It's eerily like the morning before his first deployment, but it is also completely different. He goes for a run in the early morning hours, making sure to check up on Emma, peaches and Cassie before he leaves. on the way out of the garage he passes by his wife's Subaru which is already loaded up with his stuff, because he leaves in the afternoon. He goes on the run to calm the anxiety, about his girls, family and deployment. He returns to the house with breakfast tacos in hand, the same place that's seen them grow as a couple, for the last three years, and now as parents. His girls are anxiously waiting for his return. They sit outside and eat their tacos, trying to distract Emma and themselves from what is happening. They take Emma to the park after breakfast, and watch her play, they make sure to soak it up.
They head home, and watch a kid's movie with Emma, spending their last few hours of family time together. A few hours later they have to leave, Cassie and Luke go through the deployment pack list one last time, to make sure Luke didn't forget anything. He makes sure to give peaches extra cuddles and kisses. The drive to base is anxiety producing, but not as much as his first deployment. Every once and a while they look back at their daughter. Luke drives, so that way he can feel the comforting sensation of the two rings on Cassie's left ring finger. The one that he made for her after the injury, Plus the one that was placed on her finger by him the day they vowed to love each other forever, and meant it.
They make it to the rally-point, where the buses are waiting. Luke passes Cassie his wedding ring, and Cassie passes Luke her's. Luke holds Emma tight, knowing that his little girl will be two by the time he gets home. He was going to miss so many milestones, and events. Like Cassie and his 5th wedding anniversary, their 4th real wedding anniversary. But both he and Cassie knew he had to go, to honor Frankie, and to protect those kids who didn't even get to live in a peaceful country, he thought of his own wife and daughter as well. He made sure to remind Cassie that Frankie's parents were always there, and so were Luke's dad, brother, and Hailey. He made sure that she pinky promised to take care of her sugars, and send him updates of all things, big and small.
it was almost time to board the buses now. They saw a newly married marine board a bus, and saw that marine's spouse be hoisted up by a few marines shouting "one more time for the newlyweds." Cassie leaned on Luke's shoulder and they laughed about when that happened to them. Luke kissed his wife like it was the first kiss after deciding it was a real marriage. He held her. Then he kissed their daughter's cheeks, and told her he loved her, and would be back soon. she told him bye as he was walking towards the bus. He was both proud and crushed at that moment. Cassie and Emma walked towards the bus. Cassie gave her husband one last kiss, and Emma kissed her dad and babbled that she loved him.
He looked at his little family one last time, and hoped he would make it back home safe. he waved to them as the bus pulled away.