"I want to be standing at our wedding," he stated again for the fifth time. It was not as if she didn't want him to stand either but chances were there was going to be a wedding for them sooner than later and it was because of the news they had received this morning. A Navy officer had come in with orders to bring Donny Donowitz home. The orders gave him another week in the hospital and then he would be transferred to the carrier ship and the long journey home would start. The orders had also stated that he would finish all therapy and treatment aboard the ship and back in America.
"I know, I want you to stand at our wedding as well," she whispered. He was aggravated by the orders, simply because they did not include her, for they wouldn't. She was not in the American service, she was not an American, and she was not his wife. He could not disobey his orders, but he couldn't leave her. He already told the Naval Officer that and the man had been as polite as he could to a war hero when he said there was nothing he could do about it unless they were married, and even then it would take time to authorize a civilian on his ship.
She was trying desperately not to exacerbate his mood more than it already was. She took the stance that she would just kindly agree with him and hope for the best. The officer mentioned them getting 'hitched' in his southern drawl so they could send in for her authorization to come to America. Again though, Donny wanted to be standing at the wedding, and it caused some issues with their recently developed plans for the wedding service.
They were going to have a traditional Jewish wedding in his hometown to appease his parents. That gave him time to finish treatment and therapy and by the time they made it to his home he would be ready to stand through their ceremony. Well that had been their plans until now. Now, it was looking as if they were going to have to marry now. It wasn't as if she wasn't opposed to a sooner wedding, she just wanted him to be happy about it.
"You know we could always get married now, have the papers signed, and then have the ceremony when we get to America," she stated.
"But I still want to be standing, and it still doesn't give us enough time before the ceremony for me to finish therapy."
He had a point, but it was the only solution she had. He sighed and reached out and grasped her hand. It was small and warm, and her skin was silken smooth. He took a few moments to really think, and he decided finally what must be done. Her suggestion was the best, even if it meant that he wouldn't be fully healed of the fleshy pink smooth scarring that was still very sensitive. In other words he would be in a lot of pain still on the day of the ceremony, but he was determined to get through therapy as soon as he could, so he could stand despite the pain.
"You are right though, we will have to get a marriage license and have the ceremony when we get to Boston. I am going to have to work hard to learn to stand with the leg, and your patience to help me when I get angry or discouraged."
He laughed as he spoke and squeezed her hand lovingly. Yes, that problem was seemingly solved, but now they just needed to find a Rabbi. She knew she would have to be the one who searched so she stood and kissed him on the cheek.
"I will go in search then. The quicker I can find a Rabbi the better."
She didn't say it out loud, but she was worried that she would not be able to find someone to do it for them. She was not of his faith, but hopefully that would not be an issue. He nodded but before she could leave him to search he reached up and put his hand to the back of her neck. She lowered down without him having to draw her in. Their lips met and her legs became weak.
It never occurred to her that this could be her life, but she wouldn't change it much. If she could she would have changed her brother, and changed the circumstances in which she met Donny and his conditions now. Yet this man was the man that was meant for her. At first she had worried about such a thing, but no longer. She wasn't sure when she became so sure, but she knew that she was.
She was the one to pull away, but she needed to hurry. "I will see you later tonight," she said as she played with some of his hair.
He gave her a wide smile and with that she left.
Xxxxxxxx
The Rabbi was not easy to find for France had been a Nazi occupied country, nor was he easy to convince but she guessed he saw something in her that made him want to help her and Donny. Maybe it was because she explained the man she was to marry had helped end the war. It wasn't as if she waived it in his face, but when the man asked who she was to marry she said an American soldier named Donny Donowitz. She spent so much time at the hospital she never realized her future husband has become a sort of celebrity, as well as all the men who had been a part of the 'basterds'.
She even heard rumors floating around that any Nazi members that escaped would soon be tracked down by the remaining members because 'a basterd's job is never finished'. She had heard Donny say that one time. She hadn't really understood, but now she was beginning to. Yet she knew the only three members of the group were not in the hunting Nazi business anymore.
Either way that did not matter, what mattered was in a few short hours, she would no longer be an unmarried woman. It was two days after she had found the Rabbi. She was in the bathroom of the hospital room that Donny had been residing in. She was checking herself over, making sure she looked appropriate in the green sundress. Since it wasn't an actual ceremony there was no need to wear a wedding dress, but there was need to still dress pleasantly, this was her wedding day. Even Donny had fought to get clothing other than the hospital gown he wore daily. He insisted his uniform, but she had told him she wanted him to wear his uniform to the ceremony.
