The Wedding of Patrick & Kassi Harper

Posted on 241412.02 @ 9:56pm by Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone & General Richard Sharpe & Colonel Patrick Harper

Mission: Non-Plot Log
Location: Highclere Castle, Yorkshire

http://www.annacampbell.com.au/dresses/forever-entwined/eloise
http://www.pinterest.com/kindredspirit75/kassi-stuff/

=*= Kassi's room =*=

Kassi looked at Mel as she lifted up to touch the antique Bajoran earring that adorned her ear once more. The gift that her mother had given her, in a round about way. Usually she was busy tucking hair behind her ear, but considering that was pulled back in a wave of curls to cascade down along her back it hadn't left anything to fidget with there.

"I can't believe I'm doing this..." She said as she looked at herself in the mirror once more and took in the image of her in the soft lace ivory dress. The sequins brought little sparkles of light with every tiny movement. With a glance back over her shoulder to her best friend she sighed softly and tried to ignore the knocks on the door that kept reminding her of what time it was and she knew soon enough Sarah and Panda would burst in to get them moving. "Somethings going to go wrong.. it always does."

"Stop being such a nay sayer. Everything is going to be just fine. You are beautiful, I am beautiful. And you have a very handsome man, marine.. waiting for you at the end of the walk. You are going to walk out there, say your vows and then we get to eat. Because let me tell you, I have been on a diet for this gorgeous dress." Smiling she fixed a curl of Kassi's hair and fixed the headband. Trying not to cry. "You are so beautiful Kassi, now let's go knock them dead" Mel paused. "I did not mean that literally"

"Alright? You are sure you are ready?" Mel handed Kassi her bouquet before picking up her own. "Your father is waiting to walk you down the aisle, and then your Marine is waiting at the end of that aisle. And I promise not to make faces at him.. or *waves her hand* That other male" Kassi would know who she meant, trying to make her smile.

There was a soft tap on the door, then Panda and Sarah came in, wearing their bridesmaid dresses. Panda looked so much older than she was in hers, almost grown up. Sarah, of course, looked radiant in her own dress. “You ready Aunt Kassi?” Panda asked, looking at her with those big brown eyes of hers.

Smirking a little at Mel, she looked to the two other girls and smiled. "I'm ready..." She gave a motion to the door. "I think we've made them wait long enough..."

Ushering out the girls, Mel smiled at Kassi. "See you on the other side." Stepping out to line up so she could take her place in the processional. Taking her hanky she dabbed at her eyes. Not sure if she was more emotional now then at her own wedding. Nodding to the usher, he let them know to start the music and they started down the aisle.

=*= Main Reception Hall =*=

Patrick waited nervously at the head of the aisle, fidgeting in his new dress uniform. For reasons known to no-one, the silver eagles on his shoulders seem to feel heavy at the moment. Standing next to him, wearing his own dress uniform but with 4 silver stars on each shoulder, was his best man – Richard Sharpe. Standing on a small raised platform was the celebrant who would perform the ceremony. The guests were formed in two seating blocks with an aisle down the middle. There were quite a few guests in Starfleet uniforms, either mairne dress or Starfleet dress. Sitting on Kassi’s side were her family and friends, and Admiral Malone, wearing his own dress whites.

“What can be taking her so long? Do you think she changed her mind?” Patrick asked, as he fretted.

“Women are incapable of being on time to anything, let alone their own wedding. She’s doing it for dramatic effect, I’m sure.” Richard muttered. “Relax.”

There was a nod from the doorway, and the music began the traditional march of the bride, with everyone assembled rising to their feet to stare at the doorway.


Following Pandy then Sara, Mel smiled as she walked past Derrick, he looked so handsome in his suit. A polite nod was given to Admiral Malone, a glance to Richard before a soft smile was given to Patrick, the man that held her best friend's heart in his hands. For some reason, she knew that man would cherish what he was given and not bruise her. Turning in her place she looked down the aisle as the bride's song started. Watching her bestie walking down the aisle with her father she glanced to Patrick to see the look on his face.

The perks about going without heels, or shoes was the fact that she was able to be a little more sure-footed... without the cane. And that was what she'd been going for. The arrangement of flowers, red, green and white... was in the grasp of one hand, as her other took her fathers. The Captain, even retired for as long as he was, had still managed to get into his old uniform for this occasion. Slow deep breaths were taken to try and steady the racing of her heart as she looked to Patrick and tried not to nip on her lower lip, her gaze spoke volumes of her feelings for him and it wasn't till her fathers grip tightened a little on her hand that she pulled out of her thoughts and stopped where they were supposed to.

