On a beautiful spring day in 1996, two people named Alison Hart-Burnett and
Dashiell Faireborn married. The ceremony was held in a cathedral in
Maryland, and many of the old members of G.I. JOE showed up to witness the
extraordinary occasion.
When the minister announced the two of them "husband and wife," Flint lifted back the thin veil that half-concealed the face of his beloved, and he smiled in contentment.
Scarlett and Snake Eyes had a close view of Flint and Lady Jaye as they exchanged vows. This marriage was inevitable. It was the logical conclusion to the relationship between Flint and Lady Jaye. They hadn't always gotten along at first. Lady Jaye had resisted Flint's advances for many months before letting him into her heart. They had sustained their love through all the hard and difficult times. Their relationship had been kept low key for years, in order to keep up appearances of complying with the rules of fraternization. Now that G.I. JOE was disbanded and done with, they were free to be together, to love each other freely, openly, and without boundaries. It just seemed to Scarlett as she pondered the long history between the newlyweds that Flint and Lady Jaye were simply two people who were meant to be together.
Scarlett closed her eyes as the minister said, "You may now kiss the bride."
For a brief moment, Scarlett felt the diamond engagement ring on her own finger and imagined that it was her up on the alter, exchanging vows of commitment and devotion with the man whom she now sat next to. Opening her eyes, Scarlett saw Flint take Lady Jaye into his arms and kiss her gently and lovingly. She took Snake Eyes' hand and squeezed it. Snake Eyes squeezed her hand in response. As applause and cheers erupted everywhere in the cathedral, Scarlett turned to look behind her. A few rows back, she saw Clutch and Cover Girl, sitting next to each other, exchange a brief but meaningful look. Scarlett had a pretty good idea what kind of wistful and romantic thoughts swam through their minds. Clutch and Cover Girl had stayed together after G.I. JOE, and it was clear that they were very much in love.
Flint and Lady Jaye headed out the church amidst loud cheers. It was time for the reception, one that promised to be the mother of all G.I. JOE parties.
"Oh yeah," Shipwreck said into a microphone before downing an entire glass of his margarita. The music started up, and Shipwreck, by his own insistence, was now playing the role of lead singer for the wedding band. The drummer, keyboard player, and electric guitarist were outside musicians hired by Flint, but Rock 'N Roll was playing the bass guitar and loving it.
"All right dudes. Let's play some Madonna!" Shipwreck hollered to the band. Rock 'N Roll rolled his eyes, wondering what new embarrassment Shipwreck would subject himself to.
As Lady Jaye and Flint danced together, laughing and enjoying themselves along with everyone else, Shipwreck began singing. While Shipwreck proved capable of carrying a tune, his exaggerated vocal stylings brought many an amused chuckle from the reception crowd. It didn't help that he was a little tipsy from his margarita.
"This is for all you lovers out there. Especially you, Flint and Lady Jaye," Shipwreck prefaced, before breaking into an impassioned rendering of "Crazy for You."
Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two their bodies become one
"Tell me, why did we ever let Shipwreck sing at our wedding?" Lady Jaye asked Flint.
"Because it keeps him away from the booze, at least for a while?" Flint suggested.
Lady Jaye smiled as she leaned in closer, holding her husband tight.
I see you through the smoky air
Can't you feel the weight of my stare
You're so close but still a world away
Among the other couples dancing on the same floor with Lady Jaye and Flint were Scarlett and Snake Eyes, as well as Cover Girl and Clutch. Scarlett smiled as she saw Cover Girl slow dancing with Clutch. She wouldn't be surprised to see them getting married someday.
What I'm dying to say is that I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this,
It's so brand new
You feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
"Soon you and I will be in their place," Scarlett said to Snake Eyes, glancing over in Lady Jaye's direction. Lady Jaye was still dancing with Flint.
