What a healthy marriage looks like

Fly Love

Mick's parents dropped them off at the airport at 02:14 and they were saying their goodbyes. Dorthy crushed them both in a hug saying, "I'm gonna miss you! Both of you!" Mick laughed, "It'll only be for a couple months.", "I know, but still." She released them, pressing kisses on both him and Caroline before finally stepping back, tears in her eyes. Johnathan gave both of them a hug too, "Have fun plannin'. We'll see you for the wedding.", "See ya." Mick said and Caroline mused, "It's been nice to meet you both.", "You too, dear." Dorthy sniffed and Johnathan put an arm around her. His parents waved goodbye as Mick and Caroline picked up their bags and walked away. Mick wiped his eyes and Caroline asked, "Are you okay?" He nodded, "Yeah. It's just hard to say goodbye, sometimes.", "Sometimes? You mean, all the time." She bumped him with a shoulder and he smiled at her, "Yeah. Something like that." He bumped her, and then opened the door for her, as they walked into the Brisbane international airport. After they dropped their bags off and went through customs, they went to a payphone and made a call. The other line rang, then picked up, "Dell Conagher.", "Hey Dell, it's Mick.", "Oh, hey Mick. Where have y'all been?", "We went to visit my parents. Is there any chance that you could pick us up at the airport?", "I can. Just need a where and a when.", "We should be gettin' to Albuquerque international at around O' five hundred- ish.", "Ish?", "I'd bet on closer to five thirty or six.", "Alright. I'll be there... Did Miss Pauling's letter get to you?", "Yeah, it did. That's why we're comin' home.", "To re-sign the papers?", "To start plannin'.", "Plannin'? Plannin' for what?", "We'll tell you tomorrow. Thanks Dell.", "Alright... Fly safe." Mick put back the receiver and Caroline looked at him. He smiled, "What?", "You could have just told him.", "Yeah, but a little suspense will do him good.", "A little anticipation?", "Exactly- and besides, I give it a fifty/ fifty shot he figures it out for himself." She shrugged and they moved over to their terminal, waiting for their flight. Eighteen-ish hours, two connecting flights, and some horrible jet-lag later, they arrived safely at Albuquerque international airport at 05:44 the previous day. Well, the previous day to them. They got off the airplane with the other passengers, picked up their bags and met Dell Conahger and Miss Pauling at the gate. "Mornin'!" Dell said and took Caroline's bag. "Good morning." She yawned as Mick pointed, "Miss Pauling? What are you doin' here-", "Please let me plan your wedding." Mick and Caroline both blinked at her and Dell shook his head, "You're delivery, woman." Pauling ignored him and begged, "Please, I'm so bored. I haven't had this little to do since the New Mexico department of labor forced me to go on vacation- and even then I had work to fall back on, but now- Please, I need something to do- something!" Caroline looked at Mick, who shrugged, then she shrugged too, "I mean, if you really want to-", "Great, because I've already started. How do you feel about fireworks?", "Uh...", "Based on your reaction, I'd say that's a no." She pulled out a little notepad and scratched something out, "That's okay, I was on the fence about it anyway." They started walking and while Pauling started talking plans at Caroline, Mick asked Dell, "Where have all the guys gone? You'd think they'd wanna be groomsmen?" Dell scratched his face, "I'm not entirely sure. I know Scout went home, Demo went home, Soilder- went home, I think? Heavy went home, and of course Medic is with him, Pyro is back at the base, and Spy is- wherever.", "The base is still open?", "Until the facilities get shut off, yeah.", "and what about you?" Dell shrugged, "I'm here.", "Well, would you like to be my best man?", "Shoot, and here I thought I already was." He grinned and Mick grinned back before they all got in Dell's truck. The back seat was a bit squished, but that was alright. Mick snuck an arm around Caroline's waist and she yawned again as Miss Pauling kept rattling off wedding ideas. True to form, Caroline hadn't actually slept on the flight and instead worried the whole time about 'how this was gonna work' and 'what needed to be done' and the fact that they were both still unemployed and 'should they focus on that first?'- But worrying took a lot of energy and now that she was going on her thirty sixth hour without sleep, she dozed off pretty quickly against Mick's chest. Miss Pauling was still rattling off ideas when she turned and asked, "What do you think, Caroline?" Pauling saw she was asleep and went to wake her when Mick grabbed her hand, "Don't. Let her sleep.", "But we've got a wedding to plan!", "It can wait." He growled before releasing her hand. She rolled her eyes, "Fine, what's your opinion, then?", "My opinion is that I don't have one." She narrowed her eyes at him, "You don't have an opinion on your own wedding?", "In our minds, we've already been married two and a half weeks. We're really just doin' this for friends and family. So, no.", "...So, what you're saying is I can do whatever I want?" He shrugged, "Go for it." She smiled all evil-like, before sitting back in the passenger seat, writing in her little notepad. Mick figured he might regret that later, but for now he just sat back and held Caroline as Dell drove them back to her apartment. Once they got there, Mick carefully removed himself, then picked up Caroline trying not to disturb her, however she was out like a light and didn't stir in the slightest. Dell grabbed the bags and left Miss Pauling in the truck as they walked up the stairs. Mick unlocked the door and moved inside. It was just how they left it; Bloodstain and all. He moved into the bedroom, but her bed wasn't made, so he brought her back and laid her down on the couch. Dell put down the bags and then picked up the towel on the floor saying, "You dropped this- Oh. What happened?" Mick took the towel, bringing it into the kitchen where Caroline's laundry machines were, "You remember when I got kidnapped?", "A few days ago?", "Yeah. Well, whoever got me must have got me good because I left that behind." Mick put the towel in the wash and opened the cabinets, pulling out new sheets and blankets, bringing them to the bedroom, "Thank you, by the way, for drivin' us back." He started making the bed and Dell helped, "No problem. It's the least I could do. I'm just glad y'all are doin' alright.", "Better than alright." Mick mused, throwing the blankets on, "Fantastic, really." Dell nodded, "That's good to hear... Well, I'll get outta your hair. If you need anythin' else, just call. Have a goodnight.", "Night, Dell." Dell nodded, and headed out. Once he left, Mick moved back to Caroline, still fast asleep on the couch, and picked her up, moving her to her bed. He wrapped her up in the blankets, then went back to the kitchen and grabbed the cleaning spray. He didn't know if it would work, especially because it had been there for a few days, but by God he was going to get that blood stain out of the carpet. He sprayed it thoroughly, waited a bit, then grabbed a cleaning brush and got to work. It took a few passes, but to his surprise the stain came up... Mostly. When he finished, there was still a faint outline that could be seen if you were looking for it, but the pattern of the carpet hid it pretty well. With that done, he put the cleaning stuff away, took a quick shower, then slid into bed with Caroline, pulling her into him. With the jet lag and everything else, it didn't take long until he fell asleep too.