Amanda looked hard at herself in the mirror and tried to reassure herself that it wasn't going to be that bad. It was her own fault, really. She hadn't remembered how different Vulcan dress was from what people wore on Earth. Especially to formal occasions. She loved the dress, of course. It was beautiful and hung very well on her body - a loose fitting bodice with high collar, belted at the waist, with a long, flowing skirt of slightly matte fabric. The sleeves were long, passing over her wrists, and tight-fitting. It was a pale shade of muted green. It was just...too much. Possibly. Amanda sighed and turned away from the mirror. At least her hair was in Terran style. Amanda didn't trust herself to be able to create a hairdo confection like the masterpiece T'Iva had done for her on the occasion of T'Rea's wedding.
"You are confusing me." Sarek said, giving her an odd look.
Amanda waved a hand at him, looking around for her back and trying to repress her anxious thoughts. "It doesn't matter. I'm just...I feel like I look too Vulcan."
She could tell that this only made Sarek's puzzlement grow. "Why should you view this negatively?" He asked. She glanced over at him. He was himself wearing traditional Vulcan garb, suitable for a formal occasion. Robes of dark gray, with a geometric pattern picked out in a slightly darker shade on the front. The only suggestion of color was a slate-blue edge to the sleeves and collar. Amanda sighed. He looked very handsome, if a little striking, but people would expect a Vulcan ambassador to look Vulcan. He was supposed to look alien.
"It's not a negative thing," Amanda said, scooping up her small bag and now looking around for her coat. "But I'm going to stand out."
Sarek quirked an eyebrow at her. He'd been ready for at least ten minutes, and was now just lounging around by the door waiting for her. Those thick robes wouldn't require a jacket, either, but Amanda's dress was considerably lighter. "I doubt that you shall 'stand out' as much as I will."
Amanda gave him an exasperated smile, finally finding her coat and carefully putting on, so as not to disarrange her controversial dress. It too was Vulcan make, as she hadn't brought any cold-weather clothing with her from Earth to a desert planet. "I bet you anything that a Human woman in Vulcan dress is going to attract more attention than just a regular old Vulcan."
"I am neither regular nor old," Sarek said dryly. "But we shall see. Are you sufficiently prepared? We are going to arrive late."
"We will not," Amanda said, taking his arm and tugging him towards the door. "Getting there five minutes past the stated time does not count as 'late' on Earth."
The morning outside was brilliant and cold, a rare day of sunshine for San Francisco in February. Amanda shivered slightly, even in the warmth of her thick Vulcan coat. She supposed that the cold was only shocking to her as she had been away from it for so long. No proper born and raised Oregon girl should be shivering in such relatively mild weather. Sarek glanced at her, and Amanda wished that Vulcan decorum would have allowed him to put his arm around her. His extra heat would have been welcome.
Thankfully, it wasn't long until their taxi arrived to bear them to the venue of George and Winona's wedding. It was to be at the Fairmont Hotel, which had stood in San Francisco for nearly 330 years. It had been opened in 1907, and preserved relatively accurately in the decorative style of its origin. Amanda was excited to get there, but for two reasons, the greater of the two being that she was excited for the ceremony. She also wanted to show Sarek the grand old building, a piece of the Terran past that was nothing if it wasn't Human. She did morosely wonder, however, how much of a stranger she would look among that antiquated decor. What sort of thing am I going to turn out to be? Amanda wondered as she watched the buildings of San Francisco speed by. I'll probably start speaking Standard with a Vulkahnsu accent before long. It's hard not to be aware of how unorthodox we are. Sarek stirred next to her, dark eyes flicking to her face.
I have never cared whether we are unorthodox or not.
Amanda smiled and rested her hand on his forearm. I know.
