Ramstein Air Force Base was nearby, and they made it to the personnel office before 5PM closing to fill out the necessary paperwork. The base chaplain agreed to marry them that evening, and they headed over to the jewelry counter at the Base Exchange to pick out rings, giggling like teenagers all the way.

She found herself a dress to wear among the racks of matronly frocks at the BX. It was a strapless, pale pink number that looked like something a sweet young thing would wear to a spring semi-formal, but it was actually flattering, and she felt fresh and pretty in it.

They managed to slip inside the uniform store next to the food court at the BX before it closed for the day, where Woody was able to rent a set of "Class A's," the familiar blue Air Force uniform, to wear for the ceremony.

She never thought it would be like this if she actually ever did get married. Here she was, changing into her wedding dress in a bathroom stall, and she shook her head at the giddy absurdity of it all. He was waiting for her when she exited the bathroom at the chapel. He had changed into his uniform and was fiddling with his tie and pacing in small circles, every bit the nervous groom.

"Wow..." was all he said when he saw her. "I don't think you could possibly look more beautiful."

"It's amazing what some bobby pins and a 99 cent tube of lipstick can do for a girl," she said self-effacingly, but she found herself blushing the same shade as her dress.

He swallowed hard and offered her his hand. "Ready?"

She nodded and took his hand, and they headed down the aisle to where the chaplain waited for them.

It went so quickly that there was barely time for the words to sink in. She found herself saying, "I will" at the appropriate place, and then they slipped the rings on each other's fingers. There was a kiss, and it was over.

She felt him take her hand in his, and they walked out into the chilly spring air.

"Well. We did it," he said.

"Yeah..." She smiled at him, and he kissed her. She could feel the warmth spread from her core, and she slipped her arms around him.

He had gotten them a room in Visiting Officers' Quarters where they could spend their wedding night, and they made their way across base in her rental car.

He pushed open the door and scooped her into his arms to carry her across the threshold. The room resembled any budget motel lodging and was decorated like everything else on base: sparse, non-descript and functional.

"Not exactly the honeymoon suite," he said apologetically.

"I don't care," she murmured.

He set her down gently, and they faced each other in an awkward silence for a moment as they trembled with the nervous anticipation of new lovers. Her hands shook as she reached across and fumbled with the buttons of his uniform coat. She could see that his hands shook, too, as he reached up and touched her face as if for the first time.

They had made love once, but their bodies were still unfamiliar. Each layer of clothing came off slowly, the unwrapping of a gift. Their mouths met, and they danced without music over to the bed and tumbled there.

They were tentative at first, as their fingers discovered the curves and ridges of the other's body. His lips were softer against her taut belly than she had remembered. She let out a noise of contentment as he slipped gently inside her, and he met her eyes. They moved together silently, the only sound their quickening breath, until she arched her body against his and let out a small cry.

Afterwards, they lay, breathless, facing each other. He moved a strand of damp hair from her cheek and brushed away a lovely tear. His eyes seemed to darken, she had noticed, to a deep, midnight blue after they made love. She kissed him gently and rolled over, a pearl inside the shell of his body.

Later, they lay next to each other, drowsy and content.

"Maybe we should have ironed a few things out first. Like...where we're going to live," he muttered before they drifted off.

"My lease is up next month," she said sleepily.

"And I just signed a new one right before I left."

"So, we'll live in your apartment until you get back, and then we can get a bigger place."

"Mine could use a woman's touch, anyway. Are you keeping your name?"

"I'll be Jordan Cavanaugh professionally, but we can sign the Christmas cards from 'the Hoyts.' How about that?" She yawned lazily and draped herself across him.

"Works for me."

"But if we get a dog, we're not taking a picture of us wearing matching sweaters and sending out photocards saying, 'Merry Christmas from Jordan, Woody, and Rover.'"

"There goes another Hoyt family tradition."

They both laughed, and it was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep in his arms.

XXXXX

Fifteen hours and twelve minutes. She had counted. It was how long they had been married before they were parted again.

She heard him shower in the morning, and when he re-entered he quietly pulled on his desert flight suit and boots. He thought she was still asleep, and she lay motionless, eyes closed. She wouldn't begin their last day together in tears.

They tried to focus on the sweet of it, rather than the bitter. Her breakfast in bed was a greasy Croissanwich from the on-base Burger King, which, she had learned as her first bit of military trivia, every Air Force base had. He stretched there beside her, boots and all, and after she was finished eating, she curled up next to him listening to the steady sound of his heart.

"It's time," he whispered to her, and she nodded.

They drove out to the flight line to the now-familiar roar of the engines. Their faces were clouded, and there was no false bravado or witty banter. She stood with her arms around him, her head nestled under his chin.

"I'll be home before you know it," he said.

She nodded and futilely dabbed at her tears with her sleeve. "Be safe, okay?"

"Always."

She kissed him, never wanting it to end, but he gently pushed at her elbows and took a step away from her.

"I love you," she said with simplicity.

He nodded, unable to speak, and turned for the plane.

She watched the plane as it disappeared, the way she had done before, and she wondered if he could see her standing there with her hand outstretched toward the sky.

She made it to the airport for her return flight to Boston and sank into her seat, exhausted. She was asleep before takeoff. Midway through the flight, she jolted awake.

I'm married. To Woody.

She looked down at her left hand. Her wedding ring felt alien on her finger.

I'm married...I'm married...

She pulled the window shade down and fell back into a deep sleep.