Returning Home

[GPLockwood]

John returned back with a battered steel tool box, still smiling. Anna was so adorable when she was flustered. After a year of being used as a human target by Taliban rockets, mortars, and small-arms rounds, a wedding ring down the sink was fairly easy to take in stride.

"You might want to step out of the bathroom for a second," he suggested. "Sometimes, a bunch of hair and nasty stuff gets caught in the trap, and it's likely to be kind of stinky and gross."

Wrapping a towel around the nuts that held the p-trap on the sink, he used a wrench to loosen them. Removing the trap and banging it against the edges of the trash can, dirty water along with a filthy brown glob of hair and brown slime fell into the trash can. As he had warned her, it smelled terrible. No problem; that didn't bother John at all. He had literally had to eat things that smelled worse in order to survive while he was MIA. He poked around in the wet hairball with a screwdriver, and it clinked against something shiny. It was the engagement ring. He smiled as he removed the ring along with a shiny golden earring that was also in the trap.

He took the trashcan outside, dumped the contents into a dumpster, and then rinsed it with a hose. He also used the hose to clean off the ring and the earring.

He returned to the house, and used a bit of rubbing alcohol from Anna's medicine cabinet to get the ring and the old earring that he found sparkling clean again before presenting them to her with a smile.

"If you still want to do dinner and can get ready using the kitchen sink, I'll put your bathroom sink back together."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Do you ever regret being with me?" Anna asked as she stood there holding the ring "I mean it just seems like I'm holding you back. Your willing to give up anything for me and I don't have anything to offer you." She sighed "within a few hours I've cried, turned you down for sex, and lost your engagement ring... I'll probably spill hot food all over you and cause you to wreck your car by the end of the night with the way things are going. Why is this so difficult."

 

[GPLockwood]

"Do I look like I regret being with you?" John asked as he stepped in and kissed her on the tip of her nose. He smiled. "I love you, Anna. The knowledge that I was going to get to come home to you is the only thing that kept me going and kept me alive after my buddies were killed. Honestly, if you never do anything for me again, I'll spend the rest of my life in debt to you just over that. I love you just the way you are, and the fact that you're shaken up that I'm home just tells me more than anything that you love me."

He kissed her again. This time it wasn't a playful kiss on the tip of her nose. It was a slow, sensual kiss on the lips. His hand caressed her face, and he looked tenderly into her eyes with a loving smile.

"So, are you ready to go?"

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Yeah, just give me a minute." She said handing him the ring "just hold onto it until I can get it resized, I don't want to lose it again." She said as she walked to her closet and grabbed a pair of black heels slipping them on. "Ill try to take care of it tomorrow..."

 

[GPLockwood]

John smiled, admiring the way that Anna looked in her dress. His heart beat a little bit stronger with every moment he looked at her.

He sat down on the bed, and flipped open his cell phone. "Hey! Antonio! You'll never guess who this is! Yeah, it's John!... No, I swear I'm not dead. That's probably just wishful thinking on your part because you don't want me to come down there and eat all your cannolis!" John laughed, clearly happy to be talking with his old friend.

"Yeah, I'm with Anna right now- Hey Anna, Tony says Hi! I promised that I'd take her out to dinner, but I didn't want to spring for a nice restaurant, so I figured that we would see if we could stomach your food for tonight." Again, John was joking with his old friend. Antonio's restaurant was by far the nicest in town, and Antonio was a very gifted chef whose family had been plying their trade at that restaurant for generations. Still, John had known Tony since John had been a small child, and they were close enough for John to tease him.

"We ought to be there in about thirty minutes. Can you have my old booth ready by then? Awesome! Get a bottle of your best wine ready; I don't care about the cost. No, don't you dare try to pay for this! Man, buddy, I'm so excited! I can't wait to see you and your lovely wife! With me and Anna there, it's going to be just like old times! Yeah, see you soon, buddy!"

