Gradually, the crowd at the church started to make their way to the Red Lion, which had been decorated by the ladies of the WVS, under the supervision of Mavis and Mrs Jones. The ladies in question had bustled off, with Mrs Jones looking after a still emotional Mavis, to get the cake and sandwiches, and Wilson had disappeared off somewhere else, probably following them. The newly married couple stood there, suddenly left in a little circle of calm.

'Ere, you goin' down the Red Lion?' Walker asked then, catching sight of them.

'Uh, yeah, we will,' Pike replied, a little hesitantly, 'only we got some stuff to do first…'

'Oh right!' Walker nodded, with a grin. That 'stuff' he'd mentioned…yeah, well…

'Yeah, alright…' The grin didn't leave his face. 'I'll see you there then!' Putting an arm around the peroxide blonde he'd brought down from London, Walker sauntered off and left them to it. He hadn't trusted Pike not to show his mother (or everyone else) his other wedding present in the end, and had just come back from stashing it in a bag Sylvia had asked to drop off in the car.

'Where's that stuff then?' Sylvia asked eagerly, turning to Pike.

He didn't answer immediately, briefly distracted by the sparkle in her dark eyes.

'Oh yeah! It's in the Scouts' stockroom, come on!' Catching hold of her hand, they rushed off to the Church Hall. It was quiet there, and the door creaked slightly as they pushed it to. They crossed the hall, Sylvia wondering quite what they were there for exactly. He'd said it was stuff they needed to take on their Honeymoon, but…

'Come in here, come on!' A slow smile lit her face as he beckoned her in.

'What's in here?' she asked, eyes never leaving him as she pushed the door shut with her heel.

Kneeling down, pulling at some bags, he hadn't noticed the look in her eyes, but something in her voice made him scramble to his feet and blush.

'Tents?' He sounded uncertain, captivated suddenly. Unconsciously he let his gaze run up and down her, from the tightly pinned curls framing her hat, down the neckline that Ada had worried was too low to be worn in Church, over the subtle swell of her bust and down to the belt at her narrow waist.

'Are they?' Sylvia stepped closer, making his blush burn. There was a touch of colour in her own cheeks now, despite herself, spreading down the exposed neckline that had so caught his attention.

'Yeah…' Looking at her, an impulse that both confused and rather scared Pike was building – she was his girl, the one he wanted to look after and just treat like the most precious thing ever, so why did he sometimes, like now, wonder what it would be like to get hold of her, and kiss her – really kiss her – and maybe, maybe, make her feel like he had when she did…what she did before. It was especially unnerving when he admitted how much he wanted her to do it again.

Catching that look, Sylvia stepped back slightly against the shelves, like she needed the support. He still didn't really know what he did to her, and even though every instinct was telling her to push it, flirt, she couldn't. Not here – not yet. Boys would never say no, well, nearly always, she reminded herself, and girls had to be the sensible ones…even when it was really hard and they looked so nice…

'Oh…well then,' she said, trying to sound in control. 'Better get one then…'

She raised a hand then, and extending a finger, gently traced the one of the lines on his sleeve.

'And…' Pike watched her every move in seduced fascination as she continued. 'I wouldn't want to mess up that chalk…'

With bravery she didn't quite feel, going on what she imagined Jean might do, she lifted her finger to her lips and blew, letting tiny grains of chalk fall to the floor. If they hadn't heard voices outside just then, in years to come neither would be sure quite what would have happened next.

'Um, yeah, no…' It was a struggle to think just now. 'Tent, an' stuff…'

They grabbed a few things, and almost ran straight into the Verger.

'Ere, what's your game?' he asked suspiciously, fixing them with a glare. 'I don't care if you are just married,' he continued, nodding self-righteously. '…I'm not having any misuse of the Hall!'

'We never done nothing!' Even to Pike, that didn't sound believable. 'We just got to move this stuff!'

The Verger still looked rather suspicious, but let them go. As long as they weren't doing what they were doing on Church Property, he really didn't want to know, and bustled off to complain to the Vicar about the abundance of confetti thrown in flagrant disregard of his views on the matter – some things were far more important.

At the Church gate, Wilson was surprised to see Frazer, puffing on his pipe, apparently waiting for him.

'So,' he said, blowing out a cloud of smoke. 'How's yon lassie?'

Wilson reached for a cigarette of his own before answering. He'd always been grateful for Frazer's discretion on the matter.

'Very well, thank you, Frazer,' he replied, as they started to walk towards the Red Lion together. 'She's engaged herself now, to a Naval Captain.'

'Aye well, she's made a fine choice, wi' a Navy man. Will ye go to the wedding?'

