Let The Bells Ring

Posted on Wed Oct 30th, 2019 @ 1:27am by Commodore Jane Saulitis

Mission: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Beatrices's Quarters
Timeline: MD 12 09:00 Hours
1747 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Beatrice was a little nervous about the whole wedding planning thing. She imagined they just wanted to stand in front of someone and get this over with quickly, not have a big affair. She was thinking of a holodeck program, it would be super easy to create and just as easy to clean up afterward. Her door chimed and she smiled despite her nerves. "Come in."

Lhaes walked in, still feeling a little odd wearing security yellow. He bowed his head a fraction in acknowledgement of his fiancée, though he did smile happily at her. He too was nervous since twice already he'd been burned in terms of marriage. Was three times really the charm? Still smiling, he approached her, wrapped his arms around her and then kissed her. "What are you thinking?" he asked softly, very much unwilling to just go ahead and read her emotional state.

"Oh thinking about the wedding, where we want to get married and when. I thought maybe just a simple program on the holodeck, the only problem is . . . . who is going to marry us. Captains of starships are allowed of course but I'm not sure asking Jane is a very smart idea." Beatrice looked up at him expectantly, she reached up and traced the tip of one of his ears affectionately.

Closing his eyes as his sensitive ear was touched, he sighed softly, leaning into the touch. "Perhaps the first oficer?" he suggested, "or the second officer?"

"I suppose that's a possibility. Would you like to talk to them? They are your shipmates and you know them better than me."

"I can do that yes. The first officer might be the better option as... the chief engineer and I do not quite see eye to eye." He smiled at her, eyes still closed. "As far as when is concerned, whenever you want."

"Oh? Why don't you get along with the chief engineer." Beatrice couldn't remember having met him but she couldn't imagine Jane putting up with someone who didn't do his job well. She was quite amused by his relaxing under her touch. "You know, I always imagined that Romulans and Vulcans wouldn't like their ears being touched."

"I put him in the brig when he was drunk and he took a swing at me," Lhaes explained patiently. "And the ears are extremely sensitive." He sighed audibly as she ran the tips of her fingers along the curve of his ear again. "It is a somewhat... intimate... thing to do, not something I would allow anyone but my mate to do." Opening his eyes, he smiled warmly at her. "As you are my mate, you can touch me as you please."

"Ah, I see." Well that made sense then, why she had always imagined that they did not like to be touched there. She put her hand down. There was still a lot she needed to learn about him. "Is there anyone you want to invite to the wedding?" She asked, changing the subject again.

"My family, assuming they can make it in time," he answered, "and my best friend. I served with him on the Apollo before I transferred away. Last I know he teaches at the Academy now and is out with a group on a training mission. How about you?" Instead of just remaining standing, he led her towards the couch and all but pulled her onto his lap before wrapping his arms around her. "Anyone you would like to be there? Aside from Jane of course, because her attendance, to me, is a given."

"No, I don't think so." She shook her head. "Just you and Jane." Beatrice put her head down against his chest. "I'll let you pick the date then, so everyone you want to come can arrive in time."

"I'm sure a week or two will suffice. But we'll need to talk to Jane about our officiant. Perhaps she has suggestions? Oh and I'm serious, I don't want her to see me as a stepdad. That feels both weird and wrong, she has a father and I'm not getting between that. How does he feel about you marrying a man over half your age?"

"Oh I don't think you have to worry about that. Jane will not see you as a stepfather, she'll be just as bossy to you as she normally is." Beatrice smiled. "Who cares what Alta thinks? He's not marrying you. I'm still a bit surprised that you want to marry me to be honest."

"She may be even bossier after this," the Romulan chuckled, "and no he is not marrying me, thank goodness. He is a handsome man but I am not into men." He smirked at her. "Oh I have flirted with men on assignments to get the information I needed, but that is not my line of work anymore. As for marrying you, isn't that the sensible step to take when you love someone?"

