Happy Day

Posted on Wed Jan 24th, 2024 @ 2:54pm by Lieutenant JG Toareth Rouen (née Darqa) & Gabrielle Rouen & Lieutenant JG René Rouen & Ensign Sabine Rouen
Edited on on Wed Jan 24th, 2024 @ 2:55pm

2,506 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Getting Ready to Depart
Location: Earth
Timeline: Prior to Departure

Toareth looked herself over in the tall mirror. This was the second time she had ever willingly worn a dress. Both times were for the same person; Rene. The first time was a long a flowing black dress. This time, however, the dress was the polar opposite; white and lacey. It fit her perfectly and flowed naturally. The bride's maids were all in awe. Toareth, however, looked upon herself with indifference. The dress was not black enough. Nor were there any chains. But, this day of all days, she was satisfied with it. She stepped over to her satchel, careful with each step as she was still getting used to the wedding shoes.

"How is anyone supposed to walk in these things?" she asked without expecting an answer as the arrived upon her satchel.

The maid of honor, Sabine stepped in just as Toareth had her hypospray in hand and hit herself with it on the back of her neck.

Sabine stopped for a moment and looked at Toar in her wedding dress. Sabine smiled as she stepped forward and handed her a box. "Brought you a few things. It is a tradition for a bride to have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue."

Toareth shook her head a little to work the medication onward. She took a step or two to meet Sabine, not quite, half way. "And six pens for my shoe?" she asked as she took the box. Opening it, Toar eyed a slightly tarnished bronze St. Michael pin that appeared twice her own age, a necklace to the Blessed Mother she recalled seeing the Rouen matriarch wearing in family pictures, a blue garter, and a newly made bracelet engraved with, and she spoke softly as she read it, "R&D E&E Rouen & Darqa Earth & El-Auria Vast Chasms Cannot Stop Love."

Toar tore her eyes from the bracelet and looked back at Sabine, her eyes a bit redder than usual and glistening with the beginnings of tears. "I don't know what to say. Uh...thank you. And..." she looked back at the gifts. "...and I am sorry. Sorry that René and I did things out of order. I am glad that...things are coming together." She was thinking, however that she was glad she was not running away in fear as both fear and loneliness were pounding away at the door letting her know that they were not going away and would certainly return to her in time. "I..." she sniffled as she held the box back toward Sabine, "I need help putting these on. I've never done this before." Never been married before. Never wore such a dress before. And Toareth certainly had never been so in love since..."I hope I can walk in these shoes. I..." a tear ran down her cheek. "Look at me. I'm falling apart."

Sabine helped Toareth with the jewelry and took a step back to give Toareth a once over before smiling. "You look...I don't think there's words in French or Federation Standard that could do you justice."

Toareth was looking at herself again in the mirror. "Feestbarl," she said trying to compose herself. "That's uh..." she needed to explain, "that's a number in El-Aurian. We have...had a Base100 numbering system. That is, single digit integers from what you would consider 0 to 99. We did not move to double-digits until your 100. And it was something of a joke when we got to Earth and after learning your Base10 system. 'How do we rate Earth, on a scale of 1 to 10? Feestbarl.' That is what you would call 99."

Sabine walked to her closet and brought out a pair of comfortable flats. She gave the slipper/shoes a bit of a wiggle before pointing to the heeled shoes Toareth wore now. "Those are for show purposes. These are what you will wear accept for when René has to take your garter off during the garter throw. You shouldn't have to wear the heels for more than a few minutes otherwise."

"I don't know about that," Toar said. "If I put those on...half of me wants to run...I never thought about what this day would...I'm rambling." She turned to, "Sabine, say something please. I...I don't...I'm doing good, right? As a friend, soon-to-be family member and counselor, this is the right thing to do, right?"

Sabine gave Toareth a hug. "Do you love Rene?"

"I do," Toar said immediately. She added a nod.

Sabine looked Toareth in the eye. "Do you believe René loves you and Gabrielle?"

