Reunited

Rick Lincoln couldn't believe his eyes.

Drew, his husband, the love of life was standing in the doorway of their living room. For six months Rick lived daily with the thought Drew might not return home alive.

Now there he was.

Rick didn't know how he got across the room so fast or how many steps it took to get there. He threw himself into his the other man's arms and kissed him for all he was worth. The kiss was returned with the same force. He felt his body collapsing with relief and Drew's strong arms supporting his weight.

"I can't believe you're here," Rick whispered, tears of relief filling his eyes. He looked down sheepishly at the floor for a split second, trying to regain his balance.

"It's okay, babe," his husband whispered, their foreheads touching. "I got you."

Having not been in Drew's arms in too long Rick relished the feeling.

For Drew Alister, the feeling of being able to hold his husband again was indescribable. No word in the English language match how he felt. For six months Rick and the baby sleeping down the hall were all he thought about even lingering in the back of his mind as he dealt with the most chaotic and dangerous situation. He dreamt about being home with them whenever he got a moment of rest, cursing, biting back tears every time he woke up still in the war zone.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing Rick's tears. "I missed you so much."

The couple's lips and bodies only parted hearing the sound of their child waking up. Drew looked down the hall with excitement and fear. He was thrilled to see Skylar again but just as scared that the baby wouldn't remember him. He couldn't blame her, six months was an even longer span of time for the twenty-one month old. Drew wanted Rick to come to the room with him in case their daughter was scared of him.

"If you want me to. But baby, she's been asking for you since the moment you left the driveway," he said softly. "Your photos got more kisses than I did. She hasn't forgotten you."

Rick stood near the nursery doorway, out of sight in case Skylar was scared of Drew. If that happened tigers now had spots instead of stripes. Hearing Skylar's excited reception to Drew, Rick smiled and wiped away joyful tears. Being a family reunited didn't feel good—it felt incredible.

Making love to his husband that night almost like the first time again. The comfort of falling asleep and waking up to each other, something they had taken for granted but wouldn't again.

"You know I'm gonna be attached to you like Velcro for the next two weeks," Drew said kissing Rick. "I have six months to make up for."

"Ditto," Rick grinned. He chuckled at the thought of him being on one side of Drew and their daughter being on the other. "I'm glad I went grocery shopping."