Chapter Text
Kirsten took a cab to the airport. Camille and Linus both wanted to accompany her, but she wouldn’t let them. She wanted to be the first one Cameron saw, the first on he hugged, the first one he thought about, the only one he thought about. Plus, she wasn’t too keen on the idea of them seeing her cry in public.
She got out of the taxi, tipping the driver generously before getting out and walking towards gate 26A. She knew she was there when she saw numerous families and wives waiting there with signs and flowers. Was she supposed to bring flowers? Or make a sign? Shit, now Cameron was going to upset. She didn’t even think about getting him a bouquet or something. She took a deep breath and sat down in one of the hard, plastic chairs. She watched out the window, waiting for the plane to pull in. She checked her watch: 12:27PM. The plane was supposed to land at 12:30. She continued to stare.
Fifteen more minutes passed and no plane came. Families we becoming anxious and the flight directors were trying to calm the crowd. There was some delay on the runway, so the plane was doing loops overhead. That didn’t calm anyone except Kirsten. Knowing that Cameron was so close and in the same country as her eased her mind.
Another ten minutes went by until the plane pulled up. Kirsten’s heart skipped numerous beats as she stood up. Her hands were shaking. All the families and friends crowded the terminal, causing security to get involved and make a path. Kirsten stayed back against the far wall but directly across from the exit. She watched soldiers get off the plane with their duffle bags, smiling and hugging their kids and families. She began to count each one, knowing only forty people fit.
One…two…three…
Person after person came off, greeting their families.
Thirty-one…thirty-two…thirty-three…
Did Cameron make it back? Was he on this plane? Was she at the wrong gate? She bit her bottom lip hard, hands shaking.
Thirty-five…thirty-six…thirty-seven.
Number thirty-seven. He was the thirty-seventh person to come off. She let out the breath she was holding and her hands came up to her face, sobs following after.
Cameron smiled as soon as he spotted her. He walked quickly over to her and dropped his duffle halfway to her. Kirsten extended her arms and wrapped them tightly around his neck as he grabbed her back and lifted her up. She cried into his neck, struggling to breathe.
“I’m home, Kirsten. I told you I’d come back,” he whispered softly into her ear. He felt a nod against his neck along with warm, wet tears. He lowered Kirsten back down to the ground and pried her arms off his neck so he could hold her hands. “I’ve missed you so much,” he said softly, wiping her face with his thumbs.
She nodded, squeezing his hands tightly. “I missed you, too. W-when I got that phone call…” She began to cry harder, but Cameron stopped her by kissing her lips. She cupped his cheeks and pulled him in for a deeper kiss. She didn’t care that they were in public; she was desperate. She slid her tongue into his mouth, feeling the familiarity of it. Her hands tried to hold onto his hair but it was gone, so she rested them on his much firmer shoulders.
Moments passed until somebody said, “Goodkin, get a room!”
Cameron pulled away and looked at the guy. “Fuck you, Webster,” he called with a slight grin. He proceeded to kiss Kirsten even deeper, listening to the joking sound of disgust from his friend.
Kirsten, however, pulled away after the voices were gone. “Since when do you curse?” she asked.
Cameron shrugged innocently. “I-I didn’t even realize it…”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. There’s one major change she was going to have to get used to. “I-it’s okay.”
“I’ll try to stop if you want me to,” he offered.
Kirsten shrugged. “Hey, if this is who you are now, don’t worry about it.” She forced a smile. “As long as you don’t curse at our wedding.” She held up her hand and showed him the ring he gave her months ago.
He smiled widely. He looked at his watch. “The courthouse closes at five, right?” Kirsten nodded. “Let’s go.” He kissed her lips as he held her hand and walked over to grab his discarded duffle.
***
The couple arrived at the courthouse an hour later. They didn’t go back home to change; they wanted to get married. They ran up the steps and into the open lobby. Cameron walked Kirsten over to the secretary’s desk, doing all the talking for them. She had them get in line (there were two other military couples with the same idea) and watch the other ceremonies. Kirsten leaned into Cameron. “We’re actually doing this…” she whispered.
He nodded. “I know…”
“Should we call anybody to come? Like Linus or Camille?”
“Only if you want to.”
She thought for a moment. Eloping completely alone sounded so nice. But then again, having their best friends there to see their real marriage would be just as nice.
“They wouldn’t make it in time,” she decided, even though they probably would if they stopped whatever they were doing and came.
Cameron smiled and nodded. “Okay. Then it’s just you and me. It’ll be perfect.”
Kirsten rested her head on his shoulder. “It would be perfect no matter what.” She twisted the ring around her finger nervously. She then reached into her back pocket. “I brought the one I picked out for you. I wasn’t sure if we were actually going to do this or not, but I brought it just in case.”
