Portions of this story contain copyrighted characters from other authors. The characters from the following stories are used with permission: A New Day Dawns © GunRunner; One Door Closes, Frontier, Camp Little Eagle and A New Door Opens © MultiMapper; Sentenced to Life © JeffP; Sa'ren, Gallifrey and Silver Dragon © Ilúvantír; Memories: Down Under © Boi From Aus; Jigsaw, Be Careful What You Ask For... and Origins © D&B Ark and Falling © Akeentia; The Unit and Camp Bam Bam © Roland; and Out Of The Past © DarkStar. The following characters are used with permission: Mark Owens © Slash; Johnny Carter © ND from his story Nick and Ashley.
All characters and references to STAR TREK are © Paramount Pictures Corporation. Since I'm not making a profit from this story, I believe that it is okay to use the characters in this story.
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Any celebrities portrayed in this story are used fictitiously and have no resemblance to the personalities or preferences carrying the same name. This story is set in an alternate reality, and in no way, shape, or form reflects any events or interactions which may have or ever will happen in the real world.
THIS STORY IS COPYRIGHT © 2002-2011 BY ACFAN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DISTRIBUTION FOR COMMERCIAL GAIN, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, POSTING ON SITES OR NEWSGROUPS, DISTRIBUTION AS PARTS OR IN BOOK FORM (EITHER AS A WHOLE OR PART OF A COMPILATION) WITH OR WITHOUT A FEE, OR DISTRIBUTION ON CD, DVD, OR ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC MEDIA WITH OR WITHOUT A FEE, IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S WRITTEN CONSENT. YOU MAY DOWNLOAD ONE (1) COPY OF THIS STORY FOR PERSONAL USE; ANY AND ALL COMMERCIAL USE EXCEPTING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS REQUIRES THE AUTHORS WRITTEN CONSENT. THE AUTHOR MAY BE CONTACTED AT: acfan@cornercafe.us
Author's note:
It is very important that you read my notes at the end of the chapter -- otherwise you might make a few misconceptions!
AC
Hello everyone!
It's been a really rough few days for my little brothers; there are grown men Up Here that are wondering how they made it though this so far. Their Love has put the Book Of Life in turmoil, yet Our Father is pleased with the resilience they have shown through their latest trials. I know of the plans Cory and Sean have decided on, and while their timing would seem off it actually is the one thing needed to pull the huge family they have assembled back together. The Ark has declared the start of a new cycle of humanity; with this action they will set the tone of the cycle which shall endure through the ages. With all the powers that Our Father has gifted me with, I hereby Bless Cycle Five, known as 'Escaping Darkness', and those who have brought about the dedication of the new cycle.
On a more personal note, I'll say outright that my little brothers have all made me proud. Levi just left here, you should have seen him joking around with some of my friends after introducing his new brothers to everyone! This is the first time in a very long time that non-Angels have been regular visitors in Heaven; Kyle's family are quickly showing that they have earned the right to interact with those of us Up High. I'll say it again, I love all of my brothers, and I think you will appreciate the significance of what Cory and Sean are about to do.
Enjoy the next segment, and may you receive all of the Blessings that Our Father can bestow upon you.
Mikey
"What have you got planned this time, Blondie?" Justy giggled from his seat next to Adam and JJ.
Cory looked over at the trio. "Something that Sean and I should have done as soon as it became an option for us." He paused as he looked around the room, scanning the faces watching expectantly. "Y'all look to us as examples; by trying to make sure we did not screw up, we've ignored doing the one thing that our own kids need. Sean and I have our own little family, a family that came close to losing more than one member over the last few days. Sean and I have committed to each other in words more times than anyone but Ark can count, yet we have not taken the final step to prove to our kids that we really BOTH plan on being there for them forever. Since waiting on the right time to do it seems to be backfiring and causing it not to happen, we've decided that we are making now the right time. Tomorrow we're going to prove that those who were injured or killed over the weekend did not do it in vain; tomorrow we set the example for everyone here to follow. Tomorrow Sean and I are going to commit ourselves to each other for life. Tomorrow we WILL be joined under Socius."
Cheers met Cory's speech, and he and Sean suddenly found themselves pounced by everyone.
Riti, flapping above them, asked, "Socius is a Bonding, isn't it?"
"Yeah, Reet," Justy called out from within the mound of bodies pressed around the giggling Cory and Sean.
"Sweet! I gotta tell Grandma!" and so saying, he swooped out of the room in search of Queen Elizabeth.
Teri watched him go, and had a sudden premonition... this was not going to be a ceremony as quiet as Kyle and Tyler's had been.
Sean giggled from the bottom of the pile. "Hey guys, Cory and I can't enjoy our honeymoon if you squash us and put us in body casts!"
"Like a little thing like a body cast would stop you two!" JJ giggled as he helped Sean and Cory out of the pile. "Congrats bros! I think you gave us just enough time to set it up for you!"
Cory shook his head with a grin. "You don't need to do that bro; just something simple is all we need to prove our love for each other."
"I don't think," Riti called out as he flapped back into the room and swooped into Cory's arms, "that 'something simple' is going to fly! Grandma is on the Comm to my bros and she's got... plans..." The winged boy was suddenly reduced to giggles, which only increased as both Cory and his soon to be husband started tickling him.
"I had better go help... to make sure it stays under control." Teri announced with a gleam in her eyes.
"We'll help too!" Eli and Benji announced as they lifted themselves and Teri above the crowd and proceeded to 'fly' to join the Queen.
"Something tells me that we have no say in what it's gonna be like!" Sean giggled as he nodded towards where Dylan and Bryce were having an excited conversation with Cyna's hologram. "If those two are anything like their brother, anything is possible!"
The sound of transporter beams made everyone turn around. Ten beams resolved and out of them came Jason and the other Dragon Division members.
"Correct, Uncle Sean!" Oliver crowed out. "You and Uncle Cory have NO say..."
"Other than 'I Do' once it's time!" Nathan giggled.
Cory rolled his eyes. "C'mon guys; it's special for me and Sean, but you guys don't need to make it a big production."
"Not a production," Riti said as he flew from Cory's arms towards his girlfriend. "You guys are special to your Clan; more so than to us, even if we did fall in love with you all while watching over you. We just want it to be the bestest day ever for ya!"
"Agreed!" Victoria added before giving Riti a serious kiss.
"Get a room!" Korris growled playfully.
Telez raised an eyebrow in a very Vulcan fashion, "Why should they? You and Chang 'Finding each others tonsils' all afternoon was well in the open!"
"And redundant, as Klingons HAVE no tonsils!" Antony added.
"Bite me! Both of you!" Korris retorted, darkening up as he blushed.
"I thought that was Chang's job!" JJ giggled.
Koth bounded over to his big brother, pounced into his arms, and quickly pulled down the neck of his robe. "Chang already did! See??"
There, now revealed on Korris' neck, was a stunning love bite.
"I thought that was Brandar's job!" C.J. giggled.
"Naw, I don't leave marks THAT big!" Brandar yelled across the room with a grin.
"Besides," Korris managed to say through his embarrassment as he fought with his kid brother to get his love-bite covered, "I've nothing to fear from Brandar; I think my blood'll make him rather sick!"
"I could always spit instead of swallowing!" Brandar yelled back.
"I would say something," Telez said calmly and formally, "but my Zan'Fi Na might take me to task for doing so."
"Too bloody right, sweetheart!" Antony retorted.
"Bloody? I don't think I want to know!" Sean groaned.
"Nice change of topic guys; I don't think you're getting out of explaining why neither of us has any say in how it's gonna happen!" Cory giggled.
Jason smiled, then gestured. Cory and Sean rose up into the air by two feet. "Those of you who love these boys, and would do anything for them, and want them to have the best, most beautiful wedding that they can have, just concentrate on your love for them. Your emotions will be picked up by my sis, and you'll find yourself floating with them. One by one, you shall get to hug your 'big brothers' and tell them in YOUR own words what they mean to you."
Jason was not even half way through speaking yet many Clan members found themselves floating up and, one by one, moving to the now gob smacked duo who could do next to nothing other than receive and accept the love and affection being poured out to them.
"Deal with it, my brothers. You're special, and you're gonna get a special day tomorrow!" Jason called out as he, Nathan and Victoria stood there with their eyes blazing in power.
"We have decided," came a commanding voice from the doorway once the last of the Clan had finished hugging the floating pair, "that the teenagers known as Cory and Sean Short shall, from this moment forth and until they stand before us all to commit themselves to each other in marriage, keep their cute noses out of what is being prepared for them. This is by order of The House of Windsor and the House of Surak."
"Agreed," added Sarek, standing next to Queen Elizabeth with Amanda at his side.
"Well, okay then," Cory conceded reluctantly. "Just one last question, though."
"Make it quick, child. I don't have forever, unlike some in the room," the Queen chuckled.
"Can Jace PLEASE make us stop floating now??" both Sean and Cory whined.
Jason sniggered as he lowered both boys down towards them. "Come 'ere, bros! Your Dragon Brothers..."
"And sister!" Victoria put in, digging Jason in the ribs.
"And sister... damn, Viccy; that hurt!... we want to hug ya too!" Jason finished as they all pulled the Short boys into a mass hug.
"Timmy?" Oliver called out.
"Yeah bro?" Timmy responded as he and Ricky ran in, pouncing Sean and Cory and knocking them into the chair behind them.
"We all need to keep your daddies out of the way while we plan their doom... I mean, their marriage..." Oliver giggled. "Can you and your bros keep them out of the way? You know, take it in turns so you guys get to help us out too?"
"We's already been plannin' it!" Ricky giggled. "Austin's got first shift while Granma Lizzy takes me an' Timmy out to pick up some stuff."
"Wicked!" Oliver bubbled, "Can I help you too?"
"Uncle Jace?" Timmy asked with puppy-dog eyes. "Can Ollie come too? Pweeeeeeeezzzeee???"
Jason tensed up slightly as he struggled with his memories. "Ah... who's going with you, Timmy?"
Timmy smiled. "The girl kitty kids, Granma Lizzie, an Granma Teri!"
Jason looked around and saw Aphrodite and Artemus waving at him. He relaxed and nodded at the boys before him, "Sure, Timmy. He can join you."
"KEWL!" Timmy exclaimed. "C'mon Granmas! We gotta make it sp'cial for Daddy and Poppa!" He grabbed Ricky with one hand and Ollie with the other, and ran off with them.
Iori looked with resignation at Duke and William, and the others in the room would have sworn on oath that all three eagles shrugged before flapping out after their Guides.
"Poor birds." Cory giggled as he saw Austin, Leo, and Conner making their way through the crowd. "Here we go Sean; looks like the babysitting is about to begin...."
"You got that right, Dad." Austin giggled as he joined them. "Let's go; you have a tee time in five minutes with me and your grandsons."
"Have fun," Jason called after them as they made their way out of the Rec Room. "Remember, if you don't behave, Austin will send you to bed without your cup of cocoa!"
"Bite me, Jace!" both yelled back as the door closed behind them.
"Well you guys about ready to go?" I asked as I looked over at 'my' boys. Sammy, Kartik and Vishnu looked up at me and nodded.
I turned to Meredith Evans, Jason's grandmother, and said, "Well, if you could arrange transport we'll follow your lot back to Orlando; and thank you for a wonderful meal as well as pleasant company for the evening."
"Our pleasure, Mike, it's been quite nice meeting you and your boys," she replied as all three of my boys stood up and gave her hugs before coming to stand by me so we could be transported out.
"Bye everyone," Sammy called to the Dragon kids around the room as Meredith said, "Draco, if you would be so kind?"
"Energizing, and seeya laters, SamSam!" Draco replied.
"Pip, Pip; Cheerio!" Sammy giggled, in a really bad British accent, making me wince.
"Ha Ha... the Clan Swimming pool, wasn't it, Grandma Mere?" I heard Draco ask as the shimmer of a transporter engulfed us. When it faded we were in the rec room of the Orlando Compound.
I could see Jason and the rest of his family there along with others and could tell something was going on but no one seemed disturbed so it must not be bad.
Looking at Sammy I could see him looking around as well and suddenly watched as his face clouded up and he muttered, "Married, you've got to be kidding me!"
"What's going on munchkin?" I asked concerned with the look on his face as I pulled him into my arms.
Vish and KT had odd looks on their faces as well.
Jace quickly walked over and said, "Sammy, it's alright, bro."
"No it's not," he replied as I asked, "What's going on and why's he upset?"
"They're gonna go and get married, dad; the day before the funeral and after everything that's happened, they're gonna go and get married!" he replied and I could feel his hurt and anger as he said it.
"Come over here, guys," Jace said softly as Nath' and Viccy came up alongside him and all led us to a nearby couch where we sat down.
"Someone want to tell me who exactly is getting married?" I asked.
"Cory and Sean," Nathan said as I just looked at him.
"Why would they do something like that?" Sammy asked before I could say anything.
"Cause their family need it, bro" Jason replied softly.
Sammy was shaking his head as Viccy said, "After everything, it's more than needed."
"It's wrong," Sammy replied as Vish added, "It dishonors those who have fallen for them!"
I could tell Vish and KT were equally unhappy in hearing this and at first it did seem that way but I also understood something they didn't.
"There is no dishonor," Jace said softly as he tried to get across to them what it was really about.
"Do you know how many of our family died Saturday and this is the way they act?" Vish asked with a low growl coming from deep within him.
I moved an arm out and hugged him but he wasn't looking to calm down that was clear.
"They could at least wait until after the funeral a bit, dad," Sammy said looking up at me with that hurt confused expression on his face.
"Why?" he finally asked me.
"SamSam..." Viccy started but I interrupted her politely, "Sam, listen to me please."
He just looked at me for a moment as I looked between him and his brothers finally getting reluctant nods from all of them.
"I know it seems not only bad timing but disrespectful as well but I think there's a reason for it. With everything that has happened, with all the people who have died this is a way to show them going on and that their love is true. It's a way to start the healing for everyone. What is more important than anything right now?" I stopped looking between them before continuing "It's to show their love for each other and most importantly for their family. Sammy you know how much Sean and Cory care for one another and while it may seem odd that two such young boys could even get married let alone would can you think of anything in the world that is more right for them and their family?"
He didn't want to but finally said, "No, I guess not, they really love each other but..."
"But," I interrupted, "The timing seems to suck?"
"Yeah," he mumbled.
"You know people who face death often have a need to connect after. This is most often with soldiers who living through a battle play like rabbits as soon as they can but there are other ways too. This whole family is hurting guys, especially Sean and Cory. Do you all know what marriage signifies or is supposed to?" I asked.
"Our lessons taught it was so that a man and woman could reproduce and nurture any resultant offspring in a legal binding relationship," KT said into the silence that greeted my question.
"Yes, in its base form that's true although not limited to just a man and woman; but it is also supposed to mean so much more as well. It's about a commitment between two people to love one another for all time. It's also a pledge to have and raise any children they may have together and be there for them no matter what. It's the physical representation of their love and those commitments," I told them.
"And it's more than just for each other that they are doing this," Jace added as he gripped Sammy's hand tightly.
"Yes exactly, Jason. Boys it's about going on and being there for each other and more importantly for all the kids as well after everything that has happened. I'm sure they would have gotten married anyway but I think it's happening now not in spite of what happened but because of what happened. You all know what it's been like for us since Saturday and how hard it's been. Well Sammy you surely have been able to feel what these kids here have felt during this time. How insecure and worried they've been? Think about what happened when Pablo showed up? He was just a kid and did you see how everyone jumped?"
"Yeah," Sammy said and I knew he remembered what had happened...
We were sitting around just holding one another when Teri walked in and asked, "So how's everything going?"
"Better now," Sammy replied grinning as he turned and smiled at me.
"I bet, I'd say you're much happier now that you got your whole family back," she replied.
"Uh huh, I thought I'd be alone," he muttered.
"Never happen bro," a voice said gently and we all looked up with Sammy gasping in shock to see Pablo walk towards us openly.
Teri looked at him in surprise and asked, "Another kid?"
Just as suddenly JJ was there with a phaser in his hand demanding, "Who are you and how did you get in here?"
Everyone in the room was frozen watching this, fear written plainly on their faces as JJ started to call out, "Ark; issue a security alert, and get a team to the..."
Suddenly Pablo's wings appeared along with a golden glow surrounding him causing Teri and JJ along with several others to gasp in surprise before the glow faded out along with his wings.
"Sorry about that," he said softly and you could feel the entire room sigh in relief as JJ cancelled the security alert.
"Teri, this is Pablo, my first son," I said as Pablo smiled up at Teri and said, "Hi."
"Hi there; you don't happen to know my boy do you?" she asked with a smile.
"Ya could say that," he replied grinning up at her.
"You don't seem surprised?" I asked.
"No. He's not the first angel I've seen," she said.
"You remember Mikey, papa?" Pablo asked me.
"Yes," I replied.
"Well, that's her son," he said.
"You've met my firstborn then?" she asked.
"Yes I did briefly yesterday," I told her.
"He let me help Papa and my family," Pablo said.
"Mikey?" Sammy asked.
"Yeah, you haven't met him yet, kiddo, but he's an angel, kind of like Pablo," I replied.
"Nah, he's boring, nothing like me," Pablo retorted, grinning with that impish grin of his as giggles erupted around us.
"God help Heaven and him, then," I said as he replied, "Hey!"
"So, I think that it's to reassure those kids and show not only their love for one another but for all the kids especially their own. I think if you look at it you'll see why it's so important that it does happen now and not later. These kids need this to go on and know for sure that they're loved and cared for. And yes before you say it they do but right now Sean and Cory doing this shows them in a way that nothing else could," I said as they looked at me and I could tell they were thinking hard about it.
I continued, "Vish, KT think about something else too. Those people attacked us and part of that reason was to destroy Cory, Sean and his family but not only that but what that family represents. So many gave their lives to defend not only us but that family as well. What more fitting tribute could there be than making that family official and showing the world their love and that the fire wasn't quenched by what they tried to do?" I asked looking especially at my two newest babies.
"What more fitting tribute for your family could there be than having a ceremony that celebrates life and love along with it going on but most importantly shows that your family didn't die in vain?" I asked softly.
"Sammy, feel around you; feel what the others are feeling," Viccy said quietly into the silence before Nathan added, "Feel the love but also feel what hasn't been there, something as much if not more important."
I watched as Sammy looked around the room quietly. Jace still held his hand tightly, and Viccy and Nath' reached and linked their hands with them both. At Jason's glance, my two new babies reached and also linked their paws with the others. They all closed their eyes.
Sammy opened his tear filled eyes after a moment to look at me, and they were glowing again. Before, this frightened me, but now, with Jace, Nath' and Viccy sitting there with their own eyes glowing, and knowing more about what my beautiful boy was becoming, I felt at peace about it. Sammy smiled at me before taking a deep shuddering breath and whispering softly, "Hope. It's hope."
Vish murmured, "Peace."
"Safety," KT added, making me smile at the three of them as each expressed the same thing in different ways as they individually felt it.
Viccy, Nathan and Jace were all nodding with gentle smiles on their faces as Vish looked at his brother then back to me, "I guess we need some nice clothes then."
With the glow fading from his eyes, Jason murmured, "For you two, you need my Dragon Ship... only Vulcan's have a hope of making comfy tuxes for G-Cats."
