AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Well, well, well.

Who is happy with me right now for giving you a NICE cliffhanger?

Hmmm?

Yeah, I thought so.

=P

So when does anything I plan to do actually ever get 100% written down that way?

*ponders*

Never.

So here is the next chapter…with some changes that don't affect you guys, but it's coming out differently than I had planned it.

FYI, fluff won the vote, but I'm adding in a little of both, right at the end.

*sniffs*

Yeah, I smell a cliffhanger….

****

Lillian's POV

Spock and I had gotten to the Federation Outpost and even bought a white dress and a tux with a tie and the wedding bands, but Spock could tell my heart wasn't in it. It was not that I didn't want to marry him—because I really did—it was that it just didn't feel right to do it without Megan, Leonard, Janet and Jim. Spock could just see that I wanted to get married on the Enterprise, so we headed back, and smiled at Janet, who was the first to meet us in the Shuttle Bay when we got back.

"I take it his being here means that T'Pring let his ass off the hook?" Janet asked me.

I nodded. "Yes it does."

Janet pumped her fist in the air and then hugged me, hugging Spock after that and punching him in the arm as she pulled away. I laughed a little as she threatened him lovingly, and then I took his hand and we both looked at her. We were pretty sure that she knew exactly what was coming, but we wanted to tell her anyways. So she nodded slowly and crossed her fingers, making me laugh.

"We want to get married asap." I told her. "I have to talk to Jimmy, and I don't need a wedding march or anything—I just want you guys there."

Janet laughed. "Leave it to you to fantasize about a big wedding your entire childhood, and then rush to the altar."

"Your entire childhood?" Spock asked me.

I waved it off—nothing about my life had gone as I had tried to lay it out when I was little. For one I wasn't marrying any of my famous actor crushes; two, I wasn't a billionaire with a hot pool boy; and then three, I wasn't marrying Admiral Pike—don't ask, weird school girl fantasy. Looking back on it…he still looked mighty fantastic for an old man. Anyways…not the time or place for that trip down memory lane.

"All I want right now is to be your wife." I told him. "So can we please go and talk to Jimmy?"

"Lily…what you want is ultimately what I want so…" He said, trailing off so he could let me change my mind.

I smiled and kissed his hand, Devon and Megan showing up, but I left them to entertain Spock while I went to go and talk to Jim. No matter what, Jim had always been there for Leonard, and he'd always treated Megan like a little sister. We'd had our ups and our downs, and we were exes, but in the end we just wanted what was best for each other. It only felt right that Jim marry us—even if Spock would probably rather him be his best man.

Wait a minute—Spock would rather Jim be his best man. Great…now what was I going to do? I stopped in the middle of the corridor and sighed because as much as I wanted Jim to marry me, I couldn't think of a single man on the ship better suited for Spock's best man. There had to be someone else on board who could marry us—had to be. But who? Who other than the captain was better suited for it? Forget it—I'd figure out who was going to marry us later. Jim deserved to be Spock's best man.

When I'd made it to Jim's quarters, I pushed the button and then smiled when the doors slid open and he was standing there. Just looking at him made me remember why I adored him so much—it was that God awful smirk he always had on his face. James T. Kirk was notorious for his smirk and his reputation with the ladies, and none of us would have him any other way—except maybe a little more settled down. He opened up his arms to me and I hugged him, smiling as he whispered in my ear.

"Welcome Back, Lil—how did it go?" He asked me.

"I want you to be Spock's best man. Who do you know on the ship who could drop everything and marry us today…preferably pretty much right now?" I asked him.

We pulled out of the embrace and Jim laughed and looked me in the eye. He was amused by my sudden proposal, but he wanted me to know that he approved. On top of it all—I think he was flattered to be considered for best man. I knew it was what Spock would want, seeing as he knew the human customs, and I rested my hand on Jim's cheek.

"Best man?" He asked me. "I'd be honored…Scotty could marry you."

"Really? That would be fantastic!" I exclaimed, hugging Jim again. "Thank you so much! Now let's get you in a tux and head down to Cargo Bay 2."

"Not 3?" Jim asked me with a laugh.

I gave him look. "No—because if a problem happens, then there's going to be an explosion, and people will die and…I'm good with no death today."

Jim laughed his hearty laugh and nodded, sending me to go and talk to Leonard next—which was on my list of things to do. I hurried into Sick Bay and smiled because not only was Leonard on his own, but the look on his face made me believe that Janet hadn't been here to tell him yet. I wanted to tell him…he was my brother. So I walked over to him and took his hands in mine, kissing them softly.

"Will you walk me down the aisle today, Leo?" I asked him.

His eyes lit up. "Walk you down the aisle, Lily?"

I nodded. "I want you to give me away—please?"

Leonard kissed me swiftly and pulled me close, stroking my hair and holding me tightly. There was nothing that he would like more than that, and I was glad I could make him so pleased. Both of his little sisters were going to be married now. He had been our mother hen for a long time now, and now he was going to be an uncle and have grown up sisters all in less than a year. He pulled out of the embrace and kissed my forehead, stroking my hair a little more.

