The graduation dinner was a fun family event with almost all of her family there. Alex was a little sad that her Aunt Debbie wasn't able to be there, but her adults said it was so that Debbie could come out for the wedding. For now, she was happy with the card she'd gotten, and the facetime call she'd been able to have with her aunt when she got back from shopping with her Daddy and Ellie. Her nana had gone home, and her Uncle Chuck and Aunt Sarah were helping clean up the kitchen while Daddy and Ellie helped her get ready for bed.
Lying in bed, she listened to Ellie read through 'Horton Hatches the Egg,' giggling at the voices Ellie used for Maisy, Horton, and the other characters. Once the book was finished and put back on the shelf, Ellie and John knelt next to her bed and led her through her prayers. Ellie turned on the nightlight that Chuck and Sarah had given her as a graduation present. The light casting stars along her ceiling when the bedroom light was turned off.
"Goodnight, Kid, love you," Her daddy kissed her forehead before standing and heading to the door.
"Goodnight Bug," Ellie kissed her cheek.
"Night Daddy, night Miss Ellie," She yawned, hugging her Dora pillow to her chest and turning to her side, "I love you."
John and Ellie quietly crept from the room and slowly closed the door, leaving it cracked so that they could hear if Alex needed them before they went to bed. When they got back to the living room, they found that Chuck and Sarah had already poured out their night caps, Sarah and Ellie each had a glass of wine while the guys enjoyed a bourbon Chuck had brought down with him. The four of them caught up on what had been going on in each other's lives since the wedding.
Much to Ellie's delight, Sarah gushed over their honeymoon in Europe, but thankfully spared Ellie of the more intimate experiences of the trip. Chuck also piped in, talking excitedly about finally getting to see the Eiffel Tower in person. His engineering nerd side took over for a while as Sarah admitted his geek out had been much worse when they'd been there in person.
"You really gotta see it someday, Elle," Chuck insisted, "Words simply cannot describe how amazing it is in person!"
"Really, because you just used a whole lot of words just now," Ellie teased him.
"Have you two decided where you are going to go on your honeymoon?" Sarah asked.
"I, um, I don't know," Ellie hedged, "We only just decided on the plans for the wedding. John, do you have any ideas?"
"I was thinking Hawai'i," John shrugged, "Should still be nice that time of year, we can relax on a beach somewhere, and if we get the inclination to do some exploring, there's a lot of options."
"I like that idea," Ellie nodded with a soft smile, "I've never been, but always wanted to go."
Sarah suggested they check out the Caribbean or Austrailia, saying that they were a couple of the options she and Chuck had considered before deciding on Europe. Ellie told her she'd keep the suggestions in mind, although ever since John had brought it up, she had her heart set on Hawai'i.
The four of them chatted a time longer before heading to their respective rooms to get some sleep.
Despite the original plan being for the family to go out to celebrate John and Ellie's birthdays together, Chuck and Sarah suggested they have a family lunch at home so that John and Ellie could have a nice dinner out while they watched Alex.
John pulled up to one of their favorite date night spots, an Italian restaurant near the ocean called La Donna Bella. The owner, Anna, was working the hostess stand that night and got them seated quickly. Within moments the sommelier had stopped by with a couple wine suggestions and had poured them a glass of the Barbaresco that they had chosen. They enjoyed the easy conversation they shared over their meals, and a comfortable silence fell over them as their shared tiramisu and coffees were delivered. Once their tab was paid, they headed out to walk along the boardwalk.
They walked in silence for a time before John stopped and gazed out at the waves, a thoughtful expression on his face. "How would you feel about moving out of your apartment and in with me?"
Ellie gave him a humored, but slightly confused look, "Isn't that the plan for this fall after I finish my fellowship and we finally get married?"
"Well yeah," He admitted, "But what if we moved you in sooner than that?"
"Don't we have to be married before I am allowed to move onto base?" She asked.
"That is true," John hedged.
"And how do you expect to get around that caveat, Marine?" Ellie challenged him.
"San Diego isn't all that far away, and Vegas is just over an hour's flight from there…" He started.
