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“A beautiful enjoinment ceremony,” Elim Garak murmured as he held his mate in his arms as they swayed in their quarters.
Dr. Julian Bashir nodded and laid his head on Garak’s shoulder.
“I had fun.”
“But?”
Julian snorted. “You know me too well. But….” He sighed.
Garak knew why. Garak wore traditional Cardassian enjoinment robes for their ceremony; an intricate layering of flowing robes that he had spent months painstakingly putting together in the correct patterning and adding beautiful Kardasi embroidery script on the edges. Everyone had appreciatively murmured their delight when he stepped up, barefoot as required in such a ceremony, to the podium.
Jadzia had encouraged Julian to wear what he wanted, but because Julian’s parents had grudgingly attended, he had chosen something fittingly traditional. Garak still appreciated his mate’s silhouette in his fitted tux, which made Julian look dazzlingly handsome with the black-tone of the suit making his caramel skin standout. But he knew it was not what Julian had truly wanted. Julian had appreciated Garak’s attempts at some dazzle to it; silver Kardasi embroidery script created a shine that had added some uniqueness to the suit. But still…
“My dear, I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh?”
“You will find it in our bedroom. Go put it on and then come back out.”
Julian looked at him puzzlingly.
“I don’t want to see you again until you have it on.” He made shooing motions. “There is also an extender for you as well.”
“Now I’m intrigued!”
“Go on.”
Julian headed towards the bedroom with a few backward glances towards Garak. Garak sat down in one of the table chairs so that he could have a perfect view of his enjoined as he emerged from the bedroom, and waited.
It took a bit of time. Garak figured that there would be tears and that Julian would have a good cry before appearing.
Soon he heard a muffled, “My darling,” from behind their bedroom door.
“I want to see you,” he called back.
He smiled from ear to ear as Julian emerged. He had memorized his mate’s measurements and damn, if that hadn’t come in handy for the surprise.
Julian stood in the doorway. “I would have come out sooner but I’m crying. I’m so happy. Thank you!”
Garak appreciated the man before him. The scoop neck showed off more of that delectable color of him while the tight-mermaid frame of the dress showed him off in all the right ways. The dress ended with a lace-like train that complemented the small Cardassian sparkling stones sprinkled on the edges. Even with this dress, Garak had included Kardasi script embroidery that ran up the back and around the top.
“When did you have time?”
“I made time and excuses.”
“This is that dress you said was for that wedding between….?”
Garak nodded.
“Which didn’t exist, did it?”
Garak shook his head.
“Darling!”
He walked towards Garak looking for all the world like the dream he was. Garak stood and happily took his mate into his arms.
“You wanted a wedding dress,” Garak whispered as he held Julian. “I know you didn’t choose one because of your parents.” He held Julian tighter. “I wanted you to have what you wanted from the start.”
“I love it!” Julian whispered back.
“Then maybe you will like what goes with it.”
Julian pulled back. “Which is?”
“The public wedding was for the parents and the Federation. Still enjoyable but more for show than for us.” He smiled. “I’ve planned a quieter affair; just us and a few of our friends. One where you can be married in the dress of your dreams to the man of your dreams; and I can wear the enjoinment shift instead of the robes.”
The shift was just that; a plain, clean shift, no adornments, no additions and practically nearly see-through. It showed the mate that you came as you were with no motives other than a commitment to the union. It had fallen out of favor as status and seniority and power had become more important in their society, but Garak had always had an appreciation for the no-frills basics in his idea of a unionship.
He watched fresh tears start to gather in Julian’s eyes.
“You planned that? For us?”
Garak nodded.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.
“And I don’t deserve you.” He answered. “And yet, somehow, we have found that we deserve each other.”
Julian captured his lips in a kiss.
“Now, let’s get you out of this dress so we don’t ruin it before our big day.”
Julian’s smile turned wicked.
“I’ll need some help.”
Garak smiled back. “I can help with that.”
“And I couldn’t decide what to wear underneath it so I chose nothing.”
Garak froze.
Julian carefully started to walk backwards towards their bedroom, making sure to hold the train in his arms so he didn’t ruin it or rip it.
“I do believe we’ll want somewhere more comfortable to get me out of this dress.”
“I do believe you’re right.”
He beckoned at Garak to follow him.
And who was Garak to say no?