"I'd be honored, Lily—just let me get cleaned up and dressed up." He told me.

I smiled and threw my arms around his neck. "Thank you, Leo."

****

Devon's POV

I had been avoiding Kirk as much as humanly possible lately. I was so embarrassed that I had gone off and blurted out 'son of a bitch' on the last Away Mission. It wasn't supposed to be directly at him, and though he hadn't thought that it was, it was inappropriate. I was still getting used to having an actual superior officer, and I wished that I was handling the transition better. It was just that he was pretty much missing the whole point of being a captain—being there for his crew. He was taking it to mean that his life was more forfeit than ours, and it was the other way around.

"You look as if you are deep in thought." Spock told me.

I looked up at him and smiled a little, remembering that I had told him that I'd keep him up to date on what had been happening lately while he got some things set up in Cargo Bay 2. I was kind of looking forward to being a bridesmaid—it was sweet of Lily to ask me. The thing was though, I still wasn't sure if I was allowed to just come out and blurt things out to them. I guess they were trying to be my friends…

"I said something inappropriate in front of the captain." I told him, pocketing the datapad and helping him move some large cargo.

Spock nodded. "The captain hears inappropriate things a lot, I am sure."

"But that's not the point." I protested. "The point is that I acted unprofessional around the captain, and he has been acting unprofessional around me. Doesn't a meaningful work relationship mean anything to anyone anymore?"

I really didn't understand why there weren't more boundaries. Sure it was nice to find someone—everyone wanted that—but they couldn't put their lives on hold for four lousy years? I mean it was just four years. People could do college in four years. In fact, most people had to give up on relationships while they focused on a major. Hell when I went through Star Fleet, my boyfriend and I broke up because we had no time for each other anymore. There were more important things than relationships of the romantic kind…weren't there?

"Love does not often wait." Megan said, walking up to us and looking around.

She was dressed in her dress for the wedding, and I looked down to realize that I still had to go and change. I had been so distracted with my own problems while helping Spock move things around for the small congregation that I hadn't even thought about getting dressed. I excused myself as Megan and Spock started to talk about some quick decoration ideas, and I got into the lift. It seemed though that every time I got into the lift, I ended up being stuck in there with Captain Kirk—this was in no means an exception.

As soon as it stopped the next deck up, Kirk came into the lift and I tried to hide my sigh. What exactly had I done to God to deserve this sort of harassment? I mean maybe it was a sign that I needed to apologize—I figured it could be a sign that Kirk and I were always going to be running into each other so we had to get past the weirdness. Or it was just God baiting me—why the Hell was he stopping the lift? It's not like I could protest…he was the captain.

"I wanted to apologize." Kirk told me.

I looked at him. "For what, Captain?"

For what? Or he had plenty to apologize for, and he was just lucky he was the captain so I had to be civil with him. Let's start with the eye fucking, and the almost kissing, and how about the checking out of my huge ass? Yeah we could start with those. Then we could down to the sheer unprofessionalism he was exhibiting—yeah, you apologize…Captain.

"I was out of line the other day when I tried to kiss you on the planet, Ensign. I should have been more professional, and I apologize." Kirk explained.

I swallowed—now I felt guilty. I had some things to apologize for too, but I didn't really get the chance to when he started the lift again and got out on the next deck. I started to say something as the lift doors closed behind him, but I didn't say anything loud enough for him to hear. At least he knew that he was being unprofessional, I gave him that. Still…just thinking about him made every part of me tense up in anger.

Shrugging thoughts of him off, I stepped out of the lift and headed down the corridors on the residential deck, going into mine and looking at it. It was simple, with some drawing utensils on the table and an area set up for me to work at, with enough room for me to take a meal at the same time. I didn't actually eat in front of anyone—the only reason I'd gone to lunch with Janet and Megan the other day was because Megan had made it seem like it was important. Certainly a baby shower was important to them and to Lily…but I could have gotten work done in that time.

It wasn't that I wasn't pleased that they were accepting me—I was—I just didn't know Lily and Spock as well as they did, and I wasn't sure at all what I was going to get for a baby. Especially a part Vulcan baby. A part Vulcan baby that was Spock's. Wasn't he supposed to be logical? What was he doing bringing a ¼ Vulcan into the world when his species had practically been wiped out? Love. God, that stupid word!

It's not that I didn't love things…I loved my parents and my work…but what was so important about love? Couldn't you have love without running off and getting married, or reproducing? Couldn't you just do your damned work and stop thinking about Colin? Colin…what the Hell was I thinking about him for? Love…Colin was exactly why love was stupid. Still…I was going to support Lily and Spock on taking responsibility and giving their baby a stable environment.

Trying to stop thinking so much, I changed into a dress and then went back down to the Cargo Bay, smiling at Lily as Megan fixed her dress while she fixed Spock's tie. I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow—wasn't it bad luck to see the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding march had played? Still…Spock seemed quite pleased as Lily babbled away and fixed his tie—his face didn't show his love for her…it was all in his incredible emotion-filled eyes.

