When he came home that day, the house was quiet, silent and empty it wasn't until he got upstairs and found Barbara in their bedroom asleep. He was careful not to wake her as he took off his dress blues and got into his pajamas, no shirt as he knew how much Barbara loved to rub her hands all over his hairy chest and torso. Frank slipped into the bed next to her and she immediately placed an arm over him as if to warm herself up from the cold October afternoon.

"You fooled me." He said to her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"You never learn do you?" She asked with a mischievous smile and kissed him long enough to hear him struggle to breathe. "My poor man." Barbara added, rubbing her fingers all over his hairy chest and torso. She kissed him again this time quick pecks on the lips. She loved being in his arms, he took care of her just as she took care of him.

Frank turned her on her back and propped up his elbows and faced her. His blue eyes looking intently into hers.

"I'm officially retired today." He confessed to her. "It was my decision."

Barbara studied him for a while and rubbed a hand on his chest. She was quiet and she could tell he was desperate for her reaction from this news.

"Why?" She asked, "Why did you do it? I thought you wanted compensation for the families of those who died in battle?" She asked again, studying his face and then she turned her back on him.

"I thought this was what you wanted." He said inching closer to her. "You kept telling me you wanted me to spend time with you and the twins." Frank added.

What a relief it was for her to hear those words, yet at the same time she didn't want him to quit trying to compensate for the deceased that he had been trying to get for years. Barbara turned to face him once again and wrapped her arms around him.

"What time are the twins coming home from school?" He asked. "I can come with you to get them, it'll be a surprise." She smiled at his suggestion.

"Only if you wear your dress blues." She replied.

"Okay, I will." Frank smiled and kissed her deeply. "I love you."

"Make love to me Frank." She said, softly placing her hand between his legs making him groan. The next thing Frank knew she was on top of him, and for the first time she was the one making him uncomfortable in bed. "I won't hurt you, I promise."

He surrendered himself to her completely, and for the first time Barbara felt liberated by this special moment with her husband, being a military wife wasn't really as ideal as she thought. He was a shy, intense man who loved her but was often away on active duty, leaving her and the children behind. She knew where to touch him, make him lose his mind and make him beg for more. Frank was moaning between her kisses as she pins his arms to the bed only making him jolt upward.

"Hey!" He said, making her stop.

"You don't like it?" Barb asked innocently.

"No, I mean I do." He replied nervously.

"I'm sensing some nervousness in General Hummel's voice." She said slyly. He tried to cover his nervousness by shifting around and clearing his throat. "I can go easy on you." Barbara offered.

"Don't."