Death Of Innocence

Part 7


Age: 15 Years 7 1/2 Months


Samantha bustled busily around Jack's room, straightening and dusting. Everything had to be perfect for his homecoming. After more than two weeks in the hospital they were finally releasing him and she couldn't wait. Smoothing the covers on his bed, Samantha readied it for Jack. Although she had visited him every day, the visits were short and they lacked the privacy the pair were accustomed to. Because of Jack's illness, Samantha hadn't even been allowed to kiss him except on the cheek.

The room had taken a while to prepare because every night after bed check Samantha had crept up to Jack's room and slept in his bed. She'd taken to showering in his bathroom and had taken to bringing a change of clothes with her each night. Looking around she surveyed for any remaining dirty clothes that she might have missed. While she was certain Jack wouldn't have minded her staying in his room, she felt slightly embarrassed at the idea of him knowing she'd been sleeping in his bed.

The faint aura of Jack had clung to the pillows and had given her such delicious and wicked dreams. Samantha wondered if Jack was really serious about them getting married, the idea both thrilled and terrified her. A blush stole across her cheeks as she imagined laying in the same bed with Jack and kissing him. One afternoon when the other residents were in lessons, Samantha stumbled across the staff watching a soap opera, there was a couple in bed on the screen and they said it was their wedding night. Would she do that with Jack? Apparently a wedding night was supposed to be a really big deal and Samantha turned even redder as images from her dreams flashed in her mind.

Shaking thoughts of weddings and wedding nights away, Samantha looked at the clock anxiously. In about half an hour, Jack would arrive and the time couldn't pass fast enough. Walking to the full length mirror, Sam stood and smoothed her dress and ran her fingers through her hair. Funny before meeting Jack she didn't care how she looked and now, she worried constantly. Satisfied at last, Samantha headed downstairs to watch for Jack.

"Why don't you go watch television in the rec room like the other kids?" Janice demanded as she walked up behind Sam who stood watching for Jack. "You're a pretty girl and if you would just act like everyone else, you could be friends with the other girls. No one else cares that Albert's coming back. Trust me if you keep hanging out with freaks like that you'll never have a boyfriend or be popular."

Samantha turned her head around slowly and regarded Janice with disgust. Tartly she responded, "I already have a boyfriend and I don't want to be like everyone else."

"I mean a real boyfriend. You could be a cheerleader and date a football player."

Samantha looked at Janice as though she'd suggested she become a prostitute and marry a pimp. Looking back out the window, she replied, "Jack is all I want. He's all I need."

"Don't you get it? He isn't going to live."

"Yes he will. I know he will."

"And how did you decide that?" Janice snorted in disgust.

"Jack promised me."

"Men promise things all the time, you'll learn it doesn't mean much," Janice informed her and walked away.

"Jack will always keep his word. He loves me," Samantha murmured confidently.

As a car stopped in front of the house, Samantha's face lit up. Jack had arrived. Although she longed to run outside and throw herself in his arms, she settled for walking out the the porch. The pair decided to avoid drawing attention and comment to their romance. In the hospital, Jack had told Samantha of his plan for them to marry and he didn't want to have anything arouse the staff's suspicions that was more than the usual crushes that the residents indulged in. Watching Jack walk slowly towards the house, Samantha's breath caught in her throat, she loved him so much and was so relieved that he was back.

Jack stepped onto the porch and wrapped an arm around her waist, burying his face in her hair, he whispered, "My Samantha. How I've missed you."

Shyly Samantha smiled and lead Jack into the house. They walked up the stairs very slowly, with Jack leaning on Sam and the railing for support. On each landing, they paused for Jack to catch his breath, the worst of the bronchial infection was over, but he was still very weak. On the last landing before they ventured up to the fourth floor where Jack's rooms were, Samantha's anger at Billy multiplied as she watched Jack struggle for air. Her heart ached seeing Jack so weakened.

At night when she wasn't having naughty dreams about Jack, she was plagued with nightmares imagining him in the cold and dark gasping for air. Looking at Jack, memories of dreams and nightmares flooded her and any reservations about getting married fled. She had nearly lost Jack and all that mattered was that their lives were bound together. Her heart belonged to him and Samantha wanted to belong to Jack in every way possible and have him belong to her in every way possible.

