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Way The Wind Blows
Chapter Twenty Nine
MARCH 2379
In Victoriana's luxury bridal suite, Kathryn looked at herself in a long mirror framed with oak. She was wearing an elegant Victorian style gown of white satin, and was surveying her appearance. Her mother and Aunt Martha watched her, while B'Elanna looked through a bride's catalogue.
"I don't know," Kathryn said, fidgeting with the high neckline. "It feels tight. I think the neck's too high."
Her mother sighed. "This one's too high, the other one was too low, the dress before that was too puffy, the one before that was too plain..."
"Oh, leave her alone," Aunt Martha smiled, "a bride's allowed to be fussy."
"Then she should have taken the time to select a dress before now," Gretchen replied. "Honestly, leaving it until the night before..."
"The best time," Kathryn answered. "If I'd picked one earlier, I'd only have got tired of it by now or found something wrong with it. Besides, Samantha couldn't arrive with Naomi until today, and we need to make sure our dresses compliment each other. Aswell as all that, this place has exclusive designs only available to guests. They're worth waiting for."
"They certainly are," Aunt Martha smiled. "You replicate as many gowns as you like, darling, and I'll be right here to give you an opinion. Tomorrow's going to be the most special day of your life. Everything has to be perfect."
B'Elanna stepped forward and held out the catalogue to Kathryn.
"What about this one?"
Kathryn looked at a very pretty dress she was pointing too, but it didn't inspire her. The sleeves were too short. "I don't know," she replied. "I'd prefer long sleeves." She pointed to a dress above it that was similar, but had a low neckline that swept off the shoulders. "Something like..." Her heart skipped a beat as she studied the exquisitely embroidered dress. "Yes, that's it...that's the one I want. It's perfect. Not too low, not too high, not too plain..."
Her mother chirped in. "Not too fancy?"
"Not too fancy," Kathryn smiled. She looked up at B'Elanna. "Will you replicate it while I take this one off?"
"Sure," B'Elanna replied.
The bedroom door opened and Samantha Wildman appeared, Naomi behind her. The child was wearing a pretty Victorian style gown of yellow satin trimmed with lace and had matching yellow shoes on her feet.
"Wow, Naomi," B'Elanna smiled. "You look amazing."
Naomi beamed a smile. "Mom helped me pick out this dress."
"And you made the right choice. It suites you perfectly."
Samantha turned to Kathryn. "Is it okay with you, Admiral?"
"It's absolutely fine with me," Kathryn smiled. "You look beautiful, Naomi." She then looked back up at Samantha. "And please, call me Kathryn. We're not in a command structure any more."
Naomi looked at the pile of dresses on Kathryn's bed. "How come you have so many dresses? Don't you just need one?"
Gretchen laughed. "A child after my own heart."
Samantha blushed. "You mustn't ask things like that, sweetheart."
Kathryn smiled. "She's observant and inquisitive, I like that." She then addressed Naomi. "I've had a hard time picking out a gown that I like, sweetheart. But, I think I've found one now."
"Which I am just about to go and replicate," B'Elanna added. "Excuse me."
With that, B'Elanna left the room and went into a lavishly ornate period living room. All the furniture was made of oak, gold brocade curtains hung at the windows, and a sumptuous rug was laid before a glorious fireplace in which a simulated fire was burning. The replicator was concealed in a tall oak cabinet, and B'Elanna went over to it.
Just as she was opening the doors, the ringing of an old-fashioned bell filled the air. B'Elanna looked in the direction of the sound, and found that it was coming from a small silver bell hanging above the main door. Someone had to be at the door. She made her way over to the door and opened it.
When she did, she found Phoebe Janeway there. Her black wavy hair was flowing over a long blue dress and in her hands she was holding a fluffy white puppy that had a black button nose and large brown eyes.
"Phoebe," Kathryn cried as she came into the room. "I'm glad you're here at last." She saw the puppy in her sister's arms. "And who do we have here?"
