Chapter Three: To Love in it's Greatest Form SD 7606.24 Delta Quadrant U.S.S. Voyager Torres's Quarters B'Elanna was pacing around in her quarters, while Tom was sitting on the couch patiently listening to her talk. "I can't figure out who I should ask to be my maid of honor," B'Elanna was complaining. "Kathryn will be performing the service, and I asked Seven, but she replied that she was unfamiliar with the ceremony, and would be uncomfortable doing it." "B'Ella, honey, why don't you come sit down? You're going to make yourself sick with worry," Tom said, trying to calm her down. She sat down heavily next to him, and sighed. "Why don't you concentrate on the good things? Harry's already agreed to be my best man. Did you ask Chakotay about giving you away?" he asked. She nodded. "He agreed. He was happy that we were going to settle down a bit, and said he'd love to give me away, so long as everything wasn't his replicator rations that were paying for everything." B'Elanna sighed. "But what am I going to do about the maid of honor? You know that I don't know any other female crewmen that well." "How about asking the Doctor's new assistant, Dana Scully?" Tom suggested hesitantly. B'Elanna considered it for a few minutes. "Doesn't it seem a little intimate asking her to be my bridesmaid when I've just met her." Tom wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a bear hug. "I guess so, but who else are you going to ask? The Doctor? One of the Delaney sisters?" She pulled away from him and punched his arm. "All right, all right, I'll ask her." "That's good. Now, let's get down to business," Tom "Let me ask her first. Maybe she won't want to do it," B'Elanna replied, hitting her comm badge. "Torres to Scully," she said. {Scully here. What can I help you with, Lieutenant?} Scully's voice came through the system hesitantly. B'Elanna grinned at Tom. "It's B'Elanna on my off hours, and I'm off duty right now." {Understood, B'Elanna. Call me Dana, then. Now what's "I had a favor to ask of you." B'Elanna looked over at her fiance, who nodded his encouragement. "I was wondering, would you be my bridesmaid?" There was a pause, then a quiet voice came through the systems. {I'd be honored, B'Elanna, but if I may ask one thing. Why me?} B'Elanna hesitated. "Um, well, I never really interacted with the female portion of the crew besides Kathryn and Seven, and Kathryn's doing the ceremony and Seven isn't really comfortable doing this kind of thing. So does that mean you will?" {Of course. What should I wear?} Dana asked, already worrying about such topics. "I can't decide. Can we meet later, to figure it out?" {Sure, I get off duty in an hour and a half, so I could meet you somewhere then,} the voice replied. "All right, an hour and a half, in your quarters. Is that okay? I want to surprise Tom with my wedding dress." {That's fine. See you then,} "Torres out." SD 7606.24 Delta Quadrant U.S.S. Voyager Scully's Quarters Scully sat on her couch, thinking about the events of the past few days. It was a surprise, all of it, but the thing that surprised her the most was the fact that the half- Klingon had asked her to be her bridesmaid. Dana only hoped that she could fulfill what was expected of her. The door chimed. "Come in," she replied, not thinking about automatic doors. B'Elanna stepped inside. "Hi," she said hesitantly as she entered. "Sorry I'm late, but there was a semi-emergency in Engineering that I had to fix." Dana smiled. "It's all right. I only just got back from Sickbay. The Doctor's not a very easy person to work with, you know." "I know, Tom used to come back after shifts on the bridge and with the Doctor and complain to me." Scully laughed, and after a second, B'Elanna joined in. For a few seconds they forgot themselves and enjoyed each other's company. And then reality crashed down. "So, you had said something about surprising Tom with a wedding dress?" Dana said in reply. B'Elanna nodded. "And you should surprise Mulder with the bridesmaid dress." Dana laughed. "I don't think that Mulder cares about the dress. But what kind of dress did you have in mind?" "I was thinking traditional Terran dress. Long, white, flowing, you know," B'Elanna said with a gesture. Dana nodded. "I think I do. Now how do we go about getting the dress on such short notice?" "We'll replicate it, of course. But why don't we replicate both dresses at the same time? It'll be easier. What kind of dress did you want as a bridesmaid dress?" "Hmm, I never really thought about it." Dana thought for a moment, then a devious smile flitted across her face. "I know exactly what I want." SD 7606.25 Delta Quadrant U.S.S. Voyager Holodeck 2 ". . .I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," Kathryn Janeway said to the couple standing in front of her. The groom lifted the bride's veil and they kissed passionately. The gathered friends and crewmen cheered at the newlyweds, and the two commanding officers looked on in approval. The couple had chosen to do a simple wedding, in a simple program modelled after a planet which Mulder had heard someone say was called New Earth. He didn't know what the relevancy was there, but he didn't mind. Mulder had