Their trip wasn't long, and as Amanda had predicted, they were barely five minutes late. She nearly tugged Sarek out of the hovercar, excited to get inside and to the ceremony. Sarek moved as ever with his usual dignity, but Amanda was sure that he was exaggerating it just to mess with her. The antique white building that was the Fairmont Hotel before them was a strange sight among the modern edifices all around it. Amanda stood gazing at it for a moment before they made their way inside - it was large and grand, its walls studded with many windows. The entrance was sheltered by an impressive archway of the same white material, atop which was a balcony lined with flags. Amanda grinned. She knew that in the building's early days, those flags had represented the different countries of Earth. Now they showed the colors of the Federation and all its worlds.
The interior of the building was just as impressive as the outside. It reminded Amanda a bit of Skon's mansion. All the decoration was in white and gold, with pillars of yellow marble with brown and gold striations. The floor was also shining cream marble, and Amanda's heels made reverberating clicks as she walked across it. Sarek was looking around with interest that Amanda was sure was apparent to others beside herself. She grinned at him, remembering Selek and his boundless interest in the peculiarities of Earth. Amanda was also surprised at how well the original furnishings of the building had been restored, although she assumed that many of them had been replaced by copies. No caretaker in their sane mind would allow visitors to actually use the original furniture. The place was suitably decorated for a wedding, as well. Flowers of white, cream, and a lovely dusty plum were arranged becomingly all over the lobby.
"Amanda," Amanda turned to see Sarek watching her patiently. Apparently she had been so absorbed in admiring the room that she'd completely failed to notice the hotel attendant waiting to show them through to the wedding. Amanda grinned sheepishly and hurried over to Sarek and they went through a curtained doorway to the ballroom where the ceremony was to take place.
The room was long and brilliant, with high white ceilings decorated with gold in nineteenth century fashion. Large windows, partially covered with long gold curtains, ran down one wall. Arranged on either side of the aisle were rows of white chairs, each draped with an elegant cream colored bow. Amanda couldn't help but be impressed with Winona and George - they had arranged all this in two months? The place was already mostly full of happy, chatting Humans, although Amanda spotted one or two guests who were of other races. For the most part, these individuals looked bemused. Once again, Amanda found herself staring for too long. The put-upon usher had to ask her several times whether they were groom or bride's side. "Oh! Uh, groom, thanks." Amanda said, blinking. The usher directed them to seats on what Amanda assumed was George's side of the room.
"This," Sarek said, looking around with a slight crease between his brows, "is very strange."
"You shouldn't say something like that, Master Ambassador." Amanda said, taking up the little white program and looking at it with interest.
"Amanda," Sarek said, and she looked up.
"What?"
Sarek looked somewhat surly. "I am of course somewhat familiar with the subject of Human wedding ceremonies," He began.
"Only to be expected from the Ambassador to Earth," Amanda said brightly. Sarek gave her a look that was definitely not a glower.
"Correct," he continued. "But...I require further explanation."
"Oh, right," Amanda said, trying to hide her smile. "Well, it's not all that complicated...not like a Vulcan wedding, anyway." She launched into an explanation while the seats filled up around them. Sarek listened as though he were at a lecture, occasionally cutting in to ask her questions. She was about to explain about the vows when strains of music reached them from the back of the hall. Amanda grinned and squeezed Sarek's arm. "It's about to start," She said.
"There is a child," Sarek said in a low voice only a few moments later. Sure enough, there was a little blonde-headed flower girl (who Amanda thought must be either George or Winona's baby cousin, with that blonde hair) walking awkwardly down the aisle, thrusting fistfuls of flower petals into the air, wearing a determined expression. "Why is she strewing plant matter on the ground?"
Amanda elbowed Sarek in the ribs, which earned her a blip of offended surprise from him. "Hush," She said, and Sarek retreated into slightly wounded silence. The little flower girl was soon followed by members of the wedding party. Almost all of George's groomsmen were in Starfleet dress uniform, and each of Winona's bridesmaids were in pale-red violet dresses that were not at all horrible. Amanda sat up a little straighter in her seat and turned to look for George at the front of the room. He was standing on the small raised dais, himself decked out in Starfleet's impressive dress uniform, beside a man that Amanda assumed must have been the officiating officer.
