Charlie admired herself in the mirror one more time. Tonight, she would be going to the Fort Marshall Welcome Home Banquet with the Nicole. It was significant for them because this would be the first time she would be going to any of the Army banquets and it would be the first time she went with Nicole as a couple. Charlie was excited since she could never go with Nicole to the bequest before due to Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Nicole knocked on the bathroom door, "Hey babe, you okay?"
"Yeah," Charlie answered and opened the door. She found Nicole clad in her dress blues but her hair still down, "The question I are you okay."
Nicole entered the bathroom and started putting her hair up into a bun, "I'm fine. Why would you think otherwise?"
"Well, since this is our first banquet as a couple. Since this is the first time everyone will know about us," said Charlie, "And I'm not unobservant Niki. I know you're a little nervous because I'm a little nervous."
"Well, I mean I don't care what others think but at the same time, I care what others think," admitted Nicole, "I mean it's not like I'm going to dump you if others don't accept us, but it would make our lives easier."
"Niki, the repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell for a reason," said Charlie.
"Doesn't mean everyone is happy about it," said Nicole. The couple heard a knock at the door, "I think Sophie Clarke is here."
"What why?" asked Charlie.
"To babysit remember?" asked Nicole.
"Duh," said Charlie not understanding how she had forgotten about that in the process of getting ready.
Nicole went to answer the door, "Captain Galassini," greeted Sophie, "I hope you don't mind but I brought a friend. She gestured at the fact that Emmalin was with her.
"Of course, no problem, it's nice to see you again Emmalin. Thank you for watching the girls tonight. I'm sure there are a lot of other things you'd rather be doing."
"Not really," said Sophie, "Mom, Dad, and Patrick are going to the banquet and since I'm not a soldier or a soldier's significant other, guess who gets to stay home?"
"Same with me," said Emmalin, "And I love kids. I'm actually studying human services and programs for children."
Charlie came down the stairs, "Evening Sophie, Emmalin."
"Hi Charlie," said Sophie, "I hope you don't mind, I brought the human services and programs for children major with me."
"No problem. Anyone who a major in what I majored in is my friend," joked Charlie, "Both girls are in their cribs, baby monitor is over there on the dining room table, our cell phone numbers and their pediatrician's number is one the fridge, and I pumped some milk bottles that are in the fridge as well."
"Thank you Charlie," said Emmalin handing her a piece of paper, "My cell phone number is on there in case anything happens to either one of you."
"Thank you Emmalin," said Nicole taking Charlie's hand and exiting, "We should be home by ten unless you fathers hog the microphones."
"Oh I can guarantee you Dad will be up there for at least thirty minutes. At least," said Sophie.
Fort Marshall Banquet Hall…
At the banquet, the meal had been served and now both Generals were giving their welcome home speeches. Michael had been up and down in about five minutes but Kevin? Forty-five minutes and counting.
"Sophie wasn't kidding when she said General Clarke would be up there at least thirty minutes," said Charlie.
"I know right," said Nicole. The couple stood and clapped along with everyone else when he finished fifty-minutes after he had started. The DJ put a slow song on and the various couples headed out to the dance floor.
Charlie looked at Nicole and asked, "Well babe. What do you say? You want to see if that dance floor has room for one more couple?"
Nicole took a deep breath and took Charlie by the hand, "Lead the way." The pair made their way out with everyone else and loosely wrapped their arms around each other, swaying with the music. Nicole looked around to see if she could find everyone else eventually locating the Holdens, the Clarkes, the Cruzes, the Leblancs, the Sherwoods, and the Burtons. Roland and Joan glanced over towards the couple and smiled and they smiled back. Nicole and Charlie turned back to each other and gazed into each other's eyes. When the music stopped, Nicole did something for the first time. She leaned up and kissed Charlie before pulling away from her, the first time Nicole had shown a public display of affection with others around them. Charlie smiled and they both made their way over to all of their friends, where everyone spent the rest of the night talking and laughing as the men and the women normally did. After all of this time, Charlie and Nicole both finally felt accepted. Life was good.
The next chapter will probably be the epilogue of Charlie's and Nicole's life a few years later. Thank you all for reading this story!