John was beaming as he hung up the phone, anticipating a delicious dinner with his fiancee and old friends.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Are you sure you want me to go? If you want to go and just catch up with Tony you can..." She said "I really don't mind, I'll be here when you get back. I don't want to keep you away rom everybody else. You should go and have a nice time with your friends..."

 

[GPLockwood]

"Am I sure I want you to go?" John asked, real sadness in his eyes. "Sweetheart, how could you think I would want to be away from you? What's wrong, Anna? Please, talk to me." He sat down on the bed and patted the spot beside himself as an invitation for her to join him.

"Sweetheart, I know I was gone for a long time," he said, taking her hand in his own. "Are you... are we all right, Anna?

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"You missed things..." She said sitting down next to him "it shouldn't matter, most of it was meaningless but...." Anna paused stopping herself knowing now wasn't the time to bring it up "you could have missed something really important. I don't want to do things without you... I'm scared I'm going to lose you again and next time I wount get so lucky..."

 

[GPLockwood]

John took her hand in his own, sitting quietly with her. "Could you please tell me more?" he asked, keeping the question as open-ended as he could. He wanted Anna to be able to express what was bothering her. "Something is really bothering you, Sweetheart. Tell me about it. I'm here for you. Share what's bothering you, so that we can deal with it together."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I don't want to go through anything without you ever again..." She said taking a deep breath trying to figure out the best way to say what she needed to say next "especially if I lose a baby again. I can't go through any of that again... Especially if you're gone..." Anna's said looking down at her hands.

 

[GPLockwood]

John looked at Anna, his eyes wide with compassion. "You were pregnant? And you lost- oh, my God, you poor thing! I never had any idea!"

He pulled her into his arms. "My contract with the Army is coming up in two months. My unit can't be deployed overseas again that soon; I'm getting out then. I'll never be away from you again, Anna. I'll spend the rest of my life with you, and you'll never have to endure anything like that alone for as long as we're both alive!"

John held her close, his heart breaking for the woman he loved. He kissed her softly on top of the head and gently rocked her on the edge of the bed. He had no idea that she had endured something like that, and it tore at his conscience that he hadn't been able to be there for her.

And their baby- he couldn't think of that now! This was about his sweet Anna. No wonder she had acted the way she had after he had gotten home! He kissed her again, wishing above all else that the power of his sheer love for her could wash away all of her pain and heal the hurt of the last year.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I didn't find out until after you had already left... And then when everything fell apart I just couldn't find a way to tell you. I didn't want to worry you, I knew you had enough to worry about." She said "I'm so sorry..."

 

[GPLockwood]

"Don't be sorry, Sweety," I whispered as I rocked you in my arms. "I wish that there were something- anything I could do or say to take that hurt away. But all I can do is offer you my love."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I'll be fine..." Anna said as she pulled away from him "we should really get going, they're probably wondering where we are already..." She said heading towards the door.

 

[GPLockwood]

After double checking to make sure that you really are up to going out to Anthony's, and that you're not just doing this for me, I take you to my car and open your door for you. I feel a bit nervous, being on a date with you in the first time in a year.

After arriving at Anthony's restaurant, we are greeted by Tony, his wife, and his two children. All of them take turns giving us hugs. Tony is a big man of Italian descent with a huge belly and graying hair, and his wife is a beautiful older woman. Their kids are excited to see "Uncle John" for the first time in a year. I'm not really their uncle, but Tony and I are close enough that I might as well be.

The restaurant is dimly lit, with candles on the tables and quiet music playing as Tony leads us to the back. "It's so good to see you both again," he says with a smile and large brown eyes like a happy dog's. He takes our order personally while his daughter, a pretty little blonde five-year-old, draws a picture for you in crayon on the back of one of the menus. The whole family is genuinely happy to see us.

Deciding that our first dinner together should be as romantic as he can make it, he sends both of the children to bed and pours us both glasses of his best wine, and then leaves us in peace to talk in the dim candlelight.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Anna drank a bit of her wine before saying anything "so what do you think you want to do after you leave the military?" She asked "Do you have any ideas yet?" Anna still wasn't sure what to say, she didn't want to talk about all the horrible things that had happened during their time apart, so she tried to focus on the future instead.

