The husband and the wife

The school looked different. But then everything looked different to Mandy now. Her apartment had seemed smaller shabbier. It no longer seemed to offer her freedom, a place of escape; it was now a place she had outgrown. She would always feel fond of it, the first place that had truly been hers but coming soon at a distance that was not seeable but she knew was just over the horizon she would have a place that would be theirs. Hers and Sarek's and although daunting that was exciting.

It was the same with the school except the other way round. Despite the fact that she had always knew she would move on with her life now that she knew for certain she was leaving the school it pained her. She's miss the little rectangular building with its white painted walls and little blue fence. The benches and the bright colored patterns painted on the tarmac playground. The little flowerbeds of posies and sunflowers that she had helped the children plant last year. The excited smiles she got as the children rushed through the door in the morning with news of their lives, the planned holidays and small gifts and clubs and new baby siblings. The exhausting nature of school plays and sports days and exasperated complaints between herself and the other teachers and how it all disappeared when they saw the children's smiles of success and the ways their parents smiled and congratulated them. It had been a happy time of her life, but she had to remind herself a time where she was not moving, a time where she was not interested in what she was doing, nor enthusiastic. All things must come to an end.

As she walked through the little door swiping her card through the security slot she felt her eyes fill with tears. She did not know why, there were still weeks before the end of the year, weeks before she would believing. This was not her last day yet still she was emotional. She told herself it was simply that she was overwhelmed by everything that had happened to her in the last few days. The quick changes of emotions she had been with the questions she had asked herself and the strange new but wonderful presence in her mind.

"Mandy?"

She had not noticed the schools secretary coming down the hallway.

"I'm glad to see your back, are you feeling better?"

"Much better."

"Ready to get back to the little monsters."

"Yes." Mandy said surely, she knew that she would fill these last few weeks with care and advice to her young charges.

"I'm sure Paul will be happy to see you back."

"Yes, it's so hard with stand in teachers, You never know whether they're going to follow the curriculum or just make the kids draw."

"She was a drawer." Danni whispered in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh god, now I have to get the kids caught up as well as a week worth of homework marking and paperwork." Mandy moaned. Danni laughed.

"Well, now you know you're never meant to leave."

Mandy's face fell and she turned around so that Danni couldn't see her expression which she knew must be aghast.

"Guess I'd better go find Paul."

Mandy said. She approached his office with the apprehension of somebody about to pull of a bandaid. She knew it was going to sting but it had to be done. She knocked on Paul's office door.

"Come in."

Mandy fixed a smile onto her face as she opened the door to see Paul in pristine suit sat behind his desk.

"Mandy, sit down please." Paul said sounding delighted to see her.

Mandy sat down already feeling guilty. Paul was an alright boss when it came ot it and he was always nice to her, it was a shame that she had to leave. She was comfortable here, but probably too comfortable, this was not what her life was meant to be. She had to move forwards. New husband new life.

"You look really well. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes thank you."

"Are you sure? Because if there's anything I can do for you…"

"No Paul, seriously thank you for the time off there was a lot of things I had to get sorted."

"And they're sorted now?"

"Yes."

"Good. " Paul's voice dropped lower. "I was worried about you Mandy. I know I'm your boss but I really hope you see me as a friend as well. I hope you feel you can come to me with anything."

"Thank you Paul." Mandy sighed. Paul being so nice was actually making the more difficult. "I do have something I need to tell you." ,Mandy hesitated trying to decide just what words to use.

"I am going to hand in my notice and will not be returning next year."

Paul was expressionless as he looked at her. A minute later he reached over and took her hand. Mandy stared feeling her cheeks flush hot. It was a friendly gesture, perhaps a supportive gesture but it felt wrong. Touching hands meant so little to her before but it was such an intimate gesture to Sarek that she felt as if she should save it for him. Shaking hands with somebody as a sign of respect was unavoidable at time but this.. this touch was wrong. Still she did not want to move her hand when Paul was just trying to be nice.

