“Captain Walton.”

“Captain Halsey.”

Captain Leopold Halsey of the USS Olympic stood on the transporter pad in transporter room two of the USS Mackenzie. Captain Wren Walton stood at the foot of the stairs, a quiet smile gracing her face. He asked, “Permission to come aboard and plan a wedding?”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on down, Leo. Permission granted.” He jauntily stepped down, and they embraced as old friends. She pulled away, chuckling. “I wondered when we’d get to this point with these two. I was worried they were going to be engaged the whole time!” Walton led him out into the corridor. “Their choice of Colludia II helps with organizing the guest list. Most of the Fourth Fleet will be in the area, not to mention most of our flotilla.”

Halsey nodded, a PADD in hand as they walked. “Thankfully, we had enough lead time to get family and friends there in time.” The couple nominated both of them to lead the wedding planning. Wren had chuckled at the request, knowing her reputation had helped secure her the role.

Walton reminded him, “You’ll work with Prentice. I’ll take Sadie. We keep them on task; this wedding will work out just fine.”

Halsey gave her a sharp look as they turned the corner and headed towards a waiting turbolift. “You have your doubts?”

Wren scoffed as the doors closed behind them. “Every wedding has its own risks and rewards. Well-adjusted people across the spectrum have a habit of losing their minds just a little around these things.”

The doors opened, and she led him through the bridge and into her ready room. He went directly to the replicator, a hot tea in his hand moments later. “Personal experience?”

She rolled her eyes again and sat at her desk with a huff. “Not my story, but several of my friends over the years have discovered my warnings had plenty of merit. How was your wedding? Drama free?”

Halsey sipped his tea and shook his head quietly. “My in-laws were…challenging.” He briefly explained his wife’s mixed human-Vulcan heritage. “There were certain things we had to do as part of the ceremony. There were a few fights. I stayed well and clear of it. Theodora can hold her own.” He leaned back in the chair, eyeing Walton. “You ever think you will?”

Walton felt her face grow warm at the question. It had recently rumbled around in the back of her mind. Her on – again, off-again relationship with Peter Crawford remained that–off and on. His recent elevation to fleet captain had given her pause in returning to their relationship. For his part, Crawford had kept the door slightly ajar with his messages in the last few weeks. Wren glanced up, pulling herself out of her thoughts. “I don’t know, Leo. I want it eventually.” That admission startled her, and she frowned at herself.

Halsey let the silence hold between them before sitting forward, a wistful look in his eyes. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you admit something like that.”

She gave him a faux-annoyed glance before returning to her iced tea she’d retrieved from the replicator. “Don’t get used to it. It’s the one piece of my life puzzle that I’m constantly changing my mind about. You seem to think I should.”

He shrugged. “Your story is yours, Wren. Outside of this office and our commands, yes. You’ve got a big heart. Some people are meant to share their hearts. I think you are.” He put his hands up at her miffed look, “You asked.”

Wren grumbled. She had. Leopold and she had built a friendship that felt more and more like brother and sister. Admitting that he was right wasn’t easy for her, and she wasn’t sure what that said about her. “He will be there with us.” She scrunched her nose, feeling those old feelings wafting through her heart. Peter Crawford was many things, but a constant place of comfort was one of his many good qualities.

Halsey cocked his head to the side. “You should ask him out to dinner once we’re settled. Sends a signal.” Her long stare made him chuckle heartily. “What?”

“You like being right, don’t you?”

Leopold shrugged, an impish grin growing on his face. “I mean, it’s nice when it happens. Which is a lot.” He stood and refilled his tea. “So, you going to ask him?”

Walton downed her drink, sitting up in her chair and letting out a long sigh. “Probably. We’ve got some wedding work to do, Leo. You can remind me to ask him when we make enough progress for the night.”

“Oh, I will.”