<USS Avalon> "Practicing for Real"

 Practicing for Real 

*by Joshua Garrity, Patrick McEntire, Annabelle Chase and Sussanna Jameson 
with a special appearance by Captain Ketchum*

*or by Joshua and Annabelle Garrity, and Patrick and Sussanna McEntire with 
a special appearance by Captain Ketchum*

Mac entered the holodeck and began programming in the parameters of the 
simulation, wondering where the others were. 

Josh finished replacing the wiring for Yeoman Briggs yet again, then frowned 
as yet again it sparked and fizzled. Sighing, he sat back, his frown 
deepening. The antique was definitely beyond repair.

"So...fix it.." Briggs pushed. "I need that, you know. It's got all my 
recipes in it."

Josh looked at her as though she'd lost her mind. Fix it? Had she not seen 
what just happened? He stood and shook his head. "My condolences" he said at 
last, very quietly, as he headed for the door.

"What? What does that mean? Are you not going to fix it?" Briggs grabbed his 
arm desperately, then jerked her hand back as though she'd just grabbed hot 
coals when she felt the muscles tense beneath it. "What am I supposed to do 
about my recipes?"

"I'll salvage what I can..." he told her, sighing. He looked at the 
chronometer on the wall, then groaned, making for the holodeck at a dead 
run.

"Wait" Briggs called after him. "What about my replicator?"

Anna's head swam, her whole body aching, as she approached the holodeck. 
Stopping short of actually going in, she simply stared at the doors, wide 
eyed with butterflies doing acrobatics in her stomach. She closed the 
distance and stepped inside.

"Cold feet already?" Annabelle asked as she dropped down from an overhead 
vent just behind Anna. 

Letting out a yelp, Anna span round to frown at Belle. "No... well... not as 
such..." finally adding, "maybe."

Annabelle smirked. "Didn't mean to scare ya. Was working a few decks away 
and j-tubed my way here." Falling into step next to her friend, she smiled. 
"It's ok to be nervous."

"It's not so much that as feeling kind of claustrophobic, smothered. Like 
there's too many people clamering to be in my life and I don't know how to 
stem the tide. And I have a really ominous feeling that there's going to be 
a sudden influx all at once..." Shrugging, Anna blushed nervously. "And I'm 
babbling."

"You mean us? And Mac's family?" She asked.

"N-not you... But maybe Mac's family... I don't know, I just can't put my 
finger on it but there's definitely something coming." Anna tried to relax 
from her panic.

Josh entered the holodeck, gasping for air, skidding to a halt next to Mac. 

"Hey," Mac laughed. "Bit a hurry?"

"Late..." Josh gasped quietly, looking embarrassed. "... Briggs replicator 
again..."

Mac laughed. "When the hell she gonna let us just replace that damned 
thing?"

Josh shrugged, shaking his head. She didn't have much choice now, he 
figured.

Annabelle put her hand on her friend's shoulder as they got closer to the 
boys. "It'll be ok. We'll help when you need it and give ya space when you 
need that."

"Okay," Anna smiled, feeling a little better as she slipped her hand into 
Mac's. "Hey you."

Mac's eyes lit up when Anna walked in and Josh looked away shyly. Taking her 
hand, Mac grinned. "Hey,you."

"Get a room." Annabelle teased as she walked over and stood next to Josh. 
"Hi."

"Ah yes, the famous 'holding hands' method of intercourse." Anna stuck her 
tongue out.

"Hi," Josh answered quietly, glancing at her then away as he tried to make 
heads or tails of the room they seemed to be standing in. It seemed to be 
very large, with two rows of benches set one behind the other. He approached 
the front of the room curiously, noting the table with the candles set 
behind the flower covered arch which was on a raised area of decking from 
the rest of the room. To the left and right of the arch were more flowers in 
large receptacles, and in the corner, set back was a large rectangular yet 
oddly familiar wooden object on small casters. He approached that object, 
stepping around to note what appeared to be a console there, with a long 
array of black and white keys set out in a predictable pattern. He frowned, 
trying to fathom why it would seem so familiar, and reached out to compress 
a key.

"It's a piano." Annabelle told him as she walked up and stood behind him. 
"It plays music." Reaching around him, she pressed a couple of the keys.

He nodded slightly, as the sound of the keys resounded within his memory. He 
reached out again and played a cord, then began a simple 
tune...slowly...tentatively at first, then, with more assurity as motor 
memory took over where conscious memory failed him.

