At Last

Chapter 2: Of Atonement and Vows

Part 1

Finally, the war for Earth and Mars, the battle of Human versus Human came to a startling end with the suicide of President Clark and the multi-planetary fleet led by Captain John J. Sheridan. While millions of lives had been saved or spared, depending on the perspective, wars are never bloodless. Losses were sustained on both sides and in the end; it was the beloved ranger, Marcus, who sacrificed himself for that of Susan Ivanova.

But out of the fog of war bloomed an alliance of many species and races. An alliance based on equality and peace. An alliance led by John Sheridan, but created based on the spiritual, philosophical, and political beliefs of Delenn of Mir. But, first, there came the surrender.

Sheridan surrendered to Earthgov under penalty of lifetime imprisonment or even death for his role in the war. Treason was his crime. Acting President Susanna Luchenko of the Russian Constorium told him he did the right thing but the wrong way, the inconvenient way and now he must suffer the consequences for his actions. As Sheridan sat in a room in Earthdome awaiting his fate he reflected back on a conversation he had with Delenn on in her quarters before shuttling down to Earth to turn himself in.

"I wish there were another way to handle this, Delenn, but I can't put this off any longer," John said, pulling on a clean Earthforce uniform.

He hadn't worn the uniform in ages and had forgotten how good it felt to be a part of so much of what made him the man he was today. But he was no longer a young, naïve cadet with blinders on and unquestioningly faith. He upheld the principles upon which he was bred and it pained him deeply to raise arms against his own. But loyalty and honor were earned, not to be bartered, forced, or abandoned.

No, John Sheridan, was a man of intense honor and loyalty and when men like him find themselves in a standoff between their values and a false leader they're supposed to believe in without question, well, they err on the side of their values.

"I know," Delenn said, helping John smooth out his jacket. "Even when we are right, sometimes we still must atone. Unfortunately, this is one of those times and the universe will not allow us to move forward until you do."

John smiled at the petite woman before him who always had the most logical and serene way of viewing the most unappealing of circumstances. Instead of complaining or urging him to flee to the relative safety of Babylon 5 or even to Minbar, like many women would, Delenn tucked away her own fears and saw only what was right, what needed to be done, regardless of personal wants.

John took Delenn's hands in his, raised them to his lips, and placed a soft kiss on each delicate set of knuckles. "I couldn't have done any of this without you, honey. Your faith in the universe and in me . . ." He stopped, took a deep breath, unshed tears forming in his eyes.

Delenn gently placed both of her hands on John's cheeks, softly caressing, looking deeply into his eyes. "We are one, John, old souls who will always find each other through time and space. I am who I am because of who you are, who we are together."

Now, the tears held in check by manly pride, fell, only to be wiped away by soft, loving fingers. "G'Kar, Londo, and I will be only one day behind you to Earth. And when I get there, I expect you to be ready, for I will bring you home."

John smirked at his fiancée's confidence in his ability to get himself out of any jam, or perhaps it was the universe she had confidence in. "You're that sure, Delenn? I could very well be held over for trial and convicted of treason. There are many in Earthgov who would love nothing more than to see me rot in jail or face a firing squad."

Now it was Delenn's turn to smirk at her skeptical husband-to-be. "Have faith, John. All will be as it should and I will come for you and bring you back here for our wedding."

"Ah, yes, the wedding," John said, pulling Delenn close. "I've thought a lot about our special day."

"Care to share your thoughts?"

His eyes told her the answer. "So, I'm to know nothing of my own wedding."

John leaned down and placed a tender kiss to her lips, lingering awhile before he said, "We have seven more of the fifty rituals to get through. You worry about getting us through them and the final Minbari mating ceremony and I'll take care of the human wedding."

John pressed another kiss to her lips, trying his best to keep the contact light, but the scent of her perfume and her tongue teasing his lips to open made restraint difficult. Against his better judgment, John opened his mouth to Delenn's gently, probing tongue, giving her the access they both desired.

Delenn slid her hands inside John's suit jacket, up to his shoulders and started to push it off, all without breaking the heated kiss.

"Um, Delenn, what are you doing?" John asked, catching the jacket before it fell to the floor.

"You know perfectly well what I'm doing," she said with a flirtatious smile, then pulled John to the spacious couch.