Soon enough the wedding party had all proceeded down the aisle and taken their places at the front of the room, on either side of the dais. Amanda noted that George looked distinctly nervous, but proud at the same time. It was clear to her, though, that he couldn't have been happier. She and Sarek were seated close enough to the front for George to be able to see her too. When their eyes met, Amanda saw him wink - a subtle enough gesture so that only she could see it. I do love George, Amanda thought, smiling. She could feel a slight reaction from Sarek at that, but it was one of pleasure and affection. She placed her hand on his leg, feeling a surge of affection herself, but was almost immediately distracted by the commencement of that most familiar wedding melody, Mendelssohn's Wedding March. That piece is even older than this building, Amanda thought, feeling a curious pride in Humanity. It was of course immediately replaced by pride in Winona when Amanda caught sight of her.
Winona had never looked lovelier - her dress was an elegantly sweet strapless design, off-white cream in color and with a long full skirt. Her golden hair was swept back in a style that showed off its slight wave. There were pale purple flowers in it that perfectly complimented her hazel eyes. She looked like a gentle golden goddess, all sweetness, the familiar smile on her face shining. Amanda glanced back at George at the altar - there were definitely tears in his eyes.
Amanda couldn't help it, she cried herself at the culmination of the ceremony. George and Winona's kiss was so exuberant, Winona throwing her arms around George's neck and smiling, as if they were the only two people in the room. Amanda dug around in her bag, trying to find a tissue or a handkerchief and to stop herself from snuffling, when she realized Sarek was looking at her with alarm. Why are you crying? There was a definite hint of panic in the question that came to her across the bond.
Amanda, finally having managed to locate a tissue, smacked him gently with the back of her hand and said in a hushed whisper, "I'm crying because I'm happy, stupid." He had no time to protest, though, because everyone was suddenly on their feet, applauding the couple that stood grinning bashfully, finally married. Amanda joined them, clapping as hard as she could and standing on her tippy toes to get a better look at them. George said something in Winona's ear that made her laugh. Arm in arm, they descended from the dais and went down the aisle amidst a storm of applause and cheering that almost completely drowned out the stalwart musicians.
There was a great shuffling to get out of seats and into the aisle when the couple had left the room. Amanda sighed happily, blotting the remains of her tears out of her eyes and returning the tissue to her bag. She felt Sarek's touch on her upper arm and turned around to look at him. "I don't understand," He said, his anxiety coming through the bond even if it didn't show in his face or tone, "Weeping is a sign of unhappiness, isn't it?"
Amanda shook her head. "Not always. Humans cry when they..." She hesitated. To Sarek, this was going to sound a little outrageous. "Humans cry when they experience overwhelming emotion. Happiness, sadness, rage, sometimes." Like she had predicted, Sarek looked uncomfortable.
"Come on," Amanda said, "Let's go to the reception. It will be nice." She steered Sarek out of the large room, following the tide of people to the reception hall. This room, too, was beautiful and old, decorated in outdated elegance. There were round tables ranged around on the polished wood floor, each with its own bunch of flowers like the ones Amanda had seen in the lobby. Buffet tables held promises of lunch, and there was a large space open for dancing. Amanda looked longingly at the dance floor - she'd always enjoyed dancing, but it wasn't really going to be an option, unless George asked her to. Sarek, oblivious to this thought, was looking around with polite interest.
"This is not dissimilar to a Vulcan ceremony." He said vaguely. "Although I suppose the bride and groom are not currently consummating their marriage."
Amanda felt herself blush. "No, they're here." She said, gesturing to a huge pack of people surrounding George and Winona. "Human weddings don't work that way, remember?"
Sarek glanced at her. "Yes, I know." There was something odd in his tone, but Amanda couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Amanda brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes that had managed to escape her braid - she was no T'Iva even at Terran hairstyles - and looked over at the throng of people again. There was no way she and Sarek were going to make it through to see George and Winona just then. She would have to wait until they were free of so many well-wishers.
