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

Sarek pulled out the chair for Suki and took the seat beside her, gently touching her fingers under the table where Soval couldn't see. She smiled at him, lightly kissing his cheek as Clove pointed to a view out the window, and Sarek felt his cheeks turn warm. Her neckline plunged a little further than was proper for a Vulcan woman, and it seemed provocative to him to look at her exposed skin.

"Shall we begin?" Soval suggested, loading Clove's plate with mashed potatoes.

"Your Aunt Meg called today, Suki," she said quietly. "She says Merry Christmas, and to come down as soon as possible to see Anise's baby."

"How far along is she now?"

"Nine months and then some. That baby will be coming any day now."

Soval put food on Cloves plate, "We can take you when you please you know."

Clove grinned, "You've done so much, Soval."

"It would be no bother, Suki. We would be able to spend more time together as well. That is something I would consider a gift."

Clove nodded, "Ok then because as you and Sarek are about to discover, we love giving you two gifts."

"Would you care to tell us what they are?" Soval asked, trying one more time to weasel an answer out of her. She shook her head and reached for the iced tea, but he beat her to it. However, their fingers brushed, and he gripped the handle of the pitcher so hard it almost broke.

"Allow me," he murmured, looking away from Sarek, though the younger ambassador was far so engrossed in Suki that Soval doubted he would notice if Andorians flew by the window.

"When do we get our gifts?" Sarek asked Suki, daring to touch her bare knee as Soval tended to Clove. "I have read differing accounts, and some say tonight, others say tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning," she insisted with a naughty grin. "You, my dear, will simply have to wait."

"I am a patient man, Suki, but I will admit I am ready to..."

Soval cleared his throat drawing Sarek's attention, "We will both need to be patient, Sarek. There are a great many things we require patience on. Now let us eat."

Sarek made to move his hand from Suki's knee and she caressed it as he moved. "Patience is a virtue even among humans, Sarek." Suki said grinning.

"Indeed, are you virtuous, Suki?"

She licked her lips, "Sometimes."

Clove choked on her drink, "You two! I swear you are embarrassing me. How about a change of subject. After dinner, it's kind of a tradition that we sit around the Christmas tree and tell stories as we drink hot cider in our pajamas. Is that ok with you both?"

Soval nodded, "We have a tree, but we do not have cider."

"No problem. We brought some. We'll fix it and change clothes after dinner."

…

Suki leaned on Sarek as he poured more cider into her mug, and he smirked to himself as she nuzzled his shoulder. Soval wasn't even looking in his direction, nor did he seem to care about propriety any more than he did. The elder ambassador was stroking fingers up and down Clove's arm as she told a story about an ice storm that hit her hometown several Christmases ago.

"Mom thought we should have stayed in Fayetteville, and the ride down that mountain highway was the scariest in my life."

"I imagine it would have been disconcerting," Soval murmured absentmindedly, taking another sip of his drink and staring at the Christmas tree. Sarek noticed his hand had crept from Clove's shoulder to her neck. "That is the only time I would consider asking for advice from an Andorian."

Sarek stood, "Soval, join me in the galley. We have the popped corn to attend."

Soval looked at Clove, realizing his hand was on Clove's neck. He blinked, "Yes, we will return. We read up on the custom of popped corn. It was something we could join in with you."

"Oh I love popcorn!" Clove said cuddling her mug of cider.

Soval nodded and joined Sarek on this way to the galley.

"We are slipping, Soval." Sarek said as neutrally as possible, "I find that I am at my limits, and you had your hand on her throat...you may be attempting to create the link." He blinked several times and turned to Soval, "I want her, Soval."

The elder ambassador sighed. "I know. I want Clove...and my patience is wearing thin. I do not know if I can stand to wait until the new year."

Sarek nodded. "Then do we bring up the matter of marriage?"

Soval sighed. "I do not know...it might be prudent to address it now, to set her mind to ponder it. I am not sure if Clove would be agreeable to that development just yet."

He poured the popcorn into a bowl and handed it to Sarek, then picked up the refilled thermos of cider and led him back to the room with the Christmas tree. Clove was giggling about something, but Soval did not ask as he took his place at her side and poured more cider into her mug.

