Author's Note: Thanks to Aphrodite and TeaOli who were my editorial eyes for this chapter. It's slowly but surely unfolding...I promise, I am working diligently folks. But its hard re-telling a story when the ending is so clearly obvious! Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to read and review, I do appreciate it.

Sarek and Amanda

Chapter 15

"Damn."

Amanda was leaning forward into her vanity mirror, with one eye squinted closed, the other wide open. Her trembling hand was a physical reminder of her frustration. The visual evidence reflected in the mirror and on her face; the eyeliner she'd been working for the past 10 minutes to get right streaked across her eyebrow in a black smudge.

Sighing, she sat back. Makeup was not her friend.

She'd been going for a more dramatic look, but after nearly pulling out her lashes with the curler, and stabbing herself in the eye with the eye shadow brush and now- failing to properly apply the liner, she gave up. Making an executive decision, Amanda reached for her cleanser, removed the evidence of her failed efforts and simply went about her normal routine.

Five minutes later, with a dash of lip gloss and light dusting of eye shadow, she was done.

Normally, these things didn't take long. But tonight was different. She would be going to dinner with important company.

The idea of it still made her want to pinch herself, but she knew it was all too real. In less than- she checked the antique clock on the wall—twenty minutes, she would be having dinner with Sarek of Vulcan.

With makeup done, Amanda walked back into her room from her bathroom. She stopped briefly at the bed to slip on her fitted black pencil skirt that flared out in the back. It was paired with a sleeve-less burgundy lace, high-necked top. The look was as modern as it was classic.

With a final glance in the mirror at her face and hair, Amanda walked out the bedroom, grabbed her clutch and pass-keys from the living room table, and headed out the apartment and to the waiting elevator that would carry her to her waiting flitter, and then, to the waiting ambassador.

.

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He had finished with an early meditation session to prepare himself for the evening. That was followed by an extensive visit with the fresher system, and now Sarek stood at the foot of the massive carved wardrobe looking for proper attire.

Anxiety was not an emotion he was accustomed to feeling. He was seldom anxious. However, he did not know quite what to expect from the evening. It was disconcerting to be so unprepared. He had researched the concept to the best of his ability, but aside from planning references, he could find no clear instruction for conduct. There seemed to be several interpretations of the word.

Vulcans did not "date." And his mate had been chosen for him. Other relationships had been…unconventional.

Now, he was not quite certain what he would do for the occasion. His eyes glanced over the row of heavy, dark robes—those he usually wore to meetings with heads of state or for ceremonial purposes. Too elaborate. Next, he went to the section of suits- organized by style, cut, fit and fashion. Those were usually worn in the office or for business meetings- maybe. He flipped a switch and the wardrobe rotated to reveal rows of loose pants and shirts— far too casual.

He made his selection, dressed quickly, and was on his way. Tonight he planned to study the doctor up close and gain more insight into how her mind worked. He would not do anything rash. And, the evening should provide him additional information to make an informed decision, if it came to that, on his own future.

II

Amanda smiled when she pulled up to the restaurant. The Bayview Fiesta was obviously a hit with the Vulcans.

She got out and headed toward the door. The restaurant backed up directly onto the water and against the blackness of the bay it glowed in the night. Soft lights had been placed around the exterior of the building. She peeped inside and saw it was dark. Amada reached for the handle but the door opened for her. A waiter appeared.

"Are you Ms. Grayson?" he asked formally. She blinked.

"Yes…"

"Right this way ma'm. He held the door for her as she entered, then began leading her toward the back of the restaurant.

She'd never been here at night, and as they maneuvered between empty table after empty table she wondered where the rest of the guests were.

"The restaurant has been booked for the evening." Her escort responded to her question as they finally reached the kitchen and walked through it to an outside area Amanda didn't even know existed.

The portico was bare, save for a single table. The cabana was decorated in the same soft lights she'd observed from the outside, casting the deck in a warm glow. In a corner, a brick fire pit warmed the area.

Amanda gasped. It was just that gorgeous. Her guide had disappeared and Amanda started walking to the table when she heard his voice call her name.

"Dr. Grayson."

Turning to the rear of the deck she saw the tall figure emerge from the shadows. Why does he always do that? She mused, but the thought quickly passed as Sarek walked up to her. She couldn't help but cast an appreciative eye over him.

The Ambassador was in a coppery-brown suit that was made out of a fabric that looked almost like silk. It was tailored to as close a fit to perfect as Amanda had ever seen, accentuating his lean physique while not being too tight.