thought Tom's eyes were going to pop out of his head when B'Elanna came down the aisle, dressed in an immaculate white dress. It was old fashioned, even to one from the past such as Mulder was. It had been fashioned after a wedding dress from the Earth period of the eighteen fifties, hoop skirt and all. The scoop neck, however, was where Tom's eyes had been until Harry nudged him with his elbow. To fit in with the theme, Scully also wore a hoop skirt, but this one was a pale shade of lavender-grey. And also unlike B'Elanna's dress, this one had a plunging V-neckline which left nothing to Mulder's attention. Mulder had to force himself to look away from her and watch the oncoming bride, accompanied by the first officer. Mulder had also noticed that the captain, who had so far been standing at the front of the holodeck program with a book in her hand and a bored expression on her face, had gone from disinterest to a somewhat different emotion as Chakotay approached. Mulder didn't know much about twenty-fourth century fashion, but he thought it might have been the way that Chakotay's black tux fit his form nicely. Obviously the captain was appreciating the view. And the appreciation was returned. Chakotay's eyes had glanced Kathryn's form as well. She was wearing a very blue, very form-fitting dress, which went to the floor, but clung tightly to her body and then swirled out to create a dazzling effect which seemingly had Chakotay mesmerized. Mulder himself had just chosen to wear a blue tux which itself looked like something from the nineteen seventies. However stupid it may look on someone else, Mulder pulled the look off. Tom and B'Elanna had broken off their kiss and grinned at each other. Then they walked back down the aisle in the garden, and the people on the aisle seat threw rice, as per tradition. Even little Naomi, who wasn't quite so little anymore, was lifted up by her mother, Sam, and threw some. The reception was also held in Holodeck 2. For comfort, B'Elanna and Scully had shed the hoop skirts in favor of tight dresses, which also were hemmed up to their mid-thighs. Both wore their respective colors. Janeway had also changed out of the swirling dress that she had been wearing, opting for a more un-captain dress. It was red, and had a very low hemline outlined by spaghetti straps. It also had a very high hemline, which flared at her hips and then seemed to stop two inches after that. Seemingly this dress had an equally mesmerizing effect on Commander Chakotay as the first. Mulder didn't really give a shit about what the Commander thought about the Captain. Quite frankly, it was their business, and the rest of the crew who had a betting pool going should just butt out and get their own lives. Besides, Mulder had more important things to worry about. One of them being the one walking over to him now in a short lavender skin tight dress. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. They shared a deep kiss, and then she pulled away. "So, how'd you like the ceremony?" Scully asked him with a smile on her face. "It was beautiful. You were beautiful," he replied truthfully, then brought her close to him for another deep passionate kiss. The music began to play, a soft haunting tune which both of them seemed to know. The kiss ended as this time Mulder pulled away. "How about a dance?" he asked, with not the hint of shyness that he had in his actions the first time they had danced. She nodded, and he led her to the area set aside for a dance floor. Already couples were forming on the floor, and were being joined by Tom and B'Elanna, who were just finished with making rounds to their 'guests'. The strains of the music were soft, and the couples danced peacefully. Scully leaned against Mulder, and together they swayed to the beat. "Heavenly strains of night are falling It's twilight time Out of the mist your voice is calling, It's twilight time When purple colored curtains mark the end of day I hear you, my dear at twilight time" Kathryn Janeway sat at a table by herself, watching the dancers on the floor enjoy themselves. Tom and B'Elanna were doing nothing more than swaying to the beat and gazing into each other's eyes, and the two new crewmen, Dana and Mulder, were dancing. Her head was resting on his shoulder, and his eyes were closed with pleasure. Other crewmen were pairing off as well, and Janeway wondered how she could have missed She was startled from her reveries by a gentle tap on the shoulder, and when she turned, she was greeted by a smiling tattoed face. "Would you like to dance?" Chakotay asked her. Kathryn could only nod her head disbelievingly as he led her to the dance floor. They joined the other dancing couples, and started swaying to the music. "Deepening shadows gather splendor as day is done Fingers of night will soon surrender the setting sun I count the moments darling till you're here with me Together, at last at twilgiht time Here, in the afterglow of day We keep our rendezvous beneath the blue Here, in the sweet and same old way I fall in love again as I did then" Harry stood across the room from his unknowing object of desire. He was trying to work up the courage to ask her to