AUTHOR'S NOTE: Story is named for the song by the same title by Kate Voegele. This is just the prologue and this will be my next story after I finish "Red Meets Blue." The idea came from my cousin who served in Iraq about two years ago and the havoc it caused in his marriage.

PROLOGUE

October 2017

He should be used to this. After all, traveling in a plane is basically part of the job description. But somehow, this feels different.

It didn't take long for the plane to descend into the airport and the passengers to shuffle off the plane. With his duffle slung over his shoulder, he walked up the ramp into the arrivals area of Port Columbus International Airport, following the signs for baggage claim.

Taking the escalator down into the baggage claim area, he couldn't help but feel like the air was charged with electricity. His eyes scanned the crowd searching for the brown eyes that had reminded him that there was life back home and the megawatt smile that tempered the sting of nights alone.

As he stepped off the escalator, it didn't take long for him to spot her tiny form jogging towards him, her long brown hair flowing behind her and smile so wide it would've have taken someone a lot stronger to not mimic the expression. He knew he just couldn't wait to tangle his hands in that hair or claim those lips with his own.

She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. He was home. She flew across the crowded baggage area and launched herself at him. Puck dropped his bag just in time and caught her with a chuckle, holding her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Fuck Berry, you would think you missed me or something."

Following her instincts, and not to mention her desire, she ignored his teasing and pressed her lips to his. He didn't have to be told twice to participate. Puck's hands quickly tangled in Rachel's hair and her hands framed his face, memorizing the feel of his warm skin once again.

In that moment, he's perfectly content right where he is – even if it was in the busy airport. With Rachel in his arms, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume and reacquainting with the feel of her in his arms, nothing could be more perfect. He doesn't ever want to stop kissing her. Damn, seven whole months without her mouth had been tortuous.

It wasn't until Puck could feel eyes and whispers at their antics that he broke apart from her. He eased her body down his until her feet hit the floor.

That didn't mean she was ready to stop touching him, keeping a physical reassurance on the fact that he was here and it was not a hallucination. Her hands splayed over his broad chest, fingertips touching the camouflage fabric that he knew that he took pride in wearing but which kept them separated for so many months of the year.

"I honestly can't believe you're here. You said you would."

"I can't make a lot of promises babe, but when I do I plan on keeping them."

She smiled hugely and he kissed her forehead. You might think that his being in the US Army would have made him more of a bad ass and you might be right. But around this girl (his girl), he was putty.

Grabbing his bag off the floor, he took her hand and she leaned against his arm as they headed out the automatic door and into the cool September night air of Ohio. He looked for her little white Prius but came up empty. It wasn't until they were standing in front of his truck that she was able to explain herself.

"Finn drove it here, Mike took him back to his house. You've got good friends."

She held out the keys and he grabbed them. Sure, he had driven the military humvee from time to time, but there was something about being behind the wheel of his old truck that made him smile.

The nearly two-hour drive to Lima was spent with her telling him about recent developments. In the past, to hear her talk so much might have driven him crazy but he relished in hearing her voice, looking over to see her hand gestures and loving every time she giggled.

The army was good about setting up computers with Skype access but it was terrible to have the next guy in your outfit basically breathing down your next for his shot at talking to his loved ones. He and Rachel had had conversations as frequently as he was able – of course, he couldn't give her very many details about where he was or what he was doing but he knew for her to see him alive and well kept her worry dialed down.

As they approached the exit for Lima, he took her hand and gave it a kiss.

Damn, it was good to be home.