"Generally yes." Beatrice agreed. She knew they were doing the right thing, but her nerves were bothering her a bit. "So what are Romulan marriage ceremonies like? And do we want to involve your children in ours? Would they want to be a part of it?"

"Romulan ceremonies?" He arched an eyebrow at her. "No, not a clue what they're like. Betazoid on the other hand...." He cast her a cheeky smirk. "Not our thing, I think. As for the children...just try and weasel them out of being bridesmaids. Speaking of which, what would you like them to call you?"

Beatrice giggled, "No, I don't think my daughter could handle seeing me get married naked. Alta on the other hand, if he marries Mariame they'll be naked and that makes me giggle even more considering he's so uptight about things. I think they should call me what they want. No pressure there. Whatever they are comfortable with."

Lhaes nodded. "We'll see what they come up with," he agreed, "my sister didn't get married Betazoid style. I'm sure it's really only done on Betazed. You do remember I grew up on Betazed and that my parents are Betazoid? They're unlikely to come though, they rarely leave home."

"Do you consider yourself more Betazoid than Romulan then?" Beatrice scooted off of him and cuddled next to him grasping his arm and pulling it into her body as she did so. "I mean I know what you are physically."

"Physically, I am one hundred percent Romulan," Lhaes agreed, "psychologically I do identify as Romulan. My parents did their best to provide Romulan tutors as I grew up to teach me the history and culture of my birth parents home. I am, however, a citizen of Betazed, as I was born, and raised, there." He leaned into her and sighed. "I spent four years on Romulus, quite against my will I might add, as I was simply abducted after my graduation from the Academy. Starfleet chose to treat it as an undercover assignment and it took me four years before I could escape. I prefer not to talk about my time there as I was subjected to things that would make you cringe, and I was made to do things that I believe would make you hate me. My experience shaped me, but I am a loyal Federation citizen. Should I cross into Romulan space...I face execution if ever caught."

"Oh I could never hate you." Beatrice assured him. But she had no interest in making him talk about anything he didn't want to. "I find it rather funny that we've ended up like this. When I first saw you I thought I might have some fun and just flirt a little bit. I mean you are a very handsome man . . . and I looked forward to having a bit of fun on my daughter's ship. I suppose I was aiming to misbehave. Now look at us. The universe is a strange place."

"That it is," he agreed, "and now I'm very intent on keeping you." He drew her closer. "Short of wedding planning, what are your plans for today? Do I get to see your dress before the ceremony, or would you like to keep with Human tradition that I don't see it?" he would, obviously, be wearing his dress uniform.

"Nothing really, I'm a free woman. I have no job on this ship. And I haven't decided what I'm wearing yet to be honest. But I think I will stick with the human tradition, after all it is bad luck and we don't need any of that in our new marriage."

"I agree." Kissing the top of her head, he smiled happily. "So...when will you move in with me?"

"When do you want me to?" They hadn't discussed this yet. She wasn't sure how this was going to work with three little kids who didn't know her very well yet. She didn't want to just come into their lives and uproot everything though, she wanted them to think of her as a friend.

"Preferably now," Lhaes answered, tilting her face up towards him as he seemed to read her mood. "I understand it may be complicated but the children are still young. They'll be used to your presence soon enough. Galan was still a baby when his mother left me, and the girls barely have a memory of her either. They will adjust." He kissed her gently. "Will you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you. I don't marry people I don't trust." Beatrice assured him. "Now is fine, I just need to pack up what little I brought with me." She briefly thought about returning to Earth to pack up what she'd left behind there but none of it was very important. Someday maybe the two of them could return together and the children could see the lake and go swimming like Jane had as a child.

"You don't need to give up your home my love," he whispered to her, "it will always be there, I have no doubt we visit Earth many times in the years to come." He sat up and took her hand. "Come on, let's go to my - our - quarters."

"I wasn't going to. I love my little cabin." Beatrice assured him. She let herself be pulled up from the sofa and followed along after him happily.

---

Beatrice Benjamin
Jane's mother, Lhaes's fiancé

Lieutenant Commander Lhaes Sommers
Chief Security/Tactical Officer