The room was bathed in light.

The chandeliers above sparkled gold and silver, the people around her were dressed immaculately in either Starfleet uniforms, suits or dresses. Everyone was finely dressed for the gala, and the room was decorated beautifully. It was the night before the launch of the shuttle with the Vulcan artifacts.

The room was buzzing with energy, all conversations focused on the launch in the morning and what it meant to everyone and how it would affect the human and Vulcan relationship.

Her father was beaming, proud of his accomplishment. Her mother was also beaming, proud of her husband. Amanda could see their bright smiles across the large ballroom through the great crowds. Her parents were happier than she had ever seen them.

Amanda stood next to her sister, they felt somewhat out of place in the crowd. They were the youngest non-cadets there. All of the cadets were dressed in uniform. Before arriving to the gala, she had thought she had done everything possible to look beautiful and classy. Her dark hair was piled on her head with golden clasps all around. She wore a long golden dress that hugged her form and exposed her back, the front was low too, and her golden necklace hung under her collarbone in the middle of her chest. Overall, Doris was happy with the result (since she was the one to pick the dress and actually dress her) saying that all the Starfleet cadets would be salivating.

They both stood near the snack table, a glass of champagne in each of their hands. Amanda never did like to drink, but the champagne that was being served was instantly her favorite.

Doris was dressed stunningly also. She wore the same type of dress as Amanda but wore all silver instead of gold. While Amanda's dress hugged her form down to her knees with enough wiggle room to walk around the room without any problem, Doris's expanded and fell like a bell around her.

"So, which one is Lario?" Doris asked as she took a small sip from her champagne.

Amanda had told her sister all about her new friend. She told her how they talked on the way to Sarek's home, and how handsome he looked in his uniform. She also told her about how friendly he was to her and he wouldn't hesitate to help her if she asked for it.

Of course, she could pick him out of the crowd instantly. He was tall like the others and his straightly ironed uniform made him look much more distinguished than the rest. His blond hair shone in the lights and the way he smiled when he talked made Amanda smile herself. "There he is," she pointed.

Doris smiled when she spotted him too. "He's cute."

Amanda nodded. "He's very nice too, the only friend I have here, actually."

Doris finished her glass and set it down on the table she was standing next to. "I'll be right back."

She watched her sister disappear into the crowd, then turned her gaze at the people there. It was only Humans and Vulcans at the gala, both anxious about the new adventure that was about to start. The Vulcans stuck to one side of the room while some of the Humans mingled among them , but others would too stick to the other side of the room. Like an eighth grade prom, boys and girls split down the middle, too shy to speak to one another.

In the middle of the Vulcan crowd, she could see Sarek, taller than the rest, talking as he would to the other Vulcans. He was the center of attention, she could see that much from where she was standing. He seemed calm, like he always did, speaking low to the people around him. He radiated calm and cool, not at all the way the Humans around him did.

In fact, all the Vulcans seemed calm, very relaxed even though they were not within their element.

Amanda envied that, she wanted to be able to seem that collected in large rooms. He wore what Vulcans usually wore, nothing more glamorous than the people around him. Not that it mattered what he wore, he looked like he was being looked up to by everyone there, like everyone wanted to talk to him-

He looked up and met her gaze.

Amanda was caught, had she been staring?

He bowed his head slightly towards her in greeting.

She smiled and waved back, feeling stupid as she did because he instantly broke eye contact.

Stupid Amanda he's not going to wave back. You were lucky he even acknowledged you. She could feel her teeth grinding.

She finished her champagne, mumbling "Stupid Sarek," then took another glass. Why did he always seem to make her feel so insignificant?

"Amanda."

She looked to her sister, who had come back from the crowd with someone else. That person was none other than Lario himself.

"Lario," Amanda greeted warmly.

"Miss Grayson," Lario smiled. "I hadn't seen you all night."

Amanda looked at him in confusion. "You were looking for me?"

He seemed to glance down at his boots nervously, he cleared his throat. "I wanted to ask you for a dance."

Amanda's eyebrows knit in confusion. She could feel the alcohol of the champagne start to take hold, make her head spin. He didn't ask her what she thought he did, did he?

"Sorry?"

Doris laughed, her perfect teeth glistening. "A dance! Come on Amanda, you know how to dance."

It was true, her mother paid for dancing lessons when she was a teenager. She hadn't danced much since. "Not in a while," she answered truthfully. Did it sound slurred?

Amanda felt a strong grip on the hand that she had the champagne glass in. Her sister stepped closer to her, her lips close to her ear. "How many have you had?"

The music was loud enough that blessedly, Lario couldn't hear.

"Not many," Amanda whispered back.

Doris took the wineglass at nudged her forward with her shoulder at the same time, "Of course, she'll dance."

Amanda stumbled forward from the small force her sister pushed on her. How many had she had that it was already impeding her balance?

Her sister's whisper followed her to the floor, "We're gonna work on your alcohol tolerance when I get back!"

