Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Desiree walked up the steps of the courthouse, her heart pounding, nervously adjusting her white sheath dress. Lucy placed her hand on her arm and smiled.
"Don't worry, you look great! His head will spin when he sees you!"
She grinned wryly. "Well, it's not the wedding, it's this hearing. I'm just worried about what's going to happen after this wedding."
"We'll win this. There is absolutely no law explicitly stating that a Vulcan and a human can't get together. It's really..." She lowered her voice. "It's the High Command, Desiree. They've been drilling this into the Vulcans' heads, that humans are weak and helpless and wouldn't make good mates, for...obvious reasons," she whispered. "But if I am to be candid...I think they're scared of us. And they're scared of what might happen if you and Oratt continue."
Desiree nodded and straightened her coat, and Lucy opened the door to the courthouse for her. She walked into the spacious lobby and saw Oratt and another woman waiting for her.
"This is Mrs. Monroe, she'll be helping us with the paperwork," Oratt explained quietly when Desiree was closer. She held out her fingers for him to take, and he touched them gladly. Mrs. Monroe watched in confusion as their exchange took place, but Desiree was focused on her fiance. His eyes racked her body and she saw them darken, and she smiled to herself. She felt a rush of calm, of joy, of desire pulsing through her fingertips, and she fed him her joy and desire, thinking of all the ways she would have him once this was over and they were alone again.
"If you'll come this way, please," Mrs. Monroe said, breaking the moment. Desiree blinked and followed Oratt and the woman, and she saw her fiance glance back at her, a pleased gleam in his eye. She smiled at him, and Lucy sidled up to her.
"You don't even realize what you're doing, do you?" she whispered. Desiree frowned.
"What? What promiscuous thing am I doing now, Lucy?"
"You're walking approximately three paces behind him," she continued. "That is where a woman walks when she is bonded to a Vulcan male. He goes in front of you, to protect you from danger that may lie ahead," Lucy explained, and Desiree felt a rush of pleasure through the bond. No doubt Oratt had heard their conversation, and their conversation pleased him. Everything about today was pleasing him, and she smiled herself, sending a burst of love through their bond. She knew she had only known him for about two months at most, but something inside her was screaming to her: this is him, this is the one, this is the man you need to marry!
And if by her marrying him she kept him here, well...a deeper, more lasting love would form in time. She could see he had something she needed, and she had something that he needed...to quote a phrase, it was only logical for them to marry.
The paperwork was more tedious than they anticipated, but they got through it. Ricky, Lucy's lawyer friend, arrived a few minutes after they were in Mrs. Monroe's office. They eventually got the license, and at the ceremony, it would be signed.
And now Desiree and Lucy left, because Lucy insisted on taking Desiree to get her hair done. Desiree was never extremely enthusiastic about girly things, but Lucy said it would do her good.
"You look stunning, honey, but I think we can make you look killer."
So an hour later, Desiree emerged from the hair salon, her scalp still stinging from the hairdresser's work. But she did admit to herself that the cascade of shiny curls down her back did look nice, and she felt Oratt would find them appealing. He always seemed to like running his hands through her long hair, and oftentimes, he would wind a curl or two around his finger, as if he found them fascinating.
Finally, the time for their court appearance arrived, and she walked with Lucy back to the courthouse, her heart pounding harder this time with nervous excitement. Not many people had been invited, only her friend Judith, Lucy's brother Arturo and his wife and child, Ricky the lawyer, Suzanne, who was back from vacation, and Lucy's mother Mina, and Sorak, her quasi-boyfriend. Desiree was looking forward to meeting Arturo and Mina, and seeing Sorak again. The aide had wanted to stand with Oratt as the second witness, but Earth law at the moment required two human adults to be the witnesses, so Ricky was going to sign the papers. Still, Desiree didn't see why Sorak couldn't be Oratt's best man in spirit.