'I don't know.' Wilson stared at the trees in the Park as they passed. 'I hope so.'

Frazer nodded. That was all that needed be said.

'Well now,' he continued. 'Reckon ye could do wi' a drink, an' I'll have a Double!'

The small pub was packed when they arrived, with the WVS ladies milling around the tables, setting out all the cakes they'd managed to squeeze from their weekly rations, alongside sandwiches and home-made wine. Walker had kept in contact with the RAF band at Goddleston, due to play later, and had arranged a little extra delivery the landlord was very grateful for, as the men crowded at the bar.

'Frank!' Mavis had just caught sight of them. 'Where on Earth have you been?'

'Nowhere, Mum…' Pike replied, rather embarrassed.

'Mavis, please…' Wilson had arrived just in time. 'Why don't you let Frank get Sylvia a drink?' Somewhat comforted to see him there, Mavis let Wilson take her over to sit down and get her own drink, leaving them to it.

'Don't you think these people ought to sit down?' Mainwaring said to him then.

'Oh, didn't you want to wait for your wife, Sir?' Wilson asked innocently. 'A little problem with her dress, wasn't it?'

'Yes, well…' Mainwaring looked rather uncomfortable. 'I shouldn't wait if I were you…she was rather distressed when it didn't fit, you know…'

'Oh, she could try those exercises I used to do from that magazine, Arthur!' Mavis suggested brightly, tapping Mainwaring's arm in a manner that struck him as entirely over-familiar. 'You know, you took that magazine in when you were playing that football match!'

'Yes…' Mainwaring wasn't sure what to say to that. 'I suppose she could…'

'Ere, Napoleon!' Hodges interrupted then. 'We goin' to eat or not? We're all starvin' over 'ere!'

His mood, not good to begin with, clearly hadn't improved.

'It's nothing to do with me, Mr Hodges,' Mainwaring replied icily. 'I'd say it's for the young couple to decide.'

Just at that moment, they were interrupted again by Pike himself. 'Uncle Arthur, can we have some food now? I'm starving!'

'Right. There you are then.' Hodges finished, glaring at him. That was the only thing they would ever agree on that day.

'Yes, yes, of course…'

'Well, get the men's attention then!' Mainwaring was rather hungry himself.

'Er, excuse me…' Wilson began, rather ineffectually, before Mainwaring lost patience.

'Jones! Get the men to sit down!'

'Yes Sir, yes Sir!' Jones answered, enthusiastic as always. 'Come on now boys, you all sit down like the Officer said, come on, sit down!'

Gradually, the crowd made their way to the tables and settled themselves down.

'Frank? Sylvia, dear? You're up here,' Wilson said, guiding them up to the top table, and wisely positioning them as far from Hodges as possible.

'Oh, right! Can we start?' Pike asked then, feeling a bit like he had as a kid at a birthday party.

'No, no, there's your speech!' And Hodges', he added to himself with some trepidation.

'Oh yeah…' There were rather more people watching than he'd expected. Only one thing for it…what would Ronald Coleman do?

Mainwaring – who had somehow gained a place at the top table – took it upon himself to open proceedings.

'Ladies and Gentlemen,' he began. 'I would like to welcome you all here today on behalf of one the most loyal members of my Platoon, Lance Corporal Frank Pike, and his new wife, Sylvia. I think I speak for us all here when I say that we wish them all the best in their new life together, and ask you to raise a glass to Sylvia and…er…' Using the boy's first name didn't feel right. 'Frank.'

'To Sylvia and Frank!' If they noticed he found it awkward, they didn't show it.

'And now, Pike…' That was much better. 'I believe you have something to say?'

'Right…yeah…' He turned to Sylvia, who smiled and nodded encouragingly.

'Um, hello everyone,' Pike began, standing up and looking around nervously. He'd only done this sort of thing once before, just after he found out he wasn't joining up.

'Thank you all for coming, and thank you for all the nice food…um, I don't really know what to say, just that I'd like to thank Sylvia too, for marrying me and that…' He trailed off, knowing that wasn't really what he meant, but also that he couldn't say that in front of all these people.

'And I know it wasn't the best start, what with the car and stuff, but I'm really glad she got us to take it now, 'cause we got talking afterwards and that's when she said she'd go out with me again, and I'm so glad she did…and, well, I love her.' He paused then, and looked over at her, gazing adoringly up at him.

'I love Sylvia Pike,' he finished, quite shyly, and sat down suddenly, unsure of what else he could say, as the guests clapped in appreciation and he felt Sylvia's hand hold his. That was the first time she'd ever heard her new name out loud, and she loved him all the more for saying it.

The applause died away, and Hodges, prompted by Ada, reluctantly got to his feet.