"Mandy, what's wrong? You take a week off and then tell me that you're quitting. There's got to be something up. Are you ill?"

"No.. No." Mandy pulled her hand out from under Paul's palm. "There's nothing wrong Paul. It's just.. just that my circumstances have changed and it's time for a new direction. I'm going to pursue other careers."

Paul frowned and sat back in his chair.

"What interests and why now?"

"I'm getting married."

Paul's expression froze exactly as it was, there was no smile and no congratulations.

"And I'll probably move off planet for a while." Mandy concluded to explain why she could not carry on working at the school once she got married.

"Married?" Paul said his voice deep.

"Yes."

"You're getting married."

"Yes."

"To whom?"

"Sarek."

"The Vulcan Ambassador?"

"Yes?"

"I see." Paul stood up. "Very well, be sure to get me your letter of resignation by the end of the week. Thank you Miss Grayson." He said coldly.

"Okay.." Mandy said confused by the sudden change of mood. Paul opened the door for her and she stood up and walked out towards the staff room. Paul followed close behind.

"Thank you Paul." Mandy said. He did not answer. When they entered the staff room all eyes turned to Mandy. There were smiles and welcome backs and enquiries over her health.

"I'll let you give them the news." Paul said turning to leave.

"News?" Mira asked.

"Oh my God." Her eye's had widened as she took in the engagement ring.

"Mandy .. are you .. you're not.."

"I am."

"Oh my god." Mira jumped up and hugged her.

"Wait you're getting married?"Sara asked.

"Yes, to Sarek."

There were widened eyes and looks but Mandy could ignore them. They didn't know him.

She accepted more congratulations and questions that she couldn't answer. No they hadn't set a date. No she didn't know what color dress she was going to wear. No it was not going to be a mixture of Vulcan and Terran customs they would do both. Yes, they were all invited. Then She managed to finally sit down and drink her morning coffee as she watched the girls excitedly talk about other weddings they had been to and great ideas for locations and themes even though Mandy already kind of knew the location would be the Vulcan Embassy and they would be invite boring people from the office of whatever to keep on their good side. It was going to be a 'let's not offend anybody' theme. Plus there would be lots of official group photos to be taken as there wedding; the first wedding between a Terran and a non terrestrial was the ultimate sign of the progression of Earth and good will between species. Basically she love Sarek, she wanted to be married to him and start her new life with him but God dammit this wedding was going to be hell. It was going to be about more than them and their love for each other and that kind of sucked.

Eventually the assembled teachers looked at the clock and realized they had to go greet their students. As they were leaving Mandy grabbed Mira hand and pulled her over for a whispered conversation.

"What's wrong with Pual? He's not congratulated me or anything in fact he seems in a foul mood."

"Oh Mandy, you know this must be hard for him."

"What?"

"You getting married."

Mandy felt confused, and it must have shown on her face because (name) mouth dropped open in surprise.

"You didn't know?"

"I didn't know what?"

"That Paul's in love with you, he has been for years.."

"WHAT? No. No.. I .."

Mandy tried to deny it, but somewhere deep in her mind she realized it was true. It was clear in the way he looked at her. He had always gone out of his way to help her, more so than he had with any of the other teachers. He had invited her out at least once every two months since they had meet, there was always plays he thought she would like to see or really good local bands playing in some bar or dinners at his house. And now that she could see that she could also remember how every time somebody in the staff room would ask her about a current relationship he would find some excuse to leave the room.

"I didn't know." Mandy sighed.

Mandy found she didn't have to explain herself to the secretary at the Vulcan embassy anymore. She was always met with a short smile and waved through. She also found the other staff at the embassy gave her respectful little nods as she walked up to Sarek's apartments. It was strange but nice. She placed her hand against the identification pad next to the door. She expected it to ring in his apartment but instead it just slide open. She stepped into the reception room. Sarek was sat at his desk, his eyes flickered up to meet hers the instant she stepped into the room. Mandy found herself smiling widely just at the sight of him.