"Seth," Sarek walked into Main CIC and walked up to the teen seated by the nearest console, "I have been made aware while I was in Utah that a number of children have appeared today, all in very mysterious circumstances."
"You could say that, grandfather," Seth smiled as he turned from the viewscreen. "Justy just finished giving me the details for the newest boy. The first group have already been updated. The newest is still not Clan, so I'm entering him in the 'Rescue' section for now."
Sarek nodded and sat next to the teen. "May I be permitted to read the data?"
"Sure," Seth answered, pulling up the relevant files. "This one is for the Farnsworth group, and... here, this one is for Joel Williams. Both have stories that are... well, hard to believe."
"Acknowledged," Sarek said as he began to update himself on his growing family.
C.J. looked at J.J. "What d'we need to do to help get ready?" he asked.
"They said we're using the new Auditorium," J.J. said. "But that's more than you and I and Adam can handle, setting it up for this."
"I'll get the others," C.J. said earnestly, and slipped over to one of the secure terminals. He sent a pulse to Jed's communicator. "C.J. to Jed," he transmitted.
There was a long pause. Then, "Jed, unh, here. What's, unh, up, Ceej?" As he paused, slurping sounds could be heard on the terminal speaker.
"When you and Jared finish, collect Mickey and Raffy and get over here. Cory 'n' Sean are tying the knot, and the guys need our help setting up for it."
"Okay." A grunt. "We'll be right there. Ooooooooh. Um, Jared, we need to get over to C.I.C." Another moan.
"You do realize you're on speaker over here, don't you?" C.J. said through giggles.
"I'm gonna kill you, Ceej!"
Three minutes later, Ark had transported Jed and the three McKendrick boys in.
"Um, Jared, you need to wipe off your chin," Adam said in a stage whisper.
Jared automatically reached up to wipe off his chin before realizing he'd been pranked.
"Okay, we need to get the front area looking like something more than an auditorium stage, something fit for them to get married in," J.J. said as they entered the auditorium.
"Will this help?" Josiah asked as he strolled in from the side. With a gesture, he produced from zero-point energy an enormous roll of red carpet to line the central aisle. C.J. and Raffy jumped behind it and began pushing it slowly down the aisle, unrolling as it went.
In the front, Josiah fabricated a large, beautiful arch of read and white marble, under which was an altar of the same material in front of which they might make their vows. To one side was a polished walnut pulpit; to the other, a series of chairs.
"Hey, what about music?" Jared asked.
J.J. got a devilish grin, pulled out his communicator, and walked away from the others.
"Candles," said Mickey. Josiah cocked an eyebrow at him. "Every wedding I've ever seen, there were lots of candles." Josiah nodded and obliged. Suddenly there were dozens of candle stands, each with up to a dozen large candles on it, flanking the arch and altar.
"What about kneeling cushions?" Adam asked speculatively.
"They're not going to do that during the service?" asked a scandalized Jared.
Mickey laughed. "No, silly, for kneeling for prayers. Know if they'll want 'em?"
"Won't hurt to add some in, in case they want 'em," Josiah said. Two pale gray cushions with the Clan sigil embossed on them in bright green appeared before the altar.
"Hmm, now that I think about it..." Josiah said speculatively. The front of the altar turned into marble dust, and reformed a few seconds later with the Clan sigil in bright green nephrite sunk into the marble.
Levi popped into existence next to Josiah just then, and motioned him down. The older boy bent over, and Levi whispered in his ear.
Suddenly, hanging floor to ceiling against the back wall of the stage area, were two banners of pure silk. To the left, on a muted russet background was the jade-green Clan Short Crest. To the right, on a subdued forest green field stood out the Seal and Crest of the House of Surak, in brilliant crimson, with the IDIC symbol at its center overlaid by the Broken Sword, Sa'ren. Satisfied, Levi nodded his approval and disappeared again.
"That ought to do it," J.J. said as he returned from his comm chat.
"Guys!" Jason called into the Auditorium from the doorway. "I... oh, my, GOD! Wow, this is fan-bloody-tastic!"
"Yeah, Josiah did great work," Jared said happily.
"What's up, Jace? You look like you need something," Adam asked.
Tearing his eyes away from the revamped stage, Jason asked, "Anyone seen Pauly? Calen thinks it would be nice for him to carry the rings tomorrow."
"We haven't," J.J. answered. "Did he go with Aunt Teri and the Queen and the other munchkins?"
"Nope," Jason shook his head, "Just Timmy and Ricky with my Ollie. No worries, I'll find him. I mean, how hard can it be, finding one little boy in a Clan full of... nevermind!" he finished with a laugh before heading back out again.
Faintly, from just outside the door, they could hear Jason calling out, "ARK?? You know where Pauly is?"
<Yes, I do.> came the reply.
A pause.
"And where is that?" Jason eventually asked once he worked out that Ark was just literally answering his question.
<In the Main Kitchen at Teri's house, ready to help Tommy eat the mistakes.>
"Thanks!" Jason called, then muttered, "She could have said right away..."
<Learn to be specific when you ask, Jason; and I am not female!>
"Could have fooled me!" muttered Jason again before moving to far from the door for the boys listening to hear. Not that they could have heard anything else, as they were laughing so hard they were hurting their ribs.
"Where first, Granma Lizzy?" Ricky asked excitedly.
The Queen smiled, "Well, first we have to go to a certain little shop I know very well."
"Where is that, Your Majesty?" Artemus asked politely.
"Harrods of London," came the chuckled reply.
Oliver offered, "I could asked Draco to take us there, Grandma."
Teri picked her jaw up off the floor. "Lizzy. What are you planning?"
"You will see, child," she said mysteriously. She turned as her grandson, Harry, came up to them. "Have you contacted the palace?"
"Yes, and they are getting your orders handed out," he replied. Harry looked down at Oliver, "Lieutenant; do you think a lowly Captain such as myself could tag along?"
"Sure!" Oliver giggled.
Timmy and Ricky clambered up into the Prince's arms and were cuddled on his hips, "Kewl! Come on, Prince! Let's gooo!"
"Draco!" Oliver called out.
'Let me guess! Transport for eight to Brompton Road, London, England?' Draco responded.
"At once," the Queen commanded with another chuckle.
'Transporting; and the Dragon Prince's Guard have been alerted. They shall be with you shortly.'
Seconds later, they all appeared outside of the famous London store, and found that the staff were quickly opening up.
"It is not often they reopen the shop after Closing Time," Harry said quietly to Teri as they were let inside.
She nodded, "I can well imagine. The change in perspective always takes me by surprise, due to the time difference here."
"But the good thing is that at nearly one in the morning, we won't have to queue up!" Oliver giggled.
The floor manager came up to them and nodded politely at the Queen, "Your Majesty; we received your message from the palace. We have placed the calls for our jewelsmiths to come in for a special order. What else is there that we can do for you this evening?"
"First, some tea and refreshments for these young ones, then Teri Short and I will need to have a long talk with you. Also, can you have a capable assistant to take the children around the store, please?" she replied.
"Certainly, I... uh, sorry, Ma'am, but..." the poor man trailed off as his attention shifted to the Lioness and Tigress standing behind Oliver, grinning at him.
"Just assume they are alien, Mr Jennings, and it will be easier for you," Prince Harry chuckled.
"Ahem, okay. Pleased to meet you," he managed to say.
Aphrodite nodded her head and smiled shyly at him, while Artemus giggled.
"Paula!" Mr Jennings called, turning to the few staff that had been running an audit when the Queen's message had arrived.
"Yes sir?" she replied, running over.
"Please see to the refreshments for this party; but before that, I seem to remember you have a few young nephews and nieces?"
"Yes, I do, sir," she said with a smile.
"Good," he said with relief. "I am not good with children; sorry, kids, but I've never had any myself. I wouldn't know what to do to help you, but this young lady will be perfect to help you shop."
"That's okay, sir," Oliver smiled. "I can sense you're not a bad person. We just make you feel uncomfortable."
"Yes," Mr Jennings replied with a small smile. "That is why I work the night shifts. Anyway," he turned to the Queen. "If you will follow me, your Majesty, I will escort you and your party to the Restaurant."
The party followed behind him, Timmy and Ricky looking around in wonder. Oliver giggled, "First time in a shop like this, bros?"
"Uh huh! Daddy'd be flippin' out if he brought us here!" Timmy answered.
Ricky nodded, "Yeah! He'd think we'd break something!"
"Don't worry," Paula laughed. "I'll be showing you guys around, so we'll have fun without that happening."
"Thanks, Auntie Paula!" they both chorused.
After they had all taken their seats, and the three eagles had found a comfy perch on the nearest book shelf, Mr Jennings took the drinks order from the three adults while Paula did the same with the five kids.
"Can we have hot chocolate, Auntie Paula?" Ricky asked, his puppy dog eyes on full bore.
She chuckled and nodded, "Sure, sweetie. What about you, kiddo?"
"Same, please," Oliver nodded, licking his lips.
A loud purr drew her attention to the Tigress, Aphrodite. "Do you have cream?" the twelve year old G-Cat asked eagerly.
"I should have guessed, and yes, we do," Paula laughed. "I'll be right back."
As she walked away, Oliver's communicator went off.
"Ollie here, go ahead, Uncle JJ," he answered.
"Hey Ollie. We're getting the place ready for the wedding, and Jared said we need music. I'm thinking we need something... major... as in MAJOR major."
"I know what you're thinking, Unk! I'll ask Grandma Lizzy and call you back. You will need to get Starfleet in on the link up, though. Can you handle that bit?"
"You bet. Give Timmy a wedgie from me, and chat to ya in a bit!"
"Ollie out!" The eight year old giggled, then glanced evilly at Timmy.
"No way! Help, Granma!!!!" the boy squealed as he ran away from Oliver laughing.
Sarek looked up at Seth. "Can you explain why the date of birth for Joel has a question mark by it?"
Seth rolled over and replied seriously, "Cory said that Joel gave that as his birth date, but we don't know if it is correct or not, going by the fact that he had been a slave all his life. We know the year is right, as Mikey confirmed it, but..."
"However, the child may be in ignorance as to the exact date. I see," Sarek replied as he looked back at the screen. "The mystery around this child is greater than most know. Judging by the video records from this afternoon, that was no ordinary method of transport that brought him here."
"You can say that again, Grandfather," Seth laughed.
"Why do I need to repeat myself, Seth? Was I not surficiently clear the first time?" Sarek asked curiously.
Seth could not respond for laughter.
The party were just outside the restaurant area talking to their respective guides. Mr Jennings was about to lead Teri and the Queen towards the Jewelry section when Oliver ran over.
"Grandma Lizzy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?" she looked down at him.
"JJ sent us a message earlier, and he's after music for the wedding tomorrow. Special music," he said, winking at her.
"Ah. I know exactly what you are asking for, child. I shall handle it," she replied, also winking.
"Thanks Grandma!" he crowed before running back to Timmy and Ricky. The five children then followed Paula off towards the clothing section while Teri turned to Elizabeth.
"What was that about?" she asked curiously.
The Queen chuckled, "You'll find out, Teri." She nodded at Harry, and said one word, "Canterbury."
"On it," Harry chortled as he turned and left the store.
Outside, the Dragon Prince's Guard were standing Watch, and Harry engaged in a brief discussion with a number of them.
Timmy came zooming into the room where Teri was looking over wedding rings and climbed into her arms.
"Granma!!! What's Daddy and Poppa's sizes?? We're getting them real 'posh' suits for tomorrow, an' we wanna get it jus' right!!" he half yelled out.
Laughing, Teri replied, "Tell Oliver to check with Starfleet HQ, Timmy. They have everything on file."
"Cool!!!" he bubbled as he jumped down and ran out, "Thanks, Granma!!"
"Kids," Teri muttered lovingly, before glancing at the Queen, "'Posh'?"
"Oliver," was the Queen's only responce as she tried not to laugh.
Teri shook her head as she chuckled, "Please don't let Ollie and Tommy be with that kid at the same time. The damage to the English language will be beyond repair!"
Half an hour later, Teri muttered, "I know why you want ring sizes, but what else do you have in mind, here?"
The Queen smiled from her chair as she watched the Jewelers work. "Just wait and see, Teri. I am preparing a surprise for you all. That is why my other requests to Mr Jennings have been done quietly."
"I think I'm nervous," Teri groaned.
"So was Angela Evans when I did the same for the Evans children!" Elizabeth laughed.
"Mont? Bast? Where are you?" Hermes bubbled as he came into the Rec Room followed by Mercury. They both stopped dead as they saw the chaos. "Oh, fun fun fun; what's going on, what can we do to help, and where are Mont and Bast?" Hermes bubbled to Justy, who was, by now, grinning openly at them both.
"Well, first, slow down. Second, Cory and Sean have just told us they are tying the knot, and third, your bros are in the kitchen over there. They know that their charges are safe while in the Compound, so they are eating."
That last made the two twin cheetah boys' ears poke up. "Food? Where?? We've not eaten since coming back from our last trip to save this kid who was being abused by his mom, so we're really really hungry and..." Mercury was about to run full tilt into his story when Justy's laugh stopped him.
"Whoah there, bro. Go in there and eat, and leave some air for the rest of us!" he giggled, giving them a brief hug.
Two teeth-filled grins and Cat kisses was his response before the two boys pegged it at an extraordinary pace from one room to the next.
"We're gonna need sedatives in stock with them about," Adam chuckled as he walked past Justy.
Justy sniggered again, "Tell me something I don't know, bro!"
"So, what's our mission, guys? Logan just said we're someone's bodyguards and he didn't know who it was..." Mercury said between mouthfulls of meat.
As he took another bite, Hermes swallowed his own mouthful and continued, "But he said you knew and would have to update us... so, who is it?"
Bast grinned before launching into what he'd been told about Joel and his arrival. He then added, "Cory wants the boy protected from harm; all harm, and he scared the hell out of us with a telepathic command doing so, soooo... you're here to look after Joel when Cory and Sean can't."
Mont added, "You'll likely be like me and Bast, bros: sticking with the kid even when our two are with him. He seems skittish though, so let Cory and Sean lead you through things with him."
Both cheetah's nodded while still inhaling their food. Mercury managed to finish a few seconds ahead of his twin and asked, "Where's he now?"
"Across the road, in the Med Centre at the Camp," Bast answered. "He should be sleeping right now, at least as of a fifteen minutes ago when the Doc called."
"Okay," decided Hermes, "we'll go over there and wait for him to wake up."
"Yeah, I think we'll sleep in shifts or something," Mercury added.
The two lions nodded at them as they rose and ran out. Antony and Telez, who had been watching the entire thing, giggled. "Do they ever slow down?" Telez asked.
"Yes. They're like cheetahs in a lot of ways, but mix in human kids as well," Bast laughed.
Mont explained, "Cheetah's move fast, but most of the time they conserve energy. The twins are like that, but add in restless children's energy, so it's a fun mix. They sleep a lot, play hard, then go even more nuts, then sleep again. But when on duty, they conserve themselves, and do seem far slower than most other kids; just in case they need to push themselves into overdrive."
"Ah," Antony nodded in understanding. "We've wondered at them all the time we were watching your Unit."
Curiously, Bast asked, "How long have you been watching us?"
"A month, or just over," Antony said, "I had a dream that your Commander was important, so Jace set up the Watch. Koth and Korris took the lead the most, though."
"After what Logan said on the comm, we think we know why!" Mont giggled. "Chang and Juan have found some good friends!"
"Oh yeah, that they have," Telez laughed. "Although I'm surprised at Koth; he seemed so down for so long now I didn't think he'd want to form any form of relationship so soon."
"Why?" both lions asked.
"'Cos he's in love with Viccy AND Riti. They love him just as much, but they love each other more, so Koth just pulled back and let them. He's happy for them, but... lets just say we're happy he's found at least a good friend in Juan," Antony finished.
After that, the four boys talked a short while longer before heading off to help with the chaos around them.
Tyler grinned as he appeared on the sidewalk leading up to the house. The various balls and such scattered on the porch showed him instantly that the formerly homeless boy had regained his childhood. He climbed onto the porch, then reached out to ring the doorbell.
The door was opened by a thirteen-year-old boy with long brown hair. "Can I help you?" the boy asked.
"Could I please speak to Pastor Mills ... Paul?" Tyler asked with a twinkle in his eye.
The boy turned his head and yelled "DAAAD! There's a kid at the door for...." His head snapped around to Tyler. "How'd you know my name!?"
"My Guardian Angel told me." Tyler giggled.
Paul stood there with his jaw hanging open, trying to process a response as the pastor joined him at the doorway. "Hello there Tyler! What brings you to these parts?"
"Dad? You know him?" Paul stuttered. "He told me his guardian angel told him my name!"
"That he did, son. His guardian angel is the one who told me it was your time to have a new home." the pastor replied.
Paul looked at Tyler in shock. "You're THE Tyler? One of the brothers' Dad told me about? The one who has a big brother who is a Saint?"
Tyler nodded. "That's me!" He paused for a second, then added "Is that cookies I smell, Pastor?"
Pastor Mills got a shocked look on his face and spun around. "Bring Tyler into the family room Paul; I need to get the cookies out before they burn!"
Tyler giggled as Paul showed him into the family room and offered him a seat. "Dude, it must be weird having an Angel as a brother! You want something to drink?"
"Thanks; what do you have?" Tyler replied. "I'll fill you in once your Dad gets back out here."
"We've got sweet tea, milk, water..." Paul replied, scrunching up his face as he finished with "...and Diet Coke."
Tyler giggled. "Sweet tea sounds good, my big bro has got me hooked on it. Thanks."
"Kewl; that's my favorite too, that's why Dad keeps it around." Paul replied as he ran to the kitchen.
A minute later, Paul returned with two tall glasses of tea. "Dad will be out shortly; he's trying to figure out why the inside of the oven was room temperature even though the flame was still burning. The weird thing is the cookies were done exactly right; he NEVER manages that!"
Tyler giggled as he accepted the tea. "He's not gonna figure it out!"
"Whadda you mean?" Paul asked as he took a nearby seat.
"Family secret!" Tyler giggled as he tried to look innocent.
As Paul stared at Tyler in shock, Pastor Mills joined them. "Family secret? Since when do Saints save cookies?" he asked, still confused about the events in his oven.
Tyler grinned. "Relax, a lot of stuff has happened that you don't know yet."
"I'm afraid that a lot of 'stuff' as you called it has happened that I do know about." Pastor Mills replied. "I've kept up on it however I can, but I still worry about you and your brothers."
Tyler nodded. "We're learning to deal with the attack; a lot of people have stepped up to help us through the after-effects. Right now the best thing is to get everyone who was involved thinking about other things until the funeral so they can have closure. That is kinda why I'm here; I wanted to ask a favor of you to help out. Cory almost died during the attack, and it made him realize that there was one important thing he keeps putting off."
Pastor Mills sat back. "I knew he had been injured; nobody told me it was that bad. I don't want to think about what poor Sean went through; it almost killed him when Cory lost his memory."
Paul interrupted his dad. "Dad; if it wasn't for you helping Sean, I wouldn't be here. You're always tellin' me that the Lord gives us signs and it is up to us to follow them. I'm seeing a big billboard here, and it's saying that you're retiring too soon. I don't think last Sunday was your last sermon ever; it was just your last sermon here."
Tyler couldn't help but giggle. "Hey Paul; you sure you can't see the future?"
As Paul sat back and grinned, Pastor Mills shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder .... but what was it you were going to ask, Tyler?"
