Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to Fameanon (and Yuris), Ahlysha, Caren Rose, and the anon reviewer for reviewing!

V'Zal, Mazar, slums, October 1, 2152

The night wind whistled around them as they ascended the steps to the landlord's house. They had agreed to act as if they were lovers come here to escape their families' disapproval, and he hooked his arm around hers to connect her physically to his person, to make it seem like they were really in love. He blushed green at the thought, and she too was blushing, but he led her confidently down the hallways towards the landlord's office.

The Mazarite was sipping a putrid-smelling liquid, and he saw Eponine unwittingly wrinkle her nose in disgust at the smell, and he glared at the mug in response to that. He recognized the deep red juice inside: vweshem, an acquired taste, and poisonous to Mazarites. It was also a highly addictive substance, explaining why they drank the disgusting stuff, and he knew from his crash course in Mazarite society that poorer neighborhoods had vweshem houses, where they served it instead of alcohol. On Mazar, alcohol was a luxury of the rich.

"So," the middle-aged Mazarite said with a cheeky grin, "this is the Vulcan. And a human." He looked over Eponine with an appraising gaze, and Yuris stepped in front of her, directing the man's attention back to him.

"We don't get many of your kind around here," the man continued, looking at both of them now. "So I suppose you want your key now."

Yuris nodded silently.

"Not the chatty type then? Typical Vulcan..."

"My beloved is tired and she wishes to rest. Here is your down payment." He handed the Mazarite a PADD with the appropriate amount, and the older man raised his eyebrows.

"Everything seems to be in order...you married him, girl?"

She looked to him to answer, and Yuris shook his head. "We are not married yet...we intend to do so when I have work."

The Mazarite shrugged. "I thought Vulcans didn't go for outsiders...though I wouldn't mind trying a human on for size..."

Yuris' expression darkened at the crude innuendo, but Eponine gave him a mocking smile.

"We've got spunk enough to satisfy any man's appetite," she said with a sly grin. The Mazarite smirked. "But really, Zynek is the sweetest man I've ever met," she continued, looking up at him with an adoring gaze. He only wished it was real...

"Charming girl you've got there, Vulcan. And cheeky. I like that."

He walked into the back room and came back with a thin metal stick. "This is your key. You'll have to clean the place a little. I don't take responsibility for your cleaning bill, so you'll have to take care of that yourselves. You two keep it quiet in there, you hear?"

"You won't even know we're here," Eponine retorted with a curtsey. Yuris thought the man's smile actually looked genuine.

"Very charming lady, Vulcan. Good night."

Yuris led her to their house down a narrow street, and he unlocked the front door and turned on the lights. They flickered on, and he frowned in displeasure at all the dust.

"Well," Eponine said, strolling around in the dusty living room. "This is rather nice! Needs a little cleaning, but I've lived in far worse places."

Yuris sniffed in disapproval. "We will clean it as soon as possible. But now...you need your rest. Come, let us survey the rest of this house."

There was a bedroom with a mattress, but there was also a small room just next door that looked like it was originally intended as a study. It could, however, be converted into a second bedroom, and he fully intended to do that.

He knew the stores on Mazar would not be open at this hour, so he spread a spare robe he had in his pack onto the bed they did have, then made a pillow with a soft cotton bathrobe from her bag.

"Sleep, Eponine," he said, gesturing to the bed. "I know it is crude, but I will provide a proper bed for you tomorrow."

She obeyed and laid down, and he covered her with another robe, then turned off the light. "Good night," he murmured.

"Wait," she said, and he turned back to her. She slipped out of the makeshift bed and walked up to him, staring at him with confused eyes.

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek with soft, tender lips, and he closed his eyes, inhaling a waft of her scent that floated to him on the dusty air.

"Good night," she whispered, and she squeezed his shoulder. "And thank you...for this new start."

He nodded and closed the door after she crawled back into bed, and he went back to the living room, searching the room and then the kitchen for a broom. He found one (or something like it) in the closet, and he began sweeping, searching for other problems and mentally making a list of the things they needed. The walls were carved with intricate symbols where humans put crown molding, and he thought the place could use a fresh coat of paint. He did not want Eponine living in this second-rate house. The home was small, but it could be cheery with a little more color and a good scrubbing.

He was weary from traveling and the time changes and the chase, but he got to work anyway, surprised to find rags and a bucket in the closet as well. So he cleaned the floors and all the surfaces, continuing with his list, hellbent on getting this place as clean as he could before Eponine awoke in the morning.

Eponine awoke and frowned at the odd cloth she was laying on, then took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. She remembered the chase, the landlord, the house...and Yuris, it seemed, had not come to bed with her, or so much as stepped into the room. The door was still closed, but she rose and walked out into the living room, where she saw him glancing over a PADD.

