Author's Note: Guess what! They're getting married (finally). So, what's the catch, you say? I guess you're going have to read and find out. What a horrible thought. Hope ya like! (I'm hyper at the moment, leave me alone)
Summary: So what's a wedding like on Enterprise?
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Chapter 18:
Holy Matrimony
**Four Months Later on Enterprise**
It was finally that day. Only a few hours ago they had just finished the practice ceremony and were done with dinner. As they ate, dinner was filled with jokes and plenty of laughter over what happened, the two's previous relationship and how far they've gone, and other things like that.
After dinner, they spent ten minutes trying to explain the custom that the groom and bride are not allowed to see each other on their wedding day. Slowly, Archer, Phlox, and Travis left, leaving Trip, T'Pol, Malcolm, and Hoshi there.
"Trip, you can stay at my quarters for the night considering that yours are barely even down the corridor and mine our two decks away from T'Pol's."
"Thanks, Mal. Well, we should be going then." Trip kissed T'Pol and unwrapped him self from her. She stood so she was off his lap and he and Malcolm walked out.
Hoshi smile covered her face as soon as the door closed. "What?"
"I would love to see what they're about to do."
"What do you mean?"
Hoshi smile and shook her head, "Come on, I'll explain it on the way."
"What is the point of a… bachelor party?" Hoshi had been describing a bachelor party to T'Pol as they walked to her quarters.
Once they were almost to the door, she said, "Just to have some fun for the last day that you're single." T'Pol pressed the release to her door and was shocked to find that half the female crew was inside. "This is called a bachelorette party. Same thing, but for the women," she clarified as she almost dragged her into her own room.
**Meanwhile, at Malcolm's Quarters**
Trip and Malcolm walked in and found Archer, Travis, and the entire male engineering and security staff in Malcolm's quarters. Trip's grin spread all over his face as he looked at Malcolm. "We couldn't resist. We just had to give you a bachelor party."
"Come on in," was what ushered Trip in.
Archer pulled out a bottle of burmun and started pouring it to everyone to make his toast. "To my best friend, Trip, the one who had the courage to be different. The strength to keep going when your own people rejected the idea. And the love to not give up."
"To Trip," was the echo from everyone.
**Back at T'Pol's Quarters**
"Another strange tradition we humans have, is that the bride has 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue'. So here's your 'something new'." Hoshi picked up a black velvet box, much like the box her engagement ring had been in.
"That's from the entire crew," Ensign Cutler stated.
Inside were two gold rings. She picked one up and noticed the Vulcan writing inscribed around it. It said, 'un fat'i, un trat, un katra,' which means, 'one body, one heart, one soul'.
"They're your wedding rings. I'll give them to Malcolm, if you want tomorrow. He'll know what to do with them," Hoshi offered and was handed the box.
"Thank-you," T'Pol said in a polite tone before being handed another box.
"Here's your 'something borrowed'," Lieutenant Hess said.
She opened it and found that it held a book. "'Human Marriage Rituals'. This will be very useful." Her comment was met by a wave of laughter and she found that she even smiled.
"Your 'something blue', from me. T'Pol was handed a thin, rectangular box as soon as the laughing died down. Inside was a heart necklace. In the heart, there was a blue crystal. "It's a locket. Go ahead, open it," Hoshi urged. T'Pol did as she was told and discovered that there was a small picture of the crew. Her eyes watered; touched by the gesture.
"We couldn't find anything for 'something old', sorry," Cutluer admitted.
T'Pol smiled and looked down at her left hand. "That's ok, I think I already have it." She raised her hand and showed the engagement ring to them. "Trip said that it had been in his family for generations."
**Back at Malcolm's Quarters**
It was midnight and everyone was gone. The two created a makeshift bed on Malcolm's couch. "I can't wait to see T'Pol in a white dress." Malcolm and Trip laughed at his comment.
"Sorry t' burst yer bubble, but T'Pol ain't wearing a dress. She wearin' some kinda Vulcan robes."
"She takes all the fun out of life. It's getting late; you don't want to fall asleep during you own wedding." Trip laughed and walked to the bed they just finished making. "Hey, why don't you take the bed and I'll take the couch."
"Ya sure?"
"Yea, you need the sleep."
Malcolm started to get into the bed when Trip said, "Thanks fer everythin', Mal. This, the party, yer support, and friendship."
"No problem."
**The Next Mourning, Mess Hall**
The Mess Hall had been transformed into a small church in which Trip and T'Pol could be married. Archer, Trip, and Malcolm waited at the end of the room. Trip was a complete nervous wreck. "Calm down, Trip."
"Right, Jon." He took a deep breath and looked around the room. The entire crew was there; all crammed in. They were talking quietly as they waiting patiently for the ceremony to begin.
The music began and Hoshi started to walk down taking slow and graceful steps. She wore lose fitting robes that were pale blue and had a gold poncho over it. Her hair was up in a loosely done bun and a few strands had fallen in her face.
The next people to come, was Travis escorting T'Pol. They walked in an even pass in complete symmetry together. Her own robes were pure white and freely wrapped on her body. While Travis had his dress uniform on and was grinning madly. Even T'Pol's mouth was curved up in a slight smile.
To both Trip and T'Pol, the ceremony was a blur. The voices slowed and muffled as they focused purely on each other. But what did registered, was when Malcolm handed each of them a ring. Trip took T'Pol's left hand and slid it on gently. "With this ring, I thee wed." Then T'Pol repeated the process by taking Tip's left hand and sliding the ring on it. Then she finished the act by saying, "With this ring, I thee wed."
Then, Archer completed his speech by saying, "For as long as ships have sailed the sea, those Captains have had the great honor to join to people in holy matrimony. And now it is my turn. By the powers invested in me…I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Trip turned towards T'Pol and looked intensely into her eyes. He brought a hand up to cup the side of her check before he gave her a passionate kiss. Once the hissing and cheering had subsided, Archer announced, "For the first time, I present to you Mr. And Mrs. Charles Tucker III."
Trip and T'Pol had already turned when they had been introduced. They ran down the aisle, trying to avoid the large clumps of rice that was being chucked at them.
Once outside the room, Trip was laughing madly while T'Pol just smiled at him. Even though she was smiling, she still was obviously confused by something. "What was the purpose of thro wing uncooked food at us?"
"Who knows? It's just a tradition. Come on," Trip took her hand and they walked to her quarters. She still hadn't explained what they would be doing for the rituals, but Trip's imagination was taking care of that.
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Hey! They finally got married. Oh joy! Oh rapture!
Please, R/R. And does anyone know what the whole point of throwing rice is? I never got that.
