Disclaimer: I don't not own Star Trek Enterprise or any of its characters; they belong to whoever owns 'em. I just took the general idea for a test jaunt. L'Ras, Ambassador Soval's aid is an original character created by myself.

Authors Note: After a long hiatus, I am dusting off this old relic and seeing where it takes me. Thank you to all my reviewers, I am thrilled you enjoyed the last chapter!

When Opposites Collide - Chapter 25

Lunch quickly spanned into a walk around the harbor, and then a light dinner at an amazing little Italian place she knew stuffed in between the Chinese and Korean quarter. And before she realized it, they'd spent nearly the entire day in each others company. But perhaps more importantly, it was time spent together without in any near death crises or anyone trying to take pot-shots at them.

…All else considered, she had to admit that it was a welcome change.

In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed herself so thoroughly. Finding something of herself that she thought she'd lost in the Xindi attack the longer the hours stretched. Taking great pleasure in showing Soval her favorite haunts along the beach front and regaling him with a few of her more renowned exploits during her early years with the MACOs.

It was during their 'date' that she remembered why she'd fallen for him in the first place. She'd always been strong willed, and had rarely found someone to match her in all things. Wit, personality, and intelligence, he was her equal in all. And as corny as it sounded, she felt almost as if she'd been waiting for someone like him her entire life. Someone she could respect, someone who would fit her in almost every way, someone who would challenge her and knock her on her ass, both physically and metaphorically when she needed it. - Someone much like herself, and yet entirely different all at the same time.

She supposed that in an odd and entirely illogical way, they actually completed one another. After all, she'd proved well enough over the past year that she was able to make him stop and reevaluate both his opinions and his actions. She had a handle on him that no one else did. One that not even Captain Archer, Shran, or even T'Pol could match. – Every fiber of her being, every gut instinct, and half forgotten drive told her the same thing. That he was meant for her just as much as she was meant for him.

It didn't make any sense and she knew it. But she just didn't give a damn. She knew there was something more going on here than she was seeing. Perhaps it had something to do with that moment on the clearing. That presence she had felt only moments before the fall…that indescribable feeling of connection as an entire world had sparked to life in the back of her mind. Coursing through her like the very blood in her veins as images of places she'd never been flickered through her mind, melding together with her own memories as new realities were born and destroyed in her mind's eye. - She didn't know what it meant, and honestly, it scared the hell out of her. But she wasn't backing down. Not now. Not when she was this close.

Like the final move in a game of chess, or the last bluff in a hand of poker before the dealer calls for the final bet…she was in this for the long haul. For better or for worse, she was his.

Time warped, and as the hours slipped past unmarked it seemed like a natural progression of things to take him to her favorite restaurant in old town. It was a little hole in the wall Italian place Hayes and the men had first introduced her to years ago. Soval had raised an eyebrow at the decor and slight dubious location, but had consented with hardly a word of protest, quickly realizing, much like she had, that it was an undiscovered gem.

It was the kind of restaurant where the owners and staff knew you by name and treated you like family. Where they knew what you wanted before you even picked up a menu, where everything was fresh, organic, and home grown by farmers from all over the globe.

She'd been coming there for years and managed to get the best table in the house without even so much as a batted eye. In fact she embraced Diego and Amelia like old friends as the elderly owners tottered over for hugs and introductions. With their twin boys, Alrond and Armand, both grown with families of their own now, embracing her like brothers. Responding in kind as she answered their flurry of questions and happy chatter as she introduced Soval and told them about her posting on the Enterprise and the PR version of the Terra Prime incident. Fending them off only when Soval began to look concerned at their exuberance.

But she could only grin as Diego ushered them over to their table, cutting a path across the well worn carpeting like a man half his age, switching seamlessly from English to Italian as he shoved the twins off in the direction of the kitchens and called one of the servers over with a bottle of red wine. She didn't even attempt to hide her delighted grin, taking in his antics with relish as he engaged Soval in a heated conversation about produce prices and cargo shipment rates. It was just too ironic watching Soval attempt to keep up with the older man's jagged conversation. Already looking slightly winded by the time the man seated them in a private alcove and scurried off, voice booming through the small space in a garbled mixture of butchered English as he babbled on about bread baskets and wine flutes.

God, she'd missed them, she'd definitely been away too long.

