A/N: This was going to be the last chapter, but i realized it was chapter 11 and I'm kind of OCD, everything has to be in an even number so chapter 12 will be the last chapter, or at least that's the plan. And the program that I write my stroies in went out of date so forgive me for any mistakes in the next two chapters, I'm trying to get it back before I start writing the sequel. Well here it is hope you like it.
In the following weeks Maddy and her mother satrted planning the wedding. Maddy and Mark had decided to get married the next month, on the day their anniversary. Maddy and Elisabeth would narrow down each decision into two possibilites while Mark was at work, and then Maddy would go over to his house after work. They made decisions quite easily because Maddy and Mark agreed on everything. Much to their surprise Jim didn't have a problem with Maddy going over to Mark's house for long periods of time, and had not killed Mark when one night they had fallen asleep and she stayed all night. He was slowly letting go and Maddy didn't want to do or say anything that would change his mind. And Mark certainly wasn't going to do anything to danger his new found trust. He loved the fact that Jim was trusting him so much with Maddy.
It was a week before the wedding, Mark was taking Maddy on a date, on his first off day in weeks, to a place he had found within the colony. He was so excited about where he was taking her that he made her put on blindfolds so she couldn't see where they were going. When he finally stopped the rover, he heard Maddy saying, "Babe? Mark, can I take these blindfolds off now please?" "Not yet," he said. He then picked her up out of the rover and carried her a few steps before setting her down. "Now you can." He said taking them off of her.
She gasped loud and had the biggest smile on her face. She turned to a giggling Mark and kissed him. "This is perfect! I can't believe it. How did you find it?" she asked wanting to ramble but stopped herself. "I knew you wanted to get married in our field, but you didn't want anyone to know about it. So the other day I was on patrol and I was trying to get to the south gate fast so I decided to make a shortcut. I stopped when I saw this place and winded up being late for work." "Well it's amazing, just like you." Maddy said looking at him admirably, "I love you so much." "Well I think it's perfect, just like you. And I love you too."
They had a good day in the field just spending alone time together. They hadn't got much alone time together lately because Wash and Taylor was keeping him busy and when she would come over after work it would be to plan the wedding. Later that day they brought Jim, Elisabeth, Wash, Taylor, Josh, and Zoe all back to the field. Zoe looked at Mark and Maddy and smiled and nodded when Mark winked at her and Maddy put a finger to her mouth telling her, "Shh."
"Well I think it's perfect." Elisabeth said looking around at all the flowers. "Me too." Josh and Jim said in unison. "Good job Reynolds." Wash said slapping his shoulder, earning a huff form Mark. "I like it too." Taylor said, "Certainly perfect for you two." Taylor flashed a side smile to Mark and Maddy who looked overjoyed that they all like it. "Have you guys decided on your guest list yet? Since you don't want the whole colony there, which by the way I don't really understand considering that's how weddings are done around her." Taylor asked.
"Yes sir." Mark answered, "We just want family and friends there. Maddy doesn't like big groups of people and neither do I, really. I know that's how it's done but we figured having it out here it wouldn't really hurt anyones feelings because it's not in front of the market. And besides noone knows the date, so it could be a quiet, intimate wedding." "Well alright then." Taylor replied walking back towards the rover to head back to the command center.
*********************That night**********************
Mark had went over to Maddy's for dinner and family game night, Zoe's new idea, and the Shannon's and Mark were all sitting around the coffee table in the living room floor playing a game Zoe had come up with. Noone really understood how to play it but they played along to satisfy Zoe. About 9 they finished the game and it was Zoe's bedtime. As always, Mark was the one she wanted to tuck her in. After he tucked her in and they said their good nights, he walked out into the living room to find all the Shannon's smiling at him.
"What?" He asked looking at them confused. "Well Mark we got you something, well actually Maddy didn't know about it until a minute ago." Elisabeth started, "We know that since your parents died you were kind of alone untiil Taylor and Wash took you in. And then when you and Maddy started dating we took you in. You are our family now. You've been a part of our family since the moment you and Maddy met. So we wanted to get you something."
Jim then handed him a box. Mark looked confused as he slowly took the box from him. "Just open it." Jim told him. Mark opened it to find a gold looking bracelet. It looked like a medical bracelet, with a long thin plate on top where things could be engraved. Then he noticed a little paragraph on the back of it and brought it closer to his face so he could read it. "Mark-thank you for taking care of our daughter and loving her with everything you have. You are a part of this family and all of us are proud to have you as a son and a brother. Love the Shannons."
"Flip it over." Josh told him. Mark laughed when he flipped it over and saw a tiny picture that had definitely been drawn by Zoe. To the right of the picture Zoe had written 'To Mark Reynolds, my brother. Love Zoe.' "This is amazing. How did you do it?" Mark asked. "Well Dad and I picked out the bracelet, and got Maddy to reconfigure a laser to be able to engrave it, but she didn't know why." Josh said.
