Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed.

"So...it's not appendicitis?"

Dr. Avarak had given me a full examination, all while Soval lingered at my shoulder, hovering over me as the doctor scanned my abdomen. The younger man raised an eyebrow at my question, but nodded once in answer.

"No, Ms. Forrest, your appendix has not ruptured. Neither have any of your other organs."

I relaxed slightly even as Soval frowned in confusion. "Then why the sharp pain in her abdomen? That is typically an indication that something is medically wrong."

"That is true, but not in this case," Avarak countered, then turned to me. "Human women can sometimes experience pain or discomfort during their menstrual cycle, when the ovarian follicle ruptures and releases its egg."

"So this has to do with my ovaries?"

"Yes," he replied flatly. "But this condition is not life threatening, or even warranting any medical intervention beyond pain management. You are experiencing painful ovulation, Ms. Forrest. It is fairly common in your species, especially at your age."

I sat in silence for a moment, processing his diagnosis. "So is there any way to prevent this, or...?"

Avarak frowned. "The only preventative measure I can prescribe would be a contraceptive."

I held up a hand. "Got it...you mentioned pain management?"

"Yes, I can prescribe a general analgesic, and the pain from your ovaries should subside on its own within twenty-four hours. If it lasts longer than forty-eight, please return here. Do you have any other questions?"

"No, I think that covers it. I'll take the pain meds, doctor, thank you."

"Doctor, would neuropressure not alleviate her pain?"

Avarak nodded. "It would. Do you know the proper technique for that portion of the body?"

"I am aware of it, yes. Then there is no need for an analgesic?"

He tilted his head and set his eyes back on me. "Ms. Forrest?"

I looked to Soval, surprised at how close he was to me. I raised my eyebrows, and Soval stared at me with a clearly determined look in his eyes. "Well, if you think you've got it…I guess I'll hold off on the medication then, doctor. But thank you."

"Please let me know if you require anything further, and return immediately if your pain lasts for more than forty-eight hours."

I nodded and he retreated, leaving us alone in the infirmary. I slid off the biobed and straightened my dress. "Well…I guess let's go back to our quarters and get this settled."

He nodded and led me back to the turbolift, where two Vulcans were waiting to enter. An awkward silence reigned between us, though I heard murmuring from the two staff members, and noted Soval glowering at the pair. They stepped aside when the lift opened, letting us enter first.

I felt Soval's hand on my back, gently guiding me to one side of the turbolift.

"Has the pain abated?" he whispered in my ear. I shrugged, trying not to shiver at the sensation of his warm breath on my neck.

"A little," I mumbled. "I guess I'll get used to it."

Soval gently gripped my shoulder. "I will help you manage this, Genevieve."

We were alone again once the two staffers exited on the fourth floor, and I sighed, leaning back into the wall. "Well…I suppose there are worse things. I could be lying on the operating table right now."

"Any pain that can be eliminated by an analgesic can be managed just as effectively with neuropressure."

"That's good to know, but I'm going to have to manage differently once the exchange is over. Unless you want me knocking on your door every month."

He stared at me in silence for a long minute, and the turbolift opened before he could reply. He led me back to our rooms and closed the door with a click, and he took a deep breath and turned to me.

"Genevieve…I am hopeful that our friendship has grown to the point where, in this scenario, you would visit me more than once a month."

I frowned. "Well, you said I wasn't going to Vulcan after the exchange, so I would have to live somewhere else, right?"

Soval blinked, stepping closer. "There has been much discussion on expanding this exchange, and letting those who are teaching renew their contracts in August…perhaps you will do the same."

My lips parted of their own accord, but I found myself nodding along. "I mean…that would…is that something you would want? Another year with me?"

"I…I find it most unpleasant to think of you leaving in August." He sighed and shucked off his outer robes. "But we can discuss this at another time. You should change, and we can begin."

"Yeah, I'll go do that," I said lamely, and hurried to my room. I hadn't given much thought to what I would do once the exchange was over, and I had to admit, the thought of leaving him displeased me too.

