Work Text:
Conversations with Dead People 2 - Captain
Mia watched the groom pace back and forth as he waited for his bride to appear . The ceremony was being held in the Button House Ballroom but all eight year old Mia could see was a very worried man with his best friend trying to calm him.
"Captain?"
"Yes Mia?" The World War Two ghost sat next to her as she watched from the back of the room , chin rested on one hand.
"Why do people get married? Seems a lot of fuss."
"Because they are in love." He smiled at her. "They want to be together forever."
"Lady Button was killed by her husband. Kitty told me. You don't do that if you love someone."
"No, no you don't." He sighed.
"Carol cheated on Pat. Robin had lots of ladies he was friends with and Humphrey's wife was made to marry him." She looked at him. "Did you ever get married?"
"No." He sighed. "No I. Well."
"Didn't you want to?"
"Oh Mia. One day."
"I'm eight. You can tell me."
He sighed heavily as the guests all turned to see the bride and her dad appear at the end of the aisle.
"I wanted to."
"So? You fell in love?"
"Oh yes." He blushed slightly. "Hook, line and sinker."
"So? Why didn't you?"
"Because in my day it was not allowed. Different then." He thought of Havers, of how he had worried about the army man on the front line and literally died to see him once more. He knew that was a story for another day.
"Because you loved a boy?"
"Yes. There were laws against it."
"Well, that is stupidest law ever." Mia folded her arms. "We don't have that law now. Mum's friend Emma has a wife called Julie and and." Tears filled her eyes as she thought of the injustice her 'uncle' had faced in his lifetime.
"Hush now. Times are different now. No tears." He frowned, unsure of how to comfort the girl. He looked up to see Alison approaching, looking less than happy.
"Mia?"
"Weddings are sad." Mia decided as Alison hugged her, one eyebrow raised as she appraised the Captain.
"Really? What makes you think that?"
"Because some people don't want one but are made to have one like Lady Button. And and, some who want one can't." She hiccuped. "It's not fair. They make people sad."
"Not always." The Captain smiled at her. "Look at Mum and Dad. They are happy together."
"Yes, yes we are." Alison smiled. "And well, lots of people get married now because they want to. The Captain couldn't ."
"Because the law was stupid!"
"Quite." He agreed.
"And Lady Button got married and that made her parents happy."
"But not her."
"But if she hadn't then there would be no Button House."
"So it worked out well." The Captain smiled as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "All's well that ends well."
Mia nodded before looking at the Captain.
"Yeah. And I'd have changed the law if I'd been there. I love you." She smiled as the Captain blushed.
"I love you too." He paused as she spotted Robin in the distance. Alison smiled at her daughter before ushering her along. Turning once she watched as the Captain smiled at her.
"Alison?"
"That's the first time you've ever said that to anyone isn't it?"
He pulled himself up to his full height.
"I believe so. I believe it is the first time I've been allowed to say it. Having a child here has certainly made a difference."
Alison turned to see the girl now encouraging Robin to play with the lights.
"Hasn't it just!"