(JP) Robin Hopper, Nathan Richards, Wil Ukinix – What We’ve All Been Waiting For… (Part 2)
Nathan Richards
((Wedding Venue, Mackinac Biome – Peace Park))
The smile on Nathan’s face as Robin said her vows never faltered, listening and hanging on each word that left her lips. Beautifully composed vows that made Nathan’s heart swell with each passing second. He never really thought he could feel the love for someone that he felt for the woman standing before him. But here it was.
Richards: It’s been a wild ride, these last couple years. You’ve seen me at my best…
((Flashback – Fall 2399, Amity Outpost))
Nathan stood on top of the Targhee, just above the cockpit viewport, and looked down at his paint job. He had kept it fairly simple, replacing the faded green livery with a close approximation to the OPS Gold he wore on his uniform. A majority of the ‘wings’ were covered in the gold as it rose to the top of the hull. Two long bands stretched from the color coating the wings and ended just before the curve to the nose of the hull with two Starfleet Delta insignias. The music he had been playing inside the shuttle bay slowly faded out as he made his way to the rear of the shuttle. He he laid down, dangling his legs over the edge as the next song began. He began drumming on the air as the song started.
He heard the doors to the shuttle bay open as someone entered, but he was in such a good mood that he didn’t care. As the guitar kicked in and the vocals began, Nathan slowly sat up as he mouthed along the lyrics. He bobbed his head and shoulders as the song continued and sat up straight. He looked down to see Robin standing in the doorway. He smiled at her as he continued his little charade along to the music, making small gestures to coincide with the music. At once point, holding up his leg and strumming along it like it was a guitar. He rose to his feet, holding out his arms as he began to actually sing along.
Richards: And he’s watching us all with the eeeyyyeeeesss…Of the tigeeeerrrrrr!
He walked over to the wing closest to Robin, sliding down it and landing on his feet. A wide grin on his face.
Richards: Good morning, Lieutenant!
Hopper: Good afternoon ::she corrected him::. Working hard today, or hardly working?
((End Flashback))
Richards: …And my worst…
((Flashback – Summer 2401, Earth))
Richards: There certainly is something eerily familiar, isn't there? ::Chuckling:: Look at this.
He picked up one of the drawings from the table, two crudely drawn stick figures were standing next to a house and a lake – one, tall with short-cropped yellow ‘hair’, and the other small, with long yellow locks. They both had big smiles on their faces as they held hands.
Robin came up behind Nate, looking around his arm at his sister’s artwork, resting a hand on his back. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him so quiet.
Hopper: Hey… You okay?
A tear rolled down Nathan's cheek as he continued to stare at the drawing.
Richards: ::Voice breaking:: I miss her.
There was a pause, as the whole world seemed to take a deep breath.
Hopper: I know, sweetie. ::Running her hand along his back:: It’s okay.
Robin wasn’t sure what else to say. She’d never experienced a loss like his. Never really experienced a loss at all… She hoped that just being there with him in that moment was enough.
Nathan let out a somewhat broken chuckle as he wiped away the tears on his cheeks.
Richards: That's enough of that. This isn't cry time. Save the tears for the wedding.
((End Flashback))
Richards: You’ve been with me pretty much since you arrived at Amity. ::Chuckling:: No matter how much you were warned about me.
((Flashback – Fall 2399, Amity Outpost))
Kivik: ::Pacing in a small loop:: Would you be open to working on a little ‘interdepartmental’ side project? There’s a junior Engineer – Ensign Richards. He’s working on restoring an old shuttle in The Cellar–
Hopper: The Cellar?
Kivik: ::Chuckling:: The old bays below the SRC. Ambassador Vataix has given it the go-ahead and, between you and me, Commander Carter has indicated that we should provide support if possible. After working with him on some final touches here in the SRC, my personal assessment is that Richards needs the outlet. ::Stopping pacing and smiling mischievously:: He’s a bit of a scamp.
Hopper: A scamp?
Kivik: The man stuck his finger into a puddle of borg nanoprobes.
Hopper: Oh!
