Waywardness of a Vulcan Heart Chapter 36: Consequences Part 2: Nuptials Scene 1

Author's Note: Surprise! The first of two more chapters for transition to the main story. Hope you enjoy my version of Spock and Nyota's involvement in Kirk and Carol's tumultuous wedding, and then the next chapter is their wedding. :)

...

After Nogura's staff meeting, he ordered his Chief of Staff, "Lieutenant. Get me Admiral Kirk."

The Chief of Staff stumbled a bit, knowing what was going on but the Admiral had a singular focus, "Uh, sir he is still a Captain. He's getting ready to be married at noon in the Chapel, have the reception at the Officers Club all the rest of the day, and going on a honeymoon for a month. You approved it, sir. In fact you insisted on them taking a long break. Remember that you have their keynote address and are presiding over his Admiral's promotion ceremony at the wedding in about 2 hours, sir."

It all flooded back to Nogura, "Oh."

He was absolutely not going to ruin or interrupt any of those festivities.

"Well get me Captain Spock, then, Lieutenant."

The Chief of Staff responded quickly, "He's in Kirk's ceremony as 'best man' and then going to New Vulcan on the Intrepid for his own wedding ceremony."

"I though he and Commander Uhura were already married?" quizzed Nogura.

"Well sir, they are by a Vulcan common law marriage proviso that the Federation considers marriage almost seven years ago. This is their formal commitment ceremony, sir. It's the first one in the new nuptial ceremony ring on New Vulcan. T'Pau herself will be there for the dedication and for their ceremony."

Knowing to interrupt them for that would cause a major diplomatic incident, he thought of another alternative, "Well all right. Then… I need Doctor McCoy."

Anticipating the Admiral's thought processes, the Chief was already prepared with the answer, "He's just been dropped off at the Fabrini homeworld by Captain Sulu on sabbatical to reconcile with and remarry his former wife, the Chief Priestess Natira. Sulu said he left his communicator on the bridge. In several pieces."

Nogura chuckled and thought, "That's the McCoy I know all too well."

He furrowed his brow, frustrated that he couldn't get hold of anyone on the senior leadership team involved with the Nibiru Away Team, Commander, he lamented, "Is there anyone not getting married in Star Fleet right this very minute? Am I running an interstellar exploration force or have we changed to compete with the Los Vegas wedding chapels?"

It was supposed to be rhetorical.

"Well… uh… sir… you wanted me to remind you to cancel all take the rest of the morning off before Kirk's wedding so you could get your wife a 30th wedding anniversary present to surprise her at the reception."

He almost face-palmed himself, "Oh. That's right. Thank you Lieutenant."

And they had a good laugh.

Realizing what was going on at Nibiru wouldn't get any worse in a few weeks, he mused, "Whenever all these galactic lovebirds get back, will you please get hold of one of them, Lieutenant?"

"Aye aye sir."

With that, Nogura headed off to downtown San Francisco to get that special present he knew she wanted from her favorite jewelers, one of the few that escaped being crushed by the Vengeance. This would help put him in the proper frame of mind to address the wedding party anyway. After his speech he knew he could get Amy to the Academy Chapel's uppermost bell tower balcony alone. She always loved his penchant for a finding a few enchanting romantic moments for each other in his nearly impossible schedule. He'd pick the lock again just like he did as an Academy Senior. After all, he'd proposed to her there.

…

To conclude the traditional ceremony, Carol's childhood Pastor proudly said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife."

A huge cheer came from the hundreds of Star Fleet and family well wishers for Carol's and Jim's happiness. It was truly an all-Star Fleet wedding. The one break from convention was that bride was very pregnant, although everyone knew that there were plenty of secretly or unknowingly pregnant weddings in that chapel over the years, including some of the married guests.

