Link: Every Day Is Your Last Title Page and Description

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Jack not only saw to it Jenny and I had time alone that night, he saw to it we had time the next day before the bridal shower and that night after it! I think Jack was a little in love with the idea of Jenny and I being in love! More than anything though, I think Jack wanted to make sure someone would be there to take care of me, because he knew that very soon, he wouldn't be.

The day of the wedding came and everyone was frantic... except Heather. I worked overtime doing everyone's hair, then getting myself put together, but Heather never faltered or got nervous. That woman's a rock! Unshakable! We girls piled in Heather's limo afterwards, and Gregory drove us to the church in good time.

Later, Jack told me that Rich begged off his own Bachelor Party. Jack still threw it, but Rich didn't go, so neither did Jack! It ended up they spent the evening at a bar around the corner, nursing at beers and reminiscing, while Rich's guests partied hard a block away. It must have been a beauty of a party though, because Jack wouldn't say a word to me about what happened!

So November thirtieth nineteen ninety-six, Rich finally got Heather to say 'I Do'. The wedding was nice. The reception was... well... memorable!

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Heather was the last to climb out of the car. Brooke escorted her through the front of the church and into a small room off to the side.

"All ready?" Brooke asked in a heavy exhale.

Nodding quickly, Heather squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. "Ready!"

"Alright! Just wait here and I'll be right back with Frank." Casting a quick glance and smile to Jenny, she headed out into the church where their guests were still taking their seats. It was only a few dozen for each side, the church barely a tenth full, so finding him turned out to be easier than Brooke thought it would be.

"Frank!" she yelled at a whisper. Seeing him turn and smile, he tossed her a sloppy salute before he walked over to Richard.

"She's here, son! You're on!" He regarded his boy and nodded in approval. "You look good! Now get up in your place! You too, Jack!"

Checking each other's uniforms one more time, Jack and Richard stepped up in front of the altar.

"You have the rings, right Jack?" Richard whispered.

With a reassuring half-smile, Jack patted his pocket before his face dropped. "Um... uh... um!" Frantically, he started searching his uniform pockets in a desperate attempt to locate them.

"Cut the clowning, Jack!" he whispered again. "I'm not buying it this time!"

Tapping Richard on the shoulder, he looked at his best friend with a pained expression. "I... I think I left them in the pants pocket of my civvies in the changing room! I'm serious, Rich!"

Richard blanched. "You better get them fast, Jack! Move it, Marine!"

Seeing Jack running into the rear area of the church, Brooke stopped Frank on the way to the waiting room. "Take a knee, Frank. Jack just went U-A. You wait here. I'll go tell Heather we're on hold."

A minute later, Jack returned with a smile on his face. "Not to worry, Rich! I got your back! Remember! You need me!"

"Like a hole in the head!" Richard finished for him. "You done now? Can we get on with this, please?"

Jack shot the OK sign to Frank, who waved back and headed for the waiting area. "Alright, whatever it was, it's OK now." he said, rounding the corner. Stunned into stopping, he smiled. "Oh! Rich don't deserve you, little lady!"

Heather shook her head, her veil waving as she did. "No! I don't deserve him, Frank!"

"You can knock off that Frank business, sweetie! If I'm about to walk you down the aisle, I'm Dad to you!"

"Alright... Dad! I'm ready!"

After the music began, Maya started up first. Jenny followed, smiling and blushing at Brooke as she passed her. Lastly, Erica moved in behind them, winking knowingly at Brooke. The three bridesmaids making their way up the aisle, Brooke snapped to attention and began her precession, her Dress Blues a stark contrast to the pale pink of the bridesmaids' dresses.

Lastly, Frank took Heather's arm and escorted her to his waiting son, glowing with pride at seeing him prepared for whatever challenges awaited the two.

The on-looking guests smiled as Brooke passed them with perfect precision in her cadence, her eyes cast in the thousand-yard-stare of long-engrained drill. When at last the guests turned to see Heather, her ballgown dress was trailed by a chapel-length train attached at the bustle with thousands of pearls decorating the dress in an elaborate floral pattern across the bodice.

