Chapter 9: First Date

It was Friday.

Sarek had been looking forward to this day all week. It was not logical but it was nevertheless true. He would see Amanda during her lunch hour- and then again for dinner. Why would he not look forward to it?

When she arrived with a sandwich and a bottle of water as she always did at noon, she was smiling and her eyes were bright. She was clearly pleased to see him- which in turn pleased him.

They had not seen much of each other since Monday. She'd mostly been working at her desk and when she did venture down to the third floor it was to deliver things to other ambassadors. It had been a disappointing week.

But now...she would be here for a whole hour. Although he did have a report to complete that was due to be sent to the Vulcan High Council the next day, he set it aside as she sat across from him.

"Good afternoon, Ambassador," she said.

"I was under the impression we had dispensed with formal titles," Sarek replied.

"So you want me to call you Sarek?" she asked, and he now recognized the lilting tone in her voice as 'flirtatious'. Although there was no further need for her to express her interest she was doing so.

"That would be evident, Amanda," he said. Apparently this was the correct thing to say, as her smile widened. He did not believe he could tire of those simple muscle contractions.

It was another pleasant lunch hour. She told him about a history class she was taking that concentrated on major historical events in all known alien cultures. They had recently begun to study the Vulcan transition from peoples of passion to logical followers of Surak. She had to write an essay on how it had affected their technological development. He was more than pleased to give her a Vulcan's insight into the matter.

By the time she left he was at peace. Her presence, oddly enough, had the same effect on him as meditation did. He found it easier to center himself and concentrate as he returned to his work.

He was unaware of his surroundings until he heard high heels on the marble floor again. He listened closely- but soon returned to his work again. He had learned to distinguish Amanda's footsteps from everyone else's and those were not hers.

He was mildly surprised when the footsteps stopped at his door. He looked up- and immediately felt something akin to dread. It was Karen.

"Hello, Ambassador," Karen said with the same flirtatious inflections she had used before. He decided he did not appreciate those inflections coming from anyone but Amanda. He sat back to observe her.

"Yes, Miss...?"

"Last name's Bennett but you can call me Karen, like I said before." She was blinking rapidly again. He was thankful Amanda did not have that particular habit...he may find it "annoying" and have to rethink a future proposal.

"Is there something you require, Miss Bennett?" he asked firmly. She sighed exaggeratedly and leaned on the button that closed the door, trying to make it seem like an accident. "Oops!" she said as it slid closed. "Clumsy me."

He really did not think he'd ever met a stranger woman.

"Have you consumed alcohol, Miss Bennett? I have heard it can affect humans negatively," he said. She giggled.

"Of course not!" she said and she came closer, hips swinging. She ran her hand over his desk, looking up at him from under her lashes. "You know, I've waited almost a month now for you to call for me."

"I did not need your assistance," he replied simply. She sighed again.

"You know, I think you're very good-looking, Ambassador Sarek," she said. "You caught my eye right away."

He also decided he did not like the way she said his name. He did not know why- but he didn't.

"I do not know how I am expected to respond to that," Sarek replied. "Miss Bennett, if there is no reason for you to be here-"

"You're supposed to respond to that by asking me out. And if you want to we can go back to your place afterward," Karen interrupted. Now that Sarek knew where she was going with this he had an answer ready for her.

"Miss Bennett, I am sure many males find you attractive. I do not. Please desist from your pointless sexual advances. I am not interested, nor shall I ever be."

Her jaw dropped in shock and indignation. Her mouth worked unattractively for a moment- she reminded him of a gaping fish. Then it snapped shut and her blue eyes turned icy cold.

"That was rude, Ambassador. I wasn't really all that interested in some cold-blooded Vulcan anyway." She tossed her head, blonde curls bouncing as she walked back to the door. She paused just before opening it. "You had a once in a lifetime chance to sleep with a Terran who knows a few tricks and you just blew it."

Then, thankfully, she was gone. Relieved, he returned to his work. He hoped she would not bother him again.


Amanda looked into the mirror in her bathroom, brow furrowed as she turned her head from side to side, trying to make sure her hair was presentable. She doubted he would really care anyway, but she wanted to look as nice as possible.

She was nervous. It had been a long time since she'd been on a date. And she really, really wanted this to go well. Even if he was completely unromantic the whole evening, she wanted to have a good time.

Not knowing where he was taking her, she'd opted for a simple black dress that would work for either semi-formal or formal occasions. It was knee-length with a square-cut neckline and inch-wide straps that held it up. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she wore low-heeled black shoes and a smidgen of makeup. She was ready.

Amanda glanced at the clock- 1856 hours. He could be there at any time. She smoothed the dress over her stomach and straightened the skirt. She took slow, deep breaths.

Her front door buzzed at 1859.

She smiled to herself as she headed for the door and slid back the bolts.

"You're a minute early," she said as she opened it. She was not surprised to see Sarek there of course- but she was surprised to see that he held a bouquet of keela flowers. "Wow," she said, staring at the white, pink, and purple blooms.

"I believe it is customary," he said, holding them out. Amanda still stared at them- she'd never been given flowers before. How had he known keela flowers were her favorite?

"Thank you," she breathed. She looked up at him, eyes shining. "How did you know to get flowers?"

"I researched this event," he said and she bit her lips to keep from laughing. He had obviously put a lot of effort into this- she wasn't about to laugh at him for it. Even if getting women flowers for dates hadn't been in fashion for over a hundred years. It was still a sweet gesture.

"I'll go put these in the kitchen. I'll only be a moment," she said and stood back to let him in. She went into the kitchen and put the bouquet in a bowl before returning.

"You still have not replaced your lost items," he said, looking toward the empty space of wall.

