The next four days passed quickly, too quickly. Chakotay had situated himself in Tom's old quarters to get ready, this way he wouldn't run into Kathryn as easily. He was a nervous wreck. His palms where sweaty and shaking as he looked in the mirror, straightening his already straight dress uniform for the thousandth time that hour. Harry, Tom and the doctor where also in their dress uniforms. Neelix, meanwhile, was in a tux, seeing as he had no uniform to wear.
Kes, Sam and Seven had just finished getting themselves into their dresses, causing very little damage to their finely curled hair. In a turn of events the three bridesmaids wore cream coloured outfits. Their dresses where strapless, but their shoulders where covered by black boleros. Their make-up had been done before they got dressed.
Kathryn was trying to keep herself calm, trying to help them get ready. In the end, B'Elanna sat Janeway on the couch and told her to stay put.
"Kathryn, sit, stay calm, relax," she ordered before getting herself into her own, dark blue, dress, with some assistance from the other three.
At this point they had about one hour to go before they had to get the bride to her wedding. Her make-up had already been done and her hair was in curlers, all she needed now was the dress.
B'Elanna grabbed the garment bag, containing the outfit. Carefully she took the brides outfit out. B'Elanna beckoned Kathryn to stand, which she did.
Putting the dress on, Kathryn looked at the smiling faces of the women. "What?"
"You look beautiful, Kathryn," Kes noted as she and B'Elanna took the curlers out of Kathryn's auburn hair.
The veil was then carefully settled on her head, the scarlet material darkening the red of her hair. They then moved to straighten the matching train of her dress before handing Kathryn her bouquet of white flowers.
"I have just one question," she addressed the quartet. "Is this really happening?"
They all nodded, before Seven spoke up. "It most certainly is, and it's about time," she said in monotone, causing all of them to laugh.
"Well spoke, Seven, well spoken," the engineer said, as she put the finishing touches on Kathryn's outfit.
"B'Elanna, I swear, if you poke at me one more time I'll…"
"Throw me out the nearest airlock, I know," the half-Klingon said, raising her hands and taking a step back. "Besides, you look gorgeous, everything like the blushing bride you are," she noted as she grabbed her own bouquet, a mix of red and white, as where those of the Bridesmaids.
They then made the short trek to the Holodeck, careful to stick to the route that Tom and B'Elanna had planned out. Once they where just around the corner Sam poked her head around the corner.
"Chakotay's not there, the rest are," she noted before the four stepped around the corner, Kathryn close behind.
Tom tapped his commbadge upon seeing the women. "They're here, Tuvok," he said, "except Naomi," was noted, just moments before the young Miss Wildman bolted around a corner in a dark green dress. "Scratch that, Commander," he offered, smiling at Naomi.
Just then the doors opened, revealing a carefully crafted replica of Kathryn's home in Indiana. The group stepped across the threshold, waiting for the music in Katie's backyard to start up.
Naomi walked down the aisle first, grinning, followed by her mom and Harry, then Kes and Neelix, Seven and the Doctor followed next. Tom and B'Elanna where the last two to approach the front before Kathryn made the walk, with Tuvok at her side, playing both 'father' of the bride and official.
Once at the end of the aisle, Tuvok gave Kathryn's had to Chakotay and proceeded to his position.
Chakotay smiled at his bride, taking in her dress. Like any good groom, this was the first time he'd seen her outfit. Staring at her he almost forgot how to breath. Once he finally thought to say something he looked at the bride through her scarlet veil. "You're gorgeous," he murmured.
Kathryn offered her soon to be husband a whispered thanks. She then handed her bouquet to B'Elanna before taking firm hold of Chakotay's hand in her own and turning to Tuvok, he then started the ceremony.
They had elected to keep the ceremony simple, so the Vulcan stuck to the usual Starfleet monologue, even the vows where kept the same. To the couple it seemed like forever until the final words came from the Commander.
"By the powers vested in me by the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you husband and wife," came his crisp voice, followed by, "You may now kiss the bride."
Chakotay did just that, to the thunderous applause of the crew. The kiss ended ended before the applause, as the newlyweds walked back down the aisle to Kathryn's quarters so that they could get ready for the reception.