A/N - this week it hit me that I've been in various stages of lockdown for a year. Damn. I have much more sympathy for Danny's erratic behavior. Pretty sure that I've had some of my own. xoxo - tmtcltb

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Chapter 21 - The Morning After

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Kara gazed down at the phone in her hand, opening the screen and staring down at the number, before closing it again.

Danny came to stand next to her, shoulder-to-shoulder, arms folded, both of them staring out the kitchen window. Finally he spoke. "Cold feet?"

She glanced sideways, wondering if she had woken him up during her monetary panic last night. He would have misunderstood, of course. Believing that her suggestion that they get married was nothing more than an alcohol-induced impulse that she was regretting in the cold morning light. Never mind the fact that Kara had no more than two drinks over the course of six hours and was never, ever impulsive.

Well, except when it came to Danny.

xxxxx

Danny tumbled them backwards into his bunk. With a startled laugh, Kara wrenched her lips away. Sitting up slightly, which only served to press their lower bodies together, leading them both to groan.

They were playing with fire.

She knew that. It was 1800. Most of the crew was still awake and, even if Frankie was currently on land with Doctor Scott, a dozen other people could come by looking for Danny. Berchem might try to swing open the door with a perfunctory knock, having served together long enough to be confident of his welcome. Smith might start hammering on it after finding it locked, drawing the attention of everyone else around and giving Kara nowhere to hide.

And then there was the flip side. The very real possibility that someone was, even now, looking for her. Finding her absent from her cabin, the wardroom, the showers, the gym. Leading to the inevitable question of where exactly she had been and what she had been doing. Questions for which Kara had no legitimate answers. Even if she could bluff her way past Commander Barker with a vague "bathroom", the man stoutly avoiding anything that might sound like a "female problem", then there would be Carlton to face. The man knew her far too well to be palmed off with such an obvious excuse. Forcing her to either lie through her teeth, or put him in an impossible position with the Captain.

And yet...

Even knowing the danger, she didn't leave. Didn't suggest that they relocate to the wardroom and keep this all above-board. Instead she leaned forward for another kiss. Fully aware of where that kiss would lead - and what the consequences would be were they caught. Yet unable to resist a pair of sky blue eyes and a mischievous grin.

She was Icarus, flying too close to the sun.

And she didn't care.

xxxxx

Kara turned her head, tipping it up to Danny with a smile. "My feet feel fine. Yours?"

He mirrored her smile, the slight sag of his shoulders the only sign that he had actually been worried. "Not bad. I am ready to accept my ball and chain."

"Don't push your luck, Green," Kara retorted, but there was no heat in her voice. "I still have roughly six hours to change my mind."

Danny chuckled. "Talked to Master Chief Jeter. He'll be here at three. Mike was over there when I called. He's planning to tag along. And Wolf and Azima are in."

"Both Alisha and Andrea said they'll be here. Andrea is going to pick up the girls on her way over," Kara replied. "I also called Carlton and Rick. Did you check with Sasha and Tom?"

"Yup," Danny nodded. "Apparently the Admiral was initially suspicious that this was an elaborate ruse to get Sasha back in the field but your involvement convinced him that it was above board and he has agreed that a backyard wedding is sufficiently non-work related to allow Cooper off the couch."

Kara hesitated. By unspoken agreement, she and Danny hadn't discussed Sasha's pregnancy. Still, Kara knew that Danny and Sasha talked, the entire team being tight, and assumed that the topic came up. Kara herself knew far more about Sasha's condition than she felt entirely comfortable about, Val having no sense of discretion. "I thought Sasha was off bedrest?"

Danny chuckled. "Yes, according to her doctor. No, according to Tom."

"She must be going crazy," Kara replied.

"Pretty much. Although I think Tom enjoys having her home." Danny paused. "So if you aren't planning to dump me at the altar, what has you fiddling with your phone every thirty seconds."

Well, damn.

Kara hasn't realized how obvious she was being. She weighed her options for only a minute before sighing. "I'm not sure what to tell Debbie."

"You didn't call her yet?" Danny asked, only to apparently realize that it was the wrong thing to say when Kara folded her arms across her chest stiffly. "Okaaay. You want me to do it?"

She snorted. "Lord, no. I'll have to hear about it for years. Danny was so thoughtful, inviting us to the wedding when you were too busy to call."

Danny was quiet for a long time, before he turned, leaning against the counter. Arms still folded, not touching Kara, but now looking at her directly. "I know you have a lot of history with Debbie and I'm not going to tell you what to do but...I would give anything for my mother to be here today. For any of my family."

The quiet words hit Kara in the gut. "Oh Danny..."

xxxxx

Kara set a cup of steaming coffee down on the coffee table, settling into her chair to wait for Danny to wake up. Well, wake up enough to do more than groan and pull the pillow over his head. If the way he was stumbling when he arrived at her house last night was any indication, he would definitely need the coffee - and a fistful of painkillers to go with it. A ping alerted Kara to a text. She picked it up, seeing Tex's name pop up.

Need me to come remove a body from your home?