Before Delenn could make her next move, he sat and to her surprise, quickly yanked her off balance, causing Delenn to land firmly on John's lap. He winked at the shocked Minbari who couldn't help but laugh at herself and her very undignified landing and position.

"What do you think you're doing, Captain Sheridan?" Delenn asked mock-seriously then placed her head on John's shoulder and teasingly blew on his neck.

"Ah, Delenn, please, I have to be on the shuttle to Earth in less than fifteen minutes. "If you keep this up . . . Mmmm, that feels good, honey."

Delenn laved the pulse point right below John's left ear with her tongue, gently pressing then sucking. "Pleasure center number three," Delenn said, before moving northward to his earlobe. "Pleasure center number two." She turned his head towards her and said, "Pleasure center number one," then kissed him thoroughly, running her hands through his hair, pulling him ever closer.

John collapsed in her embrace, feeling himself melt into her mouth like ice cream on a blistering day. The heat of the sun sapping one's energy, leaving nothing behind but the tingling sensation of a sunburn. And damn if Delenn wasn't the sun, burning him with her passion, no sunscreen, sunglasses, or a hat to protect John from her relentless rays. And just when he was about to burst into flames like a vampire out at sunrise, Delenn abruptly stopped and stood up.

She ran her hands over her hair and dress, laying down mussed tresses and potential wrinkles to her robe. John stared, confused at her unexpected behavior, mouth agape and body suddenly missing her attentions.

"What the hell, Delenn?" John asked, running his hand through his hair, looking older than he had a minute ago.

"Like you said, you cannot be late for the shuttle to Earth and I will not be responsible for such a diplomatic error."

She located the forgotten jacket and lifted it in the air, gesturing for John to put it on. Still, he stared, heart and other regions throbbing, trying to calm down, while Delenn looked unfazed by their little encounter.

"How in the hell can you do that to me then turn around and act as if we were doing nothing more than talking about the station's air recycling system?"

She gave him a sweet, innocent smile, but Sheridan wasn't fooled.

"You enjoy doing that to me, don't you, Delenn?" John accused, standing and taking the offered jacket.

Again, she only smiled, walked towards the door, and said in a deceptively calm voice, "Are you coming, John?"

Sheridan straightened his jacket for the second time in only ten minutes, huffed his displeasure, and walked to the door. He leaned down to Delenn's ear, and whispered, "On our wedding night, I expect full reparations and proof that you remember the other twenty pleasure centers on my body. And," he said, pressing his warm mouth to the base of her crown, licking an arousing path to the center, "I'll show you what I remember from the Shan F'al starting with . . ." He went to lick the erogenous zone again but stopped short, causing Delenn to moan then gasp in disappointment. Point made, Sheridan took Delenn's hand and exited the room, prepared to face his "crimes" against Earth.

Part 2

Delenn watched John give a speech before all of Earth about his actions taken during the war. He made no excuses and didn't apologize for his actions. Regardless of what some may have thought about him, he wasn't a traitor. He loved Earth, was willing to lay down his life for all its citizens and his principles.

"As a young man I joined Earthforce because I wanted to be part of something bigger than I was . . . something I could believe in. And that belief carried me through the Mars Riots, the Minbari War and the battles that have brought us here today. Everything I did I did out of love of Earth and love of duty. But what happens when those two no longer are the same thing?"

Delenn, G'Kar, and Londo sat in the audience as a silent but strong supporter of the captain. He took a breath and continued. "Now, the time I spent on Babylon 5 I learned about choices and consequences and responsibility. I learned that we all have choices, even when we don't recognize them and those choices have consequences not just for us, but for others. And we must assume responsibility for those consequences."

Sheridan paused and Delenn wished she could spare John the pain of his next words. Without knowing the details, Delenn knew what was to come and her heart ached for him, for his loss.

"I and my fellow officers had to choose between what we were told was right and what we believed was right. And now I take full responsibility for those decisions. I love Earth. And now for my love of Earth I find I must walk away from my love of duty. I'm announcing my resignation from Earthforce."

And there it was like a knife to Delenn's back all over again. John's atonement for his righteous, moral actions. To give up what he loved most to atone for his decisions. Delenn knew the pain all too well, for she'd been forced to stand down as Satai for making a moral decision of her own when she walked into the crystalis without the support of the Grey Council. She never doubted it was the right thing to do, the only path that lay before her; yet, she paid dearly. However, out of the darkness came the light.

