A/N: For those who would like to listen along, Jim and Spock are coming down the aisle to "Answer" by Sarah McLachlan.
There was a projection screen at the front, and pictures began flashing on it as Uhura began to sing.
"I will be the answer at the end of the line." There was a picture of Jim and Spock, standing shoulder to shoulder on the bridge. Whatever they were facing, they were doing it together. Jim smiled.
"I will be there for you while you take the time." The next picture was of Jim sitting in the Captain's chair with Spock standing by his side. That was their usual position on the bridge. That was how most of the crew pictured them.
"In the burning of uncertainty, I will be your solid ground." There was a shot of Spock leaning in to whisper to Jim. Jim wondered idly what Spock had been saying. Still, the picture made him smile.
"I will hold the balance if you can't look down." There was a candid shot of Spock reaching down to Jim to help him up when they had been sparring in the gym. Spock wondered who had taken that picture.
"If it takes my whole life, I won't break I won't bend." Now it showed Jim leaning in a doorway chatting with Spock. It was such a casual moment that Jim had to fight not to laugh. That was so them.
"It'll all be worth it, worth it in the end." Here was a picture of Jim leaning over the science station. It had taken Spock months to get used to him doing that. Now he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Cause I can only tell you what I know, that I need you in my life." Wow. Someone had captured a shot of Jim and Spock playing chess in the rec room, early in the mission. Jim reminisced for a moment.
"When the stars have all gone out you'll still be burning so bright." Nice. Now there was another candid picture of Jim and Spock standing on the observation deck, looking out at the stars. Beautiful.
"Cast me gently into morning, for the night has been unkind." Jim swallowed. It was a picture of him sitting at Spock's bed side after Spock had been hurt. Jim remembered how he had felt then.
"Take me to a place so holy that I can wash this from my mind." Now it was Spock's turn to remember. He was sitting at Jim's bed side. The anguish was plain to see on Spock's face in the picture.
"The memory of choosing not to fight." Jim could see Uhura now. She looked stunning. She winked at him.
"If it takes my whole life, I won't break I won't bend." Spock tried not to smile. The screen was showing one of those times Jim had asked Spock for a high five, and Spock had stared him down. So funny now.
"It'll all be worth it, worth it in the end." Spock recalled this picture. In it, he was teaching Jim how to properly give the ta'al to a Vulcan dignitary. It had taken most of the afternoon for him to get it right.
"Cause I can only tell you what I know, that I need you in my life." What a shot. Spock was apparently arguing with Jim in the transporter room. That was from the beginning of the mission. Jim smiled.
"When the stars have all burned out you'll still be burning so bright." Whatever had happened in this picture, Spock's eyebrow was raised and Jim had his face in his palm. Spock wondered what it was.
"Cast me gently into morning, for the night has been unkind." Jim and Spock were at the end of the aisle. The final picture was one of the two of them looking at each other. Jim was smiling in the picture. Jim blinked back tears and nodded to Uhura, who took her seat in the audience.
The ship's chaplain walked in front of Jim and Spock. "Beings, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two lives that have touched us all. James Tiberius Kirk and Spock of Vulcan. They have asked you all to join them in this celebration."
"Marriage is not to be undertaken lightly. Blending two lives together takes work. It takes commitment on a scale many are not prepared for. However, Jim and Spock have never opted for the easy route in life. They have chosen to meet every challenge head-on and prefer to live life to its fullest."
The chaplain looked out at the complement of Starfleet officers and Vulcan citizens in the audience. "Jim and Spock have worked together, side by side, for a year and a half now. Their relationship has grown from uneasy co-workers to teammates to friends and now they are spouses. You have all watched them develop their love for one another and it is fitting that you are here today to watch them fortify their commitment to one another."
There was a pause and the chaplain looked out on the crowd. "Who speaks for these men?"
McCoy stood in the front row. "I speak for Jim."
Sarek stood beside him. "I speak for Spock."
Then the chaplain looked back at the couple. "Jim, Spock, now you will recite your own vows. I understand this was intended to be spontaneous. Don't be nervous. Just say what's on your mind. Spock?"