"Good afternoon Amanda."

"Hey." Mandy answered approaching the desk, she walked around the edge of it and bent to kiss Sarek lightly.

"Are you well?"

"I'm fine." Mandy smirked slightly as she sat herself down on Sarek's lips. His hand immediately grasped her waist o hold her steady.

"Are you feeling faint?"

"No."

"Then why have you chosen to sit in my lap when there are other seats in the vicinity?"

"Because you're warm." Mandy said snuggling her face in the crock of his neck. "And you smell good." She kissed his neck. "And I just want to be close to you."

Sarek placed a soft kiss to her forehead and brushed his fingers through her hair.

"It is pleasant to have you close to me to."

They sat like that for several long minutes; Mandy listening to the loud fast heartbeat of the warm body next to her. She felt so safe, so at home. This is what her life had been missing.

"Amanda, I have some news."

"Oh."

"I received notice today that our marriage application has been accepted. "

Mandy jumped up excitedly.

"What?" She shrieked.

Sarek looked somewhat startled. For Sarek that meant his eyes widened ever so slightly and his eyebrows twitched.

"I informed you that it was likely the papers would be passed."

"Yes I know. And I wasn't worried, at least I didn't think I was but somewhere in the back of my mind I must have been. But now, it's real. We're getting married."

"It was real before Amanda. I would have kept appealing until they accepted. And we would still have been fully bonded even if not married in the earth tradition."

Mandy let out a deep breath and straddled Sarek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. It took him a while to respond as if he was taken by surprised by her actions. She ran her hands down his chest her fingers working on the fastenings of his robe trying to get at that warm flesh. She had not yet had a chance to memorize it all as they had only made life twice. Mandy had to keep reminding herself that Sarek was less experienced with her. Even if he did seem to read her mind to tell exactly what she wanted sexually, actually remove the 'seems' from that statement she knew that was exactly what he was doing. Once Sarek did react he threw himself deeply into the kiss. His tongue danced across hers, his fingers lightly tracing her jaw line. The taste of him was so addictive, the tanginess if him. The strange inhuman texture of his skin made her desperate for him, she pushed herself against him shifting her hips against his looking for friction. Oh, she was always so hot for him.

Mandy had to pull back to breath.

"Amanda, do you wish to make love again?"

"Yes." Mandy said nipping down on his neck.

"Then may I suggest we go to y bedroom?"

"Can't wait. " Mandy gasped. Her fingers found the waist of his trousers and slipped beneath the fabric.

"Human women seem to have very large sex drives."

"Are you complaining?"

"No. It is merely a statement."

Mandy was half asleep as she drove to work on Monday morning. She was starting to train her class up ready for the end of year examinations which was always a slightly stressful time as the children were shocked and rebellious from the sudden increase of work. That was not what affected her sleep though. They had started to plan their wedding the week before. Mandy had always thought that when you start to plan a wedding you say a date to your significant other then you book a church or hall; ring everybody up and tell them to save the date; get a caterer; a DJ; some flowers and of course a dress and then just hope that hubby to be remembers to turn up.

That might well be complicated enough to send most brides half way to the nut house but Mandy was used to organizing camping trips for seven year olds. A wedding should be easy enough. Except for her wedding plans she sat down in Sarek's welcoming room (trying hard not to think about the fact that she had had sex on that desk, good sex, mind blowing sex, stars and earth moving and actually screaming and swearing and begging sex that she had only thought existed in bad romance novels and even worse porn films) with Max and two other official looking people whose names and titles Mandy couldn't be arsed to learn. They had talked for half an hour about trade agreements, and wrapping things up and certain important days and then they had given Mandy a date and she had stared blankly at them not sure what they were asking so she said yes and like that her wedding was booked for the twentieth of June. Then they were giving her lists of flowers and foods that would not offend the more important guests and asked her to draft the official announcements. Then they were discussing somebody called T'pau and the bonding ceremony and how they would tackle any fore seeable problems because Sarek's family were important and even though T'pau had accepted the marriage there might be some people who did not.

