Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- Wedding Bells

Posted by Lindsay B in Deck 4 Garden- Wedding Bells

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- Wedding Bells
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Joining in with everyone clapping, Walker couldn’t help but smile. After everything she had been through, he was happy that Faye had found someone that made her happy. But that didn’t mean she going to get off that easily. Grinning at hearing Shara, Walker let out his own loud whistle as the couple made their way to the table.

Darach

Revna clapped and cheered along with the rest. Faye looked radiant, and whatever private moment she and her Daggum had shared seemed to have created something precious between them. Revna smiled, remembering her own wedding. Well if you could call it a proper wedding, but it fit her and Mike. Just like this fit Faye and Daggum. Her own whistle joined the rest, and they all slowly faded away.

McKenzie

As the newly married couple came in to the applause and cheers of their friends, Daggum felt a small pang of… something. It wasn’t jealousy, but it was akin to it. Everyone here (almost) was here for Faye. And he was fine with that. She had earned every single soul here to celebrate her.

And then the (almost) laid a hand on Daggum’s shoulder.

“Looking pretty slick there, kid.” came a raspy voice laced with amusement. The speaker was an older human male. Long, gray hair fell to the man’s shoulders, and a matching beard that was meticulously maintained formed the foundation of a ruggedly handsome face with some of the brightest green eyes that side of the Orion themselves. The man looked at Faye and said “So I’m guessing from the dress you are the one I have to thank for getting this jerk to think about something outside of fleet logistics?” and he smiled and held out a hand to her. “Paul Shaughnessy. Your husband saved my life.”

Daggum

Beaming, Faye took his hand and more than just shaking it, she drew herself in to Paul, slipped her arms around him and gave him a hug. Call it an emotional moment, or maybe a deep knowing on her part, but Faye understood that everyone had their person. That person could change over your lifetime, but she knew without a doubt that Paul was Dag’s person and thus important to her as well. “I’m so glad you could make it and we could finally meet,” she said softly in his ear.

Pulling back, she shook her head, clearly overwhelmed but in the best possible way.

From her place, Nadine grinned, watching her newfound sister navigate this emotional day with a touch of awe. She waited till Faye and Daggum got some food and found their seats before she began. “Hello all, my name is Nadine Wells and for those of you who don’t know who I am, I am Faye’s half sister. Which is a very complicated story but not the most complicated one she could tell you,” she said, laughing lightly.

“I think can all agree that the ceremony was perfectly Faye and Daggum, and even if you only know one half of the couple you can plainly see how much they adore each other. And as someone who is new to the family and still getting to know everyone, I just wanted to say that this gathering is very special for so many reasons, but the biggest one is that both Faye and Daggum are their own family today and we area all chosen to be a part of it in our own way. And before I hand this over to someone else for a more official speech, I just wanted to thank my sister and new brother-in-law for welcoming us all in to this beautiful celebration.”

Faye knew she was going to be a teary mess, so was prepared with an actual linen handkerchief, and dabbed at her eyes. She pressed a hand to her heart and beamed at her sister.

Nadine returned the gesture and then turned to Cochrane. “And now I’m going to call on Captain Cochrane whom I suspect has plenty to say. And I hear he’s great at speeches,” she said with a wink.

~Faye et al

Alex stood and walked to the front, stopping next to Nadine just long enough to smile and say just loudly enough so everyone could hear “Fleet Captain. At least get your introduction right before you throw me under the bus like that.”, which elicited chuckles from around them.

Nadine gave the charismatic man a grin. “My sincerest apologies. Duly noted,” she said with a wink before stepping off to the side.

Standing at the fore with a glass of champagne in hand, Alex smiled at everyone and said “Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for the couple.” and there was a round of loud and raucous applause before everyone settled down. Alex smiled again.

“If someone had told me when I first arrived that the absolute cluster that was to be Faye’s department would lead us to not only this moment, but to me meeting my best friend, I would have laughed at them and then sent them for a psych eval.” Laughter rippled through the crowd as Cochrane continued. “And to say that the road to this moment has been difficult would be an understatement of truly biblical proportions. Subterfuge, lies, deciet, and covert machinations galore… and that was just her lab.” Another round of laughter, louder from some select members of the crew who knew exactly what he was talking about.

Faye laughed aloud and shook her head. An understatement, that. And a poignant one. She braced herself for whatever else he was going to say.