 

[GPLockwood]

"Well," John mused, "I've got an appointment next week to talk to someone at the University about perhaps getting a degree in counseling or social work. I'm hoping to get a job where I can help people, and most people in the medical fields are so stressed out by their work that it's hard for them to give their families the attention they deserve. I already feel as though I've been away from you for too long. But with my Veteran's Preference in hiring among federal government jobs, I should be able to land a decent job at a Veteran's Administration center counseling other vets."

John took a sip of his wine, smiling in obvious appreciation. This was very good wine, and probably extremely expensive.

"So tell me about your studies. The fact that I found you in the library seems to tell me that you've probably been getting good grades. How much longer before you graduate, and what are your plans for after that?"

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I just have to finish this semester, as long as I pass everything." She said "it's been a long four years but it's almost over so I guess that's good..." Anna sighed "I was offered a job but it would too far for me to commute from my apartment. I'm surprised I even got an offer though, it's not easy finding a job teaching... I wouldn't be starting until the fall if I do take it..."

 

[GPLockwood]

"Well, Anna," John said. "The GI Bill will pay for my school wherever I go. If you find a job near a university- just about any university- I'll be able to go to school there. I don't want you to have to worry about us being separated. I can totally move for you."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Yeah but I can't really move. It's hard to find an apartment anywhere it seems and I don't think I can afford it right now." Anna sighed "and there's also the wedding to worry about, unless we just put it off even longer... I don't know what to do. I don't want to ruin your plans, I'll find a way to work around what you want."

 

[GPLockwood]

John's eyes sparkled in the dim candlelight. "You're forgetting that I've been working for a year overseas, while receiving combat pay, and hardly spending any of it. I've got enough money in my savings account that neither of us will need to worry about money for a bit. And trust me, Anna. I haven't forgotten about our wedding."

Tony arrived, beaming at the young couple as he brought them plates heaped with delicious food that he had lovingly prepared himself. Heaps of garlic bread and salad were piled upon the table and more wine was brought. Knowing that he was going to be driving, John finished his glass and then asked for water to drink with the rest of his meal.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I still have to pay back loans though and funeral costs..." She said "I can't ask you to help with any of that. It was my stuff to deal with and I'll just stay here for now while I get that straightened out and then when I can help with things I will." Anna drank more of her wine "I'm sure I can find something els to do around here, it may not be my dream job but I can manage..."

 

[GPLockwood]

"Please, can I at least pay for the funeral costs?" John asked. "I never even knew that I had a child. Please, if you don't let me help you with our child's funeral, I might never get another chance to do something out of love for our child."

John reached across the table, taking Anna's hand in his own. "Was our baby a son or a daughter? What... what was our child's name?"

Tony's wife came by and quietly refilled John and Anna's drinks. Her eyes registered concern for both of them; she could tell that there was something serious being discussed. She disappeared into the back without saying anything.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Anna took a minute to collect her thoughts before saying anything "I never made it that far into the pregnancy...I miscarried about two months in... The funeral wasn't for the baby, it was yours...." She looked down at their intertwined hands "I'm sorry. I was told you were gone, what was I supposed to do?"

 

[GPLockwood]

"My funeral expenses? I'm absolutely shocked that anyone in the military would have contacted you and asked you to pay for my funeral in the first place! The military handles the funerals of soldiers that are killed in combat, and provides funeral arrangements for the bereaved since they usually have more than enough to worry about at the time rather than worrying about the details of the funeral. I'll contact my unit's Casualty Assistance Officer, find out how he managed to screw up that catastrophically, and we'll find out what paperwork needs to be filled out to fix that. Trust me; that's a big enough screw-up on his part that if he's guilty of it he's at very least going to be explaining himself to the commanding general, and he'll be lucky if he's not court-marshaled. I can't believe that my chain of command let that happen!"