Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in It’s Not a Wedding without Drama

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in It’s Not a Wedding without Drama

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in It’s Not a Wedding without Drama
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Gravel’s face took on the look he reserved for petulant Cadets and Ensigns and looked at Ava. “Just ‘cause we are physically elsewhere doesn’t mean we can’t be there if you need us. And if you don’t wanna ask him, don’t. No skin off my nose, and you’re old enough and smart enough to make good choices.” He took another bite and chewed slowly, then took a drink. He started to say something, and then stopped himself and shrugged. “Supper was great. I’m gonna go make sure everyone is wrapping up outside. Dominik, Yoss… hope to see you boys at the bachelor party. Sophie… don’t make me have to bust out my restraint key tonight.” and he chuckled. He turned and gave Cara a kiss and smiled. “See ya at the altar, Red. I’ll be the guy in the suit, if you wanna ‘hang out’.” and he stood up, looked at Ava, shook his head, and then walked outside.

Cara kissed him, holding onto his hand for a moment. “Oh I’ll be there. Even if I have ta beg, borrow, and steal a transport ta get there.” She smiled up at him, a wealth of understanding in the look.

Dominik looked at his youngest and spoke softly. “You’re excused, Ava.” It was all he had to say, but it spoke volumes. “Yes Sir.” Ava stood and collected her plate.

Serchena took a drink and looked at Ava. Her smile was in place, but her eyes held a quiet judgement. “Grav always did want a little sister.” she said with a slight chuckle to (seemingly) no one in particular. “And I, for one, am certainly glad that he found not only Cara… but such an amazing family in all of you, as well.” It was then her eyes truly fixed on Ava. “And I’m glad he was here the past couple of days to help where he could… wouldn’t you agree?” She didn’t wait for an answer from the moody teen. She raised her glass and said “To family… the ones we are born to and to the ones we choose. May the bonds only grow stronger through time and space.”

Gravel / Serchena

Ava felt bad enough already, she didn’t need this woman beating her over the head with it. She didn’t say anything because the look on her father’s face. She took her plates into the kitchen.

Dominik raised his glass, “Ta family,” and took a drink. Cara followed suit, but started to get up. Yoss set a hand on her shoulder. A minute later he and Ava left.

Sophie sighed, “Serchena, I am so sorry. I don’t know what got inta her. I’ve never seen her take ta anyone like she did Gravel.” Dominik knew very well what was wrong with Ava, but Sophie didn’t know what had transpired that morning. Cara and Emilia knew too. It was the most traumatic thing that had ever happened to their baby sister. Add to that general teenage moodiness and the O’Farrell temper, and Ava was reacting and didn’t know which way was up.

---

“Ugh, Yoss, why is everythin’ so complicated? Why does everyone tell me what ta do and how I should feel?” Yoss put an arm around her and kept walking, but was quiet. “I don’a even know how I feel, but I don’a need them ta tell me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s like a big giant hole suckin’me in, and I know they don’a mean it, but there just pushin’ me in faster.” She could see the giant green figure further up the road. “And now I upset him, I didn’a mean ta. And now if I apologize he’ll just think they made me, and I don’a mean it.”

Yoss kept walking, moving faster to catch up with the long-legged stride of the other man, but he looked down at her. He didn’t smile, he wouldn’t dare. She didn’tunderstand she was reacting to wverything, good and bad, that had happened to her. She would, but she was feeling it too much to realize it just yet. “Ava, no one would ever think you would do something you didn’t want to do. People know you. You’re honest. You wouldn’t apologize if you didn’t mean it. You wouldn’t lie like that. And Gravel is an excellent judge of people. He’ll understand, but there is only one way to proceed forward.”

“Why can’t they be more like you, and just listen instead of yappin’ at me all the time?” She sounded so frustrated and lost. She squeezed her shoulders and gave her a comical grin, “Because if everyone was like me, you wouldn’t realize how amazing and wonderful I am.” Ava grinned slightly. “Hey Gravel!” Yoss called cheerily. Then he nudged Ava towards him and kept walking. “See ya at the party.”

Gravel’s back was to them so they couldn’t see his jaw clench. But he forced himself to relax and then he stopped and turned; waiting for the young woman to catch up to him. When she did, he crossed his arms across his chest and looked down at her, his face blank.