'Right, well…' He paused, wishing he could be just about anywhere else right now. 'As some of you know, this should be my brother stood up here today, not me. Now, we lost Stan just before the War, and Sylvia's brothers, Gerald and Clive, they're off serving King and Country…' He flashed a quick look of disdain at Pike – obviously not desperate enough to take him, don't blame 'em – so it was my job to give 'er away, and…well…I'm sure he'd be proud to see 'er wed, and I wish our Sylvia all the best.' It was hard not to add that he thought she'd need all the help she could get.

'So, yeah, all the best,' he finished, needing several more drinks before he'd feel anywhere near pleased to be there.

'Thank you, Mr Hodges,' continued Mainwaring, as the applause faded once again. 'Wilson? I believe you wanted to say a few words? Only don't make it too long,' he added quietly. 'It'll get very boring.'

'Ere, why's he saying anything?' That was Hodges, having just taken a hearty swig of his pint. 'I thought it was only family up 'ere anyway!'

'I would have thought that was obvious,' Mainwaring began, ignoring his own views on the matter. 'This couple have both lost their fathers. You made a speech on behalf of Miss…Mrs Pike's father, it's only appropriate that someone should speak for the late husband of er…this Mrs Pike,' he declared, somewhat clumsily.

'Yeah, well…' Hodges had his own views on that too, but not even he would bring them up here, and sat back, looking like thunder.

Alongside them, Wilson had stood up.

'Well now, I'd just like to echo what Frank said to begin with, and thank you all so very much for being here today, it really is lovely to see so many of you here, absolutely lovely. Now, as Mrs Pike was reminding me only the other day…' he continued, indicating Mavis, 'I've known Frank since he was just six months old, and I'm really quite proud to be here today at his Wedding to this young lady who looks absolutely lovely, she really does, and I'm sure they will be very happy together, much as this lady…' Here he took Mavis's hand. '…has made me. Will you raise your glasses with me once again, to Frank and Sylvia,' he concluded, lifting his own glass.

'To Frank and Sylvia!' they chorused, just as Walker took the stand to say his piece too.

'All right, yeah, last speech, you'll be pleased to know, Ladies and Gents!' he began, stubbing out his cigarette before continuing.

'Right, I met Pikey when we was all joining up for the Home Guard a couple of years back, and I'm really pleased 'e met a nice girl and that, 'cause 'e's a good lad, and I wish 'em all the best. Now, I could go into to all sorts 'e got up to before 'e met his Sylvia, like falling into bogs and stuff, but I'm ready for somethin' to eat, dunno about you, so I'll just say good luck Pikey, you deserve it, mate!' Walker clapped the younger man on the back, and raised his pint.

'Pikey an' Sylvia!' he said, adding with a grin. 'An' here's hopin' you don't need those bagpipes!'

'Bagpipes?' Mainwaring turned to Wilson, as did Mavis, and there were various grins and chuckles from the rest of the Platoon.

'I can't think what he means,' Wilson lied smoothly. Neither of them really wanted to know…

The rest of the afternoon passed without too much incident, Ada taking her brother in law home when it became apparent he'd had one too many and was starting to cause trouble, and Mavis bearing up as well as could be expected. The band was playing one of her favourite songs now, with the sad, sweet lyrics of the nightingale in Berkley Square filling the room.

'That's it then,' she said, almost in a whisper that only Wilson could hear. 'He's gone.'

'Oh my Dear,' Wilson took her hand. 'He hasn't gone at all. You remember, back in the Summer, that raid on London? I mean, that's when…well…'

'I know. But I don't know what I'll do – twenty one years gone nearly, and now what?'

Wilson was quiet, looking at her. She was beautiful, exasperating and utterly unmanageable, and he loved her just as much as the day they'd met – the same day they still celebrated, every year.

'Well, I shouldn't think it'll be too long before there's a new addition coming along…' he suggested, unsure as to how well that would be received.

'No.' Mavis looked over at the two of them, quietly accepting the fact, eventually, that her baby had grown up.

He looked at them too, then back at her. Maybe, after all these years…it wasn't like the last time, when Daphne's family had practically forced it…

'I suppose there is something you could do, Mavis,' he began, while knowing in his heart these preparations would be just as all-consuming as they had been for Frank.

'Is there?' She still sounded lost.

'Well, yes, I mean, I know there's not a lot of money left over just now, but, would you, perhaps…'

He paused.

'…maybe do me the honour of marrying me?'

The ecstatic cry broke through the final chorus of the song, startling those around them, and Mavis threw herself at the man she'd loved for just over twenty one years.

'Ooh Arthur darling, yes!'