A/N: Steppi, thank you for your review and I loved that line too! ILike: Thank you for your review, and yes that icing thing was inappropriate, but remember we saw it through Skol's eyes and at this point he is an unreliable narrator. Had I written it from Beth's perspective, it would have read more like letting someone lick the spoon LOL! Thanks for letting me know I expressed it correctly, since I wanted people to see it through Skol's eyes! But no fear, things are explained later! Christine, Thank you! Beth feels comfortable with Skol, like she would a girl-friend, which may change soon ;) LLAP, I love you all and you all make me think!
A few days later, Kuvak found himself standing in Sarah's office, but she was not there. He stopped one of the other human domestics, who let him know she was outside speaking with the groundskeepers. He made his way out there, noting how organized his staff seemed, and harmoniously his house was running. It was agreeable.
When he found Sarah she seemed to be finishing up with the groundskeeper so he waited patiently a few yards away. When she finished she turned around and saw him. He was intrigued that she smiled and as she approached. "Is there something you need, Osu?" Sarah asked folding her hands behind her back.
"Yes, if I may speak with you a few moments."
"Of course," she motioned for them to sit on the elaborate stone bench at the side of the path, in the shade of one of the stone overhangs. "What is on your mind, Osu?"
Kov's bondmate arrives this evening." he started off neutrally, "I want to ask you, as a personal request not as an employer to employee, if you would accompany Kov and me to pick her up."
Sarah smiled fully, "I would be honored to, Osu. I wasn't made aware of her arrival. Is there anything Osu Kov needs for his bride to join him? Any special requests or food?"
"No, she will be staying in Kov's room, and he hasn't made me aware of anything she requires. Though, some vulcan robes would probably aid her greatly." Kuvak said realizing her human clothes may be too warm for the climate, even in the 'winter' months as they were now.
Sarah nodded, "I will speak with Kov to see about her size. What time are we meeting her?"
"Late, 22:00 hours. I will knock on your private entrance at 19:30." He got up prepared to move and then paused, "I have a reservation for a last meal after we have picked her up, in Shir' Kahr. Kov said she would likely be hungry. I did not wish to trouble the kitchen staff. I also thought it logical to meet and speak with the young woman before bringing her home. Do you think this wise?"
Sarah chuckled, "I suppose it is, but a few minutes discussion isn't going to make a huge difference, if you hope to discern whether she is presentable to the rest of the family."
"Is it that transparent?" Kuvak said, a ghost of a frown touching his lips.
"To me, yes. To Kov and anyone else, probably not. It does seem like a generous gesture. Especially since it's a restaurant in Shir'Kahr, a place known for Vulcan's finest of fine things."
Kuvak nodded, "I will send a new set of robes to you as well. We are going to a very elite establishment, the robes we have provided you will not be sufficient."
"What of Kov's wife?" Sarah asked.
"Kov told her to arrive dressed up as we were taking her to a what was the term he used?" he said furrowing his brows, "Fancy joint?" He finished experimentally, not knowing if he remembered the terminology properly.
Sarah looked away to keep from giggling, "Yes, well, I will bring a top robe for her, at least." Sarah knew she had been in the adult entertainment industry, a stripper, and while she wasn't going to pre-judge that she may be dressed a little more revealing than is seen as wise on Vulcan, she'd also have the young woman taken care of, covering.
"How are the preparations going for the bonding celebration?" Kuvak asked remembering that as well.
"Just fine, Osu." Sarah said and began walking, "Are you and Kov going?"
"And his wife, I am told."
"So that will be the big reveal then."
Kuvak looked at her, his face asking what she meant.
"That means Kov will be seen with his new wife in front of the whole family."
"Ah, yes, it will be a notable occasion, surely." Kuvak paused, "Will your children come and visit you while you are on Vulcan?"
Sarah stiffened, but answered neutrally, "No, Osu, they are busy with their own lives."
"Regrettable, I would be interested to meet your children." Kuvak said walking beside her. "What is it that they do?"
"They are in school, Osu, advanced learning, at West Point, they want a career in the military like their father and his father before them."
Kuvak raised his eyebrows, "Then humans have that custom as well? To follow in the family line?"
"Yes, it isn't uncommon, there is a lot of individuality on Earth, but there is still a fair share of human…" she paused, "Did you hear that?"
Kuvak stiffened and strained his ear, "I do not hear…" then not far from them behind some rocks he hears tiny huffs. "Yes…"
Sarah moved carefully toward the huffing sound, peaking over the edge of a rock. Curled in a small crook of a rock formation a little ball of brown and black fur wiggled and huffed trying to get comfortable. "Oh my goodness…" she breathed out, her eyes going soft, "Look at you." she whispered and moved a little closer.
