Jacob, true to his prediction, took only a week to fully heal. However, considering that much of the squad was still serving punishment for assaulting Jacob, Claude and Riley decided to postpone the wedding for a few more weeks. At least until the squad could be in attendance. The result of this was that Jacob and Claude, already on pleasant terms, became even better friends, to the point where people searching for one would find them in the other's company, and by extension their better halves' as well.

The night of August 17th would have been no different, however, since Claude and Riley's wedding would finally be in the morning, neither the bride nor the groom were with each other, as per tradition. However, Jacob joined Claude for the evening while Karen joined Riley. The two groups on opposite sides of the camp, having an eerily similar conversation. "So how did you and Karen get together?" Claude asked.

Jacob chuckled, "It's quite the story, but a good one nonetheless."

Riley looked at her cousin-in-law curiously, "Jacob told me some time ago that you were his Operating Surgeon after one of his missions went sideways. Is that true?"

Karen smiled, "I wasn't just his Operating Surgeon, but I was the only one to take his case because I was the only one spare." A moment passed as Karen drew up the memories of those days. "That was nearly two years ago, but even then he was always trying to cheer me up."

Claude raised an eyebrow, "All that Karen ever told us about her previous post was that it wasn't that kind to their medics."

Jacob snorted, "That would be an understatement." he muttered. "Damn Brass would demand quick turnarounds since we were behind the lines regardless of the seriousness of the injury. Nobody could ever prove anything, but most of my old unit suspected that it was motivated by publicity."

Riley gasped, "How did you survive those days?" she asked in disbelief.

Karen grimaced, "To this day, I'm not entirely sure what motivated me through those days." she replied before growing a soft smile, "Though once Jacob arrived the days became quite a good deal more bearable."

Claude chuckled, "How long did it take you two to become an item?"

Jacob smirked in response, "Well if Karen wouldn't contradict me, I'd say that I flirted with her as soon as I could form words." he joked, "But in truth, when she started doing her check-ins with me to help send me back to the front, it became clear to us that there was something there." he replied before the smirk became a beaming smile, "Though I think the hint got to me when she took me into town the day before my redeployment for some real food beyond our rations and the gruel the medics shoved in front of me."

Riley had a look of amusement on her face, "You had it for him from your first sight of him, didn't you?"

Karen flushed, "I will admit that once he started looking more alive than dead I was attracted to him. However, it was only when we went into town together that I admitted to myself that I had fallen for him."

"What happened after you went back out on deployment?" Claude asked.

Jacob leaned back in his chair, "We kept in touch thanks to the postal service, though I endured quite the ribbing from my old unit about it. Even if I paid it no mind."

Riley looked at Karen carefully, "I remember Jacob writing to the family that he had gotten married. That was only back in December of '34. When did you meet?"

Karen thought for a moment, "We met that September."

Claude raised an eyebrow, "Married soon?"

Jacob flushed a bit, "No, Karen wasn't pregnant. Isn't, even. I thought of it as a matter of 'Love at True Sight' myself."

"Love at True Sight?" Riley asked. "I thought it was 'Love at First Sight'."

Karen shrugged, "Jacob believes that the whole 'Love at First Sight' thing only happens in stories. But he said that when I entered his life it was like he could see after being blind for so long."

Claude chuckled "You say to-may-to, I say to-ma-to." chuckling harder at Jacob perturbed expression. "What about your wedding? That must have had some compromises to what your and Karen's dream wedding would have looked like."

Karen sighed, "Very much so. This was long before I met up with Squad E so I didn't have anyone outside of my family to be there, and even then, it was only mum and dad. No one came for Jacob, though if I recall correctly, there wasn't much opportunity for it. The Empire was stepping up its Wolfpack attacks at the time."

Riley winced, the parallels similar, yet at least her wedding would be populated by friends. But Karen spoke up again, "Jacob and I have been discussing the possibility of renewing our vows after this damn war is finished so we can have our dream wedding but that requires the war to finish."

Claude nodded before looking to his hands, unbeknownst to anyone, Riley was mirroring the posture and both Karen and Jacob noticed. "What is it?" they asked.

Both Riley and Jacob winced, "I guess I'm still dealing with my issues of self-doubt," they both began, "There's a part of me that thinks that he/she could do so much better than being with me."

Karen took Riley's hand whilst Jacob took Claude's shoulder, "I had the same feeling the night before my wedding as well. But it was the sight of him/her in the morning that chased away the doubts and brought out the thought that 'I am the luckiest person alive now.'"

Claude and Riley looked and Jacob and Karen and, through their smiles, conveyed that they understood. "Get some sleep." Jacob and Karen ordered. "Tomorrow is a big day and you wouldn't want to fall asleep at the alter."

Nodding, all parties settled down into a very restful night of sleep.

When the morning came, everyone gathered a few meters from the base. A makeshift altar stood just at the treeline and in front of it, the Regimental Chaplin stood. A greying man, he looked extremely pleased and though it wasn't a sad occasion by any stretch, his enthusiasm was quite infectious as even Minerva Victor was seen to be rather excited for things to get underway.

For his own part, Claude replayed Jacob's words from the night before as he stood next to the Chaplin in his dress uniform. There was no musical cue for when things happened, it wasn't needed nor could have happened in any case. After Raz and Kai joined Claude at the altar, everyone stood as Jacob stood on one side of Riley and Karen stood on the other side, escorting her down the makeshift aisle. Embracing both Jacob and Karen at the front row, Riley closed the remaining distance to Claude and they stood together waiting for the Chaplin to speak.

And speak he did. "How strong the bonds of love must be to cast out the hate that has driven countries to war. How strong the bonds of love must be to live after they are shelled day and night. How strong the bonds of love must be to shine bright in a time of darkness. These bonds bind Lieutenant Wallace and Lieutenant Miller together and it is my great pleasure to unite them before God in Holy Matrimony." he began before looking to the couple. "Claude Wallace, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To be by her side through sickness and health? Through good times and through bad? So long as you both may live?"

Claude nodded, "I do." he replied.

The Chaplin turned to Riley, "Riley Miller, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To be by his side through sickness and health? Through good times and through bad? So long as you both may live?"

Riley, through the tears in her eyes, nodded, "I do."

The Chaplin smiled, "Then by the powers vested in me, I do pronounce you to be husband and wife!"

The Chaplin couldn't say another word as everyone cheered and Claude and Riley shared their first kiss as a married couple. The reception that followed was simple in nature but grand for the couple. They had already decided that neither Raz nor Kai would give the traditional speeches, much to everyone's relief.

As Jacob looked over the festivities, a smile grew on his face. The festivities reminding him very much of his own wedding, if only different in size. It was also clear to him by the look in his wife's eyes that he wasn't the only one who thought so. As Jacob spoke with a few others, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. However, when he looked around, he only saw Karen looking at him.

It was only the next day that Jacob would realize that the look in Karen's eyes wasn't nostalgia. It was something else entirely. And neither he nor Karen could walk normally at all the next morning. Though thankfully nobody noticed, or if they did, they didn't say anything.

The last few weeks of their leave passed much to fast for the newlyweds, but neither time nor history stopped for the whims of men. And the members of Squad E would find themselves thrust into the fulcrum of history.