Part 22: The night they were wed
Summary:
Tom and B'Elanna's big Day from a different perspective. (J/C, P/T)
Pairing:JC, P/T Rating: PG-13 Type of Story: Mush Level: 1
Part 22: The night they were wed
"What can I do for you both." Kathryn looked up at the two lieutenants in front of her. Her voice was measured because she was disappointed. She had meant it when she said she was in the race to win, but with what could have happened, she supposed she should just be glad that the two of them were standing in front of her instead of lying in torpedo tubes to be jettisoned into space; two more casualties on their journey through this quadrant.
Tom looked at B'Elanna and took her hand. She smiled at him. It was dazzling and Kathryn felt a warm smile reach her own lips as she realized what was happening in front of her.
"Captain we would like you to marry us." Tom said. Kathryn was beaming.
"I'd love to, when?"
"Right now"
"Right NOW? What's the rush?"
Tom looked at B'Elanna again and his next sentence answered Kathryn's question but he spoke it to B'Elanna.
"I've waited long enough and wasted too much time already, I don't want to waste another minute."
"What about the rest of the crew? Don't you want them to witness your special event?"
"We thought about it Captain. We don't want all the fuss, we just want to get married and besides I don't want to give Tom any chance to change his mind."
"That will never happen." Tom still hadn't faced the Captain since he had turned to B'Elanna. Kathryn saw the love in her helmsman's eyes and with all the joy she was feeling at that moment, a sweet pang of longing pierced her. She willed it away. She was not going to let anything spoil this day for them, not even the Captain's mood.
"We would like you to discretely call Harry and Chakotay to the station for us and we can get married there. There is this chapel that's set up to do unions twenty four hours a day, seven days a week."
"You want to get married on a space station in the Delta Quadrant?" Kathryn would have had a hard time believing this if she wasn't witnessing the love passing between her two officers.
"It is where we found each other, and we can safely say, we'll be the only humans listed in that chapel to get married."
"Well then let's get to it."
"Here is the location, Captain, we'll meet you Chakotay and Harry there in one hour? I left the ring pattern that we chose under pattern 65-R-Delta, but I don't have enough rations this month……."
"Say no more, consider it a wedding present from Chakotay and myself."
Tom and B'Elanna were too caught up in each other to realize that she had committed Chakotay to donating some of his rations for their wedding rings without his consent. Something that Tom or B'Elanna would have done for each other, but then the Captain and the Commander were just friends, so if they had thought about it, they would have found it odd.
"Thank you Captain"
"Commander Chakotay, Ensign Kim; please report to my Ready Room."
Harry looked at Chakotay and Chakotay shook his head, he had no idea what this was about.
When they came into the room Kathryn was standing up in front of her desk, beaming.
Chakotay was caught up in it. He hadn't seen her smile like that in a very long time. Harry was just confused.
"You wanted to see us Kathryn?" He didn't know why, but he used her name instead of her rank even though Harry was with them.
"Gentlemen, I just had a strange request. Tom and B'Elanna have just asked me to marry them…….." She paused for dramatic effect. "In one hour's time."
Chakotay was startled and Harry was dumbfounded.
"One hour?" Chakotay was the first to recover. Kathryn chuckled, she was glad that she wasn't the only one to be startled by what they were about to do.
"They're eloping. Harry, meet us in transporter room two in 45 mins, wear you dress uniform."
Harry broke out into a large smile. "Yes Ma'am." He couldn't be more pleased for his best friend.
As he turned to leave, Kathryn called him back.
"Ensign, you're forgetting something." Kathryn walked over to the replicator. She punched in the code.
Lt Paris does not have enough rations for this object
"Computer, obtain additional rations, half from Captain Janeway and the other from Commander Chakotay."
Enter personal access codes.
Chakotay strolled to the replicator and entered his code after Kathryn entered hers. He smiled as he realized that she thought of everything, he wouldn't even have to worry about what he was going to give them now.
Harry stood there watching them, but his mind was still trying to wrap around the fact that Tom and B'Elanna were eloping so he didn't think that anything was strange about what had just happened.
The replicator produced a box and Kathryn gave it to Harry. He opened the box, saw the rings and his eyes watered. The Captain caught it and smiled again. "Not yet Harry, wait until the wedding starts."
Harry was too full to speak, so he simply turned and left the ready room.
"I don't……" Chakotay started, but Kathryn finished for him"…..believe it. I know and frankly neither do I. But they are so sure of themselves and so much in love." Kathryn's voice got a faraway tone to it before she snapped back to the moment here and now. Chakotay caught it and stepped closer to her. Kathryn willed those feelings away again, and this time the force at which she did so, was certain to keep them out of the way until things had settled down.
