Jessica woke slowly. Stretching out she could feel the space next to her was cold and empty. Opening her eyes, she pushed herself up against her pillow. The sun was just beginning to creep through the blinds giving the room a bright orange glow. Looking around she tried to see where he could be but he was nowhere to be seen.

Getting worried she slid from the covers. Making her way down the corridor in to the living room. Stopping she gave a silent sigh of relief when she saw him.

Walking silently up behind him she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him close inhaling his sent.

"hey" he said softly unwrapping her hands so he could turn and look at her.

"I thought you had left" she said whispered

"Come here" he sighed softly pulling her close. "You know I would always, always say goodbye" he said resting his chin on the top of her head. "I just came in to check my gear " he said indicating to his bags which were on the sofa.

"You could have woken me. Maybe I can help" she said looking up in to his grey blue eyes"

"I didn't want to disturb your dreams" he said "and I know how you get if you are woken to early" he grinned remembering how on more than one occasion he had to go and wake her up on Hammersley as she had overslept and was late for her watch duties.

"Hey" she said

"i was only joking" he smiled "Come on why don't we go get some breakfast" he smiled

"Okay" she said smiling "let me just go get dressed" she said walking back down the hall towards their room

Both knew what the other was trying to di and both were pretending to the other that it was working when deep down it wasn't.

They headed to a little café on the Warf. It was a favourite of them all especially after a long patrol especially if they had arrived early in the morning after a long patrol and craved a good coffee and a bacon fix.

Their table was in front of a double aspect window, one overlooked the water and the other the lush mountains and hills that surrounded the city.

They both ordered big breakfasts although neither were very hungry. Dutchy had gone for the full Monty whereas Jessica had gone for the smashed avocado on sourdough with poached eggs and bacon.

After eating breakfast, they took a walk along the Esplanade willing time to go more slowly and their path not to end.

Looking at his watch Dutchy stopped in his tracks sighing.

"We best get back" he said softly

"Just a little longer" Jess pleaded. "can't we just go to the pier"

"okay" he said softly, knowing that he would be pushing it for time but he also didn't want the morning to come to an end.

They walked a little more and stopped at the pier. They lent up against the railings feeling the breeze blow up from the creek.

"We really best get back now" he whispered softly tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I know" she said softly allowing him to lead her away and back along the path they had just walked along. Back to where his bike was parked. Back to the reality of the day.

As soon as they got back Dutchy went to check on the rest of his kit for one final time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything and that it was all in order.

Watching on Jess tried to hide what she was feeling and force herself to smile but deep down she was a wreck and just about holding it together. She busied herself making them both a drink although she didn't really one, it was more something to keep her hands busy.

They sat with their drinks in a loud silence with the only sound coming from the clock ticking away on the mantel. They still had 5 minutes before the taxi he had ordered arrived.

"Cabs here" Dutchy said as his phone buzzed breaking the silence

Standing he gathered his bags up. Heading for the door not realising Jess has one of his bags. He turned to see her struggling to carry it down the path

"thanks" he said easing it from her hands. He watched as she slid in to the back seat of the car

"How are you going to get back?" he asked

"I'll call a cab or get the bus" she said softly "please let me come" she said

"okay" he sighed climbing in next her allowing her to sit right next to him.

The drive to the airport felt like it was over in next to no time, the roads were clear and there was hardly any traffic. They spent most of the drive, in silence neither knowing what to say and each of them too scared to say something as they both would end up in tears.

After checking in his bags Dutchy smiled as they both walked through the airport as far as they could before he had to go through security and to the gates. placing his carry-on bag on the floor he held his arms out.

Nestling in to his arms she wrapped her own arms around him not wanting to let go. As he pulled back, she couldn't look at him as she didn't want him to see her red blotchy face with the tears falling

Lifting her face up so she was looking right in to his eyes he forced a smile not wanting to break down himself.

"hey" he said softly "we said no tears chicken legs" he smiled "this is the Navy and unfortunately, we have to go where we are told and learn to like it.

Nodding softly, she blinked back the tears. "I umm I have something for you" she said her voice still croaky with the tears. She reached in to her pocket and pulled out a little yellow bath duck on a keyring. The duck was dressed in Junior sailor smarts. "My mum gave me this when I started on the gape year."

"I can't take it. Your mum gave it to you" he said softly

"Please I want you to take it. That way you have to come back" she said pushing it in to his hand, close to tears again.

"okay" he said taking it from her, clipping it on to his bag. "Come here" he said softly pulling her in to his arms one last time.

Lifting her chin so she was looking right up at him Dutchy slowly teased her in to a deep kiss. Pulling away she looked up trying to smile. They both wished this moment could last for ever but he had to go through to his flight.

"Come back" she whispered as he slowly teased her in to another kiss before he pulled away turning walking through the security gate

She watched until she could no longer see him. She headed up to the observation deck where mostly plane spotters were with cameras trying to take pictures of the different jets landing and taking off. Spotting his plane, she watched as pulled back from the gate and began its taxi up the runway in in to the sky taking him away from her. She watched until it was a tiny dot in the cloudless sky. She headed back to the exit with no idea on how she was going to get back home before allowing the tears to fall. It was killing her on the inside having to say goodbye, she had told her self not to let herself too attached but she couldn't help it.

She walked outside blinking in the harsh sunlight making her blink. She looked around to try and find the bus stop that would take her back in to the city centre. she looked up as she heard a car horn blast.

"Boss... Kate?" she said correcting herself "what are you doing here"

"Dutchy called said you might need a lift home and a friendly face" Kate said walking over.

"Thank you" jess smiled weakly climbing in to the car

She sat in silence for most of the drive back to her apartment looking out the window.

Kate pulled up outside Jessicas apartment stopping the car she switched off the engine

"Are you sure you don't want to come round for a drink"

"No thanks. I just want to be alone" Jess said climbing out of the car

"okay" Kate sighed "see you on Hammersley tomorrow then" Kate said.

Jess nodded softly before walking up the path. She was greeted by a tabby cat who jumped off the neighbour's car.

"Hey monster" Jess smiled as the cat began brushing its self around her legs

Letting herself in to the apartment she headed to her bedroom. Sitting on the end of the bed she looked around; it looked rather empty without his things on the chest of draws or his clothes. Reaching behind her she pulled his pillow from the bed holding it close wishing it was him and he was here.

so i have done what i swore what I would not do. but this one came in to my head and i just had to write it. i think because its been so long since i had the ideas for Better man i have lost it a little bit. this one once again is based of off a Taylor Swift song on the Red album i was listening to it after it was the Taylor swift heradle song for the other day and i was like this 100% sings a goodbye between military lovers and i also got the idea after watching the trailer for Netflix's Purple hearts (which looks awesome really wish i had netflix)

anyway i hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think :D