Troy.

I've been in the Middle East for two years now. I missed two Christmas and I missed my sisters wedding. Things were getting a little crazy over here. Our team got bombed twice and I've got shot at more times than I can count. Thankfully nobody has really got injured.

I thought about Brie constantly. I wondered what she was doing, if she missed me. She writes me a lot of letters, it's always nice to hear from her. She told me she should be graduation soon. Taylor was going to move out of their apartment. I don't think she's looking for another roommate anytime soon. I had another year before I could go home for good. Some of my team were talking about reenlisting again. I don't know if I could do that to Gabriella.

When I get home I'd have to go back to school to get a degree. Thankfully the Army will pay for it, I know Gabi's already swamped with college loans. She was doing well. She was working at the hospital, about to get one step closer to being a great Doctor.

"Agent Bolton! Let's Go!" Agent Michaels said. He was technically my boss. We didn't have normal Army ranks, we were all technically 'Agents'. I pulled my jacket over my bulletproof vest then put my backpack on.

I ran out and hopped into the car. We were off trying to catch this man that we've been following for a while now. I didn't really know his name, but I knew his face. He was a very dangerous man. We had a lead on him and we were going to go get him.

We drove out into the middle of the dessert. I held the loaded gun close to my chest, pointing down. We took turns standing up, making sure that there was nothing of danger ahead. When Agent Kale sat down next to me, I stood up. I kept my gun pointed out. I looked around, making sure everything is clear. I saw a box on the side of the road. "Box to the left Agent Michaels." I yelled down. The truck immediately stopped. Somebody got out to check it.

"All Clear!" They hopped back in the truck and we proceeded to our destination.

It took us an hour and a half to have the place surrounded. I was apart of the first group to infiltrate the building. We secured all the guards, apprehending them. The next group rolled in. A spray of gunfire sounded and all the men dropped to the ground.

"WE GOT HIM." Agent Michaels yelled into our walkie-talkies. We got him and a couple of his men under custody. We were met with 6 or 7 squads to take away all the guards.

We headed back to the main American base camp to turn in the man we had. Before we even got there, word got out and there were cameras surrounding the building. We all filed in and the president offered us to stay there for the next couple of days. We each got phone calls to call our loves ones.

It was always hard for me when I just had only one call. Do I call my fiancée or my mother? Sometimes I'd call both. But this time was different. Each room we stayed in had separate phone lines. We each got a room to ourselves in the big building.

After I took my shower and we had dinner I went straight up to my room. I didn't even care what time it was back in the states, I needed to talk to somebody familiar. I chose my parents first. I dialed the house number and waited patiently for somebody to pick up.

"Hello?" My sister Cheyenne answered.

"Hello Mrs. Hamilton." I said with a big smile on my face.

"Who is this?" She said.

I chuckled. "You forgot about your little brother? I'm very hurt."

"TROY!" She screamed. "Oh my god! How are you! We were watching the news earlier and they said something about somebody being captured and I know you can't tell us but I'm so happy!" She said. I heard my mother yelling in the background.

"Yeah, it was my team. Were main headquarters now. We get to stay for a couple of days here." I said. "How are you? I'm so sorry I couldn't make the wedding. I fought so hard to get time off but they wouldn't let me."

"The wedding was beautiful. I wished you were there but I know you had things to do. Gabi came, it was like she was there for the both of you. She misses you a lot." Chey said. "Okay mom! I haven't talked to him in years so hold the fuck on." She said with a laugh, away from the phone. "Mom is being crazy as usual."

"She's just being a mom." I said laughing. "Speaking of being a mom. Do I get any nieces or nephews soon?"

Chey scoffed. "I'm trying but Kyle said he want's to wait for a while. Maybe I'll just poke some holes in the condoms." I chuckled. "I love you Troy. I'm glad you're safe."

"I love you too Cheyenne. Tell Kyle I said welcome to the family and I can't wait to meet him." I sat on my bed and looked up at the ceiling as she passed the phone.

"Oh, Troy is this really you?" My mom said, I could tell she was crying.

"Yeah Ma, it's me."

"How have you been? Have you been eating enough? Do you know when you get to come home?" Mom asked.

"I'm great mom, healthy as a horse. Were safe, at Main base. I've probably eaten too much. We got spoiled tonight. We had real food, not MRE's." I laughed. "How are you? How's Dad?"

"We're good! We miss our baby boy. You never answered my question about coming home." Mom said.

I shook my head. "I don't know yet Ma."

"We talked to Gabi the other day. We were talking about the wedding." Mom said, She was so excited Gabs and I were getting married. She wanted to drag me home by my ear just so we could get married. "She wanted to start looking for dresses but the poor girl is all alone in California. I think Me, Maria, and Cheyenne are going to fly down there to go dress shopping with her."

