A/N: Thank you all for your support of this story! Yeah, I took a small liberty with West Point and the money, but beyond paying for the actual school there are a lot of "rich person" activities, dances, clubs, and so on that even if she didn't pay for the school directly, that money probably went to uniforms and all the special extras that come with going to a more elite type of schooling. *shrug* so we suspend our disbelief a touch LOL! I like writing about random small characters, especially Vulcans, because I like to explore the culture beyond the series. And thank you for all the complements on Sarah, I've known many long term military wives and the most successful of them were all very backboned and disciplined. She is my salute to the unseen beautiful women who, through history, have been the heroes behind the lines. Enough of my blab, hope you enjoy as it develops.

Skol knocked on Sarah's door, he'd spent the last four days helping her understand the workings of the house, and his time to leave had come. She opened her door, and bid him enter. She was dressed impeccably, and her long hair was pulled up neatly. She was, in his view, an admirable woman.

'Good morning, Skol. I've made you a breakfast, a human style breakfast for your last day in thanks for all you've done." She motioned for him to sit.

Skol blinked and stood a bit straighter, "It was only logical that I teach you what you need to be successful, one need not thank logic."

Sarah permitted herself a small smile, "I am aware, Skol, but since you are going to Earth, I felt you need to understand a bit of what you are walking into. You will be thanked for your service at every turn, more than likely. Who are you going to work with?"

"Admiral Forrest's widow, and her children." Skol said taking a seat. He noted that Sarah put out the tea, but did not offer to pour it for him or serve him the food, he nodded very pleased at her attention to detail.

"Oh I know Beth!" She said pouring her own tea, "I was at her husband's funeral. The home you are going to is much smaller, and by far less grand that what you are used to."

Skol nodded, "I was told that I would be the only domestic in residence. I believe the Ambassador has given me to her because her husband died saving his life."

"He's a sly one, that Soval, and yes I don't doubt that's exactly why you are going there. Beth has struggled greatly since Max's death. Five children, two that are nearly adults and the rest fairly young."

Skol blinked, "She is a most fertile woman."

"She was a bit younger than him, and wanted a lot of children." she shrugged, "Their house is large, and you will probably be housed out in the pool house, I'm guessing. It's a small house unto itself, which will give you privacy, but access to the main house. Beth's father was very rich, and he provided the house for Beth and Max when they married, but they had a falling out years ago when Max and him had an argument about the future of Earth. So he changed his will, and Beth ended up not inheriting anything. Max left her provided for, but," she shrugged, "It's still a struggle for her."

"Will she not take another mate?"

Sarah smirked, "Being a little older, I think she's thirty five now, and having five children does not really lend itself to having time to date, and if I am being perfectly honest." She paused and looked at Skol, "Not many human men want a premade family like that."

Skol forked a pancake looking it over with interest before placing it on his plate, "That isn't logical, to marry one so fertile means that your house increases greatly upon marriage and you have the opportunity to increase it with further children."

"That's a good way to look at it, but not all or many human males would see it that way." Sarah said pushing some maple syrup toward him, "You put that on the pancake, Soval saw to it my kitchen was stocked with human foods."

Skol nodded, "That is both unwise and unfortunate. On vulcan, such a large family would be honored, and she would likely have her choice of mates. Our people are not as fertile."

"Then maybe she should have come to vulcan." Sarah said with a small twinkle in her eye.

Skol blinked, "I meant if she were a vulcan woman. I cannot imagine a human and vulcan in a pairing."

"Of course," Sarah did not debate him, but her gut said he was going to love Beth.

Skol went silent and began eating his pancake, it was a little sweet for his tastes, but it seemed a logical start to the day as it would provide energy. "It is good." he said with a nod.

Kov bounced into Kuvak's breakfast are with a smile, "Good morning, Uncle! I slept well! I am told we have one human in house now, that's exciting."

Kuvak stopped eating, and gave his nephew his full attention, "Yes, she arrived a couple of days ago. Her name is Sarah, and she seems an agreeable woman."

"Is she pretty?" Kov asked sitting down and pouring himself some plomeek and tea.

"Yes," Kuvak said almost instantly, "She is not what I expected."

"Oh Uncle! Good for you!" Kov said smiling, "I've never heard you answer so quickly about a woman, not since Auntie."

Kuvak stared at Kov, "Your humor is singular this morning, my nephew."

"Oh touchy," Kov said with a small grin, "When do the rest arrive?"