And despite the eccentric nature of their welcome, it was clear that by the time the meal was over even Soval was impressed. She wasn't sure if it was the mind numbingly delicious meal, the homey-intimacy of the atmosphere, or Diego and Amelia's natural charm, but by the time she was on her last finger of wine and he, his last sip of tea, she could tell that Soval was entirely taken with them. In fact she'd be surprised if Diego and Amelia didn't get a call from the consulate in the next few days trying to arrange for the restaurant to cater to the entire Vulcan delegation.

Unsurprisingly, they'd ended up getting absolutely spoiled as Diego and his staff had pulled out all the stops. Inspired, no doubt by their first Vulcan patron, Diego and the boys had insisted on making a special vegetarian dish just for him. And like so many of Diego's culinary masterpieces it was made entirely on the spot and had even Soval ordering seconds.

High praise indeed…

She wasn't sure who was more pleased, Diego or Soval, when the elderly couple sent them home with what felt like a metric kilo of leftovers. Parting ways only when she'd promised to come for lunch with her team the following week. - And much like the course of the afternoon it had been an evening that neither of them had wanted to end, deciding on a walk after they stowed their take out in the skimmer and angled their feet towards the wharf to burn off their delicious meal.

They spent hours talking; taking in the sights and sounds of Little China as she did her best to answer the constant stream of questions Soval seemed to have about every aspect of Earth Culture. In fact, they were so caught up in each other they were completely unaware of the passing hours until 2400 hours caught them by both surprise. Even Soval seemed startled when the chronometer in his skimmer beeped as they slipped inside, alerting them to the beginning of a new day.

"Time flies when you're having fun, huh?" She commented tiredly, stretching her feet out in front of her as she settled into her seat. Yawning into the back of her hand as Soval hailed the consulate and initiated the ignition sequence, simply nodding in reply as he took them up and eased them into closest sky-lane.

Dawn was just breaking as they sped towards the horizon, the rising sun staining the sky with fly-away tendrils of orange and pink. She could feel Soval's eyes on her when she turned towards the window, enthralled by the sight as she soaked it in. It had been a long time since she had seen an earth sunrise. And somehow, even with all the planets and suns in the galaxy, nothing seemed to compare.

"I really enjoyed myself tonight…" She began; unsure of how to express the depth of what she was feeling as she turned away from the window. "I hope you are open to the possibility of second date?" She managed, sending him a small smile as she stretched her arms above her head.

"Indeed, I found our outing to be most stimulating. However I am unsure of the proper protocol surrounding the second date." Soval replied, a hint of amusement entering his tone as he keyed a new course into the console and set the skimmer onto auto pilot.

"Wait… Aren't we going back to the consulate?" She asked, peering through the window as she watched the Golden Gate bridge whiz by at dizzying speed.

"I believe it is traditional on Earth that when a man asks a woman on a date, he also escorts her back home?" Soval said in way of a reply. His expression remaining remarkably closed until she sent him a small smile and a nod in return. Almost as if he had been waiting for affirmation of the fact rather than anything else.

"…Hold on, how do you even know where I live?" She asked. Deciding to change the subject before the uptight Vulcan strained something.

"As Captain Archer would say, I have my sources." Soval replied. Quirking a brow as his hands fairly flew across the controls, operating the skimmer with surprising grace despite the fact that she had the sneaking suspicion that it had probably been at least a few decades since he'd had to drive himself anywhere.

"Very James Bond…" She replied with a grin, waving off his curious look as she steered the conversation back to the matter at hand. Crossing her legs in front of her as she held back another tired yawn.

Christ, she was tired. As frustrating as it was to admit, Soval had been right. She wasn't at the top of her game. She hadn't been ever since the whole clearing incident. She ached in places that hadn't ached since her first month of boot camp. And she still abhorred the watery chill of the San Franciscan air in the morning, all but shuddering at the mere thought of rushing water. She didn't know how to break free of it.

Sometimes she envied Vulcans. Sure, they had emotions, perhaps even violent ones, but they were able to suppress them, refusing to even so much as acknowledge their existence until they were forced to. Humans on the other hand, had no such luxury. They couldn't just tuck their emotions away; they had to learn to live with them, and in a sense learn to overcome them as well. They didn't have any mental controls to hide behind, any all encompassing logic. They had to face all their fears, their dreams, limitations, and desires head on. They were with them every minute of every day, almost like a second skin. It was all part of what makes humans human, she supposed.