Scarlett looked into Snake Eyes' eyes. The emotions swirling through them both hardly needed words. It was one of the many instances in which Snake Eyes did not need a voice to tell Scarlett how he felt. He only needed to communicate with her by the fire burning in his eyes.
A fire that burned for her and her alone.
"Won't it be wonderful?" Scarlett said sweetly.
* * *
The year was 1997, a year that Scarlett would never forget. It was three weeks before the wedding between her and Snake Eyes. For months, Scarlett and Snake Eyes had planned their joyous union. The wedding would be a small affair, unlike the big party that Flint and Lady Jaye had thrown. Scarlett would invite her family, with the exception of her sister Siobhan. When Scarlett had been in a coma after being shot by the Baroness, Siobhan had ordered the withdrawal of her life support and then gotten a court order to prevent Snake Eyes from being at her side. Scarlett had not forgiven her for that cruelty. A select few members of the Joe team would be invited as well, including Hawk, Jinx, Cover Girl, Clutch, Rock 'N Roll, Wild Bill, Roadblock, Stalker, Flint, and Lady Jaye. These were some of her most cherished friends in G.I. JOE.
Anticipation and excitement was running high as preparations were made for the blessed date. Everything was laid out and planned to perfection. Stalker was set to be the best man. Cover Girl was to be the maid of honor. And Roadblock had vowed to whip up the ultimate wedding feast, the likes of which no one had ever seen or tasted. The wedding would take place in a church in Atlanta. In preparation for the event, Scarlett and Snake Eyes were temporarily staying with Scarlett's father at their old, familiar home.
That morning, three weeks before the day, Scarlett woke up early. It was another morning, no different from any other. Scarlett and Snake Eyes were planning to go out for breakfast together. Then Scarlett would get together with Cover Girl, and the two of them would embark on their search for the perfect wedding dress, while Snake Eyes would meet with Stalker.
After washing up and getting dressed, Scarlett knocked on Snake Eyes' door.
"Hey, are you up?"
Scarlett waited for a few moments. She heard no movement from the other side of the door.
"I'm coming in, if that's okay," Scarlett said as she opened the door.
To Scarlett's surprise, she did not see Snake Eyes in his room. Nor did Scarlett see any of Snake Eyes' belongings. To all appearances, it looked as if Snake Eyes had simply packed up and left without so much as saying good-bye. There was no trace of him anywhere in the house.
"What the hell?" Scarlett said under her breath. It wasn't like this for Snake Eyes to get up and leave her like this, without at least telling her that he was doing so, or telling her where he would be going.
Scarlett was home alone. Her father had gone out for the morning. She decided to eat a quick breakfast by herself and go out to meet Cover Girl, who was in Atlanta for the weekend.
"Shana," Cover Girl said, greeting Scarlett. They had agreed to meet at a mall.
The two friends embraced.
"Hey," Cover Girl said, releasing Scarlett and looking into her eyes, "is something wrong?"
"He's… gone," Scarlett said, her lips trembling.
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
"He packed his bags in the middle of the night and took off. He didn't even say good-bye. I don't know where he's gone."
"Don't tell me the wedding's off," Cover Girl said incredulously.
"I don't know what to do," Scarlett said. She was really struggling with her thoughts and emotions.
"You have no idea where he could be?"
"Well," Scarlett said thoughtfully, "if he's really ditching me, then I guess it's possible he simply decided to go back to his cabin in the High Sierras."
"No way."
Scarlett shrugged. The two of them had now taken a seat on a bench near the mall's center courtyard.
"Listen," Cover Girl said. "Let's give him a few days. See what happens. Okay?"
Scarlett felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, hey," Cover Girl said, digging into her pocket and offering Scarlett a tissue, "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. We'll work through this together, okay?"
Scarlett turned to Cover Girl and put her arms around her. She began crying into Cover Girl's shoulder. Cover Girl put her arms around Scarlett and rubbed her shoulders gently.
