After the first phase, after passionate nights and intimate days,

only then would he let me trace the frozen river which ran through his face,

only then would he let me explore the blown hinge of his lower jaw,

and handle and hold the damaged, porcelain collar-bone,

and mind and attend the fractured rudder of shoulder-blade,

and finger and thumb the parachute silk of his punctured lung.

Only then could I bind the struts and climb the rungs of his broken ribs,

and feel the hurt of his grazed heart.

Skirting along, only then could I picture the scan,

the foetus of metal beneath his chest where the bullet had finally come to rest.

Then I widened the search, traced the scarring back to its source

to a sweating, unexploded mine buried deep in his mind, around which

every nerve in his body had tightened and closed. Then, and only then, did I come close.

(c. Simon Armitage)

-x-

Ten months. Ten, measly months. But it felt like a lifetime.

Lily lingered by the doors. She picked at the hangnail on her thumb, numbly unaware of the pain she was inflicting upon herself by doing so. Like minded people seemed to be assembling, anxiously keen. They too shared the familiar dark shadows under sunken eyes, bent over by the weight of something not visible by the eye.

Other travellers bustled about, knocking into the statues that waited alongside her by the door. She observed this as it happened. There was a distinct lack of care; people just seemed completely unbothered and wrapped up in their own lives. Noticing the darkening, she turned round to see black clouds hanging overhead, threatening the sort of rain that didn't stop for hours. It could affect landing. She picked harder at her thumb, causing it to bleed.

After what felt like forever, announcements echoed down the loud speaker. A string of digits, though spoken robotically, comforted her. That was his flight. It had landed. He was home. He was coming.

-x-

In the haste of the moment, she'd forgotten to take in their reactions, how it felt. The greeting was almost animalistic in all senses of the phrase; upon the very sight of him, an urge had compelled her to take him in. Between his arms, she smelled must and sweat and grime and conflict and him. Though jaded, Iain's green eyes sparkled as he appraised her.

'Lily.' He just said, repeating himself once. 'Lily.'

'Hello, stranger.' She whispered, a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. 'It's been a while.'

'You have no idea...' He begun, but he'd pulled her in for another embrace, just as fiercely as the last one. Though muffled, she was almost sure of the last few words that followed. She had missed him too, in greater capacities than she could ever have imagined, but she didn't care to verbalise it. He probably already knew.

'Let's go home.' She whispered. 'We have some catching up to do.'

-x-

'So, what was the most memorable part?' Lily placed a mug of steaming cocoa in his hands. Taking it gratefully between his grubby hands, he peered once into the murky liquid before taking a little sip.

'Well, what folk usually go to war for. Team spirit, protecting others. Making a difference on a grand scale. Where we can, of course.' He looked a little forlorn, perhaps thoughtful.

She gave a little frown, joining him on the sofa. 'Nothing more specific?'

'Uh, well. No.' He gave a little shake of the head, almost as if dazed. 'It was an experience, isn't everything in life?'

'Certainly. Speaking of experiences, I was looking forward to telling you that Gem has secured a job.'

'Gem?' His forehead crinkled.

'Yes, your little sister. She has a job as a carer. Isn't that great news?'

He exhaled through pursed lips. 'I suppose it is, yeah. Have you seen her then?'

Lily nodded. 'Many a time. I wanted to, and she was released from the offenders' institution.'

'Good, good. Thanks for doing that, Lily. I should've been here to oversee it.'

'No, you were more than busy. She gets that. That's why in your absence, I thought she might benefit from my guidance.'

'Nice of you, you didn't have to.' He said.

'I know. I wanted to. We can go and see her soon. She has no idea that you're not staying the full eighteen months, I haven't contacted her to tell her yet. It will be a lovely surprise, I'm sure. I'm sure we could go next week if you're up to it.' She gave a little nod, lost in thought herself. They fell quiet, and Lily suddenly remembered about the marshmallows.

'Voila.' She tugged out the plastic wrapper from under the cushion.

He smiled. 'Thought you hated these.'

'I warmed to them after you left.' She replied.

He looked crestfallen. 'I-I've missed so much.'

'It's only marshmallows.' She nudged him, starting to feel an ache rising in her chest. 'Come on, have one. The pink ones are for you. I don't like them.'

He took one, squeezing it lightly between forefinger and thumb. 'They taste exactly the same.'

'I'd like to disagree. These ones seem more... vanilla-y.'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah.'

There was another pause. Her words lingered in the air, staling. Glancing at him, she saw that the marshmallow was still poised between his fingers. 'The world according to Lily Chao.' He gave a weak smile. 'Another thing I'm glad to hear, dare I say it.'

She giggled lightly, head lolling against his shoulder before growing emotional again. 'Oh, Iain.'

In response to this, he turned his head and gently placed his lips to her temple. Only a grazing touch, yet she gave to it, moving closer against him.

Her eyes glistened. 'But, you're here now. You're back. That's all that matters.'