"As for the…protocol surrounding the second date? Well, it's been a while... But I think most sources will tell you that it is up to me this time." She hummed, her mind already considering the possibilities as she shifted in her seat and drummed her fingers against the console.

"It is customary in most Earth cultures, especially during the first few dates to take turns. And most of the dates I've ever been on tend to fit into that category. Today you chose the outing, next time, I will. I suppose the point is to expose the other person to activities and places you find enjoyable in order to find common ground and get to know each other better." She explained.

"...Not that we need much help in that regard… After all, we've known each other for over a year and practically die together on a monthly basis anyway." She added with a grin. Smirking a bit as a collection of memories from one of their more…unique encounters filtered through her mind like water rushing through a sieve.

They never could do anything the easy way, could they?

It wasn't until they landed in the shuttle lot outside her quarters that she realized she was actually disappointed. She had been enjoying herself so much that she didn't want the evening to end. But at least she knew she wasn't alone in that wish. Because as she made to climb out, he took her hand. His long fingers tangling with hers for a long moment before he pulled away almost reluctantly, freeing her hand so she could punch in the code for the door.

…Definitely reluctantly.

"Walk me to my door?" She offered, doing her best to break the awkward silence as a convoy of shuttles and skimmers zoomed overhead. Reminding them in more ways than one that Star fleet never slept.

Lucky for them there was no one wandering the halls as they took the lift up to her floor and the temporary quarters that she'd been assigned to for the course of the investigation. - She wasn't sure why, but she keyed in the code with nervous fingers, suddenly at a loss as to how to end the evening as she paused in the door way.

"I don't suppose you want to come in for a drink or something?" She asked, pretending that the moment wasn't actually as awkward as it was as she leaned against the frame. What exactly was the proper protocol for ending one's first date with a Vulcan Ambassador anyway? Or even a Vulcan for that matter?

"Vulcans do not partake in alcohol." He monotoned, sounding more like he was reading out of an instruction manual than expressing his direct opinion on the matter.

"Tea?" She wheedled, opening the door to her cramped accommodations with the sudden realization that she didn't even have the space for a real table let alone a drink re-sequencer.

Nice going Cole, very suave.

Next time she was going to have to plan this out in advance. Maybe she could find a way to end their next date in Hawaii? Somewhere near the beach house perhaps? At least that way she'd have both the room and the necessary appliances in which to make good on her offer in the first place.

"Perhaps another time, I have a series of meetings in the morning pertaining to Admiral Gardener's trial, and I need to review the latest data before retiring." He explained, eyes reflecting back with something that looked remarkably similar to that of regret as he posed his hands behind his back and met her gaze.

"However, I do have something I wish to speak with you about. It will not take long." He added, looking strangely reluctant as he took a measured step inside the room so the door could close behind him. Somehow managing to make the small space even smaller as he loomed ominously in the door way.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" She prompted, moving a few storage units off the tiny couch and motioning him over, having to scoot back a bit in order to make room as he sat down beside her.

"Amanda, I do not wish to unintentionally deceive you. But there is much you do not know about our species, much you deserve to know before deciding to embark on any further acquaintance with me." Soval began; clearly unsettled despite his controls as he attempted to put his thoughts into words.

"I took the liberty of compiling all the pertinent data for you, both about myself and about certain aspects of my people in general." He continued. Reaching into the small cloth bag he'd brought with him from the shuttle and bringing out a single data pad. Letting it balance in the palm of his hand for an age long moment, his long fingers curling around it before he placed it on his lap and turned away. Worrying the cloth trim before he folded the empty bag in half and set it aside.

"How efficient…" She muttered, a bit taken aback by his abrupt change in attitude as she took him in from the corner of her eye. Seeing the return of the diplomat and politician rather than the man she'd spent the entire evening with.

Something about this pad had put his guard up. - But why? Why the sudden reversal?

"I suggest that you read it over carefully and when you are through, if you still wish it, we can discuss any questions you might have." He proposed. His tone flat and expressionless as a little shiver of foreboding slithered down her spine.