When they reached Jack's room, Samantha waited for Jack to change into pajamas in the bathroom and then helped him into bed. His head barely hit the pillow and he fell into an exhausted sleep. Samantha watched him contentedly, Jack had come back to her and they were together again. Feeling tired herself from the stress of the last two weeks, Sam started to walk over to the small settee to grab a nap herself when Jack's eyes snapped open. Often Samantha wondered how he always knew when someone was around. Jack moved slightly and pulled the covers back in invitation. Samantha climbed into bed with him and fell asleep with his arm around her waist.

Samantha roused much later when Jack kissed her awake. After blinking awake, she smiled and stretched contentedly. Moving against him, she kissed him deeply and wrapped her arms tightly around him. His hand strayed to her breast for a moment and she boldly put a hand on his thigh.

Jack's breathing became ragged and he told her, "You'd better go to dinner and show up for bed check."

Reluctantly Sam left and did as he suggested. After dinner she'd stopped at his room on the way to bedcheck and had asked if she should come back.

"Maybe you shouldn't tonight Samantha, they might actually check on me sometime since I've been in the hospital, maybe tomorrow night."

Samantha's face fell and she left. Her crestfallen expression had nearly undone him, but Jack needed a little time alone. After two weeks of nurses checking on him at all hours and waking up next to Samantha, Jack wanted to take care of his needs before he embarrassed himself while kissing Samantha. In the hospital it hadn't been too tempting because he'd felt so sick, but now that he felt a little better; his physical desire for Samantha had returned with a vengeance. When she'd put her hand on his thigh, it took every bit of concentration Jack had not to move her hand higher and find release.

After bedcheck was finished, Samantha couldn't sleep. Did she do something wrong? Normally, Jack couldn't see enough of her and tonight he seemed to want to get rid of her. Maybe he regretted asking her to marry him or perhaps he thought she didn't really want to marry him? For half an hour, she tossed and turned, then got out of bed and slipped on her robe. Quietly she crept out of her room and headed up the stairs to Jack's room.

Pausing outside his room, she was about to knock when she heard Jack call out, "Samantha!"

Had he heard her? Maybe he was having a nightmare, he'd had some horrible nightmares in the hospital. When he was there, she would wake him up and comfort him. Any time she had asked what his nightmares were about, he'd insisted they were too horrible to tell her, that one day he would tell her about his parents, but not yet. When he called out her name a second time, Samantha quietly opened the door and slipped inside.

Samantha was going to walk over to the bed, but froze as her eyes strayed to the bed. In the semi-darkness she saw Jack. The covers were pushed to the foot of the bed and he was completely naked. His head was tilted back and his eyes were closed as his hand caressed the flesh between his thighs. As Samantha watched Jack, she knew she should leave before he caught her, but her feet remained rooted to the floor. Inside her stomach she felt the strange fluttery feeling that she got when Jack kissed her. On the bed, Jack's entire body was tensed and his muscles quivered as his hand moved purposefully. At last he climaxed, moaning Samantha's name. Unable to stop herself, Samantha gasped, betraying her presence. Jack sat bolt upright and grabbed the covers over himself.

Angrily he snapped, "What are you doing here?"

"I-"

"You what? How long have you been there?"

"Jack, I-"

Embarrassed, Jack covered his humiliation with rage and bravado. Throwing the covers back he stood up and moved towards her. Samantha turned her head away, unsure how to react.

"You were staring at me before, so have a good long look Samantha."

"Jack, please put something on. I didn't mean to-"

"Must have been really amusing for you, watching me."

Confused by her feelings and upset that she'd angered him, Samantha's eyes started to tear up. Instantly Jack grabbed a robe and wrapped his arms around her. Leading her over to the bed, he tried to soothe her.

"I just had missed you and wanted to be with you," Samantha sobbed. "I heard you say my name and thought it was one of your nightmares."

Guiltily, Jack pleaded, "Please don't cry my Samantha."

Continuing to cry, she told him, "I'd never seen a boy naked before. Earlier I'd been thinking about what our wedding night would be like and I started feeling funny watching you and I'm sorry."

His embarrassment being pushed aside by self-recrimination, Jack hushed her. "Forgive me for yelling at you, I just felt ashamed that you saw me like that and having you know that I thought those sorts of things about you."

Samantha mumbled into his chest, "If we're going to get married I would hope you think those things about me."

Jack laughed and Samantha raised her tear stained face and scowled. "Not funny."

"Wait here a moment," he told her.

Jack rushed up to the attic, despite the strain on his lungs. This was too important to wait. Moving to the far end he pried up the loose floor board and extracted the velvet box. Carrying it back to his room, Jack had to pause to catch his breath. Samantha through her tears tried to get him to lay back down, but he refused. Instead he sat her down and after a moment knelt down and looked up at her.

