K'hat'n'dlawa

The Day After

When Amanda awoke the next morning, the bed was already cold. Sarek had left hours before, and had not returned. Before the caves and their long break from intimate contact, it had been part of his routine to wake her after his morning exercise and meditation...what had changed, she wondered?

Maybe he was still disappointed about her behavior the night before, and that was why he hadn't come back to awaken her. But she pushed that thought away- Sarek would have a reason for not returning, she knew. He wouldn't allow disappointment to stop him.

She rolled over, stretching and basking in the sunlight filtering through the window. There were aches in her thigh muscles from them being put to good use for the first time in six weeks, but it was the kind of ache she cherished because of what it meant. She and Sarek were better now- dare she say, even fully recovered. She'd missed falling asleep in his arms. And now...not only could she do so again, but she could fall asleep beside him every night.

She was going to have a busy day. She'd have to move everything into his quarters and make herself at home...looking around, she saw that he'd already made room for her. Several tables were cleared off to make room for her possessions- and the closet, which stood open, was now half-empty- waiting for her own clothes. This made her smile to herself. For someone who had been so reluctant to share his bedchamber when she first presented the idea to him, he was being very accommodating. Apparently, he had a different view on sharing quarters now.

Sitting up, Amanda rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed. When she opened them again, she saw that he'd retrieved her robe for her and laid it on the divan. She smiled as she stood and pulled it on, tying it around her waist. He could be so thoughtful- even when it was logical, and he had no idea how sweet it was.

She went to her own- no, her former- bedroom, and showered before dressing in black slacks and a dark red blouse. She would have a lot to do today...she would start after breakfast. Looking around her room, she saw that not all of her things would fit into Sarek's quarters. She'd have to put some of it somewhere else- maybe the living room. The pictures of her family would give this place the touch of humanism it needed. Finally, they could start transforming this gigantic house into their home.

From Sarek, she only felt that quiet, but pleasant hum, which signified that he was centered and not currently feeling any particular emotion. She headed down to the dining room, where she found him waiting for her. Upon seeing him, Amanda recalled her actions of the night before...she had embarrassed him. And in front of so many people, including the Council Chair...She did not regret the words she had spoken to T'Pau, but she could regret doing so in that manner. He would likely have to deal with the repercussions of her actions again...fresh guilt erupted within her. She was a source of embarrassment for him. That thought humbled her.

"Sit," he bade quietly, and she realized that she'd stopped in the doorway. She sat beside him, and began to load her plate with fresh Terran fruit- which he ordered for her every week when produce was shipped from Earth to Vulcan. He picked up his spoon to start on his plomeek soup. She could tell there was something he wanted to say, and waited. Soon enough, it came. "After my exercise and meditation regimen, I received a call from the Council and was unavailable to awaken you."

She nodded in understanding, and then stopped abruptly, looking up at him. His eyes were trained on the soup before him, and she still felt nothing from him.

"Was it about me?" she asked. His eyes met hers.

"Yes, it was," he replied.

"And?" she prompted nervously, hoping he wasn't in trouble because of her.

"They warned me that if you act publicly in such a way toward an elder again, they will officially demand that the bond be dissolved," he replied evenly, eyes once more on his soup. Amanda's mouth suddenly felt very dry, and the piece of pineapple she'd been holding between her fingers fell back to her plate.