She held out her hand to the little creature, "Come here, come on, you look all dirty. Where is your momma little one?"
Kuvak grabbed her shoulders, pulling her into his chest, "That is unwise, the mother could be near. That is a baby sehlat. Though, what it is doing this close to civilization is puzzling."
"You are stronger than you look." Sarah said muffled into his chest, "Could you, maybe, let go a little."
Kuvak let go, "Forgive me, it's just that sehlats are very dangerous."
Free from his iron grip she chuckled, "As strong as you are, I don't think I have much to worry about." She turned and looked around, climbing up on the top of a rock she scanned for the mother, "Oh man, this...is no good." she said hoping down from the rock, "I don't think you have to worry about the mother, she's over there, and very dead." She held herself in a self soothing way, "The baby is going to die if we don't do something." she moved back toward the baby again, gently touching it's back. It whimpered and tried to retreat under the small shade it had, but it was too weak to go further. "Stay right here." she said to Kuvak as she popped up and ran toward the back of the house.
A few minutes later she came back out with the groundskeeper in tow, when they were near Kuvak, Sarah met back up with him and the groundskeeper went to take care of the dead sehalt.
Kuvak marveled as she got down on her hands and knees, pouring a small bowl of water, out for the tiny creature. "Come on little one, you need your water." From a pocket in the fold of her robes she got out a few small bits of replicated sehlat food and placed it near the bowl. She then waited. "Does Vulcan have animal doctors?" She asked watching as the little baby smelled the food.
"We do." Kuvak said watching her, watch the animal, "Do you intend on keeping it?"
"If you'd let me, unless there is some wild sehlat rescue we can take it to so it can be with it's own kind."
"There is no such thing on Vulcan." Kuvak said, puzzled at what that would even look like.
"That's a shame." Sarah said, now grinning as the baby slowly came out from its hiding spot sniffing at the water and food. "The little guy should be able to be wild and free, but I don't think it will live if we don't care for it." She looked up from her kneeling position, "May I keep it in my rooms?"
"Do you know how to care for it?"
"I can learn. I mean, if it has fur and a heartbeat it can't be so exotic that no one knows how to care for one." she gently put another piece of meat down for the sehlat, this time, closer to her. It followed the piece getting closer, and gently Sarah placed her hand on it's head, stroking it like a mother might use it's tongue to clean. It accepted it and the snrrrrf sound started to sound like a soft purr. She put another piece down even closer and it didn't hesitate to go to it, but after it gulped it down it went straight for Sarah and the hand that was giving the pieces away.
Kuvak held his breath for a moment, expecting the sehlat to bite, but it sniffed and nuzzled instead, demanding more food.
"Ok, Bambie, just a minute. We'll get you more." she said with a giggle, "Come on," she pulled out several more bites, and this time the sehlat ate it out of her fingers."
"Bambie?" Kuvak said, tilting his head to the side.
"I'll explain it later," She said with a grin, "So, what do you say? Can I keep him?"
In truth, Kuvak found he could not say no, not to her, and it was mildly disconcerting, "Of course you can. Keep me updated on it's progress. I will call the animal physician and have him come out now."
She smiled, "Thank you," she replied gently picking the little guy up, "Come on, Bambie, let's get you cleaned up for your first doctor's appointment."
Dr. Strom pushed open the door finding a human woman with a vulcan male, and that vulcan male was cradling a child in his arms. His eyebrow rose, "I'm Dr. Strom." he said neutrally, "Can you lay the child down for me?"
Skol whispered into Noreen's ear, "I am going to lay you down now, little one, and this man will aid in making you feel better." he moved to place her on the bed, but she clung tighter to him. He gently whispered, massaging her back giving her calm through his touch, "Trust me, little one, you will be alright." A few beats later she released him so he could lay her down.
He took a step back, watching Dr. Strom look over the lab results. He moved toward the child, checking the lymphatic system, occasionally asking if anything hurt. Nothing did until he touched the lower area of her body, he moved away, "I believe your child has a perforated appendix." he said turning to look at both Skol and Beth, "She has infection in her body, we are going to have to go in and surgically remove the infection and appendix."
Beth stiffened, and her eyes went glassy with un-shed tears, she wasn't going to cry and risk upsetting her child, "Ok Dr. Strom."
He nodded, "If one of you would step out to sign the consent forms I will conduct further examination."
