Disclaimer: I don't own Army Wives or any of it's characters…I just like to play with them…
A/N: This is AU in that I've created an OC, but I don't plan to get too wrapped up in her – she's really just there to help shed some light onto the Sherwood family and life on post. This is a work in progress, so feedback is greatly appreciated…happy reading!
Chapter One:
"Now, Jeremy, I'm going to be checking my e-mail every chance I get, so let me know about West Point when you get word, all right?"
"Yes, sir."
"All right now, you're the man of the house while I'm gone so…"
Jeremy broke in, "Dad, I've been the man of the house since I was seven."
"I know. Look, I expect you to act like it. Now don't disappoint me."
"I won't."
When her brother walked away, Caroline stepped over. "Carrie Leigh, I expect you to e-mail me too. Keep me updated on life at school."
"Yes, sir." She gave him a hug.
"I want you to call your mother every night," he said softly. "Make sure she's okay."
"I always do." She smiled as she broke away from the hug. "I love you, Daddy."
He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Love you too, baby girl."
Caroline went to join her brother so their parents could have some privacy. It was a pattern they had, every time he deployed. Jeremy first, then Caroline, and finally their mom would say goodbye. Then they'd watch him board the bus and wait for it to leave. It had been like that for almost as long as Caroline could remember – the Post would change, but the pattern wouldn't. She got used to, just like she had with the moving, but that didn't mean it got any easier.
Roxy sat on her front porch attempting to study the notes on Post regulations that Trevor had left her. As she studied, she kept a watchful eye on her boys who were playing on their small front lawn. She looked up to see Finn throw the ball wildly and send it flying in the direction of a woman jogging on the sidewalk.
"Boys!" she scolded, jumping up from her seat. Thankfully, the jogger was paying attention and managed to catch the ball. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry about it." The young brunette smiled and tossed the ball back at the boys.
"No, I'm always telling them to be more careful."
"Really, ma'am, it's fine." She started up the walk and introduced herself. "I'm Caroline Sherwood."
She offered her hand. "Roxy LeBlanc. That's T.J. and Finn."
"Hi boys." She waved at the two boys, who waved back before returning to their game of catch. "Are you new to the post?"
"Yeah." She nodded. "But I'm guessing you're not."
"No, ma'am."
"By the way you use ma'am, I'm going to guess you're Army."
"No, ma'am."
"A wife?"
"Child." Caroline smiled. "Well, nineteen-year-old daughter."
"I thought you looked way to young too be a wife, but I've offended enough people already I didn't want to chance it."
"Adjusting to the Post can be tough, but you get used to it."
"Did you grow up here?"
"No, ma'am. We moved around more when I was younger, but we've been here for the last few years."
"So you're an army brat then?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Okay, you have got to stop calling me 'ma'am' – I am not that much older than you."
"Sorry." Caroline bit her lip sheepishly. "It's a habit. My dad's a Major, so he's very strict on the good order and discipline of my brother and me."
"Major Sherwood." Roxy thought for a moment. "I think I met him the other night – at that promotion ceremony."
"He was there with my mom."
"So a major, which one is that?"
"You mean rank?"
"Yeah."
"0-4."
"Right." Roxy nodded unconvincingly and then pointed at the stack of notes she had left on the porch. "My husband – Trevor – he's been trying to teach me all that."
"Sally Field Can't Make Light-Cake or Cookies But Makes Lovely Gelatin."
"What?"
"It's an mnemonic for the commissioned ranks: Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lt. Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier-General, Major-General, Lieutenant-General, and General."
"You come up with that?"
"Heck no." Caroline laughed. "I learned it that way when I was younger. It really helped, and now I have a neat little party trick – okay, not that neat, but it did impress my boyfriend."
"He on the post?"
She shook her head. "He was, but his dad was transferred to Fort Monroe, so he lives in Virginia now whenever he goes him."
"He in college?"
"About to finish his third year at West Point."
"Older man – you're dad okay with that?"
"Mostly." She shrugged. "Our dads were stationed together a few times when we were kids, so the families know each other pretty well. My dad's biggest concern is that I'll do something foolish like not finish school."
"So you and the boy are serious?"
"Thomas and I have been together since the end of tenth grade, so three years next week."
