It's a secret

Chapter 20

As we turned the corner I wasn't sure if they would be in. Suddenly I thought I should have waited until tomorrow morning when I knew they would all be there for breakfast. But realistically I couldn't wait a second longer. I needn't have worried as the driveway came into view. They seemed to be having some sort of party. My heart jumped, I felt alive for the first time in months. The jeep pulled up, I knew everyone would be staring at it.

"Thank you," I said as I stepped out of the car.

"No problems," The driver replied, waving as he drove off. I stood there staring at the house, the house where I did grown from boy to man. The house that was my home. For a moment everyone stared back at me. Kirsten was the first to reach me, throwing off her high heels as she ran down the drive. She jumped into my arms almost knocking me over. Sandy was hot on her heels, reaching me just in time to steady me. Summer, Seth and Chloe appeared at the doorway of the house.

"RYAAAN!!!" Summer and Chloe screamed as they ran down, throwing off their heels just as Kirsten had done. Summer and Chloe hugged me, which was quite difficult as Kirsten still had a firm grasp round me. Seth came running down, reaching me as Kirsten and the rest let go. He threw his arms around me, and then quickly backed off.

"Sorry, no man love," He apologized.

"I think we can make exceptions," I grinned as he pulled me back into a hug. They were all crying, even Sandy. I had never seen Sandy cry before. It was odd, yet comforting, knowing they were all crying out of joy. The music had been turned off and the people dancing looked around. They hadn't realised what had just gone on, the music too loud. It was then that I saw the face I had longed for most, the person who haunted my nightmares, but shone in my dreams. I was still in my army uniform and instinctively placed my hand on my left pocket. It was where I had kept her picture, apart from everyone else's in my helmet. Though all my family had a place in my heart, she owned it. It was hers, always. It almost stopped when I saw her face, staring down at me. She instantly let go of the man she was dancing with and walked down the driveway. She didn't run like the others, she walked slowly, almost stumbling over her own feet. When she reached me she placed her hands on my cheeks.

"You're real." She whispered. I nodded slowly; her hands were still in position, warm against my cheeks. I didn't want them to move. "You're really here. I'm not dreaming." Tears flowed down her cheeks, her puffy lips, smiling parted showing bright, white teeth. "2 months, 3 days, 10 hours and..." She looked down at her watch. "43 minutes, since they told me you were gone."

"5 months, 29 days, 14 hours and..." I looked down at my watch just as she had done. "13 minutes, since I last saw you. But who's counting?" Her smile widened and my lips curved at the edges.

"You're here."

"Forever." She leaned in at the same time as I did. Our lips met and I can say that it was the best kiss ever. It was slow, not the average 'passionate' kiss. But I had hoped to do it for the past 8 years, I had wanted to do it since she returned to Newport and I needed to do it since I went to war. Because of that I felt more from that kiss than I could from her telling me she loved me a million times over. I wanted to stay like that forever, but eventually we parted. Seth made a move to pick up my rucksack.

"It's fine," I said.

"Come on, you gotta let me do it." I just nodded, he seemed like he wanted to make up for me going to Afghanistan and not him. I would tell me later that he didn't need to. I hauled the huge bag onto his back and looked like he was going to collapse. I laughed for the first time in a long time. I reached out, taking the sack from him and placing it on my own back like it was as light as a feather. Other people had joined us now, a few of my comrades included.

"Ryan, you got out?"

"How?"

"The whole thing was in ruins, you couldn't have, how the hell?" Were just a few of the questions that reached my ears. I'd answer them later. Now I was with my family, back where I belonged and I wasn't going to waste a second of it. I made my way up to the house, Seth, Summer, Chloe and Marissa joined me as Kirsten, Sandy and Julie said goodbye to everyone. I threw my bag down and collapsed onto the sofa, resting my right leg on the table. They sat down around the room; Summer eyed my leg and then me.

"Did you get hurt Chino?" She asked.

"He was in a war woman!" Seth replied, placing his arm around her. Sandy, Kirsten and Julie walked in, taking the spare seats.

"Seth, he's got his leg up on the table!"

"It's nothing, just a little collateral damage." I said.

