Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [70]
In a pigs eye. McCoy glanced up from the doorway and looked up at Jim with bright blue eyeseyes happier and more mischievous than Jim ever remembered them being. He looked the way Jim feltintoxicated with pure joy, delighted by everything surrounding himeven though each of them had only had a sip of the vintage Dom Perignon the doctor had smuggled into the room. Never thought Id see the daySpock bringing a date. Im gonna tell Carol to throw him the bouquet.
Shes not carrying a bouquet, Jim said.
She ought to. There are enough flowers out there. She could impro McCoy started as the door was pushed partway open from the outside. Well, Ill be. The preachers finally here.
He stepped back to permit Hikaru Sulu into the room. Captain. Jim clasped the uniformed younger mans forearm and rested a hand on his shoulder. Its good to see you again.
Sulu revealed a crescent of white teeth. His golden-skinned features were almost as unlined as Spocks, and his black hair had barely begun to silver. Sorry about the delay, sir. I got held up by a little … company business.
No problem. McCoy picked up his sweating champagne flute from a nearby dresser and lifted it waggishly. We were enjoying ourselves so much we didnt care if we ever got around to the wedding part.
Speak for yourself, Jim said.
Sulu laughed. Well, I think we can get started whenever we want. Everyones all here. He paused. Are you sure, sir, that Mr. Spock doesnt mind my performing the ceremony? I just thought
You should know by now you cant insult Spock, McCoy hurried to answer, with a gleeful look at Jim. Besides, hes got a date.
Sulus eyebrows rose swiftly in surprise. A date?
A date, the doctor answered, at the very instant Jim corrected:
A friend.
Sulu glanced dubiously from McCoys face to his former captains. Ah. Well … the universe never ceases to amaze me. He gestured toward the door. Gentlemen … shall we?
McCoy threw back his flute and took a quick gulp, then set it down with a definite clink. Lets get out there, Jim said.
He followed Sulu and McCoy out the door and over to the podium, pausing to nod at each of his friendsat Scott and Chekov, Uhura, and especially Spock, whose stoic expression dawned into the palest ghost of a smile as his gaze met Jims. And there were his brother Sam with his wife, Aurelan, and their son, Peter, tall and bearded and looking impossibly adult in his Starfleet uniform … and Will Decker and his father, Gary Mitchell and his family, and two dozen other dear faces, the sight of which filled him with a joy almost impossible to contain.
He felt not even the slightest flicker of nerves, only elation as Sulu took his place beside the podium. With McCoy beside him as witness, Jim stood in front, then turned to face the assembled group and smiled down the aisle at the sight of Carol, who emerged from the opposite end of the room.
She wore white, like the roses that lined the aisle, like the gardenia and babys breath tucked into her hair. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes radiant, shining, her arm twined around that of her escort.
In the instant before she met Jims gaze, she laughed softly at some comment whispered in her ear, and looked up at her golden-haired witnessher escort, her sonwith frank love and happiness.
For an instant, David returned his mothers gaze; and then he lifted his face and looked down the aisle at those waiting thereat Sulu, McCoy, his father.
In the brief time he had known his son, Jim had been struck by the anger that seemed permanently etched in the young mans features. David had always been intense, restless, inexplicably furious at his father.
But there was no restlessness, no anger in Davids blue eyes now. He grinned and shot Jim a knowing, impish look, an affectionate look that could only be shared between two men who loved the same woman. Then Carol looked up, and smiled …
Stop, Jim whispered, feeling a surge of heart-pounding euphoria so great he could no longer bear it. He closed his eyes. No more …
It was, of course, the way things should have happened,