Chapter Two is here.

March 14th, 1975, Forget-Me-Not-Valley

1975073

I don't know why I'm writing in this stupid thing…Scratch that, yes I do. I'm doing it because that stupid psychologist told me to. Told me it would help me come to terms with my experience in the POW camp, advice from the same man who "helped" (and I use that term loosely) me "remove myself from my actions". He wants me to write down my feelings, thoughts, actions, and emotions almost every day, if not every day.

Good news I suppose, I didn't have a nightmare about the camp last night, its first night in a while I haven't had one. In truth I'm not sure if it's just being on the old homestead or being near Celia.

Speaking of Celia, she was everything dad told me and more. Asking her out was the hardest thing I've ever done. It almost makes me miss 'Nam. Back there everything was certain, it was kill or be killed and I was always the killer. With Celia, she was half the equation. Her emotions meant just as much, or more, as me asking her.

Signed,

Phoenix,

Damn, I've got to stop doing that.

Signed,

Jack Logan

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March 14th, 1975,

Dear Diary,

Jack asked me out! It was actually kind of weird, I had barely known him ten minutes when he did. Of course he had his own reasons for asking me. I want to get to know him better and I also want him to think of me as something more than a girl in a picture, I want him to know the real me.

Maybe this will go somewhere, maybe it won't. I just don't want to be alone anymore, but I'd rather be alone than with any of the guys here in the valley. Gustafa is a hippie who I don't really see having a future. Griffin is a little on the old side and not much of a talker. Rock is a moron. And Marlin thinks he's the Goddess's gift to women, but is being chivalrous by only wanting me. It's creepy to be honest; I don't think he knows that I notice the looks he gives me.

Oh well, I'm don e venting for now. I've got to get work done today so I can what Jack is up to.

Celia,

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As Jack stepped out of his house in the morning he could tell it was going to be a beautiful day. He felt as if he was where he belonged once more. He looked around the farm and could see no signs of life, except for his dog Aiko, who was sleeping half outside of the doghouse. Most importantly, Jack felt his father's presence even though he wasn't there. Jack knew that every building was hand built by his father. Jack knew he couldn't replace him, but Jack just wanted to be home.

"Hiya Takakura," Jack said fairly loud when he saw his father's friend leaving his own house.

"Hello Jack, it's been a long time," Takakura said, "I was beginning to think I wouldn't see you again before I pass,"

"You've got years until that happens," Jack said trying to hide his sadness at how far his father's friend had fallen since he was a kid.

"Enough about that, what are your plans for the farm Jack?" Takakura asked

"I want to grow some crops first, and then move up into some animals," Jack said brightening up the talk of the farm.

"Well, then you'll need this," Takakura said before tossing Jack several packets of seeds rubber banded together, "Tools and in the shed where they've always been, now get to work,"

"Will do!" Jack shouted running off the tool shed to get what he needed. He knew it would be a long day but he needed to make money somehow. He wasn't just back here for a week or two anymore, the valley was once again his home and he would do anything to keep his life here.

Jack walked to his truck with his hoe and water can in hand, his lunch and his seeds in his rucksack, he was ready to work.

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Celia work up ready to work, she loved working on Vesta's farm. It not only gave her a sense of purpose but leaving the city improved her health greatly. Celia had always been frail growing up but moving out to the country seemed to help her immensely.

Walking down stairs Celia heard the clattering of plates and silverware.

"What's for breakfast Vesta?" Celia asked hearing her stomach growl.

"Just some scrambled eggs and toast," Vesta said scooping eggs onto Marlin's plate.

Celia just nodded and got herself a plate and silverware. She never knew how long it would be between meals so she always found it worth it to eat a hearty breakfast.

"What's the plan for today?" Celia asked Vesta wanting to get a time frame to see Jack.

"Marlin has to fix the vents on the greenhouse and you and I have to water the fields, we should be done before noon," Vesta said instinctively knowing why she asked.

"That sounds like a plan," Celia said with a smile before turning her full attention to her breakfast

I wonder what Jack's doing today; I imagine he can't have too much to do today. He is just starting out so I imagine it's just some planting. Oh well, hopefully I'll see him later. Celia thought while eating.

"When you're done meet me outside and we can get started," Vesta told Celia while walking out the door.

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"Well, that didn't take too long, " Vesta said smiling, "You're free to do whatever you want now Celia,"

"Thanks Vesta!" Celia shouted before heading off towards Jack's farm."

It took Celia about half an hour to get there and when she did Jack was nowhere to be seen. She decided to check and see if Takakura knew where he was.

"Takakura, I'm sorry to bother you, but do you know where Jack is?" Celia said after knocking on his door.

Takakura's normally stern expression softened immediately, "He's out in the fields last I checked, just follow the path behind the garage and you'll find him sooner or later,"

"Thank you sir," Celia said happy to know where to go.

Celia followed the directions and went by the garage and followed the path, it wasn't hard to follow it was more or less a straight line through the forest leading to a clearing.

At least I now know why I never saw Nick's crops, Celia thought reaching the clearing. Once there she saw Jack sitting on the tailgate of his truck eating lunch.

