Hanson felt better than he had in a long time after that day where he admitted to Aubree that his feelings for her were returning at a rapid rate, but also explained that with the current state of things, there was no way for them to have a relationship together. Key factors included that Hanson was Aubree's commanding officer and she was only a Sergeant. Also, Hanson wasn't ready to move on and needed his kids to be okay with him dating someone else. Plus, Hanson and Aubree were still deployed, and any relationship other than professional was forbidden. Aubree understood and told Hanson that no matter what they were, she didn't care as long as Hanson didn't leave her again because she needed him in her life and Hanson replied with the same words of needing her.
They were at the start of January 2020. Hanson had been in the military for eleven years, and it was still hard for him to process. Many years had passed since he bonded with Toothless and joined up to keep him and make a better life for himself. Ended up with him falling madly in love with Caylee, two kids, and almost married until his fiance got taken from him and now he had deep feelings for Aubree and wouldn't pursue them because of the factors preventing them from starting a relationship. Hanson's biggest was that he wasn't ready to move on. Caylee passed away sixteen months ago, and he accepted it, was a little happier but it didn't erase the pain of her being gone from his life after they had been together for as long as they were.
Aubree was miserable when Hanson was away on his leave for seven days; she hated him not being around but they talked on Skype instant message at night when the kids were asleep. When Hanson returned, Aubree waited until they were alone so she could hug him tightly. Since then, not much happened. Christmas came and went, there was caroling in the chow hall, a tree was put up, gift exchange for some squadrons. Not everyone took the park, Alpha and Blast Wing did, though. One exciting thing that did happen was New Years. The squad was watching the New Years show on TV to celebrate. Hanson was in his cubicle working hard, as midnight struck, Aubree snuck away from everyone to give Hanson a kiss on the cheek, and then Hanson did one better by turning his head before she pulled back and kissed her on the lips.
To say the least, Aubree was beyond shocked and Hanson only winked at her to return to the others before they got curious why Aubree and Hanson were in the cubicle together. Hanson cared about her, and it might have been against the rules, but he didn't care, one kiss wasn't going to do anything. Did it mean he was ready to move on because he didn't feel guilt for doing it? Or was it simply the moment of New Years and they liked one another. Hanson didn't know; he hoped he would discover it soon because Hanson knew it wasn't fair to Aubree to make her think there was something going on officially between them when there wasn't. So far, he hadn't figured it out, but he didn't avoid Aubree this time which kept her happy.
Tonight there was going to be a small after-dinner show in the chow hall, Hanson would be joining his squadron since his workload was light for the time being. That is where everyone was now, chow hall for dinner. Music was playing on stage, just mix CD's because it was easier. Hanson was having a pretty good time getting to sit with his friends, that was until Caylee's, and his song started playing. The CD's were random; they just played so no one could have known it would bother him to hear that song and not have Caylee to dance with him.
"Love always sends us up, right back on solid ground. No matter how we fall, we always fly, fly together." the song played as Hanson just went quiet, his smile faded and he closed his eyes. Thatcher was first to notice Hanson's mood alter, he had the others quiet down, and Aubree frowned. It didn't matter how much time passed; some things would always remind Hanson of Caylee. Aubree wanted to do something for him, but she didn't know what would cheer him up or distract him from listening to a song that he proposed to Caylee with.
"Karaoke has begun!" announced one soldier, after five minutes, no one offered to go up there. "No volunteers? Then we're picking at random!" he chuckled beginning to move around the chow hall. Finally, he stopped on the person he chose. Aubree. "You shall be first," he said as Aubree's eyes widened.
"M-Me? Oh, no no. I can't...sing." Aubree replied pushing the microphone away.
"We don't judge here, come on," the soldier smiled to her. The only person Aubree ever sang with was Hanson at their eighth-grade talent show, and Hanson was the one to help her conquer those stage fright fears. Aubree saw Hanson look over at her, clearly remembering the same thing she was. Aubree felt like she wasn't getting out of it, so she sighed and got up taking the microphone from the soldier and moving to the middle of the room, there wasn't a lot of troops in there because they did it according to Company. "What's your song?" Aubree whispered it to him as he went to put it on.
As soon as the music began, Hanson's eyes widened a little as he saw her there with her eyes closed. "Tale as old as time. True as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly." Aubree started slowly. Hanson didn't know what possessed him to do it, but he got up and grabbed a microphone from the stage while walking up next to her.
"Just a little change," Hanson started as Aubree's eyes shot open and she looked beside her to see Hanson, he was smiling a little, "Small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared," he sang as his right hand held her left.
"Beauty and the Beast," Aubree and Hanson sang together. "Ever just the same, and ever a surprise. Ever as before, ever just as sure. As the sun will rise. Oh. Oh. Oh!" then it became just music as Hanson wrapped his arm around her waist and danced with her a little, it was just like in eighth grade when they performed this same song at the talent show.
"Ever just the same! And ever a surprise. Ever as before, and ever just as sure. As the sun will rise," they sang together again. "Oh. Oh. Oh!"
"Tale as old as time. Tune as old as song," Aubree sang looking into Hanson's eyes while he smiled softly at her.
"Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change. Learning you were wrong," Hanson and Aubree continued.
"Certain as the sun," Hanson sang as Aubree smiled now.
"Certain as the sun," she repeated gently.
"Rising in the East," Hanson went on.
"Tale as old as time," Aubree said after he sang.
"Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast..." Hanson and Aubree sang softly, then a pause as he brought her against him staring into her eyes.
"Tale as old as time," Aubree sang lightly.
"Song as old as rhyme," Hanson smiled as his forehead pressed to hers.
