T'Nia had just finished taking a long, hot bath. Her time spent with humans had yielded many benefits, though most vulcans would debate using the term 'benefits'. In particular was her desire to use lavender scented bath salts. Another was her ability to pull her uncharacteristically long hair back into a ponytail. With her flower-dotted, cream colored silk robe on, she ordered a nice cup of warm spice tea. She sat down on her couch, eager to get back to her book on the history of Klingon combat, when the comm badge on her side table clicked. "Bridge to Lieutenant Commander T'Nia," a female voice began. T'Nia recognized it as Elaine Davies. There didn't appear to be any urgency in Elaine's voice, so she assumed there was no shipwide emergency. As T'Nia had noticed, Elaine had a rather unfortunate habit of overreacting.

Putting her book down, she picked up her badge and tapped its face. "This is T'Nia. Go ahead Lieutenant."

"Sir," she began, "you have an incoming message from Vulcan. It's from someone named Sekir. He says he's your fiancee. I didn't know you were engaged..." her voice sounded playful, as though they were sorority sisters and she just learned a juicy, new tidbit of information.

T'Nia was almost annoyed at the fact a personal piece of her life had escaped the confidence of her currently estranged trio of friends. "It's not something that comes up under duty-oriented conversations." She said flatly. "Please send the transmission down here. T'Nia out." She tapped the comm badge before Elaine could say anything else.

Within a few seconds, the wall-based video panel in her living quarters illuminated to reveal the rounded face of her betrothed. He was obviously in his home; as evidenced by the background objects. "Live long and prosper, my betrothed," he said with a thoughtful look.

"Peace and long life, my betrothed," she responded with simliar emotionlessness. "What can I do for you?"

"My betrothed, Our Koonut Kalif-fee is seventeen months away. My mother wished to know if your family required assistance planning for it."

"To my knowledge, no," she replied. T'Nia was actually a little put off by his family's request. "My mother is making the arragements. I have been approving them, since I obviously cannot be on Vulcan."

"I see," he replied slowly. "It would be agreeable to see you at least once more before our wedding day, T'Nia."

She knew that was coming... he always brought that up. "As I have stated several times before; my current duties have not allowed me the option to visit Vulcan." In the spirit of full truthfullness, she added, "However, with the addition of a new second officer, I should be able to ask for time off. In fact, once our current mission to Cardassia is over, I might be able to arrange transport to Vulcan. We have been promised a two week leave."

"Good," he nodded. "Good."

"I still do not understand your insistance that we meet. Are you concerned I am not the same person you've known since childhood?"

He sat up straight, with a distant and official look. "Speaking truthfully, yes."

She looked geniunely suprised. "Please explain," she asked curiously.

"Well, to begin with... look at you." He motioned towards her with his hand. "Your hair and that robe. No self-respecting vulcan woman would wear such things. It is inappropriate."

Despite years of vulcan meditation, self control, and training, she found herself getting defensive. "First of all," she began, levelling her speech, but standing up, "I would question the number of 'self-respecting vulcan women' you know. I doubt you could, logically, speak for them all. Secondly, there are many vulcan women who have worn their hair long. In fact, not long ago, it was considered fashionable. Third; there is a human saying, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' There is nothing 'inappropriate' about a bath robe. It is, actually, quite comfortable."

He motioned towards the screen again. "This is also what I mean. You are quite... well... confrontational. I work with several women at my job, in case you had forgotten." His voice was still quite calm. "They have all made comments regarding your hair. The time period to which you are referring was shortly after the Reformation, almost two hundred years ago. Therefore, it is a logical concern I have. After all, you just quoted a human saying. When was the last time you quoted a vulcan?"

That was a poor arguement to make, she thought. "Earlier this afternoon, Sekir."

He appeared to be slightly shaken from his arguement. "I see," was all he could manage.

"As I stated, my betrothed," she emphasized that last word, "I shall attempt..." Just then, the door chime chirped next to her front door. "Come," she said quickly, knowing full well who it was.

"Evening, T'Nia..." Kirk said with a smile as he walked in. He then saw the Sekir's face on her viewscreen. "Oh..." His expression changed quickly. "If I'm interrupting something, I can come back..."

"Not at all, Commander," T'Nia interrupted. His arrival couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. "Sekir and I were just concluding our talk." Her statement futher visibly caught Sekir off-guard.

Kirk turned to the viewscreen. He waved and smiled weakly. "Hey, Sekir. It's been awhile."

"Commander," Sekir acknowledged tersely.

"As I was stating," T'Nia resumed, "I shall attempt to find a transport back to Vulcan upon the completion of our current mission. We can finish our discussions then."

"As you wish, my betrothed," he admitted finally. He held his hand up in a V pattern, his pointer and middle fingers together, his ring and pinky fingers together. "Live long and prosper, T'Nia."

She reciprocated the gesture. "Live long and prosper, Sekir." The screen went black.

Kirk turned to T'Nia. "That looked pleasant," he said sacracastically.

"Sekir wishes me to return to Vulcan." She admitted, sitting back down.

"That's nothing new," Kirk remarked.

"True... but this was the first time he voiced his concerns that I am not the same person I used to be." She seemed to be genuinely preoccupied with that thought.

"Well, everybody changes. It's a fact of life. We grow older, we're molded by our experiences and friendships... we change."

She politely corrected him. "Humans change because emotional states change. Logic is logic. If he perceives what I merely consider preferences and tolerances as a changes in my person... I should investigate further. He may be correct. And, as he reminded me, he will be my husband in seventeen months."

"Oh, yeah," Stephen remarked. "I forgot about your wedding day. Well, if you're heading to Vulcan after this mission, I guess that shoots the reason why I came down." He looked a little disappointed.

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Kirk nodded, "if this mission finishes up pretty quickly, we'd be back to Earth in time for the Super Bowl. I was going to try to get us all tickets... but... if you're heading to Vulcan..."

"Get me a ticket, anyway," she said with an almost smile. "Upon conclusion of my self-examination, I may discover HE is wrong."