by Choirboy
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This is my contribution to Tom and Harry's anniversary celebrations.
Please feel free to archive at PKSP and PKElite.
April 2002
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The gentle clink of a knife on glass brought an instant hush to the
gathering.
The guests turned to watch the still trim figure of a middle aged woman
rise gracefully to her feet. She paused a moment, and gazed fondly at the
two men sitting on her right.
"A long time ago, an Intrepid class starship named Voyager was
commissioned. Her first mission was to search the Badlands for an escaped
Maquis ship, and to rescue her security officer. To do this, we needed
someone who knew the territory, someone who knew the likely hiding places
of the Maquis. And so I - " - she paused for a moment -
"- recruited Thomas Eugene Paris." There was general
laughter at this bending of the truth. "I also needed someone who
could hold the ship together, keep his head while everyone else was losing
theirs, and maintain some sort of order over ship's systems. However,
I couldn't obtain Mr. Data -" - again, laughter - "So I chose
Harry Stephen Liu Kim."
"Although none of us could have foreseen the chain of events that
swept Voyager into the Delta Quadrant so many years ago, even fewer of us
could have foreseen this happy moment. This has been a long journey. And
we still have many thousands of light years to go. But at least two of us
have found some companionship along the way. I'm very proud to give my
blessing to the first marriage on Voyager. Ladies and gentlemen, please
raise your glasses. To Harry and Tom!"
The guests all rose to their feet. "Harry and Tom!" they echoed.
After everyone had retaken their seat, B'Elanna stood. "I have a
special present for the - well, I can't say bride and groom, but you know
who I mean!"
She pressed a small padd in her hand, and the air before the newlyweds
shimmered and coalesced into the diminutive figure of a Ferengi bartender.
An all too familiar bartender.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my young ensign and his knight in
shining armour. Bought any good Lobi crystals lately?" Those who were
in on the joke laughed and cheered derisively. Harry moaned in mock shame
and covered his face. The hologram grinned and continued. "I almost
sold you something extremely valuable, my young friend. But I see you
found something better. Something priceless, in fact. The love of a good
person. So please accept my congratulations for the happy day. And
remember the 62nd Ferengi Rule of Acquisition - The riskier the road,
the greater the profit. You two will be rich men for ever." He dissolved,
to a round of applause.
Janeway got to her feet again. "And now, I would like to call on our
guests of honour to lead us in the traditional first dance."
Tom rose and proffered his hand to Harry. They moved out onto the dance
floor. Tom raised his voice to the comlink. "Computer, play selection
Paris 47."
They moved closer to each other as the music began.
"Every time our eyes meet, this feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take.
Baby when you touch me, I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away.
I've never been this close to anyone, or anything,
I can hear your thoughts, I can see your dreams.
I don't know how you do what you do,
I'm so in love with you, it just keeps getting better.
I want to spend the rest of my life, with you by my side
For ever and ever - every little thing that you do,
Baby, I'm amazed by you.
The smell of your skin, the taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me, baby you surround me
Touch every place in my heart.
Though it seems like the first time, every time
I want to spend the whole night in your eyes
I don't know how you do what you do,
I'm so in love with you, it just keeps getting better.
I want to spend the rest of my life, with you by my side
For ever and ever - every little thing that you do,
Baby, I'm amazed by you."
As the music continued, Kathryn Janeway relaxed and let her gaze drift
around the room. There were so many of Voyager's family who should
have been here to see this happy event. Tom and Harry's wedding, on
the anniversary of their first meeting and Voyager's appearance on the
other side of the galaxy, should be marked by everybody. Her heart ached
for her first officer, still mourning the loss of his beloved Seven of
Nine. Carey's memory still lingered in Engineering. Neelix. Where was
Neelix, with his uncanny ability to get a party going? Kes? Hogan? Kaplan?
They should have all been here. Her sad smile returned to the couple out
on the floor, lost in each other's eyes.
Harry raised his head from Tom's shoulder and looked into his
lover's eyes. "Any regrets?" he asked.
Tom grinned evilly. "Well, a few. But then again, too few to
mention - Ow!" He rubbed his shoulder where Harry had mock
punched him. "None, Harry. Well, yes, one."
Harry stopped dancing suddenly and took Tom by the upper arms.
"Seriously?" he asked, worriedly.
Tom smiled reassuringly. "Yeah. Why didn't we do this years
ago?"
They dissolved into quiet laughter. Harry leaned in and kissed Tom
tenderly on the lips. "We've done it now, though."
Janeway smiled, as the crowd sent Tom and Harry off to their new quarters
with riotous good cheer. She had never before known a couple who really
deserved the epithet "soul mates". It was just a shame that it
had taken them so long to see what virtually everyone else had seen from
the first moment of this long voyage. Well, now they were embarking on
their own voyage together. God, I hope it lasts as long, if not longer
than this one, she thought ruefully to herself.
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End
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