A/N - This is kind of a filler chapter that sets things up for the next one.

Five

The next morning, Amanda awoke to a bright sunny day. She initially didn't remember a thing from the day before, but then it all began to trickle back to her little by little. A grin began to grow on her face before she could catch it. She thought of how she had been mischief itself. As her hand went up to cover her cheshire cat expression, she wondered what it was that had gotten into her. She made poor Sarek run for meditation at the end of the day! She sat up and crossed her arms in satisfaction as she felt a guilty sense of power. It had been years since she had been able to do that to him.

Sarek was not in bed with her. She wondered if unexpected business had come to the embassy. That was often how things were. Amanda never minded his ambassadorial duties. That was how she had met him. To expect that to change would be quite illogical.

She laughed at herself then. Using Vulcan-speak in your head, Amanda?

She went to take a shower and every time the water touched the area of the backs of her shoulders she would flinch from the feeling. It was as if thousands of stinging needles were hitting her upper back and shoulder region. "Oh boy…"

##

"You are experiencing erythema solare," said the Healer physician.

"So in other words, I'm sunburned?" asked Amanda.

"You have been sunburned on the affected regions of skin," Sokam confirmed, "that is correct." His perceptive copper eyes looked into Amanda's. "Shall I inform he who is your husband at this time?"

She sighed. "No, that's all right. It's no big deal."

"Will you accept treatment?"

"Will it take long?"

"A mere twenty minutes of your time," he assured.

"Then you can do it," she said.

After the first ten minutes, Sokam had already healed the sunburn on the back right of Amanda's shoulder. He was about to transition to the left when the intercom in the medical station of the embassy went off. "Is my wife present in the medical bay?" came Sarek's voice through the speaker.

"I'm here, Sarek," she said.

He paused. "You obtained sunburn yesterday, did you not?"

She rolled her eyes as she said, deadpan, "Yes, Sarek, I got a sunburn."

"You should have allowed me to apply the aloe gel. I would have made certain to cover every surface of your body."

Amanda nearly tensed up. Uh-oh. Was he actually flirting with her through an intercom speaker? He must have been desperate the night before, because even after meditation he was apparently still in need. She looked up at Sokam, but he seemed to be none the wiser, so she relaxed again. "You're right, Sarek. There's no way I could have reached the backs of my shoulders properly."

"I shall be there in four minutes time to retrieve you."

"But I've got about ten more minutes to go to get it treated."

"Then I shall wait with you," he said without pause.

##

Amanda looked up at Sokam. She often wondered about the healer and who he truly was on the inside. The only things she knew about him was that he was related to Sarek through some complicated family lineage she still didn't understand and his wife had died not five years before. She had been a prominent Vulcan Scientist working on some project, probably top secret, along with many other Federation scientists. For all the times the woman had come to Earth, she very rarely graced the embassy with her presence. The few times she did, Amanda remembered feeling a strong dislike for her. She had, of course, hid her feeling and been hospitable toward the other woman as was proper. But it was the same feeling Amanda had every time she thought of Spock's betrothed, T'Pring; like there was some duplicity of character that was very well hidden.

The Healer seemed to realize she was looking at him. "T'Sai?" he lapsed into Vulcan that quickly.

"No, nothing. I was just wondering, that's all. You don't get out much, do you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "'Get out'?"

"Oh, I mean, I hardly ever see you leave the embassy, that's all. So do you ever get away from the embassy in your spare time?"

He loaded the correct amount of medication into the application instrument and then circled the biobed to apply it to the still untreated side of Amanda's shoulder. "To be honest, I see no reason to depart the premises more than several times a year, lady."

"I just wondered what that was about. See, I have a friend. I don't get to see her that often, because she works a lot. All she does is go to work and go home. She's been like that for years, but as she gets older it seems to just get worse. I wondered why that might be."

Sokam continued applying the medication to the back of her shoulder. "Is she human?"

"Yes, she is, as a matter of fact."

"Then I cannot attest to her reasons. A Vulcan strives to be the best in all that they do. But humans seem to need excessive amounts of recreation in order to concentrate on their professional endeavors. Have you asked your friend her reason for her lack of a social life?"

"She says the same thing every time. She isn't interested in doing anything else. But see, she used to do so much years ago! And now, she just works and that's it. I happen to think something is going on, but she won't tell us what it is. I think she's in some kind of trouble."

"Until your friend sees the need to confide in you, I fear you shall remain clueless as to her reasons for not behaving in the usual fashion for a human female."

"I guess you're right," said Amanda. She wondered why she had never tried to engage Sokam in conversation until this moment. He was a much better conversationalist than she would ever have supposed. "Maybe I'll bring her here and-"

Sarek arrived then. "My wife. You are well?"

