Back at the Campbell residence, Milo returned from dropping Andy off to find the four children sleeping in Andy's bed. He stood their and watched them for a while, smiling. They would all miss Andy so much. He looked at his watch. It was already 8 o'clock. He walked back downstairs and sat in Andy's study. It was her favorite room in the house, so it reminded him of her. He sat there thinking and staring at a picture of their family. Jesse came down and found him there an hour or so later.
"Milo?" Jesse asked tentatively, standing at the door or Andy's office.
Milo looked up. "Yes?"
"Can I come in?" Jesse asked, waiting at the door.
"Sure honey," Milo said, getting up out of Andy's office chair, and sitting down on the couch. He motioned to the place on the couch next to him.
Jesse sat down. "Milo…I'm scared. I mean, Mom's been deployed before, many times. She was in Afghanistan for a long time. But this time it's different. She has you, she has the boys…I'm worried," Jesse admitted, tears running down her cheeks.
Milo pulled her in for a hug. "I know you're scared Jesse, I'm scared too," he told her truthfully.
Jesse looked up at him. "You are?"
Milo nodded. "I'm afraid. But we have to stay strong, like your mother. She wouldn't want us sitting around here worrying about her. She's a strong woman, and I'm sure she'll be fine…"
Jesse hugged him. "Milo?" She said, as she looked up at him.
"Yes sweetheart?" Milo answered smiling.
"Can I call you Dad?" Jesse asked, smiling at Milo.
Milo nodded. "Of course you can Jesse. You're like my own daughter, and soon you will officially be my daughter. I'd be honored if you called me Dad, but I don't want to push you to do anything you're not comfortable with," he said, kissing her forehead.
"I know. But you've been more of a dad to me than my real one ever was. And you treat Mom right. She loves so, and so do the rest of us," Jesse said, shrugging. "So it seems only natural for Lizzy and me to call you Dad, because the boys do."
"Thanks Jesse. This means a lot to me," Milo said, hugging her once again. "What do you say we go make some pancakes before waking the others?"
Jesse smiled. "Sounds good…Dad!"
They walked into the kitchen, and made chocolate chip pancakes, which were Andy's favorite. Once the pancakes were done, Milo and Jesse went to wake the others up. They walked upstairs quietly, and went into Andy's bedroom. Milo picked the boys up, and kissed their foreheads, waking them up gently.
"Boys, it's time to wake-up," Milo said quietly to his sons. "Breakfast is ready."
The boys squirmed slightly in his arms, and woke up.
"Good morning Daddy," Richard said.
"Morning Daddy. Where's Mommy?" Patrick said, looking around for his mother.
Lizzy had woken up by this point, and rubbed her eyes. "She left, remember?"
Jesse took Patrick from Milo.
"Why did Mommy leave?" Patrick asked, on the verge of crying.
"She had to go work in the army," Jesse said. "She didn't want to go, but she had to," she added.
"Is she gone for forever?" Patrick asked, looking deep into Jesse's eyes.
Jesse shook her head. "No, she'll be back, but we don't know when. She promised to write us though, okay?"
Patrick stuck his thumb in his mouth, and lay his head on Jesse's shoulder.
The five of them walked downstairs and had breakfast.
After breakfast, Jesse remember that she had to call Andy's friend. She called up the Mabe residence.
"Hello? Mabe residence," answered the voice on the other end.
"Hey Kate, it's Jesse," Jesse said to her best friend, who was also her mom's friend's daughter.
"Hey Jesse! What's going on?" Kate asked, happy to talk to her best friend.
"Actually, I need to speak with your mother, it's urgent," Jesse said quietly.
"Oh, okay, I'll get her. Is everything okay Jess?" Kate asked worriedly.
"No not really…" Jesse replied as Kate handed the phone to her mother.
"Hello? Jesse?" Walker said after taking the phone from Kate.
"Yes, hello Mrs. Mabe," Jesse said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Don't call me Mrs. Mabe…how many times do I have to tell you that!" Walker said laughing. She heard Jesse crying. "Jesse, are you okay? What's going on?" Walker asked, upset.
"It's Mom…" Jesse said before beginning to cry.
"What happened to her? Is she okay?" Walker asked, very anxious.
"No. She got deployed to Iraq this morning. They called at about 2, and she left at about 6…" Jesse said, beginning to sob.
"Oh no…" Walker said, tearing up as well. "Oh Jesse…honey I'm so sorry. How is everyone holding up?"
"I'm not sure. Mom woke us up before she left, but the boys don't remember it. They don't understand why she had to leave. It's hard…it's really hard. I mean Mom's left before…but we were younger and it was before 9-11 and everything. Now it seems so much more real. The danger seems so much greater. I'm scared…" Jesse admitted.
"Oh I know you are honey, but your mother's a strong woman, and she'll pull through anything, I promise. How's Milo doing?" Walker asked.
"He's been great. I had a long talk with him this morning. Of course he's going to be taking care of us while Mom is gone…" Jesse said, trailing off.
"What is it?" Walker asked, sensing something was wrong.
"Today's December 1st," Jesse said.
"Yes…" Walker acknowledged, not sure what that meant exactly.
"That means Mom won't be home for Christmas…" Jesse said.
"Oh goodness…" Walker said, realizing that Jesse was right. "Don't you worry honey. It'll be okay. You'll make it," Walker said. "I've got to go to work right now, but I'll come by your house after work alright?" Walker offered.
"I'd like that," Jesse said. "Could you bring Charlotte and Kate as well?" Jesse asked, wanting her and Lizzy's best friends, and Walker's daughters to come as well.
"Of course honey. We'll be there around 7 okay? Well I've got to run, but we all love you very much," Walker said before hanging up.
The Campbell family spent the rest of the day sitting in the living room talking with each other. After dinner, Jesse checked her e-mail in her room. She found that she had an e-mail from her mother. She called the family into her room, and they read the e-mail together. Then, each member of the family except for the twins wrote her their own letter.
"Dear Mommy,
I miss you already. It's not fair that you have to go back on active duty when you have a family! We want you here with us. Please stay safe Mommy, and come home soon. I love you so much.
Love, Lizzy"
"Dear Mommy,
I love you so much. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you that enough. I wish you were here with us. I know that you haven't even been gone a day, but it feels like you've been gone for forever. Patrick and Richard have handled it pretty well. When they woke up, they didn't know where you had gone, and after I told them, they wanted to know why you left us. We explained as best we could, but I can tell that they miss you even though they don't understand where you've gone. I called Walker like you asked. She, Charlotte and Kate are coming over later to be with us. I haven't heard from Lu or Lana yet, so I expect that they haven't gotten your message yet. Mommy, I want you to know that I love you very much, and I'm going to miss you something awful. Please be safe, and stay strong.
Love, your daughter,
Jessica Patricia Campbell"
"Dearest Andy,
I miss you so much. It doesn't seem fair that I only got to come home, for I consider your house my home, and now you've had to leave. I know that you didn't want to, and I want you to know that I'll wait for you – as long as it takes. I've waited four years for you, and I'll wait longer. The children have been great so far. The boys want me to tell you that they love you and want you to come home. I love you so much Andy, and I want you to stay safe. Don't ever forget how much we love you.
Love forever,
Milo"
The family sent off their e-mails and then they all crawled into Andy's bed. They wanted to spend time together, and they missed Andy.