"More than anything. He could not stop even if he tried. I..." and it had become the time for truth. "...I am afraid Sabine. 50 years from now Rene will be an elder and retired, Gabrielle will be...well...in her 50's, you..." she let that fact trail off. "And I will barely appear 7 years older. I cannot grow old with the man I love. And I cannot..." not legally that is, "...make him live as long as me. Regardless of that...I do love him."

Sabine had considered the situation that Toareth described. "Nothing in life is permanent. I remember when I first met you. You always seemed reluctant to be happy and enjoy life. I am not saying that the next fifty years for you will be filled with joy every minute of every day. What I am saying is that you will learn how to feel that joy. You will have a life time, well, a human life time to develop those skills and those skills will help you find love again if you want it to."

Toareth did not have the words but dwelt deeply on Sabine's wisdom. The low rumble of voices and the sound of soft music poured in as the door was opened. The adult remained outside but a pair of little feet carried Gabrielle inside, adorned in her little white dress. She carried a pouch filled with rose pedals. "Mama, Aunwt Sabeen. I think they arwe weady."

An elderly man peered inside from the threshold of the door and nodded. He gave Toareth a welcoming smile and nodded. "Mademoiselle, it is time."

Sabine looked at her grandfather and niece with a smile before turning to Toareth. "Are you ready?"

"Um," Toareth tried to force herself to vocalize an affirmation, but she breathed once and calmly said, "yes," but her feet rebelled and refused to carry her forward. She looked down at herself as though attempting to command her legs and feet to get to work. Finally, though, she forced one foot forward. Her dress moved and flowed with her. It appeared as though she was floating on the air. Her second step was easier. "I think we are good now," she said.

Jean-Claude offered his arm to Toareth and started escorting her from the vestibule to the cathedral foyer as Sabine and Gabrielle preceeded them. He glanced at Toareth and gave her a fatherly smile. "Merci Toareth. It is an honor and privilege to be chosen to walk you down the aisle."

Jean-Claude appeared the age to have been born around the time Toareth first arrived on Earth. Though she appeared only one quarter his age, older than he in fact, she regarded him as the elder. Especially more experienced in terms of weddings, with this being the first actually wedding Toareth ever attended; her own nonetheless.

Other, so called, weddings were between El-Aurian slaves, other slaves, or someone else oppressed into marrying their masters, overlords, what have you. All this while Toareth galivanted about space, trying to find more of her own, trying to free her own. This time, however, there was no oppression and no tyranny. Only family and friends and love...and Toareth's embattled nerves. She felt a strange sense of calm, though, as Gabirelle walked before her, pulling red rose pedals from her pouch by the handful and sprinkling them about the aisle. Toareth had to keep reminding herself what was happening. She tried not to look upon the people seated on either side of the aisle. This day belonged to her and her soon-to-be husband...Rene...yes. She patted Jean-Claude on his own hand in thanks for walking her down the aisle...guiding her more like.

Rene stood in front of the Sanctuary. The Catholic priest centered in front. Jacques, René's told older brother, stood next Rene. Rene was in awe as Toareth walked down on the arm of his Grand-Pere.

Jacques nudged Rene as he leaned in. "Respirer (breathe)."

Rene exhaled slowly and got control of his breathing. He knew it wasn't Toareth's preferred style, but she looked absolutely beautiful in the wedding dress.

The Priest smiled and nodded at Toareth and Jean-Claude as they arrived. He looked out into the crowd of attendees. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join René Rouen and Toareth Darqa in the bond of Holy matrimony." The Priest continued his speech for another minute about the sanctity of marriage. He finally turned to Jean-Claude. "Who presents this woman for marriage."

"I, Jean-Claude Rouen do." He gently placed Toareth's hand into René's hand and stepped back.

As that happened and Toareth was only being held by her betrothed, she stilled her legs and feet. The thought to run was still there but she willed herself no to. That and those shoes proved difficult to walk in, perhaps impossible to run in. In fact, they proved burdensome enough just to stand in. So, much of her effort was spent just to remain upright.

