All people have different ways of remembering things. Some people are more visual. If they see something familiar, it can trigger a whole memory cascade. Other people are more auditory; the sound of a particular instrument or song will bring them back to a certain point in time. I, however, associate memories with smells.

I must have over a hundred bottles of different perfumes lying in storage. Every single one of them is associated with a different point in my life. One of my perfumes, I can't remember the name of it – it's in a half empty, small, red bottle – reminds me of my first year at the academy. I can't help but be brought back to Instructor Davies' freshman xenobiology seminar every time I smell it.

And it's not only perfumes; the smell of burning wood brings me to Nana's home on Caldos. She always kept a fire burning, as it never really grew that warm even in summer. And camellias – I can't even go near a camellia plant without thinking of Nana. She planted them outside of her home and she placed a bouquet of them in every room of the house. She said they made her happy and brought sunshine into the house.

From today, though, I will associate the smell of well-worn wood and summer with my wedding. The Yakima courthouse is small and it lies directly in the heart of the town. It's an old wooden building with a well-manicured lawn and small shrubs that decorate the back and the sides.

Hope turns off the ignition and turns to me, "so, last few moments as a single woman."

I smile knowingly. I was never really single. My spirit has been tethered to Jean Luc's since the day that I met him. If I believed in fate or destiny, then I'd say that our souls were tied together since the beginning of time, written side by side in an unseen Book of Life.

"Beverly," Deanna slides forward in her seat, perching herself between Hope and I, "this is it."

"Yes." Yes. This is it. This is the beginning of a new chapter. This is the beginning of something wonderful. In an answer to her statement, I reach for the door handle and step out into the warm Yakima air. From what I've seen, it never gets overly hot here. Hope tells me that we'll get a few days of insufferable heat in late August, just before summer abnegates it's throne and concedes to Fall.

A light warm breeze blows down through the valley and rustles my dress. Jean Luc hasn't seen my dress and I'm excited to see his reaction to it. It's simple and understatedly elegant. I bought it in a small boutique in San Francisco a week ago. When the shop owner saw me in it, she said it was made for me. I think that she was just trying to make a sale, but still I couldn't agree more. The dress comes down only a few centimeters past my knees. It's cinched at the waist with a sash of golden fabric. The top is strapless and it forms a heart. The shop owner explained that it's made of Bajoran silk, a thicker blend than traditional human or even fine Vulcan silk, but somehow it still manages to flow elegantly.

I hear the sound of children's voices coming closer and closer to us. I look behind me and two young, sandy-haired boys with big smiles on their faces are running towards Hope shouting, "mom, mom!" A tall man walks steadily behind them, bringing up the rear.

"I know it's not a good time for introductions, but Beverly, Deanna, this is my husband Greg and these are my two boys," she looks down to the two young men latched onto her waist, "Thomas, and Andrew."

"It's nic-"

"Wow, you're really pretty!" The older of the two boys exclaims as he holds out his hand to me.

I can't help but giggle as I receive his handshake, "why thank you, I'm flattered!"

Gregg walks forward and extends his hand, "it's very good to meet you Beverly, Deanna," he nods his head. "Thank you for having us at your wedding. We're honoured and we're so grateful to be welcoming you into our family." His voice is warm and sincere. He's a good man and he reminds me of the man that I'm about to marry. Well," he signals in front of him, "shall we make out way in? Wouldn't want to keep the groom waiting!"

"Certainly not!" Deanna exclaims with a big grin. If it's even possible, I think she's more excited for me to marry Jean Luc than I am.

The old wooden doors to the courthouse creek open and suddenly I feel giddy, almost nervous. My stomach feels like it's dropping out. It's that same feeling I get when I'm in a shuttlecraft doing a loop-maneuver. No matter what anyone says, the inertial dampeners can't take away that feeling!

And there he is. I've seen him millions of times, but today it's the first. He looks nervous, though. He's pacing and he doesn't pace unless something is wrong. Is he having second thoughts? Does he not want to marry me? Bad news?

"What's wrong?" I whisper softly as I lead him away from the crowd.

"Beverly," he looks down at our joined hands, "Are you sure?"

"Jean Luc?" I'm stunned. How can he think that I'd be anything but sure?! And then it hits me: he's scared. And the worst part is that I'm mostly to blame. All these years he thought I didn't want him. He thought that I never returned his feelings for me.

"Beverly, what if..." he pauses trying to collect his thoughts and phrase what he's going to say, "what if I can't make you happy like-?"

My heart breaks. "Jean Luc, look at me."

He doesn't so I say it again, a little louder this time, "look at me."