"I do this in the hope that those who fought on both sides will put aside their disagreements and come together in a new spirit of cooperation. For we all are children of Earth," John finished.

He moved from the podium and sat on the other side of the room next to President Luchenko. It was done and now the rebuilding, healing could take place. And out of the darkness came the light and Delenn of Mir said, "I invite you to join the new Alliance. You may decline if that is your wish. If you accept, we believe it will signal a new age of peace and prosperity."

And the universe was made right once again. Difficult decisions made, atonement accepted, olive branch extended, and a union to be completed at long last.

Part 3

Over the next three days, John and Delenn hid away on one of the White Stars away from ISN and anyone else interested in getting an interview with the newly elected president of the Alliance of Non-Aligned Nations or the eloquent and dignified Ambassador Delenn and her Rangers. Until the day of their human wedding, the couple was in virtual seclusion, completing the last Minbari rituals.

Over the past several months, Delenn and John had stolen every possible moment to complete as many of the fifty rituals as they could with their overbooked schedules. Before breakfast, between council meetings, after dinner, were all prime times to steal an hour or two. Amidst the chaos that always seemed to be their lives, they managed to complete forty-three of the fifty and now, three days after Sheridan received amnesty from Earth's new president, they completed the last seven and the final rites could proceed.

Another two days later, John and Delenn stood in front of Brother Theo, surrounded by David Sheridan, G'Kar, Londo, Lennier, and a host of Rangers, both Human and Minbari. John looked absolutely charming in his black tuxedo his father was able to procure for him before leaving Earth to join his son and fiancée for the ceremony. Even the uncomfortable cumber bunt and absence of good friends, like Ivanova and Garibaldi, or family, like his mother and sister, weren't enough to spoil the much anticipated moment for John.

Delenn, for her part, wore a forest green robe decorated with gold embroidery. The gold outer robe was stunning in its elegance and the green inner robe highlighted Delenn's radiant eyes that now glistened with tears as John recited his vows to her.

"Delenn, I love you. Today is a very special day. Long ago you were just a dream and a prayer. This day like a dream come true the Lord Himself has answered that prayer. For today, Delenn, you as my joy become my crown. I thank God for the honor of going through time with you. Thank you for being what you are to me. With our future as bright as the promises of the universe, I will care for you, honor and protect you. I lay down my life for you, Delenn, my friend and my love. Today I give to you me."

John kissed Delenn's hands, feeling himself mist up at the love he had for this woman.

Brother Theo turned to Delenn and gestured for her to speak her vows to John. This was a custom unfamiliar to Delenn. While Minbari were communal people in many respects, public declarations of love and such were unnecessary, immodest. If the couple completed the mating ritual, that signified to the community the love and commitment between the two. Nothing else was required. But this was a human ritual and Delenn wanted to give it the same respect and honor as she would one of her own.

Stilling holding John's hands, Delenn smiled warmly before she started to speak.

"John, our love has opened windows to the worlds we lived in as children. I have found profound respect for your heritage. We have vowed to live our adult lives together. Our marriage will be a new creation. Now I promise to build bridges of understanding, and share the best of myself with your family, your friends, and you."

Delenn placed the gold band on John's long ring finger. "With these rings we unite our hearts in tenderness and devotion. We will honor each other's cultures as we join customs to form a trusting relationship. We will protect, support, and encourage each other through life's joys and sorrows as we create a loving future. We promise to establish a home for ourselves and our children shaped by our respective heritages; a loving environment dedicated to peace, hope, and respect for all people. From this day forward our lives will be intertwined forever, blessed in faith, filled with compassion, understanding and love."

Tears fell from both of their eyes as Brother Theo blessed their union and pronounced them man and wife. Cheers erupted from the crowd, applause and whistles from the Humans and quiet nods and smiles from the Minbari guests. But the couple only had eyes for each other as they enjoyed their first kiss as a married couple.

At the reception, John pulled Delenn onto the dance floor, all of their "practice" sessions not totally wasted. He wrapped her in his tight embrace, a little tighter and closer than what Minbari propriety dictated, but John didn't give a damn, at this moment, about propriety.