* * *
But Snake Eyes did not return that day. He did not return the day after, or the following day. An entire week passed with no word from Snake Eyes, and Scarlett came to the grim and unhappy conclusion that the love of her life had jilted her three weeks short of their wedding.
The wedding was cancelled. Scarlett said only that she and Snake Eyes had decided to postpone the wedding indefinitely. She told few people the truth. Only her father, her brothers, Stalker, Roadblock, Jinx, Cover Girl, Clutch, Hawk, Lady Jaye, and Flint knew the full extent of what had happened. There would be no wedding, ever. That was how Scarlett understood the situation, and that was what she told her closest friends.
"I always thought we were meant to be together," Scarlett said to her father as the two of them sat on the porch of their house in the darkness of the night.
"Let it all out," Patrick O'Hara said.
"I just wanted the same kinds of things any normal person wants," Scarlett went on. "You know: love, family, children, a good career. Most of all, I just wanted someone to share my life with, in good times and bad. I really thought he was the one."
Patrick was silent for a while.
"You can still have all the things you dreamed of," he said. "You're still young."
"I know, but I'm already in my mid-thirties," Scarlett said. "I invested so much of my life in him. I gave fifteen years of my life, with no regrets. I don't regret the time I spent with him. I stayed by his side through it all. I loved him, dad. I just don't understand. How could he break my heart like this? How?"
Patrick put a comforting arm around his daughter's shoulders.
"I don't know," Patrick said in a soothing voice. "But I believe everything happens for a reason. We don't understand why these things have happened, but one day we'll be able to step back and see the pattern to our lives. And we'll understand. It won't take the hurt away, but we'll understand. I've been asking myself the same question, why was the woman I loved taken from me?"
"Why do you think mom was taken from us?"
"I still don't know," Patrick answered, "but here you are, sharing your heartbreak with me. And here I am, able to understand how you're feeling, the meaning of love and loss. It's because I've lost someone close to me that I can treasure you the way that I do. What if my experience allows me to be your one true solace at this very moment?"
Father and daughter exchanged looks with one another. Scarlett leaned in closer to her father, not saying a word as the two of them gazed at the starlit sky.
When the minister announced the two of them "husband and wife," Flint lifted back the thin veil that half-concealed the face of his beloved, and he smiled in contentment.
Scarlett and Snake Eyes had a close view of Flint and Lady Jaye as they exchanged vows. This marriage was inevitable. It was the logical conclusion to the relationship between Flint and Lady Jaye. They hadn't always gotten along at first. Lady Jaye had resisted Flint's advances for many months before letting him into her heart. They had sustained their love through all the hard and difficult times. Their relationship had been kept low key for years, in order to keep up appearances of complying with the rules of fraternization. Now that G.I. JOE was disbanded and done with, they were free to be together, to love each other freely, openly, and without boundaries. It just seemed to Scarlett as she pondered the long history between the newlyweds that Flint and Lady Jaye were simply two people who were meant to be together.
Scarlett closed her eyes as the minister said, "You may now kiss the bride."
For a brief moment, Scarlett felt the diamond engagement ring on her own finger and imagined that it was her up on the alter, exchanging vows of commitment and devotion with the man whom she now sat next to. Opening her eyes, Scarlett saw Flint take Lady Jaye into his arms and kiss her gently and lovingly. She took Snake Eyes' hand and squeezed it. Snake Eyes squeezed her hand in response. As applause and cheers erupted everywhere in the cathedral, Scarlett turned to look behind her. A few rows back, she saw Clutch and Cover Girl, sitting next to each other, exchange a brief but meaningful look. Scarlett had a pretty good idea what kind of wistful and romantic thoughts swam through their minds. Clutch and Cover Girl had stayed together after G.I. JOE, and it was clear that they were very much in love.
Flint and Lady Jaye headed out the church amidst loud cheers. It was time for the reception, one that promised to be the mother of all G.I. JOE parties.