She stood in front of the doorway and waited as Lucy went inside, and after ten nervous minutes, the door was opened for her by Sorak, and Sorak walked her down the aisle.
"All of Vulcan appreciates your service, T'Sai," he whispered to her as they moved down the long aisle. Oratt was waiting for her in front of the judge's stand, and she flashed him a reassuring smile and sent another pulse of love through the bond. He was wearing the diplomatic robes of his people, the kind she saw Soval and Sorak wear. He looked very alien in this environment, but still managed to fit in somehow. She could feel him pulsating with excitement and purpose, and it made her heart swell with affection and pride.
"I'm marrying the man I love," she breathed back. "Service has nothing to do with it. When you love, you serve without question, without complaint, because that person is worth it."
Sorak smiled ever so slightly. "Wise words, young one. How are you feeling?"
"Nervous, but excited. I know this is what I was meant to do. I'm sure of it."
"Two twinned souls," he whispered, almost to himself. "Actually, I was referring to your baby."
"Healthy. No problems so far, except for the normal morning sickness and tiredness and all that wonderful stuff."
"Morning sickness?"
"Trust me," she whispered. "You don't want to know the details right now."
He nodded, and they continued. They were about halfway down the aisle now, and she looked around at the other guests. There were a few people in the crowd she did not recognize: a Middle Eastern woman with dark hair and exotic, queenly features; by her side, an older Vulcan with light silver hair and a calm expression; a petite blonde woman with wide evergreen eyes, who looked overjoyed when she smiled at Desiree; by her side, an older Vulcan with bright blue eyes and a friendly face. She smiled at all of them and glanced over to the other side of the courtroom, and her smile faltered.
Ronald stood up and blocked their way, stepping closer to Desiree than what she thought was comfortable.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing, Desiree?" he hissed. Delilah was still in her seat, seemingly torn between tears and a frown. "Did these Vulcan bastards pressure you into doing this? I've looked this guy up," he gestured behind him at Oratt, who looked about ready to throw Ronald bodily from the room, "and he's got a lot of money. I would think you would do better than to marry for riches, but if that's what you want..."
"Who invited you to these proceedings?" she growled back. "Who I marry, who I love, Ronald, is none of your business. As far as I'm concerned, you are a stranger, a bastard who does not deserve to be in the presence of my friends, or me, or my mother for that matter."
His expression turned pallid with anger, but Sorak stepped forward, his expression grim, his height and demeanor imposing. Ronald stepped out of the way and sat back down with Delilah, and Desiree ignored her mother as she passed them by.
Oratt held out his two fingers for her to take, and she left Sorak's side and went to him, returning the gesture with affection and eagerness. Oratt threw a dirty glare at Ronald, but then focused on her again.
"We gather here today to witness a...most unusual union," the Justice of the Peace began. Desiree smiled wryly.
The old judge rambled on about inter-species relations and the uniqueness of this moment, but Desiree glanced over at the women she didn't know, and noticed that the dark-haired woman had wrapped her fingers around the younger of the two Vulcans, and the friendly Vulcan, the older one, was slowly stroking the blonde woman's fingers with his own. She grinned at them and turned back to Oratt.
The ceremony continued, and she vowed her heart to him, and he repeated the words back to her, feeding his devotion through the bond all the while. It made the vows so much more meaningful.
"Do you have the rings?" the judge asked.
Desiree pulled a small black box from her pocket, and Oratt withdrew a similar box from his robes.
"With this ring," Desiree began, slowly repeating the words the judge fed to her, "I solemnly vow to love and cherish you, for better or for worse, for rich or poor, in sickness and in health," she winked at him, thinking of pon farr, "in good times and in bad, for as long as we both shall live." She slid the ring onto his finger.
And Oratt repeated those vows, sliding a diamond and sapphire ring onto her finger. She could hear sniffling behind her and turned once the vow was completed, and she saw her mother's face half-concealed by a tissue, her cheeks stained with tears, her eyes gleaming with happiness. Ronald sat beside her, looking shocked and appalled at the proceedings, and Desiree fought the childish urge to stick her tongue out at him.