Annabelle smiled. "I didn't know you played. That's lovely." She listened a 
little while longer then added. "Sounds French."

He shook his head slowly, the confusion clear in his eyes. "I...I didn't 
know either."

"We'll have to get you one of those key strips so you can practice in your 
quarters." Looking around them, she smiled at Mac. "It's beautiful."

"Thanks,"Mac smiled, then noting the disturbed look on his friend's face, 
added quickly. "So, are we running through it as spectators, so Bean can see 
it, or are we gonna practice it ourselves?"

Anna smiled wistfully. "It would be nice to practice, just to see how it 
feels, you know?"

"Just so you promise not to call it off if it's not perfect," Mac laughed. 
"I see you getting all skittish on me." He stepped to her, wrapping his arms 
around her, concerned. "You okay?" he asked gently, holding her close.

"Yeah," Anna said, leaning into him. "I'm not nervous about marrying you, 
I'm nervous about the wedding. Lots of people I don't know plus my father, 
and that's never a bundle of laughs."

Annabelle looked around a little more as she replied. "Could always do it 
here and subspace it to the people at home."

Josh shot her a commiserating glance, being significantly less than fond of 
crowds of any kind himself.

"Yeah, because that would go down so very well with my Dad." Anna flinched 
at the mere thought if it.

"Is it your wedding or your dad's?" Annabelle asked as she sat down in the 
front pew.

"Honey, this doesn't have anything to do with your dad. This is ours. We 
could do it with just the four of us for all I care. Hell, right here right 
now's find with me. Mine at home'd understand." Mac kissed her gently. "This 
doesn't have to be anything more or less than what you want it to be. Okay?" 


"Okay," Anna whispered, knowing they didn't understand and she could never 
explain it. Her father dominated everything he touched, he would never let 
her get away with marrying without him. *Too many fingers in too many
pies,*she thought. He had too many friends in high places to even
contemplate it.

Josh looked at her and frowned. "What's required to do it?" he asked 
quietly. "More than this?"

"This is just the settling sweetheart." Annabelle stood up and walked to the 
front then turn around. "It's the window dressing."

"Friends, family, a priest." Anna suddenly turned to Mac. "We are having a 
catholic priest, right?"

Mac looked at her and shrugged. "Had kind of thought that the Captain might 
marry us. Or Ming."

"We have to marry the Captain too?" Josh looked at Annabelle again, now 
thoroughly confused. He thought they were only marrying each other.

"Oh great," Anna muttered. *Dad's just gonna love that.* "Whatever you want, 
baby." she managed to say with sweetness and light. 

Annabelle bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. "No, 
sweetheart. The Captain, or Ming, or a priest are the ones who help with the 
wedding. They're part of the ritural but we don't marry them."

Mac shook his head, holding his hands up in surrender, "Okay, so you need a 
catholic priest. Do we even have one on the ship?"

"But ...he said...the captain would marry them..." Josh sighed, totally 
baffled now.

Anna hugged herself, wandering off a little from him. "Maybe this was a bad 
idea after all."

"Ok. Lets try this." Annabelle walked up the little steps and called out. 
"Computer produce an image of the Captain wearing Catholic priest robes two 
feet in front of me.

Mac counted to ten before walking over to her and turning her to face him. 
"Sweetheart...I'm as lost as the kid over there now. You said you didn't 
believe...no religion. Why is it so important, now, then?"

"Look, you don't understand how my father operates," Anna said, trying very 
hard to maintain eye contact with him. "He wants everything his way and he 
has a nasty tendancy of getting it in ways you just don't want to think 
about. So, catholic priest keeps him happy and if he's happy, we're all 
happy because he's leaving us the fuck alone." She was shaking a little and 
her voice cracked on the last word. "That bloody old fool can still do this 
to me," she said finally with frustration.

"Only if we let him. I understand that he's a controlling bastard, and that 
somehow I'm supposed to let him control our wedding now or risk losing you." 
He told her, trying hard to stay calm. "The difference is, the bastard 
doesn't scare me." He looked at her earnestly. "Losing you does though." He 
turned and surveyed the room. "I vote we call one of the chaplains, or the 
captain or Ming or whoever's available to legitimately do this and do it 
now. Right now. Before anyone can interfere with it."

"I thought we were showing Josh what a wedding was not really having one." 
Annabelle looked surprised. 

