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From: "Sileya" <sil@sileya.net>
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Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:26:23 -0600
Subject: [ASCEM-S] NEW CORR: It's All Relative [TOS, Sa/Am, Soran, Al, Nel, T'Sar, K, S/NC-17] 2/8
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PART 2 [CORRECTED VERSION]

Disclaimers in Part 1

Sarek woke to the soft sounds of his wife's voice coming from his study.  He
tried to concentrate on what she was saying, but her voice was too low.  He
closed his eyes for a minute and fell back asleep.

The next time he opened his eyes, Amanda was standing over him, watching him
sleep.  "Have you had breakfast yet?" he asked groggily.

"Yes, but it's now lunch time.  I made your favourite sandwich - tomato and
cheese.  Time to get up, sleepy-head."

Sarek dragged himself out of bed, wondering where the time went.  He hadn't
been this tired since his heart attacks.  It must be affecting him more than
he realized if his time sense was affected.  Once in the bathroom, he
selected 'sonics' on the shower, stripped, and stepped in.  The soothing
waves washed the fatigue from his muscles and revitalized him.

He finished getting dressed and headed down the hall to the kitchen.  He
could smell the toast, and he realized how hungry he was.  Moving to where
Amanda was cutting the tomatoes, he circled her waist with his arms,
nuzzling her neck.  "Those look very appetizing, my wife."

She arched her back, thrusting her breasts outwards.  "They are," she
deadpanned.

"Indeed," Sarek agreed and softly cupped his hands over her roundness before
moving away to take his seat at the table, "but I was referring to the
sandwiches."

"Ah, nuts!" she joked as she added the final sandwich to the plate.  Sitting
down at the table, she put the plate between them.  He picked a sandwich up
as she sat down across from him, and helped herself to a sandwich as well.
"I talked to my folks this morning," she said.

"I thought I heard your voice from my study.  Are they well?"

"Well, Dad's hearing is not as good as it has been, and he forgets to turn
on his hearing aids, but other than that, they're both fine."

Sarek looked at her carefully.  The tone of voice she used indicated that
she seemed a bit nervous or anxious.  It was as if she was not telling him
something.  He leaned back in his chair and asked, "What is it you wish to
tell me, beloved?"  As he waited for Amanda to talk, he took a bite of his
sandwich.

Amanda tried to appear innocent, but quickly gave up knowing that, after all
these years, her husband knew her too well.  "Well, they're having a really
rough winter in Minnesota this year, and my parents are getting up there in
age.  They haven't had a vacation in years, and they were really hoping to
see us this year for Christmas."

"Unfortunately, that is not possible.  Perhaps they should move into the
town from the farm.  That may make their lives easier," Sarek suggested,
taking another bite from his sandwich.  "These are very good, Amanda," he
added.

"Thanks dear," she murmured absently, trying to warm Sarek up to her idea.
"You know they would never do that.  They love that old farm too much.  At
any rate, since we're all going to Risa anyway, and Risa has so much to
offer in shows and shopping, I sort of invited them to come along.  They're
already on their way," she added quickly, as she took a bite out of her
sandwich.

Sarek looked at her, stunned.  "You asked your parents to accompany us on a
diplomatic assignment?"

"Well, it's not much of a diplomatic mission, just a conference.  You'll
have plenty of free time, and I thought it'd be nice to have us all
together - my parents, us, Soran - and they've never had the chance to meet
T'Sar before."

"Amanda, you should have checked with me before making such plans.  It will
be pleasing to see your family again, but Risa is hardly the place for them.
I will be concentrating not only on the conference, but also on the upcoming
negotiations with the Cellesians.  I may not have the time to visit with
your parents."

"Surely you can afford to take in a few shows to relax just a little."  She
sat back, glum.  "You can't keep doing this to yourself.  You're going to
have another heart attack!"

