Kate awoke with the sun streaming through the curtains. Stretching out the realisation of that today was the day she was marring the man she loved. Bomber, Bird and Nav had all stayed over the previous night.

Walking down stairs everyone else was up and all looked like a kid on Christmas morning. She was immediately greeted by Nav who handed her a glass of Bucks fizz

"thanks" Kate smiled "how long do we have?"

"plenty of time." Nav almost squealed with excitement

"and I though it was suppose to be me that was excited" Kate laughed.

"well it took you two long enough to get together it was obvious from the first day you stepped on Hammersley you had the hots for each other" Nav grinned topping up Kates glass

Kate was almost ready when Nav walked in smiling. "so have you got everything?"

"what?" Kate asked confused

"something old something new something borrowed and something blue?"

"oh that almost" Kate smiled

"well what are you using then" Nav asked

"something blue, the blue trim on my dress and something new..." she lifted up the skirts if her dress to reveal an new pair of white boots from her ceremonial uniform.

"your wearing them?" bomber sounded surprised

"well I don't want to wear heals on the deck of Hammersley and besides I look a bit like a fairy elephant in heals, and these are much comfier but I couldn't find anything old or borrowed"

"here is your something old" Bird presented Kate with a large box. "I took textile design at school and I wanted to make you something special"

Kate lifted the lid off the box and found her old officers hat she had after completing her training at ADFA. Lifting the hat out she found a lace veil attached along with a blue ribbon where the black band should have been,. "its beautiful" she gasped dabbing at her eye with a tissue trying to preserve her makeup. Putting the box down she wrapped her arm around bird "thank you"

"and this can be your something borrowed," Nav undid the chain that hung round her neck. "my Grandfather gave me this when I graduated ADFA" the chain was a simple silver necklace with a heart made from a blue stone hanging on down.

"this is lovely" Kate smiled as Nav placed it round her neck and doing up the clasp touching the pendent as she felt it drop.

"and you will be needing this" Bomber pulled out a small silver coin out of the pocket on her dress.

"what is it" Kate asked turning it over. It wasnt a Australian coin but it had the head of the Queen of England on the reverse side.

"its a silver sixpence for your shoe. Its to prosperity or ward of evil EX lovers"

"right not sure I have many of those but hey" Kate grinned

Mike walked along the Dock where Hammersley was moored. The sun was beating down on the dock and the water was sparkling like exotic gems where the light hit. Everyone was milling around on the quay in front of Hammersley. There was only a small guest list and it was mostly old friends and crew from Hammersley and Family. Dutchy walked up behind him with dark shades.

"boss" he called shaking mikes hand

"Dylan I thought you were heading back to Afghan? "mike sounded surprised but glad that he was hear, he had been a close friend of Kates'

"change of plan we are being deployed next week so I thought may as well come up and see you finally marry Kate"

"well its good to have you here," mike smiled as he headed over the gangway of Hammersley.

Ryan walked over to him. "mike just to warn you mums on the warpath. I don't know what she is planning but she did say that she would make sure Hammersley would be the only one available to sail"

"thanks Ryan but nothing can ruin today" mike smiled looking over to where the open topped car he had hired to bring Kate and the bridesmaids had pulled up at the bottom of the quay.

Kate stepped out of the car carefully easing the dress out so as not to ruin it. Bomber and Nav straightened the back of the train before taking walking towards the isle. Following them Kate walked along the quayside.

"charge" she smiled as she spied her old friend

"hi Kate... congratulations Mike is one lucky man"

"thanks charge hows is it on the west?" she hugged him

"oh not bad nothing like the reefs though nothing can beat this beauty"

Kate smiled before continuing to walk along to the gangway of Hammersley. She took a deep breath as she walked over. This was the moment she had longed for, for so long he was the only man she evet imagined and wanted to marry. Taking her place next to mike she lifted her vail throwing it back over her head.

"you look amazing" Mike whispered in to her ear

"your looking not that bad your self" she smiled

The chaplain turned to both Mike and Kate

"we are gathered here to day to join this man and this woman..."

He was interrupted by several different ringtones all of them from Hammersley's crew. Kate span around to face Nav who had pulled her phone out of the handy pockets on her dress

"I don't believe it" she swore loudly

"whats wrong" Kate asked

Nikki held her phone out to Kate. It showed a message from NAVCOM

' HMAS Hammersley Notice for Sail 40 minuets further information sent to Ship'

"she cant be serious" Kate wanted to cry "Mike? I thought Hammersley was on leave and not on call"

"I don't know." He pulled out his own phone "Maxine care to explain why Hammersley has been crash sailed?" he had put it on speaker

"well its all kicking of on Samaru again and Hamersley has a relationship with the islands so its a logical choice, and you need to get to the airport they want you to fly over and head up the command with the French"

"but its mine and Kates wedding day"

"well you know the Navy no sense of timing anyway I am needed in a meeting Sir so ..." the line went dead

Kate pulled her hat of dropping it on the deck before pushing her way down to her cabin. Why was Maxine doing this. It was suppose to be the happiest day of her life and now it was just ruined. She tugged at the laces that did the dress up. What was the point she changed in to her combats and black boots before walking on to the bridge. If they didn't sail then Maxine would most centrally have her up on disciplinary charges and mike wouldn't be able to help Maxine would make sure of that.

Mike had made apologies to the guests and sent them down to the beach to enjoy the party and think of them he walked on to the bridge.

"Kate" he walked up behind her

"you best go don't want to be late for your flight" Kate wiped away the falling tears

"I thought I would hitch a ride with you if that's okay I can be a stowaway. I mean your going to Samaru and so am I"

Kate made a slight smile. "you only want to be on Hammersley again"

"no its our wedding day and I don't want to leave you for a second" he pulled her close in to a hug

"some wedding day we didn't even get started"

"I know we can rearrange" he kissed the top of her head

"I best get specials closed up we need to be out in less than 10 minuets"

Maxine stood on the far end of the quay watching Hammersley sail out. She had managed to stop the wedding for now but she needed to come up with a more permeant plan

hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think. i think i have a couple more chapters left to write