Disclaimer: Star Trek belongs to Paramount. I own nothing but the OCs.

"Do I have to get bonded?"

Sykor sighed and handed Bridget another rock to scan and catalog. "Your Uncle Soval would like for you to get bonded, but it is ultimately your decision. You are human, and are under no obligation to follow our way."

"Aunt Genie says Callie likes it, but Callie is so...girly. I don't like girly things."

"There is no shame in being feminine," Sykor reminded her. "Your Aunt Genie is a female. Do you have an objection to her?"

"That's not what I mean. I mean Callie likes dresses and dolls and makeup, and I don't."

"What correlation does that have to your bonding? All females on our world are bonded at age seven, regardless of their tastes and habits. You can dislike dresses and, as you say 'girly' things, and still be bonded."

Sykor noted the time on his PADD and suppressed the urge to sigh. Osu Soval had obtained this position for him at the Earth Embassy as a tutor; this internship would provide him with experience that he desperately needed, if he wanted to be an exchange teacher one day. So far, Bridget was a fair student, though her attention span was sometimes lacking. And she was surprisingly aesthetically pleasing for her age, though she claimed the boys at her school often teased her about her freckles. One of her classmates had insulted her to the point of tears, and she had been particularly emotional and distracted as he helped her with her homework.

"A bondmate worth anything would defend you against the boys at school. And if they persisted in their insults, he would most likely make good on any threats he might make."

This seemed to capture her interest, but she sighed heavily. "Maybe...I just...don't like boys like Callie does."

"Are you implying you are not heterosexual?"

Bridget blushed furiously. "Of course I am! I just...boys are icky right now. I don't know how Bailey puts up with them."

Sykor had briefly met Bailey Benton earlier that week; the teenager, the daughter of Abigail Forrest's colleague, looked after Bridget a few times a month, when her grandmother needed to be taken to the doctor.

"Bailey is obviously more mature than you. She has reached sexual maturity, and-"

At this point, Bridget blushed even harder and dropped the rock she was supposed to be examining. He frowned, backtracking to examine his sentence, and he could find no glaring errors.

"Have I said something to offend you?" he prodded, using the gentle tone of voice Soval said would be useful in these situations.

She stared at him. "Nevermind..."

"Bridget, if you do not tell me why you are blushing, then I will not know what I am doing that offends you."

"I'm not offended, it's just..."

He raised an eyebrow. "Talk of sex is...uncomfortable for you?"

"Yeah..."

"Are all humans like this?" he asked, genuinely curious. She shrugged.

"Sure...grandma hasn't even told me about...you know...boys and stuff. She blushed like a tomato when I told her Tommy Vanderbilt was staring up my skirt last week."

"That is highly inappropriate behavior," Sykor said, frowning. "Were his parents informed?"

She shrugged. "The teacher took care of it. I think he was sent to the principal's office."

He nodded in satisfaction. "It was right of your teacher to send him to the head of the school. That is not something boys his age...that is inappropriate," he finished, feeling his own cheeks start to flush.

Silence fell between them, but he glanced up at her a few moments later. "Could you define...'icky' for me?"

"It means gross," she replied, and he was under the impression she was glad they were changing the subject. In a way, he was as well.

His PADD beeped, alerting him to a message from Osu Soval. Sorak had found Bridget a mate, and their presence was requested at the Consulate to discuss the matter. He packed up his scanner and his other equipment, then walked with Bridget to the shuttle.

"I won't have to kiss him, will I?" she asked, slumping down low in the seat as he started the pre-ignition sequence. "Callie kisses Notak all the time, and it's icky...sorry, gross."

Sykor raised an eyebrow. "Firstly, you should not slouch. Secondly, no, you are under no obligation to kiss him, or even touch him, until such time that you are bonded. And then, you will only have to touch his fingers."

"Good," she said, straightening a little. "I...nevermind."

"I believe you have sufficiently explained your views. As you grow older, you will find the concept of touching the opposite sex to be more agreeable. You are still a child, with a child's view of things, and-"

"Sykor, you're rambling," she muttered impatiently. He stopped talking.

"Forgive me," he replied gently, turning slightly towards her. "You may find it agreeable one day."

The rest of the journey passed in silence.

…

The boy in front of him was dressed in a prim and pressed school uniform, with traveling robes over them. The nephew of a well-respected diplomat, and the son of Soval's aide, the Vulcan youth came from a wealthy background, and held himself in all seriousness as he stared at Bridget, who was standing beside Soval, looking nervous.

"You want her to be my bondmate?" the boy sneered, looking Bridget up and down as if she were a sandworm on the sidewalk that had been squashed by a passerby. She winced at his expression and looked at Soval with near desperation, but Sorak spoke before the ambassador.

"I am your father, and I deem that you will benefit from this bond. Do you wish to object my wishes, my son?"

"No, father. She will suffice."

Sykor privately scoffed at the young man's ignorance. When the fever hit him full blast, he would deeply regret the words he uttered now. Soval and Sorak seemed to be of the same mind as him, glaring reproachfully down at the haughty youth.

"Then you will be bonded next month, when Bridget turns seven."

Slek nodded and flounced out of Soval's office with his tutor, who had accompanied him at the insistence of Sorak's ex-wife. Sorak hurried after them, but Soval simply sat down at his desk and pulled a stack of PADDs towards him.

"How was your tutoring session, Sykor? Do you think she is a good student?"

"She has great potential, Osu, and a bright mind. She is impatient sometimes, but I believe with proper training, she can overcome this deficiency."

"Very good," the ambassador replied. "Then you will be her tutor until she turns eighteen and legally becomes an adult on this world."

"Understood, Osu."

"We'll discuss details at a later time. I must prepare for a press conference, and the admiral should be informed of this development. If you'll excuse me, I believe they will have served dinner in the dining hall, if either of you are hungry."

Bridget fled at that dismissal, and Soval stared after her, confusion tainting his brown eyes.

"Follow her, Sykor, and make sure she is not ill."

He nodded, noting Soval's discomfort, and he found her out in the gardens, hunched up in the shade of an oak tree. The sky was darkening with an approaching storm, and he sat beside her in the cool grass.

"You look troubled."

"I'm fine."

He paused. "Do you wish to eat?"

"No."

"You are not hungry?"

"No."

"I can hear your stomach growling."

She stared straight ahead. "If I eat, I'm going to puke."

"Why? Are you ill?" He took a better look at her face, and she did look very pale.

"I'm fine, Sykor. I just want to go home."

"Your grandmother will be here within the hour."

"Can you please...I want to be alone for a while, Sykor. Please?"

He stood and stared down at her, frowning in concern. "Are you certain you are not unwell, Bridget?"

He thought he saw tears glimmering in her eyes, but they were gone as soon as they formed, and she shook her head.

"I'm ok. Just go away."

He raised an eyebrow and turned to leave, but then he thought of something. "I will report this to your uncle. He is concerned for you."

"Tell him I'm fine."

"I highly doubt that."