Her mind distracted, she dropped her line of thought. "Yes, I'm fine, Sarek. Sokam's almost done."

"A few more minutes and your wife will be able to depart medical bay," Sokam said as he concentrated on his task.

##

As they left the medical bay, "Will you take tea with me in the garden, my wife?" asked Sarek.

She looked up at him and smiled, "Yes, I will."

It was a strange next couple of days. It seemed the two needed to get used to being with one another socially all over again. Sarek took the lead in doing cordial things like making Amanda's tea and bringing her meals. It was nice, but it wasn't all that they needed. By the end of the week, Amanda told Sarek, "We need to go on a vacation together or something."

His brow rose. "My wife?"

"You know, get away."

"Away from what?"

"The embassy."

He seemed to stand there in deep thought for a few seconds. He was in the embassy gardens with her, watching her water the plants she had grown herself since coming there. "Is the embassy a source of stress for you, Amanda?"

She thought about that before answering. "Not necessarily. But sometimes when you're in the same place too much, you fall into a rut and going somewhere else sometimes helps you break out of that and make new patterns. And you have to admit, we could certainly use some new patterns."

He did not see the logic in this proposal of a vacation. He was inclined to say 'no'. But he watched as she walked slowly to him, an uncertain look in her eyes, as she extended her arm in his direction. Sarek's eyes looked down at her two fingers being offered to caress his. He swallowed back a feeling of euphoria as his fingers, seemingly of their own accord, surged forward and quickly connected with hers. But the spark there was nearly dim when they touched. They had most certainly fallen out of what they had had in the past. They had become comfortable with one another again, not in the cold way that had developed, but as two friends that respected one another deeply.

He knew then what Amanda was really trying to convey. Respect was not enough to maintain their marriage. She desired more. And he knew that now he also desired more. "Yes, my wife. We will go." And there, through their joined fingers, he felt the spark beginning to alight to something brighter.

##

"Amanda, this was not what I thought you meant," he said as he looked out of the window as his brows furrowed.

She smiled wickedly. They had just transported down to a five-star ski resort. It was one of the special ones made specifically for galactic VIPs. His security men were outside the door and their luggage had been beamed directly into the resort bedroom set aside for them.

She looked past him and out of the window. It was very snowy outside! She knew she was pushing it with him but she also knew this trip was exactly what they needed. "Come on, Sarek, it's only for the next three days."

He shook his head. "I do not find the cold pleasing," he said almost forcefully. He only just stopped himself from folding his arms.

She walked away from him and to the fireplace. Using the poker on the side of the brick inlay, she began stoking the fire in the living room of their personal suite. "You sound just like an old man, you know that?"

He remembered his promise to make things up to her and relented. "If this is what you wish to do, Amanda, I can do no other than see to your happiness."

She remembered the first time he had said that to her years ago, how charmed she had been. It had been a long time since she heard those words. She found herself spontaneously jumping up and throwing her arms around him. "Thank you!"

His shock was palpable to them both. "Had I known, Amanda, that all you required for additional happiness was to abide in sub-freezing temperatures-"

But the rest of his sentence was drowned out by her truly joyful laughter. "Let's go ride a snowmobile!"

##

They had not only ridden the snowmobile, Sarek had to be rushed back inside after only a half an hour and given large quantities of hot tea. Amanda had felt so badly about it, she brought him someplace that she assured him he would love.

They traveled to the spa section of the resort and she was able to convince Sarek to remove his clothing and put on a towel. She pushed him into the general direction of the saunas and said, "Go into the men's section."

"Amanda, I am not enamored of this location as of yet, and I am now standing in a drafty hallway while scantily clad. I shall, however, give this new experience a true attempt. But please tell me ahead of time, do freezing temperatures play into this form of entertainment?"

"No!" she assured him as she clutched her own oversized towel around her. "Not at all. It's not for entertainment either, it's for relaxation and you can meditate in there. Look at it like that!"

He gave her a face that was pretty close to the expression 'sure it is' and walked away without another word. He didn't know what mischief his wife had planned for him next, but some part of him knew he might very well deserve it.

Sarek entered the steamy room and the feeling of heat hit his senses. The tips of his ears, fingers and toes, he knew, would finally have sensation returned after his earlier foray into the excessive cold. He walked into the steam and noticed there were two other males there and they were sitting as far away from one another as they possibly could while having a conversation.

He sat down on his own bench and found himself unable to help overhearing the conversation. "—so I bought her some flowers."

"What'd she do?" asked the other man.

