Hank's arrival seemed to cheer everyone up, particularly Allen. Hank had taken to him straight away. It seemed Connor had spoken about everyone in his letters. He knew all about his relationship with Sixty, and pretty much took responsibility for him. He was there for Nines, of course, but they all agreed and understood that Allen needed all the help he could get. The first week had already passed, and the pain had eased, as Elijah surmised, but Allen's attitude had remained the same. He'd remained quiet and withdrawn, only sharing a few words with Gavin and Nines during their regular visits to his room. He hadn't left his solitude.

Upon arriving, and meeting him, Hank moved into Allen's room. It was a twin room, so they had their own beds. Allen insisted it wasn't necessary, but there was no way in hell Hank was going to leave him alone with his own thoughts at night. When he couldn't sleep for the pain, or when he woke screaming and crying, Hank would be there to settle him down with stories of Sixty's youth. It was cathartic for both of them. Sometimes, he could almost feel Sixty in the room with them, pouting and objecting to the secrets being spilled.

Hank asked Allen questions, too. How they'd met. What had drawn them to each other. Allen had all sorts of stories about Sixty's antics. The way he'd fought and bickered with Gavin at any opportunity. That he'd looked out for the younger troops, snapping they were idiots while showing them how to do better and pretending it was a chore when he'd secretly lived for it. How he'd leapt atop the parapet, cackling and whooping as he'd fired at the enemy. The quiet nights when he'd shared his deepest fears. His face in the lingering silence. The pinch of his eyes as they'd listened to the chilling groans of the dying. It didn't matter which side the men belonged to. It always hit just as hard. On rare nights, he'd cried. Some nights they both had.

With Hank's company, and the gradually declining pain, Allen was soon ready to leave his room for the first time. Hank talked him into it, telling him how much better he'd feel and bribing him with more stories about Sixty. They sat out on the patio in the cool autumn weather, sipping tea and eating sandwiches. Chloe was over the moon to see him actually eating again. She even managed to coax him into trying one of the small cakes. Nines and Gavin also stopped by after a short ride in the forest. With Blossom now back to her old self, they were back to trotting in the woods on an almost daily basis.

Now that Allen was healing up, Gavin was a lot more positive. It wouldn't be long before Elijah gave the all-clear to begin training for the prosthetics. With that in mind, he rolled up his trouser leg to show Allen his own prosthetic. Allen was attentive as he showed him the joint and how it fitted, giving him a heads up of what to expect. He even called Jeffery over so he could get a better idea of how the knee-jointed prosthetics would work. Allen seemed wary, but somehow fascinated as Jeffery showed him how they strapped on and how they moved as he walked. Jeffery walked with two canes, though Elijah had high hopes of him being able to cut down to one someday. In the long term, he wanted to create prosthetics that would be stable enough to use with no support at all.

Jeffery was another one who took to Allen. Having similar injuries, he had a fellow-feeling for him in a way he didn't with many others. He and Hank would sit with him for hours, distracting him from the pain with plans for the future. Jeffery knew how critical the first month was. You didn't want to lose hope right from the off. He didn't know how Allen was holding on. They were the worst injuries he'd ever seen. He didn't even know how he'd gotten through surgery. That was a feeling many of them shared, though he was looking better since the burns had started healing.

Chloe also played a big role in Allen's recovery. She was his lead nurse and always tried to be positive during her visits. She encouraged him, insisting he was healing nicely every time she changed his bandages. He began to believe it as the skin dried and healed. He didn't even need the wax and oils at this point. Soon, he wouldn't need bandages at all. His skin was becoming firmer. Stronger. It would never be the same as before in some places, forever warped and uneven, but it was healing. Chloe latched onto every little positive thought and encouraged it.

Her relationship with Hank also deepened and improved. He was very gentle with her as he let slip that he knew everything. Connor had been open about things. He'd felt terrible about Elijah, but he just couldn't help himself when it came to Chloe. He'd written asking for advice on what to do, feeling guilty and in need of reassurance. Hank, much like Nines and Gavin, had remained neutral. He'd encouraged him to let her know how he felt, but warned him not to get his hopes up. It was entirely Chloe's decision about how things went. Hank was even happy for her after meeting Elijah and hearing about their impending marriage. He was even happier to hear that she was pregnant, though he wouldn't allow himself to be too excited on that front. He knew there was a high probability that it was Elijah's child.