"Jack!" Celia shouted while waving him down.

Jack attempted to respond but settled for waving sense he had a mouth full of food.

"How are you?" Jack said after swallowing his bite of sandwich.

"I'm good. Yourself?" Celia responded trying not to seem too eager.

"I'm vertical in a horizontal world," Jack replied standing up from the tailgate. Jack than put the rest of his tools in the bed of his truck and closed the tailgate.

"Are you doing anything tonight Celia?" Jack asked nervously.

Celia smiled at him before responding, "No, I've got nothing planned. Did you have something in mind?"

"Well, when I was passing through Mineral Town the other day an old friend stopped me and decided to throw me a welcome back party held at the Inner Inn. I figured you might want to come along," Jack explained to Celia.

"I think that would be fun," Celia said with a smile

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Jack and Celia talked through most of the drive to Mineral Town. Jack mostly listened to Celia's tales of the valley from the time he was gone. It was starting to get dark by the time they got to Mineral Town.

"Here we are," Jack said parking the truck in the grass next to the inn.

"This will certainly be interesting for you. It's been a long time since you've seen a lot of these people," Celia said sensing that Jack was slightly nervous.

Jack just nodded at pushed open the doors, letting the smell of food and the bright light hit him and Celia in the face.

"Jack!" Ann shouted throwing herself at him in a hug.

"It's good to see you too Ann," Jack said stumbling to finish the sentence.

"Well have a seat; you need to catch up with everyone," Ann started, "Who's this with you?" Ann asked just noticing Celia

"I'm surprised you don't recognize Celia, she lives in the valley," Jack replied with a chuckle.

"Can't say I do, well no matter, both of you sit down so we can catch up," Ann said leading them to a table.

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It seemed as if all of Mineral Town had come to the inn to see Jack. At the moment Jack and Celia were listening to Duke and Doug argue about a poker game they had played a few nights ago. Suddenly Doug began to cough.

"Anybody got a smoke?" Doug said between coughs knowing full well that he was the only one in town who smoked.

"Here you go Doug," Jack said holding out a pack of Luckies to the older man.

"Jack! Don't tell me you started smoking!" Ann shouted at him.

"She's right Jack, smoking is terrible to your health, something that you need to protect as a farmer," Doctor Trent said quite concerned for the young farmer.

"Relax everybody, I don't smoke, I just took to carrying a pack with me where ever I go," Jack said with a laugh.

Now Celia was interested. It was clear to her that Jack never did anything without reason; she was hoping he would explain the reason behind this.

"Now why would you carrying cigarettes if you don't smoke?" Elli, the town nurse asked Jack before Celia could.

"I have something in the truck that will help me explain, I'll be right back," Jack said getting out of his seat and walking towards the door.

"I wonder how he can justify this?" Celia asked out loud to nobody in particular.

"Trust me when I say this Celia, he will find a way," Ann said with a laugh, "But before he comes back, what's the nature of your relationship with him?"

At this question Celia turned bright red; she needed to think of an answer and quick.

"I don't really know. I know I like him a lot and I want there to be something between us, but it ultimately falls on how he feels," Celia managed to get out just before Jack walked in the door.

"Here is what will help me explain," Jack said placing a rifle on the table.

"Okay, but what does this have to do with anything?" Ann asked him.

"Look at the stock," Jack told everybody, "Do you see the names carved into it?"

Everybody was intrigued now; they all leaned in to get a closer look. From where she was sitting Celia could see all the names. It said:

Falcon

Ice

Wrath

Bloodhound

Merlin

Jet

Phoenix

All but Phoenix are crossed out

"Why are these words carved into the wood? And why are all but the last one crossed out?" Celia asked, these were the questions on each and every persons' mind at the moment.

"They're names, kind of. You see, the unit I was a part of during my first tour of duty had a tradition that every rifle was passed down to the person who was there when the previous owner died," Jack started to look somber, "When you get the rifle you carved your codename into the stock you're your KA-BAR. When you die whoever it gets passed to takes your KA-BAR and crosses your name out. I'm the last man on the list for this rifle. When Jet was shot his final request was for a cigarette, because I didn't smoke I never carried any on me. Jet never got his final request granted and I always carried a pack of Luckies afterward incase another soldier needed some,"

As Jack was explaining this everybody had a different reaction. Doug was starting to really appreciate the cigarette he was smoking. Ann was amazed that her old friend had experienced so much death. Doctor Trent was regretting that he didn't join up; he might have been able to save lives as a doctor. But Celia's reaction to the story was by far the most unexpected, she started to cry.

Nobody could figure out why Celia was shedding tears over this but it seemed so simple to her. For Celia this story was so sad because by being the next name of the rifle, she felt the Jack was marked for death.

What was even more shocking the Celia crying was Jack's reaction to Celia crying. All he did was put his arms around her a pull her in for a hug. He didn't say a word; just let her put her head on his shoulder and cry.

"Thank you for the lovely welcome home party everyone, but I think we should be going," Jack said with an apologetic smile.

"See you two around. Bye Jack, Bye Celia," Ann shouted as they walked out of the inn towards the truck. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Jack with one arm around Celia and the other holding the old rifle.

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