Heyy, well here we are, another chapter finished. I'm sorry it took a while, it seems I've caught the salmonella bug from this big egg recall, lucky me. *rolls eyes* But anyways, Huge props to both Ber1719 and EllieMayy, I owe them a lot with all their reviews for this story. So THANK YOU! Hehe anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter :) I know it was fun to write. Bye!

-Carlene.

...

"Ughh..." Katharine sighed, flopping onto the couch after finally getting Alex and Cole to take a nap.

"Thank you Katharine. I know its a pain with those two sometimes. But, once you're a parent, it's all worth it." Aunt Cindy patted her shoulder before taking a seat in the chair opposite to the couch. "So, you got that package mailed out to Sidney?"

"Yep, sent this morning."

"That's good, the boys mailed him a couple letters."

"Thats cute. I'm sure he'll enjoy them." Katharine smiled, closing her eyes again, leaning her head against the arm of the couch.

"I bet he will. I bet he misses you and the family and even those days when you, him and Eugene would play together from dawn to dusk."

"I'm sure he does." Katharine nodded, trying to think of where the ibuprofen would be located.

"Mhm, so how are you and Eugene doing?" Katharine looked over to see her aunt lean in intently from the edge of her seat.

"We're doing wonderful."

"Thats great to hear. Have you heard anything about him signing up?"

"No, the next time his father is going to check for that blasted murmur is around the first of October."

"Hmm, who knows maybe the war will be over by then." Aunt Cindy shrugged.

"I highly doubt that Cindy. I really do." Katharine chuckled.

"Well, hey, a woman can hope. I really think it'd kill that poor boy to leave you. You two have been damn near inseperable since he asked you out."

"We've been inseperable since we became friends. I think I have more pictures of me, Sidney and Eugene than I do pictures of just me by myself for cryin out loud." Katharine glanced over at her aunt.

"I believe that's true. Well, I see a lot of the same type of relationship that your father and mother have in you and Eugene."

Katharine couldn't help but smile at the comment, "Thank you, that's a great thing to hear. So when do Alex and Cole start school?"

"In a week, I might have to drive them there against their will though." Cindy rolled her eyes.

"I think I could bring them if you want me to. I might be able to talk them into liking school." Katharine shrugged.

"Would you? That'd be wonderful. They listen to you better than they listen to me or Marc."

"I'll have to tell them to listen to you guys too. They should respect you more."

"I guess. It doesn't really matter to me, you're a good person for them to look up to. And they still listen when their selective hearing decides to work in my favor."

"Hm, so your sure I'm not going to corrupt your children?" Kat joked.

"I'm more than sure about that." Cindy laughed. "Well, I should probably get started on dinner. Care to help?"

"Sure." Katharine smiled, getting up from the couch and following Cindy into the kitchen.

...

"C'mon Cole! Get in the car or I'll drag you in myself!" Katharine called from thee drivers seat of the car. Cole was being very difficult this afternoon. "Cole c'mon! Alex wants to get home and so do I

"I'm coming!" Cole yelled back, turning back to a couple of his friends to chit-chat.

"Ugh..." Katharine slammed her head back on the head rest. It was October already and she had driven them back and forth to school every day without issues. But it had to be today Cole picked to be difficult, truth was Katharine was wondering why Eugene had called and asked to meet with her by the river. Why didn't he just come over to her house?

"Bout time!" Alex sighed as Cole hopped into the back seat.

"Tell me about it." Katharine high fived the young boy before putting the car in drive and pulling away from the school.

After the boys were home safe, Katharine made her way home to freshen up then made her way down to the river. She peeked through the branches to see Eugene laying down on the river bank.

"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty." Katharine laughed, nudging him in the side as she sat down besides him.

"Hmm? Oh hey, sorry I must've dozed off."

"No really?" She asked sarcastically.

"Ha yeah really." Eugene smirked, running a hand through his hair. Katharine looked him over, he was wearing a still clean white button up shirt tucked into a pair of navy blue slacks.

"You look nice today." His voice drew her eyes back up to him. His eyes were scanning over her black and white polka dot dress with spaghetti straps.

"I could say the same for you. So what did you want to talk about?"

"Well.." Eugene was lost for words, he knew his dad hadn't found any heart murmur today. But how could he break it to her that he was signing up, that he would be leaving at any time for boot camp?

"Well..?" Katharine asked, her heart started racing. The look on Eugene's face was one of sadness and confusion. Was he dumping her? Did he find someone else? No, it had to be something different. They'd talked about a future together, they'd been together for half a year. Coming up on seven months now.

"Well..." Eugene fought for words, taking Katharines hand in his and stroking her knuckles softly. "I had that check up from my father today."

"And.?"

"And... he didn't find anything."

"Eugene! That's wonderful!" Katharine smiled, wrapping him in a hug which he barely returned.

"Yeah, it is.." Eugene sighed, "But, I've decided, I'm going to go fight Katharine."

"What?" Katharine pulled away, sliding away, putting a painful distance between the two of them.

"I'm signing up tomorrow Katharine. I have to." Eugene looked up into her blue eyes, welling up with tears at every word, her heart breaking more and more with every syllable that escaped his mouth.

"You- You don't have to Eugene." Katharine shook her head, trying to blink away the tears.

"If you would understand, I need to go fight. It's a part of me Katharine."

"No, I do understand Eugene, I understand it all. You care more about your brawn than you do for me, or your family!" Katharine stood, tears falling down her porcelain cheeks.

"No! Katharine it's not like that. Trust me, I love you Katharine."

"But you love to think of yourself more, you don't even care that your leaving me behind, leaving your life behind just to go fight!"

"Would you just please listen for one second Katharine! I care that I'm leaving you, and my family. God Katharine, it hurts so much to see you like this." Eugene sighed, stepping closer to her.

"I doubt it does, why do you have to leave here just to go and get killed? You hate seeing me like this? Do you want to see what would happen to me if you were to actually get hurt or- or die?"

"No, Katharine I promised you that if I were to leave that I'd come right back here for you. You're my world Katharine. It's killing me to leave you Kat, but I have to, I need to."

"No, you don't. You're just caring about yourself."

"I'm not Katharine." Eugene shook his head, "I care about you. But my mind is made up, my dad is probably breaking the news to my mom right now."

Katharine simply shook her reeling head. The thoughts were slamming around like waves in a hurricane. "I love you Eugene, but right now? I need to be alone for a few okay?" Katharine asked, turning to walk back into the woods.

"I love you too Katharine.." Eugene sighed, watching her disappear into the tangle of branches and under brush. He slipped his hand into his pocket, he felt his fingers wrap around a felt covered box. A box he'd wanted to open while down on one knee in front of Katharine. A box that would've hopefully given him the answer to the rest of his life, the answer that told him Katharine wanted to be with him for eternity.

Eugene's hand squeezed the box tight, anger welling up within himself. He'd lost his nerve, what a man he was. Maybe he wasn't cut out for the service, Katharine had made him softer than he ever used to be. He loved her. He wanted to see her besides him the rest of his life, but he'd just screwed up.

"Dammit.." He breathed, slipping a hand through his red hair. He just hoped he'd get the chance to fix this before he left.

...