"Oh, women love that stuff. She just threw herself at me after that."

"Are you serious?" asked the other man, openly skeptical. "She's not that type."

"How do you know?" he asked. "You haven't had any action in how long?"

"I'm not looking for just action, I'm looking for a real relationship."

"Well, while you're off looking for your real relationship, I'll be mopping up all the ladies."

"The women you attract aren't ladies."

He laughed. "That's okay. But at least my bed is never empty."

"I don't care what medical advances have been made, you can't cure everything with meds from a hypo."

"You sound like a Vulcan or something, man!" his friend ribbed him.

"If by that," intervened Sarek, "you mean he is logical and correct, then yes, your friend is quite wise."

The other two men did a double-take. Due to the darkened nature of the room, they hadn't realized the extra man in the room was a Vulcan. The self-proclaimed Cassanova stood and made ready to leave the sauna room. "Whatever man. I'm outta here." He looked patently uncomfortable as he left.

The other man that was left behind at first said nothing. Then he hesitantly said, "I'm sorry about my friend. Not all human men are that crude."

"I am quite aware of that," said Sarek.

The other male took a closer look at him from across the room. "Hey, wait a minute…are you- Are you Ambassador Sarek?" he said almost excitedly.

"In fact, I am."

"Oh, man, it's an honor to meet you! I'd shake your hand, but I know you guys don't do touching."

"I thank you for your courtesy. With whom am I speaking?"

"Manny. Well, they call me Manny, but my full name's Manuel Calavetti."

"What brings you to the resort?" asked Sarek. Usually he did not care for small talk, but he engaged in it occasionally to keep his skills sharp as an ambassador.

"I'm on vacation. I kind of overdid it with work and got burned out. So I quit my job. I had enough saved so I figured I'd come here."

"It is unwise to quit so quickly with no form of alternative employment secured," he said to the young man.

He smiled as he stood. "That's exactly what my mom said to me. But I'll figure it out. Thanks for the advice, ambassador. It's been an honor meeting you."

"And you, Mr. Calavetti," he said as he watched the low-key young man from a discreet family of royals exit the sauna room. He was uncertain as to the young man's exact title, but since he was there at the resort he knew it was definite that he was from the Calavetti's of Andromeda IV.

Sarek emerged from the sauna over an hour later, his body relaxed and his frozen extremities finally back to normal. Without thinking, he summoned Amanda to him via their bond. He realized within five seconds that it had been quite some time since he had bothered to do such a thing.

She came out of the women's section with her very long towel clutched around her. "You rang?" she smiled.

"I wished to inform you that I will shower and return to our rooms, Amanda."

"I was about to do that myself. An hour is usually more than enough for me in the sauna, but-"

He saw she didn't finish her thought. "But?" he prompted.

"I got to talking with some of the ladies in the sauna and lost track of time, that's all."

There was something there, he knew, she was not saying. So he decided to just leave it alone for the time being.

##

Once they returned to their suite, the next set of mischief put in motion by Amanda was about to be unveiled. It had been a full day and she felt the exhaustion of it, but there was no way she was going to delay this plan. Sarek turned and gave her a look of veiled surprise as their door chime sounded. "My wife?"

"I ordered a few things," she said with a casual shrug as she went to the fireplace and dialed it up to increase the temperature in the room.

"Enter," he spoke in the direction of the sealed door as his eyes remained on his wife. There was something going on here.

A Deltan male waiter appeared with a cart carrying various food and drink items. He deposited two large mugs of something Sarek was not close enough to see exactly what it was, but the aroma told him it was some form of chocolate fortified with coconut milk. His heart rate escalated. His head whipped around and he looked at Amanda with a question in his eyes. What his wife was trying to do here?

Two more plates of something were removed from the cart and left on the table. The waiter nodded courteously to them both and departed with his serving cart.

As the door to their suite closed, Sarek got closer to the table and saw there were, indeed, two steaming mugs of hot chocolate on the table. And of the two plates left behind, on one plate sat seven dark chocolate covered strawberries and on another there happened to be some form of chocolate confection he suspected contained peanut butter within. They were specially made for vegans, dairy free. He had had these before. He knew the reason his wife had ordered these things but he couldn't figure out why.

He felt Amanda standing just behind him as her voice intruded on his thoughts. "Well, Sarek? Are you thirsty for something hot in this cold environment?"