Tyler grinned. "I was just wondering if you might be free to perform the marriage of Cory and Sean tomorrow. Paul is invited too."
"Billboard, Dad!" Paul giggled.
"I get the hint, squirt!" Pastor Mills chuckled. "I'd be more than happy to, Tyler. I assume you can make travel arrangements?"
"You might say that!" Tyler replied innocently. "Do you want to save time and move all the stuff from your house too? Mom told me which apartment suite you can have already."
Pastor Mills looked over at Paul; his unasked question answered by the grin on Paul's face. "For some reason I don't think I have a choice. The Lord leads and I follow; it seems that we're about to become residents of Florida."
Tyler nodded with a huge grin. "You had a choice; I think you'll like the outcome of this one a lot better."
Both of his hosts looked at Tyler quizzically. "How do you know that?" they chorused.
Tyler giggled. "I think once you know the 'family secrets' you'll understand. Among other things I'm a two-way telepath; I can read minds and, even though I won't do it without the person's okay, i can send information to somebody's mind. I don't do either one unless I'm saving someone or I've got the person's approval to do it. There is a lot that you need to know about before you go to Orlando; it'd take a long time to talk about it, but if it's okay with you I can send it to your heads."
"KEWL! Sign me up!" Paul exclaimed as Pastor Mills thought it over. "C'mon Dad; his brother is a Saint, do you really think he'd do something wrong?"
"Point taken, Paul. Go ahead Tyler." Pastor Mills replied.
Tyler nodded, then proceeded to 'download' the information about the current makeup of the Clan to both of them. Once he was done, he sat back and awaited their reactions.
"Interesting." Pastor Mills mumbled as he reviewed the new information. "Thank you for filling me in Tyler; I can't wait to meet the G-Cats for myself. Your brothers have definitely chosen some of the best to surround them."
Paul just stared at Tyler in awe. "No way! The G-Cats are kewl, but there ain't no way you could do all that Tyler! You're just a kid!"
"I am?" Tyler giggled as he unmasked the natural protective shield that separated the anti-energy of his body from the surrounding environment. As the purple glow obscured his form, he added "I really can't go walking around like this, now can I?"
As Tyler returned to normal, Paul looked on in wonder. "You drank just like a kid, you felt just like a kid when I touched your shoulder, yet you ain't a kid? How does that work?"
Tyler shrugged. "The way Miah explained it is that my species is made of anti-energy, but we have a natural skin of neutral energy that protects us from the environment and the environment from us. It's still programmed into me what I look like, so I can't imitate someone else. Miah thinks that when we eat or drink our bodies just convert everything to a type of energy we can use; he says all of our insides are still there, but they don't seem to do stuff like they used to. The thing you saw glowing was the 'shield' around me; I guess it feels like my skin because it's made from what used to be my skin."
Pastor Mills nodded. "That makes sense Tyler; my older brother is a sub-atomic physicist and that sounds a lot like some of the material he was studying in college. I had my own doubts about the information you gave us about yourself, but you just proved that my doubts were unfounded." He then turned to Paul. "You still want to move, son?"
Paul stared at Tyler for a minute, his brain still processing what he had just seen. He finally reached a decision, and smiled at Tyler as he replied. "Yeah Dad; I really do want to. At first it was just because I thought it'd be kewl to hang with the cats and people from other planets. I really thought about it when Tyler showed us his shield. From a distance, it's awesome thinking about meeting different species and all that; but finding out that Tyler is really what he said he is made me have to make sure I could really think of them as people and not something to look at. I figured out my answer when I realized I still would like to be Tyler's friend for the same reasons I wanted to be before I found out he was different."
Tyler giggled. "Kewl! You've got your first friend in Orlando before you even move! Due to some high-security reasons, we need to tell your neighbors that Starfleet is helping you relocate. That way they won't freak out when your house is empty in the morning, and they'll think that things vanishing from your yard is Starfleet beaming them up. After that, I'll take you to your new home, and we'll make sure your stuff gets there our way."
Doc Austin heard a quiet knock on the door and when he turned from the monitor over Joel's bed toward it he saw Hermes and Mercury's heads poking around it.
"Come in, guys; Mont told me to expect you when I called him earlier," he said with a smile.
The two cheetah's moved into the room, smiled at Antonio as the boy was studying a datapad, and moved to the bedside.
"Is Joel okay?" Hermes asked softly, in barely a whisper.
"Don't need to whisper," Antonio said without looking up, "he's in assisted sleep; you won't disturb him."
Mercury giggled, "Oh, okay."
Antonio looked up curiously. "Mont said you guys were hyper. Where's the hype?"
Sniggers greeted that. "Well, we're feeling calm, right now. We did the 'hype' when eating, now we're full," Mercury said with a chuckle.
As he turned towards the bed again, he saw Hermes sniffing at Joel's face and nestling his own cheek against the tiny boy's. "He's so small. He can't be nearly thirteen," Hermes whispered sadly.
Mercury nodded in agreement, then asked Doc Austin, "Shall we stay here with you all tonight? And if so, what part of the room would be best for us to nest in?"
The Doctor shook his head slightly, "Best not stay in here, boys. Joel hasn't finished his metamorphosis yet, and we've already had a few urgent moments with him."
"He looks normal, though," Hermes said, in between licks to the boy's face, neck and upper torso.
Mercury joined his twin in his efforts. "Yeah; he looks like he's finished," he said before starting to groom Joel.
"His outward changes seemed to be the easiest," Antonio said as he came over to watch in fascination. "The internal stuff is the hard and nasty bit. His heart is slowly moving in his body, and the stress is massive. And that's only one of the things going on inside Joel."
"Oh," Mercury murmured.
"Where should we stay, then? We have to guard him," Hermes added.
Doc Austin chuckled, "I've set up the room next door; just as Mont suggested. There's blankets and pillows in one corner, and the wall monitor is set to this room. If we need you, you'll know. Get some sleep, guys, you've had a busy day; or so I've heard."
Both cheetah's nodded; then yawned.
"Looks like you're right, Doc," 'Tonio giggled. "Go on. I'll bring you something to snack on in a few hours if you need it. What do you like?"
Mercury giggled, and then both twins said in unison, "Anything creamy! Or if meat, then raw! Yum!!"
"Okay," 'Tonio smiled. "Get moving, then. I'll see ya in a bit."
Seth grinned over at Jordy, "Did you enjoy the golf game bro?"
"Yeah, Lehman did AWESOME!" Jordy replied with a grin.
Seth chuckled, "I bet he did.... do you think you can come down from the clouds long enough to do a little work? Tommy's claimed kitchen duty, so I need you to handle comms."
"Bite me, Seth!" Jordy exclaimed with a blush.
"I think Lehman has already claimed that right." Seth replied with a grin. "Take a seat, we've got a few hundred calls to make."
Jordy stuck his tongue out as he took a seat. "You're just jealous!"
"Whatever!" Seth chuckled. "You handle notifying all of the remote Clan members; I'll take care of the Federation side."
"Gotcha!" Jordy replied as he settled in and began his calls.
Seth grinned as he opened his own channel. "Clan Headquarters to Starfleet Headquarters."
"Starfleet Headquarters, Ensign Charles; how may I direct your call Sir?"
"Could you please connect me with Admiral Morrow, Ensign?" Seth replied as he sent the Clan credentials to the operator.
"One second Sir." Ensign Charles replied, his eyes widened at the sight of the credentials in front of him.
Almost immediately, Admiral Morrow appeared on the screen. "Good evening Seth; how may I help you?"
Seth grinned. "I thought you might want a heads-up so that you can clear your schedule now, Admiral. Knowing the people involved, the official invitation will arrive shortly with all of the details. Cory and Sean are getting married tomorrow...."
Admiral Morrow interrupted Seth. "Say no more; I'll make sure that everyone who should be there will be. I'll also make arrangements for the Enterprise to be linked in via subspace. You worry about Earth-side; I'll handle off-world."
Seth grinned. "I figured that you'd say that! Any way we can help just let me know; I've got a ton of kids looking for ways to be a part of this."
"Understood Seth, I'll tell the technicians to get volunteers to help setup the transmitter for the subspace link." Admiral Morrow replied with a smile. "Thanks for the heads-up; I'll do my part to ensure this goes off without a hitch. Morrow out."
"Clan Headquarters out." Seth replied.
"We ARE under orders from Starfleet that no Earth Based agency or government may come into the Compound!" a very green Ensign practically yelled at Nathan.
Nathan was rather taken aback by the anger he could hear in the young man's voice. The Colonel of the Coldstream Guard Regiment raised an eyebrow, but did no more. Neither did the Regiment standing behind him. They were trained to remain emotionless and stoic no matter what occurred.
"Ensign, I require your name," Nathan asked politely, yet forcefully.
"Ensign William Grant Jr., and that is beside the point..."
"Ensign," Nathan interrupted firmly, opening the robe he wore to reveal his VSO uniform and Commander rank insignia. "You will not use that tone with me. Now, what is the problem here? I identified myself as a Member of the House of Surak, and by convention, all Family and House members have access to House holdings, and the Clan Compound is such. What is the issue here?"
"Them, sir," Ensign Grant said as he came to a stiff attention. "They are not Starfleet personnel, and therefore not trusted."
Again, the Colonel of the Guard raised an eyebrow, yet did nothing else. This was just too much fun.
Nathan, however, had grown concerned. The emotions rolling off the young ensign were chaotic, and grief and loss seemed to be nearest the surface.
"Ensign, I am a telepath and empath, and I feel something is wrong. Can you tell me what it is, please?" he asked.
"I..." the Ensign paused, then tears came to his eyes, and in a rush he blurted out what had been troubling him. "My kid brother was a South Carolina Police Cadet and he answered the call on Saturday to come help these guys... I...I WON'T allow his s...sacrifice to be in vain... I won't... I just..." He could not continue for his tears of grief.
Nathan sighed. Obviously the boy had died, and such was the result. Another family hurting.
"William," Nathan said softly, "Come with us, please. The Guard behind me are authorized to be here, and you need help. Follow with us."
So saying, the blond Commander of the Dragon Division led the Coldstream Guard and the Starfleet Ensign inside.
Helen looked around the kitchen at the group which had migrated over almost as soon as the news broke. 'This is going to be one Hell of a reception dinner!' she thought to herself with a smile.
Anne broke through Helen's thoughts. "I just informed Teri that we were handling the preparations for the dinner. She now understands that she is to stay out of this kitchen and concentrate on making sure Sean and Cory keep their little noses out of what we are planning. Helen, this is your kitchen, but with your consent I would be willing to oversee the preparations so that you can concentrate on the actual food."
Helen nodded. "Anne, there ain't a single person here that has the nerve to argue with you. I would be honored to let you oversee the preparations; just be aware that Tommy has claimed the cake as soon as Tyler gets back."
Anne chuckled as she looked over at Tommy's defiant look. "I think that's really sweet Tommy. Ask for help if you need it, but I'll agree to let you boys do your part."
Tommy nodded with a grin, obviously satisfied that he got his way. "Whatcha'll waitin' for? We got a hitchin' to be'a cookin' for!"
"Yeah, what Unca Tommy said!" Pauly added with a grin.
As everyone broke out in laughter, Anne smiled. "You heard the boy! Helen, you handle the meat crew; Jackie, you take the pasta crew. Lady Amanda, would you be so kind as to head up the vegetables and other main side dishes? Kayla, Angela and Sara; would you please handle all of the sugar-loaded desserts that we all know the boys will load up on?"
As Anne was saying this, Jason ran in puffing like a bellows. "I need more fiber... Ark said Main Kitchens in Teri's house... but DIDN'T tell me WHICH house was hers!!"
He sat down on the nearest stool and tried to catch his breath. Pauly ran over to him with a glass of water, "Here, Unca Jace! This helps?"
"Thanks, sweetie," Jason smiled and took a long drink.
"Why are you here, love?" Angela asked her son.
Jason grinned and after putting the glass down, he grabbed Pauly and started to tickle him. "Seeking this little monster! I've been all over the friggin' place lookin' for you, golden-top!"
"Me an' Wacko's been right here, silly!!" Pauly replied with a giggle.
Kissing the boy's cheek lovingly, Jason murmured, "You're just like my Belar." He then sat the giggling munchkin on his lap, wrapped his arms around the boy's slender waist, and then asked the room, "Can I have quiet please? I have something very, very, VERY important to ask this nice, responsible young man!"
Angela rolled her eyes, looked with a smile at Anne, and both women sat down. Everyone else did the same, and Tommy sat on the floor with Wacko's head in his lap.
"Now then," Jason said in a far softer voice, "Lil' dude, I have a task that ONLY you can do, and it's the most important job that can be done at a Wedding."
"Keepin' Daddy awake?" Pauly replied with a giggle.
Jason giggled evilly, "No, that's your Pop's job, sweetie; trust me on that one! This job is MORE important, and if it's messed up, the wedding can't happen at all. Your big brothers just told my Ollie that ONLY you can do this job. No one else."
Pauly's eyes lit up excitedly.
"BUT..." Jason said in a conspiratorial stage whisper, "I have to make SURE that you understand how important it is, AND that you want the job before I can tell you what it is..."
Pauly started bouncing up and down. "Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"
"Are you sure you can do it?" Jason asked, mischief seen in his eyes. "Are you AND Wacko able to protect the special things that you are to look after?"
Pauly flipped around, and balanced himself on his legs while holding onto Jason's shoulders. Still bouncing, he replied, "YES! YES! Tell me already Unca Jace!!!!!"
Jason was so glad that he had expected this reaction and had placed a mental shield around little Jace and the family jewels. "Okay, I will," he giggled as he pulled the boy in to sit on his legs facing him. "Tomorrow, when your Daddy and Poppa walk into the Ceremony, you and Wacko will be walking in front of them. You will be carrying a very special cushion, and on that cushion will be two golden rings. Your Daddy's and your Poppa's Wedding Rings. You and Wacko have to look after those Rings and not let anyone touch them until you are asked to give them to your daddies. You have to keep them safe and not lose them. Can you and Wacko do that?"
Pauly nodded his head eagerly, and Jason found that his lap was suddenly overloaded as Wacko joined Pauly and began repeatedly licking Jason's cheek in acceptance of the task.
Jason fell off his seat and landed on his back, Wacko and Pauly still there, each taking one side of Jason's face to kiss happily.
"I think you done got your answer!" Tommy giggled. "Ya'll git offa Jace 'fore he's squished an' turned into a pancake!"
Pauly's giggle and Wacko's purr made it clear that the image of Jason becoming a pancake was quite funny to them. They both gave Jason one last wet kiss; wet enough that there was a line of slobber heading towards each of his ears.
"Thanks, sweeties; don't need no bath tonight!" Jason giggled as Pauly helped him stand.
Angela cast a withering look at her son.
"Okay, Okay; just kidding, Mam!" the boy laughed. "Just thinkin' too; Grandma Anne? Do you think it would be okay for my Grandma Meredith to come over and help? She makes REAL great cakes and puddings!!"
"What are you waiting for, child? Get moving!" Anne replied with a chuckle.
Grinning widely, Jason turned and yelled, "GRAN!!! You can come in now!!!!"
Chuckling to herself, a rather large, elderly, grandmotherly woman entered the kitchen. "I think, Jace, that your mother is going to crown you," she laughed as she hugged her grandson to her ample tummy.
Pauly was immediately drawn to this woman, whose very presence was filling the room with love. "Can I call you Granma toos?" he asked as he moved closer.
Wasting no time, Meredith scooped up the tiny boy with a happy cry, "Oh my, you're a lot cuter than you looked on the viewscreens, Pauly! What a handsome young man! I believe you and Tommy and Tyler are making the Wedding Cake?"
"Uh huh! Me's gonna help pass stuff to 'em!" he said proudly.
"That's great! I hope the three of you teach me a thing or two about making the BIGGEST Wedding Cakes in the world," she said, as she smothered the boy in hugs and kisses.
"Gran?" Jason asked from her side.
"Before you ask;" Meredith said, placing Pauly back on his feet, "yes, your grandfather is here. He's in that round building over aways, terrorizing some poor boy called Gavin with tickles, and making those two cat boys, Mont and Bast, purr the place down with belly-rubs."
"Sweet! Okay, guys! I can't cook to save my life, so seeya!" Jason yelled as he ran out.
As Jace ran out the doorway, Tyler walked in with Paul trailing behind him. "KEWL! A Grandma convention!" Tyler giggled. "This is Paul everyone; his Dad is Pastor Mills. We kinda got kicked outta their new apartment until his Dad has everything set up; so since I'm supposed to be helping make a really big cake he decided to join me!"
Paul grinned as he put his hand on his newest friend's shoulder. "Yeah; I've never seen a wedding this big; there are a ton of people already here!"
Pauly walked over and pulled on Paul's free hand. "Hi Paul, I'm Pauly. You wanna help me help Unca Tommy an' Unca Ty? You can get them the stuff I'm too little to get!"
Paul grinned as he lifted Pauly to his hip. "You know what? I think I like that idea, Pauly!"
"Kewl! You wanna play with my kitten Wacko while we's waitin'?" Pauly asked with a huge smile.
Paul looked towards where Pauly was pointing, and saw the black panther 'kitten' sitting there watching him. Once he regained his voice, he replied. "Sure little guy; I've never touched a panther before!"
Cory reached up and gently moved the hair away from Leo's sleeping eyes as the boy napped on his lap in the seventh-hole rest pool. "You guys really don't plan on letting me and Sean have any say in this, do you Son?"
Austin giggled as he looked at both of his sons cuddled with their grandparents. "No way Dad; it's time you let the rest of us do something. You and Pop are going to take a break if we gotta seal you in a box to do it!"
Sean giggled as Conner poked him in the ribs. "You hear that, Granpop?" Conner giggled. "Stop working or we'll make you!"
Leo shifted around in his sleep and pulled himself tighter into Cory's chest.
Cory smiled softly at the group surrounding him. "I love you too guys; thank you."
After having found a place for the Coldstream Guards to stay for the night, Nathan returned to CIC where Ensign William Grant was being watched over by Kelly and CD. Seth and Jordy were still on the Comm talking to various Clan Members and others who were being invited to the wedding. Once CD saw Nathan enter, he gave the Ensign a final hug and left with Kelly to return to the Wedding preparation.
Nathan sat next to the Ensign and asked, "Feeling a little better now, William? CD is good at comforting when people are upset."
"Yeah," the young man smiled. "He gives good hugs, and don't stop 'til you start smiling."
"Just one of the many reasons why we love him," Seth said as one call ended. He immediately started a fresh call.
"Feel like talking about your brother, Will?" Nathan asked quietly and gently.
Nodding, the Ensign sniffed, "Yeah. My little bro. I miss him already, yet I can't believe he's gone!"
"I know that feeling," Nathan murmured softly.
"What makes things so much worse is that I'm totally alone, now. That's why I'm so hot for protecting this place. These guys have made me feel so welcome in the month I've been here, and they are the only family I have left," the Ensign said as he started to weep again, albeit softly this time.
"What happened?" Seth asked as he finished his last call and turned to face them.
Ensign Grant cleared his throat and started, "I was 15 and accepted into Starfleet. I'd only been there a month when my folks were killed in a car crash. My kid bro was with me in San Francisco for a visit, and we were devastated. Command was great, though; they set it all up for my brother to stay with me. He was only 10 then, and I would have died to have seen him anywhere but with me."
