"Hey, stranger." I heard from behind me. I turned around to see Toni right behind me, in pajamas holding two beers. (Only Toni would do that)
"It was supposed to be a surprise." I told her as she hugged me. She snickered.
"Really? I fought in a war, if you haven't forgotten. I'm very alert."
"Ah, yes, I remember. I was there with you, knucklebrain." She looked at me, one eyebrow raised, and said,
"Knucklebrain? Excuse me, Jed, but the only reason I would be a knuckle brain is because of the many times you sent me out as bait." she smacked me lightly and slowly gave me a light kiss. This is what I loved about coming home. Toni was basically what kept me fighting, even after our war. She and…
"Dada?" I heard, along with footsteps down the stairs. "Dada!" the little ginger haired girl came running toward me and I caught her in a hug. She laughed as I spun her around.
"Mommy, look Dada's back!" said the toothless little three year old. Toni laughed and put her arms around my neck.
"Yes, Lyssa, I saw." Toni gave me a kiss on the neck and smiled.
Yeah, even though the war was long gone, these girls of my were a reason to keep on fighting.
