CHAPTER 22

The next morning, Sam and Miguel decided to tell their families the news that they were moving in together. While Miguel's family was really happy for them, Sam's parents were less so. If anything, they were worried, and they were about to tell the young couple why.

"So, we're really happy for the two of you that you guys have decided to take this step in your relationship." Daniel started. Sam looked at them, confused. She could tell from her parents' expressions that there was more to it than that.

"But…" Sam prompted her parents. Her parents raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" Amanda asked.

"Where's the but?" Sam repeated. "You guys have that look on your face. There's definitely something you two want to say. Just say it."

Amanda and Daniel looked at each other and sighed, before reluctantly nodding.

"Okay, fine. We have one small thing." Daniel admitted. Sam chuckled mirthlessly.

"How did I know?" Sam remarked. Amanda nodded.

"Look, here it is… we're really happy that the two of you are moving in together, but we just want you guys to wait until Miguel retires before taking your relationship any further." Amanda said.

"What do you mean? Like getting married?" Miguel asked.

"Getting engaged. Married. Having kids. All of it." Daniel replied. "You're both young. You have plenty of time. We just don't want you guys to rush into things on account of your job, Miguel."

"My job?" Miguel asked, confused.

"Yeah. You can't deny that your job is really dangerous, Miguel." Daniel said. "If anything happens to you, we wouldn't want our daughter to be a war widow."

"Dad! Nothing's going to happen to Miguel!" Sam jumped in trying her best at damage control. "He's going to come back just like you see him right now!"

"You don't know that, Sam." Amanda said, gently.

"Mr. and Mrs. Larusso, if it puts your minds at ease, I'm on sniper overwatch on most missions. I actually don't even see the battlefield in many cases. I'm like 800 yards away. I just scan the surroundings and record movement of enemies." Miguel said.

"Yeah, but I was doing some research last night and please correct me if I'm wrong Miguel but in the military, you're a combat soldier first. They could ask you to do anything in the blink of an eye, and you have to comply, right?" Amanda said. Miguel nodded.

"Yeah, that's exactly right. That's why they put you through Basic Combat Training. I've done just about anything under the sun. But most of my missions are completed as a sniper."

"Look, mom, dad, that doesn't matter! Miguel's going to be fine!" Sam exclaimed.

"You don't know that, sweetie! War changes people! Even if they come back without a scratch they can still be traumatized by what they have seen and had to do. It's called PTSD!" Amanda shot back.

"And what if Miguel's wounded? He could lose a limb or be mentally disabled. All of the emotional stress could lead to mental instability or drug use! People go insane..." Daniel stopped in mid-sentence knowing that he had crossed the line. He could see an angry expression starting to form on Miguel's face. Miguel had lost more troops to mental health issues back home than he had in battles abroad, so he knew exactly how lethal PTSD could be. But someone like Daniel calling these people insane… that was one step too far.

"Dad, that's enough!" Sam raised her voice to her father. She knew exactly what Miguel was thinking - heck, her parents did too - and Sam squeezed his hand gently to calm him down.

"Miguel, I'm so sorry. I should have never said that. I would never say anything to disrespect you or any of your fellow soldiers who have suffered from PTSD." Daniel apologized profusely.

"It's alright." Miguel finally replied softly. "I understand your not wanting your only child tied to mentally, emotionally, or physically disabled husband. I won't hold Sam to the engagement if I don't come back to her in one piece."

Sam was stunned. She couldn't believe what she was hearing not only from her parents, but from Miguel too.

"We only want what's best for both of you," Amanda said embarrassed.

"What's best for me is Miguel! One piece or not, he's the love of my life. He understands me better than anyone else on Earth. I have found my soul-mate. He's going to come back to me safe and sound!"

"Sam, calm down." Miguel murmured. "They have a point. Eli and I might have come back unharmed from every mission, but not everyone does. I saw my best friend die right before my eyes."