"I wanted to do this on your birthday, but didn't get to do it right, the hospital wasn't very romantic. Samantha, I love you and always will no matter what. Please marry me."

Nodding, she murmured, "Yes Jack. I'll marry you."

"Soon?"

"Yes."

They kissed gently to seal their engagement. Jack then pulled his pajama pants on under his robe and took the robe off and put on his pajama shirt.

"Stay with me? Please."

Samantha got into bed and allowed Jack to wrap her in his embrace. She felt badly that she had embarrassed Jack earlier, she hadn't meant to. Watching him had been one of the most erotic things she'd ever seen. Shyly she confessed, "Jack, sometimes I dream about you."

Not realizing what she meant, Jack answered, "That's nice. What sorts of dreams?"

"I dream about you kissing me and touching me. Sometimes I wake up-" Samantha trailed off.

"Samantha, it's okay, I'm not still mad. I never really was mad, I just felt embarrassed."

"You shouldn't be," she told him. Her voice lowered to a whisper, "I liked watching you. Maybe after we're married you would let me watch you."

Jack was mildly surprised at her suggestion, but happily surrendered his mouth to hers. It would be okay to do that maybe when they were married. Married to Samantha, Jack thought contentedly.

"So tell me about this plan of yours that will allow us to get married," Samantha ordered him playfully.

Happily, Jack obliged...





Part 8


Age: 15 Years 9 Months


Samantha waited eagerly for Jack in the attic. Every day when the mail would arrive he would run down and see if the envelope they were waiting for would arrive. Jack had sent photos and information to a man who used to construct fake ID's for the FBI. Jack had remembered seeing the man's name in a report on his Father's desk once and had called the housekeeper pretending to be his Father to get the man's number. In exchange for a large sum of money, the former FBI agent would make full sets of ID's for Jack and Samantha that would hold up under the closest scrutiny. Once the ID's arrived, they could put the rest of Jack's plan into motion and get married.

Jack entered the attic and Samantha looked at him expectantly, "Well?"

"How about a kiss?" Jack teased and walked over to her.

"Jack!" she protested.

"Yes, Mrs. Newquay?"

"Mrs.-" Samantha trailed off. Throwing her arms around Jack she began kissing him over and over. Then she demanded, "Let me see."

Holding out the envelope, Jack watched in amusement as Samantha tore into it. Inside lying between sheets of paper were two driver's licenses. Jack's listed his age as 18 and Samantha's listed her age as 17. All the information was exact except for their birthdates which had been adjusted to allow them to get a marriage license. The pages that were wrapped around the ID's were brilliantly forged court documents declaring each of them were emancipated minors as of two years ago.

"Why did you get these?"

"I wanted to make certain that we were completely covered no matter what. It will help that I have credit cards thanks to my oh so loving parents."

"Jack, why do you hate your parents?"

Kissing her gently, Jack told her, "Someday I'll tell you. Today is a happy day and I don't intend to let anything ruin it. Gesturing at the two bridal magazines he'd smuggled into the orphanage he asked, "Find a dress you like?"

Sitting down on the pile of cushions under the large stained glass window, she hesitated, "Not yet."

Sitting down beside her, Jack looked into her eyes and sighed, "Samantha, I hate it when you lie to me. I've told you before, there's nothing you can't tell me. Is it the money?"

"Yes. I can't let you spend a bunch of money on a dress I'm going to wear one time."

Patiently, Jack informed her, "You're marrying a very wealthy man. Or rather I will be when I get my trustfund when I turn 21. And I'll also be inheriting my father's money. I haven't had anything to spend my allowance on in years, please Samantha, let me buy you a dress."

"Ok, yes there's one I like."

"Is the store across town listed in the ad?" When Samantha nodded, he suggested, "Let's go tomorrow and buy it. Everything is in place, I have a phone card, I'll call and make reservations for us in Memphis."

"Memphis?"

"I want to take us somewhere that we won't attract attention and where my last name isn't known. Marriage licenses are always published in the newspaper and I don't want either of our families finding out until we're ready. Agreed?"

"Definitely," Samantha nodded. Her father would be furious if he found out, although more because it disturbed his research than that he cared about her. Part of her wished Angel could be there, but her friend simply wouldn't understand. Not only did Angel change crushes every other day, but Samantha doubted her friend would understand Jack. As much as she adored Jack, she feared Angel wouldn't. Not that her friend's disapproval would stop her. Marrying Jack and spending her life with him was all that mattered.

