Chapter 32

And...so it went, week after week...

Amelia and Delbert grew more and more fond of each other, until finally one day Delbert gathered up his courage, and asked Amelia to marry him.

Initially, Amelia's answer was to look down dumbfounded at the kneeling Doctor, who's facial expression went from one of eager adoration, to one of near panic and barely repressed dejection. Amelia blinked just then, then a brilliant smile blossomed on her lovely face, and she leaned down to press her lips to Delbert's, before saying, "Yes. Yes, I shall become your wife."

Delbert knelt there, looking up at his Amelia, all his love expressed in his warm brown eyes, thinking that if angels had voices, then they must sound precisely like his Amelia's. "Oh," was all he could manage at first, then... "You will? Oh, merciful heavens! You will! Oh, Amelia!" And with that he leapt to his feet and pulled Amelia to himself in whirled her about in his exultation.

"Delbert Doppler, put me down," Amelia instructed after Delbert's sixth whirl. "You're making me quite dizzy." But then, she laughed...a warm, rich, pleasant laugh of a woman in love.

Delbert resumed control of his wild emotions, and straightened his suit jacket. "Ahem. I have something for you, Amelia, my love," he told her, fishing a blue velvet covered box from his vest pocket. He opened the box almost reverently, displaying a simple yet extremely elegant diamond engagement ring.

Amelia gasped as she spied the diamond, which was larger than the ring itself. "Delbert....oh, it's perfect," she told in whispered tones of awe. Her nearly perfect moment was somewhat delayed as she heard a very familiar whistling of a very familiar tune. She looked up and over to see Kitty, who leaned roguishly against the wall of the doorway, whistling innocently to the tune of the wedding march.

However, Amelia was to far too happy to care about Kitty´s antics. In fact, Amelia nearly rushed over to show Kitty her ring, and to tell her, "He did it! He asked me to marry him! Can you believe it?" Amelia confided to her adoptive sister.

"I know," Kitty told her, returning Amelia's fond hug. "If you recall, I told you that already..." Kitty smiled then, knowing she had the perfect gift picked out for Amelia, when she came back from her honeymoon, that is.

Soon things began to come and go in a rush that nearly approached the speed of light, it seemed...far faster than anyone coud seem to keep track of. Dresses had to be ordered and fitted...much to Kitty's complaint that she didn't much like wearing dresses, as she thought they made her look like a Barbie Doll (or, at least that was what she said). But her complaints availed her nought, as both Amelia and Sarah gushed about how they thought she looked just darling in her rose pink dress.

Delbert and Jim bought dress coats (Jim complained about this, saying he felt as if he looked like a penguin). Then, they were off next to reserve a church, order the wedding cake, as well as---of course!---sending out invitations to all their friends and family.

When they finished all of that, Kitty suddenly remembered a friend she hadn't seen in quite some time. "Amelia?" she said suddenly across the table, where Amelia had just sealed a envelope, one addressed to Delbert's Aunt Elayne.

"Yes, dear?" Amelia said, looking over toward Kitty.

Kitty flicked her gaze down and away, asking somewhat bashfully, "Do you think it would be all right if I, well, er, invited Alex to your wedding?"

Amelia stopped writing on her next invitation. She looked up, smiling as she saw that Kitty's face was now a most becoming pink...and smiled a small triumphant little smile. "Ah, I was wondering when you might ask that, dear. You still have feelings for him, do you not?"

"I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH HIM!" Kitty yelled, looking up from her hands and straight into Amelia's eyes, her cheeks turning beet red. "Alex is just a friend Amelia...and you know it."

"Ah, but of course," Amelia said wisely saying nothing. She gave Kitty the paper they used to write their invitations. "Here you are, dear. Now, do remember to inform him that this function requires formal attire...you know, tuxedos or suit and tie for the gentlemen, as well as long dresses for the ladies. That is, if he'd like to inviting his family along with him."

Kitty smiled and ran out, leaving Sarah with Amelia. Sarah turned to Amelia. "All right. Who´s this Alex?" she asked, brimming with curiosity.

"One Alexander Dalley," Amelia informed her. "One of my cabin boys during his Academy days. He meet Kitty on her first voyage aboard the Legacy, you see. They are of the same age, and Kitty---though wild bullyadouos could not drag it out of her---fell in love with this attractive young man almost at once. She---and I quote---informs me constantly that she´s just his 'friend'. Like I'm ever going to believe that..."

It was just as well for Amelia that Kitty was out of earshot just then, finishing the invitation, and smiled. She closed the envelop, stood up, and then teleported, reappearing just outside Alexander's house. She knocked on the door politely and chose to cover her face by pulling down a hat she conjured from seemingly out of nowhere.

Alex opened the door. Alexander---and it had to be him, by the way that Kitty's heart was pounding---had turned from a teenage boy into a very handsome young man in the time that they had spent apart. He had began to grow whiskers in his face (felinid boys' way of growing a mustache), though his eyes were still the same lovely deep intense blue that Kitty loved. He still was slim, though now he was tall and muscular as well. He looked over at Kitty and said politely, "Yes? May I help you?"

"A letter, sir," Kitty said, disguising her voice, and gave him the envelope. He frowned in curiosity, took it, and read it aloud. "Alexander Dalley and Family...you all are cordially invited to the wedding of Captain Amelia Smollet and Doctor Delbert Doppler." He shook his head, grinning a half-smile that made Kitty smile. "Huh! The Captain's getting married, huh?" he said to himself, chuckling. "I'd be willing to bet a hundred crontars that Kitty Petro had something to do with this..."

"Yeah, ain´t I just a doll?" Kitty asked impishly, removing her hat, and looking up into Alex face, a winsome smile on her face.

"Kitty? Is that really you?" Alex asked, surprised. She laughed and then both of them hugged each other tightly. Alex whooped and spun Kitty around in his joy, which caused Kitty to squeal happily too.

Alex looked her over then. "Well well, Kitty...my how you have changed," Alex observed rather rascally, making Kitty blush. "And for the better, I might add." Alex grinned handsomely, then laughed. "But never mind me, come on in!" Alex said.

"Sorry, I'd love to, Alex...but I really don´t have the time. But, you can join me as my guest....er, that is, if you want to," Kitty replied, realizing she was holding her breath waiting for his answer.

"Wouldn't miss it! You can count on me," Alex said, winning yet another smile from Kitty. "Say, does the Doctor have a free room? Or maybe I could just rent something in town maybe? I'd love to see the Captain again..." Alex then flicked his baby blues at Kitty, who felt her heart leap. "...and you, of course, pretty girl." He grinned again, then dashed inside to throw on a coat, and pack up a few necessary things. He locked his door, and turned to Kitty, smiling again.

"Well, Kitty...do we take the shuttle? Or, do we go that 'other' way of yours?" he asked, cleverly managing put his arm around Kitty, who blushed slightly.

"You know me...why do things the hard way unless you have to," she told him cleverly, just before the both of them teleported back to just outside the Doppler mansion.