A/N: I hope someone is enjoying this little ditty. Yes, I take small throw away characters (usually Vulcans) and try to give them a storyline. It's my silly thing, and sometimes people like it, other times they think it's dumb. I enjoy doing it sooo yeahhh...Much love to you all, LLAP! Maybe one or two more chappys on this one.
Lilibeth said goodbye to the last of The Director's guests, thanking them for their kind words. When they lifted off in their flitter, she turned to the Director standing next to her, "It appears that my son has run away on me." She gave him a lilting smile, "Since everyone else is gone, is it inconvenient to take me home now?"
He looked down at her, she noticed how soft his blue eyes were at that moment. Her daughter always said Vulcans were so much like humans, but in shades of pastel, and not garishly bright like we were. After spending an evening with a group of them, one on one, she was beginning to see that.
"It is no inconvenience, T'Sai Lilibeth. Though, you are welcome to stay here. There are plenty of rooms, and I have workers who prepare meals."
"That is such a generous offer, Director, but as the old saying goes, would you respect me in the morning." She said, making a small joke, which she instantly regretted when his head tilted slightly showing he didn't understand the reference, "That...was a joke. Not a very good one, but I tried."
"I see." The Director said, not really seeing at all, "I was going to explain that I respect you now. I find it improbable that I would not also respect you in the morning."
She schooled her mouth not to smile too wide, but the mirth in her eyes twinkled. Lilibeth could see where this kind of reaction could be impossibly endearing, and infuriating at the same time. She decided she would compare notes with her daughter when they saw each other again. "It's an old earth saying. Implying that if I slept with you tonight you may not respect me in the morning, and you'd not call me."
The Director stood straighter, "I did not mean to imply I would use you in a sexual manner if you stayed here. If I did make you my mate though, I would be honored and honor bound to protect you in every possible way. It's logical to behave such, for your mate."
She felt her face heat like some hormonal teenager. Amanda was correct, they were very forthright sorts of people. "That's good to know, but I promise, it's just an old joke. I wouldn't imply actual impropriety from you."
"It is good to know you do not think of me in lowly terms."
She could see the subtle shift in his face, he was relieved. Lilibeth smiled, "I would stay. I honestly would, but we leave tomorrow morning early for P'Jem. I have much to do."
"Of course." He said with a nod, "I will gather my flitter."
888
They were riding in silence when it occurred to her that she did not even know his name. "I think I am about to embarrass myself, Director."
"How so?" he asked setting his autopilot on and swiveling to look at her.
"I don't know your name."
"Sigik." he replied, "Of no great house I must say."
"I think if you are in a home, that makes it a great house, especially if you do great things."
He considered what she said for a moment and then replied, "T'Sai is wise."
"Thank you for taking me home, Sigik." She put emphasis on his name so she could begin to remember.
"I am going to P'Jem tomorrow to see the performance," He confessed suddenly.
"You are? That is wonderful. Perhaps we will spend more time together."
"I would find that most agreeable, Lilibeth."
If she didn't know better, she would assume he is flirting with her. As she side-glanced at him, watching him look directly at her, she wished her daughter was here to coach her on such things. Her daughter had explained, in some detail a great many things about Vulcan men, at the moment though she was at a loss to remember any of what she said. Lilibeth never saw herself as needing that information so retention wasn't a huge deal. For all she knew this could be just normal friendly interactions.
As that thought popped into her mind she did remember something, "Sigik, it strikes me that I didn't see a wife in your home. If I remember correctly, Amanda said all vulcans were bonded at a very early age, like arranged marriages."
"Yes, we are, the coupling of the mind aids in both parties' mental control being better. My Aduna died five years ago. We had been together since we were five."
Her jaw dropped, "Oh, I am so sorry."
He looked away, "Please explain why humans apologize for things they did not cause."
"It's not technically an apology, used in this context, it is an expression that," She paused thinking of what Amanda said Vulcans said after a death, "It is an expression that means, that for this moment we are grieving with you."
He looked back at her, "I never knew that. It never made sense to me to hear humans apologize for life events they were not connected to."
She reached out and placed her hand on his arm, "No, it's me saying that I cannot fathom your pain, but I am grieving with you."
He looked at her hand and up at her, "I am told you lost your husband not long ago as well. I am sorry." he said, and his hand slid forward toward hers until the tips of their fingers were almost but not exactly touching.
"I did. Thank you, Sigik." The reminder took her back to the sadness she had earlier, and her shoulders dropped, causing her hand to slide off his arm.
"I have caused you sadness?" He asked.
"No, no not at all. Can you keep a secret?" She asked, turning toward him.
"Of course."
"I've been sad for a very long time. Tomorrow is the last time I will lead my troupe. I am retiring."
