<USS Avalon> "The One You Know"

The One You Know
Anthony Manson, Alder Shimbrodus,
and Elissabeth Marksbury
 
 
The reception was supposed to be small. Not too big. It was a fair trade off. 
In exchange for a lavish Denevan dinner, Alder agreed to a small reception. But 
Risa isn't known for keeping things quiet. And before Anthony could blink 
twice, he found himself amidst a crowd of strangers that were probably looking 
for food, drinks, or a good time, or all of the above. Half of them were from 
the Avalon, the other half natives and vacationers. 

But it didn't matter. Anthony liked it, strangely. He didn't mind watching 
Alder dance away with a Risan and then suddenly find him in a middle of a 
conversation with a few people. But he couldn't get out of these things 
himself, and Anthony let his social insecurities go as best as he could as he 
mingled. 

It didn't take long as Anthony bumped into someone behind him. He turned, and 
was face to face with Elissabeth, a smile on her face as she instinctively 
hugged him.

"Feeling a little crowded, isn't it?"  
 
He agreed, but instead said, "Actually, I don't mind it so much right now. 
Where's Quinn?"
 
Smiling at the name, she replied, "He's here.  Believe it or not, I was looking 
for you when you bumped into me.  You owe me a dance."  
 
Anthony skipped a beat, "Dance? Now, Elissabeth..." 
 
She smirked.  "Don't say you can't, I saw Alder wrestle you out there earlier." 
 
 
He just shook his head, "That was different... I don't... dance. He's lucky he 
even got me to dance." 
 
"And so am I," she smiled,  pulling Anthony onto the floor as a slow song 
started.  "Don't worry, I won't hold you close enough to make Alder jealous."  
 
"It's not the jealous part I'm worried about, it's the laughter I'll get for 
tripping on my ass," Anthony whispered as the crowd had taken cue to the song, 
pairing up with others. He placed his hand on the side of her waist and the 
other taking her hand. 
 
She smiled and tried not to wince when he stepped on her toe immediately.  
"It's okay.  Don't think about stepping.  Really," she said, wondering when her 
toe would quit throbbing.  "Just sway lightly to the music.  Like that.  
There."  Silence descended as they got the hang of moving together.  "I'm 
thinking I should've taught you this before the wedding."  
 
"Don't bother, Alder's toe still hurts every now and then," Anthony said with 
dry humor. He was adapting to the dance, but it was taking longer than he had 
patience for. Reminding himself this was Alder's and his wedding, and the dance 
was a must, he kept with it. 
 
"Tell me what it feels like," Elissabeth said, almost dreamily.  
 
"What feels like?" Anthony asked.
 
"To be married, to know that someone will always be there for you... to be that 
much in love.  I was amazed at watching the two of you together.  It fit."  <
 
"You know how you look at Bryce? That sort of comfortable feeling you have 
where you can open yourself up and it doesn't matter what anyone says. It's 
just you and him, and that's all that you ask for? Well... that's Alder and I. 
You can one day love him so much, you don't know what to do, or get angry so 
fast, and forgive him just as quickly. When you get that sort of feeling, 
Elissabeth, you're in love."  Anthony started laughing lightly, "Now, I dunno 
about marriage. Alder just asked one day and... I agreed. It felt... right." 
 
"I like it when it feels right," she said, looking over Anthony's shoulder to 
find Bryce watching her.  She smiled at him, knowing he would wait.  "And so, 
when is it time to do this toast thing to you and Alder?"  
 
"I don't know. Whenever I suppose, hopefully not too late where everyone's 
passed out on the floor. And you're smiling more than you ever do." 
 
"I am, aren't I?  I've never met someone so... someone that just fit before.  
And I adore the feeling."  The song ended and she gave Anthony a hug once more. 
 "Alright, I'm gonna get this over with before I lose my nerve.  And you'll 
appreciate me - it's short and sweet."  
 
Anthony just nodded as he looked at Elissabeth weave through the crowd. And 
then he lost her, she moved somewhere, and instead of trying to look on his 
tiptoes, he just waited. 
 
Elissabeth stepped onto the stage after being handed a glass of wine.  She 
stood still for a moment, looking expectantly to the crowd until she had their 
attention.  Smiling, she started to speak and one of the band members placed a 
microphone in front of her which startled her with the amplification and she 
laughed.  "I'm not used to needing that."  People chuckled.  Sobering, she 
began, "It has been a beautiful day to celebrate this happiness with our 
friends."  Holding up her glass, Elissabeth annouced, "A toast.  To Anthony and 
Alder Shimbrodus, may you live in love."  Words were murmured in return as the 
rest of the crowd followed suit.  After a quick drink, she stepped off the 
stage. 
 
The "congrats" flew in by the several dozen as Alder weaved his way through, 
smiling, thanking, and moving along in a repeating pattern. He caught up to 
Elissabeth, standing by herself as she looked around for someone. He wasn't too 
sure who, maybe Quinn. Alder nudged her. She looked at him and Alder smiled, 
"You're in my way of the cheesecake." 
 
"Oh, by all means," she gestured, stepping out of the way.  "I heard Emeril 
outdid himself with the triple layer."  Then winking at him, Elissabeth added, 
"When reading up on this wedding stuff, I found out that it's an old custom to 
smoosh cake in your partners face."  She was biting her lip to keep from 
laughing, "But you didn't hear that from me."  
 
"Really?" Alder said with perked eyebrows, "I've never heard. I wonder if..." 
he looked around trying to find Anthony. "Where is he?" Alder had a grin 
forming from ear to ear. 
 
Tiptoeing, Elissabeth looked around and finally spotted Anthony.  "There," she 
pointed.  "If you tell him that you heard that from me..."  
 
Alder looked at her with a smile, "From who..." motioning with his head, they 
weaved through the crowd as Alder made sure the slice of cheesecake survived 
the ordeal of elbow bumping humanoids. 
 
Elissabeth watched the exchange between Alder and Anthony at a distance as 
Alder made to offer his partner a bite of the cheesecake.  She nearly cringed 
as Anthony took the bait and opened his mouth for Alder to... smear it over his 
lips and nose.  She laughed at the look of shock on Anthony's face and then the 
resignation as he grabbed Alder and kissed him, leaving them both a mess.
 
There was a distant humming sound as Anthony and Alder laughed. He took some of 
the cheesecake off Alder's nose when he saw a skimmer pull up on the driveway. 
Anthony motioned at the skimmer as the newlyweds came by Elissabeth first, 
"We're gonna go. You have a good time." Anthony gave her a hug, managing to 
avoid any of the cake on her clothing. 
 
Elissabeth watched them leave, a satisfied smile on her face.  I want that, she 
thought, as she felt Bryce slip his arms around her.


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