27.

~ "I still don't see why I have to marry you." Ariadne said as she finished her lunch. Her Major hadn't been able to see her until after his duties ended that morning. Arthur had made sure to shower and change into his dress uniform before visiting the pretty nurse.

"Verbal contract is still binding." The Major assured her as he took a piece of red thread out of his pocket. With careful, cleaver hands, he knotted one side and took her left hand. Wrapping the thread once around her ring finger.

"Yeah, but I wasn't exactly thinking strait at the time." She said playfully. "Isn't their some kind of exception for those who are not mentally competent?

Arthur pretended to think for a moment.

"Non Compos Mentis doesn't apply to that particular circumstance." He told her. A hint of teasing hiding behind his professional voice. "You are free to retain council if you wish."

"Well the best lawyer I know tricked me into getting engaged to him." She complained in a petulant, childish voice.

"He's a crafty one." Arthur agreed as he tied the string into another knot to gauge her ring size.

Ariadne bit her lip. Ready to burst in pride. She knew all the girls were in love with her Major. Trixie would tell her about how they would stop what they were doing and gaze at him as he walked past them on his way to see her.

He came to see her and her alone every day. He would visit with her, bring her her dinner and a book to read. They would talk and he would stay until it grew late in the evening. After what happened the other night, they had to keep the door open to avoid temptation again. She wanted so badly for him to stay the night with her, that is was hard for both of them to say goodbye.

He looked so handsome in his officer's uniform. She knew he must have changed before coming to see her. Wanting to show her his best side as always.

"I spoke to the hospital's chaplain, he can marry us tomorrow." He said soberly. The situation suddenly serious.

"So soon?" She asked. It was all happening so quickly. Her Major wanting to be married before she had to leave for London.

"It will give us a few more days together as husband and wife before you have to leave." He said. His eyes flickering to her worriedly.

"Are you sure the Colonel will give you those days off?" She asked. Heat rushing to her face as she imagined being alone days and nights with Arthur. She had never been with a man like that before. She knew what would happen of course. It was all the girls talked about. Still, she had no idea what to expect.

"At this point, I think he would give me his first born if I asked." Arthur laughed.

Ariadne smiled. Trixie told her all about the Major's heroics in going back for those wounded men. She was sure her Major was indeed the favorite of the gruff Colonel.

"Will we go anywhere?" She asked him. She hoped she wouldn't have to spend her wedding night in the hospital. Her broken leg would surely create enough complications.

"The Colonel is letting us have the apartment he had be using. It's small, but nice." He said. "I think the rings will be ready in time for the ceremony. I can't promise they'll be gold." He told her. His eyes darting worriedly to her.

"I don't care about that." She told him. She felt tears swim into her eyes.

"What wrong?" He asked. His handkerchief coming back out.

"I won't see you until the war is over. Once I'm back in London." She whispered.

"That's why it's so important that we get married now." He said dabbing at her eyes again.

"What if your killed?" She whispered.

"I won't be." He told her confidently.

"Arthur, stop it. You don't know that." She cried.

He said nothing as the two of them sat in silence.

"I will try very hard to come back to you." He said an a steady tone.

She nodded and understood that was the best she could realistically hope for.

"I telegraphed my sister today. I told her we were getting married. That I'll be sending you to live with my parents in New York." He said changing the subject.

Ariadne dried her eyes.

"Why can't I just stay in London?" She asked.

"I would feel better knowing you were with my family. With your broken leg and everything. You'll love my sister Beth. She always wanted a sister and I think she'll be crazy about you." He assured her gently.

"What about your parents?" Ariadne asked. "I'm sure it was a shock to your mother that you were marrying some girl you met in France."

"Why I'm letting Beth break the news. She's the only one who can handle my mother." Arthur said remembering Lydia's Victorian like manners.

"Will your mother like me?" Ariadne asked. She remembered what it was like the first time she met her Aunt after her parents died. How cold the woman was to her. She didn't want to go to another place like that.

Arthur sighed.

"It's been hard on my mother." Arthur said sadly. "She lost both her sons in this war. All she has left is my dad, Beth and me." He told her.