"Then we all had a hand in writing the message on the back." Elisabeth continued. "But then Zo," Jim started but Zoe interrupted. "I wanted to have my own message so I begged Daddy to let me draw you a picture on the other side. He had to stand and watch to make sure I didn't hurt myself." Zoe told Mark. "Thanks you guys I love it." Mark said. "Mads can you help me put it on?" She nodded walking over to him.
"The best part is that you can always wear it." Josh said. "Guys I would love to always be able to wear it, but I can't. I can only wear my tags on duty." he replied sadly. "No you can wear bracelets too." Elisabeth started and Mark was now really confused, "There's a reason it's a medical bracelet. I talked with Commander Taylor and he said that soldiers can wear bracelets only if they have medical information, for in case your tags fall off in a fight or something. You see that little charm on the left side of the plaque?" Mark glanced down and noticed the little square for the first time. "That has your medical information on it. So now when you come into the infirmary you need to always see me because I am the only one, besides Jim and now Maddy, that knows the code. Either way I will always be your attending."
"How?" Mark asked. " I may have put a note in your file." Elisabeth stated looking around the room playfully. The room was filled with 'Elisabeth's and Mom's' being yelled. "What? If something was to happen to Mark I don't want anyone else touching him, I want to be the one to take care of him." Elisabeth barely got out before Mark was hugging her. "Thank you Elisabeth. I haven't had someone care this much about me in a long time." Maddy cleared her throat when he said that, "Uh Mr. Reynols I believe I care-" Mark cut her off walking back over to her and kissing her. "Besides Maddy." he laughed when he pulled away and Maddy was totally surprised by what just happened.
"Well thanks for dinner but I think it's time for me to go home, it's getting late." Mark said stepping away from Maddy and moving towards the door. "I'm going too. We have a few more things to decide on. I'll be back before 1." Maddy told her parents grabbing her jacket. She had been so surprised when Jim made her curfew 1 instead of 11 like it used to be. "Maddy why don't you just stay the night. It's almost your wedding and you will be living together soon. So you can stay as long as you, both of you, are here for breakfast." Jim said. Everyone's head turned in shock to him when he finished.
"Seriously Dad?" Maddy asked thinking she heard wrong. "Yes. Now go before I change my mind." He answered. Maddy rushed over and gave him a hug before running into her room to get clothes. She came out a few minutes later with a bag of clothes and before anyone could change their mind she was out the door. "I can't believe that just happened." Mark said. "I know! He has completely changed. He trusts you and me now." Maddy said. "Well let's get home." Mark said with a smile. "Home? We aren't married yet." "Yeah, well my home has always been your home." Mark said walking up onto the porch and opening the door.
They finally finished all their wedding plans around 11. "Hey babe can I take a shower?" Maddy hesitantly asked. "Sure." Mark replied as she got up and went to the bathroom. She took her shower and started getting dressed but then she noticed that in the rush she grabbed everything but a shirt. Crap! she thought. "Ugh I can't believe I'm about to do this." she said as she wrapped the towel around her and opened the door. Mark spit out his drink when he turned and saw Maddy walking down the hallway in what must have been some of Josh's old shorts and a towel.
"Um honey, I'm pretty sure you forgot something." He said. "Ugh Mark stop playing. I forgot a shirt. Do you have one I can wear tonight?" She said sternly. Mark got up and walked towards his room without a word. He came back a few minutes later with one of his olive off duty shirts he always wore. "Here baby." he said handing her the shirt. "Thanks." She took it from him and walked in his room and closed the door. She came out seconds later and threw the towel into the bathroom.
"I'm going to take a shower. Be out in a few." Mark said walking past her getting clothes off his dresser and walking into the bathroom. Maddy went and laid down and jumped when she heard Mark scream. He came out 10 minutes later shivering. He stopped halfway down the hall noticing Maddy wasn't in the living room. He walked back toward the room and stopped when he saw her laying down, asleep on his bed. He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. She woke up when she felt him sit down. "Mads am I going to be taking cold showers for the rest of my life?" he asked moving some hair out of her face. "I guess you are if you plan on sticking with me. Sorry though. Josh always complains that I use all the hot water too." she answered him apologetically.
"Well that's a small price to pay to be with you. I can handle that." He said smiling at her. "Always and forever, until the end of time." Maddy said. This had become their special way of saying 'I love you.' "Always and forever, until the end of time." He repeated leaning up and kissing his soon to be wife. He loved saying that, or thinking it. It was hard to believe that within a matter of days he would be married to the most amazingly perfect girl in the world and he couldn't be happier or feel more lucky to be marrying the love of his life.
First off I want to thank everyone for the AMAZING reviews I've been getting. I'm so glad you love my story especially it being my first one, I was kind of worried that it was horrible. So thank you again. Hope you enjoyed this very long chapter! The next chapter probably won't be up until tomorrow afternoon, maybe even tomorrow night. Sorry break is over and I don't have a lot of extra time, so I will be writing stories in the afternoons instead of during the day. Leave a review!