Kara considered ignoring it. She wasn't surprised to find out that Tex knew where Danny went when he disappeared in the middle of the night. Not only because the man was freakishly good at ferreting out secrets, but also because he was probably the only person that Danny could talk to about this. Involving Carlton or Wolf - or anyone else who was currently serving with Kara on the Nathan James - would violate their carefully constructed arrangement. The one where they both pretended that their relationship was strictly professional, that they barely saw each other. Which, Kara supposed, was true. If you didn't count the hours between 2300 to 0500. Another groan sounded from the couch and Danny moved to a sitting position. Slowly, as though his head was about to explode. She picked up her phone.

He's upright. Might need a ride home though. No truck.

Danny reached for the coffee. Cupping it between his hands before raising it to his mouth and draining half the cup. He opened bleary eyes. "You have more of this?"

As she retrieved the carafe from the kitchen, Kara heard another ping. She checked her phone, but no message. Instead, Danny was looking at his own phone. He looked up as she refilled her cup and passed him three ibuprofen. "Tex said he has my truck. He's going to swing by on his way to the base." He glanced down at his hands, which were covered in scrapes and bruises, before admitting. "I don't remember much of last night. Not after..."

Danny trailed off, but Kara understood. She took a drink of her own coffee. "You told me the news about your family."

The words coming in bursts as he sobbed, leaning against her so heavily that she barely managed to get him into the house. The anguish, the guilt, pouring out in waves as he relayed his worst fears. That they were all gone, all dead. Parents, brother, sister-in-law, nieces. Dying in the first wave, his hometown's proximity to New York fatal for all concerned.

Dead before Danny even mentioned them to Kara. Before he told her the story about the time he and his brother set the neighbor's roof on fire with a stray firecracker. Before he showed her the pictures of his nieces from their family trip to DisneyWorld just before the Nathan James left. Before inviting her to join him in Connecticut once they got home - assuring Kara that his mother would love her. Before they knew there was even such a thing as the Red Flu.

Danny fiddled with his cup, gaze still on his hands. "Did I break anything?"

"No, the tree won." Kara recalled the way that she found him, slamming one fist and then the other into the palm at the edge of her driveway. As though it were the punching bag at the gym, except that the tree didn't give. "You should have Rios take a look at your hands."

"I'm sorry that I came by last night."

Kara stood. Walking around the coffee table. Taking Danny's cup, setting it next to hers before settling into his lap. Waiting until he flipped them over so she was lying on her back on the couch, Danny above her. Raising her hands to his checks, meeting his gaze, giving him the only comfort that she could. "I'm not."

xxxxx

Kara stepped closer, wrapping an arm around his waist, laying her head against his shoulder. "I wish that I could have met them."

"Stella reminds me of Chloe sometimes," Danny mussed, tugging Kara to him. Resting his chin on her head. "Both so imaginative. I think they would have liked each other."

Kara felt the lump growing in her throat. Somehow, despite her own ghosts, she had never considered what Danny might be seeing when he looked at Stella and Delilah. "How old were your nieces the last time that you saw them?"

"Chloe was nine and Evie was twelve," Danny replied. His arms tightened suddenly, squeezing Kara, before letting go. "I sometimes think about what it was like for Zack. How it all went down. I used to wonder which would be worse. Watching them die or dying before them, knowing that they were sick. I think I know now."

"Not being there for them at the end," Kara whispered, eyes filling with tears. Imagining what it was like for Zack and Mandy - two people she never even met but felt like she knew through Danny's stories - at the end. Sick, dying, past the point of hoping for survival. Praying only that their children would go first. The horror of leaving them to die - alone - too much to bear.

"Yes. The more time that I spend with the girls, the more I realize..." Danny was quiet for a minute. "We take the hand that we're dealt, Kara. I don't always get things with you and your mom. But she isn't my mom and today isn't about Debbie. If you don't want her here, then I don't want her here either."

"It's not that I don't want her here." Kara stopped, struggling to explain. "Debbie's been planning her wedding for months. She's made a big deal about us doing everything together. About me checking out venues with her. Having me come to the food tasting, even though Peter is far more qualified. Wanting my input on her dress. And now we're getting married in the backyard with about six hours notice. We just got over the newspaper article and I don't want her to see this as something that I'm taking away from her..." Kara stopped, feeling the way that Danny's chest was shaking, leaning back, seeing the mirth in his eyes. She scowled, only to find herself laughing too. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?"

Danny snorted. "A little bit. But it's cute."

Kara bit her lip. "I should just call her already."

"Probably."

Kara took a step back, only to pause. Hand moving to his chest. "And Danny, I really am sorry that your family aren't here."

"I know." He glanced away, before lifting her hand, kissing her fingers. "I stand by what I said five years ago. They would have loved you."

xxxxx

Kara stood blinking as Debbie swirled into the backyard, accompanied not just by Peter, but also at least four other people loaded down with tables and chairs and dishes. Debbie's hands rose to her hips as she looked around, before pointing to the corner under the magnolia tree. She glanced at Kara. "That's not where the ceremony is going to be, is it?"