"That's a lifetime compared to me and Trevor – I've only known him for sixteen days." Roxy's hand flew over her mouth. "I can't believe I just told you that. Not that I don't trust you or anything, it's just that I don't think the rest of the 'wives club' would be cool with that."
"Your secret's safe with me."
"Thanks – I've given them enough gossip as is."
"You'll find a niche here," Caroline assured her, but received a skeptical look in response. "Eventually."
"Hopefully."
"You should check out AFTB – Army Family Team Building – they should have some resources to help too."
"Thanks."
"No problem. I really should get home, but let me give you my number. I'll be home for the summer in a couple of weeks, and I am an excellent babysitter."
"That is good to know." Roxy grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and jotted down the number Caroline gave her.
"It was nice meeting you."
"You too."
"I'll see you around."
"Bye," Roxy called out to the girl as she jogged away with a smile.
Caroline returned from her run to find her house quiet. She made her way to the kitchen where she found her brother. "Hey, Jeremy. Where's Mom?"
"Exchange." He set down the magazine he was reading. "You're late."
"So?" She shrugged, filling a glass with water. "I ran into a new wife – we talked."
"You said you'd be back by 1200 hours."
"I'm ten minutes late." She took a gulp of her water. "It's not a big deal."
"If Dad was here…"
She cut him off. "But he's not, so can you give me a break."
"You can't just follow the rules when you feel like it – it's about order and discipline, Carrie Leigh."
"It's Caroline," she said through gritted teeth. Finishing her drink, she set the glass in the sink. "When did you become Mr. Hardass?"
"I'm disciplined, and you've had an attitude problem since you went away to school."
"Excuse me, little brother." Caroline folded her arms and glared at him.
"Dad's gone, so I'm the man of the house."
"Whatever." She held up her hands in mock surrender and began to walk past him, but his hand grabbed her wrist. "Jeremy!"
"You need to adjust your attitude."
She tried to jerk her hand from his grasp. "Let go." They glared at each other for a few moments before he let go. Caroline shot her brother a disgusted look and walked out of the room. "I'm going to go shower."
Roxy sat on her porch in the morning enjoying the hour before her children woke up. Trevor had left for training at 0600, so she was able to have some alone time. As she sat, she noticed a familiar figure running toward her house.
"Good morning, Caroline."
The girl slowed her run to a jog. "Good morning, Mrs. LeBlanc."
Roxy stood up. "I thought I told you to call me Roxy."
"I know." Carloine quickly made her way onto the porch. "Do you see the two women across the street?"
She took a subtle look over Caroline's shoulder. "Yeah."
"Well, Mrs. Anders and Mrs. Cagle would just love to tell all of their friends that Major Sherwood's daughter was behaving in a disrespectful manner."
"You serious?"
"This place runs on gossip."
"I'm beginning to see that." Roxy chuckled. "You're out early today."
"Compared to yesterday, yeah." She shrugged. "Normally I start out at 0600 when my dad leaves the house, but he left for the Middle East yesterday, so I slept in."
"You call this sleeping in?"
"I've only been up since 0700."
Roxy did the math in her head. "You've been running for forty minutes?"
"Have to keep off the freshman fifteen."
"You?" Roxy scoffed, shaking her head. "Girl, if I had your figure…"
"Because when I look at you, I think 'old hag.'" She laughed, brushing a brown hair behind her ear as she spoke.
Roxy's eyes narrowed in on a bruise on the girl's left wrist. 'Hey, what's this?"
"Nothing." Caroline covered her arm with the opposite hand.
"It doesn't look like nothing."
"It is."
"Look, Caroline, I know we just met, but if someone is hurting you…"
She cut her off. "I appreciate your concern, I really do, but I'm fine. My brother and I were arguing and he grabbed my arm. He forgets how strong he is – that's it."
"So this has happened before?"
"Do you have any brothers?"
"No."
"Well, then let me explain it. Jeremy and I fight – we're siblings and we both forget that we're 'big kids' now. It was an accident – really."
Roxy continued to be skeptical, especially after the partial conversation she had overheard in the bathroom between Denise Sherwood and Claudia Joy Holden, but she decided to let it go. "Okay, but if you ever need someone to talk to…"
"I'll come on by." Caroline smiled. "But I really should continue my run – I'm driving back to school this afternoon."
"Have fun."
"Bye!" Caroline waved as she jogged off.
A/N: So, what'd you think? Good? Bad? Please let me know!