Carol did decide to wear a white gown, but it had an empire waist that not only set off her bosom that had grown much larger for the coming baby, which was just fine with Jim Kirk, but also managed to flow down in such a manner as to hide the curve of her very large pregnant belly. Kirk was in the dark dress formals of Star Fleet. Spock and Uhura stood for them, also in dress formals, and while they were happy for the new bride and groom, they mostly made eyes – and telepathic contact - with each other twenty some feet apart. As a result of the Talosian incident, their telepathic link no longer required them to touch, though they preferred to continue to do so whenever they could. Any excuse to touch each other was a good one as far as both were concerned.

"Aren't they a handsome couple Spock?"

"We most certainly are," he kidded. His human humor had matured very well in the past more than half decade among humans.

"I was talking about them, silly Vulcan," Uhura winked.

"I don't believe I have ever heard 'silly' and 'Vulcan' ever put together in the same sentence, Commander."

"A lot of strange things happen when you hang around me, Captain Spock."

"Granted. But always… interesting."

"We're only hours from our own ceremony," Uhura smiled, and called him affectionately by his Vulcan first name that only she could pronounce. It always sounded better to him when she shouted it out in their bed.

"Seventy three hours, thirty seven minutes, and fifty four point three seconds," he half-smiled.

"More or less," She grinned.

Breaking the long bride and groom kiss to the whistles and whoops and cheers of their friends and colleagues, Carol whispered to her new husband, "I'm glad we're married before our baby comes, James T. Kirk."

She winked and kissed him.

"Me too."

Nogura took the pulpit, and for the next ten minutes and extolled the couple's virtues and their work together, yet still having time to fall for each other and remain professional throughout. Aside from getting pregnant out of wedlock, but he omitted that little detail. He alluded to Spock and Nyota as another Star Fleet couple exemplary in that regard. That message was for meant for all the current and future couples all across Star Fleet, as one of his main initiatives was to send families to the stars. He ended his keynote exactly on time, and transitioned to his final important duty of the day.

He spoke proudly, "On this joyous day for Jim and Carol, we have one more thing to celebrate. Today Captain James T. Kirk becomes Rear Admiral Kirk…"

The boatswain's haunting whistle sounded the assembly and instantly everyone was on their feet at attention and gave a full salute, including the bride.

It was a moving ceremony and Carol beamed at her brand new husband as she got to pin his Admiral's pips on his uniform, by tradition.

She joked quietly, "When do I get to break a bottle of champagne over your head?"

He rolled his eyes, knowing how typical this was of their fiery banter that hallmarked their long love affair, and replied, "That's only for christening ships, Carol."

She winked and retorted, "You're as married to the Enterprise as you are to me, Jim Kirk. I fail to see the difference!"

Their private chuckle and cute kiss mused their friends, even if no one had any idea what prompted it.

…

The celebration in the Officers Club was packed. Jim Kirk always knew how to throw a party, although this particular wedding union didn't take much for people to want to celebrate. They had a 'good old Iowa farm wedding' with all the classic Midwestern traditions, and his aging mother Winona was enjoying it all too. They'd had taken all the photos, cut the cake and jammed into each other's faces, threw the garter – which Uhura caught - and all the other traditions. The evening was starting to settle in as just another noisy Star Fleet Friday night party. As they danced the 'first dance' under a ring of raised sabers, Carol held her belly a moment, with a look of pain.

Jim asked, "Are you OK?"

"I… I think so. I've been having false labor for weeks, as you know. That one seemed… different."

At the conclusion of a couple of dances together, she felt another pang, told Jim and she excused herself with Uhura to the women's rest room. Jim made some kind of joke about pregnant ladies and bladders, and she stopped on the dance floor, put her arms on her hips, gave him an annoyed look, and then patted her baby bump.

"This is all your fault, buster. Ever since that 'look' in the shuttle you just couldn't keep your eyes and hands off me. And now look at me – I've lost my girlish figure!"

"It takes two to tango, Carol Ann. You didn't have to stay on the Enterprise after Khan," he winked slyly, calling her by his pet name for her.

"You, Admiral Kirk, are unfortunately right again, much as I hate to admit," she responded and rolled her eyes teasingly.