He smiled, taking the ring to see if it would fit. “We promised that we would get married as soon as I got back. I keep my promises.” He kissed the top of her head gently. “And I have some extra promises for you once we get up there.” He handed Kirsten back the ring as she took hers off to give to him.
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“Well…I kind of spent some time writing vows while away,” he said shyly.
Kirsten looked up at him. “Cameron…” she said softly. “B-but I don’t have anything.”
“It’s okay. At our all-inclusive wedding you can add yours.”
Kirsten pecked his lips gently. “I’ll make sure they’re perfect.”
After waiting for another hour, the couple was called up. The minister stood between them. He handed them each a piece of laminated paper that had the vows for them to say. Kirsten went first:
“Cameron Goodkin, I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you…a-and care for you…as long as we both shall live. I take you, with all your faults and strengths…as I offer myself to you…with all my faults…and strengths. I will help you when you need help. I choose you as the person whom I will spend the rest of my life with.”
Between each pause was a cry. She wiped the tears away, trying to calm her breathing. She looked at Cameron, thinking about the words she just said and knowing how true they were.
Cameron squeezed her hand gently and gave her a reassuring smile. After saying the same vows, he added:
“Kirsten Clark, today, tomorrow, and for all the rest of my days, I promise to stand beside you; to dance with you in times of joy; to lift you up in times of sadness; to rejoice with you in times of health; to comfort you in times of illness. I promise to turn to you for solace, for encouragement, and for inspiration; I promise to be faithful and true to you; I promise to shower you with love and affection, for every joyous and blessed day, for the rest of our lives.”
Kirsten was a mess. If her face wasn’t soaking in tears before, it most certainly was now. Cameron reached up and wiped away the tears. They exchanged rings saying:
“Come health, happiness, and prosperity, I will stand with you; come illness, trouble, or poverty, I will stand by you. Take this ring as a sign of my love and commitment.”
The minister nodded and said the confirming words: “By the power invested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
And Cameron didn’t hesitate. He cupped Kirsten’s cheeks and pulled her in close, whispering “I love you” one last time before kissing her. It didn’t last as long as the two hoped because of the growing line of military couples. Cameron laced their hands together and walked them out to a payphone. “Maybe we should call Camille and Linus and tell them what we just did,” he said.
Kirsten smiled and nodded. “I’ll go call Camille, you call Linus.” She got some change out of her purse and handed it to Cameron before going over to the other phone to dial to Camille.
She picked up on the first ring. “Kirsten, is that you?”
Kirsten nodded. “Yeah. Is that how you greet everyone?”
“No, but I haven’t heard from you all day! You told me you would call as soon as you picked up Cameron!”
“We got a bit sidetracked…” She looked over to her new husband with a smile.
“Please tell me you didn’t do it in at the airport,” Camille said dramatically.
“Gross Camille.” Kirsten rolled her eyes. “No, we just got married.” She gripped the cord tightly.
“You what? And you didn’t tell me?!”
“Look, I’m telling you now so we can come over and celebrate. Not just celebrate us getting hitched, but also Cameron being home. So go dig into your liquor supply and put it on ice. We’ll be there in two hours.”
“Kirsten, wait! You can’t just drop this on me!”
“Relax. Cameron’s talking to Linus right now. You can call him and have him help.”
“You should plan your own damn reception! God. You do realize the rest of us know what time feels like, right? That two hours isn’t enough time?”
“Just put some wine, champagne, and beer in a cooler to chill and order some pizza or something. I’m not asking for much.”
Camille inhaled deeply. “Only because you two lovebirds deserve this. You go back to Cameron’s place and sleep together then come over here for seven. Sound good?”
“Sounds perfect. See you then.” Kirsten hung up then walked over to Cameron, wrapping her arms around his waist. She listened in on the similar conversation he was having with Linus. She took the phone from him. “Linus? It’s Kirsten. Go over to Camille’s and help her get ready. She already knows what to do. We’ll be there at seven.” She then handed the phone back to Cameron.
There were a few laughs between them as they caught up briefly before she heard the operator asking for more change. “Alright, Linus. I’ve gotta go. Only have so many minutes. We’ll talk more later. Bye,” said Cameron as he hung up the phone. He turned around in Kirsten’s arms and rested his hands on her shoulders. “So, Mrs. Goodkin, what does Camille have planned?”
“Well, Dr. Goodkin, she’s going to have some lovely pizzas and beer for us along with champagne because this is a celebration.” She smiled widely and kissed his nose. “It’s going to be wonderful. Plus we have two hours to kill, and Camille gave me a very good suggestion.”
Cameron laughed. “Let’s get going then.”