"John Casey, are you asking me to elope with you?" She gasped, "What about my family, your family?"
"We can still have the wedding once your fellowship is done," John insisted, "Have a nice ceremony, reception and celebrate with our families. They don't even have to know we were already married. Eloping just takes care of the legal side of things, we can just keep it between you, me, and the Marine Corps."
"How romantic…" Ellie rolled her eyes.
John grunted in frustration, "I ain't sayin' this right, Doc. I just want to be married to you. I want you to be able to come home to Alex and me during your downtime, I want to sleep next to you in our bed, in our room, in our house. Not to mention, I'd like to get the adoption paperwork settled before it's time to register Alexandra for kindergarten."
"'Adoption paperwork?'" Ellie asked, "You want me to adopt Alex?"
"Yeah, if you're okay with it?" John shrugged.
"John why wouldn't I be okay with it?" She challenged.
"I don't know," He ran his fingers through his short hair, "I don't want it to seem like you are replacing Kathleen in Alexandra's life."
"Well, I kind of am to a certain extent," Ellie pointed out, "I mean I know Kathleen is Alex's mom, and I wouldn't dare ask Alex to forget her. However, as her adoptive mother, and step-mother, I'm going to be the primary maternal figure in her life from that moment on, not to diminish the influence your mom, sister, heck even Sarah, will have on her during her formative years."
"That's all true," John agreed.
"And you do know that I don't actually have to marry you to adopt her," Ellie pointed out, "I just need your permission."
"True, but wouldn't it be easier in the long run if we got married first?" He challenged her, "Less paperwork to deal with to change names on the paperwork if we do it in the other direction."
"Aside from wanting to have this all taken care of before Alex starts school in the fall, I'm not seeing any real reason why we should elope?" Ellie pointed out.
"Because you can't stand to go another day without being Dr. Eleanor Casey?" John teased.
"I'm not that impatient," She laughed.
"How about the fact you can come home full time with your family?" John offered, "Without having to fill out the access forms every three months to be allowed entry to the base?"
"Tempting…" She smirked.
"Government healthcare," He offered.
"Have you seen the benefits package that the clinic provided for Doctor Clark's staff?" She arched an eyebrow toward him.
John stepped closer to her, bringing her into his arms and dropping his head to red on hers, "Because I love you more than life itself. I don't want to have to go another day without you by my side as my partner, my friend, my love, and I hope someday, the mother of my current and future children. Please make me the happiest son of a bitch alive and marry me."
"Why didn't you just say that in the first place?" Ellie smirked at him. "I'm assuming you already made the appropriate arrangements."
"I'm a Marine and made it all the way to Eagle scout, Ma'am, I'm always prepared." John leaned down to press a kiss to her lips, "Chuck and Sarah already think we're celebrating our birthday weekend at a hotel in San Diego and are excited to watch Alex. There's a bag in the trunk, I even packed that lacy thing you like to wear."
"I think you mean the lacy thing you like to take off of me," Ellie teased him before slipping from his arms and walking back toward the restaurant where the car was parked, "Come on, Marine, we got a plane to catch."
She heard John grunt a laugh a split moment before he joined her.
It was a good thing that they didn't need to check a bag since they barely made it to the airport and though security before the plane started boarding. John handed their tickets to the gate agent and ushered Ellie down the ramp to the aircraft, stowing their bag and taking their seats just in time to hear the cabin door shut and the flight crew start their announcements as the plane gave a jerk and was pushed back from the gate.
"John, what are we doing?" Ellie asked as they sipped their drinks, "Eloping to Vegas? This isn't us, neither of us are impulsive people."
"Getting cold feet, Doc?" He arched an eyebrow at her.
"No, and that's the weird thing," Ellie shook her head, "I mean, this whole thing should feel wrong, but it doesn't. I don't know why, though."
John grunted his agreement, "Maybe because all we're doing is a civil ceremony before a JP to get the legal part of getting married out of the way."
"But shouldn't that make it feel even more real?" Ellie asked, "This is the binding part of the whole thing, the wedding is just a party."