He looked back at his wife, askance, a little shocked. "The few times in the past that I consumed any form of chocolate product, Amanda, I-" He shook his head, even as he looked back down at the items beckoning him to partake. He was actively fighting his inner inclination, because his hand was practically reaching out on its own to pick up and drink the steaming mug of chocolate. He was still holding onto his acute want to taste the items on the table, but just barely. "-I became uncontrollable in my lust. My actions were unseemly and I do not understand how-"

His mouth was open and she used that opportunity to pick up one of the small chocolate covered pieces of peanut butter and pop it into his mouth. "We can discuss that, all right?" she said casually as if they were speaking about a possible shopping trip.

As soon as the item hit his tongue, he found himself chewing almost against his will. His eyes closed and he was lost in the flavor and taste as the chocolate warmed in his mouth and began to spread over his taste buds. And the taste of the peanut butter along with it… He found himself halfway sighing at the goodness of it. She had somehow maneuvered him into sitting down in a plush chair not too far from the table.

He swallowed nervously as his attention was split between the still-standing woman at his side and the table covered with what he saw as contraband. He found himself trying to hang onto his senses. "I shall attempt to show restraint and-"

She reached over, picked up and bit off half of a chocolate covered strawberry and leaned over him, slowly put the rest into his mouth.

He chewed as his eyes held hers. Sarek saw daring there, in the depths of her gaze. He swallowed as he could feel his heart rate rising. "This is not advisable, my wife," he warned.

"I think it is," she said as she next handed him the steaming cup of hot chocolate. "It's a cold environment. I was only thinking of your health," she said a little too coyly with that old twinkle back in her eye, again.

His wife's mischievous side was in full force and he never knew exactly what to do when she was in this mood. She obviously wanted something from him.

He took the cup from her, almost without thinking, and found himself staring at her over the rim of it as he took one tentative sip. The hot chocolate, he groaned inwardly, was laced with cinnamon! He reached over put it down quickly, even as he was already starting to feel the beginning effects of the little bit of chocolate he had already consumed. "My wife, we are supposed to be trying to repair things between us." He had to at least try and salvage the true reason they were there!

"How do you think you do that?" she asked as she walked even further into his space and settled herself into his lap. "We've talked a couple of times over the past few days, spent a lot of time together."

"Yes, that is the logical way to begin to repair our relationship," he said as he registered the imprint of her body in contact with his. It was a delightful sensation, one he was having difficulty ignoring.

"It's not the only way to repair it," she said almost softly as she turned and lifted another tidbit of chocolate covered peanut butter. Turning back toward him, she leaned into him even more, her face almost in his, as she took one seductive bite from it and then placed the rest into his mouth.

As the chocolate hit his tongue, he found himself suckling the remainder of it from his wife's finger. "This is ill advised," he said as he found himself breathing heavily, more than aware of her warm curves pressed against him. "You obviously do not remember the effects of the last time we engaged in a chocolate binge."

"Oh, I remember," she said with a large grin. "I remember it well."

He wondered if they were sharing memories of the same event, but his mind was too distracted by his enjoyment of the latest piece of chocolate in his mouth and his wife's firm backside planted - "You were bruised in many places afterward," he reminded her.

There was a tiny silence at first, as Amanda leaned in close to him, one finger teasing the tip of his ear. "It was wonderful," she whispered.

He said not another word as his eyes held hers. Without looking away from her, he picked up the cinnamon laced hot chocolate, not wanting to stop, as he sipped and enjoyed it a little too much.

She stood up and began to walk away then. "I'll be back."

He didn't pause to wonder where she was going, for the chocolate fascination had him in its grip and he found himself drinking almost without pause. It was the best hot chocolate he had had in years… it was the only hot chocolate he had had in years.

He had stopped partaking of chocolate because it brought out his uninhibited side a little too much. He had also written a very in-depth cautionary piece for all Vulcans who had to journey on Earth about the pitfalls of chocolate intake for Vulcans and the almost unavoidable indiscretions that had occurred while under its influence. He could recall on both hands a number of bondings that had taken place under the influence of chocolate. And several of those marriages had been with non-Vulcans and he had been called as the ambassador to handle some of the sticky galactic ramifications of them.

Now, here he sat, beginning to feel the effects of a mug full of hot chocolate, chocolate covered peanut butter and chocolate covered strawberries. He felt like one of Earth's North American prohibition-era politicians at a speakeasy. So long as the Deltan waiter did not return, however, he saw no opportunity for any extra parties to their most likely activities. He realized then he had made a joke in his mind. He almost giggled.

But still, he tried to fight the effects.

But he turned and saw the rest of the chocolate products. He looked down with almost regret as he saw that his cup was already drained. Picking up a fork, he speared another strawberry. He promised himself he would only partake of one more.

A/N - Sorry to leave you here! There's more for these two to take care of and deal with. Those things will be addressed in the next (which also happens to be the last) chapter.