October turned in to November. Charles along with molly and Sam were spending the weekend with his parents for there annual fireworks party. Molly was helping Sarah with the food. Sam was also suppose to be helping however as soon as his cousins had arrived he had abandoned the kitchen in favour of turning the living room in to fort. Charles along with his dad and older brother were putting the fireworks out so they were ready for sun set.

"so how is everything" Sarah asked pouring 2 cups of tea from the pot on the table.

"okay I guess. He still wont talk to me. He did admit that he was in Afghan at least. But he is still hiding something I can tell" it felt good for molly to talk so someone.

"I am sure he will tell you when he is ready. He always was poor at talking about his emotions and what was going on. You of all people should know that." Sarah smiled at molly

"I guess. Its just I want to help him so much but he keeps shutting me out, I don't know what more I can say"

At that moment the men walked in to the kitchen. Sarah smiled at her husband

"mostly. We ran out of space so we have a few more to go out later"

"excellent" Sarah handed her husband and sons a coffee each.

The sun began to set at around 5 30 and by 7 it was completely dark and ready for fireworks. Rather than his dad Charles brother Andrew had offered light the display. He said that it would be better than standing next to a bunch of kids making silly noises at the fireworks every 30 seconds.

The display would be split in to two halves. With most of the big and loudest fireworks first and then supper and to finish the smaller but no less impressive fireworks. The first lot of fireworks were loud and colourful. Molly could see with each rocket Charles was taken back to the battle field. She reached out taking his hand. Once the first lot of fireworks had been set off they went inside for the food. It was simple bonfire fayre of baked potatoes with hot dogs and burgers as well lots of other nibbles and snacks. The children had hot apple juice to drink and the grown ups hot apple cider.

Molly hugged Charles. "you okay" she smiled looking up at him.

"yes why wouldn't I be" he snapped wishing she would stop asking him that every 5 minutes

"oh no reason. Anyway will you sit inside with me its a little nippy outside and I aint feeling so good"

He smilled agreeing to stay inside with her. He looked at her as she walked off to get another drink. He noticed that she was drinking the soft stuff, she never did that, and there was something different about her. She had a glow around her. He couldn't put his finger on it.

"mum" he called "I hope you don't mind but me and molls are going to stay inside. She aint feeling so good and its a little nippy out"

"is that what we are saying now little bro" Andrew called from the other side of the kitchen " I seem to remember you saying a similar thing with Bex" he grinned

"shut up drew" Charles growled aware that molly was in the room

Andrew held his hands up "hey just saying"

"right everyone outside" Sarah smiled ushering her family outside

Charles and molly headed upstairs to his old room. Sitting on the old sofa and with a blanket tucked over them they settled down to watch the fireworks. Even with the sound duller through the double glazing molly could still see the fear rising in Charles eyes with each firework that went off. Then a loud bang from another display went off that echoed loudly all around, making even molly jump a little. Charles jumped right up and sat on the floor behind the bed hiding from sight and trying to block out the sound. Molly turned to see her husband cowering like a small child. She walked over to him, kneeling down by his side she slowly pulled him close to her and held him.

"Charles" she whispered.

He shook his head

"let me help you please" she whispered pleadingly kissing his head

Again he shook his head defiantly he hated her seeing him like this.

At that moment they heard Sam coming up the stairs

"daddy" he called "where are you daddy"

Charles shrunk back in to the shadows he was okay with molly seeing him like this just. But he really didn't want his son to see him broken and scared.

Molly went out on to the landing to greet Sam.

"Daddy's not feeling too well." She held out her hand and lead Sam to his room. Tucking him under the covers she planted a kiss on his head.

That night long after the fireworks had ended and everyone had gone to bed, molly and Charles both lay awake staring into the darkness and listening to the loud silence.

"it was awful in Nepal" Charles broke the silence "as soon as we had a area clear the after shocks would bring it all down again we lacked basic equipment or hygiene maintenance. The roads were impassable. People were just dyeing of disease there was nothing we could do."

Molly reached out sliding over she put her arm around Charles as best as she could and held him close. "Charles" she felt his pain. Afghan had been a hell hole and they all knew it but at least they had known what or who they were up against. Not knowing when a aftershock would hit must have been hard.

Charles continued "we were then sent to Afghan on a mission. We were based in a ANA base in Kabul. Azizi was there. We were all sent to this compound out of town but Azizi betrayed us to the Taliban. He was shot and killed in front of me but we couldn't escape sandstorms on one side and the Taliban on the other. When we then got out we were sent to this other compound in town. We had just given the all clear when one of the SF guys we were with was on the roof. A explosive was set off . he was blown off the roof. He died in font of me. He was my friend. You remember Elvis"

He began to sob. Not the loud wails that a infant would make but soft silent crying tears rolling down his cheeks. Molly held him close tears rolling down her own cheeks. She was heart broken for her husband. He must have been falling apart bottling it all up. She was also sad that he kept it to him self for so long.

Some how they both must have gotten to sleep as molly awoke to hear the grandfather clock in the hall strike 5 am. She looked over at Charles who was still asleep next to her. She carefully slid out of the bed not wanting to wake him. She tiptoed over to the en suite splashing water on to her face she looked in the mirror. She had to tell Charles soon. She looked down at her growing belly, the little life growing inside.

Leaving the bathroom she found Charles awake and sat up in bed. Taking a deep breath she braced her self. "Charles I have to tell you something" ...