The next day, the city of Cincinnati's premier bridal shop had their strangest pair of shoppers ever. When the young pair walked in, the staff had been ready to shoo them out, every now and then teenagers would wander in and try to cause trouble. To their shock, Jack demanded to see the manager. Although they were hesitant, Jack's suit and demeanor prompted them to fetch her.

"May I help you?" a middle aged woman with too much rouge wearing a tag that proclaimed her title of manager, inquired haughtily.

Jack reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a thick bundle of hundred dollar bills and replied, "My fiancé would like to purchase a dress. I trust there will be no further problems and that she will be treated appropriately. Money is no object."

The woman took another look at Jack, he was wearing suit that was obviously custom tailored and his voice suggested he was accustomed to having his own way. In his hand was a bundle of ten thousand dollars and inside his jacket she caught a flash of more bundles of money. Smiling widely, she declared, "Of course. Do you have anything in mind my dear?"

Samantha held out the bridal magazine and the staff instantly fell all over themselves to attend her. They offered the couple coffee, cappuccino and even offered to go out and fetch anything that might tempt them as they shopped. Although Jack was accustomed to people fawning over him for financial reasons, Samantha was not and she blushed under their attentions. While Jack despised the hypocrisy of the sales staff, he was pleased that they were making Samantha happy, that was what was important. When the dress had been fitted and alterations marked, Jack paid for it and the manager asked when he wished it by.

"End of the week," he informed her. When she started to hesitate, he told her, "You may add another grand to the total for the inconvenience."

Immediately the woman agreed and the couple left with a bag in hand that held the veil Samantha had selected. Carrying the bag back to the orphanage, Jack hailed a cab for them because the November air was quite chilly. Jack didn't wish for Samantha to get sick and he didn't wish to have a relapse. Recovering from being locked in the refrigerator had taken several weeks and Jack didn't want anything to delay their marriage. Thanksgiving was approaching and it was the perfect time to get married. Jack had paid an actor to call the orphanage and pretend to be Sam's father and say that he was taking her for a few days for the holiday. As for himself, Jack had paid an actress to call and pretend to be his mother with a similar excuse. No one would be the wiser and he had already secured a rental car for them to drive to Memphis.

Two days before Thanksgiving, the pair left in a cab supposedly going to the airport to be rejoined with their families for a few days. Instead they stopped at the bridal shop and picked up Samantha's gown and picked up their rental car. Samantha held the map Jack had traced their route on as he carefully drove out of the city. Snow had begun falling as they crossed the bridge from Ohio into Kentucky. They planned to drive straight through the state and not stop until they reached their destination in Tennessee.

Samantha looked at Jack who was positively grinning and asked him, "What is it?"

"I'm just happy. I don't remember ever having been so happy in my entire life. You actually love me and want to marry me. You didn't change your mind or leave me."

"Jack, I would never leave you. I love you."

"I know it's just-" Jack trailed off. How could he explain a lifetime of rejection and neglect to her. Finding words he told her, "I just worry that some day you'll decide I'm not good enough to love."

Looking at Jack, her heart ached for him. Someone had actually convinced him he wasn't good enough to love. The thought of anyone hurting him so deeply, made her furious. Her Jack was amazing, how dare someone make him feel otherwise. Moving over to snuggle against him, Samantha kissed his cheek.

"I love you and nothing will ever change that. You are going to be my husband and I will be your wife. No one can ever change my feelings for you, Jack. Someday you'll believe you deserve love, I'll make you believe it. In the meantime, watch what you say about my favorite person, or I might have to hurt you. I'm damn partial to you and I won't tolerate anyone saying anything bad about you. Including you."

Jack laughed and surrendered to Samantha's display of affection. As he drove he watched the road, carefully, every now and again stealing a peek at his bride-to-be. Driving out of the snow and into a clear sunny sky, he allowed himself to bask in her love and to enjoy being near her. Tomorrow they would be married and nothing bad could ever happen to them again, Jack decided...






Part 9


Age: 15 Years 9 Months

They pulled up in front of the Memphis Courthouse before it opened and napped until it did. As soon as it opened went in for their marriage license. Although the clerk looked at them strangely and checked their ID's thoroughly, they received their license without incident. Later that afternoon, they could get married, but first they had to find the church Jack had contacted and meet with the minister. Breakfast was from a drive-thru; but neither of them felt much like eating they were too nervous and excited to eat.