Mac shrugged. "That's entirely up to us." He looked at Anna as though daring 
her to answer. "Isn't it?"

"But.... but...." Anna stared around like a rabbit caught in headlights. 
"There's planning and invites and doves and swans and... frilly hats and... 
and... and yeah, now, to hell with the rest." She grinned, kissing him.

Mac laughed, holding her close and kissing her tenderly. "You can have doves 
and swans and frilly hats if you want'em. Hell, you can even have your daddy 
here. In a frilly hat," he laughed as he nodded to Josh who quickly called 
up the programmer board and added their families, including Anna's 
father...in a large, frilly, pink and purple bonnet.

"He's a mute, right?" Anna said as she stared warily at the red-headed, 
angry little man she called her father. His stormy eyes flashed around but 
he said nothing.

Counting the McEntires, Annabelle had to ask. "Are you sure you're not 
catholic? I'm seeing the rhythm method in use here."

Smiling, Josh adjusted the image of her father, making him abruptly both 
terribly pleased, and completely silent.

Mac laughed. "Actually, my family comes from Mormon stock on one side and 
Catholic on the other. Mom's LDS, Dad's Catholic." Laughing, he added, "I'm 
just damned proud to be here."

"Aren't they going to be disappointed?" Anna asked quietly.

"Nah...they'll just be glad I finally found someone." Mac grinned.

"I had no idea people liked sex that much." She teased as she looked around 
at the crowd. She laughed a little until her eyes settled on a blonde woman 
in the back. "Momma?" She asked softly and then looked over at Josh."

Josh glanced at Annabelle and shrugged. If they were supposed to go through 
with this ritual, she'd want them there it seemed. Wouldn't she?

Annabelle walked over to Josh and threw her arms around his neck.

Mac grinned, as it appeared everyone had decided, then tapped his combadge 
hopefully. "McEntire to Ketchum..."

"Ketchum, here, what can I do for you?"

"Well, sir, we could use someone to officiate for us, if you've got a few 
minutes." Mac grinned. 

"Officiate, what may I ask? We are about to head into the Badlands."

"Yes, sir, I know it. That's sort of why we'd like to do it now, if that's 
alright. We got a couple couples looking to make it official, if you'd do 
the honors." Mac answered.

"Just to be clear, it is a wedding we are talking about, and a couple of 
couples?" He looked around at the people on the bridge, as they were 
listening.

"Yes, sir." Mac answered, his eyes locked on Anna. "Clear on both counts, 
sir."

"Where am I coming to do this, Mr. McEntire?"

"We're all here in holodeck three, sir." Mac responded, smiling. "Whenever 
you get a minute, we'd appreciate it."

"On my way, Lieutenant. Can you send up a list of who is marrying whom to my 
office, so I can get a little prepared. I shall be just a moment."

"Yes, sir. Right away," Mac grinned, wishing he was there to see the 
Captain's face when he saw Garrity's name on that list.

Anna gaped at Mac. "We're really doing this, aren't we?" she whispered as 
she held his gaze, her mouth twitching into a grin.

Mac grinned, trying hard not to laugh. "Yup...we sure the hell are."

Standing, Keith said, "Alder you have the bridge, do not enter the Badlands, 
until my return." He entered his office, changing into his dress uniform and 
grabbing a PADD. Walking to the ramp down to deck two, he wondered why a 
rushed marraige, and not just one.

"Josh. You know this changes things." Annabelle said softly. "It means we'll 
be married, we'll live together, we'll share our lives and everything good 
and bad in them."

Josh looked at her and frowned. Was he really ready to share the bad with 
her? 

Mac interceded quickly, before his friend could back out. "Come on, man. 
It's a promise to love her...to respect her...to take care of her...all shit 
you're gonna want to do anyway, right?"

Josh nodded, though Annabelle's words still confounded him.

Entering the holodeck, Keith made his way to the couples, he finally 
realized who was really getting married, though that didn't cause him to 
stumble or show it visually. Looking dapper in his dress whites, he cleared 
his throat, "Are you ready?"

Annabelle looked at Josh and then at the holoimages of her mother and two 
brothers. "Yes Sir."

Mac grinned. "Hell yeah!" then remembered that his friend didn't have a 
clue, so obviously wouldn't have rings. "Well, wait...hold up one sec." 
Running to the replicator, he returned within seconds, two rings in his 
hand. "Here you go kids...let's do this right.." he grinned, then turned 
back to the Captain. "Okay, sir. Ready."

