DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Enterprise, or anything from the Star Trek universe for that matter. They belong to Paramount. I do, however, own a number of characters that will appear in this story. In this chapter I own: K'Tel Jones, Harmona Ritlan and Tolak. Tiana Delatornes belongs to a very good friend of mine. Please do not use them without my permission.

"Are you certain this garment fits correctly?" Tel asked as she drew the zipper of the dress up her back.

Tiana grinned at Tel in the mirror. She brushed out her long black hair and tossed it over her shoulder, "It couldn't fit better if I'd made it myself."

Tel raised a questioning eyebrow, "I was under the impression that you had."

A chuckle, "Nothing gets past you, does it Tel?"

Tel chose not to answer. Instead she examined herself in the full-length mirror before her. The dress fell all the way to the floor and covered Tel's feet. She'd had very little say in what she would be dressed in, for, as Tiana had told her, she knew almost nothing about weddings. Her only experience came from Harmona Ritlan's wedding over the summer, where she'd been a guest. Tel was only glad that she was not left to arrange any of this wedding's vital components on her own. Tiana had always been there with her.

She reached up and slid a hand through her hair.

"Stop that, I just got your hair perfect. Don't go messing it up with your nervous habits," Tiana said sharply, though it was coupled with a large smile.

"I am not nervous."

"Tel, today is not the day to go all Vulcan on me," Tiana turned away from her own mirror to face Tel. "It's a happy day, remember?"

Tel exhaled and nodded.

"Besides, what do you have to be nervous about?"

Again, she chose not to answer. She turned away from the mirror and settled herself gently into a chair and watched Tiana fix her own hair. Tel admitted to herself that she was envious of Tiana. Tiana was never nervous. Not even today. Tiana always seemed to dive into life head on, no matter what. It was reckless. Tel wished she could be a little reckless.

Although the ceremony was to be a simple one, it had taken a surprising amount of time amount of time to prepare. Given her lack of knowledge on the subject of weddings, Tel had been startled by all the choices and decisions. The venue was an obvious one, though it had taken much manoeuvring and pulling of strings to secure a vineyard in Napa as the place of the ceremony. Then there were decorations, floral and otherwise. Food, catering, cake, guest lists, seating arrangements… it was all rather mind-boggling.

But the day had finally come and so far, it had gone off without a hitch. The ceremony would be a simple one, followed by photographic captures of the wedding party and then on to the reception.

Tel thought about her part in all this. It could not have been simpler really and yet, if she was honest with herself, she was nervous. She couldn't precisely pinpoint why. Perhaps she was worried about tripping on her way down the aisle. That would indeed be humiliating, but that didn't seem to be it. Whatever it was, the slight, nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach would not dissipate.

"Well Tel," Tiana said, drawing Tel out of her thoughts, "its time.

The bride picked up her bouquet and the bridesmaid hers and together they walked to the beginning of the aisle. The music began and Tel began to make her way towards Captain Picard, who would officiate over the ceremony.

Tel's eyes fell on the man she loved. He looked handsome as ever in his formal uniform and she couldn't help but smile. Data caught her eye and returned a smile of his own and Tel's nervousness seemed to evaporate.

As Tel reached the end of the aisle, she smiled at Captain Picard and stepped to the left to make way for the bride, Tiana. She almost seemed to float down the aisle, in her long white dress, like some sort of green hued angel.

The ceremony was Terran based in its traditions. There would be a second on Vulcan, where Tolak's family dwelled. The couple gave each other their vows and the ceremony ended with a kiss and applause from the gathered guests. Tel could not help but to grin widely at her friend. It was, indeed, a happy occasion.

Later, Tel stood outside the doors or the hall where the reception was taking place. Most of the guests were dancing. She stared at the darkening sky, allowing her mind to empty. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she looked to see Data standing beside her.

"Hello Data."

"Hello Tel."

They stood in gentle silence for a few moments, watching the lights of shuttle crafts darting across the sky. Tel could see the starbase where the Enterprise currently docked, orbiting slowly.

"Tel, have I mentioned to you how beautiful I think you look this evening?" Data asked

Tel smiled, "You know you have. Twice"

"And it continues to be true."

It was when Tel shivered that Data insisted that they return to the festivities inside. The sat together at an empty table, his hand over hers on the table top and they watched the couples dance. Tel couldn't take her eyes off of Tiana and Tolak as they swayed across the floor, seemingly never to tire. They, it seemed, could not take their eyes off each other and Tel couldn't blame them.

It had come as a shock to many when Tolak had proposed marriage to Tiana. Tel had half expected Tiana to refuse, for it seemed her nature, but she'd been proven wrong. Tiana truly loved Tolak and, though he would deny his emotions, Tel knew that Tolak loved Tiana in return.

"Look at us," Tiana had said, in a joking manner, shortly after first becoming engaged. "Both of us mad about men who can't love us back."

Tel had disagreed. "Perhaps it isn't love in the human sense, or in the way you and I feel it, but its love, one way or the other."

And for once, Tiana had no reply.

Authors Note: The end! Thank you to anyone who's read this and thanks for being so patient. Your reviews have made my days brighter.