4 years later... other chapters and stories will bridge some of these gaps :)
Max had always wondered about his father. He went with rusty to join the army when they moved to the USA when he was a baby. But he went Missing in action during an operation in Afghanistan. just like jack. and nobody ever spoke of him.
It was a early summer morning. Max and all the kids in the neighborhood were free from the shackles of school for about 3 months!
Chloe was in the kitchen preparing breakfast while him and hunter (who came over) were playing Xbox in the living room.
"boys! Breakfast!" Chloe called from the kitchen
The boys paused their game and came to the table to eat.
"thank you aunt Chloe! This looks delicious!" Said hunter kindly
"yeah mum! You out did yourself! " said max
"thank you boys! enjoy!" Chloe said happily
Chloe then went to the kitchen to clean up.
After the boys ate they rinsed off their plates and went back to the Xbox.
As they played call of duty they talked about random things.
There was a knock at the door
Chloe answered it and rusty and Indy were waiting out there
"oh hey guys! What brings you here?" Chloe asked
"we decided to stop by!" Said Indy
"come in!" Said Chloe
As Indy and Chloe talked at the table rusty sat with the boys and watched them play.
"just lettin you know that this is nothin like the real military" said rusty with a chuckle
"it's not?" Hunter asked curious
"yeah. Not really. Some of the earlier games and their campaigns were pretty spot on. But when it comes to the newer ones like black ops 4. It can be pretty unrealistic but I will say they did a better job on this one than the past few games!" Said rusty as he watched them playing mw
"how?" Hunter asked
"well for one thing sometimes usually in fire fights we don't see our enemies. So we pay attention to the direction we are getting fired at from. But to be honest. It was pretty boring and we stomped out the taliban fighters that tried us!" Rusty explained
"wow!" Max exclaimed
"cool!" Said hunter
For years max had always wanted to ask about his father but he never found the time and courage to. But he was 14 years old... he had to know.
"Hey uncle rusty. I have a question." Said max
"yeah mate?" Rusty asked
"who was my father?" Max asked
Rustys expression changed as he looked at Chloe.
Chloe's face became sorrowful.
"do I tell him?" Rusty asked with concern
Chloe nodded.
"I just want you to know that your dad wasn't a bad man. Or a man who wanted to be absent from your life. By any stretch. Your fathers name was Mackenzie... he grew up with us in Australia before the civil war. When your mum and dad had you they were very young. Only 17. And when the country began to collapse and the opportunity to come to America was available. We took it. Once your parents made it here. We all moved to this street. And our parents built it up. Once your parents graduated your father saw the chance to make money to support you guys by joining the military with me,jack and some of the other men that we grew up with. When you were still around 2 we did our biggest combat deployment in Afghanistan. It was a long a violent mission. Assisting struggling troops maintain control of the cities they built. It took a toll on your father. But we stayed strong. He stayed strong. For you and your mum. But during one of our most bloody gunfights him and jack were captured among the chaos. And are still m.i.a to this day. I'm sorry I never told you. I didn't think you would be able to handle it. I just want you to know. Wherever your father is. I can guarantee he is thinking about you and waiting for the day he can see you again." Said rusty
Max sat there dumbfounded.
Chloe hugged max.
"I'm so sorry I never told you sweetheart." Chloe said apologetically
"it's ok guys. Thank you for telling me..." max said with a small smile
Rusty and Indy hung around for a while more. And helped light up the mood. Then everyone left and it was just max and Chloe. Max walked to his room and curled into a ball on his bed. Silently crying to himself. Chloe then walked in and laid next to him. The mother and son cuddled each other. Max crying into his mother's chest.
"sh sh. It's ok baby. I'm so sorry." Chloe said as she hugged her pup tight
The warmth of his mother's love kept him stable. Sure she never really told him. But she was the one who raised him and took care of him. She was his mother. He loved her with all his heart. But somewhere in his heart. He felt the need to find his father.
Tbc