San Francisco, CA, USA

The arrival of the ambassador was always a grand ordeal at Starfleet Academy. Even though Sarek had requested a very small welcoming committee, there were still eight admirals and several cadets to greet him in the shuttle bay. So many found it to be a great honor to receive the ambassador, and wished to be participants in the event, even if only catching a glimpse of the Vulcan leader. He had travelled to Earth enough times to be used to the customs, though, and did not object to the attention he received. Normally, he journeyed with a few counterparts from his planet; today, however, he travelled alone. Everyone was aware as to the reason, and no inquiry was made about it.

Lauren had been sent to San Francisco to await her uncle, as it was deemed the most appropriate and secure place for him to retrieve her. He had only been thinking about his niece's well-being when he wanted his entrance to remain discreet. It might have benefitted her.

Following the parade of salutations and questions about the establishment of Vulcan II, Sarek was led across the campus to one of the main buildings. He was informed that Lauren was awaiting his arrival in the Andromeda Star-Room, and was being looked after by a trusted cadet.

Beside him was Admiral Jeremy Pattor, while the remainder of the welcoming committee walked a few steps behind. As they continued, many students of the academy recognized the ambassador and talked excitedly with one another, though not daring to disrupt him on the way to his destination. Sarek paid no mind to these goings on.

As they walked, he inquired, "Has her manner of behavior been satisfactory?" As her guardian, he realized it was now his duty to make sure she was respectful of those around her.

Pattor gave a small smile. "Miss Grayson-Reed has been a wonderful guest the past couple of weeks, although she's been rather quiet."

That did not surprise Sarek at all. As a young girl, Lauren had been quite observant, choosing to take in her surroundings with wide, open eyes, and not interrupting her experiences with words. He had appreciated this quality about her, though had yet to voice it aloud. The first time he had ever visited Jonathan's family on Earth, he remembered how five-year-old Lauren had first regarded him. Her little face was not shocked or confused by the being before her, as most in their youth tended to be when first meeting a Vulcan. Almost always, it had to do with the shape of the ears. But this child's reaction was not the same. This was very different. Something about the way she tilted her head when she looked at him…really looked. There was a curiosity in her. Pure curiosity. It was mildly humorous when Amanda finally introduced Sarek as her uncle: without hesitation, she had smiled and thrown her small arms around him in a typical, human embrace. His eyebrows had gone up a little, not expecting this little human to accept him so readily.

But the child's mother had only laughed. You're her uncle, so of course she likes you!

Likes you. Such a general human terminology for the myriad of emotions it could signify. While the rest of the family talked amongst themselves, Lauren simply watched her uncle, taking in every detail, every subtle nuance of his behavior, and made mental notes to herself. She liked to watch; she liked to listen. It was how she preferred to learn about others, especially those from a planet she had never been to. What use were words at times like these? The same actions would occur with Spock when he, too, made trips to Earth with his parents, though there would be more interaction between the two. She was incredibly accepting of her newfound relatives. Sarah explained later that this was representative of Lauren's views towards people. Even on Earth, she cared not how much a person differed from her physically. She looked beyond those variations and discovered what lay beneath. Her parents claimed she was the strong one for harboring this ability at her age…

Had the memory really only lasted for a few seconds? It seemed like half an hour. Pattor had still been speaking as they walked, though many of the words, admittedly, had not registered. Very undignified, he thought to himself, and continued speaking with his current companion. Then, at a break in the conversation, Sarek asked, "How affected by the death of her parents does she appear to be?"

Pattor paused in his step, choosing his words carefully, but being honest. "I know that she cried a lot after it happened, and I'm pretty sure it still occurs before she goes to bed at night. It's clear that she's still coping, but she's been putting on a brave face. That's remarkable for someone as young as her."

He gave a short nod. "That sounds characteristic of her."

The admiral turned to him, reverence shimmering in his brown eyes. "I just want to say that you're doing for her is admirable, ambassador. Many of us here knew the Graysons, and they were some of the best people this universe could have asked for. The fact that they're gone…even some of us are still trying to fathom it. And at fourteen, Lauren has to suffer through losing both her parents at the same time. That's not fair for any child, no matter what race. She has no one left to look after her, and not many people are willing to do what you've agreed to." He held out his hand. "You have gained my undying respect for this."

Familiar with Earth norms, Sarek accepted the hand and shook it gently. "Your words are appreciated, Admiral, and my gratitude is great. Many thanks for the care you and the others have given my niece."

Pattor nodded, obliged, and the group continued down the long, busy hallway, soon coming upon the Andromeda Star-Room.