This is an AU fic, and the very first one I attempted. I'm just going to rate the whole think NC-17, because I will eventually get a bit raunchy, when? Well that depends on the inspiration my husband provides, lol!

Jason is 30, and a Staff Sergeant in the US Army. His wife Elizabeth is 28, their sons, Cameron and Jake are 7 and 5 respectively. They have been married for nine years at this point. *deep breath* OK, here goes nothing!

Welcome Home, Daddy!

Chapter 1

January 23, 2007

"You know, sometimes I wish you weren't quite so good at your job.', Elizabeth said with a slight catch in her voice.
Jason looked up from the rucksack he was packing, "Why is that, babe?"
Elizabeth stopped rolling his green boot socks and gave him a small smile, "Because then you wouldn't always be on the first plane out."
"It's only a year, sweetie. We've done this before, it's gonna be ok."
"I know. I know you're going to be fine and I knew what to expect when I married you...', Elizabeth said as she walked around the bed, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back, "I'm just gonna miss tripping over your boots on the way to the bathroom at night.", she chuckled.
"Well, if you would put them away for me...", Jason teased as he turned around in her arms.
"Brat!"
"But you love me.", Jason said as he buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent. 'Strawberries and vanilla...', he thought, loving the way she always smelled and knowing he would take that smell with him when he left. "Come on, let's go feed the boys, then you can show me how much you love me."
Jason smirked at the look on her face, and before she could say anything, he left the room, calling for his boys.
"Cam, Jake! Who wants pizza?"
"Pizza!" "YAY!"
Jason smiled as he grabbed the phone, "Pepperoni, guys?", looking down at two pairs of blue eyes. A chorus of "Yes, Daddy!", assaulted his ears as he laughingly dialed the familiar number.
"Alright, you two. Go into the living room and pick up your toys. Then go put on your pj's and we will have movie night with our pizza.", said Elizabeth coming into the kitchen.
"Come on, Jakey!"
"I wanna pick the mobie!", shouted Jake as he ran after his older brother as their parents smiled after them.

Later that evening

"Well, that's over. Let's get these two monkeys to bed.", said Elizabeth over the sleeping heads of her sleeping boys, both of whom were curled up against their father. She took a mental snapshot as she stood up to pick up the little boy nearest to her.
"No, let me. I got it.", said Jason, shifting slightly to pick both boys up. He followed Elizabeth down the hall, reveling in the feeling of his sons in his arms as he waited for Elizabeth to turn down the blankets on their beds.
"Here, give me Jake, then you can tuck Cam in."
Jason nodded, swallowing the lump that was already forming in his throat. Walking over, he laid his oldest son down on his bed. Cam sighed and opened his eyes as he felt his father laying him down, 'Night Daddy, I love you.', he mumbled sleepily.
"I love you too, buddy. I love you so much.", he whispered as he smoothed Cam's light brown curls off his forehead. Smiling softly, he straightened and went to take Jake from his mother's arms.
"I not sleepy, Daddy, I'm 'wake.", said Jake with a jaw-popping yawn.
"I know, buddy, I know.", Jason chuckled as he put his sleeping son down on his bed. "I love you, Jakey, I love you.", he said softly as he placed a kiss on his son's chubby cheek.
As he straightened up, he felt his wife's arms wrap around him.
"We make some good looking kids", said Elizabeth, "they look just like their daddy."
"He must be a good looking guy.", Jason smirked, putting his arm around her shoulders as they left the boy's darkened bedroom, shutting the door behind them.
"Eh...he's alright", she teased, "if you're into wicked hot soldiers."
"Oh yeah?", Jason said, walking her backwards down the hall to their bedroom, "Too bad, you're stuck with me.", he teased back, grabbing her suddenly and tossing her into the middle of the bed.
"Yep. Too bad for me.", Elizabeth teased back with a giggle.
"Jason?", she asked, rolling over onto her stomach as she watched him get his uniform ready for the 9 am formation that would mark the beginning of their seperation.
"Yeah, babe, what is it?", he replied, going over his mental checklist one more time, "I think that's it. If I've forgotten anything..."
"I know, I'll send it to you. But, Jase? You never forget anything." Elizabeth said with a laugh. "You are one of the most organized people I know. Anyway, if I remember correctly, didn't you say something about me showing you how much I love you?", she said as she made her way to the end of the bed.
"Oh, yeah. I think I remember that. Come here and show me, wife.", Jason laughed as he bent down to kiss his wife.