They signed the marriage license and the judge handed it to them with reverence.
"Then by the power vested in me by the North American district of United Earth...I now pronounce you man and wife. Sir, you may kiss the bride."
She giggled as he turned to her with the most endearing expression of confusion, and she took his face in her hands and kissed him gently, only for about ten seconds or so. Lucy, the women she didn't know, Arturo, Suzanne, Mina, Judith and Ricky all clapped and hollered, but the Vulcans remained stoic, clapping politely.
His lips were warm and soft and spicy, and she was loathe to let him go, but she did, grinning up at him. She was tempted to throw her arms around him, but she refrained, choosing instead to relish the look of amazement and joy in his eyes.
"You're mine now, Oratt," she murmured to him as the applause continued. "You can't escape me now."
"I would not wish to," he whispered in reply, and he held up his fingers. "Telsu, and wife of my body, attend."
She shook her head at him and let their fingers be joined, and they walked down the aisle together, their fingers linked, their hearts beating in tandem.
…
Oratt lingered in the corner of the living room, as his Desiree was talking with Meskhenet, as the Middle Eastern woman was called, and Judith, who was apparently a friend of both Desiree and Meskhenet. They all had dance experience and were sharing stories, and Tawny, as the blonde woman was called, was engaged in a conversation with Lucy and Mina. The Vulcans were also engaged in conversation, and Ricky was getting acquainted with Sorak, and it seemed they were becoming fast allies.
Minister Kuvak disengaged himself from a circle of people and approached him, and Oratt bowed his head in solemn respect.
"Minister," he acknowledged, switching to the ritual Vulcan. "It is an honor to have you be at my wedding."
Kuvak nearly smiled. "No, Oratt, do not address me as such. In my eyes, we are now brethren, a small minority of Vulcans who have been fortunate enough to find a human wife. Ms. Beaumont seems like a most agreeable woman. She will be loyal to you, and to your clan."
Oratt nodded. "She is remarkable...she is more than I will ever deserve."
Kuvak nodded in agreement. "Yes, my Tawny is the same way...they are such eager creatures, are they not?"
The minister's ears turned slightly green, but Oratt nodded. "Yes, quite enthusiastic. I never would have guessed a year ago that I would be married to one such as her. If more of our people knew of them, their true nature..." He trailed off, leaving some things unspoken, as was the Vulcan way.
"Then they would be hunted down as prized possessions," Kuvak said, his eyes growing dark. "And I do not think that would bode well for human-Vulcan relations."
Kuvak sighed, his eyes lingering on Tawny, a distant expression on his face. "This hearing V'Las is calling...I have opposed it, but I am outnumbered. But I have spoken to others in the High Command, and they see no logical reason for calling this hearing. I was not brought to trial when I made Tawny my wife."
"They fear us," Oratt said quietly. "They fear my child, and I am not as well-placed as you. You, and your cousin, are of the house of T'Hya, but I am from a lower house. I am an easier target."
Kuvak tilted his head, raising his eyebrows. "Yes...even after centuries of logic and control, to think we would succumb to fear...do not think you are outnumbered, Oratt. I am at your side, as is L'Vek. Sorak is supporting you, and I believe Soval will also come to your aid. Even Sorak's sister V'Lar has heard of this and has told me she chooses to side with you. Not all of our people are so engrained in the old ways that they forget that change will inevitably occur."
Oratt sighed. "That is...reassuring to know. My first priority is the health and safety of my wife and child...and in order to provide for them, I need a job. I have plenty saved, but I fear what they might do if I lose this hearing and am brought to trial."
"You will not lose the hearing," Kuvak assured him. "Sokat is a logical man, and will see the logic of your position. No matter what some say, there is no shame in having an outsider for a wife. We are IDIC personified, Oratt, not a plague on our people. One day they will see that."