Reaching the altar just as the music ended, the service went on in traditional fashion, flowing through the ceremony just as billions of others before it. Jack occasionally stole a smiling glance at Erica, who seemed to know when he was doing it, as she would always be looking back at him and smiling.

Brooke was a statue. Her eyes never wavered, her bearing unmovable, as though you could push her over and she would crack like a marble statue. Her perfection didn't stop Jenny from stealing glances around Erica, though. Jack caught her checking Brooke out from behind at least twice, with the faintest glimmer of desire in her eyes each time.

When the ceremony at last came to a close, the minister giving permission to kiss the bride, Richard raised her veil and placed it over and behind her.

Heather looked up at him. "Hello, Mr. Hargrave!" she said low and soft.

Bending down to kiss her, he smiled. "Hello... Mrs. Hargrave!"

When the minister introduced the couple to their guests, Jack and Brooke both gave out a shout. "Ooo Raa!" raising cheers from everyone.

After getting photos of the wedding party, they quickly made their way to the reception hall a few blocks away. Climbing into Heather's limo, Gregory congratulating them as he closed the door, Richard removed his cover and kissed Heather passionately. Making out in the back of the car almost the whole way, Heather finally made him stop to touch herself up.

Meanwhile, Jack worked furiously to get everyone in their cars. "Come on people! Hustle! Hustle! Hustle! We have ten minutes to get to the hall!" He'd made sure that Gregory was taking the scenic route to get there, but it still only gave them a few minutes margin so that their guests could both see them off at the church and greet them at the reception.

Catching sight of Brooke, he half-smiled at her. "Perfect drill, Hathaway! No gigs!"

"The day this Sergeant takes gigs from a Lance Corporal is the day I quit!" she retorted.

Leaning in close, Jack lowered his voice. "What did you do to that poor girl, Brooke! She was practically undressing you with her eyes all through the ceremony!"

"Why not?" she said nonchalantly. "She's done it before!"

"Oh! Details, Girl! You owe me details!" Jack insisted as he got in the car behind her.

The happy couple reached their reception and stepped out, surprised by the cheers and whistles from the same people they'd just left. Jack stood front and center of the crowd and pointed his finger at Richard. "Gotcha!"

Shaking his head, Richard escorted Heather up to Jack. "Someday, Jack. I don't know when, I don't know how, but someday, I'm gonna see you coming, and then..." He started to move toward him.

Jack held up his hands defensively. "Hey! You still need me, Rich! I still got a Best Man speech to give and I still have stuff even worse than 'Cindi with an i' up my sleeve!"

Stopping mid-move, Richard only tipped his cover. "Lead on, Jack! The hero of this story wants to celebrate!"

The party went through the usual motions; cake cutting, face smearing, and first dance to 'Love of a Lifetime'. When all the formalities were over with but one, Jack picked up the microphone.

"Hello? This thing on? OK! Good evening, ladies... gentlemen... Rich!" He paused a moment while people snickered. "Best Man speeches are supposed to be memorable, and I'm sure ol' buddy boy Rich over there is just waiting for me to embarrass the living heck out of him! He knows I can do it, too! I know all his secrets! I could tell you about the day we met! Funny story! Rich sees this jerk about to pummel me... and he stops him. I make a total fool of myself in front of the entire lunchroom... and he helps clean up the mess. I get my heart broken... he's there to help me pick up the pieces. I get humiliated in front of the entire school... he gets even for me. I get hurt... well... Frank helped me there. Sorry, Rich!"

A small laugh went around the room before he continued. "I don't get a date to Senior Prom, can't afford tickets, or a tux, or anything... he gets me the best date I could imagine." Looking at Richard, Jack subtly nodded. "I need physical therapy to pass the Marine Corp physical... he coaches me through it. I find this woman who's absolutely amazing... " he paused to glance at Brooke, "... he shows me what a great friend she can be. I get slapped by my date..." he looked at Heather with a grin, "... and he goes and tries to talk her into giving me a second chance. My mother goes into a coma... he calls to give me the news himself. I get passed up for promotion... he takes me out to celebrate not having to become an NCO!"