dance. Still, Harry thought she looked nice in the outfit that the captain had helped her replicate for this evening. He decided that walking over to her and talking wouldn't hurt. After all, she did look a little lonely. Seven of Nine stood in a corner, watching the dancers on the floor sway. The captain and Chakotay were deep in conversation as they danced, and the two humans were just swaying. The newlyweds were just looking at each other, the unmasked desire in their eyes obvious to Seven. As she watched, she heard a familiar voice. "So, what do you think, Seven?" Harry Kim said with a smile. "This is perplexing. What is the point of dancing?" she replied truthfully. Harry's grin grew even wider. "It's supposed to be fun. Hmm, maybe I should show you. After all, it's more fun if you're doing it yourself. Would you care to dance?" Seven pondered this for a while, and Harry thought for a moment that she was going to turn him down. But then an uncharacteristic smile graced her face, and she nodded. He then took her hand and proceeded to show her how much fun dancing could be. "Deep in the dark your kiss will thrill me Like days of old Lighting the spark of love that fills me With dreams untold Each day I pray for evening just to be with you Together, at last at twilight time Together, at last at twilight time" The song ended, the strains fading out, and both Mulder and Scully were disappointed when a very fast song was stuck up. But still they danced. The other couples danced as well. Tom and B'Elanna looked to everyone like they just might tear off each other's clothes. Kathryn and Chakotay were still deep in conversation and oblivious to the change in beat. They were still dancing to "Twilight Time", and looked happier than any of the times any of the crew could remember. "You were right, Ensign," Seven had replied after the music changed. "Dancing is quite fun." "Only with the right people. And please, call me Harry," he replied, wondering what was behind her clear blue eyes and sharp, analytical brain. Seven arched her eyebrow, a perfect imitation of Tuvok's patented look. "Are you insinuating that you are the right person, Harry?" Harry could feel himself blush. "Why don't we find out?" he asked, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor once again. "I was talking not two days ago To a certain bartender I'm lucky to know And I asked Henry, my bartending friend If I should bother dating unfamous men And Henry said, 'You're lucky to even know me, You're lucky to be alive You're lucky to be drinking here for free 'cause I'm a Sucker for your lucky pretty eyes.' And then he said, 'Do you want to be a Polyesther bride? Or do you want to hang your head and die? Do you want to find alligator cowboy boots they just put on sale? Do you want to flap your wings and fly away from here?'" The song went on and the night wore on, and the couples danced the night away. Only three men sat solitarily at a table most of the night, and one chirped happily away to the others. "And then I realized, my whole entire stock of Leola root was gone! Can you imagine? Gone! Disappeared!" Neelix said to his companions, Tuvok and the Doctor. The Doctor harumphed. "I can't imagine why it would be gone, after all those patients complained to me in Sickbay." Tuvok merely arched his eyebrow and looked at the twenty fourth century equivalent of a wrist watch. "If you'll excuse me, it's time for me to head to the bridge." He got up and left without waiting for an answer from either of them. "Well, he sure left in a hurry," Neelix commented. The Doctor merely rolled his holographic eyes. Fortunately he was saved by Sam and Naomi Wildman. "Neelix, Mommy says that I have to go to bed soon, but I don't want to," the little girl complained. Neelix glanced up at Sam, who shook her head in a silent signal. "Well, I don't think that I can do anything for this. But how about I dance one last dance with you, and then you go to bed?" "All right, Neelix," Naomi said as he led her to the dance floor. "I was sitting, not two days ago Feeling lonely 'cause I'm just feeling low And I asked Henry, my bartending friend Why it is that there are those kind of men 'Princess, do you Really want to flap your wings and fly. . . Because you've got time.' He keeps telling me, 'You've got time.' But I don't believe him 'You've got time.' I keep on pushing harder. . . I keep on pushing farther away But he keeps telling me, 'Baby, baby, do you want to be a polyesther bride?'" As Chakotay danced, Kathryn in his arms, and talked to her, he realized that the lyrics were saying exactly what he was feeling. He might not have any time left to tell her. He didn't know what part of the Delta Quadrant would swallow either of them up next. He should tell her now. But she turned her brilliant blue eyes up to him and asked him a question, and he chickened out. He would have time, even if he had to make it himself. "'Do you want to flap your wings and fly away from here?'" The song stopped, and people began to enjoy themselves more, mingling with the rest of the crew. Only four couples danced every song possible with each other. SD 7606.25 Delta Quadrant U.S.S. Voyager Holodeck 2 Couples