She had taken a huge pile of papers home with her to decide from the lists what she wanted her wedding to be like. The only answer Mandy had come up with was 'not like this'. Then there was the problem of her mother. They weren't talking officially. But Mandy had called her up to tell her the date and location of her wedding which had set off another argument.

That was why Mandy did not notice the strange holo camera flashes as she had driven up the road to the school. She did notice that the parking lot was unusually full with lots of cars she did not recognize and there was a group of people stood outside the school doors that did not look like parents and if they were were very early.

As Mandy got out the car a man holding one of those block like holo cameras pointed to her. There was an excited clattering and then she found herself blinded by flashing lights and surrounded by people.

"Miss Grayson, what's it like to be the first Human to get engaged a non-terran?"

"Miss Grayson, what do your parents think?"

"Miss Grayson, do you think Vulcan's are capable of love?"

"Miss Grayson, how are you feeling about the wedding?"

"Miss Grayson how did you meet?"

"Miss Grayson, how's he in the sack?"

"Miss Grayson are you planning on having children?"

"Miss Grayson have you always been this forward thinking?"

"How does he compare to Human men, in size and shape?"

"What are the plans for the wedding?"

Mandy blinked and looked around at the faces surrounding her. She had not expected this. She didn't know what to do? What was she meant to say? How was she going to get rid of these people before the kids arrived.

"Mandy." A familiar voice called.

Mandy turned to find Paul stood at the back of the crowd.

"Just go home, we're getting everything sorted out. "

Mandy worried for a moment about who would teach her class and how Paul would get rid of these people and would he say anything to them but she knew there was nothing she could do so she just blankly nodded. Told a woman with a microphone to get the fuck off her car and drove back home feeling rather shell shocked.

Mandy was just reaching into the oven to get out the lovely fresh pasta bake that she had made (without the need of a fire extinguisher, amazing right?) when the Com system went off. The sudden noise made her jump and bang her hand against the top of the oven.

"SHIT!" She shouted as a small blister immediately appeared on her burnt skin. She quickly considered whether to answer the Com or to take care of her burnt hand. Cursing the person who commed her she ran for screen expecting the ringing to stop before she got there. She did make it in time and hit the button. She couldn't help but smile slightly when she saw Sarek.

"Good evening Amanda."

"Good evening Sarek."

"You are looking slightly flushed, are you well."

"Yeah, just burnt my hand." Mandy said raising it up so Sarek could see the red blister over her thumb.

Sarek's eyes darkened slightly.

"Amanda, I suggest you seek medical attention."

Mandy smiled, he was worried about her. That was nice.

"If you wait a minute I'll go get some cream and a plaster."

"Please do."

Mandy ran back to the kitchen and reached up on the tips of her toes for the first aid kit on the top shelf. Her fingers brushed along the edge of the green box and she managed to knock it off the shelf. It clattered onto the floor the lid breaking from it's hinges and scattered it's contents all over the floor. She sighed as she ran her undamaged hand through her hair and gazed over the various little sprays and creams and fabrics over the floor. She picked up a little antibiotic spray and a big blue plaster. The spray stung as it hit her skin but after pulling the plaster on and running back to the front room to collapse in front of Sarek again she didn't feel it.

"You are better?"

"I've put a plaster on it."

"Be sure to watch out for infection."

"I will. Now, I have a gorgeous pasta bake in the oven so can this conversation wait twenty minutes or do you have something important to tell me?"

"Nothing of importance, ring me back when you are ready."

Mandy was about to ring off when she realized something. Sarek was ringing her before seven o'clock. And he was alright with her ringing him back so that meant…

"Wait.. you don't have any meetings?"

"No I do not."

"Then you're free tonight?"

"No, I am not. There is a possibility that if I do not spend five point three hours doing what most refer to as 'paper work' (she could hear the brackets) then I may fall behind."

Mandy smiled.

"Okay, I'll let you off. Call you back soon."