"An abandoned pup," Phoebe replied. "Half shih-tzu, half terrier. She was brought to the shelter I volunteer in only this morning. I thought I'd bring her to the wedding and see if anyone wants her. I'd have her, but I've got three dogs already and Mitzi's expecting a litter. I just don't have the time to take care of her."
"I'll have her," Kathryn answered. "Providing Chakotay wants her too, of course. But I think he will."
"In that case, she can be a wedding present," Phoebe smiled. "Poor thing, she was just dumped in the middle of a woods. Luckily someone found her and brought her to us. She was dirty, cold, injured and hungry."
Kathryn took the pup in her arms. "Hello, little lady. Would you like to come and live with me?" The puppy licked her nose and Kathryn laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Don't take this the wrong way, sis," Phoebe said, "but I don't like that dress you're wearing at all. It's too...what's the word...stuffy. It doesn't flatter you in the least. You want something a little more revealing...one of those nice Victorian dresses that comes off the shoulder...otherwise Chakotay's going to think he's marrying a schoolmarm or something."
"I don't think Chakotay would care if she turned up in a sack," B'Elanna smiled, "just so long as she turns up."
"Still, it's not right in my opinion," Phoebe continued, "but I guess if it makes you happy."
"Actually, it doesn't," Kathryn replied. "I've been trying different gowns on and was just about to take this one off when I heard someone was at the door. B'Elanna's replicating me another one."
"Which I am finally going to get too," B'Elanna declared. With that, she returned to the cabinet and set about her task.
Phoebe stepped closer to her sister, rather regretting her words. "I always have to speak my mind, you know me, but whatever you're going to wear tomorrow, you're going to look stunning, Kath."
Kathryn smiled. "Thank you."
"And I'm glad that you've finally found someone. I wasn't sure about Chakotay at first, him being a Maquis criminal and all that, but after seeing you both together, I see that you make each other happy, and there hasn't been enough happiness in your life. I hope that you'll always be happy together."
Kathryn put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Thank you, Phoebe. That means a lot."
B'Elanna returned with a newly replicated all-in-one gown over her arm.
"Finally, I got it done."
Kathryn smiled, handed the puppy back to her sister, and took the gown from B'Elanna. "I'll go and try it on."
While the night sky over the village was dry, it was raining over the cabin. Kathryn and Chakotay now owned a large house in San Francisco, but it was at the cabin that Chakotay wanted to spend the night before the wedding. His sister, Sekaya, was staying with him as she'd made the journey from Trebus especially for the wedding. Having lived for a while in the modern world, she was qualified to fly a shuttle and had her own. With her she'd brought her five year old daughter, Laraka, and the pretty little girl watched avidly as Chakotay replicated himself some toast with honey. The child looked a lot like Chakotay and she had their tribal tattoo on her forehead.
"Uncle Chakotay?" she asked as he took a bite of his toast. "Can a replicator make everything?"
"Everything it's programmed to make," Chakotay smiled.
"Can it make strawberries?"
"It certainly can," he said. "Would you like some?"
The child nodded.
"Then go over to the replicator and tell it what you want."
Laraka didn't need to be told twice. Happily, she happily over to the replicator and demanded strawberries. But when the replicator asked whether she wanted fresh or preserved, she turned to her uncle in confusion.
"What does that mean, Uncle?"
"The replicator just wants to know what kind of strawberries you want," he explained. "You want to say fresh."
Laraka turned back to the replicator. "Fresh...Fresh strawberries."
Instantly, a bowl of fresh strawberries materialized and the child gazed at them in awe.
"Like magic, Uncle!"
"Yes," he smiled.
"May I have a drink too?"
"Anything you want," he said, "just help yourself."
Chakotay then left the kitchenette and made his way into the living room where Sekaya was sitting. Like Laraka, she looked a lot like Chakotay. Her eyes were the shame shape as his, her lips formed the same distinctive heart, and she too wore their tribal tattoo.
"You're spoiling her, Chakotay," she said as he sat down.
"She deserves it," he smiled.
"Maybe bringing her wasn't such a good idea. The more she sees of this world, the less satisfied she's going to be with our tribal life on Trebus."