“And through it all, at the center of the maelstrom, was Faye. And I can say honestly… for as strong as she is and as smart as she is… there were moments I thought that she and everyone else were going to be swallowed whole. But we weren’t… and that is because of Faye. She shouldered a weight that would crush almost anyone… and she wouldn’t share the load.” and then he looked directly at Daggum.

“And then you came back to her. And while your shoulders are bigger than most, it was your heart that gave her the strength. I’ve watched you, Commander… and if there was anyone that could have supported Faye then, it was you. Oh, we tried. Hell, I even taught Faye to dance.” and people laughed again, “But until you and she reconnected, there was a gap. A key-hole. And you were the key… the key that unlocked the full magic that is Faye. And for that, my good sir, you have the unending gratitude of all of us who care for her.” Daggum cleared his throat softly and nodded at Cochrane, and the Fleet Captain smiled. “But also know that if you ever screw this up, we’re all coming to kick your ass.” and a riotous laughter erupted from the crowd… and Daggum.

Faye grinned at Daggum. They both knew her mother and step-father would be the first in line; a fact that just made her smile deeper. She mouthed ‘I love you’, to him.

Once everyone had quieted, Alex raised his glass. “So… a toast. To the Bride and Groom. May your years be long and filled with happiness, and may your lives bring you as treasured memories as your presence on this ship and in our lives have brought us. To Faye and Daggum. Congratulations!” and the crowd raised their glasses and cheered.

Cochrane, CO

As people sipped from their glasses, Nadine moved back and gave Alex a smirk and leaned in towards the handsome man. “So the rumours about your speech giving are true. Good to know.” She was having a great time and it was really nice to hear other people’s perspective about her sister and new brother-in-law. What people may not have realized was that Nadine was soaking every word and smile up as she sought to understand the essence of Faye Calloway better.

“And now I think we’ll hear from the Mother-of-the-Bride and Matron-of-Honour,” Nadine said, shooting Shara wicked look.

Shara just rose form the table with fluid grace and took the mic from her eldest daughter. “I don’t do speeches much,” she said as she began to move away from the podium. “I certainly don’t want to follow-up that one,” she said, jabbing a thumb in Cochrane’s direction, eliciting laughs.

Over to the left where the dance floor was rested the grand piano that had been moved in earlier a mic stand had been set up and for a moment Shara just took in everyone before sitting down n the piano bench, setting the mic in its holder and speaking again. “I’ve thought a lot about what I might say, but I had this moment where I realized just how much we missed- me and my girls. Each has their own history with me and together we are a family writing a new story. One of the greatest things that has been part of all our stories is love, in one form or another. I realized that the greatest thing I could do to celebrate Faye and Daggum’s journey forward together was to give Faye another piece of herself back to her. And by that I mean, that when my girls were babies I sang to them. Each their own song. But with Nadine it was harder for me. The song that I thought I’d always sing became too hard to sing after she was no longer in my life. So Faye got her own, even though I had always intended it to be the song I song to my children. And that’s okay. But I want you two to share it, as sisters, because it was always how it was meant to be.” In her mind this was as much a gift for Daggum as it was the girls’ because it meant he was getting a Faye who had something else special to hold on to and the more she had of that, the better life partner she would be to him. Or at least that was how her mind had worked it out. And thus Shara began to play the piano and sing.

Nadine moved over and grabbed a chair, setting it next to Faye and Daggum.

Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you’ve been asking me
I think you know what I’ve been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
Then you should always know
Wherever you may go, no matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight my angel, now it’s time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I’m rocking you to sleep
The water’s dark and deep, inside this ancient heart
You’ll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel, now it’s time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart there will always be a part of me
Someday we’ll all be gone
But lullabies go on and on
They never die
That’s how you and I will be

At some point Faye had taken Nadine’s hand and both were in tears. So was Shara, but Shara was so fixed on her song that the tears hadn’t fallen. But when she was done, she rose to find her daughters and others clapping fiercely. That broke her and she laughed even as she wiped away the tears. This was the start of new traditions, of new ways of being a family. As she moved towards the bride and groom, she realized how beautiful it all was.

Gazing at Daggum for a moment, Faye rose and gave her mom a tight embrace. Shara kissed her cheek and whispered something in Faye’s ear before turning to embrace Nadine. Then, it was a hand on Daggum’s shoulder and a knowing look. Sure, she could say more but she was certain they didn’t need to.

Nadine was still trying to gather herself so she just tapped Paul on the shoulder. “Your turn, Best Man.”

OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gav66byYJMw

-Faye & Co.

