Pacing was something he didn't do often, but now he had to fight the urge very conciously as he stood at the head of the enormous Church program, standing by the Doctor who was clad in what looked remarkably like a priest's robe.

Tom was on one side of him a few paces away, and B'Elanna was in her own place on the other side, leaving room, of course, for the Bride. The Bride, who would be coming in any minute, whom he would see for the very first time that day, as was tradition.

And there she was. Though she looked a bit uncomfortable in the gown, and had to keep brushing the hair out of her face, she was beautiful. The urge to pace evaporated as he and everyone else stared at the approaching woman, which, he noticed, only made her more uncomfortable.

A smile worked its way across his features, and his delight increased when it made her grin a bit as well. He held out a hand to her when she was close enough, and together they stood in front of the Doctor, facing eachother, holding both hands.

He looked over, and the Doctor nodded at him with a smile. Letting go of one of her hands, he took from his pocket a ring, taking a deep breath. "I, Chakotay," he said, as the music softened to play in the background. "pledge my undying love to you, Kathryn, as I invite you to share my life. I promise to be kind, unselfish, respectful, and trustworthy so that together, our dreams of a beautiful future can come true."

She was listening to him intently, her eyes glistening in the soft light. She's going to cry, he thought, smiling even more as he went on. "To this end, I call upon all present to witness," he glanced at the people gathered, then back at her, "that I take you, Kathryn, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live." As he finished, he took up her left hand in both of his, sliding the ring onto her finger.

Voyager's Captain bit her lip, willing the tears to hold until she herself had spoken. Just a little longer... She took the ring B'Elanna had handed to her discretely, and looked up into his face. "I, Kathryn," she began, "take you, Chakotay, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before."

She cleared her throat quietly, trying to regain control as the tears started fighting to be free. "I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry ith you," here her voice broke ironically, "loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward, for as long as we both shall live." She slid the ring onto his hand as well, her eyes never leaving his.

The Doctor, still smiling, put a hand on their own clasped ones, looking at each of them in turn. "With these rings you pledge to love one another eternally. Like this perfect circle, your love shall have no end. Just as it is constructed of incorruptable metal, so the commitments you have made today to eachother, before these people, should never fail. Do you promise to uphold the vows you have spoken from your own hearts to keep this partnership alive?"

She smiled again, glancing at the Doctor for a moment. "We do," they said at the same time.

"And do you promise to love eachother no matter what may come, to be faithful and encouraging, never to say a word that is not meant to build the other up?"

"We do," they spoke again.

The hologram's smile broadened. "Now that that's settled..." He looked at Chakotay, and opened his mouth again, but he didn't wait for the words. He let go of her hands to wrap his arms around her, and kissed her.

She would have laughed, if she hadn't been a bit...preoccupied. Her eyes closing, she took his head in her hands and returned it.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "Well, I was going to say 'you may kiss the Bride,' but I see you have everything under control."

There was a ripple of laughter throughout the building, and even the new couple grinned at eachother as they drew back, and turned to face the crew.

The next words that day would make an impression on her, one that would last for the rest of her life. "I now pronounce this pair husband, and wife."