danced to the slow beat on the floor towards the end of the reception. All the traditional things had been done, and all that was left was the bride and groom's dance with each other while everyone watched. B'Elanna and Tom had disagreed on songs at first, Tom wanting an ancient Medieval Terran ballad, while B'Elanna wanted a more up to date song. Finally they settled somewhere in between, choosing a song which was from 1998, the year before Mulder and Scully had disappeared. "As I stumble into bed, I curse the devil in my head And if I die before I wake, I hope the lord won't hesitate To pluck my coffin from the ground He need not heed the neighbors now And throw me up for all to see, the flies of August swarming me. . . I get a ride Right by your side Under your skin I'm digging in Well I don't know, but I've been told The road to heaven is paved with gold And if I die before I wake, I need a ride From you Well sticks and stones can break my bones And boys can make me kick and moan But when I want it autodrive, I get a ride From you I get a ride 98.5 Positive T-cell Regeneration Regeneration Regeneration Postivice T-cell Regeneration!" The song ended, and the two newlyweds split apart. Then they seemed to be drawn to each other, and kissed each other passionately. The crew broke out into cheers. Those that had been watching, however. There were a few couples who themselves had been busy themselves, too busy to see Tom and B'Elanna dance. Scully was backed up against a wall near the buffet table, and loving every minute of her situation. Mulder was passionately kissing her, and she was kissing him back. At some point their tongues had wound up in each other's mouths. But they were inturrupted by an unfortunate individual who had decided at that very minute that he was hungry. When he saw the look in Scully's eyes at being interrupted, Chakotay quickly backed off. He returned to the table Janeway sat at empty-handed. Kathryn looked at him. "Where's our food?" she asked puzzled. He shrugged. "It seems that the two newcomers were making out near the buffet table when I interrupted. That woman, Dana Scully, she had a look in her eyes that said leave us alone or else. I didn't want to risk my health by staying to get food, because I knew if you did, you would have been very, very angry at me." Kathryn got up, and quickly went to his side. She sidled up close to him, so close they could smell what was on each other's breath; alcohol. It appeared that neither of them had been drinking the served synthehol."You're right, I would be very, very angry," she said to him, her voice dropping several octaves to the husky voice to which his reaction Chakotay had so much trouble controlling. As it is, he had trouble controlling his reaction and, further more, hiding it from her. She noticed his reaction, and took note of it. Then she decided to take advantage of it. Kathryn Janeway was never the one to pass up an advantage when the chance rose. She leaned in closer to him, smelling the mix of his aftershave and the alcoholic beverages he had drunk that night. As a result, he wrapped his arms around her, and she did the same. They drew closer and closer together until their heads came together, and their lips touched in a sweet first kiss. It was all too short for the both of them, and when they came up for air, they went back down again. Then their tongues entered each other's mouths, softly and gently first, then passionately. Neither noticed the figure that had been watching them with eyes wide open. Harry sucked in his breath. He knew that ther was a pool going on about this sort of behavior between the two commanding officers, but he never thought that they would actually get involved. They'd be too worried about protocol. Harry shook his head and moved away. What they did was their business, and not his or the crew's. He went back to find Seven and see how she was enjoying her night. SD 7606.25 Delta Quadrant U.S.S. Voyager Cargo Bay "Ensign. . .Harry. Thank you for taking it upon yourself to keep me entertained and make sure I learned much about weddings and their receptions," Seven said, after the party was all over. Harry had walked her back to the cargo bay after the conclusion of the festivities, and was now standing with her, unsure of what to do or say. "Uh, it was no problem, Seven. Anytime," he replied. He knew he should leave, but something was telling him to stay. Seven picked up on his discomfort and looked at him intensely. He felt her intense gaze, and looked up from the floor. His eyes locked with hers, and her lips parted a little bit. Harry bit his. She began to move forward, and wrapped her hands around Harry's neck and shoulders. She drew him closer, and brought her lips to his. At the moment before their lips touched, Harry twisted out of her grasp and put a few feet between them. Seven had a hurt look on her face, and Harry struggled with the words to make her feel better. "Seven, I like you. As a friend and possibly as something more. But I'm not ready to go to possibilities. And I don't think that you are, either." Before she could argue or even reply, Harry turned out of the cargo bay and fled down the hall.