Shattered

Chapter 11

Lee

Today is my wedding day, Carter and I decided that we didn't want a huge wedding and I definitely didn't want the big white dress. The men all wore their dress uniforms, even though the General and Carter had retired and I was wearing a simple white dress, it was satin and floor length, but I loved it. The General, both my brothers and Davis came in as I was placing my last hair clip in my hair. 

Grant grinned, "Tradition states that a bride should have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, so we are here to help." The General stepped forward and Jackson snorted, "He's the something old." For that, he earned a slap to the back of the head from the General. "These belonged to your Mother, I gave them to her the day you were born." His eyes glistened as he fastened a strand of delicate pink pearls around my neck. "She would have wanted you to have them and she would be so proud of you, Lee." He placed a gentle kiss to my cheek and stepped back. 

Davis stepped forward, "I got the new for you." He wiggled his eyebrows and I chuckled. He pulled a bracelet out of his pocket. It was silver and had our team insignia on it. "I had these made for all of us, the two we lost have it inlaid into their headstones." He too, seemed to be close to tears. "You made our team proud, Cap." He pressed a kiss to my other cheek and stepped back. 

Grant stepped forward, "I have something borrowed." He sniffled a bit and pulled out a pair of earrings, they had been Grandma's and given to Grant for his future bride to wear. They were silver and diamond studs that Grandpa had given her on their wedding day. "I know Meemaw said they were for my bride, but I thought maybe you could borrow them for today. We need to have a piece of her here with us. You have made me so proud to call you my baby sister, Leelee." He kissed my forehead and stepped back.

Jackson was full on crying, but grinned anyway as he stepped forward, "I have something blue." He pulled a ring from his pocket, it was silver with diamonds and sapphires, a small cluster in the center of a silver band. It was simple and beautiful. "This is a ring that Penny and Cloe designed and made. Penny said that it just seemed to fit you." He slipped the ring on my right hand a hugged me, placing a kiss on my chin. "You are the strongest, bravest, most stubborn person that I know and I am the luckiest guy to get to call you sister, Leelee."  Then he stepped back. 

The General stepped forward, "Are you ready? It's time, Soldier." I nodded and took his arm as Grant, Jackson, and Davis walked into the church. The General looked at me and smiled, "You have had a rough few years and I know you blame yourself, but you are like a phoenix, the fire didn't consume you, it made you stronger. I know you will be a great mother and wife because you were the perfect soldier, I love you, my Daughter." I felt a tear slip down my cheek, "I love you too, Dad." He cleared his throat and lead me down the aisle. Carter was standing there, looking at me with all the love I didn't deserve shining in his eyes. The ceremony moved quickly and we all headed to the hall for the reception. 

With Matt only being three months old, we decided to wait on the honeymoon. However, Jackson and Penny took him for the night. When we got home, Carter carried me straight upstairs to our room and laughed at the sight of my combat boot under my wedding dress. That night was full of passion and love. We showed each other how much we met to one another. The next morning, I was laying on Carter's chest, his arms around me, when my cell rang. It was Grant, "Leelee, get to the base hospital and fast, the General had a heart attack." I flew from the bed, on one leg and dressed quickly after attaching my prosthetic leg. By the time I was done, Carter was ready and we drove like madmen to the base. 

In the waiting room was Grant, Jackson, and The General's best friend, Ron. I ran to them, "How is he?" Jackson ran a hand through his hair, "Still in surgery. I left Matt with Penny and Cloe, I hope that is OK?" I nodded and hugged him. We needed to be strong right now. Three hours later, a somber-looking doctor pushed through the doors. "I'm sorry, we did what we could, but his heart basically exploded. He died of a massive coronary. Again, I'm very sorry." I sunk into the chair, The General was gone. Our Father was gone, our Mother was gone. I felt the tears flow down my cheeks and I looked at Grant and Jackson, they were sobbing as well. I jumped up and grabbed them into a hug and we sobbed like babies, we were all we had left. 

Penny brought Matt to out house, Grant and Jackson sat on our couch as we all tried to hammer out the details of The General's funeral. Grant had that look on his face, he wanted to say something, to tell us something but was afraid. I sighed, "Just spit it out, Grant." He jumped up and paced the living room, "I'm gay. I told the General a few days ago and he wasn't happy about it, but he said that as long as I was happy, he would be too. I have a man that I want to marry, I love him so much, but I was afraid that you would all turn away from me." 

I hopped up and slapped the back of his head, then hugged him. "Grant, I love you, you are my big brother and I would never turn away from you. You didn't turn on me after all of this." He snorted, "You act like you chose to have this happen to you, you were captured, tortured, broken, and suffered, but none of that was your fault." I grinned, "And you can't choose who you fall in love with, you dummy. Now, I want to meet my future brother in law." Jackson was grinning and nodding. "Me too, I gotta meet the guy that can put up with your shit."