Vulcans, so intriguing, yet always so goddamn cryptic…

"I trust you understand that I don't give you this information lightly. We are a very private people, Amanda. And if such information were ever to become public knowledge…" He trailed off, his tone as unsettled as she'd ever heard it as the full connotations of what he'd implied made her pause for the first time. Curiosity and trepidation trickling through her veins like liquid napalm as she eyed the pad distrustfully.

Whatever this was, it was some serious shit.

"You can trust me Soval, you know you can." She insisted, having to hold herself back from reaching over and trying to reassure him as he shifted restlessly beside her. Finding herself completely at a loss as to how she could convince him otherwise without knowing any of the facts. She was playing with a short deck on this one and she knew it.

"I am aware of that, and I do. But it is important that you understand the full implications of what entering into such a relationship with a member of my species might entail before you make a decision." He began.

"Are you trying to scare me away?" She teased, only half joking until he paused for a long moment. His uncharacteristic silence making her pulse throb between her temples as she swallowed reflexively.

"…Soval?" She pressed, voice turning firm and business-like as she tried to suss out what had her Vulcan all but squirming out of his skin. He looked uncertain, rattled, and even a bit hesitant. - It wasn't a look that she liked on him, not one bit.

"That is certainly not my intention. I have strong…feelings for you, and I wish to make this work. But some aspects of my race might prove distasteful to you, perhaps even too strange to cope with." He began, clearly struggling to make her understand before she held up a hand and stopped him in his tracks.

"Soval, I understand. Don't worry. I'll read it. And I promise that I'll keep an open mind." She insisted, deciding to put him out of his misery while he still had his Vulcan pride. Gratified in spite of herself when she watched something in his face visibly relax at her words.

"That is acceptable." Soval replied, inclining his head in the way she'd come to equate to that of a human nod before making to speak again.

"Once you have read it over, I will leave it to your own discretion to determine our next course of action. - While I believe that I have made my own desires clear, I feel the need to reiterate that unless you wish otherwise, I intend to pursue this relationship. I would like to continue this…courtship ritual, regardless of where it might lead." He offered after a pause, appearing to choose his words carefully despite the fact that all the forced dispassionateness in the world couldn't mask the trepidation that lurked just underneath.

Funny how somewhere along the line Vulcans had become all too easy to read… Who would have thought?

She smirked a little at the antiqued term, with the phrase 'courtship ritual' bringing to mind an odd mish-mash of a few centuries worth of bad romances and dramatic comedies. Getting strange flashes of old fashioned balconies, with those rickety porch swings and worn out welcome mats. Of shared milkshakes in high summer and the sensation of walking barefoot across the sun baked soil. The scent of melting pine sap and mouldering undergrowth rising in the air as experimental camera angles showed two young lovers walking side by side. Their fingers barely brushing as trepidation and shyness kept them only inches apart.

But the fact was that neither of them was young anymore than they were naturally timid or shy. She hadn't gotten to where she was in her life by playing it safe. And she certainly wasn't about to start now. Perhaps even if the situation called for it, she'd take the chance that her instincts were right any day.

And with that thought in mind, she sent him a warm smile as she reached forward and accepted the pad. But as she did so, she let her middle and index fingers ghost over his in a hesitant, but unmistakable caress. One that was reserved only for the most intimate of couples, the closest approximation of a Vulcan kiss she figured she could get away with without going for broke and shocking him completely.

"Like you said before, you weren't the only one who did their homework..." She whispered, letting a throaty undercurrent enter her voice as she eyed him down boldly. Deliberately drawing out the moment as his lids fluttered, letting skin catch against skin as she pressed down in mid stroke. All but drinking in his tiny shudder as his breath caught in his throat. The tips of his ears flushing a becoming pale green as his warm skin abruptly went supernova, radiating dry heat through her skin like someone caught in the middle of a heat stroke.

"Indeed…" He replied, retracting his fingers with remarkable slowness as she looked up at him through the fan of her long lashes, content to let the moment linger as his fingers visibly twitched. Almost as if he were forcing himself not to reach for her again before he pivoted on his heel and bid her good night, disappearing around the corner and out of sight in only a few hurried strides. Leaving her alone in the middle of the hall, clutching the pad to her breast like a lifeline.

Well, that had certainly been…interesting.

A/N #1: Sorry for the delay in updating, I have been writing my Masters thesis so I have had less time to write and edit of late.