Mandy turned the com system off and ran back to the oven. She made sure her hands were properly covered with the tea towel and then she pulled out the pasta. The cheese on top was slightly brown but it was definitely still edible. She cut out a big slice and placed it on a plate and then searched her fridge for something reasonably healthy. She took out some ready to eat salad in a bag and dumped and handful onto the plate. She ate quickly, even thought the meal was enjoyable (extra cheesy) she wanted to get back to the com and be able to share a few words with her fiancé. They had not spoken in three days though Sarek was still sending her translated poems. And a few un translated children's poems as she had already started learning Vulcan through a computer course.

After rushing down the food at a speed that practically assured heart burn she ran back to the com system and rung Sarek.

"Hello Mandy, are you now fully nourished?"

"I am now only hungry for you dear."

Sarek raised an eyebrow.

"Is that another sexual statement?"

"Yes. You're catching on fast, I'll have to fully educate you to all sexual innuendos when we go on honeymoon."

"Honeymoon, that is when a couple takes time off work after marriage and go to another part of the planet to spend time alone together without any duties or responsibilities."

"Yes." Mandy said trying to hide her disappointment that Sarek had not been planning some kind of honeymoon for them.

"I will be having a period off work after the commitment ceremony on Vulcan if you wish I shall take you to see the katric arc, or if you preferred I believe that Paris is nice at that time of year. I do not understand why one city is considered more romantic than another but I may understand more fully if I were to try mooning there."

"Honeymooning."

"Is there a difference?"

"Mooning is showing your ass in a public place."

"Ah, I shall not be publically displaying my buttocks in Paris."

"Yeah, I would prefer it if you didn't as well. And Paris would be lovely but I do need to get used to Vulcan. I mean, it's different culturally and the atmosphere and gravity. It's going to take me a wile to get used to right?"

"You may well have most of your life to get used to I Amanda. If you want to go to Paris then we shall go to Paris. Consider it. As for getting used to the atmospheric changes on Vulcan a lot of Humans take Tri-oxide periodically for the first few months until their bodies readjust."

"I'll talk to my doctor about it." Mandy suddenly realized she would really need another doctor seeing as her usual one still thought she was insane and not just bonded to a telepathic alien. "So, you had something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yes. It is a wedding matter. The T'lita clan cannot be seated next to the non-federatin Ambassador because they have a family rivalry which has gone back about twenty two hundred years. A completely illogical matter but then the T'lita have always lacked logic."

"Sarek." Mandy sighed running a hand through her hair. " Why do I have to do the seating plan?"

"You do not technically have to do anything Amanda. It is only that Max suggested you may want to keep as much control over your wedding as possible."

"I should have known Max had something to do with this. That boy has issues. Look, I would usually love to have some say over my own wedding but as it is can somebody who knows about this stuff pick who is to sit next to who. Just as long as I'm next to you and my mother is with some rabies stricken Klingons then I don't care."

"Rabies, was that not wiped out in the late 2090's? It would be very difficult to introduce the virus to a Klingon. And I was not planning on inviting any Klingons seeing as they are currently finding reasons to declare war on the federation. They also have a wedding tradition where the moment the couple is declared married they jump on them and start beating them with large sticks."

"I guess that's no worse than what my mother is expecting our wedding to be like."

Sarek did not answer he just stared at her patiently in sympathy for a long moment.

"Do you wish me to ask Max to figure out the seating arrangements?"

"No, not Max. He wouldn't sit us next to each other."

"Sandra then?"

"Yes, I like Sandra, but can you check if she doesn't mind first? I don't want to put extra work on her if she's already got to much to do."

Sarek gave a short nod.

"Amanda, you are distressed."

"All brides to be get stressed before their weddings."

"Are you having doubts?"

"About marrying you? Never. About having a wedding, yes."

"Due to the circumstances it is becoming a political wedding."

"It sucks. Can't we just run away and get married up on a hill or in a tiny rose surrounded church in the middle of nowhere?"