He looked delicious. She blinked. Where had that thought come from?

"I thought I told you to call me Amanda." She chided as she walked over to him. "You look stiff, Ambassador."

She saw his shoulders relax infinitesimally as he moved to guide her to the table. Soon, she was seated as he took the place across from her.

And then, the usual moment of awkward silence descended.

Amanda looked down, around and everywhere but at Sarek as she fiddled with her napkin, searching for a way to begin conversation.

She could feel his intense gaze upon her face- he was studying her as she tried to find something to say.

"The entire restaurant?" came from her lips and she mentally kicked herself.

"I do not understand your statement. Elaborate, please." She looked at him, and for the first time, actually saw an expression- his head tipped to the side, and his normally sharp features looked, relaxed, almost…curious.

"I mean, how did you book the entire restaurant? There's no one here but us, a waiter, and two cooks." She looked around. "It's gorgeous, by the way."

"Being an Ambassador does have its privileges."

"So I see. Impressive, Ambassador." She teased gently, relaxing a bit as a gently breeze filtered over to them. It felt good—not to chilly, and the fire certainly kept them warm.

"So, may I ask how you became an Ambassador?"

"You may."

She laughed. How literal.

"I mean, how did you become an ambassador? Has this always been your primary occupation?"

She looked at his face as he weighed her words before speaking. It was something she had already decided she liked- the way his brow would furrow just slightly- the steepled fingers that allowed her to look at his hands- long fingers, meticulously manicured fingernails. They were strong hands, but elegant in their movements. As she waited for his reply, she took the time to watch his hands.

.

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Sarek weighed his options for a reply to her question. He did not want to tell her the entire truth- for it was something he did not normally discuss. However, it was a logical question- and one he should be able to provide a suitable answer to.

"I was appointed by the Vulcan High Command six years ago to this post. Silek was already here, and it was decided that I would be an appropriate replacement for the retiring Ambassador because of my relationship with my brother. Previously I was an astrophysicist."

He watched as Amanda leaned into the table, her eyes bright- he could practically see the wheels in her mind turning.

"Wait—you went from an astrophysicist…to an ambassador. Excuse me for stating the obvious, but that seems a bit of a stretch."

He quickly wracked his brain to find a logical reason to explain the gap. If she was anything, it was astute. There was only so much she could know. Only so much he could tell. And very little he was willing to share.

"Although my chosen profession was astrophysics, several of males of my lineage have served in various diplomatic capacities. I did possess a basic understanding of the position, and was called upon to work directly with Silek- who has chosen the path of diplomacy for his own profession. Since I have been stationed on Earth, it has become a great intellectual stimulus. I have found the work engaging, as it requires one to navigate and cultivate multiple options."

"Sort of like a puzzle- you enjoy the challenge."

He raised an eyebrow at her observation.

"I…enjoy challenges," he responded looking directly at her and, in the flickering shadows of the firelight, he saw her eyes blink slowly, even as she met his gaze.

It was not a lie. And he astounded himself with the accuracy of the statement.

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I enjoy challenges.

Amanda reached for her water glass and brought the cool liquid to her lips hiding the sly smile that had begun to spread across her face and giving her something to temporarily divert her attention from the intensity of his stare.

She got the feeling that statement was as dichotomous as the male having made it.

Still waters, it seemed, ran very, very deep.

When he'd asked the same question of her, she answered with the same kind of ambiguity he'd given in his. It felt as if they were dancing around each other; both unsure of how far they could press the other.

Gradually, their conversation became more fluid and engaging as it turned from the personal to the professional. She listened as he began to describe the evolution of the study on Vulcan, and its many underlying principles. As he talked, she could sense that it was something he found truly engaging. Perhaps it was from the relative ease the words flowed from his tongue, having been practiced and perfected through years of study and observation. It may have even been the relaxed jaw or the slight movements of his hands. Or the way his head tilted to the side- but she felt, rather than saw, his and interest.

He was launching into particularly complex treatise on the validity of the science when she found that, she too, could also contribute.

"In terms of Earth history, the study of astrophysics literally began with Aristarchus of Samos and his Heliocentic theory- Earth orbits the sun, not the other way around.

While it was blasphemy at the time, that same view was actually shared and repeated and perpetrated by corroborating cultures across the world. The Maya of Mesoamerica, the Nubians of Khemet- all worshipped the sun as central to the development of human culture. It is this sun worship that eventually led to the rise of organized religion and from that cultural order. From an anthropological point of view- the study of astrophysics is actually the beginning of Earth civilization- its cradle theory."