"We did it," he whispered in Delenn's ear.

She smiled up at him. "We did and it only took us—

He smothered the grin forming on her face with soft, wet lips, quieting her Minbari humor. The couple kissed, shutting out the talking and music behind them, shutting out Londo's laughter and G'Kar's snorts of disgust, shutting out everything and everyone except their racing hearts. The kiss lingered, foreshadowing things to come. John's hands wandered down Delenn's back and rested on her lower waist, pulling her even closer.

Suddenly realizing what they were doing and the public nature of the act, Delenn halted John's caresses and stepped out of his embrace. Taking a ragged breath she said, "Perhaps, we should mingle with our guests."

John attempted to pull Delenn back to him but she moved out of his grasp. "Come on, honey. We can just slip out of the back. No one will even notice our absence."

Delenn shook her head in disagreement. "People will notice, John, because we are the honored guests. Besides, it isn't proper to leave one's own reception only fifteen minutes into it."

John huffed his frustration and tried in vain to resume the "dance," but Delenn evaded him once again. "Ah, hell, how long do we have to stay here until we can leave without offending anyone?"

"At least an hour."

"An hour? What in the world am I going to do for an hour?"

"I'm sure you'll manage something," Delenn said before leaving him on the dance floor, pouting.

John found his father who was having a philosophical conversation with G'kar while Londo sampled every drink he could put his pale hands on. Giving John his best Centauri smile that emphasized his pointy eye teeth, Londo said, "That ceremony of yours was most interesting."

"Thanks," John responded dryly, scanning the room for Delenn.

"Ah, Captain or shall I say, Mr. President, why are you here with us instead of over there," he pointed in the direction of Delenn who was flanked by two Minbari females, "with your new bride?"

John grimaced, took the drink from Londo's hand, and downed it.

The Ambassador laughed knowingly. "Centauri women are the same way, diplomacy and propriety first, everything else second. While we, on the other hand, could care less about either when a good drink and a beautiful woman are the alternatives."

Londo gave Sheridan a sympathetic smile and chased his next drink from the waiter who clearly didn't hear Londo snap his fingers at him.

John looked across the room again at all the well-wishers and his eyes fell on Mr. Lennier. Lennier was standing in a corner alone, clearly separated from the other guests, and his eyes were in a fixed position, or rather, his eyes were firmly fixed on someone . . . Delenn.

John watched Lennier as we watched Delenn and for a few seconds he became angry at what he saw in the young man's eyes. His eyes didn't reflect the friend and aid Delenn's come to think of him as, it didn't even reflect the eyes of a happy wedding-goer. No, Lennier's eyes were full of something John knew all too well, love, desire . . . longing. And in that moment, John wanted to knock that look off of his face. How dare Lennier look at Delenn, my wife, that way? How dare he . . .

John stopped and reeled in his bout of possessive anger. This was Lennier, Delenn's very good friend. The man who stood by his beloved long before John was even a footnote in her life. John gulped, scratching his forehead in a blinding light of realization. He was the intruder, the interloper. Lennier had Delenn all to himself, her aid, friend, and confidant until Sheridan came on the scene and changed all of that. Perhaps, John wondered. Would things have been different for them if I hadn't taken over for Sinclair? Would Delenn, in time, have fallen for Lennier if I wasn't around to distract her? Would she have loved and married him instead of me?

All of these questions swirled in John's head as he soberly realized Lennier's whole world had probably just fallen apart and he could do nothing but stand by and let some Human, Starkiller of all people, take her away from him. John imagined being in his place, loving a woman who would never return his affections and shuddered at the thought, the last of his anger dissipitating. Then, John looked in the direction of where Delenn had been standing and found her no longer there. A minute later, he felt a soft tap on his shoulder and turned to see his beautiful bride.

"Are you ready to retire to our quarters and start the final Minbari, mating ritual, John?"

Sheridan smiled, pushing back nagging thoughts of a love triangle no one was willing to admit to. But it was definitely a triangle and like Delenn always said, 'Three is sacred.' Well, for John Sheridan, three was damn inconvenient. He took one more glance in Lennier's direction and he too was gone. John looked down at his lovely wife, took her by the hand and said, "I'm ready."

TO BE CONCLUDED