The Doctor had become so much more than medical software. Amongst his hobbies was singing opera. He set himself to a high pitch, since this piece was written for female voices. "Note the plural – that is what the 'chorus' in Bridal Chorus means, after all." Thus he was accompanied by some organic Human females. Annika had not deassimilated the Borg pursuit of perfection and was one of many in a long line to appreciate the similarities between mathematics and music. Harry had sometimes played with a double bassist from sciences, a redshirt drummer, and a fellow yellowshirt on keyboard, and they would join him for this performance. This hopefully wouldn't be the last time the crew would see each other, but it was likely their last time together as a crew.
The men in dress uniform, particularly Chakotay waiting with Admiral Paris, presented minimal doubt as to the purpose of the gathering, and the tune dispelled what little was left. The piece had been played at Human weddings for over half a millennia. Wagner's Lohengrin placed it after the ceremony, but it had morphed into a common selection for the bride's entrance music, an irony the Doctor had stridently pointed out during the preparations.
Kathryn had played dress up on the holodeck at times, and everyone was stunned by her doing so for real. This included the girl who had helped her with it; like her mentors, Naomi was learning to find no conflict between intellectual strengths and stereotypically feminine behavior. Annika had been offered the role, but had found it inefficient to serve as both maid of honor and one of the musicians. A young boy said something simple to which there was no disagreement. "Mommy's so pretty!"
"You're damned right," Chakotay said, much too loudly for Admiral Paris' taste, but Lieutenant Paris was one of many who seconded the motion. Owen said something that may have been an order to Chakotay to watch his language, but young Edward's vocabulary had already been further expanded over four years growing up with people who swore like, well, sailors. On one memorable occasion, he had overheard B'Elanna exclaim 'son of a bitch' and order Ensign Ashmore to 'bring me another goddamn hyperspanner this fucking second!'
Both halves of the couple had lost their fathers – Kolopak had been killed in action with the Maquis, Edward Janeway in a Starfleet test crash. So weddings could sometimes be bittersweet for Gretchen Janeway, but today her happiness was unreserved because her eldest daughter was here, whatever she was doing.
The accident that killed Kathryn's father had also claimed her first fiancé, perhaps why she had been as hesitant as she was to have another relationship with a fellow officer. Mark Johnson was a living civilian, but while being physically apart they had grown mentally apart. If he could marry someone met at work, then so could she. For being able and willing to act on an accepted marriage proposal, the third time was about to be the charm.
"This waited only because I could not much perform my own wedding. In Chakotay not only did I find a dedicated first officer, but also a caring and considerate man. We were stranded on an away mission towards the end of our second year in the Delta Quadrant where it became clear how we felt about each other." His consideration and attention she had felt like returning, and that line had not been uncrossed. "After that, I was reminded that word travels fast on a small ship."
After the two were rescued from that planet, Tom Paris had put it much less flowerfully. "Chakotay looks like a man who just got some … the Captain was the only other sentient lifesign down there… oh shit!" There had soon been a third lifesign, a scenario they had not thought they needed to prevent. So they had unintentionally led by example with regards to Voyager potentially becoming a generational ship.
"If this ship was the crew's body, then this room is not only its stomach but its soul. I could think of no better place for this ceremony. Many of our gatherings have been held here." Diplomatic receptions … No one wanted to think of the funerals, but them too. Janeway proceeded to provide a happier example. "The words you are about to say to me here I said to your son here less than a year ago."
Admiral Paris began to recite those words. "Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship masters … or their commanding admirals … have had one happy privilege: that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony …"
"I was an angry man, not at peace with myself," Chakotay said. Even with full pardons for the ex-Maquis crew, he didn't wish to elaborate on what he had been doing. "Awed by her, serving with her, I found that peace. My sister wishes she could be here for a ceremony according to the customs of my people" Performed by her "but that is for later and this is now. I would not mind getting to marry Kathryn again."
Samantha continued the conversation with her husband. "So Naomi was the maid of honor? Certainly the captain had some girlfriends amongst the adult crew though?"
"Annika Hansen was busy as one of the wedding musicians. B'Elanna Torres had just given birth, so she could stand and cheer but not so much more." Despite what her stubborn ass thought. "Besides, she doesn't give a single solitary fuck about dresses. Hell, she got married in uniform. This was planned to be ready to go once we reached Earth, else the captain might've chose her sister Phoebe."
"I hear Captain Sisko's 2nd wedding was also a no-nonsense ceremony also performed by his commanding admiral, though this sounded a bit fancier."
"Welcome to the club, Chakotay," Tom said. Earlier today, the first officer had offered the helmsman similar congratulations upon becoming a father. The whole Federation would remember Chakotay and Kathryn's anniversary, and Miral's birthday.