Iron Wood June 7th 2004.

"I wish they would stop attacking."

I shrugged, another battle, another Iraqi city more or less destroyed, the sand got everywhere. It started with an M, this just meant that the refugee problem was going to get worse. Australia said no more refugees, the EU enforced their no refugee policy at gun point, as in 'machine guns had been used' gun point.

"I just want to spend time with the side of my family that I actually like."

That earned me a hug, June put her head on my lap as we drove home, cameras flashed as we returned to the special district, the tinted window kept it from getting too bad. I could hear the rain hit the top of the car. The gates opened and we were escorted in. Tomorrow I would start healing at 8, and then it would end at 4. I was being given more leeway, and time to myself. Or they had the Thinkers figure out how to heal more people more efficiently. I didn't really pay attention to individual people. I could heal at range so I just kind of did what I was told.

It was really kind of a Zen job, just focus on the power and space out and daydream. I stared at the woman cuddled next to me.

"Why me?"

She opened her eyes.

"Woody, what are you talking about?"

"Why me? Us I mean, looking back on it we just kind of rushed into it and-"

She rolled her eyes.

"I knew what I wanted and I went for it, I have no regrets Woody."

"But I'm, you know a-"

A snow ball hit me in the face, my wife blew her cryogun.

"Really?"

"You left that life behind, you're with me now, you're not on the battlefield, you're not in a warzone, you're with me."

"And that brought the Nine on your head."

She shrugged.

"I'm going to admit that whole thing gave me nightmares, the media are assholes, and my private life is more or less dead, but I have Juno and Justin and you. I'm happy."

"But you could have had, you know anyone."

"Heh, heh."

June started laughing.

"What?"

"I'm over 6 feet tall, big guy, I'm freaking huge. How many guys do you think were willing to overlook that, and acne god I had a really bad fucking case of it."

"But your, um..."

"Yes my tits are glorious."

She winked.

"But I was pudgy and self conscious and I wasn't allowed to do anything, my entire life was planned out the moment I was born. I left that behind when I got with you and I'm a lot happier for it. I like being a mother, I like playing peek-a-boo with my children, reading them bedtime stories and being silly."

"And why me?"

She stopped.

"Because you and I are alike... I was alone, lonely you know? and... look, I may have a, um thing for robots."

"Really?"

She blushed.

"Yeah... so um... that was a bonus... but I got to know you and... you're not a monster, you can be a bit cranky and crusty and tired, but you can also be kind and nice and generous. I can watch cheesy cartoons with you, without you judging me, I can read old comic books and dance to weird music. I can be, well me around you."

"Oh."

"And god, the se-"

The car stopped.

"Daddy's home."

June got up.

"Come on, this is where you belong, this is home now, just be here with me."

I got out of the car and hugged my children, Juno smiled.

"I made finger paintings."

"I can't wait to see them."

And to my surprise I meant every word.