Wedding Bells

Posted on 05 Jan 2015 @ 7:37am by Lieutenant Min Zhao & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas & Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Captain Jonathan Holliday

1,791 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84 - Arboretum #2
Timeline: MD 15: 1000-1300

ON:

[1000]

Elisabet Zhao had mixed feelings. Today her daughter was getting married. It was a moment that made any mother proud.

Min stood facing the mirror, her dress mostly on, while the girls fussed around her, getting her ready for the big day. Not till this morning, she'd been up since 7am, had she realized just how much work went into getting a bride ready

"You look beautiful," Elisabet commented taking a good look at the bride. Today was gong to be an emotional one. Handing Min a box, "You can't get married without wearing something old. Its now your turn to share in this family tradition."

T'Vanna was pulling a brush through Min's hair, watching the women interact. She wondered if her mother would ever be there for her, when her time to get married came. She realised, she hadn't even told her parents about her daughter yet. Unless they found out through Seth, whom she had sent a message. "You look beautiful," she told the bride.

Min took the box. Inside was a small bracelet, studded with several small jewels, and a small almost faded inscription. Placing it on her wrist, Min leaned over to give her mother a peck on the cheek. "Thank you."

She winced a little moments later as a tangle caught in the brush T'Vanna was running through her hair. She glanced over at Shen who was smiling at her sister in law. "You look wonderful Min." Shen remarked.

"Your welcome," Elisabet smiled. It was difficult not to be overcome with emotion on a day like this one. Taking a moment to at her daughter once again.

T'Vanna continued to brush her friend's hair, feeling glad for the distraction. So many women she didn't know, she didn't even know how to hold herself among them.

---

Jared at himself briefly in the mirror, a faint, though slightly frustrated smile on his face. He was trying to tie the bow tie of his tuxedo and this was his third unsuccessful attempt.

He had been looking forward to this day for sometime. He didn't really have a family like Min did, to celebrate with, the crew was his family. Though after today he'd be part of Min's family.

Finally on the fourth try he managed to get the job done without it looking like a badly coordinated eight year old had done it.

He turned then and left the room to meet his friends.

As Jared approached, Andreus Kohl was quick to call him, "Suave." Kohl waved a hand up and down at Jared's sleek form. "Entirely suave." There was perhaps a hint of jealousy in Kohl's tone, given he was clad in the white and gold jacket of his dress uniform. The only thing vaguely unique about Kohl's uniform was the Science-teal band at the cuffs. Which was what drove Kohl to pick on Jared's bow tie. "What-- what-- what is that?" asked Kohl. "Does it serve a purpose? Other than reminding you of that breathless feeling of being tied to only one person for the rest of your natural life?"

"It is an old Earth custom," Jared replied, "I'm not sure of its meaning, I just like it. Like you said suave, that is the look I was going for anyway. Classical."

Kohl clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "I don't know, Jared. I don't know," he said in the teasing tone that came too easily to him. "I'll give you suave, but I don't know if I can call this classical. Dressing like Romeo or Juliet? Classical. A World War Three padded military dress uniform? That's classical. A toga? Classical."

"Well, those would be interesting choices," Jared admitted.


[1200]

Min stood in a small alcove near the wedding site. The arboretum on the starbase was the perfect setting for the wedding and Min could hear the beginnings of the ceremony as she awaited her turn to enter.

Jared glanced nervously around. They'd gone over everything in the rehearsal, everything was going according to plan.There was no real reason for him to be nervous and yet he was.

Holliday had been in place at the arboretum for the past half an hour. Clad in his full dress uniform, the Captain felt a little uncomfortable, but knew that he was going to be officiating in something that would be rembered by at least two people for a long time to come. Joining two people together was one of the privileges of being a starship Captain, and even if he had needed to access the Starfleet database on exactly how this was done ahead of the ceremony, and indeed held a PADD clasped between his hands behind his back just in case, he felt ready to do his duty.

Standing off to the side, Andreus Kohl was shifting his gaze between Jared and the Captain. Unlike Jared, Kohl's face was lit up by a beaming smile, positively beaming. It had been far, far too long since his last wedding, and even wearing his dress uniform felt worth it now, for the chance to watch this union taking place.

