“I didn’t know there was a hole in my life until I met you, Kyle,” Jamie began. “The past few years have only shown me how much you belong with me, and I with you. When I look at the future, you are the only thing I see. You’ve watched my six and you’ve been by my side in every way that matters, through the good moments and the bad. We’ve gone through things that no one else will understand, but it’s only made us stronger. I wouldn’t be standing here as the man I am today if it weren’t for you. I would do anything for you, and I promise, going forward, I will always keep you safe.”
Jamie slipped the diamond edge platinum eternity wedding band onto Kyle’s finger until it came to stop in front of his engagement ring. Kyle sucked in a soft breath that only Jamie heard, his fingers tightening ever so slightly against Jamie’s hand. Jamie let him go long enough for Kyle to receive Jamie’s ring from Alexei before they were back to holding hands again, this time with Jamie’s left held in Kyle’s right.
Kyle gazed up at him with unblinking eyes, a wealth of emotion in their depths that Jamie had a feeling was splashed across his own face. Kyle held the thicker platinum wedding band to Jamie’s ring finger, his touch steady.
“Oh captain, my captain,” Kyle said, lips curving upward at the corners as he quoted a long-dead poet. “You guided me to places I never thought I could go. You kept me safe and sheltered through the worst that life threw at us. I’ve gladly followed in your footsteps because your path is the only one I want to walk. Standing by your side is the only place I want to be. You are the reason I’m still here today, and I plan on spending every moment of the rest of our lives together making you happy.”
Kyle slipped the ring onto Jamie’s finger. The weight of it was small in the grand scheme of things, but it felt like coming home.
Jamie curled his fingers over Kyle’s, refusing to let him go, blinking back the sudden tears that had sprung to his eyes at the vows given to him. He couldn’t blink them all away, though, and Kyle reached up to wipe a stray bit of moisture off his cheek.
“You have never hurt me, and you never will,” Kyle said quietly.
Kyle carried no scars from the end of the battle last spring; neither did he carry any memories of it. Jamie would always be thankful he was spared that. But that hellish moment was in the past, where it belonged. Jamie had been forgiven that sin by Kyle himself, and for that, Jamie would always be thankful.
“I love you,” Jamie said, his voice breaking on the words.
Kyle never let him go. “I love you, too.”
“And now, Jamie, do you take Kyle as your lawfully wedded husband?” Christopher said.
“I do,” Jamie said, holding on tight to Kyle.
“And do you, Kyle, take Jamie as your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” Kyle said.
“May you each have many long years of love ahead of you. It is my honor to pronounce you husband and husband. You may seal your vows with a kiss.”
Jamie leaned down to kiss his husband breathless amidst the cheering and clapping of their friends and family, his ears ringing with the noise while he held Kyle close. Jamie took a deep breath after they parted, feeling a little lightheaded, but truly happy in a way he hoped to always remember.
“We’re finally fucking married,” Kyle said with a wide smile.
Jamie laughed as they turned to face their guests as Christopher said, “May I present to you, Mr. and Mr. Callahan.”
They walked back down the aisle to still more cheering and clapping,Jupiter Hymnringing through the air on a slightly faster beat. They ducked under the arc of swords a dozen Marines held up in their honor at the end. They took the stairs back up to the West Wing Colonnade, where Kyle pulled Jamie into another kiss, one of many going forward they’d share as husbands.
3
Walk into the Unknown
Kyle lookeddown at the rings on his finger, not quite believing they were there for everyone to see. The diamonds kept catching the light, drawing his attention to them every few minutes. He knew he should stop staring at them and focus on the reception, but really, who could blame him? He’d finally married the man he loved, and this was their day. He could do whatever he wanted, and if he wanted to stare at the physical signs of marriage on his left ring finger, then he would. He’d more than earned that right.
A warm, heavy hand settled on his left thigh. Kyle looked over at where Jamie sat beside him at the wedding party table. His husband was laughing at something Liam had said, so Jamie didn’t need Kyle’s attention, he just wanted to hold on to him.
Kyle caught sight of the ring on Jamie’s finger, the platinum there simple and clean but a definite claim that no one could deny. The wedding itself was everything Kyle could’ve hoped for, between Jamie’s family’s demands and his own family’s simpler requests. He would’ve loved it no matter what because it was Jamie he was marrying.
The reception going on around them was definitely more to their tastes. Katie had outdone herself with finding a venue that guaranteed privacy for all those invited and helping to draw up a menu they both loved.
The Revolution had an outstanding view of Washington, D.C. and the National Mall across the way from the Potomac River. The interior of the private club invoked the ancient 1920s with a design that had never fully gone out of style over the centuries. The ballroom they were in easily doubled in size when the French double doors were thrown open to allow access to the large rooftop garden that lined half the long side of the high-rise building.
The early evening breeze was currently shut out as everyone enjoyed their dinner. The servers were discreet, used to catering to the wealthy, and knew how to blend into the background. Kyle’s wineglass and champagne glass were kept topped up with a smoothness he could appreciate as a former scout sniper. He wasn’t sure how much wine he’d had since the four-course dinner had started, but it wasn’t enough to get him drunk.
He’d only managed to make a small dent in the main meal simply because of everyone who kept coming up to the table to congratulate them on their marriage. Kyle picked up his fork and took a moment to eat a few more bites of his cooling steak before someone else came up to interrupt them. He settled his left hand on top of Jamie’s, enjoying the connection and warm touch it provided.
The sound of silverware tapping against glass rang in his ears from the seat directly to his right. Kyle turned his head to stare at his brother as Alexei kept tapping away at his champagne glass with a focused intent. Soon others started adding to the sound until almost everyone was ringing their glasses as more and more people called for a toast.
Alexei pushed his chair back and stood, holding up his champagne glass. As with Kyle and Jamie, everyone who’d worn a uniform for the ceremony had changed into more comfortable bespoke suits back at the White House. The switch had happened after all the formal pictures had been taken while guests enjoyed the first cocktail hour before getting shuttled to the reception site. Alexei had kept with the gray color scheme of the wedding, but the style matched Sean’s in appearance.
