https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf3/outpost42/notes/63835/

snip

Looking over at Chloe Nathan couldn’t help but smile wide as she said those words. They had been together unofficially for over seven months, sneaking off for dates whenever they could both when on shore leave and on subspace call. The affair had been quiet, simple, and all theirs for the time they had. Coming here though on this cold December night changed everything as Nathan looked around as the carolers saw Nathan as he stopped singing. This had been the sign, the unspoken sign all of them knew but none of them was allowed to tell.

The truth was, Nathan was able to analyze people better than anyone. His research of Chloe’s family had gotten him profile’s on all her family for just this night. It wasn’t ever meant to be a spur of the moment come and surprise, no Nathan had a plan that only his carolers knew. They had been the key to his whole plan like some well-oiled machine to help every step of the way.

— Three Days Earlier —

“Thank you guys for coming, you have your time frame for the night right?” Nathan said as he stood on a table above all the familiar faces for the people below him. Outside of caroling gear, they all looked a bit different. Earrings, tattoos, colorful hair galore. It was clear these were nowhere near your traditional band of carolers as they all looked up at the man they all called their leader.

“You sure man? I know you always said you could plan the unplannable but…” said the first guy as he held up the inertia he had put into his hand as he looked at all of the steps. “I mean we come and sing, fine… but they are going to invite us in? Why?”

“Ahh my good man, see Drew, her dad, he wants to win more than anything… and I am going to give him the one thing he needs most. They will move in, let you guys stay and the invite you to caroling… you just have to act surprised and go along. You go along and know your cues, I can get them that crown and the moment I have wanted for seven months in under twenty-four hours…” Nathan said as everyone seemed to be nodding along, it wasn’t like Nathan to ever be wrong. They had all been playing music with the man for years, and with the new recruits he brought in to increase their vocal ranges it was certain to even the most doubtful that this man had a plan, they just had to see if it really worked.

— Present Day —

“Clo bell… ” Nathan said as he pulled her so she was right in front, face to face as he held her close as their breath fled them like ghosts from their lips. “I am pretty sure I never want to be apart from your family… so…” Nathan said as he kneeled down as the carolers all began to transition into a new melody in a perfect transition as they all began to play cannon in D as two of the fighters came back round as they hovered overhead as two beams of light came shining down of gold and silver over the pair.

At first Chloe bent her knees ever so slightly thinking Nathan was bending over or dropped something. This mistake was immediately remedied by the soaring of the two fighters overhead and the music changing to a soft non-Christmas tone. The first few notes played and sung by the carolers Nate brought transformed the snowy Christmas Eve night into an event just as dominated by the color white. Pachelbel’s canon was eternally linked to spring and weddings. Since it was the dead of winter, there could be only one reason the song was playing. Chloe felt dizzy. So much was happening all at once. Every eye was glued on the pair as her family seemed to create a semi-circle around Nate and Chloe. Her mind was blank watching him drop to one knee. Her eyes however found the steady gaze of his deep crystal blue eyes. Whenever she looked into them, Chloe felt almost mesmerized. They had a hypnotic effect on her, allowing all other sights and sounds to slip away that could compete for her attention. His eyes created a sense of peace in her. Chloe watched Nate drop to his one knee. All sounds had been muffled in her ears save for the sound of Nate’s knee impacting the soft snow with a thick crunch.

“Since I never want to be apart… maybe you will let me join forever,” Nathan said as he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small box that he opened to reveal a beautiful gold ring with adorned diamonds as he looked up at Chloe as he smiled softly. “Will you marry me?” he said, as the words he knew everyone around had been expecting the moment the music had shifted and the attention placed on the loving couple.

Nathan Harland

It was several long seconds to for Chloe’s reply as he slowly pulled her glove from her hand exposing fingers. This had nothing to do with any debate about her answer. It was more her searching for a word to match how she felt and scene Nate created. Yes seemed too blase. He had just asked her to marry him, to spend the rest of her life with him, to have his children, and never spare a thought to anyone else but him so a simple yes felt too common. Her pause in replying was because she could not find a synonym. His hand had placed the ring to her first knuckle waiting to for affirmation that when he placed it fully on her finger, she would agree forever more to be his wife.

“Yes,” she bobbed her head rapidly smiling from ear to ear. “Yes,” she repeated louder as if to make up for the pause and to let everyone in the surrounding cityscape to hear her acceptance of the proposal. She waited just long enough for Nate to seat the ring firmly on her hand before diving forward into his arms. “I love you,” she said breathlessly kissing him several times on the lips in rapid succession before pulling her hand back to admire the ring. It was a large princess cut diamond surrounded by a halo or smaller diamonds making the shine incredible. Down the side of the band was six more diamonds covering the entire ring almost entirely in either white or rainbow flashes depending on how the ring reflected the light back. “I can’t believe my Dad said yes and didn’t tell me,” she stared at her ring admiring it. “That man an’t keep a secret to save his life.

As soon as Nate and Chloe separated, her sisters moved in. It only took a second for Meredith and Delaney to move next to Chloe’s side to inspect the ring. While their smiles were genuine, there was also a hint of sisterly jealous behind their eyes. Everyone loved being the bride but if you could not be the bride the sister of the bride was the next best position in a wedding. “We need to call the Lord Thompson Manor December twenty sixth. They completely book up so we are going to be lucky to get a date,” Meredith replied.

“Well Nathan is from Boston,” Chloe looked at her sister. “He might want to have it more local.”

“Chloe Anna Kendrick you know we get married at the Manor. I have, Delaney has, and both Kevin and Thomas have used it. It is not that far from Boston or New York so it is convenient for everyone,” Meredith looked hurt and stunned Chloe would even mention having it elsewhere.

“Or he can call up one of his ships and just beam us anywhere,” Kevin rolled his eyes. “I mean if he can attack Danbury during Christmas Eve I am sure he can just beam a wedding invasion someplace else too.”

“God you suck Kevin,” Chloe glared at her brother. It was no secret Kevin was one of those people that felt Starfleet was Federation burden instead of an asset. He was an intergalactic banker and saw the dollar signs everywhere. His biggest issue was with the Prime Directive which meant Starfleet got the first shot at all new planets and cultures resulting in the private sector gobbling up the stuff the Federation left behind for the civilian market. Aside from his annoyance over losing the Caroling Hat it was just his general dislike for Starfleet making him more annoying now out of greed and jealousy than an actual dislike for Nathan Harland.

Chloe