So instead she had gotten him a button down silk white shirt and a pair of black slacks. She had bought a pair of shoes, because he insisted on wearing his leg, even if he couldn't stand on it. He was so embarrassed when he had to explain it to her, but he had told her that it made him feel like a whole man that he wasn't anymore. In response she had stroked his hair and told him that he was more man than she had ever known.
It wasn't easy to come across a man who had accomplished all he had, and survived what he had. Yes, he had a leg missing, but the point was a leg didn't make a man whole, it was his actions. Donny had taken a stand where other men wouldn't. He had been so ready to sacrifice his own life. Thankfully he hadn't passed away because of it, but he would have died for his country. She understood the gravity of that. She also didn't argue with him for wanting to wear the leg, but she wanted him to know she did not see him as a man who had a missing leg.
She saw him as the man she was going to marry who was so much more than a war hero. She finally exited the bathroom and saw him. He sat nervously on the bed, and she could tell just by looking at him that he was in an intense amount of pain. The clothing, no matter how nicely made it was, chafed against the sensitive skin. There were unshed tears in his eyes because of the pain he felt. She acted as if she didn't notice. He wouldn't have enjoyed it if she showed him pity. So she just fussed over a loose strand on the collar of his white shirt.
He chuckled at her as she went to get some scissors from the cabinets in his room. She snipped the strand from his collar, then adjusted the collar again to make sure he looked perfect. There was a moment when she stopped her fussing and he stopped his chuckling and they just gazed at one another. Here in a few moments they would be married. His lips twitched into a nervous smile.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked suddenly as he took her small hands into his. There was a moment of silence between them. The silence made hi m nervous too. It was nearly the same feeling he got right before they attacked Nazis. There would always be this pause in time, where everything was silent. It was a time to make sure everyone was ready. A moment to gather the last bit of strength one needed to slaughter someone. It was strange that this was how he felt now, gathering his strength. For what though? Maybe he was afraid that she would suddenly refuse him.
"Donny Donowitz, do not ask me such ridiculous questions. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure this is what I wanted. Is it what you want?"
"It is more than I could want," he said as he tucked some of her soft hair behind her ear. His chest tightened, and his stomach did a flip. For a moment he allowed himself to picture her telling him that she didn't want to be with him. That thought nearly shattered him just by thinking it. For the briefest instant he couldn't breathe or think. He had the sudden need to pull her into a bone crushing hug and never let her go. So this is what love was, not being able to fathom the other person not in your life.
He felt like lightning had struck him, his entire body burned with the need to please her. His chest felt so tight and burned with such an intensity he thought he may be on fire. Sweat dampened his brow suddenly. For a second he felt like his world had shifter, and it was to allow her into his heart completely.
"Liez," he began, actually pronouncing her name correctly, which he had been more of lately, "I love you."
Now it was her turn to not be able to breathe. She smiled at him, a smile he noticed she only ever gave him. "I love you too," she said, her smile never leaving her face. Her heart was leaping wildly beneath her breast bone. It hammered so hard she was afraid he could hear it. A small blush settled upon her face as she was suddenly embarrassed by her own happiness. She knew that he had to of love her to want to marry her. Hearing the proclamation out loud was almost more than she could handle.
She had never been happier than she was on this day. She leaned in to kiss him but a man at the door interrupted her by clearing his throat. Both turned their heads and saw the Rabbi.
"I presume you are him, the Donny Donowitz?" asked the Rabbi.
Donny nodded and started to try and stand. Liez tried to make him stay seated but he said he wanted to be standing. She knew how important it was for him to stand so she allowed it without fussing with him. She wrapped an arm around his waist as he slid off the bed to put both feet on the floor. He was very unsteady on the prosthetic leg, but with her help she would keep him standing. A sober look replaced the one of love he had just been wearing a moment before.
He was in so much pain she knew they would have to hurry this process along so that he could get back to bed and be comfortable. The nurse that had been taking care of him pushed the Rabbi in gently and shut the door behind them. She would stand as their witness, Donny had asked her earlier while Liez had been away looking for the Rabbi. She was happy to help the couple because her time with them both she had grown very fond of them.
