Chapter 35



Marc had been right.

Julia said yes, and they were married a few months later.

There had not been a lot to organise since most of the wedding stuff had already been bought. Julia tweaked her old dress until it was nearly brand new and Marc wore his Navy suit.

Since neither of them were particularly religious, they had the ceremony and reception at a local stately home, much to her mother’s, a Catholic, disgust.

Marc’s father was more than willing to pay out the money since he had been waiting years to see his son married, Julia apologised profusely for getting blown up.

Marc’s parents adored Julia and she adored them, wondering why her family had to be the difficult ones.

The day went splendidly, the British weather never failed to accommodate as it rained all through the morning but the sun shined for the photographs.

The wedding was fairly small since neither Julia nor Marc knew a lot of people out of the army except for their family.

Julia’s half of the church was minimal, close family members only.

Her father had cried as he gave her away, making Julia tear up.

“He’s a good one,” Her father whispered as he kissed her cheek before he placed her hand in Marc’s, “Take care of her.”

Marc smiled, “I will, although I think she has it covered.”

Ray, Carlos and Twitch cheered in approval as they heard Marc’s comment. The registrar had to ask them to be quiet.

Julia was grinning like an idiot as Marc removed the veil and they shared a kiss that could have easily been rated an 18. Thankfully there were no children present.

The meal was splendid and Julia scoffed hers down in a hurry.

Marc raised an eyebrow in humour, his hand resting on her knee beneath the table.

“Do you know how much I had to diet to get into this dress?” Julia scoffed.

“Yeah, you were a lot skinnier before,” Marc grinned as Julia punched him in the arm.

“I can see that my services shall be required in the future,” Twitch laughed from where he was sat on the head table beside Marc.

Julia smiled, “I’ll have you on speed dial.”

Marc looked between the pair of them, “I do not like the sound of this.”

“Well,” Julia leaned in and whispered something in Marc’s ear that made him squeeze the hand on her knee, “How do you like the sound of that, husband?”

“So much so,” Marc leaned in, their lips dangerously close, “That I’m thinking we should cut this party short, wife.”

Julia wagged her eyebrows, “I like how you think.”

But they were stopped from plotting the early finish of their wedding when a figure stepped in front of their table.

It was Commander Strong.

“Sir,” Julia whispered as they got to their feet, their chairs scraping against the floor, Carlos helped Ray to his feet.

Old habits die hard.

Everybody had turned to see what had caused the four Marines to stand to attention.

“At ease,” Strong smiled and Julia thought he looked devishly handsome in his Naval suit with his decorations across his chest.

“Thank you for coming, Sir,” Marc leaned across the table and shook his hand.

“Sorry I could not arrive sooner,” Strong smiled, looking at Julia with a sparkle in his eye as he said the last part, “I was caught in a meeting.”

“Of course,” Julia nodded, slightly nerved by why he was smiling at her.

“Well, Congratulations,” Strong handed Marc a small envelope, “I must say that we were beginning to think it would never happen.”

Julia found herself looking across at her mother who she had slowly began to forgive, “Neither did we.”

Marc clasped her hand tightly.

“I was wondering,” Strong began to speak as the music changed to a slow song, “If I may have this dance?”

Julia smiled as she slipped her hand from Marc’s, “Of course.”

Gathering the fabric of her gown in her hands, Julia stepped around the table and took the Commander’s offered arm.

They stepped onto the dance floor with a few other couples but Julia barely noticed them as the Commander laid a platonic hand on her waist.

“How are you coping?” Strong asked.

“Very well,” Julia told him truthfully, “You?”

“It’s always hard to adjust,” Strong nodded, “But seeing the wife and kids help.”

Julia was left speechless for a moment; she did not know that the Commander had a wife and kids. He never wore a wedding ring or spoke about them.

“You look beautiful,” Commander Strong complimented her after the silence grew too much.

Jules laughed, “Different from seeing me in my uniform, hey?”