"Oh, you must be George's friend Amanda!" Amanda turned to locate the source of the address, and found herself looking at one of the groomsmen, a square shouldered black young man with an easy smile that was similar to George's own.
"Yes, that's me," Amanda said, a little puzzled. She hadn't expected George to have told his friends about her, but she supposed they would have wanted to know who the non-Winona girl that he kept calling from the ship was.
"I could tell by the Vulcan dress," The man said. "Oh, sorry, I'm Francis Conway. Call me Frank." With that, he held out a large hand for Amanda to shake. Oh, oops, Amanda thought, as she immediately felt Sarek's discomfort. She couldn't excuse herself from it now, and anyway, handshakes really weren't inappropriate on Earth. Amanda shook Frank's hand, making it as brief a gesture as possible.
"Nice to meet you," She said, managing not to show any of her thoughts (thanks to T'Rea and Ataur's dedicated teaching, she was pleased to note) "Amanda Grayson, but you knew that. This is my fiancé, Ambassador Sarek." Amanda indicated the tense Sarek, who nodded in acknowledgement.
"Ha'tha ti'lu, Kevet-dutar Sarek," Frank said, much to Amanda's surprise, in rather thickly accented Vuhlkansu, "Sanu tobeg-tor kobat'es t'nash-veh svi'Vuhlkansu. Good morning, Ambassador Sarek, please excuse the weakness of mine in Vulcan. Ah, that was bad, wasn't it...I haven't studied the Vulcan language since I was a cadet. Sorry."
Sarek's reaction to the clunky phrase was, to Amanda's relief, quite civil. "Commendable effort, Mr. Conway." He said, in Standard. "Th'i-oxalra. I appreciate it."
They exchanged a few minutes of small-talk, although Amanda could tell that Frank found Sarek off-putting. It didn't take long for him to make his excuses and go off to find some other friend. Amanda watched him go, trying not to smile - it had been rather amusing to see how intimidating Sarek was. She reflected back to when she herself had first met him, and how furiously cold his dark eyes had seemed then. But now, she knew better, and wondered if perhaps she would be one of the only people who ever would.
Once Frank was out of ear shot, Amanda turned to Sarek. "Th'i-oxalra?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. Sarek didn't meet her eyes, preferring to carefully take a champagne flute off a passing tray. Amanda managed to snag her own too.
"My wants are not many," Sarek said, "But it would not be unpleasant if every Human I meet did not attempt to speak to me in the Vulcan tongue." He took a sip of champagne, gave the glass a critical look, and commented "There appear to be bubbles."
"Don't be evasive," Amanda said, "It makes you feel awkward, doesn't it?" She couldn't keep the grin off her face as she asked it.
Sarek's eyebrows gave a significant twitch and he glanced away again - the slightest of gestures that Amanda recognized as exasperation. "While I would not myself use those words," He said, "I must admit that it puts me at a loss for words. Especially if the individual's grasp of the language is not adequate, as it was in this case."
"Oh, be kind," Amanda said, glancing over at Frank's large form. "You make people nervous."
"And you?" Sarek said, looking sidelong at her.
"I have absolutely no reason to be nervous around you," Amanda said, adopting an innocent look. "I've seen you naked." This got the desired reaction: the tips of Sarek's ears turned green.
He cleared his throat. "I should have been more specific. I meant what of your effect on others?"
"My effect?"
Sarek looked down at her, a hint of mischief in his eyes. Amanda's heart gave a little twinge. "Many find difficulty in speaking with a beautiful woman." He said in a slightly airy tone. "One finds it...disarming."
So I can make him blush, but he can definitely still make me blush. Amanda grinned and swept a few more strands of hair out of her face. "Well, I will tell you one thing."
"What is that?"
"Even he could tell that my dress is Vulcan."
