A YEAR IN THE LIFE
Part 3: July

^Measure...
 Measure your life in love...
 Seasons of love...
 Seasons of love...^

*

"Doc, I need to ask you a question." Tom hesitantly said as he walked up to
the Doctor, who was organizing various medical supplies in the back room. 

"I'm still going to be photographing the wedding tomorrow, whether you want me
to or not." he replied, brushing past him to go into his office.

Tom smiled, but shook his head. "It's not about that." 

"Then what is it?" the Doctor asked as he took a seat at his desk. Tom sat in
a chair facing the Doctor.

He blushed slightly, and took a deep breath before speaking. "It's about...
um... tomorrow night. My wedding night." he started.

"And?"

"I... we... B'Elanna and I... okay, I... I was wondering if... well, tomorrow
*is* the wedding night... and I didn't know if it would be safe or not... but
I needed to know, and I was just wondering if..."

"Are you referring to sexual intercourse, Mr. Paris?" the Doctor interrupted.

Tom blushed, and nodded. "I need to know if it's going to be safe. I mean, I
don't know if that chemical in me is going to go to B'Elanna or not. Will it?"

"Judging by my analysis of the chemical, you may have a honeymoon, Mr. Paris."
the Doctor answered with a smile. Tom blushed, not knowing what to say.

"However, I would advise against having children, because there is a chance of
the chemical being passed on to the fetus." he added.

"I don't think we were planning on children anyways, considering. But thanks
for the good news!" Tom said as he stood up and started out.

"Have a nice night." the Doctor said smugly.

*

"Ready?" Chakotay asked B'Elanna when she arrived just outside of the
holodeck. She had on the standard dress uniform, but her hair was more done up
than usual, it was a bit wavy, and she had a radiant smile.

"It's not like I have much choice." she answered. He handed her a bouquet of
different colored flowers, tied with a ribbon that, she guessed, Chakotay had
provided, due to the Indian print on it.

"Now, honestly, are you ready?" he asked again.

"Honestly, I don't know, Chakotay. Why should I bother with this?" she
replied.

"What do you mean? You love Tom, and he loves you. And if this is about him
dying soon, then I think that your marrying him really shows how much you love
him, that you're willing to marry him despite all that." he explained. 

She looked away from him, closed her eyes, and thought about everything. About
Tom, about how much she truly loved him, about how she didn't know how she
would cope with losing him, and how she knew that she had to be with him. 

She linked her arm through Chakotay's. 

"I'm ready." she whispered. 

The doors parted, and revealed the program that the two of them had agreed on,
Tom's suggestion. They were on a long dock, overlooking the Pacific ocean, at
sunset. 

Harry's clarinet belted out "Here Comes The Bride" as Tom looked up to see
her. The sun set a soft glow on her, and with that one look, he knew exactly
why he was marrying her. 

Chakotay gave her a kiss on the cheek, shook Tom's hand, and took his place in
the crowd gathered to watch. Harry handed the clarinet off to Neelix, and the
Doctor snapped a picture of the couple. 

"I love you." he whispered, almost silently, to B'Elanna.

"I love you, too." she whispered back.

"We have all gathered here today," Janeway started, "to share in the joy of
the marriage between Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres. The two have expressed
their love for one another, and have shown that they are ready for this step
in their journey together. They have taken the liberty of preparing their own
vows for this occasion."

They turned to each other, and held hands, both gazing into one another's
eyes. 

"You have done so much for me, and I know that I have never been able to repay
you for it." B'Elanna began, "You stood by me, no matter what I put you
through, and I promise to do the same for you. No matter what happens to us,
what happens to you or me, we will face it together. I promise to be with you,
through good and bad, for as long as we both shall live."

"Whatever it is you see in me, I'm glad you see it. I don't know what I'd do
without you, B'Elanna. You are my best friend, my love, my life. I am here for
you whenever you need me, and I will always be with you. Not even death will
part us." 

"The rings?" Janeway asked. Naomi stepped forward, decked out in a pale blue
dress, carrying a small pillow with two rings on them. Janeway picked them up,
and handed them to the couple. 

"With this ring, I thee wed." B'Elanna said as she placed the ring on his
finger. 

Tom dropped B'Elanna left hand, and both of his hands grabbed her right. He
slid the ring onto her hand, and repeated the same words. 

"By the power invested in me by Starfleet and the United Federation of
Planets, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Tom took back both of her hands, and leaned down, giving her one of the most
passionate kisses that he had ever given anyone. 

"I love you." he whispered again, wiping a stray tear from his face. 

When they got to the end of the aisle, night had fallen, and the holodeck was
lit up with the shine of billions of stars. The Doctor flashed a picture of
the two of them, kissing, holding hands, or looking at each other with a love
that would, no matter what, never die. 

TO BE CONTINUED

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