Forever and ever Amen

Posted on Tue Jun 9th, 2020 @ 7:38am by Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Holodeck 1
Timeline: Before entering the Void
2042 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary had gone to the holodeck to look at various locations for his and Lia's upcoming wedding. They
hadn't set a date though they had told Phoenix but no one else at this time. Well, that wasn't exactly
true. Gallia knew, so that meant Kara knew and little Tayalas knew. Anje of course knew but that was
the extent of it.

He had gone over different locations but none seemed right and definitely wanted everything right in
this wedding. He wanted Lia to remember it fondly forever. To have no doubts where she was in his heart.
He would talk to Lia and get her opinion on locations. Heather and Fernando had used an outside location
on Betazoid for their wedding. He wished Liselle was still aboard the ship, he could have asked her if he
could use her Trill program. Unfortunately she had been transferred off in a late night purge of the flight
control department by Lovejoy who continued to be a thorn in the side of the Elysium crew. He missed
Liselle and their holodeck adventures. More importantly he missed her friendship and being able to talk
to her about anything. Her loss was especially hard right now as they had finally made up over what
they both had endured on the Romulan prison. Gary had been grateful and thankful they had as the guilt
had been eating at him. Now she was gone and there would be no more adventures of Sheriff Quane and
the mysterious stranger.

He sighed and shook his head, getting mopey wasn't going to help the situation and he turned back to the
task at hand. He was going to have Anje sing Lia's Song and he had thought of another song to sing only
he didn't know if he wanted to sing it or have Anje sing it as well. He decided to try the song out himself first.
"Computer create inside of a reception hall with crew of Elysium inside. Lia sitting in front chair." An instant
later he was standing at the front of the hall, Lia seated at a table at the front, with Phoenix, Gallia, Anje and
Tayalas. With the rest of the crew seated at various tables in the hall.

"Thank you all for coming. Your coming fills Lia and myself with joy and happiness as we see you all as part of
our really, really big family." He grinned at the latter. "Now I have a song I'd like to sing so Lia knows just where
she is in my heart."

With that the music started and he began to sing.

You may think that I'm talking foolish
You've heard that I'm wild and I'm free
You may wonder how I can promise you now
This love that I feel for you always will be
But you're not just time that I'm killin'
I'm no longer one of those guys
As sure as I live, this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die

Oh, baby, I'm gonna love you forever
Forever and ever, amen
As long as old men sit and talk about the weather
As long as old women sit and talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
I'll be happy to tell you again
I'm gonna love you forever and ever
Forever and ever, amen

They say time take its toll on a body
Makes a young girl's brown hair turn gray
Well, honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair
And if it all fell out, well, I'd love you anyway
They say time can play tricks on a mem'ry
Make people forget things they knew
Well, it's easy to see it's happenin' to me
I've already forgotten every woman but you
Oh, darlin', I'm gonna love you forever
Forever and ever, amen

As long as old men sit and talk about the weather
As long as old women sit and talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
Well, just listen to how this song ends
I'm gonna love you forever and ever
Forever and ever, amen
I'm gonna love you forever and ever
Forever and ever, forever and ever
Forever and ever, amen

Anje walked into the holodeck, not sure why it wasn't locked if someone was in there, and found herself face to face with her self, "Okay, that's kind of creepy." She laughed, noticing the highlights in holo-Anje's hair was the wrong shade of purple altogether, more of a red.

Gary turned at the sound of the laugh and saw Anje standing there, he blushed furiously but managed to get out a greeting. "Hi Anje."

"Hi." Anje laughed, cupping her holographic self's breasts, "I think you might have put a few too many pixels on the other me." She looked down at her own chest and shook her head in disappointment, "Yeah, definitely too many pixels."

"Now Anje." Gary said shaking his head, "What brings you here?"

"Planned on going for a jog up the side of Mount Rainier." Anje answered, "Decent job on the other me, by the way, hair's a little off though."

Gary looked at the holographic Anje's hair and the real Anje's, "Oh, I see it now. Other you has hair that is more red highlights than purple, I'll fix it. Sorry about the screw up."

"Nah, nothing to be sorry about." Anje laughed, "Though I wish she wasn't so much cuter than me. Anyway, wasn't aware you could sing, Sir. Much less so well."

Gary looked at the younger woman. "She is an imitation, you my friend are the real Mccoy and are infinitely better. As for singing, thank you. Not many people know about it."

"And do you wish it to remain that way?" Anje asked, not sure if Gary had kept this quiet for any particular reason or no.

"I don't wish to be known as the singing XO just as Dr. Crusher didn't want to be known as the Dancing Doctor."

"And Delphine didn't want to be known as the sexy science chick." Anje snickered, remembering how irritated she would get with people at the Institute for calling her that, all because of Quark and his damn holosuite program, "I understand."

"Exactly." Gary replied. "Thank you for understanding."

"That's me, the most understanding person on the Elysium." Anje joked, though it wasn't far from the truth, she was more understanding and compassionate than most people were with her.

