-1Solaris
A/N: I didn't make you wait another two years for the next chapter, so I'm already doing better than last time… haha.
Jbijker: You can read more now. Thanks for following!
Toby Anne Smith: Sorry for the delay. Glad that you're enjoying it.
Ellie-may-jane: I'm doing okay so far in the posting new chapters department. Just that little glitch of two years…
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The Wedding
"Chakotay? Can you zip my dress?" Kathryn was wrestling with the zipper, both arms reaching awkwardly behind her. She'd gotten the zipper halfway there when Chakotay emerged from the bathroom in his suit for the wedding.
"Well…" Kathryn breathed softly. "I understand now where the comments about men in tuxes comes from."
Chakotay gave her one of his patented smiles. "You like it? It seemed odd not to be donning a dress uniform for this occasion."
Kathryn sighed. "I know, but we've been planetside for almost a year now, and B'Elanna and Tom had the option. They chose traditional Earth attire, though I'm sure Tom was the main voicer of that opinion and…" She trailed off, still staring at the man in front of her.
Chakotay looked surprised. It was unlike her to leave anything unfinished, especially a sentence. "Are you alright?"
Kathryn snapped out of her trance. "Yes. Sorry. I just…you do look amazing in that. I don't think a dress uniform has quite the same effect."
"I wish it did. Maybe you would have fallen for me before this." Kathryn winced, slightly, knowing it had been her keeping them apart all that time. Chakotay instantly regretted teasing her. "You were saying something about a zipper?"
"Yes…I got it halfway but I can't get the rest on my own. Honestly, how is this considered practical clothing if you always need assistance getting into or out of it?"
Chakotay smiled. "It's more fun to have assistance." He grabbed her around the waist, kissing her bare shoulder; her favorite place to be kissed and one of his favorites to do the kissing.
"Chakotay…the zipper," Kathryn finally managed.
Chakotay
ceased his kisses and turned his attention to her half-open back.
"Oh, this zipper?" He asked, smirking. "You only got it
halfway."
Kathryn sighed. "That's what I was saying."
"So you need me to do the rest, huh?"
What was so complicated about this that he didn't understand?
"Yes."
She abruptly felt her dress loosen, as Chakotay unzipped it.
"There," he said triumphantly, returning to kissing her.
Kathryn
was unable to protest for several minutes, but finally stopped him
and got him to zip her dress up so that they could get to the
wedding on time.
"It wouldn't be proper for a bridesmaid and
groomsmen to be late," Kathryn reasoned.
Chakotay's playful grin was still spread wide across his face. "From what I've heard of wedding customs, it's common place for them to carry on in closets before and after the wedding."
"Don't get any ideas," Kathryn warned, despite her amusement at the thought.
"Aye, aye, captain."
She hated when he did that…It made her feel nostalgic, but also remorse, because that was thing that had separated them most when they were on Voyager.
"Shall we?"
All of Solaris attended Tom and B'Elanna's wedding. It was held outside and presided over by Tuvok, who thought it was illogical to have a Vulcan lead a traditional Earth ceremony. He complied, nonetheless, at B'Elanna and Tom's specific request.
The formal ceremony was beautiful; Neelix cried, and several other crewmens eyes watered. It was the first wedding on their planet; the first among the crew, and a further reminder that they had started new lives on Solaris.
The reception was catered by Neelix, and included an assortment of delicious foods selected by Tom and B'Elanna, as well as a few Talaxian dishes that Neelix considered his present to the happy couple. His feelings weren't even bruised by the fact that most of the guests steered clear of the questionable looking dishes.
Tom and B'Elanna shared a first dance, and then all of Solaris joined them on the dance floor, which was grass.
When they stopped to have B'Elanna throw her bouquet, all of the women cheered excitedly. All except one…
Seven of Nine eyed the bundle of flowers and then turned questioningly to Kes.
"What is the significance of catching flowers?"
Kes smiled, having done her research before the wedding. "On Earth the bride throws her bouquet, and whoever catches it is supposedly the next of the guests to get married."
"Then it is pointless for me to participate in this activity," Seven declared.
"All single women are elegible to catch the bouquet," Kes responded.
Seven looked at her blankly. "I do not require marriage, nor is it likely that I would ever be involved in a relationship." She said the last word as though it were completely foreign to her.
Kes tried to reason with her. "You never know what the future holds, Seven. I think you should try."
"I will participate if it is required."
Kes took that as a success, and led Seven of Nine to the crowd of women gathered in front of B'Elanna.
Kathryn was surprised to see Seven of Nine standing next to her.
"Hoping
to be a bride soon, Seven?"
"I am participating because Kes
suggested I do so."
Kathryn smiled, turning her attention to B'Elanna.
"I think I'm just supposed to turn around and throw it," B'Elanna said, laughing. Her husband's obsession with old Earth traditions…
She spun around and threw the bouquet.
All of the women scrambled, but it landed squarely in Kathryns arms.
Everyone looked at her, smiling, and they began clapping. Kathryn was stunned, and immediately felt foolish for standing in the center of them with the flowers. She hadn't even put any effort into catching the thing.
"It looks as though yours will be the next marriage on Solaris," Seven of Nine stated. "Congratulations."
Kathryn stammered. "Seven….that's just superstition. It isn't a certainty."
"You do not think that the commander would marry you?" Seven asked bluntly.
Kathryn paled. "I didn't say that…I mean…I don't know what Chakotay wants. We haven't talked about marriage yet."
Why was she so flustered by all of this? She knew more than anyone here that catching a bouquet was just a silly tradition. It didn't mean that she would get married next. So why did she have butterflies in her stomach from the moment she caught it?
With Sevens questions, Kathryn began to wonder if Chakotay really did want to marry her. They had been serious for awhile now, but he had never mentioned it. It was only going on a year though, she reasoned. There was no need to rush things.
Still, with bouquet in hand and heading back to the man she loved, Kathryn Janeway couldn't help but imagine what it would feel like to be in B'Elanna's place. A bride and brand-new wife to the man of her dreams….
