0530 hours…

Soap woke with a start, his internal alarm going off, telling him to wake up and go to the gym to train. He grumbled and pushed his face back into the pillow, adjusting his arm around Melissa's waist. Wait a minute. Soap's eyes snapped open. He didn't move, his eyes roaming around the room. He relaxed at its familiarity. He smiled and propped himself up on his elbow so he could look down at her. Melissa was sleeping soundly, her smaller arm lying over his, only a sheet covering her nudity. Soap remembered the events from the night before and felt his male pride swell, along with other things. He kissed her shoulder, and then went upwards over her collarbone and neck until he reached her face. By then Melissa was stirring, a smile on her face. She cracked an eye open and rolled on her back, Soap never stopping.

"Now this is a wake-up call." She said before he kissed her, pressing his naked body onto hers. She slithered her arms around his torso, pulling him closer. They parted once the need for air became prominent. "That was amazing." She sighed.

"I'd like to think it was." Soap grinned before kissing her again. Melissa moaned, her nails raking over his skin of his back. Soap felt a shiver, then a bolt of heat run through his body. He ran his calloused hands over her smooth skin, sliding one down her leg and pulling it up next to his hip.

"Uh, I wish I didn't have to leave." She complained as he went for her neck again.

"Then let's make the most of this." He suggested, his hot breath running over her ear.

"I like the sound of that." She finished with a moan as he ravished her.

0730 hours…

"You seem upset, my friend." Nikolai sat down at the table. Soap was picking at his eggs before spooning another mouthful. Price was with his wife somewhere, and told Soap he would meet him later.

"You take a course in therapy or something?" Soap asked sarcastically before going for his coffee. Nikolai smiled and shook his head.

"You like Miss Morton, yes?" Soap's eyes darted towards him. "She is a nice girl; I can see why you fell for her."

"Hold your horses; I'm not in love with her." Soap warned.

"No, but you can be. I knew a girl who was just like Melissa. Her name was Anya. She was a nurse in the Loyalist cause. She was smart, educated and beautiful. We were engaged to be married."

"What happened?"

"She was in Belarus, patching up some of the soldiers that had been injured in a recent mission. A bomb went off in the safe house where she was located. She died instantly. That was six years ago." Soap was silent, not knowing what to say. "I never forgave myself for not going with her. But I was badly injured from another assignment and was unable to go anywhere. I feared for her safety, and rightfully so." Nikolai looked at Soap, his eyes swimming with emotions from the memories. Soap could see they pained him. "She was the love of my life, like Melissa will be for you. Never let her go, Soap. Or die trying."

1200 hours…

"Hey!" Melissa smiled at Soap as he walked into her room. "You want to go get lunch or something?"

"I can't, I have to go get prepped for the mission." Soap said, feeling a little guilty "I just came to say goodbye, since you won't be here when I get back."

"Oh." Soap could see her disappointment and pulled her into his arms for a hug, pressing his nose into her sweet smelling hair. Melissa clutched to him tightly. "Be careful out there."

"I will." He promised, pulling away a little so he could lean down and press his lips against hers. Nikolai's story about Anya replayed in Soap's head. He was right about Soap's feelings. Soap didn't think he could classify his feeling as "love" yet, but they were sure as hell close.

"I'll miss you." she said after they parted, her eyes watering a little. Soap wished that he was facing an army of vicious militants right now, anything except his girl crying.

"Three weeks will breeze by; you'll be back before you know it." He said, trying to reassure her. Melissa's lips twitched upwards a little. "I'll miss you too."

"Good luck John." She said. Soap smiled and kissed her again, trying to make it last longer before he was forced to walk out her door.

Slums, Jamaica, 2350 hours…

Soap watched the streets below as Price inhaled his cigar smoke. The team of six was scattered around the slums, waiting for Ursa and Lenin to make their moves.

"You looked a little down on the way here, son." Price said, looking at his protégé. Soap glanced back at him but said nothing. "Melissa left for Arizona today, didn't she?"

"She'll be back in three weeks." Soap replied.

"And you'll be counting down the minutes until then." Price said in a-matter-of-fact fashion. "I know the feeling."

"How do you make it work, with your wife? You're away all the time, aren't you?" Soap asked, still keeping his eyes to the street. Price sighed.

"I miss a few birthdays, anniversaries, and she graciously forgives me. Not that I deserve it in the least. We've been together for seventeen years. That's a lot of forgiveness. But she knows the score, how important my job is. She never questions." Soap was itching for a cigar himself as the smoke wafted around the room "You'll find your own way with Melissa, Soap. Trust me."

"Alpha One, we have movement, over." The radio crackled to life. Price answered –

"Beta One, copy. What's the situation?"

"It looks like they're packing up to leave, sir. There are at least ten heat signatures."

"Roger that." Price grabbed his rifle. "Let's go."

Morton estate, Arizona, 0900 hours…

"Wake up Melissa!" Melissa groaned as the curtains were flung back, the obtrusive sunlight spilling into her room. She opened her eyes to see Lorraine, her old nanny, pick up a tray from the corner table and bring it over to the bed. Lorraine was an older French woman in her fifties, and was hired by her grandparents to help look after her after they adopted her. Lorraine was pretty for her age. She was slim, had strawberry blond hair in a bun, and was wearing a jumper and jeans. She still worked around the house, even as Melissa got too old to have a nanny.

"I thought we could have breakfast in bed together, like we used to!" she smiled, placing the tray down. Melissa inhaled the smell of fresh coffee and croissants. A platter of strawberries sat next to the pastries, looking very ripe and red.

"I missed your cooking Lorraine." Melissa smiled, grabbing the coffee mug closest to her. Lorraine placed the food on two separate trays.

"I hope that's not all you missed." She said, smiling teasingly. Melissa shook her head. It was great to be home. "Something troubles you, my pet?" other emotions must have been showing on her face. Lorraine could see right through her.

"Well…I… met this guy…" she started cautiously.

"Aw, young love." Lorraine sighed with a smile on her face, looking off into the distance. "I remember the fun I had when I was your age." She looked at Melissa. "Tell me about him."

Back in Jamaica…

Soap shot at the helicopter until his gun was out of ammo. But by then it had already flown off too far. Soap swore loudly. It had been a fire fight back there, but Ursa and Lenin were too quick, and 141 had lost two people. All for nothing. They had burst into the building, but Makarov's mother and the Ultranationalist leader were already halfway to the helicopter. Soap remembered dodging bullets as Ursa fired at them with startling accuracy. She was laughing the whole way, like the whole chase was some big joke. Soap was wondering how he was going to explain this to his superiors, and to Melissa. Price placed a hand on Soap's shoulder.

"Next time." Was all he said.