I wondered, as I slipped out of my dress, if I could truly live under the same roof for another year whilst fighting against this crush. It wasn't really even a crush anymore – I knew in my heart of hearts that I found Soval attractive and appealing. But be that as it may, I wasn't sure if we were now really good friends or if there was any chance for us to be more.

I shoved the thought from my mind and changed into casual lounge wear, returning to the living room to see Soval waiting for me on the couch, his overrobes and top robes removed to reveal his undershirt and pants in ruby red. I tilted my head as I approached, silently appreciating the craftsmanship of his clothes and the subtle designs in gold woven throughout.

Another pulse of pain from my abdomen stopped by appreciation dead in its tracks, and I rushed to the couch, sitting down with a wince.

"I can see you are in pain, Genevieve, so if you will allow me, I will put pressure directly into your abdomen. Please lift your shirt."

I obeyed without question, and he gently caressed my skin for a moment before applying pressure with his fingers. I hissed, forcing myself to stay still, and when he released me, I slumped in relief.

"Thank you," I whispered, gently rubbing his arm as he moved to the next point. "You're the best, you know that?"

He smirked, pressing into a point a little further up, and I leaned back, trying to relax as he worked my muscles and nerves. "I am pleased you appreciate this, but as your people say, 'it is the least I can do'."

I nodded, closing my eyes as he worked his way across my abdomen, leaving a soft sort of buzz in his wake. I felt warm and relaxed, the pressure easing into a pleasant numbness as I adjusted myself to the feeling.

I tried hard not to think about how warm his hands were, how cleverly his fingers moved. I focused on my own breathing and not how close he was to me, how I could feel his soft exhales of breath across my collarbone. His eyes remained fixed on his work, but I could not help but stare at him, languidly watching as his brow furrowed slightly in concentration.

"There," he murmured, pulling my shirt down over my stomach. "Is that better?" He was inches from my face, his voice a low rumble, and I nodded. His hands lingered at my waist, his thumb caressing the hem of my sweatpants, and a thrill jolted up my spine as his skin grazed mine.

A soft gasp escaped my lips, but I simply straightened and tried to cover myself by clearing my throat. "Thank you," I said, my voice coming out as a squeak.

"Of course," he purred, his gaze flicking downward to my lips. I could hear him breathe in, and he frowned slightly as his nostrils flared. "Timok told me you were suffering under the delusion that your scent is unappealing. May I ask where the notion came from?"

"I always heard humans smelled bad to Vulcans," I explained, my voice breaking with a croak. "But Timok said that's not the case?"

"No, it never was," he replied, and a flush warmed my body as he leaned a fraction closer. "It displeases me that you ever thought your scent was disagreeable. Our olfaction is more sensitive than yours, and your scent yields information about your health and physical state. It is not unpleasant."

"Yeah, Timok said something along those lines…if you don't mind me asking, what sort of information can you sense, specifically?"

He took in another deep breath. "I can sense immediately that you are female, and healthy. Illness alters your scent somewhat, as does menstruation, but I wish to assure you that I have never found your scent displeasing. It is a part of you, something that cannot, for the most part, be helped." He sighed, leaning into the couch. "I have only caught the faintest hints of you when you are ovulating. Sensing it now, knowing what is happening…I must admit, it is quite the distraction."

I frowned, shaking my head. "Um…distracting in what way? Do I need to leave the room, or–"

"You are under no obligation to change your routine for me," he insisted, cutting me off before I could finish my sentence. "And…suffice it to say, it is a distraction. I will say no more at this time. It is nothing unpleasant, Genevieve, I assure you."

"If you say so," I said, confused at the direction the conversation had taken. "Um…V'Las said he would send someone to check on me. I know now that my symptoms weren't all that serious, but I hope he doesn't think I made something up to get out of the dinner. I legitimately thought it was an onset of appendicitis."

"Vulcans may not express their emotions, but we are rather sensitive to them. It was clear you were in pain."

I nodded, smoothing down my shirt, and I shifted on the couch, suddenly at a loss for words. "Thank you for acting so quickly. It's such a good thing that I can rely on you when stuff like that happens. I really appreciate that."

"It was no trouble, and to tell the truth of the matter, though the cause was disconcerting, it was…a relief to leave."

"What did V'Las say to you? I couldn't understand him, but everyone at the table seemed to agree with him."