"Tyler was in the infantry; he was on the front lines everyday. He wasn't a sniper." Sam snapped as she stood up, tugging Miguel with her. "I need some fresh air. If either of you need me, Miguel and I'll be at the mall."

Daniel looked at Sam with pleading eyes as she grabbed her coat, and pulled Miguel towards the door, slamming it behind her.

Sam was speechless as they rode to the mall, her anger was still simmering as they found a parking space. When she parked the car, Miguel glanced at Sam and saw the rage still etched on her face. He sighed and took her hand.

"It's okay," Miguel said as he tried to calm Sam down. "You parents have a point, and they only want what's best for you. You're all that they've got."

"That's not true. They have me, they have my brother, and they'll have all of our amazing future children," Sam said, still seething. "I thought they were all for us moving in together."

"They are. They just want to make sure everything turns out okay before we make it, you know… legal and binding. Now let's head into the mall. We need to start looking for stuff for our new place!" Miguel said cheerfully, trying to calm Sam down. "Now come on, just leave a voicemail for your mom and dad to let them know you're okay."

Miguel dialled Daniel's number on the bluetooth car phone but Sam didn't say anything. Sam was quiet for a moment before she turned and looked Miguel straight in the eye.

"Can you get your hands on your birth certificate or your passport right away?" Sam suddenly asked, ignoring the phone in Miguel's hands.

"Yeah, they're at home with all of my import papers, why?" Miguel asked. Sam smirked.

"Well then buckle up, because we're going to swing by your house, and then we're going to go to Vegas, because there's nothing that I want more than to marry you right now. We won't tell anyone. I'd feel so much better with you fighting in God forsaken places if we were married."

Miguel's jaw dropped as he looked at his determined girlfriend.

"Um… what?" Miguel stammered.

"You heard me. Let's go to Vegas and elope tonight." Sam stated. Miguel couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and laugh.

"Sam! Are you seri…"

Before Miguel could finish his sentence, a loud BEEP rang through the car as the voicemail recording ended. Sam and Miguel's eyes widened. They had completely forgotten that Miguel had hit record on Voicemail, and the message had automatically sent to Daniel.

"Well, I guess your dad is going to hear all of that." Miguel remarked. Sam nodded.

"Yup. We better start driving now if we want to get to Vegas before him." Sam said, and she was about to reverse out of the lot when Miguel pulled the hand brake, forcing the car to jolt to a halt.

"Sam, stop!" Miguel exclaimed. "You're clearly upset. Your judgement is clouded. This isn't something that you do on the spur of the moment. Don't girls like huge weddings, big white dresses and all that?"

"Sure, but honestly, I'd rather have the extra time as officially your wife than any party we could possibly throw. Now… Do you want to marry me or not?" Sam asked, determined.

"You know I do, but what about the part about not telling anybody? I'm guessing that part's flown out the window when we accidentally voicemailed your dad." Miguel remarked.

"Well, fuck them." Sam replied, vehemently. Miguel choked back a laugh at Sam's tone. "Let's do this." Sam smiled.

"But what about a marriage license?" Miguel asked, still perplexed.

"We can get one from the clerk of court and be married by the justice of the peace all in the same building. All we need are our driver's licenses, certified copies of our birth certificates or our passports. We're both over eighteen."

"What about the rings?" Miguel slowly asked. His mind was whirring and he was starting to genuinely consider the idea.

"We have our ATM cards; we can stop at a jewelry store on the way. Please Miguel, do this for me. I want to be your wife before the Navy sends you off to God knows where," Sam pleaded.

"Are you sure? You've dreamed of a Cinderella wedding since you were a little girl." Miguel asked.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life," Sam murmured, looking Miguel right in the eye. "So what do you say?"

"Okay, let's do it." Miguel eventually reluctantly responded. Sam smiled, reversing out of the parking spot and speeding out of the lot. Miguel forced on a faint smile back, although his insides were in turmoil. Sure he wanted to marry Sam, but was this really the way?