A great deal of the reception passed without Amanda getting the chance to approach George and Winona. Whenever she managed to get a glimpse of them, they were being set upon by more well-wishers, and Amanda thought they were looking rather harassed. Meanwhile, lunch was served, and Amanda was incredibly be tasting Terran fare again, although she decided to go for the vegetarian option. The meat dishes didn't seem quite as appealing now, after she'd enjoyed so much the vegetarian meals on Vulcan.
There was, to Amanda's slight relief, assigned seating. She had been worrying that she and Sarek would have absolutely no one to talk to at the reception. They had been located at a table that was quite close to George and Winona's. Amanda couldn't help feeling flattered at that. The couple had seated them among their closest friends. Those friends turned out to be a nice bunch: two of Winona's cousins, an older couple who seemed to be friends of George's family, and a couple of George's Starfleet companions. They got along well, although Amanda could tell that everyone there was a little wary of Sarek. He took it in stride, and made conversation with courtesy.
"Ooh, look!" One of Winona's cousins squealed, turning in her seat. "It's the first dance!" Amanda turned around eagerly herself to see George leading a laughing Winona onto the dance floor. To the accompaniment of cheers from their friends, they started dancing, and Amanda was impressed with how good they were at it. She watched Winona's skirt whirl around as George spun her out, and back to him again. The two of them smiled at the crowd, of course, but most of their attention was for each other. Amanda felt a little pang of wistfulness as other couples got up to join the newlyweds. Dancing. Oh well.
She turned back to the table and was about to distract herself by starting up a conversation with Winona's cousin Annabelle when she felt a touch on her arm. Sarek leaned a little closer to her, his eyes on the dancers. "Explain this to me."
Amanda blinked, and shrugged one shoulder, turning back again to watch the dance floor. "It's a celebratory thing. Humans like to appreciate music by dancing..." She frowned, not sure how to explain. "It's fun." She said lamely.
"They look to be enjoying it," Sarek said, dubiously. "But the practice is not only reserved for mated couples, correct?"
"Why do you say that? I mean, you're right, though. You can dance by yourself or with friends or with your lover, it doesn't matter."
Sarek gave Amanda a perfectly inscrutable look. "I came upon you and Lieutenant Kirk dancing on the night of the ceremony where I was granted ambassadorial status." Amanda opened her mouth, but Sarek continued, "And, as is perfectly apparent, there was no romantic inclination between you."
"You are a jealous thing, aren't you?" Amanda asked, a hint of a laugh in her voice. Sarek said nothing, only raised an eyebrow at her over the rim of glass. The song was ending, and a flushed and happy Winona was just coming to the end of her last twirl. Amanda stood up and clapped with the rest of the room, beaming. George picked Winona up and spun her again, laughing, before pulling her back into his arms for a kiss. They couldn't be happier, Amanda thought, feeling a warmth of joy for her friends. It must be wonderful, after having to wait so long.
Amanda collapsed back into her chair with a sigh. "Well, next they just have to serve the cake, and then Winona has to throw her bouquet, and then they're off on their honeymoon. I never asked where they're going." She frowned. "Or when they'll be back! Damn."
"There appear to be a great deal of traditions to observe at a Human marriage ceremony." Sarek said, reclaiming his own seat.
"And you think there aren't at a Vulcan ceremony?" Amanda asked, incredulous. "Sarek, I have a 300 page document waiting for me back on Vulcan that details every single Vulcan marriage tradition."
"That is an exaggeration," Sarek said, quirking an eyebrow again.
"All right, maybe 200. But it's a lot." Amanda looked back over at George and Winona again. They had finally managed to get to their table and get some food - thus far they had been so swamped with people that they hadn't been able to enjoy the lunch at their own wedding. Better let them have a rest, Amanda decided.
Amanda didn't get a chance to talk to the happy couple until after Winona had tossed her bouquet. Thankfully they had a little time before George and Winona were due to be whisked away to their fabulous honeymoon destination. Amanda hurried over to them as girls squabbled over the bouquet, causing petals to fly everywhere. She dragged an incredibly confused Sarek behind her, who was watching the fight for the bouquet with a degree of horror. "George, Winnie," Amanda said, slightly breathlessly. "I'm so glad I managed to catch you."