I hold his hand a little tighter, "I'm sorry, Jean Luc. I'm sorry for all these years that's I've been too proud and too scared to love you and –"

"Beverly, stop. You're not the-"

I hold up my other hand, telling him to let me finish. I take a deep breath and let it out, "I love you and I've wanted to marry you since I was 23 years old. You make me happy. No one else. Just you."

Our guests are starting to look worried, but we're finished here when I ask him a second time, "Jean Luc Picard, will you marry me?" The worry lines on his face fade away and I see the most wonderful transformation, like a caterpillar emerging from its chrysalis to become a butterfly.

And for the second time he replies, "a thousand times yes."

The Justice of the Peace is a small man. It's funny to see him near Will Riker; he looks as small as a child. He smiles when he sees the lot of us enter his office.

"You must be John Luke and Beverly! It's good to see you." He ambles over to Jean Luc and I and shakes our hands.

He looks at our wedding party and smiles in recognition, "Oh! Hope, Greg! Good to see you! You too boys," he smiles and looks down at the two young boys who smile fondly back at him.

"How are you, Murphy?" Hope folds the small man into a warm hug. "Beverly," she walks near to me, "is the doctor I hired to be my new associate!"

"Oh wonderful!" The little man merrily exclaims! "So happy to meet both of you and to be able to perform your wedding ceremony. I see that you've brought plenty of witnesses!"

"Yes," Jean Luc looks around the room warmly. "This is Will Riker, my former first officer."

"Hello," there's that famous Riker grin.

The little man looks from Will to Jean Luc in surprise, "you wouldn't happen to be the Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise, would you?"

Jean Luc warmly corrects him with a pat on the back, "former Captain of the Starship Enterprise. Now I'm a professor or archaeology at the University of Washington."

"My, my, my! Well it's good to meet you, Mr. Riker. And is this lovely young woman," he gestures at Deanna, "your wife?"

I let out a small chortle and look at Deanna, "no," Deanna begins, "we're not married. I'm Deanna Troi, the Enterprise's counselor."

Judge Murphy isn't finished yet, "well are you married?" He has a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Both Will and Deanna balk at the same time, "uh," she laughs nervously, "no."

Murphy looks at Will out of the corner of his eye, "are you?"

Will is having fun with this, I can tell as he laughs and shakes his head. "Well…" Murphy starts as he walks back over to Jean Luc and I, "that's a shame. But you know, I do a discounted rate on doubles!" He winks at the two of them and I can hear Wesley laughing in background.

I hear a small voice "mom, what's going on?"

Hope smiles down at her son Andrew, "Shh, honey," she kisses the top of his head and whispers, "I'll tell you later".

Murphy clears is throat and in doing so he refocuses the attention in the room, "John Luke, Beverly, all joking and banter aside, I am honoured that you have asked me to perform your wedding ceremony. And I'd like to thank everyone here for coming to support this wonderful couple."

"John Luke, Beverly please join hands." I turn to Jean Luc and I can't help but feel a little giddy as he takes my hands.

"We are gathered here for the wedding of John Luke Picard and Beverly Cheryl Crusher…"

Somehow I don't seem to hear the rest of what he says. Jean Luc is smiling at me and my world narrows to him. Looking at him now I see the boy he used to be and the man he's become. I see all of our struggles and our arguments, but more than that I see the way looks at me. I see the small things that he did, and does now, to show me he loves me. I hear the words of love he whispers in the throes of passion. I picture him holding our child. I see us growing old together. I see us loving each other with a gnawing ferocity and never stopping.

When Murphy asks me if I take this man, I don't hesitate. "Yes. I do". Forever. And then I hear him repeat those same words, and I know that our lives are irrevocably intertwined.

I'm in a trance when I hear, "John Luke, you may now kiss your bride." I smile when he moves in to me. I feel warm hand cup my cheek while the other snakes around my waist, drawing me flush against him. "I love you, Mrs. Picard." And his mouth claims mine in a searing kiss.

The need for air becomes overwhelming and he pulls away and I realize that my face feels damp. I look at my husband and I realize he's crying and not until he wipes my own cheeks do I realize that I am too. I see Murphy smiling at us and Wes moves in from the periphery.

"Captain, Mom, congratulations!"

"Yes! Finally!" I hear Will say as he brings me into a hug not before he gives Jean Luc the most ridiculous bear hug.

"Really Beverly, Jean Luc," Deanna smiles as she hugs each of us individually, "I'm so happy – and so is the rest of the crew! They've asked me to send their regards!"

Hope and Greg and their two boys move in last, "Jean Luc, Beverly, I'm so happy for you too. And I'm so grateful that you've come to Yakima to be with us."

I hardly hear anything that's being said. I'm lost in my thoughts as I look at my family: my husband, Wes, Will, Deanna, and now Hope, Greg, Andrew and Thomas. My family. Our Family.