Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I was just buried under schoolwork. I wasn't procrastinating, just so you know. Anyway, here's Chapter 26!

Three months later...

Otis hadn't seen his girlfriend in three months. Even surrounded by Pip and the others, he still felt lonelier and lonelier every day. What was on his mind more than anything else was that Abby was headed into a life of danger no one could imagine, and that Otis prayed she would never have to experience.

He was in his stall, staring at a photo of himself and Abby sharing cotton candy at a carnival, when he actually saw her in the picture frame's reflection. He immediately looked up to see a most welcome sight. Abby was now standing in the doorway, smiling warmly at him from across the barn.

But her smile wasn't what had his attention at the moment. She had come home clad in a Marine Corps dress blues uniform of her very own. It was almost the exact spitting image of Otis, except for one detail. Otis's uniform included trousers that were a lighter shade of blue than the jacket. Abby was wearing a knee-length skirt that was the same color as the rest of the uniform. Otis smirked. Looks good on her, he thought.

But before he could even start towards Abby, she was already on him, her arms curled tightly around his chest and her head rested on his shoulder. "Oh, Otie, I've missed you so much!"

"Not nearly as much as I missed you." Otis gulped nervously. "But Abby, are you sure this is what you want? I mean, they're gonna be putting us in dangerous situations, and I just don't want anything to happen to you."

Abby stifled a giggle. "Oh, Otis, that's exactly what you said when we went to round up Bigfoot!" (Otis vs. Bigfoot)

Otis sighed and clasped her hooves in his. "Abby, that was different. When we were hunting Bigfoot, I didn't have a clue what I was talking about. Here, I'm actually able to say that I've been there and done that! And not only that, but you remember that nightmare I had?" (Chapter 19)

Abby sighed dreamily. "That night was magical, wasn't it?"

Otis smiled. "Well, yes, but now I'm afraid you're going to start having them, too."

Abby placed a hoof on Otis's thigh. "But Otie, that's what I have you for." She brought out the "puppy dog eyes". "I wanted this to be an experience we could share. After all, I am getting transferred to Hawaii with you."

Otis couldn't resist. "Oh, all right. But if we ever have to go back to Afghanistan, I want you to stay as close to me as possible. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" Abby said cheerfully with a playful little salute.

"Wait, what?"

"Isn't that what you're supposed to call your superiors?"

Otis chuckled. "Well, yes, but you can still call me Otis, or whatever pet name you may have. Call me 'sir' and I turn around and start looking for Colonel Wilkes."

Abby giggled, kissed her boyfriend on the cheek, and left to change out of her uniform.

That night...

Abby had slipped into her plushy pink robe and had curled up on her new memory foam mattress, the covers puled up to her chest. It felt wonderful to finally get to sleep in her own bed after sleeping on a metal spring cot for the three months she was at Parris Island.

She was about to drift away into a slumber when she noticed Otis standing at her door, clad in his pajama bottoms and spandex t-shirt. It had to be, bar none, the sexiest outfit she had ever seen him in. She laid perfectly still as he approached her bedside, kissed her gently on the forehead, and whispered, "Welcome home, Abby," in her ear.

He was just about to leave for his own stall when a pair of strong but gentle arms curled around his waist and pulled him into bed. A cowgirlish voice then whispered in his ear,"And just where do you think you're going, handsome?"

Otis chuckled. "Should have seen that coming. I guess I'm trapped now, huh?"

"That's right, hunk of mine. There's no escape."

She pulled him deep into the covers, her arms wrapped tightly around his chest, pinning his arms to his sides as she locked lips with him in a make-out session. Abby began snuggling down into the blankets, pulling him down with her. Otis's heart beat faster as he and Abby sank deeper and deeper into the soft, warm bedding. Before he knew it, they were buried up to their snouts.

Abby finally came up for air, put her arms around Otis's shoulders, and gently nuzzled his neck. "Oh, Otie, you have no idea how much I've missed this!"

Otis sighed. "Me too. And I can't tel you how happy I am that we're going to Hawaii toge-"

Abby had already fallen asleep.

I wrote this chapter on short notice. I hope you enjoy it anyway.