After a pause to take a drink, he continued his speech to his rapt audience. "I never get invited to parties... he refuses to go unless I can come. I fall in love with his sister... he gives me his blessing. Yep! I know a whole lot about my buddy Rich! I could tell you stories that would leave you all in stitches for hours... but I wanted only one thing to come out of this speech. I wanted everyone here to know what a privilege it is to know, and be the friend of, Richard Hargrave."

Putting down the mic, Jack walked in front of Richard's seat at the head table. Pulling his heels together crisply, he snapped to attention. Slowly raising his arm, he saluted his best friend and held it. Getting up, Richard returned the salute, and the two looked at each other, both sharing a lifetime of comradery in a single breath. Returning to attention, Jack turned sharply and marched from the room before anyone noticed the wetness in his eyes.

Washing his hands in the restroom after composing himself, he saw Richard stroll in slowly. "You did it again, Jack. Caught me completely by surprise! How do you do it! Here I figure, 'OK, Jack's my Best Man, Best Man speech, Jack the always on comedian...' I knew what I was asking for! So I'm ready for either a ten minute vaudeville routine, or every funny story about me you can think of to embarrass me! And what do you do?"

"Look Rich," Jack interrupted. "I... I just wanted you to know..." Looking up at him, he chuckled once before looking at the floor again and started to dry his hands. "I just wanted you to know that I knew all those times you stood up for me, that... that I... uh... I knew, Rich... and I loved you for it every time. Because you didn't have to! You would have had it easier if you'd have just let Ox beat the tar out of me and just minded your own business! You didn't have to, but you did anyway, and you keep doing it! And I know, OK?"

"Jack?"

"Yeah? What is it, Rich?"

"Your fly's open."

"Shit!" he looked down, but saw nothing wrong and looked up deadpan.

"Gotcha!" Richard shouted as he ran from the restroom.

A second later Jack took off after him. "Rich! You son of a..." Tearing out of the room, he was intercepted by Erica as she threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, Jack!" she cried. "That was... it was beautiful!"

Holding her while she cried, he saw Brooke leaning against the opposite wall next to the ladies room door. "Wow, Jack. That was..." Brooke sighed. "It was wonderful, Jack. Nothing could have been better!"

Smiling back at her, he nodded. "Thanks, Brooke!"

Kicking herself off the wall, she slowly walked toward him. "Of course, you know you just caused every woman in that room to rush off to the Head to fix their make-up, right?"

"Everyone but you, Brooke!"

"Bah!" she waved a hand at him dismissively. "I'm no woman, Jack! You know that! Corps through and through! Ooo Raa!"

"You fixed your make-up out here in the hall, didn't you?" Jack guessed.

"Head was too busy!" she smirked at him.

After everyone returned to the reception hall, Richard picked up the mic.

"Um... I know this isn't traditional, but I... uh... I wanted to say a few words about Jack's speech." He paused as he took a drink. "I... uh... I just want to let you all know... he's absolutely right!" Laughter filled the room as Richard smiled. "I have been looking out for Jack since he was thirteen! And I'm such a wonderful guy for doing it!" Laughter rolled through the room once more. "Everyone! Give me a round of applause!" Cheers and applause mixed with laughter as Jack was left agape. "Alright, everyone! Time to have fun!"

Music filled the room as he returned to his seat between Jack and Heather while 'Everybody Have Fun Tonight' played and people started to dance.

"Rich!" Jack looked at him with a shocked expression. "You stole my act!"

"Yeah, yeah! Well, you let us all down, Jack! The King of Comedy gives a serious Best Man speech? It had to be done, Jack!"

"You're a straight man, Rich! You can't do comedy on your own!"

"Lucky for me I followed you!" Richard shot back as he downed his drink.

Heather took his glass from his hand and turned it upside down. "Alright funny-man! You're cut off! I already told you at Jack and Erica's wedding that I am not pouring you into bed again!"

"Yes, dear!" he replied.

"Same goes for you, Jack!" Erica warned him. "I want you sober tonight!"

With the dance floor crowded as the first sounds of 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' filled the room, Heather stood up and grabbed Brooke's hand, nearly jerking her off balance. "Come on, girl! You're coming with me!" Reaching the dance floor, they were joined by Erica, Jenny, and Maya as the five of them danced together, while Jack and Richard laughed at Brooke trying to dance to eighties pop in her Dress Blues. More than once the Marine found Jenny dancing very close to her, almost as if they were dancing just with each other, while the others were off on their own.