John shrugged and sipped his drink, "If you want to call it off, we can just enjoy a fun night in Vegas, no hard feelings."
Ellie considered his words for a moment, then shook her head, "No, we're doing this. You know you can't get rid of me after this, right?"
"Don't ever plan or want to," John assured her, reaching out to wrap her small hand in his. "You're it for me, Ellie Faye."
"I don't have anything to wear," Ellie looked at him wide eyed about halfway through the flight.
"Our appointment isn't until later tonight." John pointed out, "I figure we will go check into our room, go apply for or license, then we have a few hours for you to find something, get all pritified and what-not, and get to the JP's office. What do you think?"
"I think that if we're able to pull this off in the limited time frame you've allotted for us, it'll be a miracle," She snorted.
Ellie had never been to Las Vegas before and was amazed at how even the airport had groups of slot machines throughout the various terminals and concourses. She was so distracted, she barely felt John guiding her through the building and out to the taxi stand where they caught their ride to the hotel. After checking in, John handed their bag over to the bellhop to deposit in their room while they saw to the main reason for their visit. Due to John's masterful planning, they weren't far from the county clerk's office where they were able to apply for their marriage license. Before Ellie knew it, the clerk was stamping the license and folding it before slipping it into an envelope which was then handed to John, who put it in his breast pocket for safe keeping.
After getting directions from the clerk, John guided Ellie to an area that boasted a mix of boutiques which held a variety of options from haute couture to vintage and consignment boutiques. He handed her his credit card and told her to go to town.
"You realize how dangerous of a suggestion that is, don't you John?" Ellie teased him.
"Figure you didn't bankrupt me when you took the kid school shopping, you ain't likely to do it now," He shrugged. He gave her the address of the JP's office and with one last kiss promised to meet her there.
Much to her surprise, it didn't take as long as she'd originally thought to find a winner at one of the consignment boutiques. A simple sheath dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a skirt that fell to just above her knees. She'd given some thought to the birdcage veil she'd seen at one of the vintage shops but decided against it. Instead, she got a bracelet with topaz accents the same shade as John's eyes. Noting the time, she paid for her purchases and ducked back into the changing room to don the dress as well as the pumps she'd found. One of the ladies suggested a salon the next block over who could quickly style her hair and make up for a reasonable price, so long as she didn't want something too fancy. Ellie thanked them and headed over to the salon.
True to what was promised, the beauticians got to work, giving Ellie a subtle yet elegant look with smoky eyes, dark red lipstick, and curling her long brown hair until it fell in subtle waves down her back and over her shoulders. They pulled one side up, securing it back with a pearl hair comb. Ellie thanked them for their work, tipping them well, before heading to the JP's office to meet John.
Entering the building, she got directions to the office and quickly made her way down the hall. She checked the number twice before knocking and hearing an older man's voice calling for her to enter. John was already there and turned when she entered, his eyes practically bugged out upon seeing her. Ellie couldn't help but smile at his reaction and make her way to his side, gently closing his mouth with the tip of her finger.
"You're gonna catch flies with that thing," She gently admonished, earning a grunted chuckle from her fiancé.
"You're a lucky man, Mister Casey," The JP smiled.
"Don't I know it," John grunted back before refocusing on his fiancée. "You are breathtaking, Ellie."
"You don't look half bad, yourself," She smiled at him, taking in the suit he wore, clearly bespoke, meaning he'd likely been to the tailor before and had the suit waiting for him to collect it when he was ready to collect it.
"Let's get started, shall we?" The JP asked, guiding them over to the area he usually did these ceremonies. Knowing that they planned to have a full wedding in a few months' time, he led the couple in the standard vows before guiding them through exchanging their rings. John had already shifted his Marine Corps ring to his right hand to free up his left for his wedding ring. He would have two wedding bands at the suggestion of Ellie and was echoed by some of his fellow service members. His 'off duty' ring was black tungsten with a red band around the center of the band, the one he'd wear while on duty was black silicone, which would be easier to cut off or remove if he ever found himself in an emergency situation. Ellie's white gold band had small stones inset into the band to sit flush with its profile so that she could continue wearing it, even when she had to wear gloves. The rings fit their owners perfectly and soon the JP was announcing that they were now man and wife. All that was left was to sign the paperwork and get to the hotel.
