"Just sign on the dotted line."

That was is, 20 years old and signing away my life to the Navy. I'd had little prospects when I graduated high school, and the last 2 years had done nothing to disabuse me of that notion. The weight of my decision had just started to settle when the recruiter pulled out another form.

"Alright son, that's out of the way, just fill out this form here, DD 6969. I see that smile, believe me I laughed about it too. Just wait until you see what it's for."

DD 6969, Request for Requisition of Military Spouse. My eyes almost bugged out of my head. My laughter died on my lips, the form looking far to official to be a joke. 

"Uh, Chief, so I have to fill this out? I'm young, I don't want to get married!"

"The bigwigs in DC figured out that the married servicemen and women get in less trouble overall. Of course there is still some, but in the last 10 years it's down on damn near all offenses. They always said if the military wanted you to have a spouse, they'd assign you one. Well, here we are." 

His smile was genuine, and that relaxed me a little. Reading the form, the questions read like standard dating site questions. What's your favorite movie, favorite musician etc. Others were slightly more alarming, are you wanting children? Would your partner wanting children effect your previous choice.

Reading all the way down, the signature was the most alarming part.

"By signing this form you agree that the answers are truthful and that you understand the agreement herein. Divorce requests will not be honored except in extreme circumstances. See regulation 80085 for further details."

I read and reread the form, pouring over my answers for more than an hour before Chief Adams cleared his throat." You need to sign this for before we can send you to Bootcamp, Recruit." My signature wasn't my finest work, but I was eager to get to Bootcamp, my future spouse could wait. They needed time to match us anyway.

13 weeks, and the start of my future. Arriving on the bus was exactly what the hilariously 1980s video on the bus said it was. Running into the building, RDCs in their service uniforms screaming at us to line up. Then the waiting to be processed. I want to say it was the easiest part, but the sleep deprivation was catching up to me. What's even worse is they put us in these warm, comfy standard issue sweats, so I was getting drowsy. Thankfully they had a Chief that was coming around every 5 or 10 minutes, smoking recruits who fell asleep, so I had motivation to stay awake.

12 hours later, I was in my division berthing. Division 914. I'd gotten into one of the performing divisions as I had a background in Choir. We were essentially in charge of the Graduation performance for our cohort of brother and sister divisions. 

We'd been drilled in the arts of forming up and packing things away in our bunks before our RDC came back with a pile of letters. "Mail call, Recruits, you have 10 minutes to read the letter from your new spouses, then we will pt, shower, and get you in your racks. Better think of a good response, don't want to fuck up the rest of your lives before they even start. Move with purpose when your name is called. Allen!" she started rattling names off at a fast clip, and damn near throwing the letters as the recruits came to get them, looks of apprehension on their faces as they took the letters.

"Flannigan!" my last name shocked me out of my stupor and I stumbled over to her. The letter in my hands felt heavier than it should. This was my future, at least for the next 8 years. I opened the envelope and was met with the smell of fruity perfume. I loved the smell, and was incredibly intrigued to read about the woman that sent it.

Hello, husband.

My name is Naomi. I don't think they told you that before you left, right? I'm really looking forward to meeting you. Chief Adams told me you were an attractive man, but I'd rather see for myself. Anyway, they told me this letter would be delivered on your first night of bootcamp. I know it seems difficult now, but it'll get worse before it gets better. Stay strong, and you'll come out the other side a better, stronger man. I hope to hear from you soon.

Love, 

Naomi Flannigan.

A tumult of emotion rolled through me. Here was a woman I'd never met but had taken my last name like it was nothing, and was being supportive. It was oddly comforting. A warm feeling suffused my chest. The coming weeks seemed less daunting.

It'd been 7 weeks since I'd gotten my first letter from Naomi. I'd written her back with great enthusiasm, wanting to get to know every detail of this mystery woman. And every response made me feel the warmth I'd felt the first time go even deeper.

I'd learned that her favorite color is Royal Purple. The lesser purples just won't do for her. I'd learned that she had a sarcastic sense of humor, and enjoyed making up nicknames for her loved ones. I'd learned that she enjoys chocolate to the point that her descriptions of flavors of different types felt obscene in the best way.

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I was falling fast, and falling hard. Which gave me motivation to do everything in my power to compete for meritorious advancement before graduation. Sure, I was going to graduate as an E-2 coming out of boot, but an E-3 makes more money and can start studying for exams. The ability to live off base was incredibly appealing, especially now that I'm a married man. Not that we'd had a wedding of reception, but we'd get there.

