Patrick patted the dog's head. "You are an odd one."

Kath shrugged.

"It's Vitus." she grinned. "What do you expect?"

Vitus wagged his tail.

He laughed.

(Should we do something with Jenny and Cross?)

((Maybe... need to get a page done for the site though. Gimme a bit.))

Vitus woofed and sat down.

"Let's go for a walk." Kath suggested. "I haven't been to town much since you left."

"Okay darlin."

Kath smiled and got back up, taking Patrick's arm.

"Vitus'll want to follow." she said. "You don't mind?"

"Nah he's good company."

Vitus woofed in agreement, and Kath laughed.

"Alright then." she said. "Lead the way, love."

He leaned into her and smiled.

(To town..I have to go pretty soon and might not be on tomrow cuz I'm going to that civil war museum I told you about.)

(lucky bastard.)

(You start or shall I?)

(hehhe..you!)

Back at home after the dance, Kath kissed Patrick goodnight and headed off to bed. It would take all of her stamina, but somehow she managed not to get up in the night to spend it with him. She barely got any sleep anyways.

Early in the morning, Granny came downstairs. Her granddaughter pulled her aside and the two chatted about what Kath wanted to have happen at the end of Pat's stay. The grandmother she was, Granny couldn't deny it and promised to find a preacher and tell her parents. Kath sighed with relief and pulled on a shawl to go see him.

Still in her nightgown, Kath climbed up into the loft and looked around for him.

((Sorry, got bored & Kath's kicking my brain.))

He whoke hearing footsteps. "Hey."

She smiled.

"Hey." she replied softly. "Did I wake you up?"

She sat down and looked up at him.

"I needed to get up anyway.."

"No you didn't." she chuckled. "Granny knows I'm out here, she's talking to Ma and Pa."

"Great."

She nodded with a half-smile, then sighed.

"You still want to do this?" she asked. "Because if you really don't want to yet..."

"I'm ready as I'll ever be darlin'."

She smiled and put her hand on his arm.

"Alright." she nodded. "You're leaving tomorrow, right?"

He nodded, sadly.

She sighed a little, her shoulders falling.

"Darn it." she mumbled, her blue eyes filled with disappointment. "Four days really flew by."

"When I'm back all give you four decades and many more."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him.

"Good." she whispered. "The moment you come back, I'm never going to let you go again."

"What I life that'll be.."

She laughed.

"The war stories you'll tell when you're eighty." she said with a grin.

"By then I'll have forgotten who I am."

"And I'll have to remind you every day."

He laughed. "And I'll have to figure out who the nice lady on top of me is."

She laughed and kissed him.

"Hopefully that'll remind you sixty years from now."

I sure hope so.."

"Me too."

She squeezed his hand.

"Hungry?"

He sqeezed back. "Yup."

She nodded and stood up.

"Pancakes alright?" she asked as she tucked her shawl tighter around her.

"That would be wonderful."

Kath smiled.

"Then come on down." she said as she went over to the ladder. "I made them fresh."

He went down and into the house holding her hand.

Kath smiled at him and pointed towards the pancakes.

"I'll just get dressed." she told him. "Help yourself."

With that, she turned and headed to her room.

He fixed a plate of pancakes and ate them happily.

She got dressed in her regular blue working dress, tying her hair back with a metal pin with china flowers. As she turned to leave, Ma appeared in her doorway.

Granny came down, looking around.

"Have you seen Will?" she asked Patrick. "Damn the old man, he's up and left."

"He'll be back, you'll just have to trust me."

At that moment Will walked in.

Gran saw the commander and smiled.

"There you are." she said. "Where were you? The pancakes are ready. Little Kathie made them."

Ma looked down at the bundle of fabric in her arms, then back at Kath.

"I wanted to make sure it fits."

Kath stared in bewilderment as Ma unrolled the soft satin gown she'd been sewing. A wedding dress.

Will found a seat.

Patrick's mouth hung open.

Gran looked at Patrick.

"What's wrong, boy?" she asked. "Surprised that Kath can cook so good?"

Ma smiled at her daughter.

"Been working on this since you turned nineteen." she said. "You like it?"

Kath nodded in amazement, admiring the delicate fabric.

"Oh Ma..."

Patrick nodded. "You'll look wonderful."

Kath turned her head and smiled at Patrick, sighing with delight.

"I can't believe it." she said to no one in particular.

Ma laughed and waved for Patrick to leave.

"I need to get this dress on your little bride." she said. "Now get before I have Granny on your hide."

He got up and jogged out of the room. "No way, I saw what she did to Marson."

Kath, Ma and Granny all laughed at Patrick's exclamation.

"Poor boy was scarred for life." Granny smirked. "Alright, now what do we do?"

Patrick sat on the porch.

(I'm lonely in WW2.)

Kath took off her work dress and Ma pinned the wedding gown on her. She smiled at her reflection in the looking-glass and laughed.

"Ma, it's beautiful." she said as she fingered the small pleats on the bodice. The skirt was so full, with a layer of tulle that emerged from under the top of the gown. Tiny sprigs of fabric flowers hemmed the edges.

Pa came out and heard Kath giggling, and he sighed. He went out onto the porch and forced a smile for Patrick.

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