Not All is Fair in Love and War

Chapter 11

That week flew by for both of them. Hailey woke up one morning to see Lomi waiting for her to get up.
"Good morning Hails." He called to her.

Hailey smiled at Lomi's warm and loving tone in his first words to her for the day. It made half her heart swell.
"Good morning- how did you sleep?" She responded- her tone matching his.
"Very well" Lomi said with a nod.
"Good- how do you feel?" She asked- changing her tone to concern and then trying to brace herself for his answer.
"Better." He said with a smile but it made Hailey's smile diminish because of what it meant for her.
"Good- Because then I have to take you back today." Lomi's smile faded just as quickly as hers had- he knew this was coming but he didn't want to leave.
"When?" He asked sounding slightly pained.
"The sooner the better to tell you the truth." She admitted.
"Oh, yeah- of course." Lomi drops his head and runs his hands through his hair trying think of something good to say then he looks at the ground and sees her feet he looks up and Hailey is standing right in front of him and the sun rose up and bathed them in the gorges pink-orange and yellow light. The wind whipped around them and tousled her hair. Now her eyes once again went to bright purple which Lomi had figured out must have meant love because only when she looked at him did her eyes go that color but for Hailey- what she saw wasn't just a handsome face and a ripped, heavily muscled body (not that it didn't hurt anything that he had those things) but what she did see behind those intense green eyes was a man she adored and admired- he had all the attributes she wanted- she felt so safe and secure around him- but she had to admit- the timing was horrible. And she couldn't ignore the fact her heart was not unified in these glorious feelings. Because while Lomi offered her comfort, friendship, support and now love, she just...couldn't help but feel like her heart was torn.
But she just enjoyed the moment- the warmth of the sun on her skin and Lomi's hand on her cheek- his thumb gently caressing her face. She leaned into his touch trying her best to soak in this moment. Then they kissed and thank goodness she was outside the pool because if she hadn't things would have gotten out of control. She finally pulled away and whispered-
"I love you." She couldn't help herself from saying it. Lomi smiled and whispered back-
"I love you too." And kissed her again. Hailey pulled away and started to tear up. She didn't want him to go but she knew she had to get him back.
"Please don't cry, I hate it when you cry- it's the worst kind of hurt." Is all he could say.
"I need to get you back- you are healed- you need to be with the squad. I can't keep you here like a pet in a cage. I need to finish my mission- and you need to finish yours. I just hope it doesn't take too long to… see you again." Hailey said into his chest as they held each other.
"Couldn't agree more." Lomi said as he kissed the top of her head.

Hailey went into her tent and changed and came back out with her satchel and let it into the water.
"Come on- get in." Hailey put on a brave face and forced a smile.
"Can you promise me one thing?" Hailey asked before he got in-
"What?"
"Don't try to find me again- it nearly got you killed. I can't be everywhere at once so just stay safe and lay low, please Lomi- I don't know what I would do if something did happen to you. Promise?"
"I promise." He assured her before he got in.
"Thank you." She spread her wings and lifted off. She flew for a while and in big circles to disorient him so he couldn't find his way back to her island as well as try and confuse anyone else that might be watching. She gently put him back into the ocean and came into the water herself.
Then they swam together- holding hands until they were within a safe distance of the hide out. She sat on an outcrop overlooking the sight. Lomi sat next to her and put his arm around her. It would be the last time they could be together like that for a long time. He kissed her goodbye while she gave him notes for the commander as well as a gift for him- it was his third dog tag that had "Your Hailey" engraved on it. She swam away and disappeared- determined to finish her mission and to see him again as soon as she was able.