Chapter 17: Countdown

The morning of the wedding Leonard McCoy awoke alone in the large bed he shared with Jamie in the guest suite of McCoy Manor. He sat up and was confused. He realized how accustomed he'd become to wake up next to her or entangled with her in those few weeks. He wanted that every morning for the rest of his life.

So, where was she? His gaze wandered around. A few of Jamie's things were gone and there was a PADD on the empty side of the bed. On the screen flashed the words "Play me". That made him smile.

"Hey Bones", the message started, showing a brightly smiling Jamie. "Nyota, Mom and Eleonora convinced me to get up early and follow at least partly the tradition that bride and groom should not see each other before the wedding. I talked them down from 24 hours to five. Wouldn't have made any sense with the dinner last night anyway. They hadn't accounted for that. "She laughed. "Personally..." She winked. "... I rather would've had some hot pre-nuptial morning sex with you... but I promise you a great wedding night. I love you and can't wait to see you at the ceremony... By the way, this time the hickey you made isn't at my neck..." With her grinning the clip ended.

Jamie stared at the white floor length dress with silver ornaments around the waist and covering the back that was hanging at the wardrobe in one of the guest rooms.

She realized once more how strange all of this was. Three weeks ago she had only be best friends with Leonard McCoy. And now...

But her lips formed a smile that grew bigger the longer she looked at the gown. She imagined Bones seeing her for the first time in it - and taking it off her in the night.

"Want me to help you put it on?" Winona's voice interrupted Jamie's thoughts.

Jamie chuckled to herself. Right, first put it on. "Yeah..." she finally said. "But we've got time. I want to put up my hair first. And Eleonora was talking about some tradition for which she's right now getting something... Although, she doesn't necessarily need to find something blue..." Jamie trailed off when her eyes met the knowingly look her mother gave her.

"I don't think hickeys count", Winona said, surveying her daughter. "No matter where they are."

Jamie blushed a little. "Who said anything about hickeys?"

Winona rolled her eyes. "Honey, I know the two of you didn't sleep much last night."

"Mom..."

Winona chuckled. "I think it's adorable. And completely normal."

The door opened and Eleonora McCoy entered the room. "I can't find the necklace with the sapphires. But it wouldn't go with the other jewelry anyway. How about a little blue bow pinned inside the skirt?"

"Don't worry", Winona started, giving Jamie a smirk. "Jamie's got the blue covered." She walked past her daughter and whispered to her chuckling: "Literally, too, I hope."

This time, Jamie rolled her eyes.

Eleonora put a flat jewelry box on the table. "With the engagement ring you do already have something old and the dress is new. This is something borrowed", she said and pointed to the box. "Earrings and a bracelet that will go perfectly with the gown. So what's the blue you have?"

"Well, uhm, it's something... underneath the dress", Jamie gave back vaguely, thinking by now that this kind of blue wasn't perhaps the best idea.

"A garter?"

"Uhm, it's got something to do with underwear..." the bride replied and mentally noted to not let them see the mark, that Leonard had left last night, when changing her bra.

"Alright then", Eleonora said, letting the topic go. "Let's do you hair... By the way, the boys plan a kidnapping of the bride."

Jamie laughed. "The boys?"

"Those nice young Lieutenants. Sulu and Chekov. Montgomery and Christopher might be in it, too", her mother-in-law explained.

Jamie looked at her in a mix of confusion and amusement. She wondered if she should ask her why she kept calling Scotty and Chris by their full first names. No one else did.

Winona laughed. "They better tell Jamie what they plan or they may end up accidentally with some broken noses, if they concentrate too hard on the surprise part of the kidnapping."

Jamie crossed her arms. "I've got a better idea. Why don't I kidnap my husband after the ceremony."

The two elder women laughed.

Jamie contemplated if she should tell them that she actually considered turning the tables on that old wedding tradition. But instead she took her communicator. "Kirk to Sulu."

"Sulu here."

"Is there something I should know?"

"Uhm... no?"

"Sulu..."

"Well, Leonard needs to earn the wedding night, don't you think? Or would you have us rather to kidnap him, so you can go searching for him?"

She was actually about to say yes - just to see Bones' face - but gave in. "Fine. You can kidnap me. But I will decided where to and we do it in the evening after everything else you might have planned."

The Lieutenant chuckled.

"Sulu, you're on a open channel", Jamie warned, suspecting what he would say otherwise. "My mother and my mother-in-law can hear you."

Winona laughed. "Oh, please. We know that Leonard and you jump each other at every chance you get. We're all adults here."

"Evening it is", Sulu confirmed and ended the connection.

"Mama?" a girls voice asked through the door.

Jamie slightly startled. "Still not used to that", she smiled.

Winona and Eleonora exchanged some glances, but kept quiet.

"Come in, Joanna."

The girl entered the room, wearing a knee long dress. Yellow, almost gold. With a certain resemblance to a Starfleet duty dress, just a bit puffier.

Jamie chuckled. "No blue?"

Joanna grinned and shook her head.

Eleonora smiled and leaned over to Jamie. "Jo really adores you", she whispered in her ear.

Jamie smiled, too, and got on her knees. "Hey Jo-Jo, have you seen your Dad already?"

"Yeah", the girl nodded. "Uncle Pavel and Uncle Scotty are with him in the kitchen. I told him, he's not allowed on this floor and that he won't get past me."

The three women laughed.

"Perhaps the color should have been red..." Jamie mumbled. "Which reminds me..." She took her communicator again. "Kirk to Hendorff..."

While she was talking to her security chief about keeping away possible uninvited guests or the press Eleonora took Joanna's hand and led her to a chair.

"Come on, Sweetheart. We'll do Jamie's hair and put then a few flowers in yours", the girls grandmother said.

Jamie sat next to Joanna when she'd finished her call and let Eleonara work her magic.

An hour later the three women and Joanna were ready for the ceremony. Holding a PADD Nyota Uhura came to the room and made the others go outside to the wedding party.

Jamie took a final look into the mirror. "How is he?"

Nyota chuckled. "Not nervous. But impatient by now. He can't wait seeing you." She smiled. "And yes. He's wearing the gala uniform." She handed Jamie the PADD. "I prepared the press release. We'll send it out tomorrow, so not one will bother you until you're off to your honeymoon."

Surprised Jamie lifted her head. "Honeymoon?"

Nyota smiled again. "We arranged a little something for you two. One week far away from any disturbances."

"But the next mission-" Jamie started and Nyota raised a hand to stop her talking.

"Postponed. Pike suggested it himself when I talked about a few things for the wedding with him."

Jamie smiled. "Thank you... Do I want to know what the other things are?"

"You'll see. One thing right now, actually."

"We... well, Scotty had the idea to do a little side by side transport. Joanna's going into position right now and the Enterprise will beam you directly to the beginning of the aisle that leads to Leonard. Proper style for a Starfleet captain." Nyota winked.

Jamie laughed and went to the window. She took a look outside and saw the wedding setup in the gardens. Then she turned to Nyota. "Okay, let's do this."

Author's note: I can't keep away from the major fluff... and there's even more to come in the following chapters... I'm not sure how the hickey became a running gag... Sort of just happened...