"Just last month, he applied and got into a Special Training Program. He was to train with the Police Cadet force in South Carolina as a fast track for joining the Fleet with me... then Saturday happened, and..." the Ensign could say no more as he began to sob heavily again.
Nathan moved and cuddled him, using all his ability with empathy to syphon off the grief slightly. "What was his name?"
"Grissom. Although he hated it," Ensign Grant sniffed, yet a smile appeared on his face. "He always wanted to be called Luke, his middle name. Not that I blame him; I prefer mine as well. John."
Seth looked at John curiously for a second. "Grissom Luke Grant?"
"Yeah," sniffed John.
Seth turned back to the console. After a few very long minutes, he turned back. "No casualties by that name, John. I had to double check, but he's not on the list of the fallen."
"No, he's MIA, presumed dead," John said softly.
Nathan suddenly had an idea. "I'll be right back, bro. Need to find someone. Seth, can you talk with John while I'm gone?"
"Sure, Nath'," Seth smiled as he wheeled closer to John.
Nathan got up and ran from the room. Once in the Rec Room he sent out, 'Levi? You busy?'
"Not right now! What ya want, Unk?" the cheeky cherub giggled from behind the blond twelve year old.
Nathan spun around and laughed, "Mikyvis! Okay, dude. Can you read my mind about our friend John in the other room with Seth? I think we need to check on something. I'm getting a feeling that things ain't what they seem!"
Levi giggled. "Got it; fortunately us blonds keep our minds organized. Let's go check Up Top to see if he's checked in there!"
"What?! You're taking me to..." Nathan began on Earth, then finished outside the Pearly Gates, "... Heaven?... oh, my..."
"Saint Peter, this is Nathan. We're trying to find someone, and I figured that you'd know best if they had changed planes." Levi announced respectfully.
Nathan spun about and saw a kindly man standing by the Gates, his Golden Wings glowing brightly. "Wow!! Uh, Hi!"
"Oops; I kinda rushed, didn't I?" Levi asked with a smile.
"Uh huh!" Nathan giggled.
Saint Peter shook his head with a fatherly smile. "Young Nathan, it is not your time to see the things which you now see. While Levi shields you, his shield only protects parts of your mind. Go with peace children; the one you seek still resides on the Earthly plane."
"Thanks, Saint Peter; I had a feeling that was the case," Nathan smiled, as everything swam before his eyes, and they both found themselves back in the Rec Room.
Levi giggled, "Angel Transport tickles!"
"Yeah," Nathan smiled, "He's nice, though, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is! So, where next, Unk?" Levi asked with a smile.
Nathan thought for a second, then, "I know a certain AI that should know. Draco?"
'You always think of me last. I know, you know! But nooooo... you have to go visit Heaven... I feel so insulted...' Draco's voice came from Nathan's Comm, laughter just hidden in it.
"Aww, shush, D! You know where Luke is?" Nathan giggled.
'Yes. I have been liaising with Ark and Daileass since I heard John's story. He's in Broadlawns Hospital, Des Moines. It seems like some twa... I mean some idiot Administrator felt the need to update files was beneath him when it came to injured kids and cadets.' Draco said darkly. 'I have invoked Code 3-Blue-Sigma, and the VSO are now talking with Section 31 about 'dealing' with him.'
"Good. Thanks, Draco! Okay, my little Leevee-Angel, you up for finding Luke and getting a family reunion going here?" Nathan asked as he picked up his favorite Levi and cuddled him over his hip.
"Ask him yourself!" Levi giggled as they found themselves in a hospital room.
Sleeping on the bed was a black haired youth, his left leg in a cast, and many bandages around his body. The room was lit, yet void of anything that could be considered entertaining. Nathan was now thoroughly pissed off.
"Can you deal with his injuries, sweetheart? Looks like they did fuck all after the AI guys stabilized him! I'm going to find this admin asshole and drop him from a great height!" Nathan nearly spat out as he moved for the door.
"Uncle Nath? What would Uncle Jace say to do?" Levi asked softly.
Nathan snorted, "I'm slow tempered compared to him, Leev," he said, but then he calmed down slightly, "but Antony would find out more info first. Thanks, Leev. Can you heal him? I promise I won't do anything permanent to the idiot unless called for."
"If you need Uncle Antony to help I can get him. I'm already healing Luke; I just don't want to see you do something because you are mad."
"Once I get there, training kicks in, sweetie; don't worry. Unlike the Clan, VSO don't need a second to dispense justice..." Nathan began, but a soft beep from his belt alerted him. He pulled out his tricorder and looked at it. "Well, I'm not alone after all! The Sehlat Division have been mobilized, and have brought some S-31 nutters as well... those S-31ers are cool as hell, but nutzors too! Okay, be right back, Leev. The Dragon and the Sehlat working together is always fun for mischief!"
Nathan left the room at a run, leaving a smiling, happy Mikyvis with the still sleeping Luke.
"Uno!" Nathan heard as he walked into the hospital room.
"Hi Uncle Nath!" Levi exclaimed from his seat on the foot of the bed. Luke was sitting up on the head of the bed, and it was obvious the two of them were playing a card game.
"Hey! And hello, Luke! Looks like my angel did his usual and made a miracle!" Nathan said happily as he snuggled in close to Levi.
"Hi," Luke replied with a smile. "Levi's told me all about you. Thanks for coming to look for me."
"No probs, dude; s'what we do!" Nathan giggled.
Levi asked his uncle, "What happened out there, Unk?"
"Oh, not a lot, other than everyone getting healed by S-31 and VSO doctors, the Chief Administrator ripping a new asshole on the git who caused these problems... then Division Commander Sellik of the Sehlat arrested him on child abuse charges. I think I-Metra is going to have a target to help her Pup learn to pounce!"
"Ohhhhhh... they invited him for dinner?" Levi giggled. "I hope they have lots of mustard!"
"Yup, and he's the main course! Oh, Luke?" Nathan sniggered.
"Yeah?"
"The guy in charge here says he's sorry about what happened. He's going to really pay more attention to the running of this place and not trust everyone working for him as blindly as he used to. He's also signed your release papers so you can come with us right now!" Nathan said happily.
"Cool!" Luke bubbled.
"Yeah," Nathan smiled, "Your bro is going to be so happy!"
Levi giggled, and three seconds later they found themselves back in CIC; Luke suddenly perched on his brother's lap.
"Told ya' they'd come through!" Seth chuckled.
"Luke?! Oh my God!" John sobbed out loudly as he nearly crushed his 14 year old brother to his chest.
"John, I just fixed those ribs, don't break them again already!" Levi giggled, silently helping to make sure that Luke was not injured by his brother's welcome.
"Hiya, Jo-Jo," Luke said tearfully as John's hug changed to a far more gentle embrace. "Sorry I scared you, but..."
"No, never be sorry!" John said through his own tears, "You did good Saturday! Just the thought that you'd d...died was so hard. But you'd have died saving kids, and that's always what you wanted to do, bro; to save people! I'm so proud of you!"
Nathan watched, with Levi cuddled happily on his lap, as the two brothers talked and talked.
"Seth?" Nathan asked the sixteen year old quietly.
Seth tore his eyes away briefly, "Yeah?"
"What's going to happen here? With them both?"
"Already sorted, Nath'. We just need to tell them; or, I should say, Adam will... Hey, Adam! Here they are!" Seth waved to the vifer as Adam walked into CIC.
"Hey guys!" Adam said as he joined them. "Nath? Did I hear right that you're doing community service now? I heard that you made a contribution to help curb the Sehlat food shortage."
"Yeah. I was busted as the cutest non-Mikyvis Blond on Earth, and had to help feed the poor, starved Sehlats!" Nathan giggled.
"Where's Dmitry when you need a second opinion!" Adam exclaimed. "No Levi!" he quickly added as he saw the smile forming on Levi's face.
"You're learning, I see!" Nathan howled with laughter. "Although, I'd love to meet him; Riti has been trying his best to be a Dmitry Mark-2 since he appeared here!"
"I'm sure you'll meet him soon enough." Adam giggled. He turned to where John and Luke were still sitting. "Let's see... new faces, happy tears, and an older brother who appears determined not to let his little brother go. That meets the description Seth gave me, so you guys must be John and Luke. John, as of right now you are permanently attached to Clan Headquarters Security; once Commander Casey has set up the new chain-of-command you'll find out who you report to, but until then you'll report to me."
John's mouth dropped open, while Luke squirmed about happily on his lap, "That's so cool, Jo-Jo! Your letters made it clear you loved it here!"
John, after finding his voice, choked out, "But... what about Luke? He wanted to be in Starfleet Security as well, but I can't bear to let him go out of my sight again! I was just telling him I'd leave the Fleet and go to Charleston to care for him there..."
"You'll do no such thing." Adam interrupted. "Once Luke has been cleared for duty by our resident brain leeches, he's already qualified for training with Clan Internal Security. Until that time, both of you are on family leave right here."
Luke went still as it was his turn to gape at Adam. Eventually he whispered out, "I get to live here? For real? Does that mean... I, ummm...." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable asking that which he so obviously wanted to ask.
Nathan smiled softly, "If you find yourself swearing brotherhood with even one of these guys, then yes, it will then mean you are part of the Clan, Luke. Until then, you're their friend."
"It's going to get so confusing having two Johns here," Seth said as the Doctor gave him a datapad from Bryce. "You got a nickname, dude?"
"Oh, a few," the Doctor giggled. "Most of my mates call me 'Doc'. You could use that, but it would be confusing when Antonio or Austin Michaels is about."
"Yeah. Why that name, though?" Seth asked curiously, "And where are you from? There's nothing in the Dragon files about you, and you sound British."
"Weeellll," the Doctor started but was stopped when Levi popped in next to him.
"He's just a friend helping out, Uncle Seth," the small Mikyvis bubbled, "and Daddy and Poppa said he's okay."
Seth shrugged, "Fine with me, then. Thanks for the file anyway, 'Doc'," he added with a wink.
Levi giggled, took the Doctor's hand, and popped them from the room.
"What's up, kiddo?" the Doctor asked.
Levi smiled, "Riti wants to ask ya something. Gotta go, Doc; things to do, and not enough Levi to go around! Seeya!"
*POP*
Laughing fit to bust, the ginger Time Lord turned from where Levi had been seconds ago to face Riti... and the entire Dragon Division leadership. Gaining control over his laughter, the Doctor waved, "Hey, guys."
Jason walked over. "I cannot feel nor sense you, John. And Riti said he can't tell me why unless you say it's okay. Fancy letting me in on what you are, for you ain't human. Humans don't have two hearts."
Antony held up his tricorder. "Sorry, John, but we're the one's protecting this Clan, and enigmas are dangerous, we've found."
The Doctor grinned and nodded, "Don't be sorry, guys; and Riti, thanks for keeping the secret, even though I never asked you to with your brothers and sister. You want to tell them?"
"Nope," Riti giggled, "I think it would sound better coming from you, Galli!"
"Bite me," the Doctor giggled. He looked into Jason's puzzled eyes and said, "My name is Gallifrey; also know as the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord, and the First of them."
Koth and Korris looked at each other and shrugged. Telez' eyes opened a bit wider, but the others just stood there, their jaws on their chests.
"No WAY!" Nathan spluttered. "That's just a TV show!"
"It does fit," Telez said quietly. "Time Lords have two hearts, and John clearly has that."
"But... it's just a story..." Antony started, but the Doctor interrupted.
"A story that was based on old Vulcan knowledge gleaned from their contact with me over sixty thousand of your years ago. Bit longer than that from my perspective, but... meh!"
Jason was the first to recover. "I should have guessed once we saw you had two hearts; your assumed name... John Smith! JEEZ! The Doctor!!"
"Merc? Herm?" Antonio half whispered as he entered the room.
He stopped dead at the sight he beheld. The robes the two cheetahs had arrived wearing were now on the room's biobed, and both boys were in 'the fur' on a pile of pillows and blankets, licking each other all over and purring constantly.
"What...?" was all Antonio could manage before losing his words.
Mercury looked up and smiled while Hermes continued grooming his stomach, "We're grooming, 'Tonio."
Finding his voice, the nine year old managed to say, "Looked like far more..."
"Yeah," Mercury giggled, "to you normal guys it does; but it's just a cat thing. Want to join? It's relaxing."
"Umm, what would... I, ahhh... my boyfriend might think I'm... ahhh..." Antonio spluttered. He was obviously curious, but also concerned.
"I might think what?" Byron asked as he came into the room. "What's wro... what...?" He too stopped dead as he saw what the two G-Cats were doing.
Hermes explained that time, and again, the offer was given. "There's brushes in that bag there. We always bring some with us as some of the guys in Utah love grooming and everyone likes grooming back but your normal tongues just ain't up to the task," he finished in a rush before resuming the all important business of cleaning his twin's feet.
Antonio giggled, as did Byron. They shared a look, shrugged, and went to the bag. Pulling out the brushes, and pulling off their clothes, they were soon in the 'nest'... and found that Mercury had been right.
It was relaxing.
Half an hour later, all four boys just lay there and enjoyed the warmth of the close contact in the nest.
Hermes asked lazily, "What did you want anyway, 'Tonio?"
"Umm... oh, yeah! I was going to ask if you two wanted anything to drink. I was going to make some warm milk for myself," 'Tonio giggled.
Two sets of ears perked up. "Yeah! That sounds really yummy!" Hermes giggled.
Byron got up and padded to the door, "I'll get four mugs, then."
"I'll come too," Mercury said as he stood quickly, "You might drop them if you try carrying four mugs!"
After the door had closed, Antonio, who was snuggled next to the warm, furry Hermes, giggled. "I wonder what Ms Jackson will think when a naked boy and a naked cat-boy ask for four drinks," he mused.
Hermes sniggered, "I dunno; probably sigh and say 'kids'?"
"Yeah," 'Tonio smiled. "Probably."
Tyne suddenly woke with a start. He opened his eyes and looked around a little. His bedroom seemed normal but something was wrong, he could feel that something wasn't right. Worried, Tyne slowly rolled over and sighed in relief to find that Rusty was sleeping peacefully next to him. But if that wasn't what was wrong then what was it? Something was out of place.
Tyne slowly sat up, propping himself up against the headboard of the bed. "What was I dreaming about?" he thought to himself. Tyne closed his eyes and tried to index what he had been dreaming. Suddenly it came back to him, he had been standing on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a dark empty void. "Something about that void is what woke me," Tyne thought. "It felt like...time." Tyne frowned, "If the void was time...that doesn't make any sense, time has never been empty." He shook his head, "It was just a dream. I can still sense time being there but..." Tyne looked over at Rusty, "I wonder." He reached over and gently laid a hand on the top of Rusty's head and closed his eyes.
He could see the day, he could see the night, so he decided to look further into the future. But as he jumped ahead, indexing more time, suddenly everything went black. Tyne quickly opened his eyes and pulled his hand away. How far did he index? He couldn't tell, everything seemed fuzzy. Tyne quickly closed his eyes and tried to index his own future, as well as the future of the Ark. Ark was a good future constant, being connected to everything and yet nothing. Again he indexed the day, and the next night and then slowly started indexing the next few days. As he did though his inner thoughts became fuzzy, the images didn't seem clear. In fact as he tried to index a few more weeks all the images he could see were just colored shapes, he couldn't bring them into focus.
Tyne opened his eyes and frowned. There are only two reasons that Tyne could think of for not being able to see the future clearly and neither one of them was something he wanted to think about.
"Finally feeling the stress..." Tyne heard a voice say in his head.
"Shut up, Reason," mumbled Tyne as got up out of bed and glanced over at the clock. Tyne shook his head, "3:00 am, great, just when I wanted to get up." Tyne grabbed his jumpsuit, and after putting it on, walked out of his bedroom.
Tyne wasn't really sure where he was going, he just wanted to clear his mind. Perhaps he was just under too much stress, that was what caused his head to create Reason in the first place, and that would explain him not being able to focus, but that could lead to something bad. He sighed as his wandering finally brought him to the Phasenmorph room.
Tyne paused for a moment and then decided to enter. The room was very quiet, and the lights were dimmed; only the sound of Phasenmorphs swimming around in their pools could be heard. Tyne walked over to the closest pool and looked down at the Phasenmorphs. They seemed to ignore him being there, just going about their business. They seemed so very calm; it was as if they were never weapons at all. Tyne allowed himself to get lost in the movements of the Phasenmorphs.
"Would you like some company young man?" a voice suddenly said behind him.
Tyne turned around to find an elderly gentleman standing in the doorway of the Phasenmorph room. The man had short, neat, white hair, and a very well maintained beard to match.
Tyne thought for a moment before finally nodded, "Sure, I could use some company."
"Good," smiled the man as he walked over to the pool Tyne was next to. "So could I."
"You're up rather early this morning," Tyne said to the man.
The man smiled, "I could say the same thing about you, young Seer."
Tyne sighed, "Well I guess I don't have to introduce myself."
"No, we all know who you are Tyne," replied the man. "I, on the other hand, am Charles Fervidus."
Tyne grinned, "I was wondering when I'd run into you, Cyna is very proud of what you and the rest of his family have accomplished."
"That warms my heart to hear, I had hoped that we'd done well enough," said Charles. "I haven't quite run into everyone I want to meet yet, but I know that fate will have me meet them all eventually so there is no rush."
"Oh?"
"Well," Charles continued. "I wanted to meet you, as you now lead my people, or I suppose our people. Even my father spoke of you eventually leading our people. And as luck would have it we both seem to not be able to sleep tonight, so here we are."
"Who else do you have left to meet?" asked Tyne.
"Well, my Grandson Kyle is on the top of my list, and a few others but I won't bore you with the wants of an old man. If you don't mind me asking, though, being that you are very young what has you up this early?"
"I..." Tyne paused for a moment. "I'm having trouble seeing the future. Everything past just a few days is blurry."
"Well how far could you see before this happened?" asked Charles.
"About twenty thousand years."
"Oh, well that's quite a distance," Charles said in surprise.
"I hold the record," said Tyne. "So you can see why I'd be worried."
"I can indeed," replied Charles. "Are you afraid that something is about to happen or are you concerned about your health?"
"I'd rather not entertain the first thought," said Tyne as he started tracing things on the top of the water in the pool. "I am concerned about my health though. I've got four voices in my head now and..."
"Anything past three is not healthy for a Founder," completed Charles.
"Exactly."
Charles sighed, "Well, that's a real pickle to be in. But then events that have happened recently are not normal either. Perhaps some of those voices will go away, that has been known to happen."
Tyne looked at Charles with a hopeful look in his eyes, "Really?"
"My son Stephen, that would be Kyle's father, had a problem when he was about your age where his mind was creating too many sub-personalities. After what was happening in his life calmed down they went away and he was left with just three. So just give yourself some time, I'm sure you'll be fine."
Tyne smiled, "Yeah, you're right, I'll be just fine. I've got too much good happening in my life for my mind to go on me."
"There you are!" Sean said as he walked into the Phasenmorph room. "Ark seems to think it's funny to make us look for you!"
"Tell me about it!" Cory added as he joined Sean. "Ark started us half way across the Compound!"
"Do kids just not sleep anymore?" asked Charles.
Tyne smiled, "They're a couple hours behind us. Though had I not been up I suppose they'd be waking me up. So what brings the both of you to the Ark Compound at this time of night?"