"Is that what you want?" Sarek asked.

"No, I know, this has to be done."

Mandy had not known what to expect when Sarek had asked her on a date but it definitely wasn't him turning up wearing a suit and holding out a (admittedly very beautiful) white lace summer dress. He had asked her to wear it and it was so beautiful that honestly she didn't question it she just got changed. If her fiancé' wanted to buy her nice things then she could just about live with it. Unless it was to make up for him doing something wrong but Mandy guessed Sarek had no idea about that concept of a guilt or bribe present. He probably had a good reason for the unusual action. Like it was more logical to bring her an appropriate outfit than trying to explain to her what an appropriate outfit would be.

For the first ten minutes of the car ride Mandy tried to get Sarek to tell her where they were going. She only stopped when she got bored. It seemed that for every arguments she had for Sarek to tell her he had one not to. It was also seemingly impossible to irritate him with constant questions. Eventually she just gave in and sat there contented with the fact that her logical fiancée was trying to surprise her. She listened to the soft romantic music (and since when does Sarek play music in the car) and drifted off to sleep.

She didn't know how long it was before Sarek woke her up. She blinked drowsily for a few seconds and opened her eyes to bright sunlight.

"We have arrived at our destination."

"Thank you for travelling Ryan Air." Mandy muttered trying to blink clear her blurry eyes.

"Pardon?" Sarek asked confused.

"Never mind."

Mandy looked around and saw that they were parked in a little car park below a giant oak tree. As she glanced around she didn't recognize where they were. They were in a grassy area surrounded by corn fields. But in front of them was a little white hut like building. The window frames were painted light blue and the dark wood double doors had roses growing up and trailing across the top. In amongst those rose vines was a black wooden crucifix.

"Where are we?"

"Six miles north of the centre of Apple Creek."

"I've never heard of it, are we still in state?"

"Yes."

Mandy's mouth dropped open. Was this really happening? She was wearing a white lace dress near a tiny church surrounded by roses. It was what she had said she wanted, wasn't it? She stared across at Sarek opened mouthed. Was that a new suit? Sarek wasn't paying attention to her, he was typing on his phone. She saw the door of the little church open and her sister Sarah and Mira (her friend from work)peeked through. They were both wearing yellow dresses. They hooked the doors open and stepped back into the darkness of the church.

"What is this?"

Mandy suspected what it was, but it couldn't possibly be what she suspected.

"We are going to get married." Sarek answered.

"I, what..."

"You were expecting to get married at the end of our engagement?"

"Yes but the end of our engagement is supposed to be in another month."

"Well, lawfully we would not be married until the twentieth of June."

"I don't understand what's happening here."

"You expressed exasperation at the plans for the wedding. You said you wished to get married on a hill or in a small church with roses. This is a small church with roses and there is a hill five miles away that the priest said he does not mind going to if you prefer. I therefore wondered if you would wish to complete our vows here. Then on our official wedding day we shall repeat them and sign the marriage papers. "

"This is totally illogical." Mandy said feeling shell shocked.

"We are already having two ceremonies; I thought three would not make much difference."

"Still don't see the logic."

"Will it make you happy?"

"Very happy." Her eyes went blurry again. She reached up and wiped the tears that were forming in her eyes. She felt so happy.

"Good tears." She explained to Sarek.

Sarek nodded.

"Amanda, do you wish to marry me?" Sarek said reaching over and taking her hand.

"Yes."

"Today?"

"Yes."

Sarek nodded and leaned over to press a light kiss to her cheek.

"Do I look alright?" Mandy asked.

"You look beautiful. Would you like me to wait at front or shall I walk with you down the aisle?"

"Don't you dare let go of my hand."

Sarek looked down at her hand.

"Amanda, I may have to let go of your hand to get out of the car."

Mandy smiled and let go of Sarek's hand. She climbed out of the car and they met in front of the steps to the church taking each others hands again.