"Us too!" George said, pulling Amanda into a hug. "I would have been devastated if we didn't get to talk to you before leaving. So glad you could be here, Amanda, really." George smiled down at her.
"Me too, me too!" Winona said, enveloping Amanda in a hug of her own. Amanda could see her cheeks were a little over pink with champagne, but it just made her look more lovely. Amanda took Winona's hands and was about to expound more on her congratulations when Sarek began to speak.
"I would like to offer my own congratulations," He said. "I wish happiness to you both." George blinked at him, but smiled, and Winona followed suit.
"Thanks, Sarek," George said. "I appreciate that - we want the same for you." Sarek only inclined his head in reply, but Amanda got the sense that he was pleased.
Winona groaned, looking over her shoulder. "Looks like our car is here," She said, "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk to you more!" Amanda shook her head and laughed, shooing them away.
"Go on, it's your honeymoon! Have fun." She hugged them both once more before they were pulled away by their families, some crying, but all of them smiling. George and Winona hurried through the hotel lobby to their car, laughing and ducking as their guests threw rose petals after them. Amanda grinned, watching, and wishing that she had a handful of petals to fling at them too. She turned to Sarek after a moment, a thoughtful look on her face.
"Why did you say 'I wish you happiness' to George and Winona, Sarek? Isn't that a bit of an...emotional thing to say?"
Sarek regarded her with a hint of surprise on his face. "Given the circumstances, I deemed it appropriate. Lieutenant Kirk and Winona are Human. It would have been unorthodox to congratulate them in a Vulcan manner."
"You mean they wouldn't get it?"
Sarek made a dismissive gesture. "Perhaps not, but given the fact that my expression of an emotion here would not be a significant breach of protocol I thought it acceptable to express my emotional inclination on the matter. And," he continued, "it would not have been considered a significant misstep had I used that phrase among Vulcans."
Amanda smiled at him. "Anyway, it was...thank you. For coming with me, too. I'm really glad that I was able to be here." She reached out and touched his arm affectionately. "And that you could be here with me."
There was a flash of warmth in Sarek's eyes. "As am I, Amanda."
Amanda's smile turned into a grin. "That was definitely an emotional expression!"
Sarek carefully ignored her and examined his shoe. There was a rose petal stuck to it. "More plant matter." He said, his tone bland.
"Ikap'uh t'du ru'lut. Shut up."
"Amanda."
It was some time later. Amanda and Sarek had returned to their own hotel after saying goodbye to George and Winona's guests, and Amanda had gratefully changed out of her elaborate dress, while Sarek exchanged his robes for something less formal. She'd convinced him then to go to her favorite restaurant for dinner, which had been amusing. To see Sarek in such an incongruent setting was kind of surreal, as though she'd seen Santa Claus on the streets of Shi'Kahr. He was, of course, on his best behavior, and Amanda could see why he had risen to the rank of Ambassador at such a relatively young age. Where any other Vulcan might have been edgy and uncomfortable in such a Human setting, Sarek was relaxed, calm, and diplomatic. She was proud of him, in an odd way. They'd returned to the hotel after spending a long time at the restaurant, and Amanda was now relaxing on their bed, flipping through more wedding information on her PADD, and not really reading it. Every time she tried to apply herself, she thought about George and Winona's wedding, and how nice it had been. Her thoughts wandered in their own separate directions, but she was still semi-pretending to read, as Sarek was concentrating over his own work.
"Amanda." Sarek had to repeat himself to catch Amanda's wandering attention.
"Hmm?" She said, setting her PADD aside. He turned towards her in his seat. His hair was slightly disarranged, as it often got when he was working - he had a habit of pushing it out of his eyes in annoyance whenever he was working on a particularly difficult issue.
"Would you like to dance?"
Amanda stared at him. "What, right now?"
"Yes. I'd like you to teach me."
Amanda couldn't help but feel entirely confused. "Why?"