"We have a favor to ask, Seer." Cory said, suddenly serious.
"It must be important if they are willing to risk waking you," Charles said with a warm smile. "I'm still getting used to the idea of kids being so serious all the time."
Tyne grinned at what Charles said before replying, "Okay Cory, what can I do for you?"
"Everyone seems to think that they are doing everything for our wedding tomorrow for us; but the one thing we do have control over is being Bonded for Eternity." Cory replied. "Would you be willing to perform the Socius Cerimony as part of what everyone else has planned for us tomorrow?"
"It would be an honor to be able to be apart of your wedding, and an even greater honor to be the one to perform the Socius Cerimony for the both of you," Tyne said after a moment of surprise.
Cory and Sean smiled as they pulled Tyne in between a double-hug. "Thanks Bro; it means a lot to me to have you there. All the rest of the guys here are invited too, that is if Cyna has not already done so." Cory looked up and saw Charles smiling at them. "You know, you kinda look like a certain inter-dimensional instigator who I'm proud to call my little brother." Cory commented.
"Do I now?" Charles said with a grin. "Who exactly would that be?"
"Kyle." Sean responded. "I can see some of Colin in you too."
"That would make sense my dear boy. I suppose that would be Kyle, let's see I think they said his last name is Richardson now. Yes, I've heard some very good things about him, he would have made his father proud, just about as proud as his grandfather is of him, yes," replied Charles. "Oh but where are my manners, I never introduced myself; I am Charles Fervidus, Kyle and Colin are my grandsons."
Cory broke away from the hug long enough to extend his hand. "Pleased to meet you Charles; I'm Cory Short, Council Crafter and Patriarch of Clan Short. This is my soon-to-be Socious Sean Short, Clan Short Historian. Consider yourself invited as well; the fact I'm not warning Colin is payback for some of the stuff I saw him involved in planning earlier today. Since a certain BRAIN LEECH won't stay out of my head, I'm sure Kyle will be expecting you!"
'Bite me Cory! Kyle giggled in Cory's head.
"Well thank you, I will do my best to attend, I wouldn't miss a chance to see the wedding of someone my grandson considers a brother. And it would be nice to finally get to meet my grandson, for years I thought I had lost him," said Charles as he took Cory's extended hand. "Although, if you consider Kyle a brother I'm afraid to find out how many others consider the same thing; I started with just two grandchildren when I got up this morning, I almost fear for how many I'll have when I go to bed."
<Too many. Their entire clan make the genus Sylvilagus look like beginners.>
Tyne frowned "The genus what?"
Charles chuckled, "Rabbits."
"ARK!!!" Cory and Sean chorused as they both began blushing. "It's not like we reproduce in our sleep or nothing!" Sean added.
<Then what do you call what Kyle and Tyler do?>
"Weird!" Cory giggled.
<I believe Miah called it fascinating.>
'I believe that you're goin' swimming bro!' Kyle announced in Cory's head at the same time.
Cory shook his head with a smile. "I think you'll like how Kyle's turned out Charles; just wait until you meet your three great-grandsons!"
"He's having children of his own already?" Charles said in surprise. "He should only be about eight...but then from what I've heard things have definitely changed for him. His brother Colin told me that Kyle is very special now and can do many interesting things, I suppose being able to have children at that age is one of those things."
"Wait, he's up to three now?" said Tyne. "I thought he just had one!"
Cory nodded. "Kyle and Ty came up with a two-for-one on their honeymoon. Bryce and Dylan spent today with Miah being taught the do's and don'ts of their species. Even with that, they are severely limited on what they can do until such time as Kyle and Tyler say they are ready for the responsibility."
"Hmmm, at that rate I'll be the great-grandfather of an entire species," commented Charles.
"Yeah, and I'll have gray hair by age fifteen," added Tyne. "I'm going to tell myself not to worry, I've already got enough problems with my head to add more worry to it."
Cory smiled as he rejoined the hug. "Tyne; please don't worry about Kyle. He has been having a lot of talks with his Dad and Pop; they are making sure that he slows down until he's fully aware of what he can do. I know for sure that he's still always trying to make sure that he does not do anything to make you mad at him; you will always be on the short list of people he trusts and respects."
"If you don't mind me asking, who are Kyle's 'Dad' and 'Pop'?" asked Charles.
"Doctor Daniel Richardson, PhD, and Commander John Martin, Director of Southeast North America Federation Security." Sean rattled off without even blinking an eye.
"I assume they will also be at your wedding? It would be nice to be able to chat with them about my grandson," said Charles.
Cory nodded. "The chances of them missing it are about as much as Tyne waking up tomorrow as a Mikyvis. I'm sure our Mom is gonna want to meet you too; since Tyler is her son."
"I'm sure I'll run into her while at the wedding," replied Charles.
"I'm just sooo glad to be part of an example," Tyne said sarcastically. "I am glad to know it's such a far fetched idea, though, that you can use it for that kind of example."
"Oh, I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad Tyne," Charles joked before stifling a yawn. "I do believe I need some rest now, though."
Cory smiled as he gave Tyne an extra squeeze. "Bro, I'm just glad that you'll be around as long as I live." He then turned to Charles. "It was great meeting you; I'm looking forward to seeing you at the wedding."
"It was wonderful getting to meet you as well," said Charles. "One question though before we all part ways, what time is this wedding taking place?"
"All I know for sure is late morning." Cory replied. "Ark, would you be so kind as to please let everyone know once my plotting family settles on an exact time?"
<I will see to it. Though I may forget to tell those that keep trying to imply that I have a gender.>
Cory giggled. "Just get even at the reception Ark; I'm sure the humor would be appreciated!"
Tyne grinned, "I'm sure Ark wouldn't make good on it's threat, don't worry. Make sure to get some sleep tonight, though, I have a feeling that tomorrow for the two of you will be very busy."
"We'll try." Cory promised. "Right now we better get back; Mom and Grandma Lizzy should be home soon with Timmy and Ricky. Thanks a lot Tyne; if it helps I know Pastor Mills, the pastor of the church Sean went to while I was in the hospital, is going to be running the service. You probably can set up the scheduling with him."
"That sounds good, I'll have Ark help me coordinate with him," replied Tyne. "Good night guys."
"Goodnight Tyne! Goodnight Charles!" Cory and Sean chorused. Cory then added with a smile "Oh great wonderous Ark of forever, would you be so kind as to deliver us to our dwelling?"
Without a word from Ark Cory and Sean suddenly vanished.
A few seconds later Ark finally spoke, <Would it not be great if they found their way to the middle of the pool before finding their way to their bedroom?>
Charles grinned, "That's a fine, twisted, sense of humor you've got there Ark."
<Thank you Charles.>
"You didn't actually do that, though, did you?" Tyne asked, sounding a little worried.
<No, but it is the thought that counts.>
Tyne rolled his eyes, "Right, well I think I'm going to go try and get some rest now."
"Me too," said Charles. "It was great finally getting to meet you Tyne."
"It was great getting to meet you too," replied Tyne as he made for the door.
Charles watched Tyne go before slowly making his way to the door, down the hallways, and off to his living quarters.
The Queen, Prince Harry and Teri appeared from out of three Vulcan transporter beams, and each carried a sleeping child. Oliver was snuggled in Harry's arms, while the two ladies carried Timmy and Ricky. Aphrodite and Artemus also appeared, with a few small items held firmly in their hands.
Harry disappeared inside Main CIC, with the two female G-Cats.
Teri was speaking quietly to the Queen as the two women made their way from Main CIC towards Cory's house, taking the little boys to bed.
"You were talking about the two rings, Lizzy?" she asked softly.
The Queen nodded, "Yes. As I was saying, I think the symbolism of Cory wearing Sean's birth-stone, while Sean wears his really says something about how those two feel for each other."
"Yes," Teri smiled. "I can see what you mean. Those rings, though. They are stunning."
"Both pure welsh gold. One an Onyx surrounded by emeralds and diamonds for Sean, and the other an Amethyst surrounded by turquoise shards and diamonds for Cory. They bear the other's birth stone surrounded by gems or stones the color of their own eyes," the Queen whispered, visualizing the two rings. "I just hope they love them."
They reached the door of the boy's home, and entered quietly. In the living room, they found Cory and Sean quietly watching a film.
"Can't sleep, lads?" the Queen chuckled as she lowered Timmy into Cory's arms while Teri did the same with Ricky and Sean.
Cory looked up and smiled. "Hi Grandma Lizzy, Hi Mom. We're okay, just kinda nervous about tomorrow and worried about Joel. Were the munchkins good?"
"Harrods of London will never be the same again," Teri chuckled.
"I don't wanna know!" Sean moaned. "These two are like ferrets when it comes to shiny things."
Elizabeth laughed gently, "Oh, they behaved very well. They made a new aunt, a large group of friends, and diamond earrings courtesy of Harrods."
Sean looked over at Timmy in Cory's arms, and inhaled deeply as he saw the half-carat stone in his ear reflecting the light from the movie. "Are those real?" Sean gasped.
Cory was looking at Ricky's ear while the boy slept in Sean's arms, and the diamond earring just above the Talon in Ricky's ear threw light back at him, "I think so!"
"A half carat F diamond, Grade D, surmounted on 100% welsh gold," the Queen murmured, "Yes, children, very real."
"How much..." Cory began, but his mother stopped him.
"None of your business, love," she smiled at him. "Have you contacted Tyne yet?"
"Yes Mom," Sean answered as he pulled his eyes away from the boys' earrings. "He's said he'll be ready, once we give him a time."
"Good, then I want you both, and your boys, in bed. Now."
Cory sighed, "Okay, but I don't think we're gonna sleep much. The others are already there; Austin was great."
"Come on," the Queen ordered lovingly, "Get yourselves moving, kids, and we'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, Grandma," they echoed, before standing and carrying their precious armfuls carefully; and the worth of the small boys was not weighed on the trifling earrings they bore, but on the love they gave freely to all.
"Married?" Scott exclaimed.
"You mean like in, dum-dum-da-dum, Here comes the bride?" Marky asked with an impish grin.
"Yeah," J.J. said, "they're getting married. Now, what did you guys do?"
"It was kewl seeing the Thompson house, after reading all about it," Galen said. "We saw Jake and Xain's room, and Kenny's models, and Kevin's pictures, and then got to meet Vincent and Lawrence and Lehman and them. But really, no kidding, married?"
J.J. grinned. "Yeah, really. Tomorrow. You're going to be there, right?"
"We can go?!" Galen asked.
"Of course, you're Clan now, our brothers," J.J. said. And the grin on the faces of all three boys was enough to light a room by.
Cory and Sean made one last round of their family, ensuring each was sleeping peacefully before heading into their room and closing the door. Sean smiled as he pulled out a CD with no label and placed it in the player. As they waited for it to begin, Sean pulled Cory over and began giving him a loving hug.
"This is from me to you Babe." Sean said as he nibbled on Cory's ear.
"I love you too Teddy Bear" Cory replied with a smile.
"Bet I love you more!" Sean giggled.
"Who needs sleep?" Cory giggled in return as he heard the first lyrics of the song.
When your body's had enough of me
And I'm laying flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more
Come on over here and lay by my side
I've got to be touching you.
Let me rub your tired shoulders
The way I used to do.
Look into my eyes and give me that smile
The one that always turns me on
And let me take your hair down
Cause we're staying up to greet the sun.
And when your body's had enough of me
And I'm laying flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more
Got to say a few things that have been on my mind
You know where my mind has been
I guess I learned my lessons
And now's the time to begin
So if you're feelin' alright and you're ready for me
I know that I'm ready for you
We better get it on now
Cause we got our whole life to live through
And when your body's had enough of me
And I'm layin' flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more
When your body's had enough of me
And I'm layin' flat out on the floor.....
("A Little Bit More © 2007 Dr Hook)
He opened his eyes and sighed.
Cory felt his thoughts flit from one image to another, and his feelings were in turmoil. He moved his head and looked at the time, and sighed again. The room was warm and dark, and as comfortable as ever, especially with Sean at his side, but he could not find sleep.
He slowly moved himself and got out of bed, carefully trying to not wake his beloved. Looking down at Sean, Cory smiled to himself at the song his auburn haired lover had sung to him earlier; and at the results, but his smile had no lasting power and faded fast from his lips.
Moving to the door, Cory was about to open it when a voice from behind stopped him. "Where're you going, bro?"
"Outside. I think some air might help me sleep, Teddybear," Cory answered as he turned and watched Sean pad over to him.
Sean's face was showing concern, "Then I'll come too; I can't sleep, and I'm not letting you wander around alone, love."
Cory nodded with gratitude. He did not really want to be alone anyway, but he had not wanted to wake the love of his life. He reached out and took Sean's hand and smiled thankfully at him, before heading out and down the stairs to the front door, Sean at his side.
Once outside, both boys sank to the ground and sat on the grass, leaning against each other.
Time passed them by slowly. Sean was watching the stars, trying to see if he could make out a starship above them. It was a quiet sob that alerted him to Cory's state.
"What's wrong?" he asked, turning his head and drawing Cory in tighter against him.
Cory whispered, "Everything, Sean."
Sean held him as Cory wept gently into his shoulder, rubbing small circles into the fair skin on his back.
"Cory? Sean? What's wrong?"
Cory looked up and blinked. Six figures stood close to them both, but his tear clogged eyes couldn't make them out clearly.
Sean whispered, "Hi, guys."
Tommy replied, looking at Cory's sorrowful face carefully, "What're y'all doin'?" He moved closer and sat, pulling Kelly down with him.
Dean, Justy, Adam and JJ followed.
"Cory wanted fresh air; we can't sleep," Sean said softly, concern still evident for his grieving boyfriend.
Tommy reached over and hugged them both, "C'mon, big bro. We ain't gonna know what's wrong 'less ya tell us."
"Everything," Cory sobbed again. "Me, Timmy, you guys, those that... that died." He paused before whispering, "J...Joel... everything."
"Ah," Justy sighed, hugging Dean closer to himself sadly.
Kelly started to ask, "Why us, Cor? What's... oh!" He trailed off. "You mean about what happened to me, Dean and Adam?"
Cory sniffed and nodded.
Dean forced a smile, "We're okay, Cory. Really we are."
It hung there for a moment before Justy said, his voice trembling, "No, Dean. We're not. I'm sorry, guys, but I ain't gonna lie to him when he's seeing it himself!" He looked around the other five newcomers to the outdoor gathering, tears beginning to run down his own cheeks, "I won't play the game that it's all okay, 'cos it's not. Dean nearly died. You too, Adam, and you, Kel! Cory nearly got himself killed, and only because his son took a life... no, two lives, along with Sammy standin' by him when he was his worst, is he still with us! It's NOT all right!"
Apart from Sean and Cory, the others were stiff with shock.
"What 'game'?" Cory rasped out.
"Way to stir up dem hornets, Justy." Tommy sighed, hanging his head.
"Tell me," Cory pressed, his eyes still sorrowful, but now narrowing.
Adam looked around the group looking for objections and daring any to voice them. "You nearly broke on us, Cor," he answered softly, reaching and taking one of Cory's hands as the blond Patriarch moved to cuddle in beside Sean. "You were in a real state, and Kyle and the others were doing everything they could to help you."
Tommy continued as Adam stopped for a breath, "It ain't workin', bro. Kyle kept worryin' it was slippin'; Him 'n the double-J's keep trying but it ain't doin' what it's 'posed to. So... well, so..."
"So we thought," Dean joined in, "that we'd help by not adding to it. We've all been through hell, Cory; but your mind hadn't yet healed after regaining your memories properly, and now this. We decided not to tell you that we, too, can't sleep. That we are frightened of living nearly forever and losing... losing e...everyone..."
As Dean started to weep, Kelly blubbered, "I don't... I can't live for...forever without Mom, or without T...Tommy. I know, I know," he put in quickly as Sean was about to open his mouth, "We all know... we can become Vifer too, but that still means we'll live for ages... like, forever... without you guys!"
JJ added, "Aunt Teri is even thinking about becoming Vifer, Cor, so she can be our Mom for as long as she can... but... I can't allow that! I won't! She'd have to see you and Sean and Timmy and... all die?? No way can I ask that. But if I don't become Vifer myself, then soon, Adam will be a 12 year old kid with a sixty year old wrinkle as a boyfriend, then I'm gone and he's alone... and I know it's not really forever, but it's gonna seem like it! SO I HAVE to become Vifer, 'cos I won't leave him alone, and then... then I have to watch all of you die..." he too trailed off, and the look in the other's eyes said it all. They were all thinking the same.
Cory's eyes were horror struck. "Why?"
"Why what?" Tommy said, still looking at his feet while sitting there, legs drawn up under his chin.
"Why ... did ... you ... not ... TELL ... ME!" Cory nearly yelled, holding back in time as he did not want to wake his children.
Tommy looked up, his eyes filled with tears and fire. "'Cos fixin our problems can be done in time, Cory! You ain't GOT that! If... we was tryin to help our kin be helpin' you by dealing with our problems ourselves!" Tommy yelled.
"Who are you to make that choice for me?" Cory yelled, irrational fury now gripping him. Sean tried and nearly failed at holding him back.
"Jesus Christ, it's a good thing I can turn off people's hearing," Jason muttered loudly as he and Nathan appeared out of nowhere, both their eyes glowing brightly. "You lot could wake the dead... in fact, you did. Brandar is pissed!"
The seeming insensitivity in Jason's words made all the boys jump up in anger.
"Sit down," Jason ordered, raising his hand and making a lowering gesture.
The now furious boys complied without knowing why or how.
"Now that I have your attention," Jason said in a far more soft and loving tone. "Sorry, but you were all getting into a place you really can't be going to right now, of all times. I had to make you snap out of it. I'm sorry."
Justy was the first to rein in his temper. He nodded slowly. "Jace is right. We were shouting at each other, and that... that's not going to help any."
One by one, they cooled down. Tommy, the last to nod in acceptance, got up and walked to Jason and hugged him firmly.
"Sorry for actin' like a crip'd badger," he whispered to Jason. "Thank's for stoppin' us; love ya, bro."
"Love you too, Tommy," Jason whispered softly, returning the hug. "Now, git and park yer ass on that there grass while I 'splain a few things," he said in a very bad southern accent.
Tommy rolled his eyes, "Y'all need ta stick to messin' wit' heads, Jace, leave prop'r speakin' to those that kin do it right, will ya?"
"Deal. Now sit, Tom-boy, or I'll have you floating upside down for half an hour..." Jason giggled lightly before adding, "and no, Kelly. A sixty-nine might be fun while he's like that, but we don't want to see it, okay?"
A few chuckles went around the circle, but as with Cory and his smiles, none seemed to last. They did what Jason intended them to do, though; the brothers were brothers again, and not nearly punching targets for each other.
"Okay, first, I'm sorry again for what I did, and I'm even sorry I had to be here at all and interrupt what would have been some unique Clan Brother bonding, but..." Jason started with a joking smile.
"No," Justy interrupted. "We're sorry, Jace. You're right, we were getting... emotional."
"That's not a bad thing, really," Nathan said, opening his mouth for the first time since arriving. "We're not Vulcans, Justin."
"Justy, please."
"Okay, Justy," Nathan beamed at him, receiving a warm smile back.
