Hello everyone! Last time, I wasn't able to make a note on the chapter because I was rushing but here it is.

I am punching out this story as fast as I can and as fast as my muse inspires me. It won't last for long, unfortunately, it never does. I am rushing through the chapters though and moving things faster than I would like so I can finish this as fast as I can so I don't keep you all waiting for too long. Of course, whether I finish this story or not depends entirely on if people are reading it and reviewing it.

I need feedback from you, readers, so I know whether to continue or not. I am doing this mainly for you.

So please, review away as always.

Amanda didn't stick around for the rest of the gala. She left as soon as she could, claiming she didn't feel well and went straight to her quarters. She didn't stay for her father's speech or Sarek's. She couldn't even bear to stay in the same room as him, not after what he said.

It would be easy to forget what he said. He didn't look at her the entire night. It was as if she didn't exist.

She immediately showered and went to bed, wanting to forget the whole night ever happened. Her mother had checked on her during the night and told her she missed a great party.

The next morning she had to wake up early in the morning to see her family off on their flight. She woke up late, though, too tired or hung over from the previous night, she didn't know.

The shuttle bay was massive; she had never seen so many ships together in one place. The hangar was state of the art just like the ships. Their ship was the only one leaving and because it was such a momentous occasion, everyone was there.

There was press, Starfleet Officers and Vulcan officials. Pictures were taken by the press, speeches and recognitions were presented. In the end, when all the excitement died down, Amanda properly said goodbye to her family. She hugged her parents and her sister and when she hugged her father she hesitated.

She always hated saying good bye. She always had a bad feeling before they left. She couldn't get used to them going off-planet.

"Don't worry, Mandy," he chuckled as he hugged her. "We'll be back soon." He tugged on her necklace which dangled over her purple shirt. "Remember our promise."

She nodded, "I know you guys will be back."

"Have fun while you're here."

Amanda gave a faint smile. "Stay safe."

She watched her family file inside the USS Concord. It looked like they would ride comfortably with all the storage and artifacts they had. It wasn't a massive star ship but it was large enough to fit everyone comfortably for at least a month–long journey.

They performed the final checks while Amanda and the rest of the party watched from a high platform overlooking the hangar. Eventually they left and Amanda watched the ship take off in the distance until it was barely a blip in her vision.

She knew where Sarek was the entire time, watching his movements out of the corner of her eye. When she was ready to leave, she barely looked his way as she made her way out. She didn't want to look at him, spare both of them the embarrassment from the night before. He seemed the same, the only time he even acknowledged her was to greet her in the morning with a slight nod.

Now that her family was gone, she had nothing to do until her lesson with Sybok. She went for her morning run, planned out her lesson and hours later when she was gathering her things, she received an unexpected call.

The speakers in her quarters chirped, indicating an incoming call. She sat down in front of her tablet and touched the screen where it flashed. She didn't recognize the caller but because of the circumstances she was in, it could be anyone important trying to reach her.

No face came up on the screen, indicating it was just a voice call.

"Yes?" she asked in a business-like demeanor.

"Is this Miss Amanda Grayson?" It was a woman, speaking formally. Amanda could just tell it was Vulcan by the way she spoke.

"Yes, this is Amanda."

"I am calling to inform you that Ambassador Sarek will no longer be needing your services from now on."

Amanda took a deep breath, closing her eyes. How could she not see this coming?

"Sybok is returning to Vulcan later tonight at the request of his mother."

Of course she was. "Did the Ambassador say why?"

"The Princess provided no reason. The Ambassador says that he will send compensation later for your time and effort."

"Th-that's not really necessary."

"It is, however, his wish. Good-bye, Miss Grayson."

Amanda wasn't allowed to say anything else, the call ended immediately.

Amanda dropped her bag on the floor and collapsed very unladylike on her bed. "Perfect."

Amanda put her head in her hands. Of course he wouldn't want to see her, wouldn't want to be in the same room as her. She hadn't been the one to say her feelings out loud and have them flat out denied. Even when she was with him in the morning, she felt on edge.

