Chapter 3

Last Time:

"Given the situation, I am surprised that Black, Kelly and Potter are willing to work with us at all," Commander T'Ana said with a frown. The deaths on the Enterprise had included medical staff she knew. Good people that would be missed.

"I am thankful that they are willing. Let's hope that the Klingon high command thinks the same."

oOoOo

IKS Kaveth Nar – D'Mek's Quarters

D'Mek could see the unfeigned anger on the face of his chief engineer. In fact, L'kor looked positively, gloriously murderous…Sirius really was a lucky human. The human in question wasn't looking much better. His lack of expression and narrowed eyes radiated the same anger as his lover.

"Well, they can go bugger themselves," said Sirius with some heat, before adding in a colder voice. "Harry and Emma are under my…our protection. L'kor has made it clear that the Empire will take us in. Frankly, I trust more in Klingon honour than the Federations laws right now."

Both D'Mek and L'kor both growled, pleased with the comment. "We will meet with the Cerritos and judge them. But in this, I do trust my people more. Still, we must think of what we can do to counter these moves."

"What are we talking about here?" Sirius asked.

L'kor and D'Mek exchanged a glance and L'kor could almost hear the unspoken question. She nodded, "They are already blood-adopted," that simple ceremony had been completed as soon as her family had given their permission. "I will speak to my family. It might be wise for us to be bonded, Sirius. That gives another layer of protection."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "I thought we were."

L'kor bared her teeth, "You are mine…but I speak of something official. I want no questions of validity."

D'Mek laughed in amusement, "Who would dare, daughter of House Kardis?" He sobered and glanced at the panel on his desk. "We can divert to a Klingon colony world or as a Commander, I can bond you two. That will stand up and is more…official…than an exchange of personal vows."

"My house would accept that," L'kor mused thoughtfully as she looked at Sirius.

"I have no objection; in fact, it would be an honour, Commander. Although I do have a few questions. Um, L'kor you explained a bit about Klingon ceremonies but not in detail. What would need to be organised?"

"The vows and ceremony are simple enough. It could be done tomorrow," answered L'kor before explaining what would be needed.

oOoOo

L'kor looked about as different from a human bride as possible. She was in uniform and armed, standing with her female crew mates. But there was something in her face that showed her fierce joy.

Sirius swallowed his nerves and resisted the urge to adjust the Klingon-style clothing he wore. Beside him, Harry stood trying to look suitably formal as two Klingons keep up a rhythmic beat on ceremonial drums.

Commander D'Mek stepped forward and the drums fell silent.

"With fire and steel did the gods forge the Klingon heart. So fiercely did it beat, so loud was the sound, that the gods cried out. On this day we have brought forth the strongest heart in all the heavens. None can stand before it without trembling at its strength.

But then the Klingon heart weakened, its steady rhythm faltered, and the gods said: Why do you weaken so? We have made you the strongest in all of creation. And the heart cried out, I...am alone…."

Sirius found his attention focused on L'kor…the strong, powerful woman soon to be his wife. D'Mek's words faded into the background as he concentrated on her.

He came back to himself when D'Mek spoke to him, "Sirius, son of House Black, does your heart beat only for this woman?"

He somehow managed to stay focused on the rest of the ceremony. When they had both finished exchanging vows the Klingon drums began again as he and L'kor shared a passionate kiss.

Sirius knew that traditionally the males would join the groom for four days. Known as the path of clarity it would be the first stage of the traditional Klingon wedding congratulations, or as Sirius thought of it, the after party.

On military vessels, it was shortened to a reception. Blood wine and traditional foods would be served before he and L'kor would be escorted to their cabin.

He'd be bruised tomorrow and not just from the many back slaps he was receiving.

oOoOo

Harry and Emma watched the wedding ceremony with interest. Even with the current situation, everyone seemed to be in a celebratory spirit.

"I'm not sure about blood wine," Emma said with a frown as she looked down at her to her mind, overfull mug.

Harry grinned, the damn stuff was potent…and unlike synthanol, it packed a punch. "It's traditional." He lowered his voice, "But we don't have to finish it. Moros told me that we can leave after Sirius and L'kor are escorted to the marital bed."

Emma grinned in amusement, "I'm glad we have our own room for tonight."

Harry had to wonder what exactly she was glad about but before he could think anymore a heavy hand clapped him on the shoulder. It was Laneth, one of the Sergeants. A handsome, young Klingon woman who led the warriors on the Kaveth Nar.

"Harry, son of house Kardis. It is rare for the son of one of the parties to not be Klingon. So, I will excuse your ignorance of your duties." Her formal tone didn't match her wide smile. "As the oldest son of House Kardis present you should be chasing an eligible mate to grow your house not sipping blood wine!"

It was all Emma could do not to laugh at his expression and the wink Laneth gave her didn't help. As Harry tried to think of what to say, Emma stepped close and kissed her stunned boyfriend.

Passionately.

Once she released the stunned-looking Harry, she turned to Laneth.

"Oh, he is chasing, too slowly sometimes, but he is," she stated mock glaring at the Klingon woman.

Laneth and the surrounding Klingons laughed as Emma took Harry and led him off.

oOoOo

Harry awoke to a sore head and a comfortable warmth across his chest. He looked down to say a mass of blonde hair splayed out across his chest. Emma was asleep with one arm and leg over him.

Oh…

Neither of them was dressed. He wasn't complaining about the beautiful lithe form draped over him, but it did raise some issues. Mainly their promise to be sensible and responsible. As memories from last night came flooding back, he realised that they hadn't been either.

Sex yep, protection….nope…bugger. Although it had been bloody wonderful. Maybe he had, no evidence said otherwise.

"Harry?"

Harry looked guiltily at a smiling Emma who squeezed his torso and moved up in the bed slightly to kiss his cheek. Her naked form distracted him for a moment.

