A/N: Another part as requested.........
1 ½ years later.............
Lacey
"Hey, you look beautiful today" I smirked at Jackie, We've become closer than ever over the past year and a half, She wore a baby blue sundress to match the rest of the bridesmaids her hair had finally grown back barely reaching her shoulders. Things were getting better for her and I was glad she decided to go through chemo like she said she would, almost dying caused her to see she wanted nothing more to live and be able to raise her daughter.
"You look amazing as well, are you nervous?" she asked.
I gave her a lopsided grin and nodded my head, instead of shaking it side to side "No" I answered, causing her to laugh in an attempt to hide the fact that, yes, I was indeed nervous but I couldn't think of wanting to spend the rest of my life with anyone else. Amelia and I waited on getting married while helping raise Jacey during Jackie's recovery and spent out time together getting to know everything about the other. And now today was the day of our wedding.
"She's a lucky girl Lace," she whispered out as she straightens the collar of my fitted jacket she'd told me the day she laid bleeding in my arms that her biggest regret was letting me go. But I believe she's finally come to terms we could never be more than this especially after her father and my mother confessed to their biggest secret. Jackie and Lauren were half-sisters conceived during one last fling between college lovers. Although she and I were not related it made things a little awkward at first.
"I'm the lucky one," I brushed my hand across her cheek. "Not many people get a chance at love, Not many get to fall in love twice." Although my love for Amelia surpassed anything I'd ever felt for anyone I could not deny that Jackie was my first love.
"Gunny, you ready?" Morgan chirped happily as she burst through the door, I placed as a kiss on Jackie's cheek as she brushed away a stray tear.
"I'm honestly happy for you Amelia is a wonderful person," Jackie whispered in my ear as she hugged me
"Thank you," I whispered back, Shooting a smile to Morgan. "Absolutely Cap" Morgan and I were dressed in jeans and blue button downs shirts mine a little darker than the baby blue she wore with biker boots matching our black leather Jackets. My mother was upset at first that there wasn't going to be an extravagate wedding, that included tuxedos and an elaborate wedding gown. We wanted something small and simple, and amongst close friends and family.
"We look good," Morgan wiggled her eyebrows at me causing me to laugh at her untucked shirt sticking out of the bottom of her jacket. I had to agree though we looked pretty sharp even just dressed casually.
Morgan headed toward the bridesmaids to take her place while I headed over to the vine covered gazebo, our wedding was taking place at my favorite location in Columbus, The Topiary Park, with a guest list of about fifty seated I nervously waited.
She Keeps Me Warm by Mary Lambert started playing. The first down the grassy path was the adorable Jacey dressed in her little pink dress. I chucked as she flung white rose petals in the air, remembering how she begged Amelia to let her wear pink when everyone else was wearing a shade of blue. That child's love for the color was unmatched any anyone we knew.
Sam and Amy were next followed by Sarah and Jackie who had finally started dating a few months ago. My best friend Morgan and my sister Lauren followed soon after. Lauren took her place toward the right as Morgan took her place between me and Sam, standing right beside me just as she had done for so many years. She gave me a comforting pat on the back knowing I was anxious.
She smirked and nudged me in the ribs my eyes shifted in the direction she was looking at, my breath hitched at the perfect timing as a single beam of sunlight broke through the slightly overcast sky, illuminating the fiery glow of the beautiful redhead, dressed in a simple white vintage style dress. My eyes never left my green-eyed bride as she was escorted towards me by Ben, She reached out and squeezed her grandmother's hand as she passed her giving her a smile before turning her gaze back towards me.
I reached taking her hand from Ben, still unable to pull my eyes away from hers even as the pastor began to speak.
"Today there will be no dearly beloved, no betrothed, and no ancient rhyme of the married.
Today there are no dead languages to solemnize vows that are very much alive and will remain so for a lifetime.
Today promises become permanent as friends become family.
This day is about love.
One of my favorite authors once wrote, "If love is not all, then it is nothing: this principle, and its opposite, collide down all the years of my breathless tale."
Lacey and Amelia, your breathless tale continues.
If love is not all, then it is nothing.
If love is all, then it is everything
Love isn't just a word; it's an action.
Love isn't something you say, it's something you do."
"Amelia," I said stepping closer, I placed her right hand over my heart. "from the moment we met my heart learned to beat once again, though our love has been tested time and time again destiny has seen fit to grant us our new beginning, I stand before you, my heart never wavering, my love unconditional. I am as I've always been yours, from now until my last breath, and even then I will fight death himself for even a few moments more with you."
Amelia's teary eyes matched my own as she stepped forward to bring us even closer together. Her hand never leaving my chest. "Lacey, never has anyone made me feel as loved and as safe as you have, even before we've met you have saved me so many times before," her voice broke into a whisper. She handed her flower over to Jackie and retrieved a picture frame from her. It was the one of me and Lauren, the one I've learned she has always turned to for comfort before we even met.
"even when our lives moved in different directions, I knew when I first looked upon your image my heart belonged to you. It will always be yours, Ley." I pulled her closer and resting my forehead against hers as I looked deep into her eyes
"As mine will always be yours," I replied.
"And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it." The pastor spoke,
" This marriage is complete. Where there were two, there is now one."
Just as we've done since we've first stepped foot back into Columbus a year and a half ago we gathered together at coach J's to celebrate with our family and friends. I knew this would be a constant place in our lives, since moving back into my childhood home with Lauren, Morgan and my love, my wife Amelia. I smiled thinking how great that sounds 'My Wife.'
"Captain De Luca, Gunnery Sargent Crawford." Morgan and I turned to be greeted by another familiar face, we stood immediately.
"Major," we saluted.
"At ease." She saluted back before smiling. "Lacey I hear congratulation are in order is this your wife?" she hugged me and looked at Amelia.
"yes, Major Davis, This is my lovely wife Amelia,"
"Call me Alison," she said taking Amelia's hand.
"It's nice to meet you Amelia answered leaning into me
"Morgan It's good to see you," she said pulling Morgan hug before being introduced to Lauren.
"Alison, Damn it's been a while, what brings you here," Morgan asked dropping the formalities.
She sighed and I knew, I turned to Amelia and frowned as I pulled her close. She pulled back enough to look at me her smile fading, Babe, What's wrong." She hugged me, my body tensed.
"Call of Duty," I whispered.
They just can't seem to catch a break.... Sorry folks........