Sometimes it was like Doris was the older one, with everything that she knew.

Lario didn't seem to notice. He took her firmly by her waist and led her to the floor. Not many were dancing but enough that Amanda thought she could blend in.

Lario was a great dancer, Amanda could tell, he had the correct posture, knew exactly where to place his hands. He moved in time with the waltz, knew where to step.

"I'm impressed," Amanda giggled. "I didn't know you could dance."

Lario winked, "One of my many secrets."

Amanda found that funnier than it actually was and the whole ballroom heard her snorting laughter.

Lario laughed as well, though he did look a little uncomfortable with the attention they were both getting.

"Are you excited about tomorrow's launch?"

Amanda nodded. "Yes, I couldn't be happier for my family." Was he spinning her? Or was the ballroom itself spinning?

"I have to ask," Lario cleared his throat. "Why aren't you going with them? It such an amazing opportunity."

Amanda laughed as if it were the funniest thing she'd heard. "I'm never, ever, ever going to space. Ever."

The statement surprised him, Amanda could tell by the way his eyebrows shot up. "Oh?"

"Well, Lario, I don't know if you heard but I have a fear of flying and space, astraphobic and aerophobic. My feet are staying firmly planted on the ground."

"I would love to go to space. I won't be able to for a long time though." He sounded disappointed.

"Wanna trade?" As she spoke, she stumbled in her large golden heels. Luckily, Lario caught her, making it seem like it was part of their dance.

"Wow, you're good!" Amanda giggled again.

This time, Lario caught on. "Miss Grayson, a-are you drunk?"

Amanda couldn't believe it. "What? NO!" That last part was louder than she intended it to be. "Okay, maybe a little."

Lario chuckled, "I think you need some water. Or food. Maybe both."

Amanda giggled again. "I'll be fine."

She could feel his strong arm behind her guiding her at the waist. "Let's get you something to eat, all right?"

At that moment, a familiar voice broke. "Cadet Lario, Miss Grayson."

Lario froze but Amanda turned.

Sarek looked strangely handsome that night. The dark robes he wore accentuated his high cheekbones, made him look paler than he really was without looking sickly.

At that moment, Lario turned, straight as a pin, he greeted, "Ambassador Sarek."

Amanda could tell Lario was nervous. He was exuding a nervous air. She couldn't understand why though. It was only Sarek, he didn't look so tough now. In fact, he looked handsome, dashing and other words that Amanda couldn't really seem to think of at that moment. Above all, he looked normal. Like she could tell him anything.

And boy, did she want to tell him something.

The alcohol made her brave she could feel it manifesting itself. Now feelings that she had been holding back and things that she had wanted to say to him but never could manifested themselves and she could feel them brewing under the surface.

Amanda remained cool, giving off the confidence she definitely felt.

"May I steal your dance partner for a moment? I wish to speak to Miss Grayson alone."

Amanda smiled smugly, the moment she had been waiting for. She couldn't wait to tell him exactly what was on her mind. The way he would make her feel insignificant, shot down anything she ever said, make her race feel like some cavemen sometimes, the way he would speak about Humans. But above all, how he would make her feel insignificant!

Lario spoke at the same time she did. "She's tired-"

"You betcha-"

Amanda reached up, about to strike up a finger menacingly on Sarek's chest but Lario batted her arm away before she could.

This wasn't lost on Sarek, though. He eyed them suspiciously. "It won't be more than a moment, Cadet, I assure you."

Amanda knew Lario couldn't argue, though he kept a tight grip on her waist, not possessively, almost like a big brother would. Amanda batted his hand away, as Sarek turned. "Don't worry, I'll be right back."

She followed Sarek to the large open doors that led to the San Francisco Bay.

As she walked, she passed a waiter with a tray of champagne.

Amanda took a glass and downed in instantly. Liquid courage.

She followed the Ambassador into the outside. The large doors reached the ceiling, well over twenty feet above her, it was dizzying for her trying to find where the doors met the ceiling.

As soon as Amanda was outside, she breathed the bay in. The salt air filling her lungs, the cold night air on her skin, it was almost sobering.

Almost.

She felt braver now, ready to say to him everything that she had wanted to say ever since she met him. She could feel it bubbling in her throat, the words forming as if by magic.

Sarek stopped at the end of the balcony that looked over the Bay. The glass fence the only thing keeping him from going over into the frigid waters. In the distance at a higher level, she could see the San Francisco Bridge, glistening with lights and passengers whizzing by.

They were alone out in the dark balcony, it was well past sunset and the stars blinked overheard, as if watching their moves.

Amanda waited for him to speak, wanting to cut him off, like he had so often done it to her. Justice would be hers.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Amanda opened her mouth. Then shut it.

Did he say the night was beautiful? Is that what the Vulcan had said?

Amanda could feel the world spinning, but she thought she heard right.

"Pardon?"

He looked at her, he almost camouflaged with the dark bay behind him. "The night is beautiful."

Amanda shut her mouth again, about to speak. This was unexpected.