The older man moved slowly, cutting an impressive figure in his charcoal gray suit and black walking stick. He moved to the fore of the gathering and cleared his throat. “Um.. hello, everyone. My name is Paul Shaughnessy. Now, I don’t know Faye, just met her today. So I apologize for taking some attention away from the Bride. But Daggum… I have known Daggum since he was… oh… maybe ten or twelve. We met in the most horrible of places, and even as a boy he managed to keep me alive and save my life. He impressed me then… so much so that I went back years later to try and find him and return the favor.” He moved forward to a table and picked up a drink and took a sip.

Still emotional from her mother’s song, and Alex’s speech, Faye braced herself. For if she were honest, Paul’s speech was the one she was most curious about. The insight into Daggum that she suspected she would prize forever.

“I have never known anyone smarter than Daggum. I hear tell that Faye has a sharp mind… girl, you’re gonna need it. That guy thinks like no one I’ve ever met. Six, ten, twenty steps ahead. It’s kinda creepy sometimes.” and he chuckled, as did a few who knew Hammor’s reputation. Paul’s voice softened and he smiled at Faye and Daggum. “But he really must’ve been thinking ahead when he found you, Faye. Because I have never seen him happier than I do right now. And if anyone has pout in the time and effort to be happy… it’s him. He took the shittiest hand the universe could deal and made it a winner.” He took a drink and grinned slightly at Daggum. “I know I’m not supposed to tell this, my boy, but I’m gonna. Faye, you know that first day you two met? He called me the next day. Told me he met the most amazing woman he had ever met… and that if he ever got married, it would be to her.” Daggum flushed dark green and he looked at Faye and smiled. “I actually said that if I ever got married, it would only be to a woman like you. But, since there isn’t anyone else like you, I guess the interpretation holds.” Paul chuckled and said “First and only time he ever said anything like that. And I’ve seen women quite literally throw them selves at him. And none ever turned his head… not like you, Faye. So you treasure that man beside you. Because as unique as you are… he is just as special, too. To Daggum and Faye! Forever in our hearts, and forever together!”

Paul Shaughnessy

She was stunned. And though she brought her stone-containing champagne flute to her lips, her eyes were still on Daggum. He knew? Sure, she had accepted that he had figure them out long before she had; that much she understood. But though his actual words were different than Paul’s interpretation, Faye understood something deeper in this moment: he was made for her. Yes, her silly declaration in that restaurant on Event Horizon that he was made from the stars for her had been fanciful and based on little concrete but feelings, but it had been true. They kept finding ways that it was true as well. Maybe Fate was real and they were really made for each other.

Reaching out, Faye rested her hand on Daggum’s cheek. “I like that you can constantly surprise me,” she said tenderly, drawing him into a kiss.

Nadine gave them their moment, smiling, and then caught Faye’s gaze and winked. “Your turn, Sister.”

Carefully rising from her chair and careful not to step on the delicate pale green net of her skirt, Faye made her way to the podium, glass in hand. Her and Daggum had left the poignant words till now and she still thought keeping the vows simple had been the right move, but after each speech concluded she realized that she would be a mess by the time it was her turn. Oh well. Today she was allowed.

Setting her glass down, she inhaled deeply and gazed out over the large table of guests. She should be nervous. After all, Faye Calloway did not like being the centre of attention. But for a reason she couldn’t quite figure out just now, she wasn’t, and for one simple reason: her mind was calm. There were no multiple tangents of thoughts going on, no multi-layered problem solving. Instead her mind was filled only with love. Love for Daggum, and all these people she never expected to have in her life. That thought made her eyes blur. Great. She blew out a breath and began.

“I shouldn’t be here. The odds say I should have died at numerous points in my life. Sometimes it felt like I had. But I come from a family of brave and tenacious women who are survivors. We survive, we make it through. But… as I have had the privilege of learning, there is surviving and there is living. When I first came to the Manhattan I was determined to do this thing called living. But I didn’t know how. And right away I met Dag, and that meeting stuck in my brain too”-she shot Daggum a grin-“and for reasons I’m still not entirely sure of I let him in. Just a little bit. And by letting him in, I became open to letting others in too.”

Focusing on Daggum as if he were the only one there, Faye just beamed at him. “Star Man, do you know what the odds are that you and I both lived to be here together in this moment with all these people here to support us? I could try to write a computer program to calculate them, but by my estimate it would only be accurate within a standard deviation of five…”

“Six actually,” Shara chimed in with a smirk.

Faye’s brows rose and she snorted. “Thanks, Teach.” She gabbed a thumb in her mother’s direction. “She taught me AP calculus and has more of a math brain than I do, so I suppose we’ll let her have it.” Shara just laughed, leaning back in her chair to rest against Micah.