"Breakfast is on the table," he murmured, and she sat down at the table and took a still-warm roll from the bowl he had put them in.

"Take as many as you like," he continued, setting the PADD aside. "I've already eaten."

She moaned around the mouthful of bread; it was warm and buttery and sweet, and she closed her eyes. "This is heaven," she murmured to herself as she took another bite.

She noted that, unlike last night, the table was free of dust and dirt, and the floors and the cabinets too. Everything glittered with cleanliness, and as she saw Yuris come back into the kitchen (he had gone into the room she had slept in to fetch his robes), she put down her roll and bounded toward him.

Before she even thought about it, she pulled him into a tight embrace, burying her nose into his chest. She squeezed him, and it didn't escape her notice that his broad and powerful muscles tensed beneath her arms. She squeezed harder, pouring her gratitude and amazement into her embrace, gripping the back of his shirt like a lifeline.

"Eponine," he said softly, and she realized she had been hugging him for much too long, and she let him go and reached for her roll.

"This is really good," she said with a grin, holding up the buttery bread. "And this house...did you sleep last night?"

"Vulcans can go several days without sleep, Eponine. I did not require rest last night...I was otherwise occupied."

"With cleaning?"

He nodded, and she looked down at her feet. "You..."

"I did this for you," he murmured, stepping forward a little. "This home is not livable with dust and dirt in it."

She shuffled her feet, feeling the heat of a blush on her face. "You are far too kind, monsieur."

"My name is Yuris."

Eponine looked up at him, but said nothing, staring into his eyes, which looked green today.

"I have an interview in an hour. I am taking the key, and I want you to lock the door. I will return in a little while, hopefully with a job."

He shrugged on his robes and picked up the key and his PADD, then made to leave, but she grabbed his hand before he left. Still holding him still, she stood on tiptoe and lightly pressed her lips to his cheek.

"Good luck," she whispered, "and thank you."

She thought she saw green flushing over his cheeks and the tips of his ears, but he was gone before she could examine him further.

Yuris hurried through the streets, his mind whirling in confusion and unchaste, undue joy. Eponine had embraced him for almost fourteen seconds for his cleaning job, and had kissed his cheek when he left for this interview. His cheek was still burning where she had kissed it, and just the thought of it was making his ears flush green. He focused on the task ahead and hurried on.

Still, he could not get his mind off of her actions, especially the length of her embrace and the feel of her soft lips pressing to his skin. He knew from various readings that the average human might hug another person for no more than five seconds, unless one party was extremely fond of the other, or if one or both parties were grieving together. There was nothing to grieve, so logically...

He stopped his thoughts in their tracks and focused on his task. This job was his best bet at supporting Eponine and himself, at keeping her happy and healthy. He would not let distraction get in the way of his work, or let all his efforts with Eponine go to waste. He was going to land this job, earn money and make her new life here as pleasant as he possibly could.

Because he was desperately in love with her, and his only goal was to make her happy.

"Well, Mr. Zynek, I'm impressed with your record. Degrees in biochemistry, bioengineering, microbiology, chemistry...and at your age? Impressive...your people seem to like overachieving."

Yuris could feel the resentment the director felt towards his people, but it wasn't necessarily directed at him.

"Though, your people did land me this job, so I guess I shouldn't be too harsh. You're hired."

Yuris blinked, then bowed his head. "I accept your offer, and I will serve you to the best of my ability."

"You'd better, or you're not getting paid. This clinic has had enough problems without my workers slacking off. But you're not going to give me that sort of trouble, are you, Vulcan?"

"No."

"Good," the man growled, then his gaze became friendlier. "Your training starts next week. Here's the rules and regulations," he continued, handing him a PADD. "I trust you can read. And your pay is also listed. Any questions, come and see me. Don't be late, or you'll be causing trouble. Understood?"

He nodded and stood, raising the ta'al to the director. "Until next week, Osu. And thank you."

"That's very nice of you to say."

The director didn't look like he was going to say much else, so Yuris bowed his head once more and walked out of the office.

V'Lar leaned back in her office chair and stared at the report on the runaway melder and the Earth girl he had kidnapped. Authorities had tried to hunt them, but had lost them in the streets of the ghetto district of the capital. Now their trail was gone, and they had no decent way to find them. She had posted security around that area and in all districts of the capital to find them.

If this was a V'tosh ka'tur with a new human pet, he would be shipped off to Vulcan, and she would recommend the death penalty for his actions. The logical side of her chided her; it was against Surak's principles to take life, and she should not be so eager to deal it out.

If, on the other hand, this melder was one of her kind...he would be set free, at liberty to go where he pleased, and the Earth girl with him if she so chose.

She wanted to meet him so she could make a decision, but in the meantime she would post more security and keep the lookout for this man.