Sarek got out of his seat - a complex unfolding motion due to his long legs - and walked over to the bed. "Because you were unhappy that you could not dance at the wedding this morning." Amanda just kept staring at him. When she didn't say anything, he continued, with a hint of exasperation. "Should I not desire to make you happy?"
Amanda chuckled and shook her head, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up. "Of course you should," She said. "I'm just surprised that you would want to do anything as insanely Human as learn to dance."
"It did not seem very insane," Sarek said. "Rather...intriguing."
Amanda smirked and him and took his arm, leading him to the middle of the room. "All right, but you are going to have to touch me. More exactly," She lifted her hand. "My hands."
Sarek only quirked an eyebrow at her, standing with his own hands clasped behind his back. "I am aware of that. Show me."
"All right, here." Amanda took his arm and set about moving him into General Dancing position. "Hmm, normally it's the man who leads. You're just going to have to follow me."
"I don't understand," Sarek said as she placed his hand at her waist. There was only the slightest green tint to his cheeks as she took his other hand in hers, although Amanda could still feel the gentle buzz of connection between them at the touch of their fingers.
"There are different, uh, actions that you can take. Remember how George spun Winona around? The 'leader' gets to decide when to do something like that, and he - or she, I guess - sort of indicates to the other person what they want to do. And then they do it. Does that make sense?"
"No."
"Well, it's the best I can do. Here, watch my feet." Amanda started trying to direct him in a generalized sort of box step. Sarek caught on quickly, to Amanda's surprise, and once he seemed comfortable with it, gently nudged Amanda into a turn. "Oh, how did you know to do that?" She asked as they started moving across the room.
"I have keen observational skills." Sarek said, giving her a 'duh' kind of look. Amanda was further surprised when he led her into a twirl. She followed through automatically, although it had been quite a while since she'd actually danced with anyone like that.
"I think I am beginning to see the appeal," Sarek said when she returned to him. There was a soft look in his eyes that made Amanda's heart flutter.
"It's better with music," Amanda said, suddenly feeling silly to be dancing with her Vulcan fiancé, wearing her pajamas, and completely without musical accompaniment. She hesitated.
"I prefer it this way," Sarek said, pulling Amanda a little closer to him. She caught a little of his scent, the gentle spiciness vividly reminding her of Shi'Kahr, and watching the sunset from his bedroom. Guiltily, she felt her pulse quicken. I'm such an idiot in love, she thought.
"If you are an idiot," Sarek said calmly, twirling Amanda out again. Her be-socked feet scuffed a little on the carpet, and she felt very distinctly un-ballerina like, "then I must be a fool without hope." Amanda had opened her mouth to say something on the return twirl, but her words were cut off as Sarek drew her into a kiss. The warmth of it drained her to weakness, and she sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. The kiss went on for a long moment, and Amanda could feel her thoughts getting nicely fuzzy in enjoyment of it. Sarek had still not let go of her hand, and the hum of their connection grew stronger, and more pleasurable. It wasn't until Amanda bumped up against the bed that she realized how intense the sensation had gotten. She gasped a little as Sarek gently pushed her back onto the covers.
Amanda expected him to start undressing her there, but after following her onto the bed Sarek just drew her closer to him for more kisses. Amanda was surprised - she was used to Sarek being pretty direct about what he wanted in terms of sex. It had always been passionate, of course, but rather...fast. She didn't have much time to reflect on this, however, for Sarek's slow, deep kisses were starting to set her on fire. His mouth left hers for a moment, only to begin kissing her neck and the hollow of her throat. Amanda's breath quickened, and she ran her hand through his smooth dark hair, delighting in the quick shivers each kiss sent down her spine.
"Sarek," She said. Her heart was beating fast now and her desire for him was getting stronger by the minute.
Be patient. Sarek's tone across the bond was somewhat amused. He did, however, sit back to slide her pajama top off. This left her bare, and she felt the slight heat of an inadvertent blush on her cheeks. Sarek ran his fingers gently over her breasts, which only served to excite her further, and Sarek knew it. He's actually teasing me, Amanda thought, her heart hammering in her chest. The look that Sarek gave her told her that he'd fully understood that thought. Perhaps in response to her frustration, he slid her shorts and underwear down, and Amanda obligingly wiggled out of them.