"Um, no," Kara murmured. Although, honestly, she hadn't thought about it. She supposed they did need to stand somewhere. Maybe the porch?

"Good." Debbie nodded towards the others. "Set up the tables there. And use the blue tablecloths with the shell decorations."

In a matter of minutes, two tables were set up and the crew was back with another load of what Kara now realized was food. Cut vegetables, cheese and crackers, ice blocks that Kara suspected held shrimp cocktail, and crock pots that smelled like meatballs. Debbie was still giving out instructions when Kara gathered herself enough to ask, "Mom, what are you doing?"

"Kara, you can't have a wedding without food," Debbie clucked her tongue. "I know that you said it was casual and there would only be a few guests, but trust me. People are going to want to eat."

Finding herself speechless for the first time since, well, actually, that seemed to be happening more and more often these days, Kara wandered after her mother. "You did this all in a few hours?"

"Luckily Peter keeps a lot of supplies for last minute bookings," Debbie explained. "It restricted the menu a bit but I doubt that the guys will mind. I assume that's who is coming? Danny's team and the crew of the James?"

Given that represented ninety-nine percent of the people who Danny and Kara knew, it was a fair guess. Kara spoke impulsively. "Rick and Courtney are coming, if you want to invite Mrs. Abbot."

"I think Charlene would like that." Debbie began busying herself setting up napkins and utensils. "I guess she mentioned that we've been meeting for lunch."

Kara cleared her throat, deciding that explaining that she heard from Andrea was unnecessary. "Mom, I'm glad you found a friend. Really."

"Charlene mentioned that Stella and Delilah are adorable," Debbie noted, continuing to look down at the table she was organizing.

Kara wondered when, exactly, Debbie found time to talk to Charlene in the twenty hours since the fundraiser ended, but decided to let it go. "They'll be here today if you would like to meet them."

Debbie looked up then, and Kara could see the tears in her eyes. "I would love to. When you called to say that you and Danny decided to get married today, I knew right away why. You're going to adopt them, aren't you?"

"Yes," Kara admitted. The admission crossing her lip so much more easily than she expected. The thought of the girls bringing a smile to her face. "We are."

Debbie reached out to grasp Kara's hand. "And you're happy?"

She squeezed her mother's hand. "I am."

With a squeal, Debbie tugged Kara in for a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you, sweetheart. So happy." After a minute, Debbie stepped back. "Now, do you think that I look more like a Grandma or a Mimi?"

xxxxx

Kara straightened her dress uniform a final time, picking up the bouquet that Alisha and Val procured from somewhere on their way over to the house. She glanced at her best friend. "I'm ready."

But Alisha wasn't paying attention. "Oh, hell no. I have no idea how that man found out about the wedding but ..."

Turning to follow her friend's gaze, Kara reached out to stop Alisha before she stormed out the door. "No, it's fine. I invited him."

Alisha stopped, blinking at Kara. "You invited Pablo-frickin-Reyes or whatever-his-name-actually-is to your wedding. The man you said you would shoot if he came within a hundred feet of you?"

"Yes."

Kara had hoped that would be the end of it, but from the incredulous look on Alisha's face, she knew that further explanation would be required. Kara spoke quickly, not wanting to delay their appearance or give Danny any reason to think that she had cold feet after all. Especially not over Pablo. "Danny's family can't be here and I realized that nobody here even met them. Nobody except Pablo. So I invited him."

Alisha opened her mouth, probably to ask if Kara had lost her damn mind, before snapping her lips closed and nodding. "Fine. But if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, I am going to kick his ass."

Kara giggled. "I assigned the task of keeping him in line to Azima."

"Lord help us. But at least he's not my problem." Alisha gave Kara a once-over. "You look amazing. Are you ready?"

Kara looked out the window to where Danny stood with Russ. Laughing at something, Carlton slapping him on the back. She smiled. "Absolutely."

xxxxx

Later that night, snuggled next to Danny - her husband - Kara would reflect on how little that she remembered of the day. Everything blurring together, only a few moments coming into sharper focus.

Danny standing in his uniform as she walked towards him across the yard, eyes gleaming with tears as she joined him at the makeshift altar.

Russ smiling at both of them as he pronounced them husband and wife.

Stella showering them in what felt like pounds of birdseed, some of which Kara swore was still in her hair.

Debbie hugging them both tightly, the tears pouring down her face.

Alisha calling out Carlton on his bullshit when he told everyone that he knew this wedding was only a matter of time.

Delilah tugging at Kara's skirt until she picked the child up, not setting her down again for an hour as they made their way through the backyard, introducing her and Stella to everyone.

Danny squeezing her hand tightly when Pablo congratulated them, telling Danny that his parents would be proud.

Rick giving a rambling toast that ended abruptly when he got too choked up to finish, Courtney lifting her own glass to "life, love, and happiness."

And the moment that Kara knew she would never forget. The one that, for her, stood out more than her wedding vows. When that night, as they waved goodbye to the last of the guests, Danny pulled her to him, burying his head in her hair, and whispered thank you.