I figured we needed a happy chapter for once, free of the stresses introduced in the last...

Well, most of them.

Think of this as a turning point. As you can likely tell, the 'season' is at the halfway point once more. Oh, an get your box of tissues, not only does this interlude feature quite a bit of Lucas, I expect you all be crying at the end of it.

....Wedding Bells are finally ringing....

Interlude
Completion of the Circle

November 2nd, 2034
San Diego, California

Fredericks looked into the mirror at herself and moved the errant hair out of her face and smiled. She turned slowly as it was the fastest the dress would allow her to and walked to the middle of the room to where Kristin and Cynthia were waiting. "All set now?" asked Kristin.

"As ready as I will ever be," she answered, and Kristin opened the door to the wide hallway outside where Oliver Hudson waited in full dress uniform, the navy version no less.

He smiled as he caught sight of her, "You look incredible."

She grasped his arm. "Thank you," she said a bit nervously. "I can't believe this is happening."

Almost fatherly, he patted her arm. "Neither can we," with that he led her to another door where Wendy waited. "Are you ready for this?" she asked.

"Why?" asked JJ, her eyes narrowing.

"Don't crinkle your eyes, you'll muss up your makeup," Wendy smiled and reached out to smooth a wisp of hair from JJ's face. "You're ready for this, even I can see that. I never saw anyone get up out of bed and run to the door like you have. I can sense your excitement from here."

Finally JJ smiled and ran her hands down the white skirt of the beaded dress. "It's showtime," she said as she drew herself up to her full height and composed her face.

Kristin Bridger walked in first, her teal dress a conscious mirror of JJ's own. Then the chords began as JJ and Hudson stepped into the doorway. The church was decorated with flowers and ribbons. Ironically, it had not been JJ or Lucas who made that choice. Granted, while JJ was dubious of the source, she couldn't fault the effort made. It had been Lucas's biological mother, Cynthia Holt, who had paid for the wedding and the taping of. Unfortunately, and it was really no surprise, Ms. Holt was not in attendance.

JJ looked over to where her own mother watched with teary eyes from the wheelchair she was bound to. Finally, Hudson brought her up to the alter and Lucas took her hand from him. With a slight smile, Hudson winked at her so only she could see. He was like that, always subtle only to be taken as gruff. If only more people took the time....

She turned to face Lucas who also wore his dress uniform and then they turned to face the chaplain.

"I don't get to do this often enough," she started. "Too often of late I have been called to officiate funerals and other sadder occasions. But not often enough have I been called to officiate an occasion where tears are welcome. Where tears are a sign of joy today, and of more joy in the future. Today we gather to see young Ensign Lucas Bridger, born Lucas Xander Wolenczak, join with Lieutenant Jessica Jeannette Fredericks in the bond of matrimony. From what I understand, this solemn, yet wonderful, day in their lives was not short in coming, and a few times due to the lives they lead almost did not come to fruition. Let us begin."

The chaplain, a middle aged woman with dark hair that was just beginning to get it's first silver, turned to Lucas and JJ, "Marriage is a solemn contract that two people join under the sight of God and their peers. It is no light decision to be made. Do you, Ensign Lucas Xander Bridger, understand the severity of this new life?"

"Yes."

"Very good," the chaplain nodded. "Lieutenant Jessica Jeannette Fredericks, do you understand the severity of this decision?"

"Yes."

"It is confirmed that you both understand what this new journey is about to bring," the Chaplain then motioned for them to face one another. "You may now speak your vows that you have prepared ahead of time."

Lucas started, "JJ, when I first saw you, I was intimidated, and I was jealous. You had done something I wanted to do, and you were almost famous for it. I think it was the first thing that attracted me. Then I loved you when I saw that like me, your best friend was your captain, and I saw the humanness you had. JJ, that day was the beginning of my life even if I was alive before, and I want to continue that, and see where else we might walk together."

He took the golden band from the alter and slid it on her finger, and then in a more formal tone, "With this ring I do wed. In sickness and in health. For richer or poorer. Until death do us part you shall be my love, my hope for the future, and my wife."

With a nod from the Chaplain, JJ took her turn. "Lucas, when I met you all I could see was the devotion you held for your friends, missing or not. You worried for them, and, I too, think back to that day by the moonpool when Darwin pushed us together. I think he knew what destiny was, even if we could not, and he showed us that way, that path to journey," she took a breath. "I will always remember that time when you showed me what love was."

At the end of her memory, she took the ring from the alter and after taking off one of the formal white gloves that he wore, she slipped it onto his ring finger, "With this ring I do wed. In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer. Until the death do us part you shall be my love, my hope for the future, and my husband."

At that point the Chaplain took over the proceeding again, "If there is anyone here that can rightfully call into question these vows that they have spoken, let them speak now, for after it will be too late."

Everyone looked around, and the Chaplain watched Nathan has he smiled and shook his head that there were no objections. The Chaplain continued, "In the eyes of God and of the power invested in me by the UEO and by faith, I now introduce Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Bridger." To Lucas, "You may kiss your bride."

Lucas and JJ leaned into each other and when they kissed, they knew that this was the beginning and before was only an interlude to their entire lives.

Any dry eyes in the audience?

No?

I didn't think so ;)