Chapter 36

A second later General Samuel Blaze heard his daughter's hesitant voice, "Hello father, I called to tell you that I was getting married."

"To an Admiral, I hear," he answered.

"How did you…" she started and then exclaimed, "Gibbs!"

"Yes, he called."

"We are getting married in one month and if you have no plans you would be welcome to attend," Sam knew she was sounding very formal but she had never talked to her father any other way. She looked over at AJ as she waited for her father's answer. AJ reached out and squeezed her hand in reassurance. It really seemed like a very long pause before he answered, but when he did he totally shocked Sam.

"I will be there Samantha," he said with no emotion evident in his voice.

"You will?!" she gasped, and AJ could see the tears start down her cheeks. She silently asked AJ a question and he nodded his answer. "Would you also be willing to walk me down the aisle, father?"

"I would. Will it be a formal ceremony?"

"No Sir, it will be in AJ's garden."

"Are you registered somewhere for gifts?"

"No we both have full households to combine so I can't really think of anything we need."

"Alright, was there anything else?"

"No Sir, thank you for your time," she said and ended the call. Sam looked at AJ her eyes full of amazement, "He's coming!"

"He is," AJ smiled at her.

"It must have been something Gibbs said to him."

"Does it matter? He will be with you on our special day."

"Yes, I guess that's all that matters. Now unfortunately I didn't bring work clothes for tomorrow so I should probably head home soon."

"Let me suggest instead that we go to bed early so you could get up in time to go home and get dressed."

"I do love how you think AJ," she grinned and gave him a big hug.

Pulling her closer AJ drew her into a kiss and one thing quickly led to another and they retreated to his bedroom and remained until very early the next morning when Sam hat to head home to dress for work.

The month before the wedding flew by as if the days had wings. Sam had to find a dress and AJ was planning the perfect honeymoon.

Sam had a vision of the dress she wanted in her head. She had never been a froo-froo type, not even as a tiny child. Certainly it had something to do with the way the General raised her but even when she was old enough to make her own choices she wasn't the lace and tulle kind.

So she was looking for something sleek and smooth. At the bridal shop that was what she told the attendant, Debbie. She tried on one dress after another with less and less luck.

"I just don't get it!" Sam exclaimed, to Debbie. "You have shown me a lot of really gorgeous dresses, each one with the lines that I told you I wanted but not one of them seemed right. Why?!"

Debbie grinned at her, "I've seen this happen more times than I could count and they go out with something completely different than what they had been looking for."

"So what do you suggest?" Sam questioned.

"Will you give me a chance to try something?" Debbie asked with a wide smile.

"Sure."

"I'm going to go and grab a dress that I think might work for you. When I get back I'll knock on the door and I want you to close your eyes until you have it on and I tell you to look. Will you give that a chance?"

With a nod Sam agreed to Debbie's suggestion and the attendant hurried from the room. Debbie came to the door and Sam did as she promised. Keeping her eyes closed she could tell right off that there was more material in this dress…a LOT more. Sam could feel the poof all around her. She knew she wouldn't like this dress Debbie had brought in. It was just going to be too much.

To be continued…