"What's the matter?" She asked as her smile faded in response to his worried expression.

"Um…maybe we shouldn't have…ah," he trailed off as her hand traced a pattern on his chest.

"Oh, but I wanted to…really wanted to," her smile was wider as she shifted to sit on his waist. "Still really want to. Last night you did nothing that I didn't want. Very well I might add." She moved slightly and Harry felt his body reacting. "But right now, we both need to clean up…and I need to use the bathroom."

He watched her perfect form disappear into the bathroom and then laid back down for a few moments. His back was sore and his face. He got up and moved to the small mirror above the environmental control panel. Four scratches marked his face. Not deep, but they had bled and scabbed over. He turned slightly and could see the start of scratches there as well.

"What the…"

"Sorry, I got a bit carried away marking you," Emma said as she emerged from the bathroom. Still naked, he could see a bruise on her neck and on her collarbone.

"Marking me…" He trailed off as she bent over to pick up her discarded underwear.

When she straightened, he was too slow to raise his eyes, much to her amusement. "You can look, Harry. I don't mind at all if you look."

Where had this new bold Emma come from? Although now that he thought about it she had been more…confident of late.

Some of his confusion must have shown because Emma grinned and then closed the space between them and hugged him. "I love you and I am not worried about you seeing me naked. Although we did sort of bypass taking it slowly…but I don't regret it, do you?" A bit of the confidence disappeared as she asked.

Harry shook his head, "Regret it? Hell no. But I wanted to be respectful and…"

"Oh, you were respectful…and let me say that you have a few tricks that have nothing to do with magic." She whispered into his ear and when she finished, they both had a bit of pink in their cheeks.

"We are both off duty today, so let's shower, we can share to save time and then go and eat." Emma took his hand and led him to the small bathroom.

oOoOo

L'kor always knew she would be expected to get married. Not forced, that would end in bloodshed but expected. Not a thing she looked forward to and so she had not really considered it. She instead focussed on her education and service in the fleet. Engineering was something she was interested in and something she was damn good at. Her posting to a respected ship under a decorated and trusted commander had been earned. Now she was acting chief engineer and likely to be officially promoted to chief engineer. It was something she had worked for, and it had come to pass.

She had not expected her tour of duty to also include a marriage to a human. Not that she was bigoted. Despite what some fools thought, she knew very well that the Federation and Starfleet were worthy allies (and occasional foes). She just had never really imagined a situation where a human would win her love and loyalty.

Three humans really. Sirius was a powerful male. Loyal, brave, and confident with a sense of honour. A male that would impress her father and her wider family. Harry and Emma were a bonus.

Family…her family. Sirius and her blood-adopted children, Harry and Emma. Although soon enough the two teenagers would likely start their own family given their strengthening relationship. Emma was already of an age to wear the House Kardis jinaq. The traditional Klingon necklace that announced a female was of age to search out a mate.

Emma's last few nights onboard had been a…challenge. She had lost her parents. Never an easy thing to face but she had pulled through. There had been tears and anger but despite the rocky start, Emma had shown her inner strength. It had helped that Emma had such a strong bond with Harry. She doubted that Emma's anger and grief were finished but the girl…no, the young woman had risen above it.

During the celebration last night, she had seen Harry and Emma kissing in the corner and then they had disappeared. She smiled wryly; it did not require too much of an imagination to work out what they had been up to. She would speak to Sirius about it…soon. She was not an expert on human biology, but she knew enough to know that the young woman was physically capable of carrying a child and thus she and her chosen had to be prepared for such an outcome if they chose to hump like targs.

Stretching in her bunk to relieve the pleasant stiffness in her muscles that were the cost of her night's pleasure, she felt Sirius stir. Turning she saw that her husband was already awake.

"Husband."

Sirius grinned, "Wife of mine."

She rolled to lay on top of him and kissed him savagely. To her delight, she tasted blood from the cuts on his lips from last night.

His arms encircled her as he deepened the kiss with just as much passion. She glanced at the chronometer on the wall. There was enough time, she judged as her hand snaked down between them.

oOoOo

Medical Bay - ISS Kaveth Nar

Kuri was always busy. The Kaveth Nar was a well-run ship but still a warship. Training accidents happened, engineering accidents occurred and the occasional fight. As a medic, she did her duty and saw to it that the crew were well and ready to serve the empire.

Still, this posting had been different. It was rare that a Klingon fleet Medic was ever involved with mysteries and fantastic discoveries. That was usually the purview of science officers and engineers. She was very lucky to have the chance to work on the mystery that were the two, now three, humans. Biological energy…amazing and something that would be of high interest to the High Council, science masters and her medical colleagues.

If she could keep them out of her medical bay.

She lowered the scanner and studied Harry with narrowed eyes, "And how did this happen?" she asked the embarrassed young human.

"I…um that is to say…" he trailed off to silence.

"We…ah," Emma lowered her voice slightly. "We were in the shower together and I…ah slipped."

"I see," Kuri replied flatly. "There is some soft tissue damage and bleeding …from the bite." She handed Emma a small disposable canister. "Apply it twice a day. It will help prevent any bruising or infection."

"We were…."

Kuri held up a hand, "I don't need to know about your sexual encounters. Be more careful in future."

A red-faced Emma and Harry looked over to where L'kor sat with a wincing Sirius who was cradling his arm.

"It seems your guardians might need similar advice," commented Kuri with a wink to L'kor that was unseen by the younger two.

"Let us hope that the rest of the trip will be uneventful," L'kor added.

"What have you two done?" Kuri asked as she raised a scanner.

Sirius winced as he moved, "I think I broke my clavicle."

Kuri grinned, "Ah a broken bone, that's meant to be good luck on your wedding night."

oOoOo