Mandy looked down at those hands, pale skin and long fingers and warm. She loved these hands. The glint of her ring caught her eyes and she smiled. Then her gaze flickered down to her feet. Sandals, she was going to get married in sandals. Mandy giggled. Sarek raised an eyebrow at her.

Without another word they walked up the steps and paused for a moment at the doors of the church seeing the aisle that ran down between the benches and the alter at the back where Sara and Mira waited to one side. The priest stood in the middle his body framed by a huge window at the back of the church that looked out over a golden barley field.

Sarek led Mandy down the aisle at a steady pace, not too slow as there was nobody watching them, nobody judging them. Mandy felt her face split to a smile, it was just them. Getting married, telling each other they loved each other, none of the fuss or the bother. This was the wedding she had wanted, simple and beautiful and small (though she had never imagined this small).

In seconds they were in front of the smiling young priest. Mira tapped her on the shoulder and held out a little bouquet of her favorite flowers, white lilies. Mandy smiled gratefully at her as she took them and winked at Sara who already had a tear running down her cheek.

"You guys ready?" The priest said his voice lively and slightly cheeky.

Mandy gave a timid little laugh.

"Yes." She answered.

"Okay, we are gathered here today to witness the union between this man and this woman." The priest clapped his hands.

"Sarek said he wished to keep this simple."

"Yes please." Mandy said trying again not to giggle, she was just to happy to hold it all in.

"Okay then, follow me. I Sarek will." The priest emphasized the 'will' "Take you Amanda Grayson to be my lawfully wedded wife. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life."

Sarek looked down at Mandy. They turned to fully face each other. Mandy felt that presence in her mind again and it was wonderful warm and loving.

"I Sarek will take you Amanda Grayson to be my lawfully wedded wife. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life."

Mandy felt the tears slip down her face.

"Miss Grayson." The priest prompted softly.

"I Amanda Grayson will take you Sarek to be my lawfully wedded husband. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life."

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Mandy laughed and flung her arms around Sarek barely caring that she hit the priest in the face with the lilies, she crushed her lips to him pouring everything she felt for him into the kiss. She felt his hands on her waist. She felt the presence in her mind tickle. As she pulled away she looked into Sarek's grey eyes and saw the deep tenderness in them. She was going to be with this man for the rest of her life.

She turned to see Mira and Sarah clapping and held her arms out to them. Sara stepped forwards first to hug her tightly.

"You look beautiful Mandy."

"I'm crying." Mandy laughed wiping the tears from her eyes.

"You always look beautiful when you cry, don't believe what Mom tells you."

Sarah let go of her and stood on the tips of her toes to kiss Sarek on the cheek. Mandy tried to hold back another giggle as Sarek looked surprised by the sudden affection.

"It's tradition." Mandy muttered as she pulled Mira in for a hug.

"Thank's for coming Mi."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. Am I still invited to the other one?"

"Yes." Mandy giggled again, she had no idea what they were going to do next. Were they going to drive home? It would seem a little strange after this wonderful surprise to get back in a car for another couple of hours.

"Thank you." Sarek said shaking hands with the priest. "Will you join us?"

"Definitely." He replied.

"For what?" Mandy asked.

"I have brought a picnic."

Mandy smiled and took linked her arm with his.

"Let's go eat then."

They paused at the top of the steps and the ultra enthusiastic priest took some photos of them. Then they found a beautiful spot at the back of the church and sat on a laid down blanket. They ate a delicious mixture of finger foods and fruits and drank Champaign. They talked for hours, the five of them chatting happily. The priest was enthusiastic to know how they meet and what there life would be like now they were together, he'd never been asked to do a pre-marriage before, or a non-religious between species ceremony for that matter. It amused him but he was obviously happy to do it. Sarah and Mira shared funny stories about Mandy with Sarek who managed to charm and amuse them in turn.

As the sun was setting Mira and Sarah shared a look and Mira disappeared. She returned with a small music player and sat it down on the grass next to them. Sarek stood up and offered his hand to Mandy.

