Author's Note: I'm feeling pretty vulnerable about this one because I love it so much! I hope you guys enjoy it, too. I did my homework and went back and watched every scene I could remember where they addressed the beginning of their marriage (even though the writers DEFINITELY should have referred to their show bible a little more often. It's a continuity disaster, lol.) This version of the story is pretty Elizabeth-centric. I'm toying with the idea of telling the story again in a second chapter, but from a Henry-centric perspective. Thoughts? Is that something you guys would like to read?

"... and you're absolutely certain about this?" Becky asked tentatively.

"More certain than I've ever been about anything in my life."

Elizabeth stood on her tiptoes to admire herself a little more fully in the mirror of the dorm bathroom. Her dress - technically Becky's on loan as her "something borrowed" - was a white eyelet dress with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. She wore her late mother's sapphire earrings (her "something old" and "something blue") and her soft blonde hair rested in curls around her face.

"You look gorgeous, Bess."

"Not exactly the Princess Diana look I had in mind, but it'll do." Elizabeth smiled mischievously and turned to look at her friend with a wink.

"I think we did a pretty good job with the amount of time you gave us to prepare."

Becky was correct. There really hadn't been much time to prepare, but Elizabeth couldn't fathom sending Henry off to war without the promise that she would be waiting for his return - or more selfishly, the promise that he would return to her. The world might have been burning, but people were still falling in love, and the two of them were no exception.

"I just can't believe you're leaving me!" Becky continued.

"Leaving you? Please. You wish I was leaving you. Instead, you just get the same old me, pining over my man. The only difference is that I'll have a new ring on my left hand. Wait. You are still planning on being my roommate next semester, right? You're not going to leave me alone while Henr—"

"Absolutely not," Becky cut her off. "It just seemed like the thing to say when your best friend is getting married. You know, like something they'd say in a romantic comedy."

"You're so strange."

Elizabeth looked at her friend and the two burst into a fit of laughter.

"C'mon. We have to get you to the chu— um, city hall on time!"

The two dashed down the hall, swinging by their dorm room quickly to grab their coats, scarves, and gloves before jumping into Becky's car.

•+ MS +•

When they arrived at city hall, Henry was already there, standing in his dress blues right outside the doors, waiting with a bouquet of flowers. Elizabeth's eyes brimmed with tears when she saw him. He was genuinely the most handsome man she had ever seen, and he had chosen to marry her. She could hardly believe it. She wanted to run at him and fling herself into his arms, but instead she found herself frozen in her steps, her blue eyes locked with his brown eyes.

It was Becky who eventually gave her a little shove, bringing her back to reality and starting her on a trajectory towards the door.

"Hey," Elizabeth murmured breathlessly as she approached Henry.

"Hey yourself," he murmured back. "You look incredible."

"Look at you two!" Becky cried, snapping a picture with her Polaroid. "You're adorable together, and this is so dreamy - getting married before he goes off to war like some Civil War romance!"

The couple simultaneously shot her an incredulous look. Neither of them wanted to be reminded of their impending fate - especially Elizabeth who had lost too many of the people she loved - nor was it the idyllic wedding they had both desired.

"Okay, okay. Sorry! Let's get you lovebirds inside. It's 4:45, and they're closing at 5."

•+ MS +•

The judge was not nearly as thrilled for Henry and Elizabeth as Becky was. He was about 126 years old and unbelievably cranky.

"Marriage?" The judge half looked up from the paperwork, eyeing them over the rim of his glasses.

"Yes, sir. We're here to get married," Henry answered.

The judge shook back the sleeve of his robe, looked at his wristwatch, and sighed.

"Let's get this show on the road, then. You probably should've come in a little earlier."

Elizabeth clenched her jaw and stiffened her muscles. She really wanted to punch the judge. Fortunately Henry sensed her distress and jumped in.

"I'm sorry, sir. I just got in last night, deploying Sunday, and Elizabeth had a final exam this afternoon."

The judge waved his hand dismissively.

"Fine, fine. You brought your own witness?"

Elizabeth answered this time. "Yes, your honor. My best friend, Becky."

"Good. Okay. Henry McCord, do you take—," the judge paused to glance at the papers, "Elizabeth Adams to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, forsaking all others, 'til death do you part?"

"I do."

Elizabeth could have sworn she saw a tear forming at the corner of Henry's eye.

"Elizabeth Adams, do you take Henry McCord to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, forsaking all others, 'til death do you part?"

"I do."

Becky sniffled loudly from the corner of the courtroom, drawing a chuckle from Henry and Elizabeth and a glare from the judge.

"Sorry," Becky whispered meekly, dabbing at her nose with the sleeve of her coat.

"I presume you two have rings to exchange, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Henry responded, producing a small velvet box from his pocket.

"Henry, repeat after me, and then place the ring on Elizabeth's left hand. Elizabeth, this ring I give as token and pledge, as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."

Henry slid the cool, metal band along her slender ring finger, then lifted her hand to press a kiss to it, eliciting a small gasp from Elizabeth as her breath caught in her throat.

"Elizabeth, repeat after me, and then place this ring on Henry's left hand. Henry, this ring I give as token and pledge, as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."

Elizabeth dutifully repeated the vows with shaking voice, but before she could finish sliding the ring onto Henry's finger, the judge rushed on.

"Henry and Elizabeth, by the power invested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. A certified copy of your marriage license is available at the records office, out the door, to your left, two doors down."

The newly married couple stood stunned. That was not the ending they had in mind.

"Oh, and yes, you may kiss your bride."

Wrapping his muscular arms around her slim waist, Henry lifted his new wife for a kiss. With a flash of Becky's Polaroid, their wedding ceremony concluded and they walked into the hall, arm in arm.

•+ MS +•

Marriage certificate procured, still warm from the Xerox machine, Henry and Elizabeth embraced outside of the courthouse while Becky snapped a few more pictures.

"Well, folks, this is where I leave you," she said, handing Elizabeth a stack of photos.

"You're not joining us for dinner?" Elizabeth asked.

"It's the least we can do," Henry chimed in. "You were Elizabeth's chauffeur, our witness, and our wedding photographer."

"Nah," Becky responded, circling at them with her index finger, "I think you two could use all of the alone time you can get. See you Sunday night, Bess?"

"Of course."

With that, Becky left and the new husband and wife set off, not wanting to waste a moment of the remaining 36 hours and 28 minutes they had together.

•+ MS +•

Much later that evening, as they lay snuggled together in their warm hotel bed, surrounded by the blankets and extra pillows Henry had requested especially for Elizabeth, Henry apologized.

"For what?" Elizabeth said, lifting her head.

"That we didn't get the big white wedding, with the dress, and the cake, and," Henry began to sing, "'Ooooh, baby I love your way...'"

"Leave the singing to Pete, okay baby?"

"Pete?" Henry questioned. "Are you on a nickname basis with him now?"

Elizabeth giggled and playfully shoved Henry in the chest.

"I'm sorry, too, Henry. I wish we could've found a church to accommodate us last minute."

"I'll make you a promise. When I come back - and I will come back - we'll have a wedding. A real wedding with all of the trimmings. One with Will, Aunt Joan—" Elizabeth groaned when he mentioned her name "and all of my family. Is it a deal?"

"Deal," Elizabeth responded, sealing the promise with a peck on his lips.

"But for now," Henry continued, rolling Elizabeth to her back and straddling her hips, "I think we should get back to consummating this marriage."

Elizabeth wholeheartedly agreed.