Soval shook his head. "It was…an extension of the consequences I am facing." I frowned. "It is clear now that there is little we could have told him to convince him that we were giving our best effort in the exchange. I managed to eliminate the consequences for you, but the threat for me was clear."

"Threat?" I parrotted, shaking my head. "What do you mean? Soval, what did he say to you?"

He sighed heavily, eyeing me as he seemed to hesitate. "The other attendees are all in V'Las' direct employ, working under him in security and administration. He essentially showed me viable candidates to take my place in the exchange…those who would be eager to take you in as their exchange partner."

"See, in my mind, that makes no logical sense!" I adjusted myself on the couch. "In what way is it logical to start me over with someone I have no rapport with? It's horribly inefficient…so what am I missing? Is there a cultural aspect I'm missing here? Something political? I'm just trying to see his reasoning here."

"V'Las' reasoning is his own, Genevieve. There is a political aspect in this that I cannot elaborate on, but…there is no logic in dwelling on this. You are not going to Vulcan, and whatever V'Las meant in his threat has no bearing on us at this juncture. Do not trouble yourself. He will be gone in the morning, and everything will be as it was."

I crossed my arms. "I don't mean to doubt you, but…I get the sense that we can't really go back to how we were before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this threat isn't going away." I sunk back into the couch, suddenly exhausted. "I hate that he has that sort of power over us. I get that he's basically your boss, but still…it's frustrating that he can't see we're doing just fine without outside pressure."

"V'Las is not a patient man," my roommate reasoned, and I sighed, closing my eyes. "Nevertheless, we will move forward. Please, do not worry, Genevieve. All will be well."

I turned to him, staring helplessly into his warm brown eyes, and I opened my mouth to reply when a sharp knock came at the door.

Soval crossed the room, leaving me slumped on the couch, but I immediately stood as V'Las entered our quarters.

"Ms. Forrest, I presume your diagnosis was good, considering you are here instead of in surgery?"

"I don't have appendicitis, if that's what you're asking," I replied flatly. "Dr. Avarak said I'll be alright. Thank you for checking in, that's very considerate of you."

V'Las smirked. "We are quite pleased that you were spared having to endure life-saving surgery. The pain was a symptom of something else, then?"

"Yes, I'd never even heard of it." V'Las raised his eyebrows at me, staring expectantly at me, and I looked to Soval in near desperation.

The ambassador cleared his throat. "It is a private matter, administrator. But suffice it to say, she will be well. The treatment is already in hand."

"Very well," he replied stiffly, folding his hands into the depths of his robes. "We are relieved this was nothing serious. If it is no trouble, Soval, I will meet you here for breakfast before I depart."

The ambassador nodded stiffly, and V'Las left the room in a swish of robes.

We stood in silence for a moment, then Soval turned to me with a sigh.

"It is late, Genevieve. I am sure you are exhausted."

I yawned in response, drawing a smirk from him, and I leaned into him once I felt his hands bracing my shoulders.

"Thank you for everything," I muttered into his chest, wrapping my arms around him for a hug. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your help."

His hands crept across my back, returning the hug, and I had to fight to keep my eyes open as we stood there, his warmth sinking into me, his smell strong in my nose. I breathed in, savoring the moment, and he drew back with a strange look in his eyes.

"I get the distinct impression that if we continue to stand here, you will be asleep on your feet. Shall I carry you to bed?"

I snorted and shook my head, pulling away from him. "Good night, Soval."

"Good night, Genevieve." His fingertips grazed my cheek as he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. I blinked stupidly up at him, but smiled and squeezed his arm. He seemed reluctant to move away, his hand still bracing my shoulder. I stayed still, staring into his eyes in languid silence, and then, hoping desperately this wouldn't offend him, I stood on tiptoe and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek.

"Sleep well," I whispered, then pulled away and marched to my room, pausing only for a moment at my door to look back at him. His eyes were fixed on me in an unreadable stare, and I flashed him a smile before slipping into my room.

Though I was exhausted, my thoughts raced as I lay in bed, staring at the darkened ceiling. What did that look mean? Had I pushed too far with that kiss? What did V'Las want from us that we weren't already doing? What were the Vulcans hiding?