Just as Brooke and Jenny were smiling and dancing close again, the song faded to 'True' and what had a moment earlier been innocent fun became a dangerous desire to slow dance together in public.

"Jenny..." Brooke began, when suddenly her face became serious. "You'll have to excuse me." Brooke's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as she quickly left the dance floor and returned to the head table, taking Erica's seat next to Jack for a moment.

Jack leaned over. "Sorry, Brooke. That was rough! That DJ's a bitch!"

Drinking a glass of water quickly, she nodded. "Almost makes me wish I'd just worn the stupid dress! No one would have cared!"

"So what did you two do last night?" Jack asked. "Seriously! No jokes, no crude comments, just a friendly ear."

Looking down at her lap, she shrugged. "We... uh... things got pretty involved and... um... I might have used the word 'love'."

"You might have?" Jack asked incredulously. "Brooke, did you tell Jenny you loved her? After only knowing her for two days?" Seeing her silently nod, he whistled low. "What are you gonna do when your Leave is up?"

"Go back to The Bricks! What else can I do?" she answered, looking across the room at Jenny. "Jack? Tell me not to do what I'm thinking!"

"That depends on what you're thinking." he replied cautiously. Slowly his eyes widened. Keeping his voice low he broke into a whisper. "Brooke! Don't even think it! You get caught and you'll be dishonorably discharged! You think the Old Man won't see pictures of Rich's wedding day online?"

"Jack!" she growled through gritted teeth. Lowering her voice once more, she whined, "Jack, I just want to go out on that floor and dance with the woman I love!" Catching herself saying it out loud again made her eyes bulge.

Shaking his head, he looked at her sternly. "I know, and I'm happy for you that you found someone to love! I wish you could too, but that dance would probably cost you your job and make getting another one almost impossible! How many people that you know will hire a DD Marine?"

Sighing, she nodded in defeat. "I know, Jack. It's just..." She almost felt like crying.

Hugging her shoulders with one arm, he tried to console her. "I know, I know. It's hard, it's not fair, and this time I can't cover for you, but you knew that going in." He looked at her with a hopeful smile. "Hey! You have less than a year left! How long have you been looking for someone like Jenny? What, since you were eight?"

"Seven." she answered with a slight smile of her own.

"So? You've waited eighteen years? What's one more?" Shaking her slightly with his arm, his voice turned mirthful. "Huh? Right? You know I'm right!"

Brooke couldn't help but laugh at his clowning as she surreptitiously dabbed a tissue at the corner of her eyes. "You're right, Jack. Ten months! I can do that!" She paused and looked at her lap again. "But will Jenny?"

He sighed and looked across the room at Jenny talking with Heather and his wife. "Well, what happened when you told her? How did she react?"

She smiled and chuckled once. "She... um... she was stunned, I guess. I mean, we... we haven't done anything yet besides kiss and make out a little. She's... she's never been with a woman before. I think she's never even considered it before!" She shook her head and looked off into the distance. "Lucky me, right? Find the right girl and she's straighter than you!"

"I seriously doubt that, Brooke. I've never made out with Rich before!" His humor worked, lifting her spirits and making her laugh. Looking at her and then across the room at Jenny, he turned serious. "Listen, why don't you go talk to her? Tell her what you feel and what you want and what you need to do to get it. I'll bet you anything, if she's half the woman you think she is, she'll wait for you."

Seeing Jenny across the room glancing at her made her blush again. "You think so? Honestly?"

"Brooke, I love you. You're like the sister I never had. I... I just want you to be happy, and I know if you threw it all away for her, you'd hate yourself for it, and sooner or later you'd hate her for it, too. So, go! Talk!"

Standing up, she looked at him. "You're right. When did you get so wise?"

"Life's a bitch of a teacher, but I learned. Good luck!" he said as she started around the table.

Jenny was beyond frustrated as she talked with Heather and Erica. "I... I just don't get it! She's hot and cold! Fine one second, then gone the next! I... I've never done this before! Am I doing something wrong?"

Shaking her head, Heather smiled. "Jenny, I don't know exactly what's going on between you two, but I know one thing. If you were doing something Brooke didn't like, you'd know it! She can be extremely... blunt!"