He raised an eyebrow, impressed at her ability to relate to the subject.

"Indeed. Vulcan experienced a similar evolution."

She smiled and settled back in her chair. Their conversation paused as the waiter returned with their entrées. She was surprised as the platters were set before them and Sarek explained, "I took the liberty of ordering before your arrival."

Normally, she would have been put out, but it was a gesture made in kindness, and she took it as such.

"Thank you Sarek."

"Thanks are not required. As you were saying?"

"Well, I was just saying that most humanoid cultures seem to have similar stories. It is interesting to me how cultures evolve."

She noted the way he meticulously speared an asparagus stalk and raised it to his lips, chewing quietly.

A moment passed before he spoke again.

"I have read your work. You seem to take a great interest in anthropological studies. I am especially curious as to your insight into Vulcan. In your first published work. You postulated a correlation between societies built on logic, and those built on emotion. I am most curious about how you decided to broach that particular subject."

He did not break from his meticulous way of eating, but Amanda felt herself becoming defensive. That had been her doctoral thesis. The one she'd spent four years working on. When it had come out, it had had drawn both praise and controversy. The Vulcan High Command had remained largely mute on the subject, but she knew through word of mouth, she'd managed to greatly displease them.

Still, she shook off the thought as she began to explain the basis of her study.

"Well, I had started by looking strictly at cultural evolution on Earth. Most societies begin as responses to physical stimuli. Emotions are innate and therefore came before logic. Take an infant for example—before they are able to communicate verbally, they speak through a display of emotions. Starting there, I began to look at other humanoid cultures, and found similarities with the same kinds of development in others. When I got to Vulcans, I read about the history, and learned that at one point Vulcan society was emotionally driven. In short, your emotions, Sarek, were the prime driver in Vulcan evolution just as much as they are in other humanoid cultures."

She stopped speaking long enough to spear a red pepper and pop it into her mouth. It was delicious, and she savored the taste. But when she looked up again, Sarek had stopped eating and was now staring at her intently. His face had lost the relaxation she'd noted earlier and it felt like the entire area had dropped a degree or two.

"While it is true that our people were at one time emotionally driven, such feelings have been conquered as we moved toward becoming a wholly logical society. The five thousand years since have proved an uninterrupted period of peace on Vulcan. There is equality and very little violence among our people. Humans however, still operate in a relatively primitive state."

This time she bristled at his words.

"Primitive, Ambassador? Humans are more accepting of their basic natures, perhaps. Shall we compare? In terms of cultural and technological achievement on Vulcan, the planet experienced the greatest expansion of both prior to the age of Surak. If you were to draw a definitive line between the two periods, the rate of growth has actually slowed, whereas on Earth, with human culture, the rate of similar progress has been on an inclining scale."

Amanda had pushed back in her chair, and folded her arms across her chest, looking hard at him as she spoke. She silently dared him to come back with a retort. Any romantic feelings she may have had toward him quickly faded away, and now she was positively buzzing with tension and the challenge his words brought.

Sarek's eyes narrowed minutely and he leaned in ever so slightly, bringing his hands to the table and interlacing them together as he centered his gaze on her face.

"Vulcans are also near the end of their evolutionary development, whereas Humans remain quite far behind- both developmentally and intellectually."

.

.

He had challenged her. And she had responded in kind. And yet the outcome was not what he had expected, or wanted.

Sarek knew instantly the words had left his lips that they were a mistake. He watched as something he could not identify came across her face. The next thing he knew, she was rising from the table and he rose too as she spoke—her words terse and clipped.

"I had thought your opinion of my species had been improved, Ambassador. I see now that I was wrong. If you will excuse me…."

With that she began walking down the portico and toward the lot. He could only stare at her retreating back as she faded into the night. He heard the faint whirr of the flitter engine as it started up, and saw the shadow of the vehicle as it rose from the ground, and sped off into the night, leaving him alone on the portico.

III

It was past 2300 hours when he finally arrived back to the embassy. The hour was late, and there would be few to meet him upon his return. It was well. He did not want to discuss anything.

He made his way back into the great hall of the embassy and began walking down the long corridor to the living suites.

The more he pondered on the evening, the greater his agitation grew.

She was an arrogant, insolent human female. He chastised himself for his lapse of logic.

It would clearly be impossible to hold a logical conversation with an emotional human. Their species was not compatible.

She had taken offense to where none was given. Such a mindset would not be welcomed nor tolerated should she ever come to Vulcan—

He stopped mid-pace as a light at the far end of the hall came on.