Eventually my eyes drifted closed, and I gave in to slumber.

…

I awoke to soft voices in the other room, and I glanced over to find that my alarm would go off in a few minutes. I clicked it off, then rose and took my time with my morning routine. I had classes today, which spared me from spending too much time with V'Las.

Once I was dressed in suitable clothes, I grabbed my bag and took a deep breath, then marched out to meet the administrator.

It seemed V'Las was mostly done with his meal, though Soval had barely touched his food. I set my bag by the door and turned to make my plate, only to find Soval was already spooning a ladleful of soup into a bowl for me.

"Would you like some tea, Genevieve?" he asked softly, and I nodded, taking a seat at the table. Soval set down my bowl, and I smiled up at him.

"It seems you are doing better, Ms. Forrest. I do hope we have managed to mitigate your pain."

"Yes, I feel much better, thank you."

Soval set down my tea and sat next to me, silently taking a small bite of his soup. I followed suit, taking measured bites, eating much slower than I normally would. I could feel the administrator's eyes on me, and when I chanced a glimpse at him, V'Las was staring at me over the rim of his teacup, watching me eat with that icy blue gaze of his.

"Soval mentioned he may be taking you to Vulcan at some point this year," he said finally, setting down the teacup. "He seems eager for you to meet more of his family."

"I think that would be a wonderful trip," I said with a slight smile.

The administrator smirked. "I'm certain it will be a journey of great significance. We look forward to hosting you, Genevieve Forrest. You will be a most welcome addition."

"Thank you," I said automatically, though his words were certainly a little odd. Language barrier, perhaps? Soval had told me V'Las spoke fluent English, but perhaps he was translating something oddly. I mentally shrugged and let it be; the less mental energy l had to waste on the administrator, the better.

"Well, as much as I'd enjoy more conversation with you, Ms. Forrest, I must be going. I'll be back on Earth in a few months to check on your progress."

I nodded stiffly, standing with the administrator; V'Las paused and glanced between the two of us.

"It nearly slipped my mind, Soval, but I have a parting gift for you." He reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a mottled red fruit about the size of an orange, its smooth skin gleaming in the overhead light. V'Las set it on the table, and without another word, he left the room.

I sat back down, staring at the gift; was it just me, or did the room suddenly smell especially good? I leaned forward, reaching for the fruit without really thinking, but my roommate snatched it off the table before I could touch it.

I recoiled my hand, shaking my head like trying to shake off sleep. My mouth was suddenly watering, and all I could smell was the succulent, tempting scent of that fruit.

"Soval, what is that?" I said softly, swallowing down the flood of saliva in my mouth.

"Sale of this fruit is strictly forbidden to humans, for good reason," he replied stiffly, and he set it in the fresher unit, a frown prominent on his face.

"So…we're allergic to it?" I took several bites of my soup, watching him intently as I waited for an answer.

"There is an adverse reaction, yes," he said with a nod. He returned to the table, toying with his spoon as I ate my breakfast. Every bite of plomeek soup seemed better than the last, and I hummed in enjoyment, drinking down every drop.

"You really pulled out the stops for the administrator, didn't you?" I set aside my bowl and sipped my tea. "You outdid yourself on that soup."

He tilted his head, seemingly confused, but he nodded stiffly and took a small bite. I stared a moment longer, noting the tension in his posture, and I set down my teacup.

"Hey…are you okay? You seem upset."

He looked up at me, then sighed heavily. "I am simply contemplating the administrator's return. That is all."

My good mood soured slightly as I pondered what that might mean for Soval, for myself even. "A lot can happen in a few months," I offered, even if I knew my words were hollow; I wasn't sure what exactly would appease V'Las. "I mean, look at where we were at the beginning of the exchange compared to now! I still maintain that has to count for something."

"Perhaps not with the administrator, but it does with me," he said gently, his gaze surprisingly soft.

I felt my cheeks flush, but hid myself by hastily finishing my tea in two large gulps. He stood and set his half-eaten bowl of soup by the stove, and I followed quickly behind, reaching around him to put my bowl and cup in the sink. He shifted, twisting to face me, and I took advantage of my arm around him to pull him into a tight embrace.