Jason pulled Nathan into his side, and they both sat down with the others under the night sky. "Guys, I know that I'm probably going to sound well arrogant saying this, but I know what you're going through. In a way. I've 'lost' people; my little Ollie not least. I was just lucky to know a certain little angel who likes upsetting the stream of time so I could get Ollie back. But I have still lost people. I've seen things some of you have not, although you know of them as some of your brothers have been through stuff that makes what I've seen seem pathetic. Just know that I know something about this, okay? I'm not going to live forever, but I can understand your feelings of losing someone you love, or even the fear of it. However, you went about things with Cory all wrong."
"What?" Dean managed to say after the stunned silence.
"None of you six needed to keep Cory in the dark with your problems. He LOVES you. You really hurt him there when you said you'd been hiding things from him. He'd break off his dick for you... well; no, maybe his arm for you. His dick is for another in the sound of my voice," Jason giggled as both Cory and Sean blushed so badly it could be seen easily under the tiny light that was outside Cory's front door.
The others sniggered, and Kelly giggled, "Jason 1 - Blondie and Mount 0."
"We'll get ours, Jace!" Cory managed, half a giggle escaping through his blush.
"It got the heart pumping in a nicer way than a good, warming fight, though, didn't it?" Nathan sniggered.
Jason moved over and sat on Cory's lap, kissing him on the cheek as he did so. "Whatever, bro. But please wait 'til after I've finished. This is important."
"You have ten minutes," Sean said, half seriously.
Jason smiled at him, then grew serious. "We've been debating between ourselves how to say this to you guys," Jace said at last, "and by us I mean your telepaths and my lot."
"Just say it, Jace," Cory whispered, his chin on Jason's shoulder.
"Okay. Cory, on Saturday your mind started to break again. It's 'cos you were trying to be a leader as well as a Patriarch. The two came into conflict and you couldn't handle it. Sarek saw that at once and has even talked to you about it, right?"
Cory nodded. "Yeah; that's why he put Sean in charge."
"Well, Tyler was there to jump in and preserve you at that point too. But, well... there's a problem. We can't fix it. Kyle let me in on it Sunday night, and Viccy, Nath' and I have been helping him and Tyler and Levi. We've been taking it in turns to loan you a room in our heads. It's also why the Double Js were made N-Gens, so they could use their huge powers to help like I could; loaning you space in their heads."
Nathan added, after looking at his wristwatch, "Yesterday morning, we opened your minds in that Vulcan Style Bond-link, hoping that being tied to Sean deeply would help, as well as just be a precious gift to you both."
"It failed," Jason murmured. "We only managed to tie the two of you together so firmly that if you slip into a coma, Cory, then Sean will. And it's hard and fast, now. Your natural links are too powerful for us to break."
"Oh, shit," Cory whispered, looking at Sean as his face paled.
The other boys also paled and started moaning softly, "No..."
"Now, don't start that just yet!" Jason said firmly. "We can't do anything else except hold your mind secure for you, but: a Vulcan Kolinahr Master might be able to help you. We're not sure, but since Poppa Spock is going to be here by Thursday, then..."
Cory took a breath and nodded, "Then he can at least try." The look he sent to Sean said something else, however.
Sean sent quickly down their Bond-Link, 'He doesn't know... Mikey said the Shaper would help you.'
'That's what I'm now worried about. How can that poor kid do that?' Cory answered seriously.
"Why can't Kyle and Ty do it, though?" Justy demanded, bringing the other two back to paying attention.
"They don't know how to do a Vulcan Mind Healing." Jason shrugged, "I have been trained some, but a Human telepath cannot learn it all as we can't Meld. A Meld is the most powerful natural telepathy we know of, even when measured against a Mikyvis, Levi said. In some aspects it's obviously weaker than a Mikyvis, or even my telepathy, but in some key areas, it's stronger than us both. There are some things neither they nor we N-Gens can do, guys. But a fully trained Vulcan can. I just hope they can heal you, Cory, or you're going to find that you're a permanent part of my head, and I won't be able to go home. I'd have to stay within a few hundred miles of you at all times; or one of us N-Gens would."
They sat in silence for a while. Jason broke it after he felt they were ready, "As for you boys not talking to Cory and Sean about your worries, then just do it. We are keeping them together, and especially Cory, so yes, he can be told; just don't expect him to talk yet. He can't, not yet. You can cry with him, though, and let him love you and hug you. We're all here for you, but he'd be devastated if you lot didn't tell him this stuff. Okay?"
The others' all nodded mutely.
Nathan stood up, "Okay, it's time for me and Jace to get to bed. I'll let you beat him up tomorrow some time, Cory. I want my Jace-Pillow, and if you don't let him go, then these guys get to see two cute blonds have a mud-fight... Okay for you, as you're 'dressed' for the game, but I'll be pissed getting my uniform muddy!"
Giggles came from them all as Cory realised that he was in the nude, as was Sean. "Oops!" he giggled.
"Uh huh," Jason laughed. "Good thing it's a warmish night, or I'd be committing adultery sitting here!" He rose off Cory's lap and floated to Nathan. Once he had landed he added, "Don't worry about things, Cory; and don't worry about him, guys. Poppa Spock could well be all he needs. Talk for a bit, then get some rest at least. Tomorrow is a full day for us all, more so for two of us, no?" he asked, winking at the two blushing leaders of Clan Short.
Nathan and Jason reactivated their cloaking devices and vanished.
"Well," Justy said as he started to shift closer to Cory and Sean.
"Agreed," Dean added. "Come on, guys. Chill out and let's just talk. Since we messed up with our stupid ideas, we might as well talk now."
"Then y'alls gonna git to bed, okay?" Tommy half ordered his older brothers.
Sean raised an eyebrow, "Oh really? Tell me, little brother: why were you up and out with these five so late? Afraid the kitchen would run away?"
Tommy sighed, "'Cos there ain't none of us been sleep'n neither, so we all up an' decided to do some walkin'... next thing we knew we'd done run into each other, then Y'all turned up."
"Yes, my plan worked well," came Mikey's voice as he appeared and joined the mass group on the grass. "Come on," he continued as he found his lap suddenly filled by Sean and Cory, "Start talking. I'm here to help, but I'm not saying your parts for you!"
"Unca Kyle, wake up! We're hungry!" Timmy, Pauly, and Ricky chorused from the side of the couch.
Kyle rolled over and looked at the three nude angels bouncing near the edge of the couch. "Austin makes sure breakfast is ready for you; why are you waking us up for it?"
Timmy giggled. "Our big bros are fixin' the wedding! Austie, Brandon, Conner an' Leo are gettin' tuxes for all us an' the kitties. CD an' Calen are settin' up the music. We gotta make sure Daddy an' Poppa don' do nuthin, so you gotta make all us breakfast so we can find them!"
"Well," Tyler yawned as Antonio mumbled something unintelligible as he awoke, "They're off checking on Joel."
Kyle giggled as he sat up and looked over at Tyler, Levi, and Antonio. "I see y'all heard our nephews! Ty, you up to making breakfast? I mess up cold cereal!"
"Ain't that the truth!" Levi said as Antonio giggled.
"Hey now, I've never cooked for you!" Kyle responded, trying to look insulted.
Levi giggled. "You didn't have to; Pop made sure we were warned before we were even born!"
Tyler tried and failed to look innocent as Kyle shot him a dirty look.
Antonio giggled. "I like that... natural preservation of the species! One of the few things that can kill you guys; Kyle's cooking!"
The three naked rugrats who had woken their uncles looked on with smiles on their faces as the four on the couch dissolved into laugher.
Timmy waited a few moments before engaging his devastating puppy dog eyes on them. "We're staaarrrrvinnngg!"
Antonio reached over and poked at Timmy's belly. "I'd say, in my professional opinion, there might be at least another hour until your stomach starts eating itself, Sir." he stated professionally.
Ricky giggled, his hands clapped over his mouth, as he watched the confusion play over Timmy's face for an instant. Then Antonio found himself pounced by the three little boys.
"Feed us! Feed us! Feed us!" Pauly cried out between giggles as all three started bouncing on the nearest available person. Not to feel left out, Levi joined them, after reducing his apparant age to match Pauly's.
"As Bel would say, 'More FOODS, less PLAY!!'," Levi sniggered as he used his poppa's belly as a trampoline.
"Alright already!" Tyler giggled. "I just checked with Tommy, he's got your plates ready! BUT you need to get dressed.... that includes YOU Levi! Next time shrink the clothes when you change age!"
Levi giggled. "I'll just borrow some of Pauly's clothes until my tux is ready!"
"Kewl! C'mon, Leevee; let's get dressed!" Pauly said happily as he tugged the purpled eyed boy off the couch and ran out with him.
Timmy gave Kyle more puppy-dog eyes. "Unca Kyle? Can you dress me an' Ricky usin' your mickeymouse magic? Pweeeeeezzzzeeeeeee?"
Sniggering, Kyle nodded and waved his arms mysteriously, "Abera-kadabra!"
There was a brief flash of light, courtesy of Tyler, and Kyle stopped time. Kyle quickly created new clothing and between himself and his husband, they dressed the two motionless boys.
When Kyle started time again, the two boys found themselves in matching outfits; except that Timmy's Tee-shirt said "Belongs to Ricky" and Ricky's said the opposite.
"KEWL!" the two young boys giggled as they examined each other's clothes. "Thanks Unca Kyle!"
Just then, Levi and Pauly reappeared in the room, both wearing black shorts and grey shirts. On the back of both shirts was a simulated rubber stamp stating 'Property of Mikyvis Time Corps'.
Pauly giggled as he noticed Timmy and Ricky's shirts, then play-pouted, "When do I get someone to belong to?"
Levi cocked his head slightly, then his eyes glowed white:
"...//In less than a week shall you find him and he find you, little princeling...//..." came the Voice of the Guardian as "Belongs to Joseph" appeared on Pauly's own top.
Pauly looked at his shirt, then cocked his head at Levi in unspoken question.
"Don't ask me!" Levi giggled. "I'm not allowed access to THAT stuff!"
The chuckle of the Guardian was heard by all, as Levi's shirt suddenly said "Belongs to (Not Telling)"
"Hey! That's cheating!" Levi giggled as he examined the shirt. "You been hanging with Galli again Guardian?" He thought for a moment before asking, "Can you at least tell me when, like you told Pauly?"
//Soon...// was the only answer Levi got from the now disembodied Voice before it faded away again.
Kyle giggled. "Don't worry munchkin; I'm sure that I'll have to talk to Mont and Bast to see if they'll guard you from all the guys and gals that'll want to be your special person just as soon as everyone sees that shirt!"
As Levi was giggling a knock was heard on the door. It opened quickly and two Klingons, an Andorian and a tiny Bajoran came piling in.
"Yous gonna miss da foods, guys!" Belar yelled at the top of his lungs.
Timmy giggled back. "Tell the old guys that; they keep talkin' while we're starvin'!"
"Yeah!" Ricky added. "They're havin too much fun bein' silly!"
"That is what I suspected," Telez said lightly, "so Belar thought bringing three warriors might be handy. Not too sure what he thinks we can do against Mikyvis, other than hugging you into submission, though."
Koth looked at Pauly's shirt and then at Levi's. "Who the 'ell is Joseph; and who ain't tellin' who you're gonna belong to Leev?"
"Ask the Guardian; he's messin with me today!" Levi giggled back. "He decided to 'help' Pauly and me... not that he helped any!"
Korris grunted. "I think we're better off not knowing," he chuckled. "Come on, slow coaches. Aunt Teri and Aunt Helen say that your food will be given to the crocs if you're not there sharpish!"
"Kor," giggled Koth, "'gators, not crocs!"
"A big lizard with teeth is a big lizard with teeth. If I can't eat it, I don't care what species it is!" Korris retorted playfully, winking at Timmy.
Timmy giggled. "Granma won't do that anyways! We're hungry though. Levi, can you take us all over there?"
Kyle held up his hand. "It's not THAT far, we can walk guys! I'm ready if y'all are."
"You're weird Daddy; always walkin' everywhere!" Levi giggled as he managed to avoid a belly poke from Kyle.
Cory and Sean nervously looked at the circle of family ready to escort them into the auditorium.
Mont and Bast stood ready to lead them, both cats grinning in their white tuxes. Each tux carried their rank on the left lapel along with a small triangle of three crests on the right; the Unit, Clan Short, and House of Surak. Both cats were also carrying exact replica Vulcan S'harien swords for use in the ceremony as requested by Sarek. Next to them were JJ and Kyle, both also in white tuxes, with the only difference being the first crest; Kyle's was the Mikyvis Crest, while JJ wore the Clan Security Crest. All four wore a black armband in respect of those who had recently fallen, along with any service medals that they were eligible for on their left breast; all but Kyle wore the newest medal issued, the "Montana Conflict" medal. Cory and Sean outshone the regality of their wedding party though. Both were attired in a white jumpsuit with a tailed suit-coat commissioned by the Queen herself. Over their suit-coats hung a dark red open-front cloak which came to mid-calf. The cloak was held closed at their necks by a signet bearing the Seal of the House of Surak. Their black ties were clasped with another signet; Cory's bore the Founder Council Seal, while Sean's bore the Clan Crest. Both of them also bore the same black armbands as their escorts.
Cory giggled nervously as he looked over and saw Jace and Nath standing guard at the closed doors; both boys at full attention with their hoods raised and their faces in shadow. "After seeing how Mom, Grandma Anne, and Grandma Lizzy dressed us up, I'm almost afraid to see what the rest of you did to the auditorium. This is great, but you guys didn't need to go this far!"
Jason nodded his head slowly.
'For our Family, we would move the Earth,' Cory heard in his mind as Jason whispered mentally to him.
Nathan also nodded slowly, 'Live Long and Prosper, Patriarch.'
'Live Long and Prosper.' Cory sent back with a small grin.
Sean reached over and swiped an imaginary stray hair off Cory's forehead. "You're my Knight, Cory, and now you look the part."
"And you're my favorite teddy bear." Cory replied with a blush. "If it was possible to make you any cuter these clothes do it."
Mont looked at Bast and snickered. "I'm getting a sugar buzz just listening to those two!"
Before Bast could respond, Kyle and JJ chorused "Get used to it!"
The humor broke the tension, and both Cory and Sean joined the rest in their giggles. As they were recovering, Pauly and Wacko came walking towards them; Pauly dressed in a miniature version of JJ's attire and Wacko wearing a diamond-studded collar. In Pauly's hands, being held very carefully, was a red velvet pillow. Covering the contents of the pillow was an ornate silk scarf; all that could be seen was the outline in the shape of two rings.
"Gran'ma will be right out!" Pauly announced as he took a safe position next to Jace.
Sean smiled as he noticed how their youngest son and his furry friend were protecting their cargo like it was the Crown jewels. "Relax Pauly; nobody is going to take those. Can we see them before we go in?"
Pauly shook his head firmly as he pulled the pillow in closer to him. "Nuh uh Poppa! No-one sees dem unless Pastor Mills says so! I PWOMISED Granma Lizzy!"
Jason reached out and patted Pauly's head, while slight sniggers could be heard from under Nathan's cowl.
The rest of the party giggled as Cory and Sean both rolled their eyes. "Told ya!" Kyle giggled. "We took care of EVERYTHING for ya bros; you'll see them when it's the right time to!"
Cory's reply was cut off as he spotted the final members of the wedding party approaching. Teri was leading the way, her white dress obviously designed by the best dressmakers that the Queen had at her disposal. On either side of her, dressed in tuxes identical to Kyle and JJ's attire, was Aaron and Mikey. While Mikey's wings were hidden, his halo was still visible to all who believed.
"Mikey?!?!" Cory exclaimed in shock.
"Do you honestly think I'd miss this, Tigger?" Mikey asked with a grin. "I've been planning this from the day I realized that you guys were a couple!"
Nathan broke tradition suddenly: he just couldn't help it. "What, since they were four years old??"
"Nath'!" Jason hissed, trying not to laugh.
"Our first kiss...." Sean whispered with a smile. Cory grinned back while nodding.
"Yep, that's it... something about four-year-olds using tongue for two minutes nonstop gave it away...." Mikey giggled as both Sean and Cory began to blush.
"Talk about starting early ... I see where Timmy and Ricky get it from!" Aaron chuckled.
"You saw?" Cory asked, trying to make his blush go away.
Mikey nodded. "You kidding? Of course I did! I'd only just left the bathroom after our shower, but you two didn't run after me as normal. So..."
Sean started blushing harder, "Yeah, okay... we get it!"
"Okay boys; stop picking on your little brothers." Teri announced with a smile. "They know you love them without the reminders of when they were little!"
Once Cory and Sean had returned to their normal color, Teri announced "Line up; it's about time to start."
Everyone started to get into position as Teri directed them. Suddenly JJ broke into a fit of giggles as he looked at the pair in front of him. "DUDES! That's the first time I've ever seen tuxes with FURRY TAILS!!"
Mont and Bast just looked back and grinned. "We put extra hair gel on the ends," Bast chuckled, "so if you start goofing off we'll swat you with them!"
JJ winced as Kyle giggled "I'm glad I'm Mikyvis!"
Teri shook her head. "Boys, let's try to keep this serious!" she chuckled. "Kyle, could you please let the organist know we are ready?"
"Sure Mom!" Kyle replied, as Cory and Sean looked at each other with smiles of love.
A few seconds later, the soft organ music that had been playing in the background increased to twice it's previous volume as it launched into the 'Wedding Processional'. Before the first note had a chance to transcend to the next one, Jace and Nath pulled open the doors and returned to attention.
Pauly and Wacko led off the procession into the pitch-black auditorium. As soon as they passed through the doorway, torches on either side of it sprang to life. This continued as they made their way slowly up the aisle; the auditorium sequentially being lit to show their progress. Once Pauly and Wacko were a third of the way to the front, Mont and Bast began their trip towards the stage; regally escorting Teri. JJ and Kyle were next, not moving until Teri had made it one-third of the way up.
As they watched the progress of the last group, both Cory and Sean melted into the sides of their nearest brother. "Mikey, this is too much!" Cory whimpered.
Mikey glanced over to see that Aaron was handling calming Sean's exact same sentiments, then wrapped his arm around Cory. "Relax Tigger. You've given everyone in that room the gift of Love; this is their way of returning it to you. Every step you take on that red carpet is you accepting their gift; every step is proof to them that their trust in you was right. The last time anyone from the Heavenly Plane was visibly present at a wedding, of any type, was back in the times that the Bible was written; Our Father granted me this honor before I could even ask. Our Father does not task us with things beyond our capabilities; just trust in Him and you will be fine."
Cory looked into Mikey's eyes, and the love that came from them gave him the strength to hold off the stress that was threatening to overcome him once again. "Thanks Bro." Cory whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too." Mikey whispered back. "It's time to share your Love, Tigger."
Cory nodded, then straightened himself up just in time to hear the first notes of the 'Wedding March' barrel out of the auditorium.
Mikey took Cory's arm in his own, then with Sean and Aaron mirroring them, the four of them headed up the aisle. 'Where did all of these people come from?' Cory sent to Sean as he realized that the auditorium was packed to capacity.
'Going by the uniforms and such, I think Starfleet took every seat that was left after Camp Little Eagle and all the rest of the kids claimed theirs.' Sean sent back. He almost tripped on his own feet however when he noticed the faces he was just passing. 'Oh my GOD! Coach Simmons and the WHOLE FRIGGING TEAM are here!'