"That is highly unlikely, Amanda, as the defective valve has been repaired."
He sat back again and sighed.  He knew that his wife was quite anxious to
see her parents again as they were advancing in age.  How could he deny her
this one time to see them again?  "Amanda," he said as he leaned forward, "I
will attempt to view a show with you and your parents, but I cannot
guarantee that I will be able to visit with them as often as you would wish.
I cannot afford unnecessary distractions at this time, Aduna."

Amanda pushed her plate away, delighted.  "I already bought their tickets.
They left Earth this morning to meet us on Risa in two days.  I figured they
might as well meet us there."

"Yes, that is logical, but the conference is a week long.  They will be
there almost the entire time."

"Actually, not almost, I invited them for the entire time.  I was hoping to
convince them to come back to Vulcan with us afterwards to get a break from
the winter."  She grimaced, anticipating his reaction.

"Back to Vulcan?" he asked, visions of the last time her parents visited
Vulcan still fresh in his mind, particularly Al's constant complaining about
the weather.  "That will be...acceptable; however, if I have to leave for
Celles V immediately after the conference, you will have to entertain your
parents alone in the 'warmth' of Vulcan," he said, his eyes twinkling with
his teasing.

Amanda smiled lovingly, "Thank you, darling."  She got up and seated herself
in Sarek's lap.  "I worry about you so much, you know that.  I really,
really, wish you'd take a break, just for a few days."

Sarek sighed.  "That is not possible, Amanda.  I will attempt to rest on the
shuttle to Risa, but once I am there, I will have to work especially
diligently to organize my arguments so that they will convince the
Cellesians to treat their women and children with respect.  It will be an
'uphill battle', as you are wont to say."  He leaned his head against her
chest, closing his eyes as she began carding her fingers through his hair.

Her hand slid down, and she ran her fingers along his robe's entrance,
parting the clasp in the process.  "Do you think you could afford a
little...recreation right now?"

"Soran is due to arrive at any moment," Sarek hesitated, jumping slightly as
her finger found his nipple and tweaked it, turning it into a hard nub.

"I'm sure he'll wait in your study until you're...prepared."  She leaned
down to lightly flick the tip of his ear with her tongue before gently
taking it between her teeth, nibbling lightly on the sensitive flesh.

"Were you not listening just now when I mentioned I could not afford
unnecessary distractions?" he scolded, gently removing her hand from his
chest.  She recoiled, hurt and surprise evident in her eyes.  Sarek
immediately regretted his tone, and took her hand in his again, kissing it
lightly to soften the blow.  "Forgive me, my wife; I did not intend to be
harsh."

Her demeanor softened, her smile indicating her forgiveness.  "But I was
listening, Sarek; however, I think this is very necessary, for both of us."
She pulled her hand free and cradled his face, bending down to press her
lips against his forehead, then his lips, then further down trailing to his
neck where she settled against him, sucking and nibbling the taut muscles.

"Amanda, I don't think I can...that is, I am not--"

"Ambassador?  Are you here?" Soran's voice rang out.

Sighing with a mixture of disappointment and relief, he gently eased Amanda
off his lap as he called out to his aide, "I will be out shortly.  Meet me
in the study."

"As you wish, Ambassador," Soran said.

Looking at his wife, he said, "We can continue this another time, beloved."

"I'll be waiting," she replied, reaching out to quickly kiss him as he left.

~~**~~

Sarek and Amanda arrived on Risa one point seven-five days later.  During
the trip, Sarek and Soran were sequestered almost the entire time, except
for the moments that Amanda insisted that Sarek eat with her.  As soon as
the meal was finished; however, the two men entered the office area of their
quarters again and were never seen until Amanda and T'Sar dragged them out.

The women spent the time catching up on each other's lives.  T'Sar taught
Vulcan history at the VSA, and the two quickly began exchanging stories of
experiences they'd had teaching both Vulcan and off-world students at the
academy.