"We'll get through this," I assured him, spouting confidence I could not fully feel.

He seemed to hesitate, and I made to pull away and escape out the door, but his arms wrapped around me, returning the impromptu hug, and he buried his nose in my hair.

"Allow me to escort you to the garage," he murmured, and I nodded into his chest.

"That would be lovely." Though, even as I said it, I couldn't bring myself to move, as something seemed to root me in place. Soval always smelled good, but today he seemed especially tempting. I breathed in deep, leaning into him, wishing I could just stay here in the comfort of his embrace.

"If we do not leave soon, you will be late." His voice rumbled in his chest, and I reluctantly pulled away, shrugging on my jacket and backpack.

He looked me up and down, seemingly satisfied, and he handed me my helmet and gestured to the door.

The ride down to the parking garage passed in silence, though I got the distinct impression that Soval was staring at me when I wasn't looking. The longer we stayed in silence, the more awkward I felt; had I pushed too much this morning? I chanced a peek at him, and he was openly staring at me with that same soft look from this morning.

I swallowed thickly and said nothing, and we walked out into the corridor, passing several of Soval's staff. Their workday, it seemed, had just begun, and many of his aides lingered in the hallway, speaking in soft tones as we marched towards the garage.

Soval's hand curled around my upper arm as one of his aides maneuvered around us; the man did not give me much space to walk by, and he stared at me with intense focus. Sharp words in Vulcan from my roommate broke the awkward moment, and the aide stepped back, still staring at me.

"Go back to your office, Zynok," a familiar voice said behind me, and I saw Timok trailing behind us, glaring at the young man. "You are making the T'Sai very uncomfortable."

"My apologies," Zynok rumbled, and it still seemed like he was lingering in the hallway. Timok stopped and spoke to the man in a hushed voice, and Soval pulled me towards the parking garage.

"As you can see," he murmured once we were alone, "your scent is not unpleasant to us."

"Is that what that was?" I shook my head and straddled my motorcycle. "For the longest time, I really believed you thought we…well, obviously I was wrong. No need to beat a dead horse."

Soval frowned, looking rather alarmed. "In what instance would anyone abuse the corpse of a deceased equine?"

I stared for a moment, then covered my mouth with my hand as I shook my head. "It's an expression, sweetheart," I said between my fingers, and I bit my lip to fight against the urge to laugh. "It basically means to waste effort on something when there is no chance of success, or to continue discussion or argument on a topic that has already been decided. Make sense?"

His alarmed expression calmed to his usual neutrality as he nodded. "I see…thank you for enlightening me."

"Of course, anytime!" I put my key in the ignition, but did not start the bike. "I guess I should get going."

Even as I said it, I turned to face Soval more fully. "So that fruit V'Las gave you…humans are allergic, huh? How'd you find that out?"

Soval stepped forward, shaking his head. "It was many years ago, and I do not know the full details of how we discovered the fact…but that being said, I can tell you are stalling." He gently braced my shoulder. "Is something happening at school today that is making you reluctant to go?"

"No, it's a normal day, I just…" I realized how much I didn't want to go, which was strange. I shook my head like a dog clearing its ears of water. "Yeah, I'll just be going now."

Then, with great effort, I fully turned my attention to my motorcycle and put on my helmet.

He stepped back, nodding to me as I started the vehicle and backed out of my space. I could see him in the rearview mirror as I cruised to the entrance, and I turned and waved one last time before forcing my eyes on the road.

By the time I reached campus, a pit of confusion and embarrassment had formed in my stomach. My thoughts had been like mush since breakfast, but now with cool, fresh air hitting my face as I walked to class, I couldn't fully explain how drawn I had felt towards Soval, beyond the normal bounds of my ever-deepening crush. Every attempt to leave had felt pointless, and I debated asking Soval about it this evening.

Did he know how much I had wanted to stay, how hard it had been to pull away from him?

I shook my head again, impatiently brushing away the locks of hair that fell in front of my eyes. I would have time later to contemplate all this, but for now, I had to focus on my classes.

I took off down the path, trying and failing to put the thought of Soval from my mind.