The following is a very short drabble that popped into my head after watching, Natural Born Grendlers, again. Enjoy!

Better Than Any Flight
By njborba

There is no band playing, no fancy décor or flowers. There is no tux, long white dress or five tiered wedding cake. In fact there is no traditional indication whatsoever of the event about to take place. Instead there is an ocean breeze, a setting sun, sand beneath our feet and love in our hearts.

Our friends have all gathered; cleaned up as best they can in the old cloths they've been wearing for two long years. And at the center of it all stand's myself, one woman and Yale in between us, facing the others. We have finally made it to the place we plan to call home for the rest of our lives and we're ready now to vow those lives to one another.

Yale begins the ceremony with a few simple words about us; a once cocky pilot and the consummate doctor who found love in the most unlikely of circumstances. When his speech is over he pauses, allowing us each to recite the vows we have written.

Julia's are fairly traditional and straight to the point. I wouldn't expect anything else from her and it makes me love her even more. As she speaks, I think about the woman I first met two years ago on the Eden Advance ship, and the joke I made to her about celebrating life after our cold sleep run. At the time, I never could have imagined anything would come of my flirtation.

It didn't start off well, and only got bumpier as time passed. There had been a lot of doubt at first and reluctance on my part to think about anything lasting beyond months. Now we stand here, side by side, taking this next step in the long and winding road of our relationship. I don't imagine marriage will be any sort of easy adventure either but I wouldn't go back and change a thing now, even if given the chance.

My own vows are a bit out of the norm, especially the part in which I bring up a dream I had not long after we crashed on this planet. I tell them all about the words the older version of my once girlfriend, Lydia, spoke to me in that dream. She had helped me to understand what life was really all about, living, loving and growing old.

These are the words I tell my bride now; they are my solemn vow to her. I promise to love her, stand beside her and help make a life for ourselves in New Pacifica. I vow to be as good a husband as I possibly can, to learn from my mistakes and grow old along side her.

Love shines in her eyes, reflecting my own emotions. Our hands intertwine seeking out that familiar touch, the security we feel in being close to one another. We both know we'll always be there for the other. And as the ceremony concludes, Yale finally implores us to seal our vows with a kiss.

Our lips meet in the gentle union, two hearts merging in a motion of physical expression. Arms wrap around each other, deepening our bond. There is great promise in the kiss as all remaining doubt drifts from my body. I know that our life together will be just as Lydia spoke in that dream; better than any flight.

End