Okay, remember. They're teenagers. Just because they're doing something they think is right doesn't mean things are going to be awesome back home. Their families are going to react as they find things out, and it's going to be an ongoing process. Let's put it this way: It's another 20,000 words or so until there's any sort of beginning of a resolution to the marriage issue.

Reviews, please. Hitting 32 means an extra chapter of this story.

Finally, the morning they were leaving came. Jake woke up and pulled the last of things together, left them on the kitchen table, and went to do the chores. When he came back in, his mother was sitting at the table. In her hand, she held a coffee mug and the brown folder he and Sam had put together. It held all of the documents they might need to make things legal. He'd also put the name of the pastor in the folder, and directions to the church. His stomach turned as he entered and saw the folder in his mother's hand. He really, really, didn't want to lie to her. He would tell her everything if she asked. She'd been nothing but supportive, surprisingly, and he wasn't about to start his life with Sam on a lie, even though a lie of omission was much the same thing. They simply weren't sharing the fact of their marriage. They'd agreed that if someone asked, they wouldn't lie.

But his mother didn't say anything about the contents of the folder. "This fell on the floor, Jake." she set it down.

"Oh."

"Yes, Oh. Jake, do we need to have a discussion about the fact that you'll be away with Sam on your own?"

"Mama. We're going to be in the dorms for the weekend. We're going to leave after school, drive down, and come back. We'll be fine. And if Wyatt calls, you can tell him my room is next door to the RA for the program, in the same grouping of rooms. Nothing's going to happen." He spoke firmly because he really thought that's how it was going to be. He knew that he and Sam hadn't had much time, let alone much time alone, to reach the point where she'd be comfortable with the idea of going farther than they had. In the end, he felt like whatever happened, or didn't happen, was fine with him.

His mother smiled, "It's not Wyatt I'm worried about. He's calmer now. Seems to think that an eventual engagement is a good idea. I've not told him that I think it's a bit late for that."

"Hm?" He asked

"Oh, Jake. Even though I can't prove it, I have some idea of what you're planning to do. I understand your point of view, but don't do something because someone said you can't."

"We have Wyatt's permission to make our own way. You know that." His tone was kind, almost pleading.

"Alright, get going. We're going to be late to school." She picked up her bag and headed to her car as he headed to the truck.

The day passed quickly. Sam was to get photos of the campus and Las Vegas for the newspaper can. At their agreed upon meeting time, she said goodbye to Jen and slipped out of class, and met Jake at the truck. After getting settled, they set out. She'd assumed control of the radio for the first part of the trip. Not much was said, because not much had to be said.

After a while, conversation sort of flowed. They talked about HARP and college. He told her about the dorm they'd be staying in, the different speakers they'd be hearing, the awards dinner and induction. She'd have some free time while he did seminars and classes for a few hours, but she planned to take her photographs of the campus then. Silence was warm, and happy.

Sam was in heaven. The sun was warm on the truck, the clouds were fluffy white, and George Strait was playing on the radio. Even Jake loved George Strait and they were simply living in the moment. There was no other second that was as wonderful than the one they were living, simply because they were together. No one could ask for a better start to a marriage.

By the time they pulled into Las Vegas, Sam had nearly exhausted the drinks they'd brought, and she really needed the bathroom. She thought she'd better find one soon, as it would not do to really have to pee during the ceremony. She'd been humbled when Jake had pulled into a tiny chapel with a the Methodist symbol on the wooden sign. It wasn't glitzy and ugly, but rather like a church you might see anyplace. The building was low like it had been built in the 1960s. They had a bathroom in the vestibule, even. Sam upon her exit from said area had told Jake that he'd picked the most wonderful place. He'd laughed.

They met the pastor, an older man, and his wife. They spoke briefly. Jake knew it was simply to get to know them enough to gather that they were a couple. He imagined that the pastor had seen some crazy things in his day. All the same, Sam thought he was a joyful sort of man, with a talkative if somewhat aloof wife. They gathered in front of the altar, and moments later, their futures were joined as one. There was paperwork, too, but neither of the Ely's could recall anything except the feel of the moment, and the look in their eyes. For all its' shortcomings in terms of pomp and grandeur, it was all they'd ever dreamed of.

As Jake walked to the truck, he fiddled with Sam's grandfather's ring. She'd been given it upon his passing, and had kept it with her trinkets growing up. It had even made the trip to San Fransisco with her, but now it would be Jake's. He intended to wear it on a chain, much in the same way she wore her ring. As they drove away, Jake spoke "I can't believe we just did that."

Sam grinned, "Want a divorce already?"

He sobered, "Never, Sam."

She laughed, and kissed his free hand, the one that was wrapped about hers.

College, and the future, beckoned.