is your symbolism and tradition." He looked up at the green sprig. " I am under the mistletoe...for Valentine's Day."

Ivy giggled. "Wow...you know, that actually makes so much more sense! Brilliant, Osu! Bravo!"

He smirked at her, and stayed still as she leaned forward and gave him a light peck on the cheek. Her lips were soft and warm, and a rush of excitement ripped down into his core.

"See?" he purred, "it is much more logical to hang it now."

She nodded and held the ladder for him, and he climbed it, taking the mistletoe with him. "Be careful, Osu," she warned, and he glanced down at her, his expression softening. "We wouldn't want you to fall."

"No, we would not," Sorak said, appearing at her shoulder. "How are you this morning, Ms. Blake?"

"Oh, I'm lovely. And you?"

"She is busy helping me," Kuvak interjected, holding out his hand for the heart garland. She handed it to him, and he made sure his fingertips brushed hers as she passed it.

He was pleased when their fingertips touched slightly. He saw her jump a little, and her eyes seemed to darken. She turned to grab more of the garland as he tacked up the first.

"I know how to help make this more efficient." Sorak said blandly, and he gathered all the garlands up off the floor.

"How is that?" she asked.

He placed them carefully around her neck, smirking at her. "Allow me to demonstrate." He grabbed her at her hips and lifted her up over his head, carefully placing her legs on either side of his neck so she was riding his shoulders.

Ivy squealed a little and giggled. "Sorak!"

"Now you can hand Kuvak the garlands with ease," he said, sounding inordinately pleased with himself, and he gripped her thighs to keep her balanced.

Kuvak felt his expression twist into displeasure as he glanced down at Sorak, who seemed quite content with Ivy's thighs gently pressing his ears. The thought and sight of it made his blood boil, but he schooled his expression and took more of the garland from Ivy.

Oratt deliberately brushed his hand across Pepper's back as he reached over her for more streamers, and he smirked as she gasped ever so slightly and stared at him with dark eyes. He took a moment to hold her gaze, seemingly capturing her with his stare as the streamer lay momentarily forgotten on the table.

She giggled nervously and tucked another strand of hair behind her ear, turning back to the table. "I'm not in your way, am I, Osu?"

"Not at all," he purred, reaching around her towards the plastic hearts on the supply table. She reached for the same box, and he momentarily lost all logic as she gently took his hand and put it on the hearts he was reaching for.

"There," she said, turning towards him. They were remarkably close... "That was what you were reaching for, right?"

Oratt placed his other hand on hers; with his left arm wrapped around her back and his right crossing her front, it was almost as if he were holding her, and he marveled at how she seemed quite content with this.

"Yes," he replied. He lifted the heart from the box with their hands entwining so that the heart was between them. "I researched this image when I found it had significance in Earth culture." He squeezed her hand ever so slightly, delighting in the sound of her quiet gasp. "Some have thought it was the curve a woman's bottom, but after some more extensive research it actually is the shape of two anatomical hearts bound together. I celebrate this symbolism, because it is how Vulcans celebrate their marriages, their...bondmates...heart to heart, mind to mind...bound." He blinked, taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth slightly trying to will himself to tell her the truth, that he was Osu.

He watched her pupils bloom to inky wells, and he smirked in victory, letting his guard drop, daring to feel her out. He was hit full force with her scent, her rosy aroma, and it settled into his nasal cavity like an exotic perfume. He flared his nostrils to breathe more of it in, and he noted her gaze flicked down to his lips at least three times. He would have to research this phenomenon...

"Hey, once you two are done with your staring contest, could you hand me that box, please?" one of the boys asked, breaking the moment, and he threw the student a cold gaze, shoving the box towards him. Pepper was blushing by the time he looked back to her, but he let his expression be gentle again.

"Now, let us hang these symbols, hm?"

She grinned nervously and started handing him the hearts, and he noted she looked around the ballroom at everyone else, perhaps to see if anyone was watching. Tos was staring at her from across the room, and she smiled politely at him and nodded, then turned back to him, leaning against the ladder, holding it down with her weight.

"The Vulcan heart is gray, isn't it?" she mused aloud. "If I remember that report correctly..."

"It is, and it sits in my body in the same place your human liver would sit."

"But the truth of the heart rests in the Vulcan katra," Tos said; he had crossed the room and was standing behind them. "That is something I am sure the books of biology did not mention."

"What's a katra?" Pepper asked.

"It is something that stirs in a Vulcan when he is in the presence of she who would be his mate, and with fortune, it stirs her as well. It is the soul, the living essence of a Vulcan," Tos added, holding his head high. "Once stirred, a Vulcan man is not easily dissuaded, Pepper."

"So, a stirring is a...crush?"

Oratt came down from the ladder. "More than that, Pepper, it is a call that stirs us profoundly, so profoundly we would fight and..." he turned to Tos, "kill before we allow another man to come between us and our mates. The film of logic is pierced and the primal madness we work so hard to suppress comes to the surface."

Tos stepped up to him. "Yes, Pepper, the doctor is correct. Though we do hope in our most logical moments that it does not come to that."

Oratt turned back to her. "I would speak to you now about this decoration over here..."

Pepper glanced between both men. "Ok...it feels like something is going on between the two of you..."

Tos raised an eyebrow. "All is well, T'Sai. I beg that you save a dance for me this evening. I must go now, but will be here tonight. Will you do so?"

She paused, then shrugged. "Sure, Tos..."

Oratt glared at Tos' retreating back, until he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked down in amazement and saw Pepper's delicate fingers wrapped around the top of his arm, and the concern in her eyes was making him feel warm...

"Are you sure you're ok?" she asked, and he nodded.

"It is nothing, Pepper. May I also beg for a dance?"

She giggled and leaned forward, her warm breath causing sparks to shoot down his spine. "You can have three," she whispered in his ear. She leaned back and almost looked mortified at her audacity, until he smirked and leaned forward in return.

"I look forward to it," he purred, and he delighted in the way she trembled.

Ivy looked down at the top of Sorak's head and asked to be put down, and he lifted her hips and brought her down to the floor.

"Thank you, Sorak," she said politely, then turned to Kuvak. "Are you coming to the dance tonight?"

"I am. Do you have an escort?" Kuvak asked before Sorak could get words out of his mouth.

"No," she replied with the smallest of sighs.

"Will you allow me to escort you? Unofficially, of course."

"I-yeah I think that would be ok." She grinned at him.

Kuvak bowed his head, and then turned to his rival. "Come, Sorak, we must speak. I could use your assistance."

"Of course, minister." Sorak nodded to Ivy and followed Kuvak to what he was sure was going to be a displeasing conversation.

A/N: fameanon: We're almost there, people! It's almost Singles Awareness Day!

sensara: You mean Valentine's Day Candy Goes on Sale Eve?

fameanon: Yeah, that!