"I think that's a true statement Anje. You are extremely compassionate and understanding of what others are going through. I can use Lia as a prime example of your compassion and understanding.'' Gary answered honestly.

"Lia's one of my best friends, I get no points for that." Anje shook her head, "Besides, she does all that and more for me." That was the hard truth, right there, nobody on this ship had shown more love for Anje than Lia Holmes had, she was more like a sister than a mere friend at this point.

"She's a good person just as you are Anje. You compliment each other. I am very grateful you both met and became such good friends." Gary replied.

"I am, too." Anje replied, not adding the fact that, had it not been for Lia, she would've left Elysium and ran back to Vulcan at warp 17 a long time ago.

"Well, I'm glad you are here." Gary said honestly. "You are good for each other."

"Right." Anje nodded and smiled, though there were times when she wondered what her relationship with Lia would've been if not for Gary's presence, "So, what exactly have we got going on here?"

"Oh." Gary stated. "I was looking over some different wedding venues, trying to find one Lia would like and i was thinking of having that song sung at our wedding."

"Why don't you sing it yourself?" Anje suggested, "I know that's what Lia would prefer."

"I could do that." Gary admitted "I have another song called Lia's Song. That I would like you to sing Anje."

"Oh, who snitched?" Anje groaned, not wanting to be known as the singing diplomat any more than Gary wanted to be the singing XO, "It was my aunt wasn't it? That crazy old woman has a huge mouth!"

"Sorry Anje. that is classified information." Gary joked. "I'll never tell."

"Or Kerri." Anje rolled her eyes, "She's got a mouth big enough to swallow a watermelon whole."

Gary laughed as Anje rolled off names that could have spilled her secret. "Now, now, your secret is out and I'm not telling who gave you up." Gary teased.

"Nice." Anje laughed, "Had to be Auntie. How does a woman who spent so many years in Starfleet intel have such piss poor skills at keeping things to herself?"

Gary wouldn't be baited. "If you say so Anje." He agreed with her statement while not confirming who snitched on her.

Anje laughed a little, realizing Taylor would never give her aunt up, "Okay, keep her secrets." She shrugged, "But you can't keep the song secret, not if you want me to sing it."

Gary ignored the part about the Queen. It was better to keep Anje guessing. "Your right about the song. and I would very much like you to sing it.'' He admitted.

"Okay, we can arrange that I suppose." Anje laughed, she would do anything, even face her crippling stage fright, to make Lia's special day perfect.

"Thank you Anje." Gary said as he walked over to a chair and picked up a piece of paper with the words for Lia's Song on it. "Here are the words to Lia's Song."

"Okay, I got time to learn it and rehearse it at least." Anje smiled, happy that she'd been given some prep time, "Want this to be perfect for Lia."

Gary grinned at her, "For Lia huh? I suppose I'm just chopped liver? Okay, I see how it is." He teased Anje.

"That's totally not it." Anje shook her head, "You're a man, so you're not going to be as upset if I muff the song as she will. Weddings are for the women, let's be honest." Anje hated to confirm stereotypes, but sometimes they were stereotypes because they were true.

"Anje relax. I was teasing. Nothing more." Gary told her. "And yes, your probably right about Lia being upset."

Gallia walked in then, dressed in hiking/jogging gear with Tayalas strapped to her chest, "Well, sorry it took us so long te get here, Anje." She began, stopping finally to take the whole scene in, seeing the holographic Tayalas, "Well, would ye look at that! Tay, look, i's another ye, love."

Tayalas giggled and clapped, waving repeatedly to the other little blue girl, who didn't respond, maybe she didn't see her.

"Computer activate, holographic Tayalas." Gary said softly, seeing how excited Tay was at seeing herself.

"Hewwo!" The holographic Tayalas said, waving back to the 'other' blue baby.

"Hewwo!" Tayalas replied, reaching out to her holographic self, Gallia setting her down in front of the other her, "Huggy hug?"

"Peeasse." Holographic Tay replied, opening her little arms, which the real version quickly filled.

Gary chuckled softly as Tayalas interacted with holographic self. "Double your pleasure, double your fun." He commented to Gallia and Anje.

"Tha's too bloody cute." Gallia smiled, wiping a happy tear from her eye.

"Gives Tay another little playmate." Gary observed with a smile.

"An' how'm I supposed te explain where her li'l friend goes when the program turns off?" Gallia asked, she needed an answer because that would soon be an issue she'd have to face.

"Hmm." Gary mused, "Her other little friend only comes out to play when Tayalas is here and when you leave she goes home." He proposed. "I'll give you the program so you can adjust it as needed." he added.

"Tha's believable!" Gallia replied happily, "Thank ye, sir, I can use that."

"Mommyy, we pway?" Tayalas, the flesh and blood one, asked, pointing to herself and her holographic self.

"Aye, darlin', ye go play with ye l'il friend." Gallia smiled, "We'll be here while ye play."