"Like a brick!" Erica added. Shyly biting her lip, she looked at Jenny. "Um... so what is going on with you two? I mean, I know you like each other, and that's great, but... um... how far have things gotten?"

Blushing heavily, Jenny wanted to just run and hide. "I... I kissed her."

Heather looked at her incredulously. "That's all? I sincerely doubt that's all that's going on, here!"

Rolling her eyes, Jenny put her hand on her hip. "What! You want details? Fine! We made out, OK!?" Her anger at Heather pressing the point ebbed as she retreated back into herself once more. "I mean... that is we... Oh God, Heather! I'm just messed up! I'm a confused broken mess and she knows it! No wonder she keeps backing off! She ought to just run!"

Erica stole a glance across the room at her husband talking with Brooke, who seemed to be on the edge of tears. "Jenny? Can I ask you something?" Seeing the young woman nod, she tried to be delicate. "How do you feel about her?"

Looking across the room at Brooke just as she was looking back sent a shiver up her spine, making her look away. "I... uh... I really like her! More than anyone I've ever known! I like her so much it scares me sometimes! I wasn't ever ready for something like this! I've never even looked at another woman the way I look at her! She makes me feel... special... wanted..." She sighed and closed her eyes, finishing softly. "...loved!"

The silence between the three was palpable as Erica and Heather looked at one another in surprise. Finally Jenny shook her head as if to clear it. "No! It just... it wouldn't work! I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm not gay! I like looking at guys! I don't think I could ever..." She looked at the floor embarrassedly before looking over at Brooke once more. "Oh, God! But when I look at her, I just want to..."

"Jenny?" Heather asked sweetly. "Are you in love with her? Because I have to be honest, everything you're saying and doing is telling me that you are!"

Looking at her with eyes wide, Jenny blurted out, "She... um... she told me! I mean, last night we had dinner after the shower... the wedding shower I mean!" Flustered that she'd implied Brooke and she had showered together last night, she took a breath and tried again. "Last night, we had dinner after the wedding shower. We were talking, and laughing, and... well... she just... blurted it out!"

Erica shook her head in confusion. "Blurted what out!"

"She said, 'I love you!' At first it was just like one of those things you say? Like 'I love pasta' or 'I love laughing', but then, after she said it, she looked at me funny and... and said it seriously! Like she really meant it!"

Heather blinked. "Well? What did you say?"

"Not much. We were kind of... busy... after that." Jenny admitted shyly.

"So after that did you tell her you loved her, too?" Heather asked impatiently.

"No!" Jenny shot back defensively. "I... I mean... I don't know if I do! How do you know if you're in love with another woman?"

"It's no different than if you were in love with a man, Jenny." Heather stated as fact. "You just know."

Erica smiled subtly as she got an idea. "Jenny? Close your eyes and picture yourself with Brooke." Seeing Jenny's eyes close, she pressed forward. "Now she's gone! How do you feel?"

Her eyes shooting open, Jenny almost started to cry. "Oh, God! I am in love with her! I'm in love with a woman! I'm in love with Brooke! A woman I've only known for two days!" She looked at Heather and Erica as if searching for help. "What do I do?"

Seeing Brooke stand and start walking their way, Heather smiled. "Do? You enjoy it, Jenny!" Quickly, she got out the compact from Jenny's purse and dabbed a tissue under the younger girl's damp eyes. Looking her over, she nodded. "Touch up a little."

Confused, she looked in the tiny mirror and hid the redness under her eyes. Looking up, she saw Brooke approaching. "Oh my God! Do I look alright? What should I do?"

Heather laughed lightly. "You look fine, Jenny! You should just talk to her."

Brooke stepped up to the three women and looked at her friends. "Heather? Erica? Would you two excuse us for a bit?"

The bride and bridesmaid nodded and, as soon as Heather was in back of Brooke, turned and mouthed to Jenny, "Tell her!"

Seeing an empty table, Brooke smiled. "Why don't we sit and talk a bit?"

Melting at her smile, Jenny returned it and nodded. "OK!"