Entering the pretty church, they were greeted by the minister who ushered them into his study. "I'm Reverend Donald Franklin. And you are?"

"Jack and Samantha," Jack informed him politely. "We wish to be married."

"If you don't mind I'd like to see your marriage license."

Samantha tensed but forced herself to relax, Jack had prepped her to produce ID's and the license whenever asked. 'Stay calm, seem slightly surprised, but unconcerned,' he'd told her. The Reverend took the piece of paper and examined it thoroughly, after several moments, he returned it to Jack, satisfied of it's validity.

"Sixteen and seventeen is a young age to be getting married. Are you marrying because-" the minister trailed off and stared pointedly at Samantha's midsection.

Jack was angry at the insinuation, "If you think I would dishonor Samantha Anderson in any way-"

"Calm down son," the man interrupted. "I simply am curious about why you wish to marry at your age. Why not wait?"

"I love Samantha and want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"And you missy, you haven't said why you wish to get married. What's your rush?"

Samantha paused for a moment. Getting married so quickly had been Jack's idea and she'd never really thought about it until then. A serious expression crossed her face as she replied, "Because it hurts too much not being married to Jack. I don't want to face one moment of life without him by my side. I love him more than anything or anyone."

The Reverend looked at the couple, they were so young. But they were determined and there was something about the quiet sincerity of their expression as they looked at one another. Many couples married in his church, but few had such a deep and abiding rapport. This pair would be one of the rare couples that made it and weathered life's storms. He'd married couples that seemed like they wouldn't make it past year one. Without a doubt this couple would see their golden wedding anniversary.

"So, let's talk about your ceremony," he told the couple with a smile.

Jack produced the vows they had written and handed them to him. Reverend Franklin shook his head, the young people today. How he hoped his son Donald Jr. wouldn't embrace all these crazy notions!

"All right, I suppose we can use these. Now I'm assuming you want the Bridal March?"

"You'd be assuming incorrectly, we want this," Samantha told him and handed him the record they had brought. Together they had selected The Prince of Denmark March, they didn't want something modern, but they didn't want to be like everyone else either.

"Now do you have rings?" he asked them uncertainly. As young as they were he figured they would have to skip the rings or would use their class rings.

"Right here," Jack answered and withdrew the velvet boxes from his jacket.

"Do I get to see them finally?" Samantha teased. Jack had told her their rings would be a surprise and that she couldn't see them until the wedding. For nearly a week he had drawn and sketched, never letting her see. At last he took his sketches to a jeweler and placed the order. Although Samantha went in to have her finger sized, she wasn't allowed to see the actual rings.

Jack laughed and handed her the boxes, "Very well. It's our wedding day. Today I can refuse you nothing."

Anxiously she opened the boxes and smiled. Hers was a small elegant gold signet ring with an alpha symbol and Jack's was a slightly larger gold ring with an omega symbol. Lifting her ring from the box, she peered inside at the inscription which read infinito amor. Looking at Jack, she smiled and kissed him impetuously despite their audience.

"Seems the young lady approves," the minister joked, although he gave a stern look at her display of affection.

After finishing going over plans for their wedding that afternoon, the couple left the church. They went to lunch and spent a little more time together before separating. Jack had booked Samantha into the town's fanciest salon so she could get dressed up and had arranged a taxi to bring her to the church because she had insisted he couldn't see her in her dress before the wedding. While she was getting ready, he would take their things to their hotel and get dressed and drive to the church. Pulling up in front of the salon, Jack kissed Samantha intently.

"Next time I see you will be at church."

"I love you so much, Jack," Samantha smiled. Pulling her dress out of the back, her purse full of money, she waved at Jack and entered the salon. As with everywhere else, there was brief pause over her age. But this time Samantha flashed money as Jack had at the bridal salon and instantly the staff fell all over themselves to serve her. As they began to fuss with her hair, all Sam could think of was Jack. Never had anyone made her feel so happy or loved, she was going to be his wife in just a few hours, Samantha thought contentedly.

As Samantha was being pampered, Jack was getting frustrated. Last week he'd called information and got the number for the Four Seasons and had booked the bridal suite and arranged a small reception for the two of them after the wedding. On the phone they told him it would be twenty-four a night and had given him directions. Jack had assumed they meant $2400 a night and thought it would be the perfect honeymoon for his beautiful bride. Pulling up in front of the address, he read the sign which read For Seasons and had an attached restaurant. The sign proclaimed the bridal suite was indeed twenty-four dollars a night. At least it looked clean, but he really had intended something far nicer.