"Oh yeah," Shipwreck said into a microphone before downing an entire glass of his margarita. The music started up, and Shipwreck, by his own insistence, was now playing the role of lead singer for the wedding band. The drummer, keyboard player, and electric guitarist were outside musicians hired by Flint, but Rock 'N Roll was playing the bass guitar and loving it.
"All right dudes. Let's play some Madonna!" Shipwreck hollered to the band. Rock 'N Roll rolled his eyes, wondering what new embarrassment Shipwreck would subject himself to.
As Lady Jaye and Flint danced together, laughing and enjoying themselves along with everyone else, Shipwreck began singing. While Shipwreck proved capable of carrying a tune, his exaggerated vocal stylings brought many an amused chuckle from the reception crowd. It didn't help that he was a little tipsy from his margarita.
"This is for all you lovers out there. Especially you, Flint and Lady Jaye," Shipwreck prefaced, before breaking into an impassioned rendering of "Crazy for You."
Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two their bodies become one
"Tell me, why did we ever let Shipwreck sing at our wedding?" Lady Jaye asked Flint.
"Because it keeps him away from the booze, at least for a while?" Flint suggested.
Lady Jaye smiled as she leaned in closer, holding her husband tight.
I see you through the smoky air
Can't you feel the weight of my stare
You're so close but still a world away
Among the other couples dancing on the same floor with Lady Jaye and Flint were Scarlett and Snake Eyes, as well as Cover Girl and Clutch. Scarlett smiled as she saw Cover Girl slow dancing with Clutch. She wouldn't be surprised to see them getting married someday.
What I'm dying to say is that I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this,
It's so brand new
You feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
"Soon you and I will be in their place," Scarlett said to Snake Eyes, glancing over in Lady Jaye's direction. Lady Jaye was still dancing with Flint.
Scarlett looked into Snake Eyes' eyes. The emotions swirling through them both hardly needed words. It was one of the many instances in which Snake Eyes did not need a voice to tell Scarlett how he felt. He only needed to communicate with her by the fire burning in his eyes.
A fire that burned for her and her alone.
"Won't it be wonderful?" Scarlett said sweetly.
* * *
The year was 1997, a year that Scarlett would never forget. It was three weeks before the wedding between her and Snake Eyes. For months, Scarlett and Snake Eyes had planned their joyous union. The wedding would be a small affair, unlike the big party that Flint and Lady Jaye had thrown. Scarlett would invite her family, with the exception of her sister Siobhan. When Scarlett had been in a coma after being shot by the Baroness, Siobhan had ordered the withdrawal of her life support and then gotten a court order to prevent Snake Eyes from being at her side. Scarlett had not forgiven her for that cruelty. A select few members of the Joe team would be invited as well, including Hawk, Jinx, Cover Girl, Clutch, Rock 'N Roll, Wild Bill, Roadblock, Stalker, Flint, and Lady Jaye. These were some of her most cherished friends in G.I. JOE.
Anticipation and excitement was running high as preparations were made for the blessed date. Everything was laid out and planned to perfection. Stalker was set to be the best man. Cover Girl was to be the maid of honor. And Roadblock had vowed to whip up the ultimate wedding feast, the likes of which no one had ever seen or tasted. The wedding would take place in a church in Atlanta. In preparation for the event, Scarlett and Snake Eyes were temporarily staying with Scarlett's father at their old, familiar home.
That morning, three weeks before the day, Scarlett woke up early. It was another morning, no different from any other. Scarlett and Snake Eyes were planning to go out for breakfast together. Then Scarlett would get together with Cover Girl, and the two of them would embark on their search for the perfect wedding dress, while Snake Eyes would meet with Stalker.
After washing up and getting dressed, Scarlett knocked on Snake Eyes' door.
"Hey, are you up?"
Scarlett waited for a few moments. She heard no movement from the other side of the door.
"I'm coming in, if that's okay," Scarlett said as she opened the door.
