Chapter 26 – Wedding plans I

Thanks for all your reviews! My first story with over 100 reviews, whew!

I had to reread the whole story to decide where I wanted to go with it next and I corrected some spelling mistakes while I was at it.

After everyone had gone to bed, Irina and Soltek finally had more time to be alone. Irina settled herself next to Soltek in his bed lying on her side, resting her head on her hand supported by her left elbow and looked at him.

'So, we might be able to keep you a proud member of your clan after all,' she said smiling.

Soltek laid down the padd he was holding and looked at her with a serious expression, 'it is not necessary for you to make this decision this early solely for the purpose to fulfill my clan head's expectations,' he said softly, 'I'd prefer being shunned to rush you into an official bonding which might be too early for you.'

She felt that he was concerned she might not truly want to be married to him and she realized with a pang that it hurt her, but he was only trying not to pressure her after their ups and downs with the whole marriage-topic, she told herself.

'I want to,' she stated clearly and took his hand in both of hers. 'I wanted to wait earlier because there was something I wasn't sure about,' she explained, 'but I am now.'

He gave her an intense look at that statement and Irina was able to feel how much he loved her because some door between them seemed to open widely after her statement. A warm feeling spread over her chest and claimed her whole body like sunlight bursting through a window after pulling back the curtains. She suddenly felt wrapped in love like in a blanket. It didn't matter anymore that he wouldn't say it out loud. And she wasn't sure she could say anything either, for a moment she thought she had lost any sense for coherent words.

'I can feel you,' she finally gasped.

'You have gotten used to the telepathic bond,' he stated in a warm voice not taking his eyes off her.

Although he didn't say it directly, Irina felt how much that meant to him and kissed him. Something in his eyes softened visibly and he started to caress her face. Then they were just holding one another while floating in that joyful warmth which had wrapped itself around them. She felt like her chest was expanding into his, blossoming like a radiant flower and a deep satisfaction settled itself all over her. She felt completely at peace with herself and the universe around her like she never had before. She didn't dare to say anything because that moment seemed so precious to her. She closed her eyes and just allowed herself to float in this wonderful feeling for a while. At some point they both dozed off feeling content like two well-nourished babies.

The next day they spend whatever time they could get away from Irina's mother and sister talking about the details of the Vulcan traditional bonding ceremony and Irina had many questions about that.

They decided they would inform Irina's mother and sister at dinner this evening. Irina's mum had taken the Monday off so she didn't need to leave in the evening or early in the morning. Olga didn't have to teach on Monday until the children's workshop at 3 pm. So they both had planned to leave the station after breakfast when Irina went on duty.

The most difficult thing about the ceremony seemed to Irina that she was supposed to act like it was expected of a traditional Vulcan woman who had been raised in that culture and she didn't know Vulcan manners that well, apart from barely getting along with Vulcan Starfleet personnel on the Asteria. She knew the Vulcan greeting, that they avoided body contact, personal questions and expressing emotions, but that was it. Maybe she should have read more of that book written by Dr. Lark.

However Soltek proved to be very patient with her and agreed to do a trial run in the holodeck on Monday evening after their duty shifts. To her amazement he told her that there were holo programs of wedding ceremonies and the like of many federation species so personnel could train with them before attending one and creating a diplomatic incident. At that point Irina remembered Professor Stintson might have mentioned the holo programs, but she must have again not paid enough attention in his class.

Irina figured that her parents and sister could keep close to Lamira, who as a communications officer could probably handle any alien ritual. Irina wanted to invite only the closest family members and friends so she wouldn't have to worry about dozens of humans behaving so irrational that Soltek's clan head might get a heart attack. They were doing this to keep Soltek a member of his clan after all. Maybe they could have a celebration at home on the moon afterwards and invite her whole family to that.

They didn't have much time to talk everything through though because they went to the arts exhibition they had been earlier for Olga's sake. Then they went to lunch and ate ice cream afterwards. Suddenly it was 1700 already. Olga and Irina's mother decided to do some last-minute-shopping while Irina wanted to prepare a dinner for them in her quarters. Irina's mother had brought fresh vegetables from their garden at home. Soltek conveniently volunteered to help.

'I was thinking,' she said while washing the zucchinis, paprikas and tomatoes, 'that we could have a celebration on the moon at my parents' house after the ceremony on Vulcan – that way I could invite my whole family and have a party without annoying your strict clan head.'

Soltek took the zucchinis she was done with and started to dry them with a towel. 'You know my clan head wouldn't forbid them to attend the ceremony on Vulcan. It is your right as bride to bring your clan and friends,' he said.

'To be honest,' she answered while fetching cutting boards and knives, 'I don't feel comfortable to invite my whole family to Vulcan...I'm nervous enough about my own behavior being up to Vulcan standard, I don't need dozens of other people I have to worry about.' She put two cutting boards and knives onto the table.

'I understand,' he said and she was astonished that he reached for her hand with two fingers extended. His touch immediately calmed her.

'How are you doing this?' she asked smiling while she found herself breathing in and out slowly.

'I'm projecting calming thoughts and sensations to you,' he replied and started chopping one of the zucchinis, 'you are also able to do this, you just don't use it consciously and the contents of your projections often differ from mine,' he said with one side of his mouth twitching slightly in an almost-smile.

She smiled while she started to work on the paprikas, 'sounds almost like you enjoy my emotional projections.'

'They are interesting to say the least,' he replied still busy with the zucchinis.

Irina grinned at him, which he ignored. Then she plugged in the little cooking unit she had borrowed from Lamira and put the big frying pan on it. 'Of course it would be only fair to invite your family to my family's house as well,' she went to the replicator to get some olive oil.

'Not all of them will be able to travel to earth's moon, but I think it is a fair compromise, especially considering that not everyone of your family may be able to travel to Vulcan,' he said and started to chop the onion while Irina poured the oil into the frying pan.

'Yeah,' she said, 'and most importantly it would avoid clash as much as possible, many of my family don't have much experience in interacting with other cultures.'

'Neither do my relatives,' Soltek replied cutting the last piece of onion in cubes.

Irina chuckled at that while putting the onion into the frying pan, 'I think your clan head would be very annoyed about human marriage customs.'

'She would never admit to be annoyed about human rituals, but I think we shouldn't test her patience,' he admitted his eyes watering from the onion, 'although if it is an official human wedding celebration I think we still should invite my family or they would be insulted. I believe after the Vulcan tradition has been served it will most likely appear logical to her to serve human tradition as well.'

Irina handed him a handkerchief.

'Thank you,' he said, 'it seems that my eye and nose mucosae react to the exhalations of this vegetable. I should go to sickbay.'

'No,' Irina said, 'that's normal and it doesn't look that bad.'

Then Irina paused a moment while a thought struck her.

'Soltek,' she asked, 'didn't you say a priest or healer can perform the bonding ceremony?'

'That's correct,' he affirmed.

'Who has the right to choose him or her?' Irina asked.

'Traditionally the parents of the bride choose the priest appointed to their residence or their family healer,' he replied, 'but since you don't live on Vulcan my parents would ask the priest in our district.'

'What if my parents choose a Vulcan healer from Jupiter station?' Irina asked smiling.

'That is their prerogative,' Soltek answered looking at her with obvious approval and amusement in his eyes.

This chapter is a bit short, but I've already started to work on the next one, so stay tuned!