Disclaimers : Gene Roddenberry and the corporations own Star Trek and all its forms.

A/N Telepathy and thoughts are in Italics

IDIC- New Beginnings-

Part 48

Sarek straightened his pendent and looked in the mirror. He felt odd in this suit of clothing. It was not that it did not look good on him. It did. Rather, it was not totally Vulcan.

"Do not fidget so Sarek," John said as he straightened his tie. "I mean no offence son, but you are taking this too seriously."

"Is this not the most important day of my life?"

"Yes it is. But you are Vulcan, my boy," John teased. "Then again maybe I should be happy you are so concerned."

Sarek raised a brow. Daniel chuckled as he smoothed his own long cloak. He saw John wink at him. His amusement was apparent but Daniel did not have the nerve to tell his elder brother he was acting almost human. Skon entered the room to tell them everything was ready and that they had to go take their places.

Unable to resist a little teasing Daniel said, "Just think, you only have to have two weddings. It could be worse, Sarek, you could be marring a Debulian."

John grinned and slipped out before Sarek decided to run away and elope with Amanda.

"Mother, is my hair all right?" Amanda asked. "Oh lord, this dress is lower in the front than I thought." She looked at T'Lara not wanting to cause offence. T'Lara examined the dress.

"Amanda, the dress is ascetically pleasing. Thy mother chose well. It suits you as I am certain it looked lovely on her. Thy mother has said it is acceptable and so it is."

"I don't know. I just want this to be perfect."

"Amanda, it will be. Lord, girl you could wear rags and Sarek would still be unable to keep his eyes off you," Sara said. "Here is something old." She handed her a silver pendent. "It is from your Nanny. She asked me to give it to you on this day. Now you have the borrowed in the dress, all we need is something blue."

T' Mir and T' Mara brought up a small round band. Amanda looked at the blue garter and her eyes widened. "T Sia, T'Lara bid us to bring you this." Maria smiled. The garter was lovely and clearly hand made. "The silk is from our home farms. T'Sia made it for thee." Amanda hugged them both and turned to hug T'Lara.

"It was a privilege to make this gift. Hug me later so you do not wrinkle thy dress."

"Yes Mother," Amanda said smiling.

"If there is anyone who has objections speak now or forever hold your peace," the judge said.

"I do," a voice shouted.

They turned to see a man standing in the aisle; he aimed a gun at the wedding party and fired. Amanda saw it and jumped in front of Sarek. The bullet slammed into her body and she fell forward. T'Lara and Daniel were already moving. Daniel caught the assailant's arm and T'Mara rendered him unconscious. The man dressed in a Starfleet uniform suddenly convulsed and died. Sarek caught Amanda as she fell and T'Mir was at her side. The bullet had gone into her back. Had she not stepped in front of Sarek, it would have hit his heart. He held her and shouted her name. He looked down in fear, as his hands were turning red with blood. T'Mara rolled the human over and checked for a pulse.

Daniel ripped open his shirt and found the mark he had been expecting. "Look! There is no way this joker is Starfleet."

T'Mara saw the tattoo. "How did he get the uniform?"

"He had to have stolen it." Daniel reached up and pulled on what appeared to be loose skin, peeling a mask off. "See? He had a sytna mask. This man is an EFAP."

"Is not that the same group that kidnapped them?"

"Yes. They are racist to the core. I told you I would need better training." T'Mara raised a brow. She usually considered Daniel mature for his age, not that he showed it right now.

"It went through the flesh Sarek. Help me get her inside. I believe she will be fine. A flesh wound only," T'Mir said.

"Never, never again will I allow Starfleet …" Sarek said his anger showing.

Skon too was upset. This man had come as an aide to the Earth president who was being whisked away inside by the Secret Service when clearly he was not the target.

Amanda awoke and found Sarek holding her hand tightly. She was concerned for him.

"Are you ok, Sarek? You were not hurt?"

"You were almost killed Amanda," he said, his face pale.

"It's just a scratch. Are we married?" She was concerned because she could not recall if they finished the ritual.

"How many times must I marry you, my wife?" he asked, laying his head onto the bed.

She chuckled softly. "Well, you did once, already, for Nanny. This was for my parents and Earth, then we have to for Vulcan. You see I am not letting you get away."

"Amanda, it is you who will never escape me, not even when we leave this world."

There was a knock on the door and Judge Travis came in. "Shall we finish this now?"

"Yes, by all means, sir"

"You need rest Amanda."

"I need you more, please Sarek?"

He took her hand and repeated his vows as the family listened and T'Mir kept a watchful eye. Amanda followed suit and the judge pronounced them man and wife. Sarek raised a brow and the judge said, "I mean, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no man or being tear asunder. You may kiss your bride."

Sarek did just that to the shock of everyone. He kissed Amanda hard and possessively. Skon was glad it was private.

John held his wife who was shaking. Amanda clearly was not safe on Earth. He went to her side and looked at Sarek. "Take her tonight, take her to Vulcan where she will be safe, where you will all be safe."

Part 49

"No way. Not yet," Amanda said trying to get up. "This is my wedding day. T'Mir sealed the wound. It is just a scratch anyway. We are all going down there and showing everyone I am fine. We will eat and dance and cut the cake. I will be damned if those idiots ruin this for me."

"No," Sarek said. He was firm and unyielding.

Amanda glared. "Sarek I love you dearly, but this one time I am going to disobey you. I swear after today I will honor that vow. I need to prove this is a true wedding. I do not know why but I must."

"If I insist?"

"Then we will have no marriage."

T'Lara stiffened and Skon looked shocked. "Is it safe for Amanda to do this?" asked John. Sarek looked ready to explode.

"The wound is sealed. If she takes it easy and changes into something loose fitting with no pressure on the wound, she may attend for one hour."

"T'Mir, I will be sitting most of the time. I must eat and appear unhurt." Appearances mattered.

"You may attend for two hours and may dance once, no more."

"I must dance with my father and with Sarek."

"Amanda, I agree with your father and Sarek," Maria said. "Do not be so stubborn."

Amanda's head went up with fierce pride showing. "I will do this with help or without help. We must show a united front."

Sarek looked at the wall and counted to twenty in three languages. He hated to admit it but she was right. They could not show fear. If they did, it was over for them politically. The enemy would claim the victory in this battle. In addition they have to look over their shoulder from this day on.

"You will be absolutely obedient to me from this day forth in all things, my wife. Swear it and I will allow this one breach."

Amanda swallowed hard. Sarek looked like he was carved from stone. She was freely giving him total control. She would have to bend every time. Something he had not demanded she had to do, other than in public. She was sacrificing her private freedom. "I swear."

Sarek nodded. "So be it. Mother, would you help Amanda change? We will await you in the hall." He swept out his anger vibrating through the bond they shared.

Amanda knew there would be hell to pay later. She sighed. This was not how she wanted her wedding day to go. She just hoped, in time, he would understand why it was so important and unbend some.

Skon stopped his son outside, "Why allow this?"

"Because, Father, this is not over. She has sworn obedience twice now. She will remember the vow. I do need a bargaining point. I would have her safe and this makes it possible for me to do that without her objecting."

"She could not before."

Sarek looked away. "Her human mind rejected our female's absolute obedience. In this way she has freely given herself over to obeying me. Remember, Father, she is a Clan leader."

"So you bound her by her oath."

"Yes. She will follow my lead in her safety now by her own offer and choice."

TBC…