Ava looked up at him, stubborn, moody teenager, and then it was gone. She just looked like a scared, hurting kid. “I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’a mean it. Well I did. You and Cara are going ta leave and so will Emilia and Yoss. You won’a be here when Dinovan or his friends come back. No one knew what Reggie was doin’, and we were sittin’ with him. If Donnovan hadn’t wanted Cars he’d still have me,” her voice cracked then and tears tumbled out of her eyes. “And I can’t talk about it because of Mam’s heart. She should have had surgery years ago, but she wouldn’a cause she was bein’ stupid. She was goin’ ta die. And the Inspector said I have to testify, but I’ll have ta go alone so that Dadai can distract Mam from knowin’. If she finds out she’ll get sick again.” It all just tumbled out. She wiped her fave with the back if her hand. “I’m sorry, really. I didn’a mean ta be mean.” She held her arms and looked at the ground, “And I already invited Connor,” she mumbled.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Mardusk was quiet a long time, just looking at her. Finally, he uncross his arms and bent low so he was looking her in the eyes. “First off, you did mean to be mean. You were pissed and you lashed out. Two. I wasn’t tellin’ you to do s#!t. I was givin’ ya a direction, hoping to maybe give you some support in doing something that I figured you were doing anyway. ‘Cause ya see… if I said you should,, even though you already had, then it takes the ammo your sisters would use to tease you out of it. You’re a woman, Ava. And that means you vet yo make your own choices. My job now is to help you be as comfortable in those choices as I can… and to make sure that those that try and hurt you or your family pay. And last…” and he stood up straight and looked down at her, “… if you for one second thought you’d have’ta go through that crap without me and Cara here? Well, maybe you aren’t as smart as I thought.”

Gravel

Ava knew how to take her licks when she had them coming, and she was due a huge dose of them right now. He wasn’t wrong about any of it, and she knew it. Except that she knew that he and Cara might want to be there for her, but they had orders. They could ask, but that didn’t mean they would be there. Why did adults always call kids stupid for feeling the way they felt? She didn’t argue with him, she didn’t even look like she wanted to argue, she just looked remorseful. “I shouldn’a taken it out on ya, or anyone else. I’m really am sorry, Gravel. I’m glad yer marryin’ Cara. She’s really happy, and I’m glad you and yer mam are goin’ ta be family.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel smiled and said “Well, I’m only doing it so you’d be my little sister.” and he grinned at her. “And I know you are scared about having to deal with all that O’Hara crap on your own. But don’t. Not only would Cara and I tell Fleet to get bent if they said we couldn’t come… we’re witnesses, Ava. We are legally obligated to have to be here.” and he laughed. “Probably the only time in my life I’ll look forward to being subpoenaed.” and he laughed again.

Gravel

“Oh,” Ava knew they were witnesses and had to give statements. She didn’t know they would be subpoenaed. She figured they would just testify over comms. She hugged him suddenly.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

He hugged her back, lifting her off the ground so he could stand up straight. He held her for a long moment and then set her back down. “Listen.... I’m new to this whole brother-sister thing. So I need you to cut me some slack for a while. Always remember that when we talk, I’m not ever tryin’ to tell ya what to do… okay? And whatever i say I mean only as I want you to be happy. So if I open my mouth and say somethin’ that will either piss you off or could just be me tryin’ to help… I mean it as the last one. Okay?”

Gravel

She smiled just a little, “Yeah okay. I won’t be a brat anymore. Well, I won’t be a brat ta you anymore.” Then she gave him a grin that was the identical to her sister when Cara was being sassy. “Ya should go, they can’a start the party without ya. Yer gonna be stuck with Cara the rest of yer life, so ya should have some fun. Though bankin’ some sleep might be better. Ya’ll lose enough when she goes missin’.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“That’s why you are in charge of makin’ sure she doesn’t go missing, then.” and he grinned at her and then said “Come on. I’ll walk ya back.” and he set a hand on her shoulder and began walking back.

Gravel

“I won’a let her. Honestly, I think she’s determined enough she might manage not ta get lost this time.” As they reached the house there was a bus sitting out front. “Oh! It’s here!” The windows were heavily tinted, but the faint beat of clubing music and flashing neon lights could be made out.

The door to the house opened and Emilia came out with Cara right behind, followed by… Serchena. Cara was cuffed to BOTH of them. Cara was laughing, but saw Gravel. “Save me!”

“No. You are no his until tamorrow. Get on the bus, Cara.” Emilia waved as she pulled Cara to the bus. “Don’a worry. We left the key in the house. She won’a get away. Come on Ava!” Several more women, Helka Edman included, came down the street and piled into the bus. Ava hugged him again. “Have fun!” and she ran off.