Spock swallowed and looked at Jim. "Jim." He paused and nodded. "I remember you insisting I call you by your first name when we began working with one another. I did not wish to overstep my bounds. Now I feel honored to call you by your chosen name. I am honored to stand by your side, whether in the line of duty or in our personal lives. I am extremely honored that you have chosen to spend your life with me."
Jim smiled, and Spock continued. "I want to protect you from all harm. I want to encourage you to follow your dreams. You once referred to me as your best friend. I believe that position is already filled. However, I will gladly take my place as your husband, from now until we are no more." Spock closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I am yours."
There was silence, except one or two people blowing their noses. Jim smiled. "Jim?" the chaplain prompted.
Jim looked into those deep, dark eyes. "Spock, I wasn't sure how to react to you at first. You infuriated me, you annoyed me, and you were a pain in my neck. But what I didn't realize was you were challenging me to be better. You held me to a higher standard. I hold myself to a new standard now. I want to be your cheerleader. I want to be your soft place to land when everything has gone wrong. I want to help you live your dreams and always be there for you no matter what. I heard you say this to me once and I find it fitting. 'You are the other side of me.' I love you, Spock. For always." Jim fell silent, blinking back stinging tears.
The chaplain smiled at them. "Spock, will you take this man to be your spouse from this day forward; will you honor him, and cherish him, and support him in all that he does?"
Spock nodded. "I will."
"Jim," the chaplain said, "will you take this man to be your spouse from this day forward; will you honor him, cherish him, and support him in all he does?"
Jim had to swallow before he could speak. "Yes. I will."
"It is my privilege as ship's chaplain to reaffirm your commitment and I am proud to proclaim you spouses." The chaplain began to clap and the crew stood up on their feet cheering. Jim looked out and took a deep breath. Spock lowered his head for a moment in embarrassment. The bridge crew rushed up as a group and surrounded them.
"Congratulations, sirs!" Chekov was ecstatic. Sulu gave a loud cheer and Jim laughed. McCoy stayed at the back, fighting to regain his composure. Scotty gave the couple an enthusiastic thumbs-up and went back to the reception area. Uhura sashayed her way up to the pair.
"I hope you know how much you're loved. Both of you. Now, let's get this reception underway. It's almost twenty-hundred ship's time and some of us have bedtimes, you crazy lovebirds." Uhura gave a gentle push to the captain and winked at Spock.
Jim and Spock wandered through the reception, thanking everyone for attending. Both of them seemed to mysteriously avoid the punch, opting for water instead - even Jim. Spock introduced his bondmate to the clan members who had attended both ceremonies but not had the privilege of meeting him in person. Scotty took a picture of the couple and promised to post it on the ship's server; Sarek quietly asked for a copy of the picture as well.
Jim stepped away from his husband for a moment and tracked down McCoy, who was standing looking out over the desert.
"Hey man," Jim whispered. McCoy looked at him sideways, still embarrassed at his earlier tears. "You okay?"
"Yeah." McCoy's voice was strangled.
Jim slung an arm around the doctor's shoulders. "I hope you know how much you mean to me. And Spock meant what he said. He's not about to take your place in my life." He squeezed gently and then stood with his hands behind his back.
"Jim, I wish you all the happiness in the world. I really do. And I'll say this right here and now: if that bastard hurts you, I'll do things to him he didn't even know were medically possible," McCoy growled.
Jim gave a soft laugh. "I'll repeat you verbatim. Hey. Bones. Thank you so much." Jim cleared his throat. "I hope you know I'm going to be darkening your door with my usual enthusiasm-"
"Meaning you'll still be doing dumb-ass stunts on away missions and expecting me to patch you up?" McCoy grinned.
"Nah. Well, yeah, but I also mean you, me, and a bottle of Southern Comfort are going to have a standing appointment." Jim looked down. "I don't want anything to change between us, Bones."
McCoy shook his head. "It's gonna change, kid. But we won't lose each other. You mean too much to me." Then he coughed. "Okay, go back to your space elf. I'm tired of you." His words had no heat.
Jim clapped him on the arm. "I'll see ya around, man."
Spock stood on the edge of the crowd, watching the people uncertainly. He sensed someone approaching him and turned. Uhura was standing beside him.