'Duhhhhh... I think half of Iowa is watching, not counting the fifty or so that showed up in person!' Kyle announced in both of their heads. 'Stop worryin' and get those cute butts up here already!' he added, bringing a smile to both boys' faces.
As they got closer to the front, Cory finally managed to tear his eyes away from the fantastic arch that Josiah had created and paid attention to the other items filling the front of the Auditorium. In the back, lit by hidden spotlights, were two banners; on the left was the Clan Short Crest, and on the right was the Seal of the House of Surak. Between the banners, above everything so that it could be seen throughout the room, was what Cory swore could only be a main viewscreen off of the latest Starfleet ships. Above it was the Great Seal of the Federation, and below the screen were the four crests of the Founding Member worlds; Andoria, Vulcan, Telar and Earth.
Cory and Sean both stumbled as they realized at the same time what the viewscreen was showing; it showed CD, in a white tux, at the console of the most famous organ in the world. Their son, the boy that Cory had risked his Starfleet career over, was at the Canterbury Cathedral organ, immersed in ensuring that every single note was perfect as he played on the most important day for the two most important people in his short life.
Cory slowed to near a stop as tears came to his eyes. The lack of movement made little difference at this point as he was at the front row of seats, so slowing down was more or less expected. He did feel weak, however, and the sight of his little boy playing his heart out was nearly finishing the blond haired teen.
A small hand reached out from the nearest seat to take his own, and he felt energized. Quickly looking down, his gaze was met by a serious expression from a pair of deep, shining blue eyes.
The newest member of the Clan, Joel, smiled up at his first big brother, and nodded; before removing his hand and looking forwards again.
Sean tightened his grip on Cory's hand and together they covered the last few steps to the pulpit at the front. As they reached the base of the ramp leading onto the stage, the end candles on the multitude of candelabras throughout the room lit. Cory and Sean's progress up the ramp was matched by the lighting of the candles, with the center candles lighting as their first foot hit the stage.
'Kyle, I know you're listening!' Sean transmitted telepathically. 'If doves start appearing out of thin air, I'm gonna hunt you down and see just how waterproof a Mikyvis really is! This is awesome though lil bud.'
'Don't worry Sean.' Kyle replied. 'The doves are sitting with Allie; Timmy didn't say if they had any plans though.'
Sean rolled his eyes at what was not said. As they came in front of the pulpit, Tyne stepped forward and nodded his support.
Tyne smiled at Cory and Sean briefly before looking up at the audience before him. After a moment Tyne finally began, "Welcome; I must say, this is one of the greatest honors, standing before you here, that I have ever had the pleasure of taking part in. I know I don't have to tell any of you how important these two young men are to us, but while you know them well a good number of you have no idea who I am. My name is Tyne Oraculum; I am the head of a Council that Cory is a part of, a Council that is working to try and make this world a better place. I know Cory and Sean through my work with them on that Council, and while what I've seen gives me no doubt that these two young men are our rescuers in these dark times, I'm sure many of you have seen this far better then I have. I am here today at their request, to share and bear witness to a promise they intend to make to one another. This is a promise that so many have taken before them but that few have as much heart and dedication to actually make last as these two have. The word that my people and those of our Council have for this is Socius, literally meaning the permanent bond to a life partner or companion. They wish to be recognized by our Council as Socius, which we consider to be the final steps two people could ever take together. And so, I am here to oversee this event and offer my blessing to it, though I dare say that my blessing alone could never express my gratitude and love for both Cory and Sean."
"Thank you Tyne." Pastor Mills said as he joined Tyne in front of the blushing couple. "Would you do me the honor of staying up here with me to assist throughout the ceremony?"
Tyne grinned, "Gladly."
Pastor Mills smiled his thanks before looking out at the crowd filling the Auditorium. Despite the extra balconies that had somehow appeared overnight, the walls were still lined with people who had no place to sit. "Brothers and Sisters, as I look upon you I see Hope. There has been no other time that I have seen a love so strong as to affect not only those from our own small planet, but those who come from locations scattered throughout our Universe. Throughout the known history of humanity, we have searched out stability in times of trouble. Many have fallen recently to protect the very thing that Cory and Sean stand for; today as these vows are given, we serve notice to the Universe that those efforts to end the peace that comes with the efforts of each and every one of you have done nothing but make you stronger. To honor our Heavenly brothers and sisters, who the Mikyvis Council assure me are joining us today from what is Universally known as the Spirit Realm, I ask each and every one of you to join me in a minute of silence."
Despite the size of the crowd, the auditorium fell absolutely still; even the animals surrounding Timmy and Ricky bowed their heads in silence.
After the minute was over, Pastor Mills walked around and stood between Cory and Sean. After he wiped some of the fresh tears from the teen's faces, he held his hands in the air and addressed the crowd. "These tears are proof that even as we move forward, those who are to be honored tomorrow are not forgotten. To those brothers and sisters who are not present in this room due to preparing a fitting tribute, I wish to extend an eternal thank-you from each and every one of us. Your dedication to continuing the healing that is started today will never be forgotten."
Pastor Mills returned to his original spot behind the podium. "Most of you don't know me; when Cory was recovering from his memory loss I was tasked by God to ensure that Sean was guided to be there for Cory's recovery. I won't go into detail; Sean has informed me that, due to most of you not getting proper rest recently, one of my normal sermons would put the entire room to sleep. While that might be helpful for you, Sean thinks that the snores might be disruptive to the ceremony."
The small smiles on Cory and Sean's faces as giggles and chuckles were heard throughout the crowd told Pastor Mills that his comments had served their intended purpose. As the room returned to normal, he continued. "Any time I see Cory and Sean, the first thing I see is Love. Not just the love of brothers or the love of mates, but a love so strong that it affects anyone around them. Their love is spoken of in every text from Our Father known to those attending and many more; no matter which of Our Father's many names your faith or upbringing has taught you, His message of unconditional love is universal. I have learned my faith from the Bible, while I will quote from it, the message is the same in all of his teachings, no matter what the title. While I have quoted First Corinthians many times, today is the first time I can say it truly fits."
He paused, then began the quote. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
"Love never fails... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
"Cory and Sean are the embodiment of Love, so strong as to change the lives of every person here. Today, Tyne and myself have been given the honor of officially witnessing the sealing of that love before God and mankind. There is no prayer that I can give that equals the love each of you has shown in ensuring that this day was a sign of your love of this couple, but I ask of you to please join me in your own words as we ask Our Father for his Blessing."
The Pastor closed his eyes and began to pray as murmured prayers from around the large room were heard, "Most gracious Heavenly Father; on this day Your Children of many faiths have gathered together to witness the joining of two of Your Children. In Your great Wisdom and Compassion, you have gifted us with an embodiment of Love only exceeded on this world by Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank Thee for this gift, and today ask you in your Name to Bless this union and all who may be affected by it. We ask for Your guidance and protection as Cory and Sean become One before You, and ask that You stand by their side throughout their union. We thank You for the gift of Your love, and ask that all present never feel the loss of it throughout their lives. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ we pray; Amen."
Once the murmured prayers had stopped, Pastor Mills smiled at the two teens before him, then addressed the boys with them, "Doubly blessed is the couple which comes to the marriage altar with the approval and blessings of their families and friends. Who has the honor of presenting these young men for marriage?"
"We do." Mikey and Aaron chorused in unison after receiving an approving nod from Teri.
Pastor Mills nodded, and waited as Teri, Mikey, and Aaron took their seats. Once they were seated, he continued. "Cory and Sean, the covenant which you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness, and yet with a deep sense of joy; with the deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and caring love." He paused as he looked around the room. "If there is anyone present who has reason that these two young men should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Silence fell upon the room; not even breathing could be heard. After pausing long enough to ensure there would be no response, Pastor Mills continued.
"Cory, will you have Sean to be your husband, to live together as friend and mate? Will you love him as a person, respect him as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat? And keep him beside you as long as you both shall live?"
"I will." Cory replied without hesitation.
"Sean, will you have Cory to be your husband, to live together as friend and mate? Will you love him as a person, respect him as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat? And keep him beside you as long as you both shall live?"
"I will." Sean replied just as quickly.
The two boys turned to face each other, then Cory began his vows. "Sean, since the day I met you I have loved you more than a brother. When I started getting my memory back, you showed your love to me with a poem. Today it is my turn to show you my love with one." As Cory looked deep into Sean's eyes, he recited the poem from memory.
"Sean,
You are the light of my life
You are the Yin to my Yang
You are the words to my thoughts
The Eyes to my Soul
With you I am complete
You fill my life with wonder and joy
With you all things are possible
Without you I yearn for what could be
Thank you My Love for making me whole
We are a Team for the ages You and I
Till forever and beyond"
("The Light of My Life" © 2009 The Story Lover)
Cory paused again, and took Sean's hands in his own. "Sean; with God as my Witness, I will love you from now until forever, and promise to never leave your side."
The smallest of shivers ran up Sean's spine as he began his own vows, "I have loved you as long as I can remember, Cory. Everything we ever did, everywhere we went, it was always together. Even when we were apart for most of the last year, you were with me in my heart, my mind, my soul. I love you now more than then, yet less than I will in the time before us. I promise on everything I hold dear to be there for you as you have promised me."
He paused as tear ran from both his eyes and Cory's, then he echoed the love of his life, "Cory; with God as my Witness, I will love you from now until forever, and promise to never leave your side."
This time, the shiver up his spine was not slight; nor was it his alone, and in that moment, as everyone in the Auditorium and all those watching shivered, Sean felt a touch upon his heart.
Only heard by three in that room, a Voice came. Only heard by Cory, Sean and Mikey, the Guardian of Forever added his blessing in words neither of the three could remember, yet in words that imprinted themselves into the souls of the two teens.
'May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make his Face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and bring you peace,' Mikey sent silently to both of them, and they heard in his mental voice the sound of rushing waters.
Pastor Mills wiped his eyes. "Father, bless these rings which Cory and Sean have set apart to be visible signs of the inward and spiritual bond which unites their hearts. As they give and receive these rings, may they testify to the world of the covenant made between them here."
Cory took the Onyx-set ring from his side of the pillow that Pauly was proudly holding up for them. "Receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my trust, my respect and my love for you."
Once the ring was on Sean's finger, Sean took his turn with the Amethyst-set ring. "Receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my trust, my respect and my love for you."
Once Sean was done, they said in unison "These rings now seal the vows of our marriage and will symbolize the purity and endlessness of our love."
As Cory and Sean turned towards the unity candle, the room went dark with the exception of a spotlight directly on them. On the screen behind them, CD appeared sitting in front of a string orchestra with an acoustic guitar, Nick Carter to the right side of him. Without a word, CD strummed the opening notes of 'I Remember You' by Skid Row; the orchestra doing a string adaptation of the song as Nick sang the lyrics.
"Woke up to the sound of pouring rain;
The wind would whisper, and I'd think of you
And all the tears you cried, they called my name
And when you needed me I came through
I paint a picture of the days gone by
When love went blind, you would make me see
I'd stare a lifetime into your eyes
So that I knew that you were there for me;
Time after time you were there for me
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
And through the sleepless nights; through every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you...
We spent the summer with the top rolled down
Wished ever after would be like this
You said I love you babe, without a sound
I said I'd give my life for just one kiss
I'd live for your smile and die for your kiss
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
And through the sleepless nights; through every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you
We've had our share of hard times
But that's the price we paid
And through it all we kept the promise that we made
I swear you'll never be lonely
Woke up to the sound of pouring rain
Washed away a dream of you
But nothing else could ever take you away
'Cause you'll always be my dream come true
Oh my darling, I love you
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through the sleepless nights, through every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through all the sleepless nights, through every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember, I remember you..."
('I Remember You' © 1989 Skid Row from the album 'Skid Row')
As CD completed the final guitar solo, Cory and Sean picked up the tapers on either side of the unity candle, lit it in unison, then blew out the flames of the tapers.
As the lights came back up. Pastor Mills smiled and continued the service. "For as much as Cory and Sean have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and these witnesses, and thereto have pledged their faithfulness each to the other, and have pledged the same by the giving and receiving each of a ring, by the Authority invested in me by God our Father, by the United Federation of Planets and by Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, I now pronounce that they are bonded together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those that God has joined together, let no-one put asunder."
Pastor Mills stepped back, and Tyne took his place. Tyne nodded to both Cory and Sean, then proclaimed "Individuality is an important part of a person's life; it gives us purpose and makes us strive. We learn and grow by ourselves and in our culture but alone we easily reach the boundaries of our own humanity, the point where we cannot go any further. But when two individuals choose to join and become one then they, together, reach a turning point. That point notes not only their love for one another but a new experience, a new way of growing and developing, together they learn to be more than they were apart. The Council has recognized that these two individuals before us are ready to take this next step, to become one and continue their path together. And so, by the power that has been given to me by the Council, I now declare them Socius. May their life together be long, complete, and teach us all the value of love."
Tyne stepped back again, and Paster Mills moved with him, saying softly to both teens, "You may kiss the one your heart loves."
Cory and Sean embraced each other and began their first kiss as Socius. Everyone was concentrating on the pair, so nobody noticed the slight glow appear in Kyle's eyes as he amplified the love they felt for each other and transmitted it, with the help of Tyler and Levi, to each and every person witnessing the event.
As the glow of love that had flooded everyone's hearts faded away, and as Cory and Sean broke their kiss to simply stand there, looking into the other's eyes, the entire auditorium started to resound with the clapping and cheers from all the assembled kids and adults. Then the lights dimmed, and subtle movement was heard from near the front seats. In the darkened Auditorium a small shadow was seen running quickly to one side of the stage, while another made it's way to the other side.
From the speakers Starfleet had installed for the music that had been played from Canterbury Cathedral, more music started. On the screen, the view in the Cathedral shifted to also show a choir standing near the orchestra.
A light came down on the left hand side of the stage, illuminating the large floor to ceiling banner on which the green Clan Short Crest was seen. Standing just in front of the banner, lit by that light, and positioned just under the Crest, Kevin Thompson stood. A microphone was in his hand, and at the correct moment, he raised it to his mouth and started to sing:
"When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me."
Coupled with his light, free and beautiful voice, the music and words flowed smoothly around all there, and Cory and Sean stood open mouthed as Kevin sang for all assembled.
This was no simple Love Song to express what the two teens felt for each other, but instead it was a tribute and an outpouring of love from all those assembled to them.
Kevin sang on:
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders -
You raise me up... to more than I can be."
As the last note of the chorus drifted away, a violin picked up the bridge and began to lead it back to the beginning.
Another light flared on the exact opposite side of the stage, and an equally small boy was highlighted, standing before the other Banner, upon which the Seal and Crest of the House of Surak was emblazoned.
It was the new child, Joel, who had so mysteriously arrived the afternoon before. His hair was slicked back from his face in as much semblance of tidiness as could be achieved without a hair cut, and his thin features glowed under the soft light upon him.
His eyes shone with raw emotion as he looked at the two who had been helping him so much since he'd woken that morning, and, his own voice filled with that same emotion, he started to sing:
"There is no life - no life without its hunger.
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity:"
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders -
You raise me up... to more than I can be."
As he sang the last line, he came forward as one with Kevin and they met centre stage, looking at Cory and Sean. Together, their sweet clear voices merged and flowed for the repeat of the Chorus, and the choir on screen added their own voices at the same time. The blast of sound and power shook the building:
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders -
You raise me up... to more than I can be."
For most of the song, Cory had been looking deep into Sean's eyes, but a rustling in the Auditorium made them both turn. All their brothers and sisters in the Clan were on their feet, and with the two small boys on stage, they all joined their voices to sing, once again, the Chorus... this time, their own way:
"You raise us up, so we can stand on mountains;
You raise us up, to walk on stormy seas;
We are strong, when we are on your shoulders -
You raise us up... to more than we can be."
("You Raise Me Up" - © Music by Rolf Løvland, © Lyrics by Brendan Graham - **See Notes**)
"You raise me up," sang Joel alone, as the last of the music faded, "To more than I... can be."
Dead silence filled the room for a moment, then:
"That is what you mean to us, Cory, Sean," Kevin said in a near whisper, only heard due to the mic he still held. "On your wedding day, we all just wanted to tell you why we did all this for you. That song was the answer. 'Cos of you, we are all safe, and better than we were."
"Thank you," Joel murmured thickly, a happy smile on his face, and tears in his almost glowing blue eyes.
As both small boys moved off stage and the lights returned to normal, Sarek was seen raising an eye brow at the newest member of the Clan as Joel walked past him. Joel stopped for a second and looked up and smiled nervously before running quickly to Teri.
Amanda had the most unreadable expression on her face, however. "Poor... poor child," Cory saw her mouth silently before a loud bang was heard from the doors at the center back of the auditorium, drawing everyone's attention.
Cory's mouth dropped open as the doors at the rear were opened and the Coldstream Guard entered in double file. The marched to the stage and moved apart enough to line both sides of the aisle. At the back, Xandor and Riti stood, and Riti had a golden circlet about his head. Both winged boys had Greek style togas on, and as they walked down, Cory had an image of a pair of cherubs come to his mind.
Once the two Lo'Garn had reached the stage, they moved to stand on either side of the newly married couple. From Canterbury, a fanfare of trumpets sounded as the Queen appeared in the doorway, in her full regalia. The Royal Guard all drew their swords and made an archway under which she made her way slowly. Behind her came her Husband, Prince Philip, and her grandson, Prince Harry. Taking up the rear were the remaining six members of the Dragon Division leadership, all in full VSO Dress Uniforms and bearing their own golden circlets.
Once everyone had reached the foot of the stage, the Queen ascended and moved to stand behind Cory and Sean. The six black garbed Dragon kids parted to stand three each side of the foot of the stage to allow room for two more to enter.
Belar and Ross came padding down, both in Blue Dragon Uniforms and also crowned. Each bore an ornate cushion upon which golden circlets rested. As they came to the stage and walked up the steps to stand before the now married pair of teens, Cory saw that the crowns the little boys wore had the Coat of Arms of the House of Windsor at the apex dead center, overlaid with the circular silver dragon icon, yet the two circlets that they carried had the same, but with the Emerald Clan Short Crest over the Coat of Arms.
'What the hell is going on?' he thought furiously at Sean as he felt himself blush.
Sean shrugged as they both turned to look at the Queen, 'Not a clue!'
"We have watched," Queen Elizabeth began, "as two wonderful people joined themselves together before us, and have felt and shared in their love for each other. We have all seen much these last few months, and recently more than we could have ever wished to see, and in this act of union, a reply has been sent to those who would do good people harm:
"'We will not surrender. We will win. We have the right to live and love and enjoy our lives, free from bigotry, hatred and pain.' This is the message that came clearly to me as I watched Cory and Sean Short become one in heart and soul."
She paused as applause built and drowned out any possibility of her words being heard. Once it had died down she continued with a smile, now addressing both teens before her, "We wish to recognize this love, this spirit, with a gift. You have both sworn brotherhood with Jason and Nathan Evans, and later with Victoria and the others. This has allowed me to do for you what I once did for them when they swore brotherhood with my grandson, Prince Henry of Wales.
"When my father met the Vulcans for the first time, he learned of their culture. He approved of their family relationships, and so folded into our own Family and House many of the traditions of Vulcan - namely, in this case, A'nirih and M'aih and Ugan-Than-Sakai. Adopted Father, Mother and Brothers by Vow.