"Next week." Kuvak said turning his attention back to his food.

"You won't regret it, Uncle. You can't really know them as a people through what our people have written. As I described to you the other day, they are a much more complex people than what our scientists have described. They are not the barbarians that some would have you believe."

"I have an open mind, Kov. If I did not, I would not have agreed to the exchange. Skon, Solkar, Soval, they all have endorsed this. The idea does not require further sales, we have committed to it for at least a year." Kuvak said spooning some of his plomeek.

"I heard Skol was leaving today, shall we see him off?"

Kuvak nodded, 'It was in my plan to do so."

"Good. I liked him, he's a dire looking fellow though. Very dramatic, at least in his aesthetics."

"He is distantly related to Skon's clan, they all carry a certain look. His is highly cultivated."

"You mean he attempts to look elite," Kov said bluntly, "Yeah I can see that."

Kuvak sighed, "We really must take time and discuss your manner of speaking, nephew."

'It's just us, uncle, I will do better in front of others." Kov promised, but Kuvak suspected it was hollow, at best.

Sarah started the flitter and helped Skol in with his baggage. She called ahead to the loading dock of the shuttle for more help. Skol had a lot of bags. She was about to get in when she saw Kuvak and another vulcan approach. Skol stood at attention, and Sarah straightened a touch.

Kuvak raised the ta'al to Skol, "Your service has honored this house, Skol. Your absence will be noted, as your career in my family home has been notable."

Skol raised the ta'al in return, "It has been an honor to serve your house, S'Haile. I have trained my replacement as best as I can, and believe she will be a suitable replacement."

Kuvak nodded, "I trust your judgement. May we ride with you to see you to your shuttle?"

Skol's eyes widened slightly, "That would be an honor, S'Haile."

Kov approached Sarah, holding out his hand to her, "I'm Kov, Kuvak's nephew. I've heard about you already."

Sarah took his hand to shake it, and jumped slightly at the touch of his cooler hand. "I'm Sarah, pleased to meet you."

Kov had let his mental blocks down, he wanted to get a feel for the human woman, and he was overwhelmed with great pain, shame, and yet also determination. Just as Kuvak had said, she was a beautiful woman, older than he expected, but still an admirable sampling of the human female.

Kuvak shot Kov a disapproving eye and in vulcan he said, "Kov, did you use your touch telepathy? That is a grievous thing to do."

"I did not dig into her mind, Uncle, I simply wanted to see her intention. She is full of agony and beauty, her intentions are pure and determined."

Kuvak frowned as he got into the flitter, Skol pretended not to hear what he was hearing. "It is unethical to touch anyone without guards, nephew. We will discuss this further in private."

Kov felt bad, suddenly, "I'm sorry, Uncle." he said softly as he got in next to Kuvak. When his father chastised him for things like that, he often rebelled in anger. It was strange to him, now, that his uncles' chastisement moved him differently. Kuvak did not judge him, there was no harshness in his manner like there had been in his father. He found he did not want to displease such a man as his uncle, who was as kind a man as he'd ever met, even if he was rigidly logical.

Sarah didn't know what had just transpired but just from the tone and subtle cues she suspected Kov breached protocols when he shook her hand. She would not ask now, but she decided to make discrete inquiries later.

When they arrived at the flight pad, Sarah jumped out and began helping with Skol's baggage, "Skol," she said, handing the last shoulder bag, "I mean this when I say it, if you get to earth and you need anything, information, explanation, anything at all please reach out to me. Consider me your database for humanity. I will do whatever I can."

Skol's face relaxed a measure, "That is most generous of you, Mrs. Blanc. I will avail myself of the offer, I am sure. Please know the offer goes both ways." He raised the ta'al to her, "Peace and long live, T'Sai. May your time on Vulcan be productive."

Kuvak was listening to the exchange, the human's offer was very generous. It pleased him to know she was concerned about someone else's success and not just her own. In his time as a minster, no matter the race it seemed a rare thing. He glanced at his nephew Kov, wondering what he meant that she was full of agony and beauty. Kuvak was curious, while at the same time he was hesitant to ask due to how the knowledge came to be in Kov's possession. The agony part intrigued him, because the woman carried herself with aplomb. As a human, he expected, well he wasn't sure. He supposed he expected a human in agony to be wildly emotional, irrational, and perhaps not very functional. He expected something much more alien than he saw.