All at the maddening slow pace, Sarek took off his own jacket and pulled his shirt over his head, allowing Amanda a view of his rather impressive musculature. She smiled as he leaned down to kiss her again, still gentle. She could tell that he was just as eager as she was (certainly after he'd sat back on his heels to take his shirt off, as she'd gotten a good view) but he still persisted in only kissing her, his tongue sliding against hers with maddening briefness. Sarek, she thought again, in a pleading tone.
The responding emotion from him finally of acquiescence, but to Amanda's surprise he reached down and slid his hand along her inner thigh. She let out a little gasp as his fingers reached the wetness between her legs. She had grown to really appreciate the eroticism of Sarek's hands while they'd been together - every touch and graze of his fingers had become significant to her. Now as Sarek's fingers slid over her clit, Amanda felt an intense spike of arousal, far greater than anything she'd felt before. She could tell that her own pleasure had affected Sarek as well, though, for his breath caught as she sank further into the thrill of it. Her enjoyment was bleeding across to him through the bond, which only made it all the more intense for Amanda. Her fingers dug into his sides and she arched her neck, making a little excited noise.
The tantalizing strokes of his fingers were causing her to make little moans of pleasure. It was too much for Amanda. I need more, she thought through the haze of lust in her head, please?
Yes. Sarek was only too happy to relent - he unfastened his trousers and pulled them off, with a little less composure than he'd had before. Amanda grinned dazedly at him as he rejoined her on the bed. He was completely hard, and Amanda had to fight not to cry out the moment his cock touched her lips. He entered her with barely any resistance, she was so ready for him. Amanda felt an immediate sense of completeness as he thrust fully inside her, an all-encompassing warmth that was nearly unbearably wonderful. Amanda clung to him with a little shuddering gasp, and Sarek kissed her deeply. Amanda, k'diwa, k'hat'n'dlawa. They were words that Amanda didn't recognize. Sarek began to move his hips, but slowly, a gentle, deep rhythm that was nevertheless perfectly intense. Amanda shuddered, nearly overwhelmed. She felt as though her heart were aching, desperately yearning for something. Their bond was intensifying - Amanda could feel the thudding of Sarek's heartbeat as clearly as if it were her own, the hot rush of excitement through his system. Please, she thought, and there was no need to say any more. Sarek brought his hand up to her face, but it felt as though he barely needed to. Their consciousnesses flooded together so quickly and seamlessly that Amanda nearly climaxed then.
There was no feeling to compare with it. Thoughts, words, everything became unnecessary. There was just a deep, endless feeling of peace and belonging. Amanda could feel her body give in, waves of bliss resounding through her to bring her to an almost painful moment of climax. And she could feel Sarek's orgasm as well, so deeply connected to hers that she could feel the entirety of their union. Brilliant, bright lights seemed to explode behind her eyes, a fireworks show of male and female, Vulcan and Human, Sarek and Amanda.
She cried afterwards, without really knowing why. Curled up in Sarek's embrace, Amanda felt tears slide out of her eyes and down her cheeks. You are weeping again, Sarek's thought came across to her in the not-yet faded meld. I'm happy, I'm happier than I've ever been. I'm so full of love I think I might explode. Sarek's amusement wound around her like a purring cat.
K'hat'n'dlawa.
"What does that mean?" Amanda mumbled sleepily, nestled into the warm crook of Sarek's neck.
"Half of my heart and soul."
Author's Note:Yay George and Winona are finally married! And more sexy time! And dancing Sarek? This was a fun chapter to write - it's a little longer because I was enjoying it. I hope you guys like it too!
Only four days until I head home to the States. I wonder if I can write on the plane. Next up: meeting the parents. I'm sure that will go over well, considering how well Skon took the news ;)