Dominik walked Sophie to the bus and helped her onto the bottom step. He walked over and sighed. “I’m not sure if I am glad they won’t be in town or terrified.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“Yes.” Gravel said with a laugh. He watched the bus leave and then looked at Dominik. “Well… you ready?” and he clapped him on the back and said “C’mon. I’m sure the guys are waiting.”

Gravel

Dominik laughed, “Yep, let’s go. If we don’t they might riot before the drinks are opened.”

The bus ride was roughly 15 minutes to Dungarvan. Where they got out and dragged Cara to a bakery where they had a private tasting room, ate dessert, and showered her with outrageous gifts. Then it was a half hour to Kilmeaden where they were dropped off in front of a dance studio - a pole dance studio.

They were not back until well after 0200.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

The bachelor party didn’t involve pole dancing, but it did involve a great deal of alcohol and more than one fight. It turned out that the village hadn’t had a party as big as the impending wedding in a number of years; and people were excited about it. So when word got out that there would be a party for the groom, ALL the men in the village showed up. It was like the set-up to a joke: So a bunch of Irishmen, Norwegians, two Klingons, and an Orion walk into a pub…

It was a party for the ages. Friendships were forged, disputes were settled with pint and fist, and an entire town was named an honorary ally of the Klingon Nobel House Noggra. There was even talk of of setting up a targ breeding cooperative. It was almost dawn when the last of the revelers had made their way home. Gravel had gone back to the lodges after the fourth fight, breaking it up by picking up an Edman and a Driscoll by their waist bands and throwing them many feet in opposite directions at the same time.

It was around eight in the morning when Gravel was awakened by hearing his name being yelled out from outside his lodge. He rolled over, blinked several times and then shook his head. It was the Edman men and Klingons. “GET UP!!! YER GETTIN’ MARRIED TODAY!!!” The Klingons had a war drum- where it came from was anyone’s guess- and they started pounding on it. The noise caused the heads of Hall and Oates to raise up from the floor and a low growl to escape them before they fell back on the floor with a simultaneous thunk. Gravel looked at them and grinned. “I know the feeling.” and he started getting dressed.

Gravel

The inside of the O’Farrell household was chaos and panic. “WHERE IS CARA???????” Emilia had gone in to wake her up, and she wasn’t in her bed, the bathroom, the kitchen, or in the yard. Dominik and Sophie came out of their room, half dressed, “What do ya mean where is Cara?” Dominik demanded. “She came home with us last night. I went in her room with her. By the Sidhe why would she wander off taday?!” Sophie banged on Ava’s door and walked in, “Is Cara with you?”

Ava stopped mid taking her dress off the hanger, “No.... OMG we lost her????????” Ava pulled on regular clothes and ran down the stairs. Emilia had already gone outside to start looking, and enlisted the help of the Edman women who had shown up per Gravel’s request. Helka closed her eyes and muttered something that might have been a prayer or a curse and they dispersed.

It just so happened that Helka looked up and there was Cara, gown shimmering in the early light, hair done, with a woolen shawl around her shoulders, and a cup of tea, standing on a balcony of the house. She opened her mouth to say something. Cara held a finger to her lips and grinned. Helka wiped the smile from her face, nodded once and moved off.

Cara really should go in and tell them to calm down, but for a moment she let the chaos continue while she finished her tea. Then she went inside. “What’s all the yellin’? Why are ya all no dressed yet?” She asked as she walked down the stairs. “Cara?! Where have you been?” Ava looked at the tea cup and rolled her eyes, “Where she always is in the mornin’. Didn’a anyone check the balcony?” Everyone looked at around and then looked sheepish, until Sophie decided to berate Cara. “Don’a tell me ya couldn’a hear us shoutin’ and lookin’ for you.” Cara laughed, “Of course I could. Now hurry up, I’ll leave without ya.”

Dominik paused to look at his daughter, who looked so much like her mother they day he married her. He set his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. Then he went to finish getting dressed, after grabbing Helka and telling her to watch Cara. Half an hour later they were in the sliders and on their way.

---

Mahon Falls was beautiful and magical. It always had been to Cara. No water fall in Ireland was huge, but this was one of the bigger ones. It was multitiered and with the recent rains, full and rushing and the water sparked in sunlight. At the bottom was a small, but deep pool of crystal clear icy water, and the entrance to caves behind the falls. There were chairs set out, a few of Cuyler’s boys guarding the bloodwine. There was no need for added decorations, nature had provided it all. Patrick, the chief councilman, was standing in front of the chairs at the edge of the pool as guests arrived. Some sat, some stood, there weren’t quite enough chairs for everyone who showed up.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel was standing at the front of the assembled guests wearing his dress uniform with the House Noggra sash across his chest and back. Serchena stood next to him, also in her dress uniform; and a more striking advertisement for Star Fleet would be impossible to find.