To Scarlett's surprise, she did not see Snake Eyes in his room. Nor did Scarlett see any of Snake Eyes' belongings. To all appearances, it looked as if Snake Eyes had simply packed up and left without so much as saying good-bye. There was no trace of him anywhere in the house.
"What the hell?" Scarlett said under her breath. It wasn't like this for Snake Eyes to get up and leave her like this, without at least telling her that he was doing so, or telling her where he would be going.
Scarlett was home alone. Her father had gone out for the morning. She decided to eat a quick breakfast by herself and go out to meet Cover Girl, who was in Atlanta for the weekend.
"Shana," Cover Girl said, greeting Scarlett. They had agreed to meet at a mall.
The two friends embraced.
"Hey," Cover Girl said, releasing Scarlett and looking into her eyes, "is something wrong?"
"He's… gone," Scarlett said, her lips trembling.
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
"He packed his bags in the middle of the night and took off. He didn't even say good-bye. I don't know where he's gone."
"Don't tell me the wedding's off," Cover Girl said incredulously.
"I don't know what to do," Scarlett said. She was really struggling with her thoughts and emotions.
"You have no idea where he could be?"
"Well," Scarlett said thoughtfully, "if he's really ditching me, then I guess it's possible he simply decided to go back to his cabin in the High Sierras."
"No way."
Scarlett shrugged. The two of them had now taken a seat on a bench near the mall's center courtyard.
"Listen," Cover Girl said. "Let's give him a few days. See what happens. Okay?"
Scarlett felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, hey," Cover Girl said, digging into her pocket and offering Scarlett a tissue, "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. We'll work through this together, okay?"
Scarlett turned to Cover Girl and put her arms around her. She began crying into Cover Girl's shoulder. Cover Girl put her arms around Scarlett and rubbed her shoulders gently.
* * *
But Snake Eyes did not return that day. He did not return the day after, or the following day. An entire week passed with no word from Snake Eyes, and Scarlett came to the grim and unhappy conclusion that the love of her life had jilted her three weeks short of their wedding.
The wedding was cancelled. Scarlett said only that she and Snake Eyes had decided to postpone the wedding indefinitely. She told few people the truth. Only her father, her brothers, Stalker, Roadblock, Jinx, Cover Girl, Clutch, Hawk, Lady Jaye, and Flint knew the full extent of what had happened. There would be no wedding, ever. That was how Scarlett understood the situation, and that was what she told her closest friends.
"I always thought we were meant to be together," Scarlett said to her father as the two of them sat on the porch of their house in the darkness of the night.
"Let it all out," Patrick O'Hara said.
"I just wanted the same kinds of things any normal person wants," Scarlett went on. "You know: love, family, children, a good career. Most of all, I just wanted someone to share my life with, in good times and bad. I really thought he was the one."
Patrick was silent for a while.
"You can still have all the things you dreamed of," he said. "You're still young."
"I know, but I'm already in my mid-thirties," Scarlett said. "I invested so much of my life in him. I gave fifteen years of my life, with no regrets. I don't regret the time I spent with him. I stayed by his side through it all. I loved him, dad. I just don't understand. How could he break my heart like this? How?"
Patrick put a comforting arm around his daughter's shoulders.
"I don't know," Patrick said in a soothing voice. "But I believe everything happens for a reason. We don't understand why these things have happened, but one day we'll be able to step back and see the pattern to our lives. And we'll understand. It won't take the hurt away, but we'll understand. I've been asking myself the same question, why was the woman I loved taken from me?"
"Why do you think mom was taken from us?"
"I still don't know," Patrick answered, "but here you are, sharing your heartbreak with me. And here I am, able to understand how you're feeling, the meaning of love and loss. It's because I've lost someone close to me that I can treasure you the way that I do. What if my experience allows me to be your one true solace at this very moment?"
Father and daughter exchanged looks with one another. Scarlett leaned in closer to her father, not saying a word as the two of them gazed at the starlit sky.