I smiled to myself. "I'm sure she'd love that. I got a letter from her today. I miss her like crazy. I'm going to call her after I hang up with you guys."

"Oh alright, let me get your dad." There was suffling in the back ground.

"Hello?" Dad said.

"Hey Pop!"

"Hey Troy, how's everything?" Dad asked me.

"Everything's good now. We caught who we needed to catch. Now were staying at Main base for a couple of Days. I don't know what's going to happen next." I said, rubbing my forehead. "What time is it over there anyway?"

"About 8:30 in the morning. Your sister came over for breakfast. Kyle is in Florida for business." Dad said, sighing. "What time is it over there?"

"Late." I stifled a yawn. "I'll call you guys tomorrow. I still have to call Brie."

"Alright. We love you. Be safe." Dad said.

"I love all of you too. I'll be home soon." I said.

We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone. I got up and got a drink of water before calling Gabriella. I picked up the phone again and I called Brie's number. I stifled a yawn as she picked up the phone. "Hello, this is Gabi."

I chuckled. "You really have to answer your phone like that?"

"Troy?" Brie said, sounding like she just got a burst of energy.

"Hello Beautiful girl." I said with a smile on my face.

She sniffled. I knew she was crying. I sighed. "Sorry. I know you hate when I cry but I'm just so happy to hear your voice. I miss you so much." She said quietly, her voice shaking.

"I miss you too baby girl. I got your letter today. I was so happy to hear from you. I've been having such a stressful week." I said, sighing. "I'm exhausted."

"I'm sorry baby." She said, her voice going back to normal. "Where are you? How long do you get to talk?"

"We got the guy in custody who we've been chasing for a while. We're at main base. We get to stay here for a couple of days. I get to talk as long as I want." I said, closing my eyes. "How's school?"

"It's good. I'm finishing up an internship it took for my last semester. Professor Thorne said it would be a great opportunity to help me get into the official medial program." She said. "Do you know when you're coming home?" She asked quietly.

"Not yet beautiful. But I'll let you know as soon as I find out, okay?" I said, letting out a quiet sigh. "I miss you a lot baby. I hope you're not getting used to being without me."

She giggled quietly. "I'm could never get used to being away from you baby." She sighed quietly. "I miss you, laying next to me. I miss your body."

I bit my bottom lip. "Mmm, I miss your body too." I said huskily.

She let out a noise that was a mix between a moan and an annoyed groan. It was very sexy. "Please, stop. I already miss you so much emotionally, now I miss you physically." She let out an embarrassed giggle. "God, did I just say that?"

"Yes, yes you did. And you're killing me here baby." I said quietly. "What are you doing now?"

"I'm just a little late for class." She said quietly.

"Gabriella Montez! Go to school now. I will call you when I wake up baby." I told her. 'I promise baby."

She sighed. I knew what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. She was contemplating. "Fine. You better call me, or I'll be very sad."

"I will, I promise. I love you Doctor, now go learn something." I said with a chuckle.

She giggled quietly. 'I love you so much soldier. Stay safe. It was really nice to hear from you." I smiled. "I'll talk to you soon. Sleep tight."

"I'll talk to you soon baby. I love you." I hung up the phone and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning and looked around. I forgot where I was for a second. It felt good to take an actual warm shower and eat actual food and actually be able to call my fiancee. I took another shower, just because then walked over to the phone. I dialed Brie's familiar number. It went to voicemail.

"Hello My Brie, I called just like I promised. I just woke up and had a nice shower. I forgot how much love warm water." I chuckled to myself. "You're probably at work or at your internship. I hope you have a great evening. I have to get to breakfast then I'm not sure when I'm able to call back. So just in case. I love you and I hope you have a good night. I miss you and I'll talk to you soon baby girl. I love you with all my heart. See you soon." I hung up the phone and got completely dressed.

I walked downstairs and got myself some breakfast. "Agent Bolton, come here. We're going to eat and have a meeting at the same time." Agent Michaels said, waving me over.

"Yes sir." I walked over to the group and sat down.

"As you all know, we reprehended who we had to catch. I am proud of you guys and the president is very proud as well. He had instructed he is going to come here tonight and give us medals of honor. We are going home tomorrow morning Boys. When we get back to Virginia you will all have paperwork completing your dismissal." He broke out in a smile. "Job well done men."

We celebrated and hung out for a while. We had a couple of drinks and played some ball. It was a great day. I got to go home to my fiancée tomorrow. Life was good. The day proceeded and the President just landed and we got to meet him. He gave up a couple of medals and we each took a picture. I was ready to fall asleep around 9. We had to get up early for our flight tomorrow.

