by Fox Margolis and Zanh Liis
81030.21
During the Wedding Reception
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-=County Cork, Ireland, Earth=-
81030.21
During the Wedding Reception
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-=County Cork, Ireland, Earth=-
Keiran held Liis' hand tightly as he led her around their wedding reception from table to table, introducing her to one branch of the sprawling O'Sullivan family tree after another. It didn't take long before all the names began to blur together and she was anxious for a moment's break to catch her breath.
As she was desperately trying to see if she could find any difference between Cleary's twin daughters Katie Rose and Cara Maebh by which to tell them apart, she happened to catch a slight, familiar fragrance floating by on the evening breeze.
The perfume was distinctive, as unique as the woman who wore it, and Liis had encountered both before.
A smile spread slowly across her face, and she tugged Keiran away from the group in order to introduce him to a member of her extended Starfleet family.
"I don't believe it." Liis shook her head. "You were able to make the trip. Thanks for coming." She made a sweeping gesture toward the towering man at her side.
"Keiran, I would like to introduce you to Lieutenant Faustine Margolis. Fox, this is Captain Keiran O'Sullivan, formerly of the USS Perseids. He's..." Liis' smile became a full grin as she finished her sentence. "...my husband."
Seeing Liis smile made Fox smile too, a model, award-winning smile of course. She threw her arms around the bride and gave her a huge hug. "I would not miss this for the world!" Pulling back, she turned toward Keiran and asked, "And how long do you think that grin and the glow in her eyes is going to last every time she says 'husband'?"
Keiran looked tenderly at his bride. "For a lifetime," he said, the words truly matching the conviction in his face.
"You two are so sweet!" Settling down a little bit, Fox said in a slightly more serious tone, "So, tell me, the short cocktail version, how did the two of you meet?"
"That all depends, ya see. Just how high is your security clearance Lieutenant?" Keiran was still smiling but only half joking.
Liis jumped in and answered without hesitation. "We worked together, years ago, for Temporal Investigations. Long story short, memory resequencing is not all it's cracked up to be, and I am eternally grateful for that fact." Liis gave Fox a knowing look. "You know about these men who deal in time travel. Impossible to forget."
Zanh was referencing, of course, one Doctor Xander T. Corbinsky who had made an appearance, and quite an impression on Zanh, a little more than a year ago when he invited himself aboard the Federation flagship.
-=Flashback: Main Security Office, USS Independence=-
"I fear I've gone about this the wrong way, Zanh Liis," Xander confessed.
He approached the forcefield that stood between them, and his eyes seemed to peer through to the very soul of the woman before him. She felt this as a physical chill, and shifted her weight uneasily from toes, to heels, and back again. "I tried to sweep in and charm you. I should have taken a different approach."
"How's honesty for an approach, Corbinsky?" Her eyes stared through him now. "You will find that I'm much more patient with people I believe are telling me the truth."
"The truth?" he paused, "is that we're not so different, you know, you and I. In fact, if the whole truth were told, you'd understand how alike we truly are."
Zanh laughed out loud. "Now how do you figure that? You're a genius, I most certainly am nothing of the kind. You revel in popping in and out of people's lives, creating mayhem for your own amusement.
"I've spent my whole life just trying to find one place to get to, and stay in, where I can manage to build a life while keeping the people I care about safe from harm. How the hell do you figure you and I are anything alike?"
"Because," Corbinsky explained, lowering his voice just in case Fox might have her ear pressed to the door beyond his cell, "you and I were, and are, both willing to live and die for a higher ideal. Deep down we both believe that love is the highest law, Zanh Liis. And we will do anything, consequences be damned, to protect the person we love most."
Zanh was awestruck.
All this time she'd been thinking that Corbinsky only suffered delusions of grandeur and saw himself as a genetically engineered, time traveling messiah meant to save the world---or control it, depending on the day. But now she saw him as what he really was, a brilliant, tortured man---who was trying for all he was worth to protect the woman that he loved more than any other.
"Do you think it was an accident that of all the past, present and yes, future TI agents that I could have chosen to interact with, that I have singled you out, Zanh Liis?"
She remained silent, just listening.
"Think again."
-=End Flashback=-
Liis realized that Fox would understand better than just about anyone else she'd ever met how it felt to have someone stare down Time and History itself to get back to you, just as Keiran had done for her.
Because in his way, Corbinsky had done the very same for Fox.
Fox of course knew the twisted history, and that is where she felt it needed to stay, in the past, as today was a celebration. And so she said as much to the bride and groom. "Well, from now on, the two of you have one thing to think about: your future together. Nothing else matters."
The bride and groom shared a smile, and Keiran leaned in a gently kissed Liis on the lips. There could have not been a more touching moment. It was picture perfect, Fox thought, and not a camera in sight to snap the shot.
"But I'm keeping you from your other guests," Fox continued. "So, shoo you two, and best wishes."
"It's great to see you Fox, thank you again for coming so far to be here." Liis called to her, as Keiran led her away to mingle. "Remember, if you ever find yourself interested in life aboard a starship again, give me a call. I'm sure we can find just the right spot for you on the Sera."
"Fox!!! I don't believe it it's FOX!" A young girl suddenly clattered across the room in shiny, patent leather shoes and threw her arms around Fox's waist. She had grown much taller since the last time Fox had seen her.
She had a young friend with her, a boy who appeared to be, at least in part, Vulcan.
"Who is 'Fox'?" Tam asked Arie as she continued to hug Fox to the point of nearly knocking her over.
"This is former Miss Federation Faustine Margolis," Arie whispered in awe. "The most glamorous woman in the whole universe! One time she even let me try on her crown!"
"Hello there, Miss Arie. Look how big you have gotten!" Fox beamed. "And who is your friend?"
"This is Tam!" Arie said simply, forgetting in her excitement that Fox could use more of an explanation than that.
"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Tam, and to see you again, Arie. Though on that glamorous thing, you know there is a secret, right?"
Arie's eyes grew large. Fox beckoned for her to come closer; then, in a conspiratorial manner, Fox leaned over and whispered something into Arie's ear. A huge grin blossomed on Arie's face as Fox stood back up. "Never forget that, Arie. It's the big secret."
The smile on Arie's face could not have gotten any bigger if she had tried.
LT. Faustine Margolis
Starfleet Recruitment Office
and
-=/\=- Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Starfleet Recruitment Office
and
-=/\=- Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012