"Commander, ask Neelix to set up a private party in my quarters for the senior staff . Tell him to replicate a wedding cake and some champagne. Let him inform the senior staff privately when we're down there and gather them together. I'll release the security lock to my quarters on my way out."
"I'll remind you when I come and get you."
"I can get there on my own, besides, at the sight of the Captain and Commander in full dress uniform, some people might get suspicious."
Chakotay laughed. "What are they going to think? That we're getting married? Come on Kathryn, we gave them the time off for the post-race festivities, they'll just think that's where we're going."
Why did her heart jump when he made that joke?
"And, you'll never be ready on time if I'm not there to prod you along." He said with a wicked grin on his face.
"You're on. If I win, you'll go to the dignitaries speech tomorrow morning."
"If I win,…….well I'll think of something." Chakotay gave up after nothing came to his mind immediately. He knew it was because he was still reeling from what was going on.
"Oh, Kathryn, what about the banquet tonight?"
"Chakotay! I completely forgot about it." Kathryn was dismayed. She was expected to show up with Ambassador O'Zaal. She thought about it for a second and then a determined look crossed her face. "Make my apologies Commander, I have been unavoidably delayed by a matter of some urgency that has arisen on my ship." Her face lightened with a quirky smile.
Chakotay was shocked. "You're turning down a diplomatic invitation to be with your senior staff at a surprise wedding party that can be postponed?"
"I can think of no place I'd rather be." Kathryn smiled and Chakotay shook his head and did the same thing. She had come so far on this journey, he would like to think that he had some part to play in the Captain that she was now.
"And besides, there's still the matter of the honeymoon." Kathryn added.
Chakotay thought about it and came up with an idea and a wicked smile. "The Delta Flyer II still needs major repairs; the warp core is off line, we're going to be here for at least two more days and the job can be done in space by two seasoned officers……"
"Chakotay!" Kathryn said in mock horror as she got the picture. "You're going to make them work on their honeymoon.!"
"Well, we don't have to insist that the repairs be complete BEFORE they report back to do duty."
Kathryn was laughing as they left the Ready Room.
He rang the chime, grinning.
She's mine. He thought wickedly.
"Come in." It was a bark more than a command or even a request.
He was outright laughing as he saw her rushing about her quarters looking for something as he entered.
"Don't say it!" She warned; her face like a thundercloud but still smiling. He wondered how she could do that.
"Me!" He asked innocently, "I'm too busy thinking about what I want for winning this bet."
Kathryn clucked her tongue.
"Did you talk to Neelix?"
"Yes, he's all set. He's beside himself with happiness and mad at them for not letting him have a hand in their reception."
"Let's hope that he can keep his mouth shut for at least half an hour." Kathryn said as she stormed into the living room where he was standing. She was in her dress uniform, but she was looking around for something. He hadn't seen her in it since the since the last memorial service, in fact he hadn't seen her in it for anything except a funeral. She looked different for some reason. Maybe it was just the occasion.
Kathryn was overturning and rearranging everything in sight, finally he couldn't stand it anymore.
"Kathryn what are you looking for?"
"I'm missing one of my dress pips, I can't find it anywhere."
Chakotay thought for a moment, and then walked over to couch, bent down under the foot of it and removed an item.
"Here." He said proudly.
She looked at him with wonder on her face.
"How did you know that was there?" She turned her neck so that he could put the pip in the appropriate place.
"I remember seeing something reflecting the candle light last time I was here for dinner, but I was so wrapped up in what we were talking about, that it registered and it didn't go any further." He told her as he fastened her pip.
"You did that on purpose." She said chuckling.
"You know me better than that." He said with his eyes twinkling. "Ready to go?" He crooked his arm, with a large smile she took it.
"This is it Tom, your bachelor days are over." Kathryn stood in front of her helmsman and smiled. She had never seen such a look of peace and contentment on Tom's face as she was seeing now. She realized with a start that the angry, wise-cracking, hard con-man and Starfleet Academy drop out was gone and in his place stood a man who had learned from his mistakes and was determined to do right by those who loved him.
"Not a moment too soon." Tom answered
"Any second thoughts?" Harry interjected at his side. They had to be in the gaudiest of chapels. Orange swirls, blue flowers, red clouds and violet foliage. He felt as though his eyes were bleeding. But his best friend's eyes were shinning and looking at the door where B'Elanna was supposed to come out. He didn't think that Tom had noticed the décor.
"Second…third…..fourth." Tom was smacking his lips.
"Please, save the painsticks for the honeymoon. Boy I'm glad that I'm not on Deck nine section 12." Harry countered.
