Reception for Kirk-Pike wedding [open to EVERYONE]

[guinan_listens]

The ceremony had been beautiful, and a perfect way to open the new recreation area on board the Enterprise. It felt strange calling it a bar, since it opened up to a huge observation desk, stars floating in the distance as music played from a five-piece band, hastily tossed together from volunteers

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[dctr_mccoy]

Bones knew how to dance - he wasn't raised in a barn, and he'd been taught enough steps to not embarrassing himself at functions like this. Right now, as he scooted Paula around the small dance floor, he grinned, hoping he wasn't stepping on her toes.

"In case I didn't mention, you look lovely today," he said, giving them both a little spin.

[lt_paula]

"Thanks," Paula replied, a bright smile on her face as he led her through the dance. "Not much I could do, considering the dress uniform, but it's nice of you to say." She laughed when he spun them around, clutching at him for support.

"You look quite nice yourself," she told him with a grin.

[dctr_mccoy]

"This old thing," he grinned, rolling his eyes at himself. They did look rather fetching, as a whole, everyone in their dress uniforms and fancy clothes.

"Your boyfriend still watching us over here?" he teased, peeking over her shoulder to see if security officer was looking their way. "I promise to be good," he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

[lt_paula]

"Hmm, probably." Paula smiled, taking the teasing in stride. She had discovered over the past few weeks that Hank could be very protective, especially after the away mission. It was... nice, thoguh she wasn't entirely used to having someone looking out for her like that. She looked over her shoulder, smiling at Hank.

Leonard's whisper made her giggle. "Aw, where's the fun in that?"

[dctr_mccoy]

"He's got a phaser. Don't wanna get shot, not in my nice suit," he continued, his voice a low rumble. Didn't stop him from holding her a little closer, his hand on the small of her back as the music slowed down to something more romantic. "Do you know either of the guys who got married?" he asked, curious.

[lt_paula]

"We can't have that," Paula agreed, content to move closer as the pace slowed. "It would be a shame if anything happened to that suit."

She grinned at his question. "I met George on Sha'Kwai - we worked on a Habitat project together. I've never met the admiral, though. I gathered from their vows that they knew each other before...?" It didn't seem appropriate to talk about death at a wedding. Such a happy time shouldn't be marred by depressing talk.

[dctr_mccoy]

"Yeah," Bones replied, sighing a little. "Sad story there, three of them together when Jim was born. Then- well, you know, the whole Kelvin thing. Pike and Jim's mom didn't stick together without him, and it all just sorta fell apart for them all."

He looked over to where they were sitting together, looking happy, and smiled. "But they found each other. Nice," he nodded.

[lt_paula]

"It's wonderful," Paula agreed. "They look incredibly happy." She smiled up at him, suddenly curious. "What about you and Jim? Are we going to have another wedding onboard sometime?" She spoke quietly, the slow, soft music making it easy to lean in close enough for him to hear.

She glanced over his shoulder again as they moved slowly around the floor, smiling at George and Admiral Pike.

[dctr_mccoy]

Bones chuckled, looked around the room, where Jim was talking to some of his friends from Engineering. He was using his hands and gesturing, and Bones had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. "I don't think so," he said with a shake of his head, the safe answer. "Jim's allergic to the idea, if you know what I mean, though- that is, the way things are, its... we're- almost the same. You know?"

Jesus, couldn't he get out a straight answer to a simple question? "Probably not, but that's okay." There, that was better. "You?" he asked, just to take the focus off him for a moment.

[lt_paula]

Paula squeezed his shoulder, understanding what he was trying to say. "As long as you're happy, nothing else matters." She smiled softly, teasing just a little. "I guess I tend to ask the hard questions."

She laughed aloud when he turned the question right back at her, the idea something she hadn't even considered yet. "Oh lord, no. Hank and I... we're having fun, but we haven't, um. The subject hasn't come up."

Paula thought about it for a moment... marriage as applied to herself, rather than someone else. She'd always hoped to be married someday, but right now she was content and felt no need to rush into anything. She shook her head. "We're good the way we are."

[dctr_mccoy]

"Nah, nothing gets talked about without the hard questions." They turned, Bones trying not to run into some other more enthusiastic dancers on the floor. "We've all got time, lots of time out here."

Except - incidents like that ice planet taught them that there were serious dangers out there, even for a science geek like Paula. She'd gotten hurt, several of them had. "As long as you're happy," he repeated, her own words back at her. "But don't wait too long."

[lt_paula]

"We'll see," Paula replied. She was happy for the time being, and who knew what might happen? Though that could work both ways, she reflected, thinking about the away mission.

She shook off those sober thoughts, grinning up at him mischievously. "You know, you're pretty good," she told him. "Who taught you to dance?"

[dctr_mccoy]

This wasn't a time for being maudlin, so he pushed them aside as well. "My momma," he admitted with a smile. "Wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna embarrass her at family functions."

With that he turned them again, making a swishing motion because this was fun, being with friends like this. "Got any big Science projects going on?" he wondered. "Your boss hasn't been hard on you or anything, has he?" Bones suspected Spock had an idea about Paula's 'special' relationship with him and Jim, and was pretty sure he wouldn't treat her any differently but you never knew with hobgoblins.

[lt_paula]

"She did a good job," Paula replied. "My dad taught me. And on a few memorable occasions, made my older brother dance with me. Generally when he was in trouble for one thing or another."

She laughed at the dramatic turn, moving easily with him. It was nice, dancing with someone who knew how, just having fun with it. "Hmm... there are a few coming up. A couple in conjunction with Medical, which I'm sure you're aware of." She paused to consider his second question. "Nothing out of the ordinary," Paula replied with a shrug. "I expected Commander Spock to monitor my work more closely when I first arrived, which happened. Not so much any more, though."

[dctr_mccoy]

"Must mean he trusts you," Bones grinned. "Or he's spending all his time keeping an eye on his brother, who's on board now. That's him over there," Bones pointed out the Vulcan in the red uniform, walking around the food tables like he owned them. "Watch out for that one."

Not that Bones gossiped or anything...

[lt_paula]

"I hope so," Paula laughed. Her work was above reproach; she worked hard to make sure of that. "His brother?" She twisted around, looking at the man Leonard pointed out. "I didn't realize he had one."

She looked up at Leonard curiously. "Why, what's wrong with him?"