Beth looked at Skol, "Take care of her, I'll be right back."
Skol stood straighter, "Of course."
Strom was preparing the young child with a mild sedative, and some antibiotics when he spoke softly in vulcan, "How long have you two been bonded? I was unaware of any other mixed bondmates on earth or vulcan."
"Other?" Skol answered quirking an eyebrow.
Strom pushed the com button on the side of the child's bed, "Nurse Sabrina, come."
Sabrina entered and Strom raised his fingers, "She who is my wife." Strom said with a subdued hint of pride,"she and I will be performing the surgery."
Skol blinked looking between the two of them. The finger contact only lasted a moment because the woman he identified as his wife finished the prep Strom began and Strom approached him, "How long have you been bonded?"
Skol pursed his lips, "I am her domestic, Osu, we are not bonded."
Strom looked him up and down, "I see." he opened the doors, and motioned for the orderlies to push the bed, "Take her to the second operating theater."
Both men nodded and they began moving the child.
"My wife, attend." Strom said, and Sabrina moved to follow behind him toward surgical prep.
Beth entered the room again, "I got everything signed. The nurse said it wasn't going to be a bad surgery, she'd recover really well." her voice was shaking.
"But you are...still scared?" Skol asked, trying to guess so he knew what she might need.
She began to weep, "I wish I could take her place, her poor little body." She sniffed, "I just hate this."
Skol frowned, "Dr. Strom is well known on Vulcan as one of three of the greatest doctors on the planet. Noreen is in more than capable hands, we are fortunate to have him."
Beth gave him a weak smile, "I know. It's just I wish there...wasn't any pain in my child's life, and all of them have had too much pain already."
Skol guided her to sit down, "Then allow me to aid you in this, Lady Beth. Allow me to serve them, and you as I should so you have more time for them. It's logical to take benefit when benefit is offered to you."
Beth smiled sadly, "You are very sweet, Skol, but I honestly don't want my children growing up thinking it's ok to use another being. I don't want them to think it's ok to not work, take care of the house, and each other, because you can buy someone to do the hard stuff for you."
It suddenly made sense why she was the way she was with him, and it was logical and admirable. "Then allow us to give them a picture of what friendship and partnership looks like." Skol suggested, "Your thinking is admirable, but it does not take into consideration your real need. If you will not allow me to be your domestic, then allow me to be your friend who aids in partnership with you. Let us show your children that humans and vulcans can work together in common cause."
Beth gasped and her eyes slowly blinked out two large tears. Humans and vulcans can work together in common cause. He said exactly what Max had said to her just days before he died. Skol believed as Max did, and what greater honor to her late husband than to be a small part in the puzzle that puts that together for everyone. "I-we can do that, Skol."
Skol took in a deep breath his face betraying that he was dearly pleased with that answer, "Then we shall."
"If we are to be friends, I guess we need to know more about each other. Be honest and stuff." She shrugged.
Skol nodded, "May I be very honest with you?"
"Of course, that's a foundation of friendship." Beth said, grateful for the distraction and conversation.
"How did you perceive giving me that icing from your finger?"
She shrugged, "I don't know, I didn't. I do it for my kids, Max used to do it, I guess I just thought the same for you."
Skol nodded, "You must understand, that the way one flirts or is intimate with a vulcan is different than human ways. You feeding me, from your finger. You pouring drinks for me. These are all open acts of desire a potential mate might do, and it causes great conflict within me."
Beth blushed hottly, "Oh, Skol, I am...so sorry. I had no idea, I was just trying to make you feel at home and welcome, please forgive me."
"I am not angry, Lady Beth, there is nothing to forgive. I thought you might not know." Skol smoothed out his robe on his lap.
They sat together in silence for a few minutes both lost in their own thoughts.
"What if I had known?" Beth asked suddenly.
"You did not." Skol said with a shrug.
"Hypothetically speaking, though, what if I had known?"
Skol shook his head, "I do not speak in hypotheticals, Beth."
"I see."
They both went silent again for a long time, until Skol stood, stretching his legs, "We should arrange a chore schedule."
"I agree." Beth said without hesitation, "We can work on that when, we take Noreen home.
"An excellent idea." Skol said with a nod, "If we are to be too late, I can leave to watch the toddlers and relieve the neighbor."
"That would be good, she's an older woman, the young ones would wear her out."
Skol put his hands behind his back and stood looking out the window, "Then I will, if it becomes needed."
"Thank you, Skol, thank you so much."
"There is a human saying I have heard that I believe applies here." He turned to her, "That's what friends are for."