"Oh that reminds me Captain, We're going to need bigg……."
Tom stopped in mid sentence as B'Elanna and Chakotay began to walk across the room to meet him.
"I don't believe I'm doing this." B'Elanna said to Chakotay as she fussed over her Starfleet dress uniform.
"I do." Chakotay said simply and smiled at her.
"That's supposed to be my line." She retorted.
"And you're going to say it because you love him B'Elanna, with your whole heart."
"The problem has never been my feeling for Tom, but his feelings for me."
"You're the only one making that a problem. His feelings for you have always been plain B'Elanna, it's just that sometimes, men have a hard time putting into words what they feel."
"You never seem to have that problem."
"You've never been involved with me."
"Good point, I'll ask the Captain." B'Elanna shot back.
Chakotay chuckled, "Yeah, you're just a 'little nervous'." B'Elanna joined him for a while and then turned serious again
"Do you think you'll ever have a day like today Chakotay?" Her eyes were brimming with love.
"If I'm half as happy as you are, I hope so." He answered her. He kissed her on the cheek.
"I wish that you'll be as happy as I am right now, you deserve no less. Thanks Chakotay for everything. I couldn't have gotten to this point without you." B'Elanna was sincere, but the fact that it was true touched Chakotay more than anything. He couldn't remember when his heart was so full.
"He's waiting for you B'Elanna." He gave her the crook of his arm and slowly they began to walk together.
Tom hadn't taken his eyes off of B'Elanna since she started walking towards him and when she stood by his side, he understood how right that she should be there. All the bumps and bruises that they had inflicted on each other had led her to be at his side that day. He had no idea what he did to deserve her, but he was never going to let her go.
All the worry and doubts that B'Elanna had in the room disappeared from the time she took her place at Tom's side. Here is where she belonged. All the places that she had been trying to fit into so long, her family, Starfleet, the Maquis and Voyager had truly led her home to Tom's side.
"Be well my sister, now and always and know that you are loved." Chakotay whispered in her ear as he kissed her cheek.
"Take care of her Tom, or else we'll settle our differences like we did in the Maquis, the old fashion way."
"Believe me sir, that is something you'll never have to do. From now on, her needs will come first for the rest of our lives."
He barely noticed the surprised look on Chakotay's face when he said that.
Chakotay was struck by the comment for a reason that Tom would not have been able to figure out even if he had caught the look. He pushed the memory aside when Kathryn began to speak.
"We're gathered here today, all five of us not as Starfleet officers, but as friends and family, to celebrate the marriage of two of Voyager's finest. As Captain, the honor of joining these two people has fallen to me. But before I declare them husband and wife, Tom and B'Elanna have prepared their own vows."
Tom spoke first telling B'Elanna and all what was in his heart at that moment.
"I still don't know what I've done to deserve you. But….but whatever it is, I'll try to keep doing it. And I promise to stand by you, to honor you, till death do us part." With those words he officially gave his heart to B'Elanna for the rest of his life.
Harry was looking at them, tears cascading down his cheeks
"Ensign?" Kathryn said gently.
"Oh," He grinned sheepishly and gave Tom B'Elanna's ring.
Tom gazed deeply into B'Elanna's eyes and said as he placed ring on her finger. "May this ring be the symbol of our eternal love." He drowned in the love he saw in B'Elanna's eyes.
B'Elanna's heart heard his promises and hers spoke to his as her promises rose to meet his.
""You stood by me...when most people would have run for the nearest airlock." Tom smiled as those times flashed before his eyes "You were willing to see past my shortcomings, and to take all the bumps and bruises that came along with it. You made me a better person. Even though I put up one hell of a fight." It was worth every broken bruised ego, every defense toppled. Tom project his thoughts to her. "I look forward to our journey together," she concluded.
Chakotay handed her Tom's ring and B'Elanna placed it on his finger saying, "May this ring be a symbol of our eternal love."
Their love was a force, a force that had pulled them together when they had individually been trying to push away from each other. Their love always compelled them towards each other as it did at this moment.
"Not so fast." Kathryn said with love in her voice as she interrupted their last attempted kiss as lovers.
"Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris. Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres. With the power vested in my by Starfleet Command, and the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
He was drowning in her eyes and in her love. The words that were just said were a pale indication to what was he was seeing in her heart right now, and what he was sure he was projecting from his as well.
"Now, Tom." Kathryn said when she realized that they were stuck in each other's eyes.
It was a kiss that told everyone in the room whose they were and the sheer wonder and joy that the couple was feeling at that very moment when very first time they kissed as husband and wife.