"Hey. How are you holding up?" she asked gently. Spock tilted his head. She nodded. "Yeah. It's a little overwhelming. You know, two years ago I wouldn't have expected to be singing at your wedding. I would have expected to have a different role."
Spock lowered his eyes. "I am sad that I could not be what you needed, Nyota." He gripped his hands behind his back.
She looked at him quickly. "Oh, no no no Spock. I'm saying two years ago I wanted to marry you. Now I can't imagine you with anyone else but Kirk." She reached out and rubbed his arm softly. "You know, I think I knew about you two before anyone else did," she admitted.
"I have no doubt," Spock replied. "You once referred to him as my 'boyfriend'. We did not become involved for another six months." His eyes glittered in the bright afternoon sun.
"Clairvoyant," she supplied. "A woman knows these things." Uhura looked around. "Where is the other groom anyway?"
Spock glanced out across the crowd. "He had a personal matter he wished to discuss with the doctor."
Uhura sighed. "Those two have been thick as thieves since the Academy. You know we owe the esteemed doctor our lives," she continued.
"Indeed. He has serviced us faithfully." Spock nodded.
Uhura shook her head though. "No, Spock, I'm talking about the fact that McCoy snuck Kirk on the Enterprise during the Narada mission. If he hadn't done that none of us would be here."
A chill swept over Spock and he fought the urge to shiver. "I am aware of that. I am extremely grateful to the doctor for that. I always shall be."
Uhura shrugged. "Well, a lot of things had to go right to bring us to this point. I might not have understood it then but I'm so glad it happened this way now. Listen, I'm going back to the ship. You two have fun, and try not to stay up all night. Afternoon. Whatever. This planet gives me transporter lag," she complained. "Bye, sugar."
"Goodbye, Nyota," Spock answered gravely.
Spock stood there quietly before another person came up to speak to him. He turned to find his counterpart beside him.
"Spock," Solion began softly.
"Ambassador," Spock answered.
The two stood together for a moment before Solion began speaking again. "Tomasu," he called his fellow clansman, "the terrifying ordeal you just weathered will unfortunately be more the norm than not in your relationship with Jim. Do what you must to protect him, but do not place blame upon yourself when the inevitable happens and he is injured."
"I will try," Spock responded.
Solion nodded. "Jim will berate himself for the times you are injured as well. During those precious moments when you are not in the midst of a red alert and you do not have Klingons firing upon you, build your relationship. It takes work, but it is worth it." He fell silent for a moment before giving one last statement. "I believe your mother would have been proud." Solion moved off, blending in the crowd. Spock blinked after him.
He turned to walk and find his husband when someone stepped in his path. He looked up to see his clan Matriarch, T'ella.
"Spock," she intoned.
"T'ella," he answered in kind.
"This is what humans do for matrimonial purposes?" T'ella questioned.
Spock tilted his head. "I am not aware. I have only attended two weddings, both of which were for active-duty Starfleet couples of different species aboard our ship. This is my first Terran wedding."
T'ella gave a small smile. "I am intrigued. I would appreciate the opportunity to study these activities closer. Perhaps a research trip to Earth…." She trailed off, waiting to see her younger clansman's response.
"Very well. However, I urge you to be prepared for the accessories involved. Kleenexes, rice to be thrown at the couple, pictures, toasts to be attended-" Spock rattled off.
"How do you know all this, child?" T'ella was amused.
"There is a phenomenon my mother introduced me to called the 'soap opera'. If you wish to study humans in their native environment, you may want to watch them as well." Spock caught sight of Jim and nodded to the Matriarch. "Excuse me."
Jim was being very enthusiastically hugged by the lieutenant commander from Engineering. "Oh you are so lucky! You make such a wonderful couple! Awww!" she exclaimed, patting Jim's cheek.
"Thank you, Mary Ellen. I'm glad you approve," Jim choked out. After one last squeeze she let him go and he stood frozen until a familiar shadow walked up beside him.
"I am so ready to leave," Jim whispered.
"As am I, ashayam. If you will follow me I will call for beam-out," Spock answered just as softly. They walked over to the corner of the house and Spock flipped open his communicator. "Spock to Enterprise. Two to beam aboard." With a faint shimmering of light the two disappeared from the party.