Gravel was looking at the falls when the sliders came into view, but turned to look at them when they pulled to a stop. Gravel’s eyes narrowed as he watched for Cara to step out.

Gravel

The first slider opened and 12 McKenzie-Edman women stepped out in formal traditional garb but minus the swords and shields. They each paired up with a McKenzie-Edman man and created an elite honor guard for the best friend of their chief, and the man who, they had heard in great detail from Runa, was responsible for bringing Mike and Revna back together. The second slider opened and Helka got out, and Cara’s laughter could be heard in the silent clearing. Next out was Yoss and Sophie. Yoss led Sophie to the front of the seats and sat with her. Dominik stepped out of the slider and then helped Ava, who, to the sound of soft music walked toward the front, slightly behind her was Emilia. They were wearing beautiful pale green and gold trimmed single shoulder dresses.

Cara’s green eyes found him and never left him as she got out of the slider and her father walked her toward Gravel. Nothing else existed in the universe for her, but Gravel.
He was her best friend, her lover, her better half, and her whole heart. He looked good in a formal uniform too. Her red had been curled into large waves and pinned up with tiny shamrocks. The gown was antique, pale blue satin in a traditional a-line silhouette. Then overlaid with delicate white lace, that had been made by hand. The patterns matching the pieces that Cara had shown Gravel. They stopped right in front of Gravel, Dominik kissed her cheek, set her hand in Gravel’s and stepped away. “Hey Malachite, come here often?”

He grinned and said “All the time. Lotta hot Irish girls hang out here.” and he winked at her and then looked at Patrick as Serchena elbowed him in the ribs.

“If you will, join hands,” Patrick said as he stepped forward. “I want you to look at your hands.” Cara grinned and looked down at the large hands that engulfed hers.

“Love each other from this day forward, and these will be the hands that you hold tomorrow, and the next day, and into the next decade. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as you build your life together, the hands that will touch you with love and tenderness through the years, and the hands that will comfort you like no others’ can. These are the hands that will hold you through grief, fear, and hardship. These are the hands that will wipe tears of joy and sorrow from your eyes, and the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will hold your family together, and that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands, that when wrinkled and spotted with age, will still be reaching for yours.”

Cara

Gravel chuckled softly. “Orions don’t wrinkle or get spots, so I think you’re okay on that part.” he said with a smile. Patrick said “Are you ready to exchange rings?” and Gravel nodded. He looked at Serchena and she handed him a small ring box. He opened it, keeping it from Cara’s view, and looked at her. “Cara…” began, “… the first time I saw you, I knew you were unique. The first time I found ya wandering around the ship lost, I knew you were different. And the first time I touched you, I knew you were part of me. Since then we have weathered starship battles, hostile governments, slavers, pirates, militaristic zealots… and truly obscene amount of glitter.” and he grinned at her. “And there isn’t a single thing I would change… except how long itbtook us to reach this moment. I love you, Cara… and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you everyday.” He took the ring out of the box and lifted her left hand. Onto her ring finger, on which sat the ring he proposed to her with, and he slid a band made of the most vibrant emeralds and rubies that matched the profile of her engagement ring perfectly.

Gravel

Cara smiled at him and grinned over the glitter. She watched with a sense of coming home and being made whole as he slipped the ring on her finger. She looked up at him, not needing to say a thing about how much she loved it.

She turned to Emilia taking his ring in her hand and looked up into his eyes. “Grah-VEL, I don’a just want ta marry ya ta wake up ta ya everyday or be with ya forever. I want ta marry ya because marriage is hard, creatin’ a family is hard, logistics and relatives and jobs and blending two lives is hard, and yer the person I want ta go through bad times with. Life IS never going ta magically be all butterflies and rainbows just because ya marry yer soulmate. Life is hard, and I want ta marry ya and love ya every day through every bump in the road. I want ta marry ya ta be yer rock through every curve ball and ta look at ya when everything else is fallin’ apart. I don’a want ta marry ya because it’s cute and excitin’, I want ta marry ya because it’s real, and hard work and a lifetime of ups and downs with ya is worth every second of it.” She took his hand and slipped his father’s ring onto his finger beside the engagement ring she’d given him.

Cara