"Perhaps," Chakotay replied, "but perhaps not. You lived with the luxuries of our technological world for years after the Cardassian take over, but now our planet's free again, you've chosen to return to Trebus. And you've chosen that because it's what you want. If it's what Laraka wants, then she will choose it too. It's only fair that she has the liberty to make that choice for herself."
"I know," Sekaya answered. "You're right. It wasn't fair the way our parents tried to pressurize you into staying in the tribe. It wasn't the life you wanted and they should have respected that. I hope that Laraka stays with us on Trebus, but if she wants to leave, I won't do to her what they did to you. She will leave with my blessing."
"And she will respect you for giving her the choice."
Laraka came through from the kitchen now, a bowl of strawberries in one hand and a pink cup in the other.
"What do you have in that cup, honey?" Sekaya asked.
"Just water, mama," she answered. "I was thirsty."
The child sat next to Chakotay and snuggled up to him. "I like your cabin, Uncle. Can I come and stay again?"
"Of course," Chakotay replied, putting his arm around her. "Your aunt-to-be and I won't be living here all the time, but you're welcome to come and stay when we are. You're also welcome to stay with us in our house in San Francisco."
The child looked up at her mother. "May I, mama?"
Sekaya nodded.
Laraka smiled happily. "I'm so glad you came back from space, Uncle."
Chakotay smiled back. "So am I."
Laraka picked out a strawberry from her bowl and took a bite.
"It's not too late," Chakotay said, watching her. "You can still be a bridesmaid at our wedding if you want."
"I don't want to," she replied, taking another bite. "I want to stay with mama."
"I'll be there," Sekaya assured her. "You'd be able to see me as you walk down the aisle with Kathryn and the other bridesmaid."
The child considered a moment, but then she shook her head. "I'd rather watch."
"You'd get to wear a pretty dress," Chakotay added. "Wouldn't you like that?"
"No," she answered. "I want to stay with mama."
"Alright," Chakotay said, kissing her little forehead. "But let me know if you change your mind."
Standing at a window in the living room, dressed in blue negligee, Kathryn looked out at the quiet historical street below. Stars twinkled above the buildings and silver moonlight reflected on black slate roofs and shiny cobbles on the road. Soft light emanated from a couple of windows, and Kathryn saw that one of the buildings was a jeweler's shop. Perhaps it was the same shop Chakotay had got her locket from all those years ago...
"It won't be long now," her mother said, approaching her. "This time tomorrow, you'll be a married woman."
"Yes," Kathryn replied, turning away from the window.
"It will be the start of a whole new life." She paused. "But are you sure it's a life you want?"
Kathryn frowned. "How do you mean?"
"It isn't usual for a bride to wait until the night before her wedding to choose her gown. Are you having second thoughts about marrying Chakotay?"
"No," Kathryn replied. "I have no doubts. I just..." She turned to look out of the window again. "I just didn't want to tempt fate. When I was marrying Justin, I selected out a dress the month before and took it home with me. I must have looked at myself in it a million times, and I would walk up and down the hallway in my house pretending I was walking down the aisle. Then the accident happened and there was no Justin anymore, no wedding. But when I got home from hospital, my dress was still there, still hanging outside my wardrobe. And when I saw it, I felt sick inside, felt like my heart had been ripped out of my body. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and I slashed it into a thousand pieces. Then I took it into the garden, made a fire, and watched it burn until there was nothing left. And that's where you found me the next morning...lying on the grass in the rain, just looking at a fire that was no longer burning."
"I'm sorry," Gretchen said quietly. "I didn't think...But I should have." She reached out and tentatively put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "But nothing is going to go wrong this time. The wedding is only a few hours away and Chakotay loves you very much. That's clear for anyone to see."
"And I love him," Kathryn answered, turning back to her mother. "But while I'm looking forward to the wedding, this feeling of unease I have won't leave until we've exchanged rings and been declared husband and wife.'
In the distance, a door opened and Samantha emerged from the room beyond. She closed the door and made her way over to Kathryn and Gretchen.
"I've finally got Naomi to bed," she smiled. "But I don't know how much she'll sleep. She's so excited about tomorrow."