"Let us begin then," stated the Rabbi.
She would be lying if she said she heard every word the Rabbi said. She didn't and some of which he said she couldn't really understand because it was in Hebrew. She was patient though. She repeated the words she was told to repeat, and so did Donny. It was quicker than she thought it would be. It occurred to her that the actual ceremony would be much longer, but this Rabbi understood that Donny was in pain, the beaded sweat rolling down the side of his handsome face gave it away. As well as the slight tremor of his one leg as he tried to keep most of the weight on it instead of the prosthetic.
"Mazel Tov!" the Rabbi said happily as he threw his hands into the air in celebration. Quickly the Rabbi took a handkerchief with some glass in it from his coat pocket and sat it on the ground as if it was an afterthought. He then helped Donny stomp the glass. She wasn't entirely sure the significance of stomping the glass, but she understood that his parents would be disappointed if he didn't do it on their wedding day even if it wasn't the actual ceremony to just appease friends and family.
The Rabbi, with Liez's help, got Donny back into bed, for silent tears started to spill down his cheeks. He had tried too hard to pretend he wasn't hurting as much as he was. He was miserable and happy at all the same time.
Once Donny was comfortable in bed, the Rabbi patted him on the shoulder and gave him a sincere smile. He then turned to Liez and said, "Well aren't you going to kiss your husband?"
Tears instantly started to spill down her face as her and Donny made eye contact for the first time as husband and wife. She was now Mrs. Donowitz. She thought her heart was pounding hard earlier, now it was threatening to leap out of her throat. Without a second thought she brushed some of Donny's hair out of his eyes before she kissed him. His lips were like a fire that burned a path to her heart.
The world melted around them as their lips melded together. They were now married, and thus was the beginning of their adventures together. When he broke the kiss, the nurse was giggling and Rabbi was signing the marriage certificate. He then handed it over to Donny. He signed first, and then Liez after him. Then the nurse signed as well stating she witnessed the union. It was all official.
Liez hugged the Rabbi, thanking him profusely. The man just patted her shoulder and told her that he was happy he could assist. Liez then hugged the nurse who hugged her back fiercely. Liez thanked them both a million times over.
"Sweet heart, they get it," said Donny almost a tad embarrassed how many times Liez said thank you. She nodded her head but the tears in her eyes let them know that she couldn't begin to show the gratitude she felt. The Rabbi said a few words of blessing in Hebrew and then shook Donny's hand and gave Liez one more hug.
"Keep each other close," said the Rabbi with a smile on his face before he left for good.
The nurse was soon to follow but not before she whispered something into Liez's ear. Donny watched curiously. He was still in a bit of a shock. He was a married man. And Liez was his wife. It was odd at first, but the more he said to himself that she was his wife the more he thought he would explode with elation.
He watched the nurse leave and Liez shut the door behind her. She then turned and looked at him.
"Mr. Donowitz," she whispered almost huskily. If he weren't still in so much pain he would have been turned on by the way she said that.
"Mrs. Donowitz," he said as he beckoned her forward.
She came across the room and settled on the edge of the bed, careful to not brush against where she knew the skin was most sensitive. He loved how she was always so in tuned with his needs. One day he would be that way for her. He knew her moods, but there would be a day when she needed him the way he had needed her and he would do all he could for her, the way she had been doing for him.
"I stood," he said happily.
"You did, and I couldn't be happier because of it," she said as she reached forward and started to unbutton the collar of his dress shirt. He grasped her fingers into a fist and brought her hands up to kiss her fingers.
"I apologize I can't give you a wedding night you deserve," he whispered. He knew she was going to undress him so that she could help make him comfortable, to help get him out of the constricting clothes that chafed his skin terribly. He wished it was more though. He wished she was unbuttoning his shirt so she could trail kissed across his chest. That wasn't the case though. It was late, and he knew she would have to leave soon and they would spend their wedding night separately. He was suddenly so sad that he thought his world was going to shatter.
"My love," she whispered as she played with his bangs that she always brushed from his eyes.
"Yes?"
"I am staying the night," she stated.
AN: I hope everyone enjoyed. Please note that I don't really know the immigration laws during this time period and I didn't really want to do the research for it. So let us just make it simple and say they get married, she is allowed to become a citizen.