I walk down the rickety wooden stairs of The Three Foxes and take a seat at the bar next to Ratchet, Tiller, and Doc. Mrs. Marbury slides a pint mug of beer to me with a smile.
"To Bachelorhood," Tiller says raising his mug above his head.
"I haven't been able to drink to that in a while," I say sarcastically.
"That's alright Sir," Tiller says pointing to Ratchet, "he can only drink to it till tomorrow morning anyway." We all laugh and join in his toast.
"To Bachelorhood!" we shout as we slam our metal mugs together with a loud, "clink."
Ratchet takes a deep sip of his beer before turning back to us.
"Jealous much?" he asks to Tiller.
"Not at all," he responds firmly. "You have good luck with that one upstairs," he says motioning toward Hatchet's room. "So Sir, I happen to have been noticing that you've been spending a lot of time with the bride to be lately…"
"I don't care how you say it. That just sounds so damn weird," Doc mutters taking a long sip of his beer.
"Yes, I have been, Tiller. What's your point?"
"Yeah, what is your point?" Ratchet says turning toward Tiller.
"Oh nothing to impugn the honor of our platoon sergeant and your future wife," Tiller says defensively, "I was just wondering if the Sir here was Hatchet's maid of honor, that's all." The three of them burst out laughing and I just look at Tiller with a crooked grin on my face.
"Tiller…"
"Yes Sir," he says flashing me a smile.
"Come here," I say reaching across the bar and motioning him to lean towards me. When he's in arm's reach, I smack him hard across the back of his skull.
"Ow," he says rubbing his head.
"Well, considering you just called the Chief of the whole UDP Defense Forces a 'maid,' I think you got away pretty easy," Doc says with a chuckle.
"Alright, alright," I say with a smile, "all the bull… aside, Ratchet…"
"Sir!" he says turning to me.
"Ok, this is your bachelor party and considering that we are your groomsmen," I say flashing a look toward Tiller who smiles back, "I want to congratulate you by offering this little toast:
I remember when you first met Olivia over a year ago, and I distinctly remember you telling her that having a 'Hatchet and Ratchet' on the same team just sounded stupid. Well, not to sound contradictory so late in the game, but I don't think it sounds stupid at all. I've watched you two grow together and I know for a fact how much she cares about you." Ratchet gets a slightly embarrassed look on his face and stares down into his drink. "Hatchet has done so much for everyone sitting here right now, and I know that each and every one of us feel the same way as I do.
And you, Ratch, I know that you are an honorable man who strongly governs himself by what he knows to be right and wrong. You deserve a woman like Hatchet, and she deserves a man like you."
"Thank you, Sir," Ratchet says with a grateful nod.
"Definitely, man," Tiller says patting Ratchet on the back.
"You're one of the best friends I've ever had," Doc says staring right at Ratchet, "Even if you did make me hold that damn drip pan for all those hovercraft. Seriously, will I ever stop smelling like transmission fluid?"
"Nope," Ratchet says with a laugh, "Consider that a badge of honor."
"Ok," I say raising my mug into the air again, "As we all take a drink to Olivia and Clint's long and happy life together, let's also make a vow among all of us as well. This war will not last forever. Let's promise that we will do everything in our power to make sure that the two of them make it home together." Everyone at the bar falls silent. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if such an amazing love didn't last for years to come." I know it's a much more somber note that they were all expecting tonight, but it's one I think they all need to hear. "I've come to realize that we're all a family now…and family takes care of its own." I look at their faces and see that they've all understood my words. Doc silently raises his mug.
"I promise," he says with iron conviction in his voice. A second later, Tiller raises his mug to join Doc's.
"I promise, too. Someone's got to be around when this is all over and still be happy," he says with a slightly uncomfortable chuckle. Ratchet looks at the three of us and his eyes start to get a little glassy. He raises up his mug toward the others.
"I love you guys," he says trying to wipe the tears from his face, hoping we didn't notice. "I'll drink to that, but don't think for one second I'll let any of you do anything to stupid for me."
"I don't think you have a choice in that, brother," I say lifting my mug to complete the circle. "To Hatchet and Ratchet's long and happy life together."
"To Hatchet and Ratchet's long and happy life!" the others echo as we clink mugs again.
"So, you guys decide to have a party and not invite your platoon sergeant? That's messed up," we hear from behind us. We turn around to see Hatchet, defiantly standing with her hands on her hips.
"Babe!" Ratchet says nearly spilling his beer. "I'm not supposed to see you before the wedding! It's bad luck." Hatchet strides over to the bar and takes a seat next to me. "A real soldier makes her own luck…and that's Sergeant Sawbleyde to you when we're in uniform, Grease Monkey," she says with a coy smile. The other three of us can't help but laugh a little. "Oh, and after tomorrow, it'll be Sergeant Hightower to you when we're in uniform…" Hatchet says raising her eyebrows to her future husband. Ratchet is taken aback but can't help but smile. I know it's because he just loves her strength so much.