"I'm marrying the baby of the family." Ariadne reminded him.

Arthur nodded.

"Beth and my brother's never married. Your her last chance for grandkids." Arthur told her. "My dad will love you." He said hoping to cheer her up.

"Maybe I should just stay in London." Ariadne told him. "Until you come home."

"The RAF is bombing all of Germany." Arthur said soberly. "Hitler will strike back. I want you in New York."

"You know, just because were getting married does not mean that I've promised to obey you." Ariadne said teasingly. Things were much easier when they were playful.

"I believe you." Arthur said not at all offended. "But I'm asking as your husband to do this for me." His words were so kind that she felt her resolve melt.

"Alright." She said weakly. "I'll go to New York."

"Good." He said kissing her forehead. He placed a small chocolate bar on her tray. "To make up for no engagement ring." He said sitting back down.

"Arthur, I don't need an engagement ring." She said feeling embarrassed.

Her wedding band promised to be the first piece of real jewelry she had ever owned. An engagement ring felt too audacious. Something only the rich thought they needed.

"Of course you do." Arthur snapped. "It was my grandmothers. My dad will make sure you get it. They wanted whoever I married to have it."

Ariadne thought briefly to the girl Arthur had taken out before he left for war. His parents no doubt wanted their prized son to marry her. Not some orphaned girl with no family or country.

"How long do you think it will be till you come home?" She whispered. She was suddenly very anxious for the war to be over. She wanted to start her life with him and didn't want to have to wait for Hitler to fall.

"They say next Christmas with the way things are going." Her Major assured her.

She nodded and tried to be brave.

"Let's not think about it now." He whispered taking her hand in his. "Were getting married tomorrow. This is a happy time."

"Your right." She sighed. "So, if I do decide to marry you, what time should I be at the chapel?"

"You will marry me." He said casually. "The chaplain can marry us at 2." He said standing up.

"Where are you going?" She asked. She didn't want her Major to leave her.

"Have to go get your ring, remember?" He said tucking the red thread back into his pocket.

"Don't worry." We have the rest of our lives together." He told her before he kissed her and left.

~ Arthur had been right about there being no gold left at anything resembling a jewelry story. Gold had become a precious currency in the war and the people used it as money to buy food. No one kept gold for such frivolous things as jewelry.

"I have some silver left." The old jeweler said to the Major. "It's from a flatware set. I can make two very nice rings. You can wash them in gold later. Not to worry."

Arthur agreed as he and Cobb picked out a simple design for Ariadne.

"I don't think she would want anything too fancy." Arthur said as the jeweler promised they would be ready in the morning.

Cobb had to agreed to be his best man, and Eames had been roused out of a nearby pub so that he could give the bride away. Ariadne insisting on it, since he had saved her from Nazi invasion over 4 years ago.

"Can't believe your taking the plunge. Best thing you can ever do." Cobb said as the men walked back to the barracks. "Best thing I ever did was marry Mal." Cobb said sadly. The blond officer no doubt thinking back to the pretty lady in the picture he hadn't seen in so long.

"What did your mother say?" Cobb asked. Snapping out of his own memories of home.

"I wrote to my sister Beth a few days ago." Arthur said. "I need to write to them again. Tell them Ariadne will be coming to live with them in New York."

He didn't want to think about what his mother might be thinking just now. Still he got a telegram from Beth saying that she as excited he was getting married and not to worry about mother. Arthur wondered why his father had not been mentioned. He worried his Dad might be disappointed in his son's hasty nuptials.

"New York would be the best place for her. Till the war is over." Cobb agreed.

"I better get back to the hospital." Arthur said.

"You have the rest of your life to see this girl." Cobb teased. "You need to spend some time with the guys before you get chained down in domestic life."

"I want to be chained down to domestic life." Arthur grumbled as Cobb pulled him to a pub.

"Come on." Cobb said in the other brother tone. "Eames has a party waiting for us.

Beth.

I know my news about getting married was sudden.

Please tell Mother and Dad that everything is fine.

No one is in trouble.

Ariadne is a very fine young woman.

I want her to come from London to New York.

I think she would be safer there till I'm home.

Is Dad alright?

Arthur