I might have been getting lost in delusions at that point. I'd not yet met my wife, and I was already thinking of thing to do with her, and how I could make her life special and exciting. I'm apparently a sappy guy. Learning new things about myself everyday in boot camp. I guess stress helps you prioritize the good things in life, and if these letters are anything to go by, life was going to be very good in a few weeks.

Another letter came today. This one didn't have the perfume, which was off, considering she'd sent all sorts of scents with each letter and asking after them to find my favorite. It was a shorter letter as well, which was fine, I'm sure she has a busy life being outside the walls of NRTC.

Jake,

My father found out about my participation in this program. He's not happy. My letters are going to be fewer from here on, but I'll keep in touch. He can't do anything legally, but I'm afraid he's going to try and pull strings to keep us from meeting when you graduate. I'll do what I can to get to you.

Love,

Naomi.

Alarm bells went off in my head. I hadn't thought about asking after her home life. Was her father abusive? Did she have somewhere to go? What could I do? I brought the letter to my division Chief, he read it quickly, nodded, and assured me he'd pass it on to the proper authority. 

The next 5 weeks passed on a blur of worry, and true to her word, letters were fewer, but they'd returned to her previous bubbly tone, and the perfume was back. I'd helped some, but the idea of graduating and potentially not meeting her made anxiety I didn't know I had surface. I just wanted to see my wife.

Graduation came with much fanfare and pomp. Which is something I would learn the Navy does pretty damn well over the years. There were speeches, singing, which I did most of with the choir, and a marching band.

The woman, Lieutenant Commander Morrell, ended her longwinded speech about tradition and the importance of loyalty with "And it is my honor to welcome you to the Navy! Bravo Zulu Shipmates."

We'd be made to make signs to help us find our new spouses, and as my fellow recruits started to pair off with their spouses I noticed something odd. One, all the partners were Dual Military, meaning they were both in the military. Second, there didn't seem to be any thought about rank. Rivas, for example joined at 27, and ended up with a disgruntled looking Marine Staff Sergent. Her face softened when she saw him though, so I imagine he's doing fine.

"Seaman Jake Flannigan?" a man asked behind me. I turned to see an man in Airforce Blues looking impatient. 

"Yes, that's me."

"Very well, follow me please."

Disappointment settled in my gut. I wouldn't meet Naomi today. I followed the Airman Sanders, which was a designation much like my own, his title as well as his rank. He brought me to a large black SUV, and motioned for me to get in. I followed direction, confused, but I'd been released for my leave before "A" school, and my flight didn't leave til tomorrow.

"Why are you picking me up?" I asked, truly curious.

"That's need to know information." he said, clipped.

"And I don't need to know."

His silence told me all I needed to know, so I sat back and relaxed, hoping the ride wouldn't be terribly long.

The ride took over an hour, and took us to a very nice neighborhood. Brick and stucco as far as the eye could see it felt like. High class living with big windows and yards, American flags flying in every driveway. The American dream in a nutshell. 

After a few minutes of driving we passed by a convoy of black SUVs like this one and parked in front of a house much like the rest, save for the boxes in front of the house. Airman Sanders got out of the car and walked up to the door with a quick few steps and knocked loudly at the door. He'd be perfect for the FBI.

A minute passed in limbo as I held my breath, unsure as to what I was waiting for. Turns out, it was a tall, blonde supermodelesque woman in what I would call office chic, if office chic could accentuate hips and breasts to the maximum, to open the door. I heard some mumbled chatter and she disappeared back into the house and reappeared in no time. He heels clicked loudly as she scampered her way to the car. She pulled the SUV door open and hopped in, looking over her shoulder nervously.

Sanders grabbed a couple of the boxes and stuffed them into the back of the SUV before moving quickly back into the drivers seat, started the car, and started to pull away before the gorgeous woman turned and looked me over almost hungrily. The hug that followed stole the air from my lungs and left me dizzy. The look on my face must've been hilarious because she burst into an elated tinkling laughter that I would never forget.

Airman Sanders piped up before I could ask anything.

"LT, I need a location for the GPS."

"Hilton Inn in Chicago, by the airport. I have a room already."

"Yes, Ma'am." 

She focused back on me and the intensity of her gaze left me in awe. Who the hell is this woman and why is she so interested in me? 

"So Jakey, you must've missed me these past weeks. Daddy wasn't keen on me participating in the program, but he can't stop me. I am sorry I had to sneak away like that, but he'll forgive in time." 

Jakey. It clicked all on a moment. 

"Naomi?" I asked sheepishly. 

Her smile was mischievous and delightful all at the same time. Holy shit she's beautiful. And an officer? How would that work? 

She must've sensed I was thinking about the future, because she put her hand in mine, lacing her fingers around mine and squeezing lightly. 

"First step is getting you through your school." she said lightly. "Then our lives can begin."