"I remember when I was a bridesmaid at my cousin Hannah's wedding," Kathryn reminisced. "I didn't sleep a wink the night before...or for several nights before that either."
"I remember," Gretchen smiled. "Yet Phoebe took it all in her stride. I'd never have thought it would be you who would end up the Starfleet Officer."
Another bedroom door opened and Aunt Martha appeared. She was wearing a pink dressing gown, matching fluffy slippers, and had a white towel wrapped around her head. "The bathroom's now free if anyone wants it."
"Then I think I'll take a bath," Gretchen said. "It will save me having one in the morning." She turned to Samantha. "Excuse me."
She then made her way into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
"Where's Phoebe and B'Elanna?" Aunt Martha asked, making her way over to Kathryn and Samantha.
"B'Elanna's gone home," Kathryn answered, "and Phoebe's taken the puppy back to the shelter. Mom was worried she'd do her business all over the place, and she had a point. Even though they allow dogs to stay here, I'd rather not be responsible for soiling the furnishings. If Chakotay's happy to have her, then we'll pick her up from the shelter when we get back from honeymoon...wherever it is that you're sending us," she teased.
"You'll see," Aunt Martha smiled.
"But don't I even get a clue?"
"No."
Kathryn was about to beg for one, when she felt a sudden pain in her abdomen. With a groan, she put her hand there.
"What's wrong?" Aunt Martha asked in concern.
"I don't know," Kathryn replied. "I felt..." The sensation came again, stronger this time. "Now it's worse."
"Shall I call The Doctor?" Samantha asked.
"No," Kathryn replied. "At least, not yet. Just replicate me a medical tricorder. I've probably just eaten something that doesn't agree with me."
"Ok," Samantha said.
The Ensign then went to replicate the tricorder while Kathryn sat on the bed.
"I knew something would go wrong," she said. "When it comes to weddings, I'm jinxed."
"Nothing is going to go wrong," Aunt Martha declared. "An upset stomach is easily taken care of. Just relax."
"Easier said than done when you feel like you have a Klingon playing soccer in your stomach."
At these words, a light lit up in Aunt Martha's eyes, and as soon as Samantha returned with the tricorder, she snatched it from her.
"If I'm right," she said, "it isn't an upset stomach you have after all." She switched on the tricorder and quickly scanned her niece. As she did, tears filled her eyes. "And I am...I'm right."
Samantha questioned. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Absolutely nothing," Aunt Martha smiled. "We've just got ourselves an extra guest at the wedding."
Infinite joy filled Kathryn's eyes. "You mean..."
Aunt Martha nodded. "You're pregnant."
Unable to contain her joy, Kathryn got to her feet and hugged her aunt. "Oh Aunt Martha..."
"Congratulations, darling," she smiled. "I'm so thrilled."
Samantha spoke. "Congratulations from me too."
Kathryn drew away from her aunt, happy tears in her eyes. "Are you sure? Are you really sure?"
"Absolute positive. See for yourself."
Kathryn took the tricorder she was offering and studied it. Sure enough, there was a lifesign inside her.
"I am," she said. "I'm really pregnant."
"I'd say at least four months."
Kathryn looked up at her. "Four months...but..."
Aunt Martha laughed. "You don't think they start kicking at four weeks, do you?"
"But four months? How could I be pregnant for so long and not know?"
"It happens all the time, darling. It happened to me."
"And to me," Samantha added. "It was weeks before I knew I was having Naomi."
"All that matters is that you're pregnant," Aunt Martha said. "And I'm over the moon!"
"Me too,"Kathryn smiled. "And I have to tell Chakotay...right now."
"Oh, but you can't," Samantha cried. "Isn't it bad luck to see the groom before the wedding?"
"Nonsense," Aunt Martha answered. "Just old hoddlewash!"
"Hoddlewash or not," Kathryn said, "with my wedding luck I'll play it safe and stay away."
"Well," Aunt Martha smiled, "it looks to me like your luck has changed, because this has to be the best wedding present ever."
"Yes," Kathryn said, hugging her aunt again. "It certainly is!"
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY NINE