218: Set Up

By LT February Grace
80314.23

Following February Song

-=Outside the Quarters of Reece and Grace=-

"Where are we going, Rigin?"

"Come along, February. You'll see all that you need to soon."

"But what's going to happen?"

"So many questions, child!" Rigin huffed, gently leading her down the hall and into the turbolift by the hand.

"Always been my problem. Asking too many questions."

"Soon, all will be answered. I promise." The doors of the lift closed, and he stood on his tip toes and kissed her forehead.

He led her to his guest quarters, where he had accomplices waiting.

"Vedek Jariel!" I didn't know that,"

[[Sit down, please,]] Jariel said, moving the chair from the desk toward her. [[And close your eyes.]]

"But if I close my eyes I can't see you talk. . ." February frowned deeply. "Okay, you two are really starting to freak me out. What is going on?"

[[We have to get you ready for Rigin's special healing ritual.]] Jariel said. [[He'll do the talking from now on so you can hear. Close your eyes.]]

"Well, all right but I," She felt hands in her hair and jumped out of her seat. "What the hell?"

"Sit down, February." Lair Kellyn was standing behind her. "You can't go to your ritual looking like this. Have a seat. Arie, do you have what I asked you to get?"

Lair Arie skipped out from the back room. "Yes, mother. I have them right here."

Unsure of what was going on, but sure of the people around her, February finally sat back down.

[[Eyes closed, please.]] Jariel asked.

"You better know what you're doing." She said to the collection. Again she felt hands sweep through her tangled, unruly hair.

"What do you think? Up, or down?" Kellyn asked.

"Down."

"Up."

[[Up.]]

"Down."

Kellyn shook her head. "Official hairdresser vote counts twice. Up."

February felt her hair being twisted gently into a knot at the nape of her neck. She found that the experience of having her hair done in this way brought back the memories of her mother, so strongly, but she was surprised to discover that when a different pair of hands was accomplishing the task, it was not painful.

"Okay, boys. You can go. Arie and I will handle things from here." Kellyn instructed.

"See you on the holodeck. Soon." Rigin stressed.

"Right." Kellyn waited until the door was closed, then told February to open her eyes. Arie was holding up a hand mirror before her, and she saw that with the pins, Kellyn had worked small white flowers into her hair.

"Oh. . .wow," February said, astonished. "This must be some ritual that Rigin is planning."

"You have no idea." Kellyn replied. "Okay, now, for the rest."

"The rest?"

"Arie?"

Arie pulled the closet door open, and inside, February saw a very simple, elegant white dress; organza over silk. "The rest." Arie grinned.

February hurried to dress, and Kellyn looked her over. "Very good. I think Rigin will be satisfied. Now, go straight down to the holodeck, he'll be waiting for you."

"Yes Ma'am. Thank you," February said meekly, bewildered, as she stopped asking questions at last and simply did as she was told.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Kellyn and her daughter hurried to change their clothing as well.

"I cannot believe I'm wearing a pink dress." Kellyn groused, staring at her reflection in disbelief. "I look like one of your porcelain dolls."

"You look pretty. Besides, it's February's favorite color, Mother."

"Yeah. Remind me to thank Vedek Jariel for bringing that up. First chance I get."

-=Holodeck Three=-

Dabin paced back and forth. The holodeck had not yet been activated, Rigin insisting that he needed to wait until the last moment.

"I don't think she's ever going to-" As Dabin prepared to check the time again for tenth time in as many minutes, the arch opened, and he saw February. He stared at her in disbelief, as Rigin stepped forward and took her hand.

"Computer, initiate program Trill Guardian one twenty."

Around them the room appeared, simple, free of furniture, and dimly lit. In the center was a tall brazier upon a metal stand, just like the one that had been present at February's Zhian'tara.

"Let's see if we can't find out what's going on here," Rigin looked at Bru, then at Reece, then at Bru again, and suddenly, he was having doubts about his plan. They were trusting him, most of all and above all, to be their honest friend, and a help. How could he help them, truly, if he began with dishonesty?

He watched as they moved to stand before the heat of the ceremonial flame, and he realized that if anything was going to heal their lost connection, it was going to be something that came from the same place in which the link had originated- within their own souls and hearts. He may be able to encourage them, but he wouldn't deceive them.

"Computer, freeze program," He said softly, and the light at the end of the candle ceased dancing at the tip of the flame. Reece tilted his head to the side.

"Yeah, um, Rigin?" He said, his phrasing sounding more like his wife's all the time. "What the hell?"

Rigin smiled at them affectionately. "Don't you see? Don't you understand?" He shook his head. "This gift, the connection that you have. It came from inside of you, from the love that you have for each other. No one can take that away, no one can harm it or change it," He looked at February, "Not without your permission."

He reached out and took Reece's hand, and February's and put them together. "This. This is all that you need to heal." He closed his eyes, and he said a few words in Trill- a prayer of a sort for peace and hope. "February, my dear," He held her face in his hands. "You have to give yourself permission to accept all that he offers you. Nothing else that you've ever had can compare to it. We both know that. So let the rest go, child. Let it all go."

Tears fell from February's cheeks, and Dabin reached up, tenderly brushing them away. Rigin reached into his pocket and took out a spare communicator. He handed it to February. "Hold this, dear." Before either Grace or Reece could ask why, he tapped the one he had pinned to himself as well, and spoke. "Rigin to Commander Blane,"

[Blane here.]

"Three to beam to your location."

[Energizing.]

A moment later, February, Rigin and Reece were all standing in the arboretum.

Rigin grabbed the stunned Reece by the arm and dragged him off, toward the small white gazebo up the path. Dabin discovered they were surrounded by the small group of friends and shipmates that had become their family.

February, who found herself standing alone near the entrance, looked up when she heard a voice she knew very well beside her.

"That offer still good? To give the bride away?"

TC Blane grinned, looking absolutely resplendent in his dress uniform.

Speechless, February nodded, as he offered her his arm.

She looked up, toward the direction TC was leading her. Lair Arie had a basket of flower petals and was scattering them on the walkway ahead of them. Lair Kellyn stood beside Reece now, up at the front of the gathering.

"Say thing one about the pink dress, and I'm out of here." Kellyn whispered into Reece's ear. He grinned at her, and kissed her on the cheek.

"You'll always be my best man, Lair Kellyn."

Arie went and sat beside her father in the first row of chairs, and the startled couple turned to Vedek Jariel, standing just beneath the gazebo's roof. He raised his hands gracefully.

[[Friends and chosen family, welcome to the marriage blessing of February Grace,]]

Zanh Liis stepped forward from behind Jariel, translating his signs into words. "And Dabin Reece."

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Lt. February Grace
Senior Flight Controller
USS Serendipity/Alchemy