She looked Rene over with just her eyes and smiled at him. He proved the handsomest man she had ever seen making her feel as though the luckiest woman in all the verse. Doubt tried, but failed, in intruding itself upon her mind. This was their day and she was not going to let anything ruin it.

After all the rehearsals, both physical and mental, the order in which things were supposed to happen next completely left her mind and Toareth found herself at a loss. Through her smile, she spoke, "I...am presented..." her eyes went back and forth between Rene and the priest, "...for marriage," and ended her words in a questioningly manner, wondering if she was supposed to say that or not.

The Priest smiled at Toareth and nodded. He looked out over the crowd. "It is my understanding that René and Toareth wish to cite their own vows to one another." He turned first to René.

René turned to Toareth, taking a deep breath as he started to speak. "Toareth, I have loved you since the first moment I saw you. Each day I have felt that love grow stronger. My love for you never wavered even during our time apart. I shall love, support and protect you until the moment of my last breath." He glanced at Gabrielle with a smile. "I vow to do the same for our daughter and any other children that God's Blessing should give us."

The Priest turned to Toareth and nodded.

The vow that Toareth had prepared and rehearsed and rehearsed and memorized had completely disappeared from her mind. "René," she finally forced forth; she had to come up with the rest on the spot. "I have lived numerous human lifetimes. I uprooted and travelled more than half of the galaxy. I have seen and experienced much. Though I have had relationships, some could be called loves, they have all been rendered microscopic when compared to what I feel when I am with you. I did not know it when we first met, but I know it now that I want to remain at your side until death do us part. I have seen many of the stars this verse has to offer but none shine as brightly or is as radiant as the love we share. Our daughter is a symbol of that radiance. And I vow that the rest of my years will be filled with love, support and protection for our family and for what other blessings El-Aur...what other blessings God has in mind." To René, she whispered, "Remember what I said about El-Aurian blessings? It is the same with vows." Aloud for all to hear, "I give you this vow."

The Priest took their hands in his and announced, “By the authority og the Roman Catholic Church and the Republic of France: in the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife!" He glanced at René. "You may kiss the bride."

René, filled with joy, turned to face Toareth and leaned to give her a light, yet loving, kiss that lasted several seconds

Toareth enjoyed his warmth and softness. She could feel that he meant every word of his vow and she kissed him back lovingly.

The Priest motioned for the happy couple to face the congregation and announced. "It is my privilege and honor to present the newly weds René and Toareth Rouen."

The crowd stood and erupted in applause as the priest gave his announcement. Toareth smiled and looked about, waving to people here and there while René greeted his party. She stood there and felt a twinge of loneliness creep back in as she saw she had no family of her own there to witness this day. She also had no friends outside of the Rouen's whom she could have invited. The Rouen's celebrated but there were no Darqa's. She reminder herself, however, that she was now part of the family. As she looked around at the applauding crowd, Toareth caught sight of a familiar face. A man in the back was clapping. His face was unshaven but she knew that, somehow, Lynch got himself in on the celebration. Of course he would leave just as secretly.

René glanced at his parents before turning to shake hands with Jacques, hugging Sabine and finally turning to embrace Toareth.

She smiled and embraced him in return. Pressing her eyes shut forced a few tears down her cheeks. Those were tears of happiness with but a small amount of sorrow mixed in.

"Yay," cheered Gabrielle, "we are pwoperw now."

René hoisted Gabrielle easily in one arm as he took Toareth's hand with his free hand. The couple and their daughter led the small procession back down the aisle. Renè learned and whispered, "How does it feel Mrs. Rouen?"

Toareth waved and smiled at people as she passed them by. "It feels..." she sought the words, "it feels unreal. I..." she looked her husband in the eye, "...I never knew I needed this."

René raised Toareth's hand as the exited the chapel area and kissed her hand. "I knew it was what I wanted from the moment I first kissed you in the turbolift aboard the Stardancer."

Gabrielle was reaching into her pouch and throwing what rose pedals remained. "Mama and Dada are pwoperw now!" she cheered.

René kissed Gabrielle's cheek. "Yes Ladybug. Yes we are."

 

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