Patrick accepted Kassi’s hand from her father, his face aglow with happiness and joy at both seeing her and being here in this place. They both looked at the celebrant as they indicated that they were ready.

The celebrant smiled. She was an elder Bajoran woman, of perhaps seventy Earth years. She looked at the happy couple, and opened her book;

“We have come here today not only to witness their commitment to each other, but also to wish them well and to share their joy in the new life they now undertake together.”

“We who love, can look at the one we love and say, “I touched his life”, or “I touched her life”, or “I was part of his life, and it is a part of me”. That is a privilege of being a Husband or a Wife: to be oneself, and yet another. That is the strength of marriage; to face the challenges of one with the courage of two.”

She jestured at the couple. “It takes trust to know in your heart that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith to go forward without knowing what the future holds for you both, living your life with love and faith is not a destination, but a journey. Marriage is a time for celebration and a time for renewing bonds of love, loyalty, family and friendship, so important in all our lives; and marriage is, perhaps, the ultimate expression of these bonds.”

“Through Patrick’s and Kassandra’s decision to publicly exchange vows today, confirms their commitment to a marriage that has already taken place in their hearts and minds. That commitment is made public today, before all of you.”

So many things were going though her mind as she listened to the celebrant before them. Her thumb rubbing softly upon Patrick's absentmindedly, after all she couldn't fidget with anything else at the moment without drawing attention to herself. She was doing it... she was actually getting married. She had the job that.... she'd once dreamed about having, and now... she had a man that she loved and that loved her. Even after everything she'd been through and had put him though. Blinking hard and fast to try and blink back her tears as she listened and pondered the spoken words.

Taking out the pretty handkerchief she dabbed at her eyes. She had always known she would get married and have children. But Kassi was so career orientated she was never sure. Seeing her here today in that beautiful gown she could not stop the tears slipping down her cheeks. Glancing over her shoulder to her own husband she remembered when Kassi stood up at her wedding.

The celebrant turned and faced Patrick with a keen stare. "Do you, Patrick Brian Harper take Kassandra Lillian Denterius to be your lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?"

Patrick swallowed, looked at Kassi and smiled, “I do.”

The celebrant turned on Kassi next, with her penetrating stare. "Do you, Kassandra Lillian Denterius take Patrick Brian Harper to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?"

“Yes, yes I do.” Kassi replied, her voice cracking a little as her emotions tried to break though with happiness she hadn't felt for a long time, one that he seemed to be able bring her often.

The celebrant turned on the best-man and the Matron of Honour (cus Tammi's chara is married, she can't be a maid!). "The rings, if you please?"

Richard, who had been observing with quiet dignity, removed the ring from his pocket and placed it on the celebrants open book.

Untying the ribbon that held the ring to her bouquet and passed it over to the celebrant to place on the book.

"These rings are the symbol of the vows here taken, circle of roundness, perfect in form. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey together, filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration, grief and joy." The celebrant explained. "Patrick, if you'd be so kind?"

Harper took the ring for Kassi, a plain elegant silver band with writing etched on the inside of the band which simply said "This I promise you". He took Kassi's hand and slipped the ring on her finger. "With this ring, I thee pledge to honour all that I have committed this day, and with this ring, I thee wed."

The celebrant looked to Kassi. "Kassi, if you'd be so kind?"

Watching him, she smiled as she felt the cool silver of the ring contrasting against the warmth of her finger and smiled, it was either that or cry, and she was trying really hard not to do that. As fingers took the other ring, she brought her gaze to his. “With this ring...” She said softly as she started to slide the ring on him, the entched words of 'This I promise you' hidden between the silver band and his finger. “I thee pledge... to honor all that I have committed this day. And with this ring... I thee wed.”

"By the powers granted me by the United Federation of Planets, in accordance with the marriage traditions of our peoples, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss one another."

Patrick didn't need to be told twice, and leaned in and kissed Kassi on the lips with all the love he could force himself to give.

She returned that kiss, timidly at first before, as her gaze held his. Taking in the softness, the love he had for her and letting him see the love and depth of her feelings. After a moment she melted a little to him. Those demons fighting within her mind, yet the love and safety worked well to keep her calm.

"Presenting, for the first time in public, Colonel and Misses Patrick Harper." The celebrant announced.

She clapped her hands and dabbed her eyes again trying not to cry. "Congratulations!"

All the assembled guests rose to their feet and clapped as Patrick and Kassi turned to face them and walk back down the aisle as man and wife. No one had noticed that Richard had managed to slip away from the proceedings happening, it was his house after all, and he knew all the passageways and whatnot to get around unseen. As the newlyweds walked back down the aisle, the guests threw confetti over them, little bits clinging to the dress and the marine dress uniform.