Skol's shuttle lifted off and Sarah turned away looking at Kuvak and Kov. It was an odd feeling being left alone with them now, but Skol had prepared her and she was determined to make this work, she had to. "If you are ready, Osu, I can drive us back to the compound now."

Kuvak's eyes brightened, "You drive a flitter?"

"Yes, Osu, it is a needed thing on Earth, and Skol showed me the controls of the vulcan flitters."

"Very good, I will sit in the front passenger side." Kuvak said, basically calling shotgun. Kov pouted and got into the back.

Kuvak watched her fire the engine with interest and was pleased when she performed the functions accurately. "Skol gave you my daily itinerary?"

"Yes, Osu. You take your breakfast alone at the first hour as the sun rises, in the east balcony."

Kuvak nodded, "Good, yes. That part of your day may be non-productive, since you stand and serve. It gives me a chance to hear the previous days household reports. Skol taught your where and when to purchase foods?"

"Yes, Osu." Sarah said with a nod.

Kuvak nodded too, "Skol taught you…"

"Uncle," Kov interrupted, "While Mrs. Blanc is patiently enduring tedious questions, I can answer everything. Skol taught her...yes he did." He shifted up and hung between the two seats ahead of him, "If you do not tell my uncle he will go on and on questioning everything."

"That's part of my job, and it's his right to do so, Osu Kov. It's his house, and as such he has every right and responsibility to see to it that his family and home are well taken care of. I understand that it can be uncomfortable to place those things in the hands of someone who is not only new, but also alien. So, please, I do not mind any questions." Sarah said very frankly to Kov.

Kov shrugged, "I just think we should be asking more about you personally." He looked at his uncle and saw that his uncle was pleased with her reply, "Don't you want to know more about the woman who will run the family estate, uncle? She said she didn't mind questions."

Kuvak was flummoxed, he didn't know what to ask that was proper and personal. Kov waited a few moment and then jumped on the silence, "How old are you?"

"Forty-five." She replied flatly.

"Wow you are a lot older than any human I've met."

Sarah turned and gave him a look that caused him to sit back in the seat, it was the sharpest "mom" look he'd ever seen. "That's impolite, Kov, no human woman would want to hear that. Just as your people do not discuss age, human women won't like it either, especially when you seem astonished at how old they are."

"Sorry." Kov said softly. "You have a major mom look, by the way. My mom used to be able to silence me with a look, and no one else has been able to do that since her."

She looked at him again and the words he was about to say stuck in his throat, "I have two sons, I am good at it." she turned back to the view screen, not noticing the upward curl at Kuvak's lips.

"I have two adult sons as well," Kuvak mentioned,and realized this was an opening of conversation, "They are in the science academy. What do your sons do?"

"My twin sons are in West Point, just like their father, and his father before him. They are going to be career military, officers if they get good grades and make the proper connections."

"Then you are of an…" Kuvak didn't know the federation tongue well enough to know the word for aristocracy or the like, he turned to Kov and in vulcan asked for the proper term. Kov said in standard, "Upper-class."

Kuvak nodded a thank you, "You are of an upper-class family. Why have you come to vulcan to serve as a domestic?"

"No one is too good for an honest days' work, Osu." Sarah said leaving it at that. "We are home." she pulled into the front of the house to let them out, and when they disembarked she slowly pulled away to garage the flitter and enter through the servant's entrance. She was grateful to dodge more questions, for the time being.

Kuvak placed his hands behind his back and waited for Kov to come around the flitter. He watched the vehicle pull away. When it they were alone he turned to his nephew, "Why did you touch her hand that way, especially without proper mental barriers up. That is an unethical thing, Kov." His voice was firm but held no chastisement.

"It was an impulse, Uncle, and habit. When you travel as I did for as long as I did, it was something you had to do for safety." Kov said, looking down, "I am sorry, Uncle, I won't do it again." He perked, "Do you want to know what I felt?"

Kuvak turned away, he did want to know, but he would not ask, "No." he said stoically, he'd not take advantage of ill-gotten information "We must work on some of your, impulse issues, Kov."

"I'll do better."

Kuvak nodded and parted ways with his nephew. He felt like he was walking a fine line with his young nephew, one that was dangerous, as all V'tosh ka'tur were. He did not want to push the young man away, risk losing him, and in that loss lose all possibility of bringing him to Surak's true path. He had to walk gently. For now, he was going to talk to his old friend, Soval, and see what agony his new human domestic was hiding.