"Has this Christmas been agreeable thus far?" Sarek muttered to Suki, who put her head back on his shoulder.

"Yes, it's been wonderful. And it'll be even better tomorrow when we give you your gifts."

Sarek looked down at Suki. His hand reached up and stroked her cheek, "May we...have a little time alone?"

"Sure. Why?"

"I must speak with thee, Suki Summers." He said, gently standing helping her up. He looked to Soval, "We will spend the time until time to sleep alone."

"That is agreeable." Soval said watching them leave the room. When he and Clove were alone he placed the bowel of popcorn before her, "We agreed while we were in the galley that we would spend alone time with each of you. There are things...discussions to have."

Sarek pushed the button to close the door and immediately drew Suki into his arms. He kissed her, gently, but his grip on her hips became possessive and wilder than he intended.

"Sarek," she gasped, pulling away from him, her eyes dark. "Kiss me again."

He obeyed, cupping her smooth cheek with a firm hand. Her hips shifted forward towards him, and he allowed their movement, providing a little pressure of his own in return. She groaned, her hand creeping through his hair, and he slowly pulled back from her lips, only to attach them to her neck.

"Tell me, Suki Summers," he murmured, licking over her carotid artery. "Where do you see yourself in a year?"

"I don't know...that depends on a lot of things."

"Such as?"

She swallowed thickly, as he licked up her neck. "I-I don't know. Y-you are making it hard to think."

He pressed the flat of his hand into the center of her back, bringing her hips and body closer, his other hand sliding up her stomach.

Soval scooted closer to Clove, his hand reaching out to hers, taking her fingers into his palm, "Clove." he said lowly, "Do you...have an attraction to me?"

She blushed softly, "What do you mean...do I think you are handsome, and find you to be the sweetest, most generous man ever."

Soval closed his eyes, "Does this mean that you would find me agreeable as a potential mate?"

Her eyes softened, and she kissed him as gently as she could. "You really...dare I say it, feel that way about me?"

"Vulcans do not lie."

She grinned and kissed him again, breathing in slowly through her nose. "I think I'd like that...I think I could really really like that."

"Why do you not really really like it now?"

She sighed and nuzzled him. "I do...I like you, Soval. I really really like you. I think...I...damn it, I'm in love with you. Isn't that obvious?"

"Is it obvious to you that I wish you to be my mate?" He asked pulling her a little closer, the backs of his knuckles grazing of her cheek.

She sighed and giggled softly, "It wasn't."

"Perhaps I should be more obvious." He placed his lips over hers gently kissing her as he carefully used two fingers to caress down her neck. He moved closer to her, gratified that her arms wrapped securely around him.

Sarek pulled Suki onto the bed, letting her legs fall to either side of his legs. He pushed her rump towards him, nibbling aggressively at her neck as he did so. She sighed into his touch, moaning and gripping his hair, and he kissed her before he tried to bite her.

"Suki..." he purred, licking up her neck. "Tell me where you wish to be in a year."

"I don't know...is now the best time to ask?"

"I want to know," he insisted, gazing darkly at her low neckline. He kissed along it, rubbing his hands boldly over her back. "I want to know where we stand."

"Well, we're obviously comfortable enough with each other to - Sarek!"

He pulled back from kissing the top of her arm and stroked his hand down her front, carefully avoiding her breasts. "Ashaya," he replied. "Tell me...please..."

"With you!" she squeaked softly as her hands ran across his strong chest. "I don't know where, but I know with who. I want to be with you."

He rolled over, pinning her to the bed, "As mine?" he growled, "As she who is mine, my mate...my wife?"

Suki's back arched, her hand reached up and cupped his cheeks, "It takes more than me to make that choice."

Soval kissed Clove deeply, careful to only graze her skin with his touch, fingering her smooth ears he was gratified when he felt her move closer to him. He could feel through their touch that she was uncomfortable touching him as much as she would like, until they were properly bonded. He pulled back, "Ashaya, I desire thee as my mate, will you accept me as such?"

"Yes," she replied softly.

He considered bonding her but knew she needed more of an understanding first, "Then when we return to Earth we will have a wedding."