"I believe it is traditional to share a first dance."

Mandy took his hand and stood up.

The music started to play and Mandy sighed and laid her head on Sarek's chest as they stepped in a lazy slow dance together.

'Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life'

"Our Song." Mandy whispered. She knew this song would remind her of this day for the rest of her life.

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

Mandy noticed that Mira and the priest were dancing near to them. She looked over Sarek's shoulder and met Mira's eyes. She gave her a cheeky wink.

A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light

Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

As the sing ended Mandy pressed her lips gently against Sarek's in a languid kiss.

"Sarek."

"Yes my wife?"

"This is perfect. Just perfect. Thank you."

Mandy's second wedding was made so much better by the knowledge that it wasn't real. Not really, it was just for show. Her and Sarek's had got married in a little rose covered church a month before hand. That had been there real wedding. So when they had to stand in front of the huge crowd of people (of whom she could only recognize half of the first three rows) and say the traditional 'I do's she just thought back to the promises that she had made to Sarek a month previously. And when they did not kiss because it might shock the Vulcan members of their audience, well that was fine too because they had been practically living together the last month and there had been a lot of kisses.

When she approached her mother afterwards she actually felt a wave of closeness for her when she saw tears running down her face.

"Oh Mom. I'm glad you're actually happy for me."

"I can't believe you actually went through with it."

That was not okay. But then thinking back, oh yes, her mother wasn't at her real wedding.

It was also okay though when she came to dance with her father and he smiled down proudly at her.

"Are you happy for me Daddy?

"Yes. He's a good man..Vulcan."

"I love you Daddy."

"I love you too. You are one of my three favorite daughters."

That night Mandy and Sarek were so exhausted from having to talk to everybody and shake hands and try to avoid talking about trade agreements that they did not make love. The next morning when they woke up in their expensive honey moon suite with white silk sheets they made up for that fact five times over (and under, and once against a wall).

Mandy hugged her father and kissed Sarah and the baby before picking up one of her huge bag and handing it to Sarek who was already on the shuttle that would take them to Vulcan.

"Mrs Sarek."

Mandy turned surprised to hear her new name. She looked and saw a young woman with a PADD stood at a respectful distance behind her family.

"Hello?"

"Congratulations on your wedding."

"Thank you. Um.. who are you."

"I am Miss Hanson from the federation news."

"Oh." Mandy glanced over her shoulder at Sarek.

"I said one reporter. I believed it would be the best way to stop the harassment you received after our engagement."

"Okay." Mandy said looking back at the reporter.

"Time for one question?"

"One."

"You made the first page yesterday."

"Did I?"

"The headline was 'I married a little green man' do you have a comment on that?"

"There's nothing small about my husband."

"AMANDA!" Her mother snapped.

The reporter laughed and nodded as she wrote the answer into her PADD. Sarah also cracked up laughing while her father went very red.

"Goodbye Mom I'll call you later." Mandy said as she climbed the shuttle steps and watched the doors close behind her. She sat in the seat next to Sarek and waved at her family through the window as they took off. She felt a twinge of sadness underneath all her excitement but she knew it would not last for long.

"I do not understand." Sarek said.

Mandy turned to him.

"Don't understand what dear?"

"Though I am taller than the average human and Vulcan male I do not know why that would be a humorous enough to cause your sister and that reporter to laugh."

Mandy smirked and whispered the explanation into his ear. She was pleasantly surprised when she heard a light little chuckle come from Sarek's throat. He really was relaxed with her now.

"Are you glad to be going home?" Mandy asked him taking his hand.

"I am glad to have the chance to show you your new home and see what changes need to be made to make you comfortable. I am glad that our minds are to be bonded."
Mandy leaned across and kissed his cheek.

"We'll be okay won't we."

" I do not foresee any problems arising that we are not capable of dealing with."

"I love you Sarek."

"I am pleased."

THE END.

Hope you enjoyed it. If you did please take the time to leave a review. Thank you to all those who have reviewed It was really encouraging .