****

Lillian's POV

"I think we should do this fast enough for me to rip your suit off of you." I told Spock as I smoothed down the tied tie.

He raised an eyebrow. "I have never understood the human female's fascination with suits and 'ripping them off'."

I smiled. "You don't need to understand it—you just need to accept it."

Jim came up to us and put his hand on Spock's shoulder, and then Scotty showed up too. Jim showed Spock over to the altar, me giving a wave to Devon as she helped Megan to help Janet who seemed to have tripped over herself—that happened sometimes. Scotty smiled at me and I smiled back, squeezing his hand softly. I was so incredibly grateful that he was doing this for me…especially since the two of us had only talked to each other briefly all those times I checked up on Megan in Engineering.

"Thank you so much for this, Scotty—I really appreciate this." I told him.

He smiled. "No problem. Now how exactly would you like it done?"

"The simpler the better. 'We're gathered here today', 'Do you take this person to be your lawfully wedded spouse', 'Present the rings', 'I now pronounce you man and wife'—simple and short." I said and then blushed. "It's not that I want this over and done with it's just that…we're on a starship that gets attacked quite a lot."

"You're not wrong there." Scotty agreed, and then he headed up to the 'altar' to wait with Jim and Spock as I left the Cargo Bay, smiling at Leonard.

I straightened Leonard's tie and felt tears come to my eyes—this was my big brother. He'd taken care of me when I hurt myself, when I was sad, he'd been there to cheer on my accomplishments…I owed him so much. Even though Spock was about to be my husband, I wanted so badly for things between Leonard and I to stay very much the same. Whether that was dreaming too big or not, I didn't know yet. All I knew was that there was no better man to walk me down the aisle.

"You look beautiful, Lily." Leonard told me softly.

"Don't you dare cry." I scolded him lovingly, the tears coming to his eyes as a tear or two splashed onto my face.

I wiped it away and threw my arms around his neck, nuzzling my face in his warm neck. He held me tightly, letting me know I'd always be safe in his arms, and I kissed the nape of his neck swiftly and pulled away, letting him fix a section of my hair that had fallen out of place. He kissed my forehead and then cupped my chin, making direct eye contact with me.

"I am so very proud of you, Sis." He said.

I took the hand that was cupping my chin and kissed it softly. "I'm proud of you too, Bro."

I wiped away another fallen tear and then I took his arm, the wedding march starting. Devon went down the aisle first, then Janet with Chekov, and then Megan with Kirk. Then Leonard and I walked down the aisle and I smiled as he kissed my cheek at the end, placing my hand in Spock's and nodding at him to give him his blessing. I was kind of sad that my parents weren't here, but this group of people was perfect too.

"Who gives this woman away?" Scotty asked as Spock smiled at me and I at him.

"I do." Leonard told him and then leaned in to whisper, "That's what you say when he asks you if you take her," to Spock as he took his place besides the groomsmen.

"We are all gathered here today to witness the joining of Lillian Grace McCoy and Spock of Vulcan together in Holy Matrimony. If there is anyone that would object to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace." Scotty said out loud.

Leonard had to poke Jim rather hard in the ribs when he started to playfully raise his hand, and I couldn't help but laugh a little and shake my head, Spock not entirely aware of what was going on around him. I did hear the loud sigh from Devon though—one that was not only in annoyance of Kirk's behavior, but in wishing she knew why he was joking around like that. Spock raised an eyebrow at the probably puzzled look on her face, and then Scotty continued.

"Since there are no objections, will the Maid of Honor please present the ring?" Scotty asked.

Megan handed me the ring and I took it, smiling at Spock, whose eyes sparkled back at me.

Scotty looked at me. "Do you, Lily McCoy, take Spock to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I nodded. "I do."

"Then repeat after me, Lily: I, Lily McCoy, take thee Spock of Vulcan to be my lawfully wedded husband." Scotty said.

"I, Lily McCoy, take thee Spock of Vulcan to be my lawfully wedded husband." I repeated.

Scotty smiled brighter. "To have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part."

I smiled as I slid the ring onto his wedding finger. "To have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part."

Scotty smiled and turned to Spock. "Will the Best Man please present the ring?"

Jim handed Spock the ring and winked at him, making me roll my eyes and then smile at my 'Almost Husband' as he looked at me, the ring in his right hand.

"Do you, Spock of Vulcan, take Lily to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Spock nodded. "I do."

"Then repeat after me: I, Spock of Vulcan, take thee Lily McCoy to be my lawfully wedded wife." Scotty told him.

He looked me directly in the eye. "I, Spock of Vulcan, take thee Lily McCoy to be my lawfully wedded wife."

"To have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part." Scotty said, starting to tear up himself, the big adorable softy.

"To have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part." Spock repeated lovingly, sliding the ring onto my wedding finger.

Scotty nodded at both of us. "I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Right as Spock and I leaned in to kiss each other, the Red Alert went off and Jim was already on his way to the bridge, Leonard heading to Sick Bay. Spock and I nodded to each other, knowing the kiss would have to wait, so we all left the Cargo Bay to go to our emergency stations.