Soon the discussion revolved around family, and Amanda laughed heartedly, if
not somewhat enviously, when T'Sar began to share some of the antics their
grandkids had been up to.

"Did Soran not share the news of our youngest daughter's bonding yet,
Amanda?" T'Sar asked as she sipped some Vulcan tei.

"No, he didn't, the rascal!  Whom did T'Lith choose?"

"She chose young Sekar cha'Solan cha'Seket.  A logical choice, we believe,
as it is a reputable House, and they appear to have much in common."

At that moment, Soran and Sarek entered the sitting area.  Soran heard his
wife tell Amanda about T'Lith and Sekar's bonding, and turned to Sarek.
"You are coming are you not, Sarek?  I know I sent you the invitation three
weeks ago.  And, of course, you will be attending the reception after the
koon-ut-kalifee?" he asked.

"Of course, Soran.  We would not miss it."  He inclined his head to his
friend but  felt a slight twinge of jealousy.  Would he ever attend Spock's
koon-ut-kalifee?  Or would Spock keep his next one a secret from him as
well?  But no, they had settled their differences, or so Sarek hoped.

Amanda turned to him, her eyes flashing.  "You knew about this?" she
demanded.  "And you didn't tell me?"

Soran stepped away from Sarek's side to avoid being caught in Amanda's
glare.  He went and stood beside his bondmate.

"I was otherwise occupied, Amanda.  I regret that I did not inform you,"
Sarek said sheepishly.  "Forgive me."

Before Amanda could respond, the comm unit sounded informing them of the
final approach to Risa.

Soran  went back into the office to gather the PADDs containing their hard
work and returned with them in his attaché case.

Amanda eyed the case hatefully.  "I should hide that thing from you.  Then
you'd have to take a vacation!"

"I have back-ups, "Soran replied smugly.

Sarek looked from his aide to his wife, struggling to conceal his smile.
They would be able to disembark in fifteen minutes.  Being on a diplomatic
shuttle, they were the only passengers, but they still would have to go
through Customs.  As they were entering Risa's transport station Amanda
heard a commotion and a very familiar voice.

"That is NOT contraband; it's jerky and a very common treat on Earth.  Look,
this is ridiculous!  Do you know who my son-in-law is?"

Amanda closed her eyes, a groan escaping.  Next she heard another voice,
this time her mom.  "Just give them the damn jerky, Al.  We've been here for
hours already!"

Sarek turned to face her when he heard her groan.  "What is the matter,
Amanda?  Are you unwell?"

"Not yet, but I think we both will be soon."

Soran leaned over to render assistance if necessary, then glanced at where
Amanda was looking and said, "T'sai, is that not your father over there?"

Sarek followed his aide's gaze and saw Amanda's parents.  Al was red in the
face, arguing with the Customs officer, and Sarek almost groaned at the
sight.  He turned back to Amanda and said, "I will clear Customs first and
render whatever assistance I can.  I expect you to be right behind me, my
wife."

Amanda smiled apologetically.  "You mean I can't hide?" she joked.

The look Sarek gave her indicated that her joke was not appreciated, then
his eyes softened.  "No, you cannot hide.  He is your father."

Amanda nodded begrudgingly.  "Well, according to my mother, anyway..."

Sarek stepped up to the Customs agent when his turn came and presented his
diplomatic passport and papers.  It didn't take him long to be cleared.  He
strode over to where Al and Nell were being detained.

In his best diplomatic voice, Sarek said, "I am Ambassador Sarek and these,"
he nodded to Al and Nell, "are my parents-by-marriage.  May I be of some
assistance?"

"Do you know how much this stuff costs?  How is this a danger to your
planet?  It's a rip-off, I tell ya!"

Sarek had to stop Al's ranting or he would be refused entry into Risa.
"Alfred," he said.

Al continued his yelling at the now-irritated Customs official.  "What's
this galaxy coming to when a man can't bring a simple treat with him on
vacation?  I thought I was supposed to be enjoying myself here!"