"And all the tangos had been amazing, my dear," Kirk replied provocatively, and bowed gracefully toward her. They both chuckled.

Feeling a very odd urgent feeling deep within her, "Uh, Jim. I really have to 'go'. Right now."

Excusing herself from Spock's grip on her fingers, Matron of Honor Uhura rushed with Carol to help her with all the gown in the bathroom.

"Don't be pregnant on your wedding day, Nyota," Carol only half-joked as they fumbled with the enormous gown.

"No problem there. But I figure I will be on the day after my wedding day, knowing Vulcan physiology with no more contraceptives…"

They hugged and laughed, and then Carol went about her business. It got too quiet in the toilet.

"Omigosh! Oh… my… gosh…" came her worried exclamation in a stall as Uhura waited.

"What?" her friend asked urgently, coming closer to her stall.

When Carol emerged, she had the mixed look of joy, embarrassment and trepidation, "It's started, Nyota. My water just broke."

Nyota reached to support her, "Don't worry - he'll understand. We all understand."

"But it's our wedding day," Carol wailed, fighting back unexpected tears.

"It'll be that much more special, Carol, that your baby's birthday is your wedding day too," Nyota smiled encouragingly at her friend.

The two women had long been on a first name basis and confided a lot of personal challenges with the remarkable duty-driven men they loved and who loved them back just as much. There were a lot of off-hours double dates, in addition to the long years of service and team work together. Each couple was indebted to the other many times over for saving each others' lives, had they ever bothered to count.

"But we'll miss your ceremony," Carol lamented, dabbing a tear carefully to keep from smearing her make-up.

Nyota smirked back, "Not to worry, to almost everyone, we're a couple of old fuddy-duddy married people anyway, to quote the new group of Ensigns."

Carol tried to laugh but doubled over with the first really strong contraction, and gasped for air. She was pale, and it was all Uhura could do to steady her from collapsing.

She rushed Carol over to Jim with support, and she gave him a death grip on his arms and shoulders. With more tears, she said emphatically, "Oh dear, Jimmy… it's time."

He was clueless and fairly inebriated with the free-flowing Saurian Brandy and even a bottle of illegal Romulan Ale for the closest of friends, "Of course it's time. This is a grand wedding day."

He made a wide, sweeping gesture at the party in full swing with all their friends. And some folks who joined the party he had no clue who they were, but no matter.

She gave Jim a very serious look, finally catching his gaze and stating his formal name when she wanted his total attention, "No, James. I mean my time. My water just broke."

"Oh," Jim replied back in shock, which sobered him up pretty fast. Followed immediately by her next contraction.

"Ohhhh!" she groaned very loudly. Everyone heard her in the immediate vicinity, saw her double over, and clutch her belly this time. Admiral Kirk froze for a moment, very worried seeing his new wife in such pain.

Uhura dragged Kirk back to reality by ordering her superior officer, "Get her to the Med Center right now, Admiral. I'm calling the Limo Shuttle early that we had planned for your getaway. You guys aren't going anywhere soon."

Kirk mused at Nyota, "Ever the consummate Communications Officer, even as a bridesmaid. Thank you Commander."

Uhura grinned and whirled, putting her earpiece on, speaking urgently to the chauffeur. It was faster than calling an ambulance shuttle.

Jim kept comforting his bride and got her to sit on a couch, and instructed her – just as they had learned - to properly breathe through the contraction. She was grateful for his help, and mustered a thin loving smile. Sometime later they'd reflect on the amusing shock of a Star Fleet Captain and Science Officer taking childbirth classes right alongside the lowest enlisted Star Fleet enlisted. But not now.

Not wanting to move her just yet, he said to his First Officer and best man, Spock, who had joined him, "Carol and Uhura. You and Uhura know what his means."

"Yes Admiral. We do. It's all right," said Spock calmly.

"But you stood for us. We need to be there for you."

"You never do should do anything half-way Jim. Tend to your own family first," Spock advised, "Some day we'll have a re-commitment ceremony, and you can stand for us then."