Sitting together, she leaned on the table, looked at Jenny, and smiled again dreamily before clearing her throat and sitting up once more. "I... um... I... I wanted to apologize for earlier. I feel I should explain."

"Oh! You don't have to explain!" Jenny offered enthusiastically. Suddenly looking embarrassed, she looked away. "I... I must have done something that made you... uncomfortable."

"Actually, no." Brooke corrected her. "You did something that made me feel like doing something I shouldn't. Not yet anyway." She sighed as she tried to explain. "I... I have obligations. Part of that is respecting this uniform and all it represents. I wanted to hold you in my arms and dance with you so much, I very nearly did. Doing it would have been a violation of my standing orders though, something I just can't overlook. I'm... I'm sorry."

Jenny looked up at her with eyes full of compassion. "No! You don't need to be sorry. I'm the one that needs to apologize. I... I'm immensely proud of you and how committed you are! I just got caught up in the fun of dancing with you, I shouldn't have put you into the position of having to choose between me and... and what makes me love you."

Brooke suddenly looked at Jenny with eyes wide. "You... you love me?"

"Yeah. I think I do!" Jenny smiled shyly.

Right then, Brooke wanted nothing more than to pull Jenny to her and kiss her passionately. Instead, she just smiled. "You know I love you too, right?"

Nodding, Jenny smiled wide. "Yes! I love hearing it, though!"

"OK, so here's the deal. I have ten months left. As soon as I'm Outside and my commitments are fulfilled, I... I want to move here, to live with you."

The import of what she was saying struck Jenny like a lead weight. "You... you want to live with me? But... don't you have family in New Mexico?"

"Oklahoma!" Brooke laughed. "But I don't care! My father will probably disown me and my mother will try to 'fix' me by guilting me, saying that it's all her fault, but I don't care about any of that! All I want is to do my duty as I swore to do, then spend the rest of my life loving you!"

Jenny was overwhelmed. "You... you'd do that? Give up your family and everything you've ever known, for... for me?"

Shrugging absently, Brooke smiled. "I have to! My heart won't let me do anything less!" Looking at her seriously, she continued. "It means being away from you for most of the next year, though. I'm willing to wait. I've waited eighteen years to find someone as wonderful as you. One more won't kill me, but... but I guess I need to know. Will you?"

"I... I don't know." Jenny said honestly. "I mean, I want to! I think I would do almost anything for you, Brooke! But... a year without you?" She looked away ashamedly. "I... I don't know if I could stand it!"

Brooke felt her heart sink. "Well, I could try and come see you. I... I don't know where I'll be stationed soon though, so I don't know how easy that will be. But I can try! If... if you're willing."

Looking in Brooke's eyes, Jenny saw the longing and saw how easily she could hurt this strong woman. Suddenly overwhelmed with pride for her serving Marine, she nodded and smiled. "I'll wait. I... I love you, Brooke!" Laughing, she looked away. "I guess now I know how military wives feel!"

"Woah!" Brooke shouted quietly. "Are you asking..."

"Huh?" Suddenly her eyes shot open. "Oh! I... um... I didn't mean... that is, what I meant was..."

Brooke laughed and took Jenny's hand discretely. "I know what you meant! I just thought I'd have a little fun with you!" She smiled and looked deeply into Jenny's eyes. "The scary part is, I think if you were asking, I... I'd say yes!"

Enjoying the feel of Brooke's gloved hand in hers, she blushed and shied away. "I don't think I could ever see me asking, but I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel so strongly about you it scares me, too! If you asked me, I... I don't think I could say no!"

It was Brooke's turn to blush as she looked away. "I... I'll keep that in mind!"

Jenny smiled at her and looked at the carefully pressed jacket Brooke wore. Reaching out, she discreetly ran a finger along one of the seams. "I love what this means to you." she commented idly. "And I love that you respect it so much, I... I can't help loving it, too. It's a part of what makes you the person I love, and I know it always will be."

She looked up at Brooke. "Thank you for not putting what we want ahead of the things that make me love you!" She stood up and backed away. "I think we should go back to the head table. I... I don't want anyone to think you're doing something you shouldn't."

"Will I still see you tomorrow?" Brooke asked, half fearing the answer.

"You better believe it!" she smiled. "But, tomorrow? Leave the uniform at home!"