I DO... pt 2c by Astra Only two choices, yet either one destined to change them forever. She leaned forward barely able to breathe, her hand in his, and whispered the words that would shape their future. ***** "Jean-Luc, I..." "Say yes," he urged, opening the box and offering it to her. She lifted the necklace slowly, the jade pendant warm to the touch. She held it out to him, lowering her head so he could fasten it around her neck. He felt a surge of joy at her acceptance, but had to be sure she understood. "You know what this means?" He asked carefully. She fingered the pendant and nodded. "The Marriage of Silence." "You understand why?' "Yes. I wouldn't have it any other way." He embraced her, his heart soaring. After all these years... ***** They waited for the Enterprise to reach Serenity, a planet not noted for it's beauty, but to them it was perfect. Arranging for leave time, they left the ship together and took a ground car far into the woods. On a hilltop covered in golden flowers they exchanged their vows, with only the clouds as witness. Afterwards, they returned to the city. Registering under an assumed name they spent three glorious days discovering each other. When it was finally time to return to the ship, they shared one final kiss, then separated. The returned to their separate quarters and lived their separate lives with no alteration to their previous routine. No one, not even Deanna suspected. ***** "Do you ever regret this?" Jean-Luc asked late one night as they sat together sipping sherry. "Never." She replied, setting aside her glass and giving him a kiss. "Neither of us is ready for the pressure of a traditional marriage Jean-Luc. That doesn't mean that it has to stay this way. Someday we might want, and be ready, for more." She leaned over and kissed him softly. "Or it might be like this forever." "And you don't mind? Keeping us a secret?" "Not if you don't." She leaned her head against this shoulder and smiled up at him. "I'm just glad you understood." "You had good reasons to be afraid, Beverly. We both did. People have so many expectations." "This way it's just us." She smiled up at him. "For better or worse." He smiled down at her. "Til death do us part." :::end:::