Uhura scolded, "Gentlemen, we have a lady in deep labor here. The limo is on its way. You need to wrap up your male bonding thing. Like right now."

Kirk heard Uhura but mostly ignored her though he literally picked up his breathless Carol and started to carry her out of the ballroom, accompanied by their friends, "I understand Commander Uhura. Thank you, Spock. I look forward to that day. Unless of course we're having another baby. Carol wants four. We're both 'onlies'."

Spock was amused as Kirk laughed.

Despite being carried out as they chatted, Carol was not impressed, and grabbed his chin and said clearly, "Jimmy! C'mon. Let's go! Say goodbye to everyone or I'll have this kid in the punch bowl."

There was murmuring from the crowd as Kirk stood at the microphone, with his bride still in his arms. People knew Carol was in pain but not everyone had figured out what was happening.

Kirk said urgently, "Listen everyone: we've kind of had a red letter day getting married and getting promoted. And now getting to be a family, hefting his bride for all to see like a fishing derby prize. Like right now! So even though the party's over for us, enjoy yourselves. The baby shower begins in five minutes…good night… we really have to go now."

There was a cheer of understanding, happy laughter, and congratulations prevailed as they swiftly exited for the Officers Club door and the waiting limo which had just arrived. In point of fact, many guests did leave baby presents as well as wedding gifts. Kirk was always quick with a quip or a joke in any crisis. Even a happy crisis like this one.

As he placed her comfortably in the back of the limo and it took off, "Jimmy, that was a nice way to leave it. I'm so sorry. This was supposed to be our honeymoon. The baby's a few weeks early."

"Guess he's like the old man. Can't wait to be the center of attention at a party."

She tried to laugh, but it only brought on another contraction.

He tried to distract her with humor as the limo dodged air traffic on its way to the Med Center, "Besides, Carol Ann. I always prefer changing diapers than cavorting with the prettiest blond in the universe on the nude beaches of Scorpio IV."

"I'll believe that when I see it, big talker," she groaned, realizing gratefully what he was doing to help her by all the jokes.

But for a moment, Jim Kirk got very serious, "Besides, the past six years have been the honeymoon, gallivanting around the universe, as Bones so aptly puts it, Carol Ann."

Carol's heart warmed to Jim in her reply, "Awww. You really know how to get to a girl, dear husband."

She rested her head on his shoulder. This was all making her feel better.

Kirk promised her, "We'll go there another time. Perhaps your mom will look after David, and we can get away in a six months."

She kissed him, "I promise that will be, big guy," but she grabbed and groaned at another hard labor pain. Kirk was worried the contractions were very close together.

"At least we're going in style to the Med Center," but then she got a look of fear, "Oh no! the baby! He's here. Right now, Jimmy!"

She pulled her dress up, and the baby's head was in fact crowning. Carol Ann Marcus Kirk had their baby David in the back of the limo, delivered by Kirk's nervous but gentle hands. He had to. This was their first born son.

Knowing the grim story of Kirk being born in the USS Kelvin to Winona, as Carol put their son to her breast for the first time as they arrived at the Med Center Emergency Clinic, she smiled up into Jim's eyes, "Like father, like son."

Kirk shed a rare tear seeing her and David together, tempered by the bittersweet remembrance of his father. But he was here to witness his own son's birth, and would be there for his son.

…

Back at the Officers Club, Nyota turned to Spock, "The party is in good hands here, Spock. It's our time now, dearest husband."

They grabbed their gear and headed to the shuttle that would take them to Earth orbit housing the Intrepid at space dock. They could hardly wait for their own formal Vulcan affirmation of their wedding. To their great satisfaction, it would be a lot calmer.

In the shuttle to the space dock, Spock interlaced his hands in hers and initiated a long, lingering kiss with Nyota, who returned their deep open-mouthed kiss for a very long time. Those very few crewmen traveling with them late at night glanced over and appreciated that the Federation's most famous interspecies couple shared a private moment of true humanity.