For a second, something flashed in his eyes, but what she could not tell.
He waited a long pause, as if he was weighing his words very carefully, 'It is not a good thing that you are sad. I believe I require more information to aid you."
She smiled, "Like the winds of space, the male predilection for problem solving issues are carried across the black sea of stars."
"You do not wish a solution for your sadness? This does not seem...logical."
As he spoke the last words the flitter landed on the back of Sarek's property.
"It isn't logical." Lilbeth said with a sad smile, "I believe there is a vulcan phrase...What is, is. This is what is."
There was a frown tugging at the sides of his mouth. He found that unacceptable, though he would not argue. "I am not an admirer of that saying, Lilibeth, but we will save that discussion for another time. You are home, and it is getting late, you need your rest."
"Thank you, Sigik." she opened the door, "What makes you think we will have more discussions?" she asked as she stepped out of the flitter.
"Because I will not allow this to be our last talk." Sigik replied with a nod.
"Very well, I will see you tomorrow." She gently shut the door and backed up far enough for him to lift off and leave.
Sarek came out to the flitter pad, "You are home earlier than I expected."
"Weren't you supposed to call when you got home?" she said, putting one hand on her hip and the other she tapped the rock with her cane.
"I only just arrived home, mother," he said coolly.
"Mhm, and Vulcans never lie." She gently patted his cheek as she walked past him, "Good night, my son in law, I love you." Lilibeth said, tapping her cane on the rock as she walked, "I don't believe you, but I do love you."
888
Peering out from behind the stage, once again her people had triumphed. Tears were silently sliding down her cheeks, the pride she felt in the work she had done welled up under her breast. Then, her principles came and got her, bringing her front and center.
Once they cheered for her she tapped her cane and called for a microphone, "I want to thank you all for coming." Lilibeth said demurely, "This is our last stop our tour, after tonight, we leave to return to Earth with the memories of a magnum opus tour. It seems only fitting now that you are the first to know…." She stood a bit straighter, "Tonight was my last performance, I am hanging up my shoes, and choreography, and retiring. I have been in dance for fifty years, and this seems the perfect place to stop. It's been a privilege." She felt her voice start to quiver, so she bowed which brought more thunderous applause. She kissed her hands and blew them to the audience, and then removed herself from the stage.
Sarek waited in the back of the stage. From a distance he watched as the dancers hugged her, took holoimages, and paid homage to their time with her. He almost didn't notice that the Director was standing a step behind him. "Good evening, Director, I trust you found the show adequate."
"I did. It was admirable. I never knew humans could produce something so precise."
With that Sarek pivoted toward him, with an eyebrow raised. Had he been human he may have choked on the bitter irony of what he said.
The moment was not lost on Sigik either. He stepped up, "I may have been in error."
Both eyebrows shot up hitting Sarek's bangs. He could hear Amanda in his mind, Just take the win, my husband. It is uncharitable and undiplomatic to gloat. Whether that was their bond, or the fact he knew his wife's wisdom on such matters he did not know. He did, though, think the words were wise. "It is understandable, and in the future such errors will be less likely."
The Director nodded once, "Very much so."
Sarek turned back to his mother in law. The group of dancers were getting fewer and fewer as she said goodbye and sent them to gather their things to leave. He placed his hands behind his back, "The dancers are going on the Federation ship The Defiant. There has been a miscommunication between the shuttle pilot and Captain that everyone is on board, but Lilibeth was on your shuttle, because she was late to the last shuttle."
Both of the Director's eyebrows rose, "A lie?"
"I do not think it will be a lie." Sarek returned, "I think it will transpire exactly as I have said."
The Director nodded, "I understand. It is unfortunate that my shuttle does not have top warp capabilities and the communications array is offline."
"As my wife would say, I do believe you are getting the hang of this."
888
Lilibeth and Sigik broke through the atmosphere just in time to see the Defiant move off, first at impulse, and then warp.
"Oh no!" she said, "Oh my, they've left without me." She shifted in her chair, "Can you raise them?"
He tapped uselessly at his com, "My communications are down."
"Ohdear,Ohdear, Ohdear," she whimpered, frustrated and thinking about what to do next.
"It isn't a problem, Lilibeth." Sigik said laying in a course, "I will simply take you home myself."
"Oh no, that is simply too much to ask. I am sure you have a million things you need to do, you don't need to chauffeur me around the galaxy."
Before she could suggest anything more, or question further he accelerated away from Vulcan. "There it is done. I have laid in a course for Risa, that is a half-way point, perhaps we can connect you with a ship there."
"Well now I feel like a burden. I am so sorry about this terrible mix up."
"I will endure it." he said flatly.