((End Flashback))
Richards: We’ve shared so many moments and experiences over that time. So many things that I will never forget. So many things that I don’t think I could ever do without now. ::Reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small Targhee figurine:: Through creation and loss I’ve always known I had you in my corner.
((Flashback – Fall 2400, Amity Outpost))
Nathan sat back in his seat as they moved towards the last set of coordinates, gently tapping the arm of his chair. Robin rolled her neck gently from side to side, then began rubbing her temples to try and alleviate some of the stiffness she was feeling.
Richards: You know, it's really too bad we couldn’t do this in the Targhee. I feel like it would have been a bit more…::Shifting in the seat:: comfortable.
He reminisced about the seats in the Targhee. They were significantly well cushioned and would have worked a lot better for the long expedition they currently found themselves on. Robin closed her eyes, nodded, and let out a soft groan in agreement.
Hopper: Maybe we need to break this one… Just a little. Give you an excuse to ‘upgrade’ some parts. ::Shooting a look his way:: Just kidding, obviously… ::Taking a sip of her second coffee:: But, if you did have any spare seats left over…
Richards: Oh, speaking of.
Nathan looked at the flight path and sensor readings before standing and moving to the rear compartment. Robin’s eyes followed Nathan as he grabbed his duffel bag and pulled the zipper open, reaching inside to find what he was looking for. His fingers grasped the small metal object and turned back towards Robin.
Richards: In addition to cleaning up the Cellar, I made you this.
He held out his closed hand towards her, waiting for her to reach out. She set her coffee down and held out her palms. He dropped the metal object into her hand and smiled at her. Resting there in her hands was a small model of the Targhee. Robin looked it over, stunned for a moment, before finally looking back up at him, her face a wash of various conflicting emotions.
Hopper: This is so sweet. When did you…? How?
Nathan shrugged, looking down at the small model in her hand. He found it difficult to hold eye contact with her at that moment, for some reason. His mind urged him to look away, while his heart told him otherwise.
Richards: I made it from some of the old interior panels that I ended up taking out to make room for some of the equipment. It’s a piece of her. I wanted you to have it. I have an identical one in my quarters.
((End Flashback))
Richards: And I will always be in your corner. Just like I know you will always be in mine.
Pressing slightly on on the wings of the figurine, the top of the small shuttle opened on two hinges to reveal a ring. A ring that Nathan carefully pulled from the small, velvet lined interior of the small shuttle and slid onto Robin’s finger. He turned it gently so the artificial lighting of Peace Park caught each angle.
Ukinix: Do you Nathan, take Robin to be your wife, through the good times and bad, no matter how close or far from each other, for the rest of your lives?
Richards: I absolutely do.
Ukinix: Do you Robin, take Nathan to be your husband, through the good times and bad, no matter how close or far from each other, for the rest of your lives?
Hopper: Yes. Yes! ::gasping:: I do!
Ukinix: By the power vested in me as Starfleet Commanding Officer of Amity Outpost, I hereby declare you ::To Robin:: wife, ::To Nathan:: and husband, both now married. To each other as it turns out. And in one of the oldest of Earth traditions, Nathan, you may kiss the bride mate.
Not needing to be told twice, Nathan pulled Robin in and pressed his lips to hers. A kiss to seal the deal. A deal that was almost three years in the making. Just before they each pulled away, Nathan quickly swept his arms behind Robin’s thighs and lifted her into the air, holding her tightly against him as he looked up at her with a wide grin on his face.
Richards: ::Whispering:: We did it, Kino.
Robin looked down with a stupid amorous grin, taking a moment to appreciate the man figuratively – and literally – lifting her up, before leaning in for another kiss.
Hopper: We did…
The two then turned to look at their assembled guests.
Hopper: And now… ::pumping a fist in the air excitedly:: We party!!!
END – ((OOC: Join us at the open-invite Reception / Party Scene!))
Lt. Cmdr Nathan Richards
Written by Travis
A239905NR1
Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper & Blake Richards
Written by Keegan
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Commander Wil Ukinix & Kerilyn Hopper
Written by Danny
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