Jared waited silently for Min. He was hopelessly, madly, head over heels in love with her and he couldn't wait to see her walking down the aisle so they could exchange their vows.

Elisabet had taken up her designated place. Reaching for a tissue. Wiping away her tear of joy. This happened to be one of those day's to be remembered for a long time. As long as Min was truly happy and treated well nothing else mattered.

T'Vanna had taken a seat somewhere near the aisle, but in the back so she could slip out if needed. She had Emma resting comfortably against her chest, secured by the brightly coloured mei-tai which actually matched her dress.

As everyone took their seats, Min waited until a silence came across the assembled crowd. Stepping out into the aisle, everyone could see her dress for the first time. The white strapless dress with a short train was covered in what resembled large silken flowers along the one side. A small embroidery at the narrowest point just above Min's hips framed up the dress. Her shoulder length hair, done up in a french braid, was topped by a veil she wore back over her hair, the sheer material leaving her face uncovered.

Jared could not do anything but stare at the beautiful woman that was about to become his wife. Yes they had been in a relationship for sometime, not the longest time that he had been in a relationship, but certainly the strongest commitment he had every made to another person and he was about to take the biggest step of all.

He was of course a little nervous, because he knew that there would be rough days and not everything would go right. That it would take work to make their marriage work. But though he was nervous, there was no doubt in his mind. He wanted this, he wanted her, he wanted them.

He looked in her direction and smiled.

Walking down the aisle, Min smiled at each of the assembled guests and her family. She slowed a little as she reached the front, nervous butterfly's dancing in her stomach. Smiling at the man she was to marry, Min went and stood beside Jared, facing him, her Captain to her left and her family & freinds to her right. She smiled nervously as she waited for the Captain to begin.

John took a moment to remember his lines before beginning, tightening his hand around the PADD behind his back in case something disasterous happened and he needed a reference. Taking a breath, he began.

"One of the most enjoyable elements of being a starship Captain is the opportunity to bring two people together in matrimony. Since the ancient times of seafaring vessels on Earth, it has been the honour of the ship's Captain to officiate in these most joyful times. As such, it is indeed my honour to bring together Lieutenant Min Zhao, and Lieutenant Jared Nicholas."

Looking to each of them, John breathed a sigh of relief internally that he had avoided falling over his tongue so far, and then continued.

"Lieutenants Zhao and Nicholas, married life and service in Starfleet will arguably be two of the greatest challenges you will ever encounter. Equally so however, it will be the greatest adventure."

Looking first to Min, he began the final part of his duties.

"Min Zhao, do you take Jared Nicholas to be your lawful husband?"

Min smiled at Jared, the man she loved deeply. "I do."

"and Lieutenant Nicholas - do you take Min Zhao to be you lawful wife?"

Jared looked over at the woman he loved, his bride to be, and said, "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me by Starfleet, and the United Federation of Planets, I hereby declare you to be husband and wife together. Congratulations Lieutenants."

"Thank you sir," Jared replied, wondering when the Captain was going to give him permission to kiss the bride.

John nodded to the man for a moment before realising he had missed the last section of his speech. With a flustered look he quickly spoke again.

"Er, you may now kiss the bride."

Jared gave the man a relieved smile. Of course he'd done his share of kissing, and a great deal more, Min, but never as her husband, This would be a first.

He leaned in and kissed her, slowly and deliberately, loving the sensation and loving her, with the core of his being.

Returning the kiss, Min pressed in against Jared. After what seemed like forever, but was only a few seconds, Min's lips parted. As she took Jared's offered hand, the pair turned to the assembled guests.

John spoke over the top of the two newlyweds to address the assembly, luckily his height had given him the advantage, and he was still able to see those guests around him.

"This concludes the official part of the ceremony, and my involvement as ship's Captain. I leave you to enjoy the rest of your day - dismissed."

Jared turned to his new bride and said, "Let's mingle with our guests dear and then go back and celebrate somewhere more privately."

END:

JP by:

Lt Min Nicholas (nee Zhao)
Chief of Operations
USS Galileo

Lt. Jared Nicholas
Linguist
USS Galileo

Lt. Commander Andreus Kohl
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Asst Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Commander Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo
(playing Elisabet Ramsey)

 

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