Elijah, though wary at first, slowly warmed to Hank's presence in their lives. He was always kind and helpful and treated Gavin like a second son. Over time, he slowly warmed to him as well. He was a lot like Chloe, interrupting his work to remind him to eat, insisting he spend more time with Chloe, and pushing him to take nights off with Gavin and Nines. Family time was important. The hurt in his eyes was always obvious when he said it. They slowly formed their own budding family unit. The six of them. There was a small smoking room that had almost become their own separate living space.

Gavin and Nines would huddle by the fire, talking in hushed tones. Gavin would usually sit in one of the wingback chairs while Nines either sat on the floor between his legs or perched on the arm of the chair. Allen and Hank would either read papers or play chess beside the window. If Elijah, Gavin, and Nines were in the mood, the five of them would play poker. Elijah and Chloe would sometimes sit and read books by the fire, or Chloe would let Elijah style her hair. At various intervals, Chloe would check in and make sure they had everything they needed. She was always ready to have food or drinks brought, or pass a book, or help with a puzzle.

At the beginning of October, it finally happened. Chloe and Elijah were getting married. It wouldn't be a large ceremony, barely more than a meeting in an office, but it would be something. With their families back in America, Chloe and Elijah asked Hank to step in to give away the bride. It somehow seemed appropriate, given the context of their relationship. It wasn't really necessary, considering how small it would be, but Hank accepted. Gavin would act as best man, and Nines would step in as a maid of honour. Nines had smiled when Chloe asked him.

"Are you asking me to wear a dress?" Gavin had snorted his tea at the idea, almost choking as hot liquid spilled down his chin. Nines had chuckled at his misfortune, slapping his back and handing him a cloth.

"Obviously not, but since we're trying to keep things quiet, I didn't want to ask any of the others." Nines assumed that meant the other nurses. He knew she must have friends within their ranks, but apparently not someone she trusted enough to be discrete. "Will you do it?" Nines gladly accepted, which is how he found himself in a small side room barely two days later, smoothing Chloe's hair and plucking at her dress. It wasn't a traditional wedding gown. Just a nice, simple dress and a pretty set of shoes. She hadn't even chosen white, opting for pale blue to match her eyes instead. When Gavin came to check on them, he was more anxious than she was.

"Are you ready? Do you have the bouquet? Do your feet hurt? Should I get you some water? Maybe you should sit down. Do you need to sit down? Veil! Where's the veil? Do you have the ring?" Chloe giggled at his flustered fussing and the way he paced about the room searching for things. Nines huffed fondly, quietly convinced Elijah had sent him away to get some peace. He stepped forward and cupped his stubbled cheeks. Gavin calmed somewhat at the sudden kiss, gripping Nines' hands and almost melting into him. Nines chuckled as he steadied him and drew back.

"Anyone would think that you were the one getting married! Calm down...The veil is right here; she has her bouquet. I have the ring, and we're almost ready to start...Why don't you check on Elijah and make sure he's ready? We'll be out soon." Gavin nodded and huffed a breath, clearly jittery as he accepted a final press of lips. He almost stumbled on his way to the door, using his cane to right himself. Nines' gaze warmed further as Gavin looked over his shoulder with a dreamy smile and almost walked into the closed door. How can I not adore him? Chloe giggled fondly as he left.

"Thank you, Gavin!" She waved as the door clicked shut and looped her arm through Nines' elbow. "He's so excited..." Nines chuckled his agreement. Gavin had been on edge for days, ever since the date had been set. True, he'd had a bit of planning to do. They both had. He only hoped Chloe and Elijah liked what little they'd done to make the day more memorable. Everyone deserved a day they'd remember, even if it was just a modest event.

"You must be, too." Chloe couldn't deny that. Every girl dreamed of her wedding day, and she'd been waiting for hers for far too long. It wasn't what she'd expected, of course. The timing wasn't ideal. Her family wasn't there. Her dress was almost too tight with the swell of her stomach. She rested a hand on the barely hidden bump. The flowing skirt of the dress sat in such a way that it almost seemed to be part of it, but it really was becoming obvious. Nines rested his hand on top of hers as he reached for the veil. "It's time...Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be..." Nines smiled as he fixed the veil and handed her the bouquet of white and pink flowers. It was quite a contrast to her dress, but Chloe had insisted she liked the mix of colours. Hank was waiting outside in the hall. He smiled warmly as he looked her over. She looked perfect. Her hair was curled over one shoulder with a pretty diamond encrusted clip beneath the veil that had been neatly lowered over her pale face. Her hands almost trembled as she clutched the small bouquet and the pretty blue dress almost reached her toes, barely hiding the matching heels from view.