Sarek nodded. "Indeed, but I will have no other as mine. You are my mate, she who will be my wife."

Suki kissed him, lavishing her touch over him, but then she paused, pushing herself up off of him. "We should stop this."

"We should," he agreed, stroking her face. "We should not let this get too far..."

"And it won't," Suki insisted, gently pushing herself away from him. "I think it's time for both of us to get to bed."

…

Soval padded into the room with the tree, and he found Clove staring out the window at Earth, sipping a mug of coffee. "Do I get to open my gift now?"

She laughed. "Have at it, sweetheart!"

Soval walked over to the gifts, "Which one is mine?"

Clove turned and giggled, "Come here, sit down. " she patted the sofa, "Let me get you some tea."

Soval nodded, "That is appropriate to do so now since we have an understanding."

She bent and kissed his cheek, "An understanding...how romantic." she grinned, "I'll be right back with your tea. I think Suki is up getting her tea. We'll have our family gift exchange as soon as I get back."

He watched her hips sway as she walked into the galley, and once she was out of sight, he pulled the present towards him and looked at the size and shape of the box. The configuration of the wrapping gave nothing away, so he continued to stare at it, running over the possibilities in his mind.

"Getting handsy there, ambassador?" he heard Suki say, and he turned and stared at her.

"Simply appreciating the packaging," he said neutrally, keeping his expression relaxed.

"Right," Clove said, handing him a cup of tea and sitting by him. "Now you may open it."

"Not yet!" Suki said suddenly, "Sarek and Soval need to open their gifts together."

"Where is Sarek?" Clove asked looking at Suki.

As if on cue he entered, "I am here. I did not know I was tardy."

"Come and get your gift, Sarek. I wish to know what our gifts are." Soval placed the package on his lap and waited for Sarek to sit down. Suki handed Sarek his gift, and kissed his cheek.

"Merry Christmas." she whispered.

Sarek began looking at his package, attempting to carefully remove the adhesive tape in a way that would not tear the silver paper.

He stared down at the painted clay box, weighing its heft in his hand. He noted the dial on the side and looked to Sarek, who twisted his and let it go.

Tinkling music issued forth from the box, and Clove grinned, closing her eyes as if to appreciate the music better. "I composed this," she said, smiling at Soval. "Suki made the boxes."

"They are lovely," Soval breathed, stroking a finger over the lid. "All the more lovely because you made them for us."

He then slid several packages towards Clove, and Sarek excused himself to get Suki's gift.

"Soval," she said with a grin, pulling out the lyre. "This is beautiful! Oh, and there's sheet music too!"

"The vulcan music contained in the box was written by my great grandfather. He was a musician. I hope it is agreeable."

She smiled and on impulse kissed him on the mouth, "I love it. It means more to me than you know. Though, you will have to teach me to play the lyre."

Soval nodded, "I would consider it an honor."

Suki was grinning watching them hover over their gifts when she felt a warm wetness on her neck. She jumped and turned seeing a tiny fuzzy bear like thing snuffing at her. It filled her arms and she saw a large purple bow on it's collar.

"He is for you." Sarek said scruffing the ears of the baby sehlat.

Suki gasped and cuddled with the animal, who licked her face, making her laugh. Clove laid her head down on Soval's shoulder, then kissed his ear.

"Aren't they adorable together?" she sighed, putting her arm around them. "Is that a sehlat?"

"Yes," the ambassador replied. "Do you want one?"

"Not really. I want to learn how to play the lyre, and play your great-grandfather's music. Then maybe we can play together. Didn't you say all Vulcan men learned to play this?"

"I did," he purred, pressing his forehead to hers. "Later, I will teach you."

The tiny little sehlat licked Suki's nose and then cuddled into her arms laying his nose into the crook of her arm, sighing deeply it seemed to be settling in for a nap. "Thank you." Suki said grinning broadly.

"What will you name him?" Sarek asked reaching up and stroking it's back in time with her.

"I don't know. I'll have to see his little personality and name him accordingly." She bent and kissed the top of it's head.

"I know your apartment can not contain such a creature, but...when you become my wife, it will not be a problem."

She leaned over, kissing him deeply, she pulled back looking at him for a moment she bent and whispered into his ear, "I love you."