Nodding, Keith said, "This marriage signifies the birth of a new spirit, a 
spirit which is a part of each of us, yet not of any one of us alone. This 
"birth of spirit" reminds us of spring, the season when all life is reborn 
and looms again."

Turning to Josh and Annabelle, "Do you Annabelle Chase, knowing this man's 
love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from 
them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take 
Joshua Garrity to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do, Sir," Annabelle replied with a bright yet small smile. 

"Do you Joshua Garrity, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, 
realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses 
and helping her to overcome them, take Annabelle Chase to be your lawfully 
wedded wife?"

Josh nodded, only to be nudged in the ribs by Mac. "Say it," Mac whispered 
to him quietly. At Josh's lost look, he laughed. "You have to actually say 
it."

Blushing slightly, Josh cleared his throat and answered in his typically 
quiet tones. "Yes sir" 

Nodding, he turned to Patrick and Sussanna. "Do you Sussanna Catherine 
Jameson, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his 
strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him 
to overcome them, take Patrick James McEntire to be your lawfully wedded 
husband?"

Anna held Mac's hand, her fingers digging in as she said, "I do."

"Do you Patrick James McEntire knowing this woman's love for you and 
returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing 
her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Sussanna Catherine 
Jameson to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Mac answered without hesitation, looking deep into Anna's eyes.

"If you have rings, place them on each others fingers. Let these rings serve 
as locks - not binding you together - but as keys, unlocking the secrets of 
your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together 
forever."

Mac placed Anna's ring on her finger carefully, and smiled brightly as she 
placed one on his.

The small circlet felt cool against Anna's skin but it sent a tingling up 
her fingers. "I love you," she whispered.

Josh looked at the ring in his hand curiously, examining it thoroughly 
before placing it carefully on Annabelle's finger.

Annabelle smiled as she slipped Josh's ring onto his finger. She still 
couldn't believe this was happening. *I'm gonna wake up soon and be really 
pissed off.*

Continuing, Keith said, "Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and 
remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest 
priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection 
deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship - 
as they threaten all relationships at one time or another - remember to 
focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In 
this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun 
in your lives - remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, 
the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the 
quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight."

Pausing a moment, he let it all sink in.

Looking at Josh and Annabelle, "I now pronounce you husband and wife", 
turning to Patrick and Sussanna, "and husband and wife."

"You may kiss your brides."

Josh listened carefully to the Captain's admonitions, slowly coming to 
understand the point of this confusing ritual. Smiling at last, he drew 
Annabelle to him, and gently kissed his bride.

Mac drew Anna quickly to him and kissed her deeply. When at last he pulled 
away, he grinned down and whispered, "I love you, Mrs. McEntire."

"Congratulations, now, I have Badlands to enter. If you will excuse me."

"I love you too," Anna said as she weighed the name in her mind. She turned 
to the Captain, blushing. "Thank you, sir."

Josh nodded, realizing that meant he needed to go to make the final 
preparations for his shuttle.

"Thank you, sir," Mac said with a smile, extending his hand.

Shaking Mac's hand, "No problem." Walking away from them, "Exit". He 
returned to his quarters to change back into his duty uniform and get back 
to the bridge.

Annabelle refused to let go of him. "Oh no you don't. Your mine for a little 
longer mister." She smiled at him.

Josh looked at her, baffled. "I thought....I'm yours permanently now, I 
thought...right?" He looked to the others to see if he'd somehow 
misunderstood. Always possible, he knew, with Standard.

Annabelle laughed. "Yes you are, but after the wedding there's another 
ritural called the honeymoon." She blushed.

Josh looked at her as if she'd just sprouted a third eye. "Honeymoon? You 
mean there's more?"

"Yeah but it's just for you and me." Annabelle told him and then whispered 
in his ear, explaining a honeymoon.

"Yeah, Mac, a honeymoon," Anna said significantly, eyeing the door.

Josh's eyes went wide as he turned a bright red. "But...we already did 
that..." he protested quietly.

Annabelle laughed. "Yes and now we get to do it whenever we want."

Mac began quietly leading Anna toward the door, grinning. "We'll just let 
them sort this out on their own," he winked.

"Good idea," Anna said, kissing him deeply, dragging him out and back to 
their quarters.

"Take me home, Josh." Annabelle said softly. 

Taking her hand in his, Josh led her silently home.

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