The Customs agent rolled his eyes, his facial ridges flaring as his temper
grew.

Remembering that the elder Grayson's hearing was failing, he said in a loud
voice, "Alfred!"

"I hear you!" Al shouted as he turned to his son-in-law.  "No need to shout
in my ear.  I'm not deaf, ya know!"  He lowered his voice substantially.
"Deal with this... man, Sarek.  He's being unreasonable; illogical even!"
This last part he shouted back at the Customs agent.

Sarek turned to the agent and asked, "What is the issue, please?"

"He is not allowed to bring unauthorized meat products into Risa," the agent
explained, his temper growing very thin at this point.  The last thing he
needed was some stuff-shirt diplomat getting in his face about Risan
agricultural policy.

Sarek turned to Al and calmly reached out to remove the offending object
from his hands.  Al held on, struggling to retain his prized snack, but he
was no match for his son-in-law's Vulcan strength.  Sarek eyed Al sternly as
he handed the offending meat to the Customs agent.  "I believe the issue has
now been resolved to your satisfaction?" he asked.

The startled customs officer said, "Uh. yes.  It has.  Thank you,
Ambassador."  He put the jerky into the disposal unit before the human had a
chance to grab it back.

"Hey!" Al protested.

"Shut up, Alfred!  You're not supposed to be eating that junk anyway!" Nell
whispered furiously, pinching her husband's arm in the process.

Leaning close to the human, Sarek said, "Do you wish to be escorted off this
planet over a piece of a dead animal?  Do you not want to see your daughter
for Christmas?  I will purchase some jerky for you once we get settled; now,
come with me."  Sarek turned and walked off.  Amanda and the others arrived
just as Sarek left.  Soran helped with the elder's luggage and wondered what
was going on.

Al and Nell stared at each other, mouths agape at their son-in-law's
attitude.  "Well," Nell mused out loud, "Amanda did say he wasn't feeling
well lately."

"No kidding," Al agreed, now quite concerned.  He had assumed his daughter's
worries were unfounded, as she tended to 'mother hen' her husband anyway,
but never had he heard Sarek speak to them in that manner.

They allowed Soran's help and meekly followed Sarek out of the Customs area.

~~**~~

Soran led them to their hotel suite, a large catacomb of rooms affording
each couple privacy but keeping them within easy distance of each other.  He
was still curious as to what transpired at the spaceport, but hadn't had the
time to question Sarek about it.

Immediately, Sarek made for the office, ordering Soran to follow as soon as
the bags were deposited in the appropriate rooms.  Making some quick
excuses, Amanda took the opportunity to sequester herself in the office with
her mate before Soran could get there.  She knew he would respect the closed
door and not enter, regardless of Sarek's order.

Amanda stood by the door, watching as her husband worked away on one of the
PADDs, and waited for him to notice her.

Sarek looked up, expecting to see Soran standing there, but instead gazed
upon his wife.  "Amanda, I am rather busy now.  How can I assist you?"

"You can 'assist' me by explaining what happened back there?"  She crossed
her arms, her irritation evident.

"What happened where?" he asked absently, as he perused yet another PADD.

"What happened back at Customs.  How could you speak to my father that way?"

Sarek looked up at his wife and put the PADD down.  "I spoke to him in such
a way as to ensure that he would be allowed entry onto Risa, my wife.  The
way he was arguing, he was going to be escorted off the planet all for a
piece of meat."  Looking back down at his work, he added, "He acted most
illogically, even for him."

"Perhaps, but that's hardly unlike my dad.  You were a bit rude, don't you
think?  It's not like you to act that way towards an elder."  She approached
the desk, leaning on the edge.

"I was not rude, Amanda.  I resolved the situation quickly before he was
asked to depart the planet.  I did what I had to, to ensure that you would
have the company of your parents for Christmas."