"Yes…"
"Yes what?" she says getting Mrs. Marbury's attention.
"Yes Sergeant…"
"There we go…" she says as Mrs. Marbury walks over to her.
"And what can I get for the blushing bride to be?" Mrs. Marbury says in her most motherly tone.
"Were you able to find it for me?"
"Who do you think you're talking to, Dearie?" Mrs. Marbury says leaning down behind the bar. She comes back up with five shot glasses and a bottle of clear liquor.
Hatchet places a glass in front of each one of us. Mrs. Marbury starts to open the bottle but Olivia puts out a hand to stop her.
"Don't worry about that, Alice, I've got it," she says with a smile. Mrs. Marbury hands her the bottle and Hatchet pulls her axe from her belt. In one quick motion, she slams the back of the weapon into the cork and sends it shooting across the bar.
"This is something very special," she says pouring each of us a shot. "This may sound crazy, but my ancestors once came from Norwegia a very long time ago. We still make this is District 7 and Mrs. Marbury here was kind enough to find me a bottle that a friend of hers got through the TEC lines. If you don't drink it, it's an insult to her, an insult to the Norwegians, and an insult to my heritage."
"Wouldn't want to insult anybody," I say cautiously reaching for my drink. Hatchet picks up her glass and makes one last toast as a bachelorette.
"To the team!" she says as we all click our glasses together. "And I don't want to hear any more of that bull… about you guys trying to protect me. It's my job to protect you….all of you," she says with a stern look to me.
We all take the shot and it feels like liquid fire going down my throat.
"Oh my God, what is this?" I ask gasping for air.
"Relax," Hatchet says after she polishes her drink off in one gulp. She quickly pours herself another. "It's made from honey."
"Still tastes like freaking hovercraft fuel," Doc says patting his chest with his fist.
"Yeah," Hatchet says nonchalantly taking her second shot. "You have to have balls to really enjoy it." All five of us burst out laughing.
The next morning dawns beautifully clear. When the time comes, I gather up the groom along with Doc and Tiller and walk with them over to a grove of trees a few blocks from The Three Foxes. Hatchet demanded to at least have leaves over her head when she said her vows.
We take our place in front of an ancient oak as the guests start to arrive. It's a very small ceremony just as Hatchet and Ratchet requested. It's only the team, Angus, Maggie, Mrs. Marbury, and a few other close friends we've made since our arrival in Britannia. As I stand staring down the makeshift aisle in my dress blacks, I make a few final adjustments to Ratchet's uniform.
"Are you ready?" I ask with a smile.
"No, Sir. I'm actually really scared," he whispers back.
"Don't worry then," I say reassuringly. "That means you'll be just fine." One of Mrs. Marbury's friends begins to play a wooden flute in an ancient country ballad from Britannia. Since neither the bride nor the groom could agree on a ceremony that blended the traditions of Districts 7 and 3, they both came to the decision to just do it their way: simple and full of genuine love.
A flash of white at the end of the aisle catches my eye. I nod to Doc and Tiller who are standing next Ratchet. They take their places before I look the groom right in the face.
"Turn around," I say calmly. He slowly moves to see Hatchet, dressed in simple, white calico walking towards him carrying a bouquet of local wildflowers. He stares at her in silent adoration. I know at this moment that they are, in fact, destined to be together.
As she reaches our group, Hatchet holds out her hand to me which I place gently into Ratchet's waiting (and a bit sweaty) palm. Then, I begin the ceremony.
"Friends and family," I say to everyone present. "We are here today to join these two people together in marriage. When they complete their vows, they will be husband and wife, joined together in one existence from now until they are parted by death." I look to Hatchet and Ratchet, but it is like I am invisible to them. All they can see at this moment is each other.
"Olivia, do you promise to love and honor this man? To be with him through both triumph and tragedy as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," she says with a softness I have never heard in her voice before.
"Clint, do you promise to love and honor this woman? To be with her through both triumph and tragedy as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he says gazing into Hatchet's eyes. Suddenly, I see tears begin to roll down his cheeks. When she sees Ratchet, Hatchet can no longer hold herself together either, and begins to cry as well.
"Marriage is not a destination," I say speaking from my own heart. "It is a journey, and not always a pleasant one. It is fraught with danger and peril, for it is in our natures to not always want what is best for another, but instead look out just for ourselves. However, the real miracle that occurs when two people find each other and fall in love, is that somehow, despite all their instincts and desires, they will find a way past mankind's natural pettiness and greed, and live solely for each other…
Now, by the power vested in me by all those present, I hereby pronounce you both husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
