Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you to Fameanon for helping me write this.

Later, Hester was looking over her paperwork when Shija knocked on her door.

"You can come in," she said with a genuine smile. "So...your arranged marriage seems to be working out in your favor. I'm very happy for you."

Shija nodded, a slight smile breaking across her lips and brightening her eyes. "He is everything I could hope for in a mate."

"I know you two will be...very content," she said, trying to phrase things in the appropriate way. "While you're here, though...can I ask your opinion on a few things?"

Shija agreed with a nod, and Hester took a deep breath.

"So...one of the priestesses came into my office yesterday. She said it was becoming difficult for them to work alongside me, because my katra yearned for something that was not yet mine, or something along those lines. She was under the impression that I...that I was pining after Strom."

Shija had been nodding her head yes as the doctor explained what the priestess said, but as Hester came to the crux of the explanation and she was still nodding, she paused. She felt like a deer in the headlights, pondering if she should stand and take the car to the face or run. Against her better judgement she decided to take the car. "I mean…" she blinked. "That's what I assumed."

"How is it that you all seem to be so clear on something I have said nothing about nor have I acted on?" Hester protested, crossing her hands over her chest with mild indignation.

"Think of humans like bright bold colors, and then think of Vulcans as very light, subtle shades of color. Then see yourself as both. About most everything, you are subtle shades, just like us, but you are human, so those bright streaks exist, which means we notice them more than humans would." She didn't know if that would make sense to Hester or not, but it made sense to her.

"Then why wouldn't he see that?" Hester challenged.

"I didn't see Sopek and I was with him every day for a year." Shija offered, and she saw the look in her eyes come to an understanding. "Strom has been laser focused on your shared mission. He wouldn't notice anything that wasn't directly related to that. Which…is actually a good thing. It's kind of like the Vulcan version of showing off."

Hester shook her head. "Your people are complicated."

"Yeah, I suppose. But think in pastel shades, not bright colors. He is a confirmed bachelor, and you aren't an easy woman to impress. The only way to impress you would be…."

"Competence."

"Exactly."

"The priestess indicated that I was not…consistent as well." Hester continued, ready to refute the claim.

"No, I don't think you are. Hot and cold a lot. If I had to guess, you haven't really let yourself want to commit to anything outside of medicine," Shija replied flatly.

That stung, but she could not refute the observation.

"Did I ever tell you how I came to be?"

Hester gave a skeptical glance. "Does this relate to our current situation?"

"Kind of." She waited to Hester to indicate she wanted to hear the story, and then went on. "My mother was on shore leave before being stationed on one of the very few all-Vulcan Starfleet vessels. She was going to be stationed there for a few weeks while doing some surveys of the Argolas clusters. The moment she saw my dad she loved him. I have listened to her private journal entries, she notes it several times. They worked side by side together for a solid year, every day, and the more they worked together the deeper she loved him. He, on the other hand, was completely clueless."

Hester chuckled. "It seems that arranged marriages are what stands between your species and extinction."

"I know arranged marriages have saved my people from chaos. Our history is stained with the blood of a thousand wars fought over water and resources, and women too. Without this process, many would be dead. My father's...my people have turned to logic because the alternative is unbridled violence."

"Strom mentioned bringing a weapon...?"

Shija smiled. "A remnant of ancient times. One of the last remnants. Most everything else burned away in the Awakening. But about my mother...my father's telsu, his intended, found another to be more suitable. My mother challenged this woman to a duel, and fought for my father's hand."

Hester took in a deep breath through her nose and let it out slowly through her mouth. So, some other random woman could challenge her for Strom. She hadn't seen anyone around him, but did that mean anything? Nothing seemed certain anymore. She could feel her inability to commit to things creeping in her mind. The Vulcans were so intense, and every bit of information she learned made her less and less certain of how things would play out. Then she had to ask. "Are there such things like…casual sex in this society?"

Shija smirked. "Nope, because there is a bond that comes with even that. It's not practiced, but that's not to say people don't indulge occasionally. I think you and I both know Strom is not that kind of man. He is intense. He never does things in half measures. He doesn't just have friends – he has chosen family. If you aren't sure if you can match that, well…give it time to save both of you from something that could hurt you."

Hester wondered if she could accept all this. She was attracted to him, intensely so, and it may well only be her fear that was keeping her from being all in. Damn, she thought, the Vulcan priestess was correct; she was insufferable to be around. She chuckled out loud and Shija gave her a quizzical look.

"Oh, nothing," she said with a small smile. "I am just acknowledging that I am insufferable right now."

"It's a lot, and I admire women not born of our culture for taking on this kind of thing. Humans and Vulcans make excellent partners. I saw it with my father and mother, and others who chose mixed marriages."

Hester stood. "I trust this will stay between the two of us."

"Of course," Shija said, also standing. "If you want, I can pick Strom's brain and see where he might be. Or better yet, I could ask Sopek. Maybe the doctor just needs an awareness, though I don't want to make him aware until you know what you want to do."

Hester sighed, staring into her hands. "I think you should focus on your wedding and impending nuptials. I just wanted to understand better what the priestess said."

"Oh, I don't mind asking! Sopek would know, and he wouldn't keep this from me."

"That's all fine and good, but I haven't decided if I'm going to commit to this or not. And besides, maybe Strom thinks I'm a loser and thought of being with me disgusts him. I really can't tell."

"Oh, I think we both know you don't disgust him. You're a lovely woman, you know."

"Thank you, but that's hardly an indicator of whether or not this will work," Hester said, frowning. "I've learned a lot of information in the last two days, and I don't know what to think of half of it." She sighed. "But I am very happy for you and Sopek, and I'm honored you're letting me support you in this way."