She couldn't imagine how he felt.

Her head was still spinning from his revelation. How could he love her? She thought he hated her!

As much as she hated him, for everything that he had said to her and done, she regretted blabbing her mouth to him the previous night. She couldn't imagine how he felt, to be shut down like he had been.

It was impossible that he could feel that way, she knew, and yet …

It stirred something in her. Something that she didn't know she felt. Especially not for him. She thought he was attractive but that was all.

She respected him too,

Looked up to him in a certain way.

Admired his intelligence.

He was sort of cute, too, she thought.

"Shut up, Amanda", she grumbled. "Get these thoughts out of your head."

Was she starting to like him?

No. No, she wasn't. He was shutting her out now, shutting her out of Sybok's life. Sybok, whom she had bonded with. She had a feeling that he bonded with no one else in his life. And now Sarek wanted to take that away.

"Damn, Sarek," she grumbled.

She hadn't known Sybok long but she could feel a bond between them. She knew that she couldn't say anything about him leaving, but she could at least try to be there for him as he left.

Amanda got up and gathered all her things. The only logical place he could be at was Starfleet, that was the only place that there was a hangar that went to the space station or anywhere else. Amanda severely doubted that Sarek would leave Sybok in the hands of human civilians and only Starfleet could take care of him. Maybe she would make it in time. If she could get in, of course.

Amanda couldn't get farther than the door though. As soon as the automatic doors opened, she found a familiar face.

Cadet Lario was waiting outside the door in military garb, impeccably clothed from head to toe. His face had softened somewhat from when she first met him at the train station. Had that only been a week since they met?

"Miss Grayson."

She looked at him confused. "James? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing. You seemed … different last night."

Amanda laughed softly and regretted that she had so much to drink. "Yeah, I drank a lot last night." She looked at him, he looked like he was sweating. "Have you been waiting here long? Why didn't you ring the doorbell?"

He cleared his throat nervously. "I wanted to ask you for dinner."

Amanda was speechless for the second time in twenty-four hours. So much so that when she spoke, she emphasized every syllable when she spoke next. "Din-ner?"

"I wanted to ask you yesterday but you took off after you spoke to the Ambassador. What did he say to you?"

Amanda ran a hand through her hair. "I-I can't say." She didn't really think it happened, in fact. "I have to go to the Academy I have to talk to Sybok before he leaves. Do you know where he could be?"

He nodded. "I just dropped off the Ambassador and his party at the Academy, I could take you there."

Amanda was grateful, at least a little bit of good news for the day.

She locked the door behind her and made it to the turbo elevators. Lario followed and they were silent on the way down. Right before they made it to the first floor, he spoke. "About dinner-"

Amanda bit her lip. She didn't know what to think about what happened. First a proposal from Ambassador Sarek then a dinner date with James Lario. Though Lario was in all ways an improvement over Sarek, at least he acted like he had some sort of pulse, she felt no spark for him.

Not like she felt for Sarek, though she ignored it every time she was near him.

Lario was a good friend and she didn't want anything jeopardizing their friendship.

He stood as straight as a pin next to her and she could hear him chuckle quietly. "You know, you never answered my question."

"I can't." Amanda found herself blurting right as he finished. "I live in Washington, you live here, and it wouldn't work out. I don't see how this can work out, unless you're just looking for a fling, which is something I don't agree on –"

At this, Lario laughed. "I only asked you to dinner, not to marry you."

Amanda gulped. Thank goodness, she thought.

"I only asked you to dinner." He took her hand. "I like you and I want to take you to dinner. If nothing comes from it then we had a good dinner, if it does then, well, we'll take it from there." He gave a warm smile. "Is that all right?"

Amanda couldn't help but smile. "Dinner would be great."

"Good." He let her hand go and stepped through the turbo doors when they opened. "After you."

Once again, please review, without them I am lost and won't know whether to continue or not.

Everyone, stay safe.