"Sarek."

He placed his hands behind his back.

"Silek. Sa'taan. I was on my way to my quarters."

"Indeed, osu," Sa'taan and Silek walked toward him until all three males were aside one another.

"How was your evening, sa-kai?" Silek tilted his head curiously.

Sarek did not feel inclined to respond. Instead, Sa'taan, who had been silent and watching him, spoke up.

"I take it your meeting with Dr. Grayson did not go well."

A flicker of surprise ghosted across Sarek's face. It was only a moment, but both Sa'taan and Silek had seen.

"I overheard your invitation during Dr. Grayson's last sparring lesson."

"It is no matter. There will certainly be no more. She is human. I am Vulcan. That is the end of it."

With that, he moved to the side and continued walking until he had disappeared into the set of sliding doors that led to the living suites.

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"That arrogant son of a…Vulcan!"

Amanda walked into her apartment and immediately kicked off her shoes, dropped her coat on the floor and headed straight to her kitchen. She was angry, and hungry- having only eaten a single red pepper for dinner. Muttering to herself, she removed a loaf of sourdough bread, a tomato, pepper jack cheese, salami and a garlic clove. She slammed the door shut.

"I don't know why I even bothered to waste my night." She reached for a knife from the utensil draw. Slam.

"I swear, what was the point of inviting me to dinner only to try to make me mad?" Another slam.

Damn arrogant Vulcan ass! This time she slammed the plate so hard on the counter as she set it down the sound of cracking glass made her look down. Crap. She had managed to chip it.

With a sigh, Amanda set about cutting up her tomato and garlic, mentally going over where and how the evening had went wrong.

Yes, it was true, Humans were still quite young on their evolutionary scale, but they were far from primitive! And he knew that. He'd been testing her. Yet again. Well, if he thought for one minute she'd back down…

The knife slipped, cutting her finger instead of the plump tomato.

"Owww!"

Amanda jerked her hand back from the counter, quickly sticking her finger in her mouth as she sought her mini derma kit.

What had she been thinking? Attempting to go out on a date with a Vulcan- hell, was it even a date? The whole thing was just so confusing…

She didn't understand him. She'd seen so many different sides of Sarek- the strategist. The fighter, the kinder, gentler side. The asshole.

Finger repaired, she wandered back into the kitchen and reached for a wine glass, and then for the bottle of Perrier Jouet she kept for emergencies. This was most definitely an emergency.

Sandwich and wine in hand, she finally straggled back to the living room and settled on her couch. The view of San Francisco below her usually brought her into a better mood. Now though, she reached over and drew the curtains, blocking out the lights.

Of all the men she'd ever dated…this was the only one that made her want to scream at the top of her lungs in anger and jump him at the same time.

Suddenly she sat up, so shocked at the ramblings in her own mind the wine glass slipped from her fingers and spilled onto the couch.

Had she just admitted that?

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Silek returned to his own quarters. He tried to enter as quietly as possible, but as he began to disrobe he saw through the darkness in the room, that T'Nerual was stirring in their bed. He stopped a moment to watch as she turned toward him and the sheet fell from her body, revealing bare skin and soft, full breasts to him. His sex stirred, and he took a moment to admire her. He was well aware he was viewed by many as the weaker brother- the more emotional of the two of them. He slid into bed and turned toward his wife, allowing her to slide close to, and then on top of, him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, inhaling the scent of her hair.

She had saved him. He owed her his life, and his sanity. He began to nuzzle her face with his own, as he felt her back arch and then she began to make them one.

As she moved atop him, he held her tightly, burrowing his face in the waves of her hair.

No…he would not trade the world to be Sarek right now.

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Sa'taan sat in front of his firepot, meditating. He did not need to sleep this evening. Instead, he focused his mind on the situation at hand. Sarek needed a mate. It was simple as that. The young sa'te'kru would need a female who would challenge him. One who could temper his more violent emotions, and incite his more passionate ones.

That female just happened to come in the form of a human woman. She challenged him. She angered him. She incited him. She inflamed him. She made him feel. Sarek had not yet learned to channel his feelings, he merely disguised them. No matter.

Sa'taan had seen what the future held. He had no doubt it was to be. He would continue to work to ensure that what must be would come to pass. It was simply a matter of time. Even now, as they fought, they drew closer to each other. And he was content in that.

He would employ the aid of T'Nerual in the morning and tomorrow he would once again see Dr. Grayson. This gap must be bridged.

With that, he began the familiar mantra's of old, content to meditate the night away.