Amanda sighed thoughtfully.  "Perhaps, but you've never spoken to them like
that before even when handling one of my father's crazy situations.  You
normally have more finesse than that."  She looked him over assessing him
carefully.  "Are you sure you're feeling well?"

Sarek sighed, becoming frustrated by his wife's constant obsession with his
health.  "I am fatigued and concerned about the outcome of the negotiations
with the Cellesians.  They are not going well, Amanda, and I do not believe
I can change that fact.  I also do not believe that they will treat over
half of their population with respect, and that concerns me about my
effectiveness as an ambassador."  He stood.  "Perhaps you are correct.  I
should apologize to your father for my disrespect."  His shoulders slumped
slightly; he left the office to seek out the elder Grayson.

"Sarek wait."  She grabbed his arm as he moved to pass her.  "That can wait
for now.  It's not a big deal, really.  They'll understand.  It's the manner
in which this mission has affected you that concerns me.  You've prepared
for these negotiations for months.  Can't you leave it be for now and focus
on the conference instead?  Enjoy this assignment, just a little?"  She
pressed her body close to him.  "I'd consider it a wonderful Christmas
present."

He let her softness press against him and liked the way it felt.  It had
been a long mission.  "You are correct.  Perhaps a break from our
preparations will clear our minds and give us a new perspective.  I shall
inform Soran that we will concentrate on the conference, at least for now."
He put his arms around her neck and bent his head to kiss her soft lips.

There was a discrete knock on the door, then it opened and Amanda's father
peeked his head around the door.  "You two decent?"

Sarek sighed, raising an eyebrow and Amanda grinned widely.  "Yes, Daddy,
we're decent."

"Good."  Al pushed the door open, carrying two mugs of steaming liquid.
"The bar is stocked!  Well, stocked for a Vulcan, at least.  Here, Sarek, I
made you some tea."

Sarek took the tea gratefully and cleared his throat.  "Alfred, I wish to
apologize to you for my disrespectful behaviour at the spaceport.  It was
inexcusable, and I ask for your forgiveness."

"Aw, think nothing of it.  I guess I may have been a little unreasonable,
but I worked hard to hide that from Nell long enough to get it this far!" He
grinned sheepishly.

Sarek was stunned.  "You mean to tell me that that piece of meat was Nell's
Christmas present?"

Amanda laughed, and Al looked at Sarek, puzzled.  "No, son, I mean I hid it
from her because she doesn't let me eat it. Says it's bad for my blood
pressure."

"Oh," he said, sheepishly.

Amanda left the room, still chuckling, and the men engaged in a little catch
up of their own.  Shortly thereafter they heard Nell calling from the other
room.  "Al, come here a minute, I have a job for you!"

Al looked at Sarek, a grin spreading over his features.  "What, dear?"

Sarek began to clarify for him.  "She wants you to--"

Al's 'shush' silenced him at once.

Nell's voice came back louder.  "Come here!  I have a job for you!"

Al grinned wider, "What, hon, I can't hear you!"

"I would not push this, Alfred.  She may come in and get you herself," Sarek
said, puzzled at the man's behavior.

Al shushed him again, enjoying his game too much.  Sarek capitulated.

"Damn it, Al, use your aid, will you!"

This time Al started chuckling, amusing himself to no end.  "Hang on a
sec...I need to turn my hearing aid on!"  He laughed outright, turning to
Sarek.  "I can hear her just fine; hardy ever need to use this damn thing,
but I can't resist riling her up now and then."  He walked towards the door,
then turned back.  "They're just so damn beautiful when they're mad, aren't
they?"

"Indeed."  Shaking his head, he left to find Soran and tell him to
concentrate on the conference.

During the week, Sarek and Soran attended the conference, but the evenings
were filled with social activities, some hosted by the conference, and some
not.  They attended a performance that was playing in their resort.  It was
a passable performance in Sarek's opinion, but Al seemed to enjoy it just
for the fact that the female performers were topless.

~~**~~




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