[voice test]

[theprettymarine]

Billy didn't know how to name the feeling he had when Frank married Maria. He was happy for his friend, for both of them. He did everything a best man was supposed to do, and then some, because he would be damned if Frank didn't have a decent wedding, even if it was a rush job. Because Maria was pregnant. But Frank was happy and that was what mattered.

But something did shift in him as he watched his friend take his vows. No one sticks around. Maybe that wasn't totally fair - Frank was his brother, they were Marines, and they would share things that no one else did, and that was okay. He didn't need anything else from Frank. He didn't deserve anything else.

They had some leave before their first deployment, which was how Frank managed to get married at all. And after Frank resurfaced from his brief honeymoon, Billy was happy to meet him for drinks.

Comments

[onebatch_twobatch]

Things were tumultuous, but Frank was trying to live life honestly, as much as he could. Maria helped him with that, because she refused to take his shit. Billy helped with that, for the same reason. He was a better man for having them in his life.

He went to drinks with a quietly laughed blessing, permission to stay the night over if it came to that, and a single condom in his wallet. He felt a little like an idiot about that one, that little wiggly hopefulness that he wasn’t sure what to do with.

Billy looked good when Frank rolled into the bar, but Frank wasn’t surprised. He came over and bumped him gently in the shoulder, only half disturbing the conversation he was having with a pretty girl that was leaning toward him.