Chapter Five

The Wedding! Don't worry, I haven't overdone it. (At least, I hope not).

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Twenty-four hours later the photos had been removed from the wall, the votes had been counted and the figures sent to the competition organiser.

But before the next round, however, they would be celebrating Malcolm and Trip's wedding.

It was a low-key affair held in the mess hall. Chef had baked a cake and excelled himself with the buffet, while Hoshi, Travis and several others, spent the afternoon decorating the room with balloons, banners and streamers.

The ceremony began at1900 with an exchange of vows and rings, and a kiss to seal the union. Captain Archer was very proud to officiate at the nuptials of two of his officers, and was grinning all over his face as he said, "I now pronounce you husband and - er - husband."

A party that went on until midnight followed the brief ceremony, and it was without doubt the happiest party they'd had on the ship.

Video links had enabled both families to watch the event, and Trip and Malcolm were able to speak to each family in turn.

Malcolm's father was not overjoyed with his son's choice of partner, but accepted him graciously, although he did insist on calling him Charles. Malcolm's mother and sister were both very happy for him and were looking forward to meeting Trip. It was quite a serious conversation.

Trip's family was the opposite. They were loud, cheerful and full of advice for the newly- weds. Trip's Mother wanted to hug Malcolm and said she would do so at the very first opportunity, which had better not be too long. They sent lots of good wishes as they waved goodbye.

When Trip and Malcolm went to leave the party as it was winding down, they found that the engineering and armoury crews had decided to escort them back to their quarters. "We're reviving an old medieval custom," Kelly informed them, "where the newly married couple are led to their new home by their friends."

So they had to wait while the procession formed up. The women, in their pretty dresses, went in front carrying baskets of (artificial) flowers, the men followed behind, and somewhere around was a piper playing some appropriate music. It was a happy procession. The women danced in front, throwing down the flowers for Trip and Malcolm to walk on. The men followed behind making lewd comments and jokes. The happy couple were a little embarrassed, especially when the procession arrived at their door and waited for Trip to open it. Before Trip and Malcolm could enter, however, the women pushed their way in and scattered the rest of the flowers around the room, especially on the bed. Then they laughingly left them to it.

Malcolm shut the door on the unruly crowd and asked, "Whatever did we do to deserve this?"

"I guess that's their way of saying 'We're your friends and we love you both.' But now we can shut them out, darlin'. It's just you an' me." Trip pulled Malcolm into his arms and kissed him tenderly, but Malcolm wanted passion so he deepened the kiss, pushing Trip towards the bed until he had to sit, then he sat astride Trip's lap and started undoing his own shirt buttons. Immediately Trip started to sing "The Stripper" so that Malcolm had to gyrate whilst removing his shirt, much to Trip's delight. Moments later they were both enjoying their first night of married bliss.