"So now, by the Authority of my Throne and Crown, I hereby recognize you both, and all those you claim as brother and sister, as my Grandchildren; you are members of my House, British by Joint Nationality, and Subjects within my Dominions."
The room was in utter silence. Every child, teenager and adult in the Auditorium registered shock on their faces; the Vulcan guests naturally excluded.
"Kneel, Cory. Kneel, Sean," the Queen commanded.
Both boys did so quickly, trembling in shock.
Belar and Ross moved around them and Belar lifted his cushion first. Taking the golden circlet from it, the Queen lifted it up before the assembled crowd.
She placed it gently on Cory's head.
Ross raised his cushion, and the same was repeated by the Queen for Sean. She then said to them both, "Arise and be recognized."
The two Lo'Garn at their sides helped the trembling teens to their feet. As they turned around, the Queen said, her voice ringing throughout the Auditorium, and throughout all homes where the live broadcast of the marriage was being watched, "We present to you their Highnesses, Prince Cory Patrick Short and Prince Sean Michael Short; Princes of the Empire, and Defenders of the Commonwealth Alliance."
For a moment more, there was deep silence. Once the shock had worn off, however, the roof was nearly raised when everyone in there started cheering and clapping.
Again, after waiting for the applause to lessen, Queen Elizabeth spoke one final time, "All who claim the two new Princes as brothers are themselves my grandchildren, and that will not change. If you wish to receive your own title and crown, you may do so by simply asking. It shall not be refused. It is your choice, and not asking will deny you nothing compared to those who accept it."
With that, music again started in Canterbury; it was the Canon in D by Pachelbel. The Queen nodded at the filled room one last time before leaving with Prince Philip, the Coldstream Guard escorting them.
Harry moved up to the two shellshocked teens on stage. "Congratulations, brothers!" he chuckled as he embraced them.
As both boys returned the hug, Sean noticed the innocent grin on Kyle's face. "Some warning might have been nice lil' bro!" Sean said with a smile.
"Grandma Lizzy wouldn't let me!" Kyle responded with a giggle.
"I'm not surprised!" Cory replied as he regained his composure.
"My grandmother is evil," Harry chuckled. "She likes surprises, and I'm sure if your little brother had spoilt it for her, she'd have found a way to get him back."
Kyle nodded. "You can say that again! It wouldn't be a problem normally, except Levi turned traitor and promised to help her!"
Mikey shook his head with a grin. "I think it's time to escort my favorite Princely Pests out so that everyone can properly congratulate them. It's my turn to surprise everyone; I brought extra escorts, and now that the outside feed has dropped it is time for them to show themselves!"
At Mikey's words, Davie and Pablito appeared, glowing wings and all. "I thought you forgot us!" Pablito commented with a grin.
"Forgot?" Mikey chuckled. "How can I forget you two when I had to keep from laughing as you flew around the place during the entire wedding doing random acts of goodwill? The barrel rolls were a bit much guys!"
"SOMEONE had to cover for you while you were busy being a big brother!" Davie giggled as he stuck out his tongue at Mikey. "C'mon; those two look like they need to get off their feet."
"More angels? Can I go see them, Mammy?" came a voice from where Teri was standing at the front row.
"Of course, sweetheart," she replied.
Cory looked over and giggled to Mikey, "Brace yourself!"
Mikey turned and was met by a shyly smiling Joel, who scrambled into his arms. "Who're they, Mikey? They Saints like you? They more brothers?" he asked quietly in a rush.
Mikey nodded as he turned so that Joel could see them, "They are actually what you could call 'Almost Saints' Joel; these are my assistants Davie and Pablito. When I can't be someplace, they help out. Since I call them brothers, I think that means that you can call them brothers too."
"We all call them brothers; very special brothers," Cory added. "They guard their families that have grown since they were alive just like Mikey guards us, little brother."
"Hi," was the shy greeting Joel gave both Davie and Pablito. "Umm... can I hug you? Both of you? I like hugs. They're nice."
Pablito nodded as Davie replied with a wide smile, "Turn down hugs? You've got to be kidding! Come here, Joel!"
As Davie and Pablito took turns giving Joel hugs, the procession started its way out of the auditorium. As they exited the room, they found that a corridor to the outside door was formed by the Royal Guard, their swords forming an arch for the newly wed couple to walk under.
As the group made their way outside, they started to hear the steady "thump thump thump" of helicopter rotors. They all looked off to the east, just in time to see three helicopters flying in formation. The one in the middle, a huge MI-26, almost one hundred and fifty feet long, was being flanked by two much smaller Hueys. They made their way over the crowd rather quickly and very low to the ground. Then the two smaller ones split off, and made another pass. Just as they were almost over top of the crowd, they wound up to full power, and pulled up into an almost vertical climb. At the same time, the rocket pods under the wings started to fire quickly.
The rockets shot out, and once they got about five hundred feet away from the helicopters, and now directly over the heads of the wedding guests, they exploded into huge balls of different color lights. Everyone watched in awe as the "fireworks" colored the sky, and the two helicopters turned and flew away, catching up to their very large brethren.
Cory and Sean looked at each other, their appreciation of the display they had just witness written all over their faces. "Awesome!" Cory commented with a big grin.
"Now THAT was some great flying!" Sean added with an appreciative whistle.
"It was beautiful, dad." Sammy said quietly as he watched Cory and Sean, along with the main wedding party, head outside.
"Yes, it was" Mike replied as he sighed.
"I wish Adam and Logan woulda come, then they'd see why." Sammy added.
"I know, but they're hurting a lot right now." Mike replied softly.
"I know that dad, but if they coulda seen it and felt it. Felt what's it's done for everyone, what it could have done for them." Sammy pleaded with a troubled look.
"Sometimes people hurt so much that they let it become anger, son, and can't see their way through it." Mike replied after some thought.
"I know, but this..." Sammy argued as he looked around, "This would have helped."
"Yeah, I think so too; but remember how you were last night, baby? Remember how angry you were?" Mike asked.
"Yeah." Sammy replied.
"Me and Vish sent everything back through our link; so our brothers and sisters know what happened here, and I'm sure they shared it with Adam too." KT interjected softly.
"I know they did; and Adam'll see, sooner or later." Vish added.
"I hope so." Sammy replied.
"For Adam, this looks like they're having a party before his family is even in the ground, and he's not happy about that; but he hasn't been here, and he doesn't know just how bad things were for everyone. That makes a huge difference baby, a huge difference. I've been watching Cory, and he's suffering most of all. He almost didn't make it through the wedding, he's so close to losing it. They needed this, he needed this, and Adam as well as the others will come to see that sooner or later, trust me." Mike said as he tried to get Sammy to understand.
"I will daddy, I always will." Sammy replied as he gave Mike a hug.
"It is... how you say 'too much pain in him to see past it'?" Yuri asked.
"You said it perfectly kiddo." Mike replied, which got a shy smile from Yuri.
"Da then, when pain is less for him, then he will see beyond perimeter, yes?" Yuri said.
"Yeah he will" Mike replied.
"Since Jace said I gotta assign positions to people, I think I'm gonna make you Director of Communications for the North America Division, Yuri." SamSam said as he smiled lovingly at his now shocked brother.
Once Yuri got his mouth closed, Mike tried not to laugh as Yuri protested. "But I do not have sufficient, how do you say, versatility in English language."
Mike watched as Sammy's smile disappeared. Totally serious, Sammy said "Bro, sometimes I think you speak it better than all of us."
"Come on guys; let's get out there, cause I hear helicopters." Mike interrupted, trying to corral all of them towards the doors; including a still stunned Yuri, who looked like he was about to protest some more.
'Yuri is now Communications Director for Sammy, even if Yuri don't know it yet!' Mike thought with a smile.
Sammy pulled out his communicator and softly said into it "Reynolds to Lafayette; stand by for transport."
"Acknowledged, Director Reynolds. Standing by."
As they walked out with the others; Mike looked over his little family, smiling at seeing how great they all looked.
Every one of them down to little Alexei was dressed in a full dress uniform from The Unit.
The pure white which adorned them from head to feet were tailored and fit them quite well. Each had a Unit emblem affixed on the right shoulder and a Clan Short emblem on the left one, while the older kids had empty holsters at their sides as guns really didn't belong here right now.
Sammy also had medals displayed on his chest and the silver leaf cluster of his rank of Lt. Colonel on each shoulder board. The purple heart shaped one on his chest, and the others on the other children, hurt Mike the most as he watched them move off.
They moved through the reception line, and finally Mike walked up to Cory and Sean. "It was a beautiful ceremony, congratulations to the both of you."
"Thank you Mike." Cory replied.
Mike moved out of the way, and watched as Sammy, flanked by everyone else, came up to stand in front of the newlyweds. Sammy leaned forward, and wrapped his arms around first Cory then Sean, before stepping back and saying "Congratulations."
"Thanks." Sean replied this time.
"It did a lot of good guys; and we're so happy for you." Sammy replied with a smile.
"I hope so." Cory said as he looked around briefly before returning his gaze to Sammy. "The uniforms look good on you guys."
"Thanks; and it did Cor. I wish you could have felt it, and that you could feel the difference now." Sammy replied, trying to make Cory understand.
"I'll take your word for it bro." Cory said with a slightly more genuine smile on his face.
"We can't stay though, Adam and the guys need us. They're shorthanded now with everything going on, and we're all going to help out."
"We understand, thanks for coming though." Sean answered, his smile showing he understood.
"We wouldn't miss this for the world!" SamSam replied with a smile before giving both newlyweds another hug before stepping back.
"Adam wanted you to have this," Sammy said as he pulled an envelope from inside his coat and handed it to Cory.
Cory looked at the envelope for a moment before taking it from him. "I hope he realizes we didn't mean any disrespect; we didn't try to hurt him." Cory said softly.
"He will, just give it time, he's really hurting right now and he isn't seeing much of anything real clear." Sammy replied.
Cory smiled briefly before saying, "Give him my best. If he needs anything, tell him to call."
"I will." Sammy replied as they moved off to the side.
Once everyone was sure that none of the group had wandered off, Sammy brought the communicator to his mouth.
"Do not, I believe it is, overtax the capacity of the mattress to handle da?" Yuri said as he smiled at Cory and Sean.
Mike started choking as he gasped "YURI!", while the two teens in question turned bright red.
"Meet my new Communications Director guys!" Sammy giggled, before somehow managing to gasp "Energize" into the communicator.
As the transporter beam began to form around them, Yuri asked "What?" in a very perplexed innocent sounding voice.
'He might not be extremely proficient in English, but he certainly had that down just fine! Mike thought to himself just before the transporter took hold.
Cory glanced at Sean, then gingerly opened the letter from Adam. As he read through it, his features relaxed. "That's a nice letter; we need to call Adam and thank him as soon as we can." Cory commented as he passed the letter to Sean.
Sean read it, then smiled. "Agreed Cor; I'll remind you once this all settles down."
For the next half-hour, the wedding party greeted their guests as they filed out of the building. By the time everyone was out, Jon and the band were set up and began taking requests for music. Cory and Sean found a seat to rest their feet, and were pleasantly surprised when CD, still in his tux, scampered over and climbed on them. "Daddy, Poppa! Look what the nice man over in England gave me!"
Cory took the beautiful certificate from his son and looked at it closely. "Oh my God! Sean! Look at this!"
"Associateship Diploma from the Royal College of Organists! I don't believe it!" Sean exclaimed.
Cory pulled CD into a hug. "I guess you showed someone important just how special you are, son. I'm really proud of you!"
"Me too!" Sean exclaimed as he reached over and rubbed CD's back. "I bet not just anyone gets one of those!"
"You are correct, Prince Sean," Lizzy stated as she joined them. "David Flood, the Organist from Canterbury Cathedral, was amazed by my great grandson's playing. By the time little CD had finished Beethoven's Fifth, the Certificate was being printed."
"But don't they usually require auditions and reviews well before they offer it?" Aaron asked as he too joined the group, having overheard from his own nearby seat.
"Normally, yes; but in CD's case, his skill was clearly seen and outstanding, from what I have been told. The College went by the recommendation from both Mr Flood and Prince Harry when he was there," the Queen replied.
Cory smiled. "I've known it since the day I met him! CD, why don't you and Uncle Aaron take this and put it in your room someplace safe?"
"Aaron," Sean added, "Will you make a copy of it for CD to show to anyone he wants out here? I don't want him to lose the chance of showing that someone outside of the Compound appreciated his great playing too."
"Sure thing bro; then I think I'm going to show off with CD! It's not every day that your nephew earns the right to add 'ARCO' after his name!" Aaron replied with a grin.
"I'm thirsty; wanna go for something to drink, babe?" Sean asked as they watched Aaron walking away with CD riding on his hip.
"Sure." Cory replied. "Thanks for everything Grandma Lizzy!"
Elizabeth just nodded with a gentle smile, and watched as the two newlyweds headed towards the Rec Room entrance.
Cory and Sean froze as they entered the building. The room was lined with tables overflowing with food, and there were parents spaced evenly to provide drinks. In the center of the room, Tommy, Tyler, Paul, and Pauly were in the process of ensuring everything was perfect on the ten-foot-tall wedding cake, Wacko standing guard to ensure nobody messed with it.
"Is this okay bros?" Tommy asked as he noticed them, his accent lost in his worry.
"It's awesome." Cory replied in awe as they moved towards the giant cake.
"How did you have time to make something this great?" Sean added.
Tommy grinned, relieved that it met with their approval. "Ty kinda helped me do some cheatin'; we jumped around an' baked when the ovens was not bein' used an' no-one was around to catch us. Cookin' Mikyvis style's fun!"
Cory and Sean made the rounds, giving Tommy and all of his helpers an appriciative hug of thanks. They inspected each of the hand-drawn minature crests covering the sides of the cake, and used the ladder to see the two life-like reproductions of themselves standing on top.
"This is perfect; you've outdone yourselves!" Cory exclaimed to the group as he took one more round. "Neither of us will ever forget it; thank you!"
Sean nodded his agreement. "I don't think there is anyone on this Earth that could have done it any better!"
For the next hour, they mostly just sat there as brother after brother came by to give their personal congratulations. At any one time, either a member of Timmy's 'tribe' or Joel would be there with them, collecting cuddles from what all professed to be 'their favorite cuddlers'. The only exceptions were when they got up for the required slow dance, followed by honoring the band's request to cover the vocals on 'Born to be my Baby'. Kyle, Eli, and Benji joined them shortly after they took their seats once again, both smiling as they watched CD, still in his tux, supplying second lead for the band. As the band launched into 'Living on a Prayer', Kyle got their attention.
"Bros, while I was catchin' up with my Grandpa, Eli and Benji thought up an idea. Since I can't float someone myself, they're gonna help me show you something." Kyle said with a grin.
Cory and Sean both nodded their heads, curious as to what Kyle was up to. A few seconds later, they found themselves joining Kyle as all three of them floated above the massive crowd.
"You're asking why we went so far to make today special." Kyle said as he guided them to look around them. "Look at our brothers; really look."
Cory was the first to comment. "They're all making new friends and hanging around with guys from the other Divisions."
"Yeah," Sean added, "Nobody is staying in their own group. Sky's over there talking to Javyk, and it looks like Cody and Jerry have got a really funny discussion going on with Nath'."
Kyle nodded. "You know why?"
"Why?" both boys responded.
"Because you two have taught all of us a lot. You gave us love, you gave us hope, but there is one thing that you gave us that none of us ever had." Kyle replied.
"Family?" Cory asked.
"That too; but there is more." Kyle replied, his grin getting bigger. "Listen to our brothers," he added as he unmuted the sound around them, "They're telling you loud and clear."
Cory and Sean smiled and pulled Kyle into an airborne three-way hug as their senses were blasted with the sound of hundreds of youth singing loud and clear.
....Keep the faith
Keep the faith
Keep the faith
Lord we got to keep the faith.....
Listen to me, my child,
For here is the story of life
Built in dreams, taken from facts,
What you get results from how you act,
A short stream of joy, spiked by rapids of strife.
Life is a constant war between love and hate,
And what happens is a battle against fate,
A fight to be born, a fight not to die,
A walk from the crib to the grave,
To claim otherwise is a lie.
Shadows of the Gods walk among us,
Asking that we, mere specs of star dust,
Contribute to the Divine plan of the Gods,
We are their tools and so we must,
Sentient sand created to bind the Universe's rods.
The Universe's survival and unity
Is ours to create from disparity,
By links of love cement its diversity,
A Universe of communal sentients,
So that It too becomes concient.
We walk the dream of the Architect,
We may be mere tools for him to select,
We may not see its realisation erect,
But my child, as each one of us grew,
We realized that dreams do come true.
© Christian Martin, 2008
**Note: In CSU, there is an understanding between Authors as to the Songs we use in our individual stories. "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi had been used first by ACFan in Memories, and so within CSU, it is the Theme or one of them FOR Memories. Although there is nothing stopping another CSU Author from using the same song in their own story, out of courtesy we generally ask the "Author who used first" if it would be okay.
The Song, "You Raise Me Up", has been claimed as a CSU Theme for "Saving An Angel" by Jason Finigan. We asked him, and he said no problems. This Note is just to make sure that everyone knows: "You Lift Me Up" is The Theme for "Saving An Angel". It is such a wonderful piece of music and words that it just begged to be used here as well.**
Thank you to each and every one of you for sticking with me through another part of the Memories saga. First thing is first, there will be a Part Three, and you'll find that the story will be able to work it's way back to 'classic Memories' in the process. Part Two was necessarily broad and active, as everything here sets up what will happen in Part Three.
This chapter would not have been possible without the help of all of the authors in the CSU. During this part of the story, the Universe has expanded greatly, allowing you to follow along with more characters than I could write alone. From the first contact with Androids and 'Sentenced to Life' to the latest additions of 'Sa'ren' and 'Silver Dragon', the entire Universe has been expanded and richened by the talents of some of the best authors on the 'Net. I would like for each of you to join me in giving a round of applause to the CSU Authors who have made this little story into it's own universe (in no order...): Jeff P, Akeentia, MultiMapper, Dark Star, Roland, Ilúvantír, D&B, Boi from Aus, GunRunner, Boudreaux, Str8mayb, and Jason Finigan. Another hand goes out for TSL, Sleeping Beauty ... I mean Darryl ... and all of the other editors and reviewers who compose the CSU Edit and Archive teams.
I'm not done yet! There is still some story to tell about a few key events which happen before the start of Part Three... so watch for the Epilogue to Part Two. Part Three will start once a few stories get things set in place for the events that start it - watch the other stories to see the events as they are set up.
A very special "Thanks" goes out to both TSL and Christian for their poem contributions to the story. TSL specifically wrote the poem of his that was used by Cory as a response to Sean's poem in Part One. Christian submitted his poem as response to a request on the forums for a fitting poem to end Part Two the same way Part One was ended. His was selected as the best fit, and I personally think he caught the spirit of the story at this point perfectly. Thanks guys - you're awesome!
Thank You once again for all of the support and feedback!
AC
It was nice to see some relaxation and a little fun after all that everyone has been through. We also saw some old friends and made a few new ones. Looks like Kyle may have met his match in the Queen of England. It is now time for the healing to begin and it is well deserved. This has been a long and wild ride, but one I would not have missed for anything. I want to congratulate and thank all of the wonderful folks who have made ACFan's creation the awesome Saga that it is. What is next for the Clan well as my good friend 'Goos' would say "Que Sera, Sera".
The Story Lover