“The point is that I think I believe in Fate. It’s Fate that you and I had this chance. Yes, we did the hard work. Yes, certain variables worked in our favour. But I will go the rest of our lives believing you were made for me, and I for you. As a scientist such a statement is floofy and nonsensical, but… I guess, when it comes to us, I have faith. And I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone. And with you I feel calmer, centred. I know it won’t always be easy, but if there is anyone who has the capacity to make it through and deserves an incredible amount of happiness, it’s us my love.” She blew him a kiss and then focused her gaze outwards over everyone else.

“I’m not sure I have words for how grateful I am to have all of you in our lives. But I’m going to try, because if I don’t do it now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to later. Cause right now I at least have waterproof mascara on.” That comment drew chuckles as Faye turn towards Cochrane. “Alex. We’ve been slowly getting things out while we have the chance, trying to finds words to explain this weird and wonderful friendship we have. As an adult, I’ve never had a best friend until I met you, and once I learned I could be a good friend, I found other people were my friends too.” Faye paused to gather herself but she felt dangerously on the edge of full on tears. “I deflect. I make jokes about my messed up neurotic scientist brain because I know that not everyone has the capacity to… tolerate what comes with it. But you taught me that I was valuable and worthy of love and belonging simply because I existed. You helped me see my quirks not as the deterrents and flaws I was always made to feel they were but as strengths and and signs of my character. They are good things. I owe you a great deal, and though we don’t keep score, Dag and I both are very aware that we could not have happened if you had not been the person you are to me. I love you my friend. And I wish you as much happiness as I have found. Because you deserve it too.”

“Today I like to think we’re celebrating happiness and love. And Dag and I aren’t the only ones to have found it recently. In particular I’m totally going to embarrass my Mom and Micah because they went and eloped and I never got to do this properly.” She lifted her glass. “So, Mom, I know we’re still figuring this all out, but already I’m learning a lot from you again. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall from that rather… unorthodox ceremony, but seeing you with Micah and seeing the shift tells me all I need to know. Pops… there was a part of me that was still very angry at my father for his choices, and though I forgave him that night of our wake on the holodeck, it took a while for my heart to trust that someone else wouldn’t break it again. I know it’s taken me a bit to warm up to the idea of having another father in my life, but I’m so grateful to you for all you’ve done me, for Nadine, for my mom. You are the unexpected glue in our family. Who would’ve thought, huh? So I toast you two right now, and celebrate the example you’re setting of what it is to hold tight to the thing you know is right for you.” Faye sipped from her glass.

Faye inhaled deeply and blew out that breath, steading herself. “As for the rest of you, some I just met, the rest I’ve known for awhile and have been an important part of my life for one reason or another. I have an uncle and aunt and cousin here today that I’m so excited to get to know better because I went from being entirely on my own to having this big group of family and friends. I don’t take that for granted. Walker…” Faye grinned at the COO. “I knew you were my people that crazy ass day I was crawling at a mad pace through the jefferies tubes. You gave me the benefit of the doubt, you reached out and helped me when I was in a terrible spot. You gave me hope that maybe something would be okay in the aftermath. For that, I thank you.”

“Revna, you made my crazy feel okay, that it was okay to be overwhelmed and feel like I was falling apart, even after I had picked up all the pieces. You didn’t negate my fears and concerns and helped me find a bit of perspective even as you made it okay for me to just… feel. So thank you too.”

“Kiama (OOC: Silke and I agreed she would definitely be here), you are one of the kindest hearted people who ever tossed themselves in my path. For better or worse,” Faye said with a chuckle. “I like to think that being friends with you has helped me understand what having a sister was like, so that when Nadine appeared in my life I was ready for it. You are a sister to me and I hope you feel the same way.”

“And last but not least, Nadine.” Faye fixed her gaze on her half-sister with a bit of awe. “I’m glad I listened to Micah that night and called you. I think we understand each other more than we realize. We’ve both had such huge hurts that we can hold space for each other. I’m glad you came all this way and get a glimpse of the life I’ve had out here. I know you’re on your own path of searching and I hope with all my heart you find it.” Nadine pressed her hand to her heart and nodded.

Faye lifted her glass again. “I propose a toast to family. For you are all mine and Dag’s family now, whether you like it or not. To family,” she said before drinking from her glass.

Returning to her seat, she grinned at Dag. “Too much? It’s your turn now too, Star Man.”

~Faye & Co.