Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Wedding Bells- Neutral Territory

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Counter-Intelligence Officer) in Wedding Bells- Neutral Territory

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Wedding Bells- Neutral Territory
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Timing was everything and Daggum Hammor had things planned to a T. So it was no surprise to Shara Calloway that she and Micah arrived at the Manhattan just after Faye left. That was the whole idea. And she also knew that the rest of the guests were right behind them. It was just as well.

Shara had given a lot of thought about how to handle this rather larger-than-expected family reunion. People were going to meet here that had never met before (and be blindsided by their existence), or hadn’t seen each other in decades. There was a lot that could go wrong.

But this was Faye and Daggum’s wedding and she was adamant that family politics and drama would not play a factor.

The one request she had given Hammor was to schedule Nadine’s arrival after hers and before Gavin’s so that she’s have a chance to make proper introductions. They were going to lay out the situation for everyone and then agree to put a pause on the inevitable discussion after after the wedding. As they waited for Nadine to arrive, Shara couldn’t help but pace. She glanced at her husband (the phrase no longer giving her pause) and blew out a breath. “I am going to be one of those wrecks of a mother-of-the-bride, I just know it. Promise me that if I start to go weird, you’ll just sedate me. Safer for all.” She was joking… mostly.

Soon enough, Nadine’s shuttle arrived and her younger look-alike, stepped off with a large duffle bag over one shoulder and a large flat case with a handle in her other hand. She grinned the instant she saw them. “The other daughter has arrived!” she said, breaking into a laugh. It was gonna be all kinds of awkward at times, this she knew, but they were going to have to do this meet-and-greet thing at some point. What Nadine wasn’t sure yet was whether Shara had even told anyone about her yet. Faye had seemed to think their mother was going to take care of it in advance, but from she had learned about the woman that birthed her was that when it came to family drama, Shara was rather face a firing squad that deal with it. She could be mad or offended, but she wasn’t. It was just Shara. The woman was one of the bravest she had ever known, but all bravery had limits. This was hers.

“About time,” Shara said, genuine warmth in her expression as she swept her eldest child into an embrace, sneakily shifting the case into one hand to relieve her daughter of her burdens. One down, another family unit to arrive. If there were any gods out there, may they have the teensiest bit of mercy for her poor soul. Because otherwise it was going to be a metaphorical bloodbath. But if so? Let the games begin. they had a few hours before this wedding started.

“Who are we waiting on?” Nadine asked.

“The groom, and… my brother and his wife and daughter,” Shara said.

~Shara & Co.

“And to be properly introduced to the groom, of course.” said the rumbling thunder voice known all-to-well to both Shara and Micah. Daggum moved to them in his dinner-dress uniform… and cutting quite the striking figure as the mobile Orion mountain. “I mean seriously, Shara… how many of your daughters do we have to deal with? I did my best with Faye, but a man can only take so much.” he said with a grin. He walked forward and clapped Micah on his metal shoulder. “Howdy, Pa.” he said with a mock-drawl and Micah grinned. “Howdy, you’ll-be-walking-with-a-limp-if-you-do-that-again.” he replied and then shook Daggum’s hand. Daggum then looked at Shara and said “Commander, care to do the intros?” and he looked at Nadine and smiled.

Hammor, The Groom

Shara grinned. “Daggum, this is my eldest daughter, Nadine Wells. Nadine, Daggum Hammor.”

Nadine the spitting image of Shara, sixteen years removed, reached out a hand to Daggum. “It’s so good to meet you. Faye and I and have had a few chat so far and every time she speaks of you, she lights up. It’s nice to get to know the person who is going to be my brother-in-law.” She screwed up her face. “Wow, that’s the first time I’ve actually realized that. At least I’m not the only one being tossed head first into a family reunion,” she said with a grin.

“Speaking of…” Shara said. “Daggum, Faye has given me very clear instructions on that last of the set-up and decor for the ceremony and reception in the garden. I figured it’ll keep us busy while we await her return from whatever your surprise is. Gav and family should be here momentarily and at at that point, I’ll do introduction with the caveat that we will hash things out tomorrow before you and Faye leave for your honeymoon. We’ll try to keep the bloodshed for after,” she added, a twinkle in her foggy blue eyes.

~Shara & Nadine

Daggum’s face grew serious and he looked at Shara. “No, no bloodshed. Not a strong word or indelicate remark from anyone as long as Faye is here. And if there are things to hash out, indeed leave it until after we are gone or get it over with tonight and fake like you all are okay tomorrow. I don’t care. This is Faye’s wedding…” and he looked at each person in turn with a look that brooked no resistance, “… and it will be perfect. Are we understood, ladies and gentlemen?” And he nodded. “Good.” and the smile returned.

That was the whole point. Shara would handle it and it would be all smiles until there was an appropriate time to talk about it. Shara would prefer never, but if she had to, she had taken this long , what was a little bit longer?

“Your brother’s shuttle will arrive in five minutes. You want to wait for him here, or meet him in the garden? Your call.” he said to Shara.

Hammor

“I’ll wait for them here, why don’t you and Micah and Nadine head on over to the garden. Helpers should have the few tables set up and Faye cut flowers. Just have to throw on some tablecloths, stick some flowers in the vases, and make things look pretty.”

“I think we can manage that,” Nadine said. “Besides, I am dying to see this garden. Did she really design it herself? On a starship?” Nadine asked Daggum, falling in step her soon to be brother.

~Shara & Co.