"Miss Grayson – Amanda."

He spoke her name, the first time he spoke her name. Maybe the alcohol was affecting her more than she thought.

"I must apologize for prematurely separating you from your date tonight. I know you were not expecting it."

Expecting it? She wasn't expecting him to apologize. At all.

Amanda cleared her throat. "No, I'm not on a date."

She could see his shoulders slum slightly, like he had relaxed. Was she imagining this?

He turned towards her now fully, his face was set giving her no clue as to the reason he asked to speak to her alone. For anyone who didn't know the Ambassador, they would swear he wasn't acting any differently than any other Vulcan.

Amanda, though, knew him better than most. She could see a slight jittering movement in his hands, not at all what the collected Ambassador does.

Amanda stood in uncomfortable silence, not really knowing what to expect, completely taken aback by his demeanor. She was drunk, but whatever the reason he wanted to speak with her, made him nervous and she could clearly see it. Maybe saying what she wanted to say to him all along didn't seem to be a good idea after all.

The long she stood outside in the cool night, though, the more she thought that maybe she should speak up.

"Any particular reason I'm out here, Ambassador?"

He cleared his throat nervously.

Before she could make a comment on it, he interrupted.

"Amanda, I must say that when I saw you tonight with the young Cadet, I had a sort of stir of feelings."

"S-stir of feelings?"

"I believe they were jealousy."

"Jealousy?" Amanda tried not to sound so surprised but hard that it was very difficult to.

"Yes." He seemed calmer now. "You have bewitched me, Amanda."

She couldn't breathe. She put her hand to her temple, her head was swimming. "Be-Bewitched? I'm not sure I understand."

He didn't move, didn't seem to give off any emotion. "Surely you know the meaning of the word-"

"Of course," she whispered. "I just don't understand-"

"I love you."

Amanda closed her eyes, her heart skipped a small beat. Her head kept spinning, what was going on?

"It is for this reason, that I respectfully ask for your hand in marriage."

Amanda felt like her eyes were bulging out. "Marriage?"

He seemed confused. "Is that not how Humans ask for marriage? To be bonded with a mate for life?"

Amanda's world was really spinning, she gripped the glass separator between her and the frigid San Francisco Bay. "Yes but –"

"Are you all right, Amanda?" She could hear the concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," she croaked.

Truth was, she was far from it. She wasn't fine. How had Ambassador Sarek, cold stone, calculating come to love her? No, even like her? She thought he hated her, felt more towards the gum under his shoe. How did he, all of a sudden, love her?

It was preposterous, that a Vulcan would love a Human. She had heard of a few special cases, but only whispers. How could he come to love her? Who was this person? Was this really Sarek?

"I know that at this moment, you might not feel the same way, but given time, you might. You are much more than I expected, I have never met anyone who challenged me more, questioned me more. I have never in all my years met anyone like you."

Amanda finally steadied her voice, but couldn't look him in the eye. "How can you feel anything for me?"

"Pardon?"

She found courage in her voice, though she didn't feel it at all. "Is this a joke?"

Sarek looked as if she slapped him.

She laughed softly. "You've done everything to make me feel insignificant. Everything. You questioned the way I teach, the way I speak, the way I do everything in my life."

"I did not-"

"Yes, you did! You've made me feel like I'm the most insignificant person in the universe!" Amanda found she could finally voice everything she was holding in. It was giving her more courage, raising her voice with everything she said. She couldn't help it. "I'm very proud of accomplishments and those of my planet. You've made sure time and time again that I remembered that I'm only a lowly human and that I have made accomplishments that you don't even consider worth mentioning. I'm supposed to believe that you care enough about me to marry me when you've shown not even an ounce of sympathy towards me or anyone else? The only exception is Sybok, who I'm sure is only important to you because she is the son of the Princess!"

Amanda drew a breath, looking to the chilly water for strength. "I don't know how things are done in Vulcan, but I can't marry you. They are not business deals here, and both people have to feel the same."

She couldn't look at him, didn't dare. She tried to hide her shaking hands, shaking not from the cold night but from the revelation of it all, her raw feelings. How could she?

She didn't hear him move, but when he spoke, he was closer to her, speaking so only she could hear. "I apologize Miss Grayson, for my behavior towards you. It was unbecoming of me. You are one of the brightest people I know and I apologize if I have not made that known. I also apologize for wasting your time."

An apology? She never heard him apologize. The way people spoke of him, it seemed like he never did. Amanda took a deep breath. Maybe he did mean everything he said.

She didn't want to admit it, but as horribly as he treated her since she met him he had given her opportunities to shine. He took more to her than anyone at Starfleet at the moment. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was in a small way falling for him. The extra attention, the way that he, too, challenged her. It was a far cry from love but it wasn't the pure hate she felt for him in the beginning either.

She turned, wanting to tell him something, anything so he would see that his apology didn't fall on deaf ears.

Sarek was gone, disappeared within the crowd dancing at the ball.