“Very.” Strong nodded as they swayed slowly, neither of them focusing on their dancing.

“I tried to convince my parents to let me where my uniform but there was only so much they would allow.” Julia joked.

“I have some news for you,” Strong told her.

“Sounds ominous,” Julia began to panic as their last conversation in Camp Bastion came to mind, had they rejected his proposal to reinstate her?

“The meeting I was talking about,” Strong started, staring over her shoulder at the bar, “The one I just came from was, in part, to discuss your reinstatement into the unit.”

Their dancing slowed to a near stop and Julia waited to hear her fate.

She prayed it wasn’t bad.

Strong turned back to look at her. His face was empty of emotion and Jules’s fears were growing large when a smile stretched across his lips and his face lit up, “You’ve been accepted back into the unit.”

Julia couldn’t control herself as she let out a small squeal and hugged the Commander.

After a second she remembered herself and stepped back, patting his uniform down where she had creased it, “I’m sorry. Thank you, Commander.”

“We need Marines of your calibre more now than ever,” Strong justified his actions.

A thought entered her mind as she looked across at Marc, his eyes were glued to the envelope the Commander had given him, “Me and Marc . . .” Julia turned to the Commander, “Can we still serve together or-”

Strong nodded, “The people in charge felt that the way to cause less ripples was to integrate you straight back into your old unit. Plenty of Military couples serve together in the same base, and the same unit.”

Julia didn’t think she could be any happier or else she would start to fly away, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Strong dropped his hands as the song came to an end, “Just be careful out there, and enjoy your honeymoon.”

Julia nodded, “Well, we didn’t really book a honeymoon. We only got a few days leave from the Base and- What?”

The Commander was shaking his head, telling her she was wrong, “I had a word with the Base. You’ve got two weeks off starting from today. Consider it my wedding gift to you and Marc.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Julia gasped, “You’ve done so much.”

“I like to look out for my soldiers, especially when those soldiers make me look good by capturing high-profile terrorists.” Strong clasped her hand and shook it fiercely, “Enjoy your honeymoon and I’ll see you soon.”

“Are you- Are you not staying?” Julia frowned as Strong turned to leave, a new song coming over the speakers.

Strong shook his head, “I just came to tell you the news. My wife is waiting for me. Goodbye Julia.”

“Goodbye,” Julia saluted him before she simply stood there, watching him a leave and a tinge of sadness poked at her but she was too happy to notice when Marc almost barrelled into her side.

“Whoa!” Julia caught him before he took them both to the ground.

“Have you seen this?” Marc pushed the envelope the Commander had given him into Julia’s hands.

“What is it?” Julia pulled two plane tickets out of the envelope.

“Two weeks in Hawaii!” Marc wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up off the ground, twirling her in the air.

Julia was laughing as Marc put her down, wobbling slightly as their heads began to spin.

“What did the Commander say?” Marc looked around, “Where is the Commander?”

“He had to leave,” Julia spoke as Carlos, Ray and Twitch came up behind them, “But I have news too.”

They all looked at her in suspense.

“It seems you’re going to be stuck with me a little longer,” Jules grinned, “My reinstatement has been accepted!”

Cheers went up all around until people had given them a wide berth on the dance floor, confused by their sudden outburst.

Marc was twirling her around again until she couldn’t breathe.

Once he set her back on the ground, Carlos and Twitch slapping their shoulders in congratulations, Julia could only see Marc.

They were in their own little bubble.

“I love you.” Julia told him.

Marc tightened his arms around her waist and held her tightly against him, her hands were splayed out on his chest, her fingers fiddling with the stitching of his stripes.

He was handsome.

“I love you too, Mrs Langdale.”

Julia grinned as she heard her new name, “What do you say we get out of here, Mr Langdale?”

Marc followed her train of thought and he liked where it was going. “Lead the way,” Marc took her hand and he knew, right then, he would follow her anywhere.