"I'm saving up for it," she replied. He turned to her and she felt the heat rising in her cheeks as his dark eyes swept over her.

"You look aesthetically pleasing," he said. Amanda raised her eyebrows.

"We need to work on your compliments," she said as she smiled.

"You are ready to leave now?"

"Yes, I am," she replied and he led her to the door and out to his hover-car. She realized as she got in that her nervousness had mysteriously disappeared as soon as she saw him. In fact, he was probably more nervous than she was- and for good reason. It may have been awhile since she'd last been on a date...but he was completely new to the whole process.

"Where are we going?" she asked as he pulled away from the curb.

"We will have dinner and then I have reservations elsewhere."

She was intrigued. "Where at?" she asked. He looked at her and tilted his head.

"Keeping it a secret will increase your anticipation," he replied. She raised her eyebrows again- she was more than intrigued now.

"How do you know I'll like it, then?" she asked.

"I do not," he replied. She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. She was having a good time already and they hadn't even gotten to the restaurant yet.

When they did arrive at the restaurant she was glad she'd decided to wear something elegant. It was a high-end, expensive restaurant that catered to all species. She found she was more nervous about going in there than she was about being on a date with a Vulcan.

"I frequent this place often. They have excellent Vulcan dishes," Sarek said as they entered. Amanda looked around- it had an ultra-modern feel to it, with white and chrome everywhere. It was full of a mixture of aliens with an occasional Terran here and there and soft music played in the background. It was highly fashionable...and yet comfortable. She relaxed somewhat as Sarek led her toward a podium where a woman stood.

Soon they were seated at a table tucked away in a corner and their meals had been ordered. Amanda rested her elbows on the table, hands folded underneath her chin as she looked at him.

"For someone who knows nothing about human courtship you're doing a surprisingly good job so far," she commented. He clasped his hands together and rested them on the table.

"I am relieved you think so," he replied. And he did seem relieved- his shoulders were not quite as tense as they had been. He really was nervous then. The idea of a Vulcan being nervous about a date made her smile. "Something is humorous," he observed, eyes searching her face.

"I'm glad you asked me out. Even if you did mess up at first," she said.

He did not reply but also did not break their eye contact. Neither did she- and so they sat there simply looking at each other. It was the most comfortable silence she had ever experienced.


Karen was beyond bored. Her date for the night- some big-shot Bajoran- was talking to some business partner of his they'd just run into. She drummed her fingernails against the counter impatiently but both men ignored her. With a frustrated sigh she turned around, resting her elbows against the bar counter and surveying the crowd before her.

Just the usual mixture- rich aliens and a smattering of rich Terrans. Most of whom she recognized- many of whom she'd slept with. It was no secret that she was a nymphomaniac.

Her eyes roved over the crowd disinterestedly...until they came to a rest on a table in the far corner. She squinted her eyes- surely she was seeing things? Was that the Vulcan with- no! It couldn't be!

The little bitch had said there was nothing going on between them! Yet there she was- smiling and looking at him like a lovesick schoolgirl! The way she was looking across the table at him as they talked and ate their dinners made her want to vomit.

She watched, gritting her teeth as Amanda laughed at something. Oh, she didn't care about the Vulcan- she hadn't really wanted him anyway, she'd told him the truth when she said that. But she had a project to sleep with every species she could and he was the best option she'd seen so far for Vulcans. The point was- he had rejected her but obviously wanted that little mouse! What the hell did Amanda Grayson have that she didn't?

Oh, hell no. No one rejected her. No one rejected her for someone who was obviously inferior to her.

No one got away with that.

She would make sure they didn't either. It would take time...she wanted to formulate the perfect plan. But she would bring Amanda Grayson down a peg or two. She turned back to the bar, eyes still flashing but a smirk curling her lips.


After dinner Sarek took her to a musical performance at an operahouse. It was beautiful- multicolored lights shined down on the stage where Orion dancers twirled, tumbled, spun, and leapt; the light turning their skin blue, pink, red, purple...all to hauntingly beautiful, sad music. It was the most moving performance she'd ever seen. It ended much too soon.

She was almost speechless as he led her back out to the hover-car. Once they were seated inside and he was driving her home, he spoke.

"You have hardly said anything. Did you dislike it?" he asked. Although there was no hint of it in his tone or on his face, she knew he was apprehensive.

"It's not that at all. It was so...emotional. I had a wonderful time." Amanda wanted to reach out and touch him- but did not dare.

He did not reply to that. He drove the rest of the way in silence and soon- much too soon- they were there. He accompanied her to the door.

"You found our 'date' to be pleasant?" he asked. She smiled up at him as they stood in front of her door.

"Honestly...it was probably the best date I've ever been on," Amanda confessed.

"Then you would not be averse to another social interaction?" he asked. She laughed.

"No, I wouldn't be," she replied. "Thank you, Sarek. You're definitely on your way to making up for proposing."

He did not reply to that but he was looking at her, his head tilted slightly to the side. She gazed back at him...hoping beyond hope that he would kiss her. Of course, she couldn't reasonably expect it- after all, Vulcans disliked physical contact. It would take some time for him to get used to it...it would be better to work her way up to that later, once they were more comfortable.

She did not see as she turned away toward her door that he'd leaned forward ever so slightly, ever so hesitantly...but drew back when she turned away.

Once the door was open she turned back to him.

"Again...I had a great time. See you on Monday, Sarek."

"Good night, Amanda," he replied. She gave him one last smile before disappearing inside. He heard the locks click as she secured them.

He clasped his hands behind his back and headed to the hover-car.

Perhaps the document had been incorrect about the ten-second good-night-kiss rule.

He did not even stop to think about the fact he had told himself just a few days ago he would never participate in kissing.

Never say never, after all...