"You look beautiful." Chloe smiled anxiously as she took his proffered arm. He patted her hand gently as they turned and nodded at Nines. He led the way to the office door and opened it for them. Chloe took an anxious breath as they stepped through, relieved to find Gavin and Elijah waiting with the minister in front of a small desk. There was no music. It was just the six of them and the minister present. Allen was at the front in his wheelchair, smiling his encouragement as he saw her coming. They only needed two witnesses for the sake of the paperwork, but with all six of them spending so much time together, it had felt appropriate to have all of them involved.

Once Hank had walked her up, Nines took his place at her side. Hank lifted the veil and kissed her cheeks before handing her off to Elijah, who looked so pale she thought he might faint. He smiled sheepishly as he took her hand and waited for the minister to begin. Everything went smoothly. Gavin managed to hand over the ring without fumbling, and Nines was more than ready to hand Chloe hers. There were no objections, and once the vows were exchanged, they signed the register, with Allen and Gavin signing as witnesses. Gavin had brought along the camera to get a few simple pictures, which Chloe appreciated. Hank, Nines, and Allen took the pictures, since they had the steadiest hands.

"Nines!" Chloe tossed the bouquet his way and giggled as he caught it. She shrugged. There wasn't exactly a group of gaggling girls for her to toss it to. Besides, the expression on Gavin's face was more than worth it as Nines looked across at him and waved the flowers. Once they were done, Chloe thought they'd simply return to the mansion for a light lunch, but Gavin and Nines had other ideas. It hadn't seemed right to pass the day so simply, so they'd made some discreet arrangements with the local pub. They'd kept it hushed, but let the landlord know it was an important day, and they wanted a special meal to mark the occasion.

The landlord didn't disappoint. A large table had been set up for the six of them in a quiet corner. The meal was three courses of carrot soup, thick cuts of beef and roasted vegetables, and bread pudding. Generous helpings of wine and ale were served, though it wasn't necessary to lift the mood. Chloe and Elijah were beaming the whole time. They spent many hours sitting around the table sharing happy words and warm wishes. The mood seemed to be contagious. Other patrons could only guess the occasion, they were happy for them anyway.

They continued their merrymaking back at the mansion as well. It was early evening when they returned to sit in their small parlour. Jeffery joined them, noting the cheerful mood and new rings straight away. Since there was only a few of them there, they shared some more personal words. Gavin teased Elijah, telling him off for taking so damned long, to which Chloe loudly agreed as she leaned against his side. Elijah had to admit, now that he'd done it, he really didn't know why he hadn't done it sooner. Chloe's hand rested on her stomach, rubbing small circles as she smiled at Elijah, who was nursing a tumbler of whiskey. Time wore on, and it was almost time to break up for the evening.

"Wait! There's one more thing we haven't done yet!" They smiled at Gavin as he got to his feet, only to be pushed back down by Nines. He was far too drunk to be allowed to wander freely. Nines assured him he'd handle it before calling downstairs. A short time later, a small cake was brought. It wasn't tall or tiered, but it was big enough for them to share. Chloe and Elijah were touched. The meal and cake were things they'd simply overlooked and thought unnecessary. They'd originally planned to simply sign the register and return to work as usual.

By the time the cake was crumbs, most of them were tired. No one more so than Gavin. He was already half asleep in his chair. Elijah huffed fondly as he looked down at him. He'd had quite a busy day with all his secret planning and worrying. He'd truly thought he might pass out at one point. Nines had settled him down somewhat, but he'd still been jittery throughout the ceremony. He hadn't truly relaxed until they were eating dinner. Nines smiled as well, leaning on the back of Gavin's chair and stroking his hair.

"Gav...Gavin...Thank you for today," Elijah murmured as he crouched beside him.

"Mm-happy for you..." Gavin mumbled sleepily as he opened his eyes. Elijah smiled and pulled him into a tight embrace before getting to his feet to retire for the evening. He wrapped an arm around Chloe as they left, relieved they could openly share one room after all this time. Nines leaned down and roused Gavin as they left. "Not sleepy..." Nines scoffed at the objection as he pulled him from the chair. He seemed a little more awake once he was on his feet.

"If you're not sleepy, that's all the more reason for me to take you to bed."