All Good Things

Chapter Thirty-eight - Another Fine Mess

On Board the Enterprise

July 2276

Karck

He could not believe all the traditions that surrounded a Human wedding. Bonding ceremonies on Vulcan had been much simpler. However, he wanted Alis to have whatever sort of ceremony that she desired. He did not feel that he could refuse her anything. His desire for her kept growing every day. It was becoming more and more difficult to control himself, and he could barely wait for the day when she was truly his.

He spoke with the other bonded Vulcans, finding out about appropriate clothing and the things that he would be expected to do during and after the ceremony. He studied the vows that they would make to each other. He even spoke with both the captain and the doctor about his responsibilities to a human female as his bondmate. But somehow, he did not feel that he was adequately prepared. He felt nervous. He did not recall ever feeling this feeling before to this extent. He did not especially like it.

He was assigned new quarters, and Alis eagerly picked out the furnishings and directed the workers how to place everything. He packed his belongings and moved in, and then took the empty boxes to Alis, and she began to pack her belongings. Every evening, after end-meal, he accompanied her to her quarters, and carried the box she had packed that morning to his new quarters, and either watched while she unpacked it, or helped her to unpack it and put things away. By the day of their wedding, almost everything she owned was already in the new quarters. Half the dresser drawers were filled with her clothing, as well as half the closet. There were strange bottles and jars in the bathroom, containing things he did not understand. And her books and music discs were in the bookcase, beside his. The only thing missing was her.

He dressed very carefully, and was ready when Commander Spock and his bondmate came to check to see that he was prepared. Lieutenant Commander Uhura made him turn about and looked him over carefully, and then smiled at him and told him he looked just fine. Spock just stood there with his hands clasped behind his back and nodded. Karck almost heaved a sigh of relief. These clothes were very strange, and he had not been entirely sure that he had everything on properly. They left his new quarters and headed for the room where the wedding and reception would take place, and he took his place at the front of the room and waited.

Alis

Getting ready for the wedding was so exciting. Thinking about what would come afterwards was even more exciting. There had been enough contact between them that she knew that Karck was going to be very passionate, but he had insisted that it was totally improper to go beyond a certain point in their 'explorations' before they were bonded. However, she had done enough touching and rubbing against him to know that he was very well endowed, indeed, and was greatly anticipating her wedding night. Although she did wonder, if he would not go any further with her than he had, whether he had any real experience or not. It did not matter. Not one bit. If he did not, she would instruct him, quite willingly. In fact, she fantasized about that, almost every night after returning to her own quarters after unpacking that day's box and spending some time seated on the couch next to him, or on his lap. She quite liked sitting on his lap and teasing him, making his ears turn green, waiting for him to growl at her again.

Her friends threw a shower for her, and gave her a number of pieces of lovely lingerie. She could hardly wait to model them for him. Somehow she had the idea that he was going to appreciate that lingerie even more than she did. She was very careful not to let him see any of it when she unpacked it and put it in the dresser in his new quarters. It was going to be a surprise.

On the morning of her wedding day, two of her friends came and helped her to dress and do up her hair. She was so excited she was shaking. When the call came that Karck was waiting, her friends helped her down the corridors, holding up her skirts so that they did not drag on the floors and become soiled before she arrived. When the lookout saw them coming, he signaled for the music to change. She took a deep breath, and counted, as her friends preceded her into the room, being handed their flowers just before they started down the aisle. When it was her turn, she saw Karck, there at the other end of the room, his eyes on her, and she was filled with warmth. She saw nothing and no one but him as she walked slowly forward. When she got to the small platform at the end of the room, he put out his hand and helped her up the step, and she got tingly all over, with little shocks coming from where he was touching her.

They turned and faced the captain, and the ceremony began. Karck would not let loose of her hand throughout the whole ceremony, and when the captain told him he could kiss his bride, he took her hand in that strange gesture he had taught her, and stroked her fingers with his own, and she could feel him so clearly, filling her with his love, cherishing her. She looked at him with tears in her eyes, and leaned forward slightly and brushed her lips against his.

And then he growled at her. And she giggled. It would not be long now.

Karck

He did not understand why there was so much to do after the vows had been said. At a Vulcan bonding ceremony, once the vows were completed, the couple adjourned to the caves immediately and consummated the marriage. And that is exactly what he wished to do, but first they must stand in line and shake hands, and then they must dance, and after that there was the cake, and he was growing very, very tired of all of it. He wished to have her bare and beneath him now. He looked about at all the people laughing and dancing and wished them all gone. He was very irritated. When another man came up and hugged Alis, he reached out and yanked the man's arm. "This is my wife. You will not touch her."

"Hey, sorry, man. I just wanted to wish her well. We've worked together for three years." The man shook his head and walked away, and Karck looked after him, muttering. Alis turned wide eyes on him, wondering what was going on.

The music started again, and someone came and said this was his dance, and started to lead Alis away. Karck howled at him, and yanked Alis back to his side. She patted his face, and told him to calm down, but he could not. He forced her behind him and took up a defensive stance, warning off all comers. Almost immediately, Spock and Kurik and Tanik were there, as well as Dr McCoy. The doctor pulled out a scanner and ran it over him and said something to the others and they began to clear people out of the room immediately.

Nyota sidled over to Alis, keeping out of Karck's line of sight. "Do you realize what is happening?"

"I think he has entered Pon Farr, hasn't he?"

"Yes. McCoy confirmed it with his scanner. Sorry to mess up your wedding reception, but we really need to get the two of you to your quarters."

"What should I do?"

"Wait until they get everyone out of the way, and then head for the door. Tell him you want to go home. Hopefully, he'll follow you without any more trouble."

When Alis tugged on his arm and told him she wanted to go home, he looked down at her, and nodded. Yes, home. He reached down and scooped her up and started for the door, ignoring her startled exclamation. For some reason, the corridors were completely clear, and it was very easy to head straight for their quarters. No one got in the way, and in only a few minutes, they were at their own door. She reached out and tapped the touchplate and the door swooshed open and he carried her in, straight to the bedroom, where he dropped her onto the bed.

"Wait! Karck! Let me take off my wedding dress."

He reached out to tear the dress off her, but she rolled out of his grasp.

"Don't you dare tear this dress!"

The angry tone of her voice stopped him, and he stood there panting while she climbed off the bed and began to undress. When she was down to her underwear, she turned and began to undress him. He quite liked that. The feel of her soft cool hands on his body was extremely nice. And when they were both bare, she danced out of his reach again and led him to the door on the far wall, and down a short hall and into a room that looked just like a cave and closed the door. And then she let him wrap himself around her and feel her soft skin everywhere.

It was four days before they came back out of that small cave-like room, very tired, and extremely pleased with themselves.