NO flames please!

Yes she lost a foot.

Thats not the end of the wold.

And i have written a really cute scene now.

I didnt expect it for another couple of chapters but it felt right.

xxx

Chapter 24

And How He Healed Her

Part II

Marian

I was devastated.

I had lost my right foot.

That meant I was out of the army.

When I was told this I just cried. Vick was there and he just hugged me. Held me and hugged me until I stopped.

"Hey." He said quietly and brushed some hair away from my face. "It's not all bad. You can still do things. And it could have been so much worse."

I nodded and wiped my face. "I know. I'm just a bit shocked. I knew I'd lost it but I didn't piece together that it meant I was out of the army."

He kissed my forehead. "Marian. You won't be able to walk without crutches. They wouldn't be able to keep you."

I nodded. "I know. It's just, I'm 23, I don't have a foot and I'm out of my job."

Vick hugged me again. "Ssh, it's ok. We'll get through this. Together."

I smiled and looked down at the newly bandaged stump at the end of my leg. It was sore but a neat job. It wasn't grizzly at all. It was like professional sewing.

"Nigel said I could still help. I'd be able to train the new soldiers."

Vick raised his eyebrows. "That's amazing. You can still do that. And you'll be here."

I nodded. Things were looking up. "There is no way I'm going to be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of my life."

Vick frowned. "Well, the options are wheelchair, crutches, one of those blade things that you see on paralympians."

I nodded, liking that idea. "I think we should look into that. Then I can still walk and run if I need to."

Vick grinned. "Good. I'll talk to my boss and the doctor and Nigel."

I smiled crossed my legs. My right one was shorter than the other. It was weird.

Then I remembered something that the nurse had said when she checked on me the night before.

"Vick. Did you tell the nurse you were my fiancée?"

Vick froze. "Maybe."

I raised an eyebrow.

"She wouldn't let me in other wise!" He protested.

I laughed. "I could live with that."

He grinned. "You'll have to one day."

I leant forward and kissed him. When I pulled back he had a calculating look in his eyes.

"What?" I asked, nervous now.

"Why wait?" He asked.

"What?!" I nearly yelled.

He shrugged. "I said, why wait?"

I gulped and gasped like a fish for a bit.

He kissed me quickly and started rummaging around in his bag.

When he turned he was looking at something small in his hand and he promptly dropped to one knee.

I clapped my hands over my mouth.

He inspected the ring in his fingers. "Now, I am completely serious when I say that this is really spur of the moment. I had no idea I was going to do this but I want to. So, this isn't your classic, boring, run of the mill engagement ring."

I leant forward to look at it. "It's a hag stone."

He frowned. "What?"

I picked it up. It was a thin stone. Dark slate coloured but with flecks of white. It had a hole in the middle.

"A hag stone. It's just a stone. But the sea's rubbed it enough that it has a hole in it."

He looked at it again. "I found it years ago when I was on a forced walk with my family. I was six or seven I think. We were going by the lake in Wrickenwridge and I found this. Just as I picked it up it started raining so we went home early. I thought it was my lucky charm. I've carried it around since then. Just habit really."

I gasped. "That's so cute!"

He grinned up at me and took the stone. "Marian, I know this is a weird proposal. We're in a hospital, you don't have a foot, and this is just a stone and not some fancy diamond. But still, I love you and I want to marry you."

I looked at him for a minute, just soaking him in. Then I shrugged in my usual way. "Well, we might as well. It'll mean we save money on hot water bottles."

He laughed and took my scratched up left hand. "Fingers crossed it fits."

I crossed my first and middle finger on my left hand and he slipped the hag stone onto my ring finger.

It fitted.

It was cold and obviously a stone but I loved it already.

I smiled at Vick and he kissed me.

He sighed. "Well, that takes a load of pressure off us."

I laughed. "Yep. Your mum with sleep easy tonight."

I put on a fake British accent. "Five sons married! Oh Mr Benedict, we have been very blessed!"

Vick looked confused.

"It's Pride and Prejudice."

"Right."

I laughed and he sat next to me on the bed.

"Can we see the house when I get out of here?"

He smiled and kissed my head. "Of course Mrs Benedict."

I wrinkled my nose. "Eew, so formal."

He laughed. "Any thoughts on the wedding?"

I settled back against his chest and wrapped my fingers around his. "Well, I want it to be really low key. Like, only family and close friends. In a garden or park. And informal dress. No suits. My parents had suits and look how that ended."

Vick laughed and kissed my neck. "When?"

"Two weeks after I leave here." I said on impulse.

"Bearing in mind that's only three weeks away. And you'll still have to take it easy."

I shrugged. "Ah, easy, shmeasy."

He chuckled. "Ok. My mum will go mad."

I smiled. "Yup. But it's our wedding."

Vick laughed. "Our wedding. Didn't see that coming did you?"

"No." I said. "But neither did you!" I added, reluctant to see him win.

"No. But I think that's the best thing about it."

"I'll have to disagree with you there. I think the best thing is going to be the cake."

He laughed again. "Chocolate."

I nodded. "Naturally."

We sat in silence for a bit. "Our kids are going to be gorgeous."

He kissed my hair. "Baby steps Mrs Benedict. Baby steps."

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Argh! Cute feels!

xxx