"Let me look, I'm a doctor's daughter that has to count for something!" I just rolled my eyes and let her bend down and pull up my trouser leg. It would have been a waste of energy trying to stop her. She unwrapped my bandages. She pulled away in horror as soon as she saw it.

"Pretty bad, huh? They said it would take a while to heal. Apparently I'm lucky considering nobody medical saw me until 2 weeks ago."

"It happened in the school?" She asked, still staring at the spot where 2 weeks ago my bone had been sticking out of my skin.

"Yeah." I didn't want to talk about it that much. I hoped they would have just talked about what had been going on in Newport while I was gone. I had been naive. "One of the kid's parents took me in. She thought I was the bomber, so she wouldn't let me go. Her son died in the school. Her daughter probably had too, but nobody had found her body. It took a while to convince her I wasn't bad, but eventually I did and she took me to base."

"Ryan, what exactly happened to your leg?" Seth asked slowly.

"I broke it; the bone was sticking out of my leg." Summer seemed repulsed just at the thought.

"You said 2 weeks?" Marissa asked. I wasn't sure what she meant so I stared at her blankly. "2 weeks since you got medical help, at the base I presume?" I nodded. "So why didn't you call?"

"I was in Afghanistan until yesterday; I couldn't call you from there. Then I got to L.A this afternoon, so I thought I'd surprise you." I gave a half hearted smile, not sure if she was angry at me for not ringing a head. Within seconds she was beaming at me. "Nice surprise?"

"Yes," She replied.

"Great," Summer added.

"Awesome," Seth continued.

"Seth?" I looked toward my brother.

"Yep,"

"Do babies mind getting woken up?" He stared at me confused. Suddenly he lit up.

"Oh yeah, Josh! I'm not even sure he's asleep!" Seth quickly got up and ran upstairs.

"Ryan, I can't believe you're..." Kirsten laughed. "This is fantastic. This is more than fantastic." I smiled at her, she was so happy. Seth returned, cradling Josh in his arms. He looked so much bigger than on the picture he had sent me. I had no idea kids could grow so much in 2 months. Seth sat next to me.

"He's beautiful," I stared in awe at the baby in front of me. "Congratulations guys!"

"Do you want to hold your nephew, Uncle Ryan?" Seth said.

"I'm not sure that's a..."

"Don't be stupid!" Summer interrupted.

"No guys, seriously I've never held a baby. I'll drop him or something."

"Neither had Seth, but I trusted him." Summer smiled at me.

"I'm being serious, I'm really bad..."

"Shut up and hold my son!" Seth laughed as he handed me Josh. He felt so light, so breakable. I stared into his eyes for a while; they were just like Seth's. But he had Summer's nose. He yawned, a little baby yawn. It was amazing. I handed him back to Seth.

"You're really lucky," I said.

"Ha, I wonder if you'd still think that if you were the one getting up at whatever hour every night!" Seth exclaimed, making everyone laugh.

"Can I stay here tonight, in the pool house? I don't really feel like..." Kirsten cut me off.

"Of course!"

"Chloe, are you...?" I turned to my niece.

"I've been living here dummy!" She smiled at me.

"I'll go get changed then," Summer stopped me from getting up.

"Wait here," She dashed off, returning seconds later with a camera in her hand.

"What's that for?" I said.

"You're in uniform." We all looked at her, confused looks on our faces. "Come on, am I the only one who thinks he looks hot???!!!" Everybody laughed.

"No you're not!" Julie piped.

"Mom!" Marissa's cheeks had turned bright red.

"What, he is cute. Uniform or no-uniform! Ryan do they let you keep it?" Julie turned toward me.

"I...erm...I guess."

"Could you wear it sometimes?"

"Mom, he isn't wearing a uniform to fulfil you're sick fantasies!" Marissa had almost gone purple.

"Oh well, it was worth a shot," We all burst into hysterics again. When I'd pulled myself together I got up and let Summer take a few pictures.

"Am I free to go?" I asked.

"You're off duty...for now." Summer replied. I chuckled as I walked out of the house, past the swimming pool and into the pool house.

I was home. Finally. It felt great.