I just went straight up to bed. When I got up the next morning, I thought it would be a nice surprise for Brie. I packed up my things and I was one of the first ones to hop on the helicopter. We were taking the helicopters to the airport. We shuffled on the plane. I thought I would be in California the next day but I was so wrong.

We had some trouble flying out from the middle east due to weather. Then I was antsy and the 20 hour flight seemed much longer than it actually was. When we got back to the states, I fell asleep when I hit the bed at the Army Base. I hadn't talked to my parents or Gabriella, because it took five hours to sign the damn dismissal papers, then a whole day to get them verified.

While I was waiting, I helped out with the new recruits, preparing them for what they were up against. There were a couple of guys that I served with that stuck around so we hung out together. Finally after three days, I was dismissed and I got a plane ticket for California. After a long five hour flight, we landed in Oakland, California. I took BART all the way to Fremont and hopped in a cab.

It was weird, being back in the states after two long years. I was excited and nervous and I was more than ready to see my Brie. When the cab pulled in front of Gabriella's apartment, I let out a deep breath. I paid the driver and walked up to her door. I smiled to myself and knocked on the door.

A man answered the door. "How can I help you?"

I checked the door number again. "Is, uh Gabriella here?"

"Hold on a second." He furrowed his eyebrows at me, shutting the door. "GABI! Someone's at the door for you!"

"Who is it?" I heard her say.

"I don't know. Some man." The guy said.

I felt a rush of emotions coming to me, first was jealousy, then anger, then fear. I was scared shitless. What if Brie was seeing this guy? God, I would make a fool out of myself. "That's weird." Gabriella said. "I'll go see who it is." I heard her footsteps come closer. I felt my gut wrench as she opened the door.

"Troy?" She said breathlessly.

I was staring at the ground, I looked up at her. Her eyes were filled with tears. I couldn't tell what kind they actually were: good tears, bad tears, angry tears. I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. "Surprise." I croaked out.

"Oh Troy!" She burst out in tears, flinging her arms around my neck tightly. I wrapped my arms around her, kissing every inch of skin on her cheek and neck I could manage. She was shaking, her sobs dampening my neck and my shoulder where her face hid. She grabbed onto the back of my neck, holding onto me for dear life. I squeezed my arms around her tightly. "Oh thank god." I heard her mumble against my neck.

I pulled away from her and wiped the tears from her face. "I'm sorry I haven't called. I've been busy, flying, sleeping, eating, and doing paperwork." I said quietly. She was just staring up at me. I looked behind her to see the guy staring at us. "Um, Brie. Who is that guy?" I asked, sort of afraid to even hear the answer.

"That's Beau." She said nonchalantly. I just looked down at her. Her eyes widened as if she read what I was thinking. "Beau was in a couple of my classes and needed a place to stay for a little while. Since Taylor moved out I had a spare room, so I offered. We're just friends. That's all."

I let out the breath I was holding. "Oh, okay."

She cracked a smile. "Come in, I want you to meet him." I picked up my bags and walked into Brie's room and setting them down. I walked back out and wrapped my arm around her waist. "Beau. This is my fiance Troy, and Troy, this is my now housemate, Beau."

I held out my hand. "It's nice to meet you Beau." I said.

"Likewise." He said, shaking my hand firmly. "I heard you were in the Army."

"I was in the Middle East for a while, but I got discharged and I'm home for good now." I said, looking over to see Brie with a big smile on her face.

"You really mean that?" She asked, excitedly. "You're home for good?"

I nodded. "I'm home for good." I wrapped my arms around her, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

"Well, I'm going to go to the grocery store. Do you guys need anything?" Beau said, awkwardly.

Brie let go of me. "Yeah, my list is on the fridge, I just need to add a couple more things now. Troy, honey. Can you go get my purse and give Beau a 20 for groceries?" Gabriella called out from the kitchen.

"Of course babe." I walked in her bedroom and pulled out a 20 from my pocket and walked back out. I handed Beau the money. "Here you go."

"Thanks." He said quietly as Gabriella approached with her list.

"I added a few things Troy likes, I put what isle they're on, just in case." I raised my eyebrows. "Don't give me that look Bolton." I chuckled quietly from next to her. "If its more then twenty I'll pay you back when you get back."

"Alright, see you later Gabi." Beau said walking out of the door.

"Can I borrow your phone?" I asked. "I haven't talked to my parents in a while."

She smiled at me and pulled out her phone. "Sure." I went to reach for it but she pulled it away. "First." She wrapped her arms around my neck. I smiled, pulling her against me. I leaned down and kissed her lips softly. She pushed her lips against mine more firmly, stroking my bottom lip with her tongue. I brushed her tongue against mine, losing myself into a long, very overdue kiss.