As the couple stepped outside, there were eight marines – all in their dress uniforms – forming a pathway, one either side. At the head of the column was Sharpe, now wearing his dress cap. All the marines had their dress swords drawn, and as Patrick and Kassi appeared – arm in arm – Richard snapped his heels together. “Detail, atteeenhut!” The marines all snapped to attention, and their swords, which had been at rest beside them, came up to parade rest.

“Present…” The swords came up and the marines held the hilt by their face.

“…Swords” The swords came up to form a crescent above the pathway they had created.

Her gaze widened with the action before her and she couldn't help but to feel a shiver run down her... Not in fear, but in awe. As much time as she'd come to spend with the Marines around, formal ceremony’s were not something she was often given the chance to see. And now, this one.... was for them. A glance was given over to Patrick before looking back before them, her grip tightening to his hand some as she walked with him once more and willed herself not to cry.

As they walked through, the marines behind them dropped their swords to parade attention until they reached the last marines, Sharpe being one of the last marines, and they dropped their swords to block the path of the bride and groom. Once they’d stopped, Sharpe and the marine opposite moved their swords back, and then Sharpe spoke to them.

“Welcome to the marine corps.” He said to Kassi, letting her know that by marrying a marine – she was now an honorary marine , and marines looked after their own like family.

Blues were misted as she looked at Richard, and though she pondered teasing him back with the fact that Starfleet was still better. For some reason, this just didn't seem like the time to do that and with everything that had gone on, everything she knew... it was kind of good to be part of something more then just Fleet. It also wasn't the time, she knew, to hug the man for everything he'd done for her. “Thank you...” She said softly with a beaming smile upon her face.

As they moved forward again, Richard moved his sword quickly to give Kassi a gently pat on the backside. “Go marine corps!” He teased, in the traditional playful banter that had surrounded the ceremony for centuries.

“Detail… order arms!” Sharpe barked, and the swords dropped down to their sides. “Return…” The swords were brought up to put into their sheathes, but not quite returned. “…Swords!” The last order had all marines slide their swords into their scabbards in one movement.

“Sergeant of the detail… take post!” Sharpe ordered.

“Detail… left face!” A grizzled looking Gunnery Sergeant snapped, taking charge of the seven marines. As one, they all turned to face left. “Detail, dismiss!”

Sharpe fell out of the detail and walked over, removing his cap as he approached the couple. “Congratulations, the both of you.”

Stepping closer to Sharpe, she wrapped her arms around Richard and hugged him tight, softly whispering to him. “This day wouldn't have happened without you, thank you for making it special.”

“You’re welcome Kassi.” He hugged her back, then let her go. “Now, I’ve arranged for you and Patrick to borrow my runabout, the Chloe, so you can go on your honeymoon. Malone reluctantly gave you a week’s leave for it, so you’ll have to join us in the Gamma Quadrant once you two are done fornicating. She’s a fast little ship, which you should recognise as the ship Towers used to rescue you from the Cardassians. She’s got a cloak, but I don’t think you’ll need that. Malone says that you can use your admiral stars to get a piggy-back ride from any starships heading in that direction if you want to go faster than warp 8.”

Hearing that, a fleeting thought that she wasn't so sure she wanted to be on that ship again. Though, this time she'd be able to put some good memories into it and she couldn't help but to blush as a bit of nervousness caught her again with that idea. “We'll make sure to be there and not get.... lost.. or be late. After all I wouldn't want to get the Colonel in trouble." She teased.

“No, you would not.” Sharpe replied. “I hear his commanding officer is a right bastard."

Kassi just chuckled softly. "So I've heard" Peeking around, she spotted the one she was looking for. With a glance to back to Richard a moment... she tossed her bouquet over to Sarah with a wink before looking back to Patrick. "We should get going..." Having no doubt that Richard would know the myth of an unmarried woman catching the bundle of flowers.
Richard narrowed his eyes at Kassi, "You - did that on purpose."

"Now would I do something like that..." She said with a smile to Richard, as she took the cane from Mel with a soft word of thanks to her friend. "See you all in a week."

Sharpe muttered as everyone waved as the bride and groom stepped onto the runabout together, turned, waved at everyone, then the doors closed and the craft ascended leaving everyone behind.

= END =

FAdm. Kerry Malone

Gen. Richard Sharpe

RAdm. Kassi Harper

Col. Patrick Harper
(NPC by Frankie)

Amelia
(NPC by Tammi)