They were halfway down the hall to their room when John picked up Ellie, causing her to let out a startled squeal as he carried her down the hallway.
"John, what are you doing?" Ellie demanded through her laughter.
"I'm aimin' to carry my bride across the threshold," John stated, "Now quit squirming, I don't want to drop you on the pretty little behind of yours. You got your key?"
"Yep," Ellie retrieved it from her purse and tapped it against the lock when they approached the door.
As promised, John carried her across the threshold of their room before setting his wife back on her two feet, wrapping his arms around her waist. "So, how do you like being married, so far Doctor Casey?"
"I'm liking it so far, Captain Casey," She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and lifted up on her toes as she pressed a kiss full of promise on his lips. "I can't wait to enjoy the full experience tonight." Slipping out of his arms and heading toward the suite's bedroom, she held up a hand as he tried to follow her, "You wait right there while I get ready."
John nodded and watched her retreat through the bedroom door, closing it behind her. While he waited, he shrugged off his suit jacket, and loosened his tie before crossing over to the mini bar where an ice bucket sat with an unopened bottle of champagne. He wasn't overly fond of the carbonated wine, but it was one of Ellie's favorites, not to mention the occasion called for it. He opened the cage and quickly removed the cork before filling two glasses with the bubbly drink.
As he made his way toward the bedroom, he hoped that Ellie was ready to enjoy their night. When he was still five feet away, the door swung open and Ellie appeared, leaned against the door frame, a gauzy white robe that fell to her knees covered a lacy white negligee he'd never seen before with an impossibly high slit up her left thigh. There must have been some kind of glitter stuff in whatever Ellie had put on because John only had one response.
"Shiney," He gasped.
"Hey there, Marine," She gave him a sultry look as she pushed off the door frame and sauntered over to him in impossibly high heels that still did barely anything in raising his wife's height close to his. "Like what you see?"
John nodded dumbly as he handed Ellie her glass.
"You look damn good yourself," She practically purred, her free hand running up his arm and over his chest, pulling loose his tie and sliding it from around his neck.
"God, I love you," John practically groaned at the feather light touches of her hand as she ran it over his chest and down the buttons, playing with a few of the ones towards the top. "Thank you for marrying me."
"You're welcome," She gave him a knee weakening smile, "And I love you too."
John's senses finally returned to him, and he took Ellie's left hand in his own. "I'll save the long-winded stuff for our wedding, as I don't think either of us can fathom a long-winded toast. Ellie, you are the most remarkable woman I know, how I convinced you to say 'yes' to me not just once, but twice is beyond me. I am so thankful that you are now my wife."
"John," Ellie sighed, wiping a tear from her eye, "You are the best man I have ever met, and my brother set that bar pretty high to start with."
"You raised him to that standard," John pointed out.
Ellie gave him a smile that made it clear how she felt about the fact that he saw that without her having to say it outright. "I feel so blessed to be your wife and look forward to what life might bring us. Here's to us."
"To us," John agreed and taped his glass against hers in a toast. "Now, what's next, is it the dancin'? Or do we cut the cake?"
Ellie laughed at his act and shook her head. "I have something a little better in mind than dancing, and a whole lot sweeter than cake." She grabbed the front of his shirt and practically dragged her more than willing new husband into the bedroom, but not before he stopped and grabbed the bottle of champagne out of the ice bucket.
A moment later, Ellie slid her arms from her robe and let it drop to the floor, causing John's jaw to drop at the sight of the barely there lace negligee. It was sheer luck that he didn't also drop the champagne bottle, instead setting it on a nearby nightstand before taking his wife in his arms, intent on exploring and teasing every little piece of her covered by the scrap of fabric she called lingerie.
Ellie returned the favor until he was clad in nothing but what God blessed him with and dragged him to their bed to take their time consummating their marriage… many times over.