A Reception For Reflection

[DaveJohnson 0]

A Reception for Reflection

A Log by Lt David Johnson

 

 

David sat in the middle of a very long table in one the ballrooms of Boston’s historic Ritz Carlton Hotel. To his right sat his new wife Rebecca. The room was filled with David and Rebecca’s family and friends, most of whom in Starfleet dress uniforms. At the table were David and Rebecca’s mother and father, Thomas, Jennifer, Admiral Nakamura and a few senior officers from the crew of the Rhode Island. As the group talked and eat David’s father who was sitting to the left of him rose from his chair with a glass and spoon in hand. He tapped the glass lightly with the spoon and everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to him because they knew he had something to say.

 

“I stand here before you,” David’s father said, “As the proud father of a wonderful son and the proud father in-law of a beautiful, intelligent woman who I am honored to call a member of my family. I am not surprised that these two ended up together even if it was an accident. Ever since David could talk, he has been a good judge of people. Once, when he was nine I took him aboard the starship his mother and I were serving on at the time, the U.S.S Maelstrom. Even though I had taught him about Starfleet from an early age it was David’s first time aboard a starship. As we toured the ship and I showed David the parts of it I knew he would understand we ran into our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Fagan who I am happy is with us here today,” David’s father said as he nodded to Dr. Fagan seated at a table in the ballroom who nodded back at him. “John greeted him and made a few remarks to me. David waited for us to finish our conversation and then, out of the blue, David looked at him and said, “You save a lot of lives don’t you Doctor?” John was stunned. He had never met David before and had only said a few words to me about a member of my security team that was in sickbay recovering from some wounds but somehow David not only knew that he saved lives but that he was a Doctor as well. John nodded at him and said, “Yes I do…how did you figure that out?” he asked. David smiled and said, “Your calm, collected, and to the point, all traits that my Doctor exhibits.” John smiled back at him and then said to me, “Your son is very perceptive Dick.” I smiled at him and replied, “I know, I think he gets that from his mother.” I know that David is perceptive to this day because I think only he could fall in love with someone at first sight especially a woman like Rebecca. May this happy occasion be the start of a long and happy life…for you both.”

 

David’s father sat down as the room applauded politely. Then David got up to speak, “Since this wedding has been one filled with history and tradition I have decided to follow another wedding tradition; making a toast to my new wife,” he said as he smiled at Rebecca who smiled back at him. “So here is to the woman of my dreams, the woman who I did fall in love with at first sight and the woman that I am going to spend the rest of my life with. No matter where we go, what corners of the galaxy we may travel to I hope that the feelings we have each other just keep getting stronger. Because, in my view a good marriage is one in which the people that are married remain just as close to each other as they were when first they married.”

 

David put his glass down, took his wife’s hand, gently pulled her out of her chair and the two kissed as the room again applauded. The two then headed out onto the dance floor as the band began to play their favorite song, “What a wonderful life.” David’s mother and father soon joined them followed by most of the couples at the reception. As they danced David’s father smiled at him then turned to his wife Laurie and said, “It’s funny, somehow I always thought one of us would be the one to help him find the woman of his dreams.” Laurie raised an eyebrow, “Why did you think that?” she asked, “He’s always been able to accomplish what he wanted to do on his own.” “I know,” said David’s father, “And he did tell me this was something he was certain about, but I never would have imagined that he would have kept this relationship going, especially over subspace, it’s very difficult even these days.” Laurie smiled at him, “You remember when we were dating?” she asked “How could I forget,” he replied. “Well, we managed pretty well didn’t we?” she said. David’s father smiled back and said, “Yeah, I guess we did. This really has been a reception for reflection.” “Yes it has,” said Laurie, “But it’s a reflection of memories that have made our family that much stronger and I know that the kids will be strong just as we are.”

 

As he danced with Rebecca he looked at his parents and then Rebecca’s. Then he looked at Rebecca and said, “You know sweetie I’m not surprised that this day has finally come even after a long distance relationship.” “And why is that?” Rebecca asked with a smirk. “Because both your mom and dad and mine are Starfleet officers and Starfleet officers never let a little thing like distance get in the way of achieving their goals. And, now that distance isn’t an issue for us anymore, we won’t have any problem achieving anything that we want to,” David said. “Good point, and no matter what happens, I know that we will both go as far, especially since we’re doing it together,” Rebecca replied as she kissed David tenderly on the cheek.

 

The two continued to dance almost side by side David and Rebecca’s parents just talking and joking about their future. From his seat at the front table Admiral Nakamura looked at the happy couple, then at their parents. He took a sip of champagne and smiled. Then he turned to Admiral Thomas Henry a friend of Rebecca’s father, Commander Cohen and said, “It’s amazing that no matter how many years may pass one thing about those two families have always remained the same.” “What’s that?” asked Admiral Henry inquisitively “All four of David and Rebecca’s parents are Starfleet officers, and whatever starship each couple has been on they have been on it together which is exactly what the newlyweds are going to do. And yet, despite the fact that such an arrangement would provide a distraction their careers have flourished as I expect David and Rebecca’s will,” said the Admiral. Admiral Henry chuckled and said, “Maybe it’s because they are together that they have done so well, since they have always been there for each other when difficult situations arise.” “I think you have the right idea Tom,” replied Nakamura as he continued to watch the Starfleet couple’s dance with a little smile on his face.

 

 

Admiral Henry had made a valid point and as David and Rebecca and their parents had been reflecting so to had Admiral Henry. Most of the Starfleet officers he had married had chosen to be on the same starship with one another and their careers as well as their marriages had gotten better almost as a result. And, just like Nakamura he too hoped that would be the case for the two Lt’s that had just been married.