Getting out, Jack went to the office and asked if they knew if there were other rooms available in town. The man informed him that there was a convention and unless he had a reservation that even they were booked. Reluctantly Jack gave the man his name and paid, this wasn't even close to what he'd planned for his Samantha. Heavy heartedly he pulled the car to the bridal suite's door and took their luggage in. He'd nearly asked if they had a bellhop, then realized it was a ridiculous question to ask.

The room was simple and nice, but he'd dreamed of surrounding Samantha with luxury. Well, maybe the restaurant would manage an all right wedding dinner. Jack sat down on the bed and hoped Samantha was having an easier time of their wedding day than he was. Undressing and getting into the shower, Jack dismissed his concerns. All that mattered was that he was marrying his Samantha. Getting out of the shower, he wrapped up in one of the towels. The towel wasn't a standard hotel towel, it was nice and thick, at least the large old fashioned tub was nice. Maybe he and Samantha could take a bath together, he thought and blushed.

Jack dressed in his white tie and tails. Even though his parents wanted virtually nothing to do with him, they always made certain he had formal wear in his wardrobe in the event they needed him to put in an appearance. Funny, he hadn't even seen his parents in over a year and today he was getting married. The Senator and Mother may have been his family by birth, but Samantha felt more like a real family to Jack than his parents ever had. Finishing dressing, Jack locked the room and went out to the car with rings and marriage license in hand. Driving to the church, his parents faded from his mind as his excitement began to grow. In less than an hour he would be married.

At the church, Jack paced anxiously until the Reverend informed him Samantha had arrived and they could begin. A calmness fell over Jack as he follow the minister and took his place to wait for Samantha. Throughout the church music swelled and then Samantha stepped into view. Swirled in a frothy confection of white satin and lace, she stood and smiled at Jack through her veil. She looked every inch the angel he thought she would, Jack decided.

Walking slowly towards Jack, Samantha's heart raced. Today was her wedding day and she would become Jack's wife. He looked so handsome and grown up in his formal suit! Clutching the bouquet of roses that a florist had delivered to the salon for her, Samantha moved closer to Jack. When at last she reached him, he took her hand in his and they moved before the minister.

"Today, you come together to join your lives in the bonds of holy matrimony. If anyone knows of any reason why this pair cannot be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Jack squeezed Samantha's hand reassuringly.

The Reverend continued, "Jack and Samantha I understand you wish to offer your own vows as a pledge of your love. Jack-"

Samantha handed her bouquet to the minister's wife who was their witness and placed both her hand in Jack's. For a moment they gazed into one another's eyes, then Jack spoke his vows.

"I, Jack take you Samantha to be my wife. My heart and everything that I am, is yours from this moment forward. Pledging my love and friendship, I vow to forsake all others and keep only unto you until death. Whatever life holds, I promise to treat you with love, patience, and understanding."

Tears glistened in Samantha's eyes as the Reverend told her it was her turn. Trembling slightly with emotion, Samantha spoke her vows.

"I, Samantha take you Jack to be my husband. From this day forward my heart belongs to you alone. I promise to be your love, your comfort and companion, keeping only unto you until death does us part. Whatever life holds, I promise to treat you with love, patience, and understanding."

"The rings," the older man smiled at the couple and held the rings up. Handing the alpha ring to Jack he waited as Jack placed the ring on Samantha's finger and had him repeat, "With this ring, I thee wed. With my body, I thee worship. With all my worldly goods, I thee endow. Amen."

Jack spoke the words solemnly. Then Samantha placed the omega ring on Jack's finger and repeated the words.

"Jack and Samantha, as you've come here together in the sight of God and pledged your lives to one another and with the authority vested in me by the state of Tennessee, I pronounce you husband and wife."

Slowly and reverently, Jack lifted Samantha's veil and smoothed it back. Pausing a moment, he drank in the site of his wife. Samantha smiled at her new husband as he moved his hand to caress her cheek.

"I love you, Samantha," Jack murmured before slowly kissing her.

Though they had kissed many times before, the slow profound kiss that sealed their marriage touched them. Barely aware of anything but each other, they accepted their marriage certificate from the minister and Samantha accepted her bouquet back from the minister's wife. Moving towards the church doors, they paused and kissed again. Jack and Samantha were married...