"Beauty and the Beast," the two finished together as they smiled together and looked at one another gently. "Beauty and the Beast," was sung one more time slowly and then it stopped. There was silent as they lowered their microphones staying in position. It seemed like everyone was waiting for something to happen, and then it did. Hanson leaned in more as both closed their eyes and Hanson kissed Aubree on the lips. Nothing big, very light and quick but it was still a lip to lip contact kiss! Everyone was shocked and surprised, maybe even confused. Hanson had kissed Aubree of his free will.
The kiss only held a moment although it seemed time had stopped for Hanson and Aubree. Hanson was the one to break it and pull back from her slowly as their eyes opened and both blushed lightly. "Okay, I have only ever dreamed of something like that happening since the talent show in eighth grade when we finished the duet the same way minus the kiss," Aubree stated softly.
"I wanted to back then, but I was being chicken about it. They say moments like those only come once in a lifetime and I missed it then; I decided not to miss it a second time," Hanson admitted to Aubree.
"I'm glad you didn't, Hanson. But what now? I mean we talked about this before, and this isn't the first time we've kissed, so what are we? We're not just friends anymore," Aubree inquired. Hanson assumed something like this might happen, their feelings were more than just a crush and maybe more than just like towards one another. Hanson knew when he made the split-second choice to kiss her after the song that she would want to know what they were, what they stood as. It was clear that friendship wasn't the case anymore. Hanson knew they were much more than friends and it was time for them to discuss things one on one between them.
Hanson knew Caylee would want him to move on and be happy, with someone who loved Hanson for who he is and wouldn't mind Caleb and Hazel. Aubree was that someone and Hanson couldn't deny that anymore. As much as it hurt to think about and accept, if Caylee and Hanson were meant to be, she would still be there, and she wouldn't have died. Hanson knew what he wanted. Aubree. "Well first, I think we should move this conversation to a place where everyone is listening in and watching," Hanson chuckled a little. Aubree blushed again and nodded in agreement as the put the microphones back on stage and then left the chow hall together.
"Okay. What the actual fuck just happened?" Raelyn asked once Hanson and Aubree were out of earshot.
"Isn't it obvious?" Ella mentioned calmly looking at Thatcher, Nikki, Ricky, and Vincent who nodded to her.
"What is so evident we don't see here?" Sawyer inquired curiously.
"Hanson and Aubree are falling in love with one another," Thatcher told the other nine soldiers sitting with them.
"What? No way. Hanson said the day of that argument with Aubree that he let go of his feelings for her," Sylvia murmured.
"Hanson pushed them aside feeling that Aubree would never understand his choice to leave and join the military, that he didn't have time just to tell everyone where he had been. Aubree admitted to that, saying she would have understood back then. Caylee was there for Hanson when he went through trying to let Aubree go, and Caylee also knew that Hanson would always care about Aubree because that was his first friend and crush. Caylee knew that while she and Hanson were together," Ricky informed.
"And Hanson knows that Caylee wouldn't want him to stop living his life just because she's gone. Caylee wants Hanson's happiness, and Hanson knows the only way to obtain that is to move on. Aubree and Hanson are friends, but those feelings they have for one another are becoming more, and they can't ignore them. Hanson and Aubree are going to end up dating sooner or later," Vincent said in a sure tone.
Before anything else could be said, Hanson rushed back in. "Hanson, something wrong?" Nikki asked.
"Get ready, now. We gotta handle an emergency mission to save some friendlies. Just Alpha Wing squadron, this is a small group of people situation. I want you on the helicopter pad in ten minutes. Hussle!" Hanson ordered. Without wasting time, they rushed from the chow hall to the barrack to change and get ready, as they arrived on the chopper pad, Hanson and Aubree were already there and waiting. "Load up!" he called over the loud sounds of the helicopter engine and blades spinning. No one argued as they got in, Hanson helped Aubree up as then he pulled himself in and held the handle. "Go," he told the pilots.
(Two Hours Later)
They were in the mountains helping friendlies who were injured and pinned down by enemies, most it was handled. A small firefight that Hanson's soldiers had maintained, and then it happened. An RPG was heading right for the chopper.
"EVERYONE, GET DOWN. RPG!" Hanson warned looking around to make sure everyone was clear. Aubree wasn't. Fear took over him as he raced to her side and got her on the ground while using his body to covers her when the explosion went off.
"Colonel, you all right?!" Thatcher yelled with worry. Hanson coughed a few times but used his arms to push up and check on Aubree.
"I'm all right, Thatch. Aubs, you okay?" Hanson asked her while she looked in fear that she almost died.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. You saved my life," Aubree told him.
"Thank me later, we just lost our ride out of this mess," Hanson got up now and helped Aubree to her feet, "Squad, take cover in the cave!" he yelled, the soldiers obeyed and hurried to the cave in the mountains. Hanson and Aubree began running, and he got his arm shot but nothing life threatening.
"HANSON!" Aubree yelled out, Hanson looked back to see Aubree had falling over something and having trouble getting up. Enemies were closing in as Hanson pulled his sidearm. Shooting seven soldiers in either the head or the chest, Hanson checked over her leg when he got to her. "I can't put weight on it, it hurts too much," Aubree told him, and Hanson just lifted her in his arms ignoring his pain to get her to safety. Hanson did a head count before radioing the base and getting them an extraction with cover fire. There were three hurt friendlies that needed medical attention, Nikki sprained her wrist and Ricky got his arm grazed, nothing serious for either but it meant he needed to get them out of there.
(Fifteen Minutes Later)
When the extraction chopper arrived, Hanson was pissed because they sent the wrong that would be able to take all of them back to the base. Now, what the hell did he do? Ricky, Nikki, three friendlies, Aubree, and himself were injured, and the chopper could only take so many.
"Extraction is here, Colonel!" Thatcher called to him from the mouth of the cave.
"Thatch! Don't stand so close to-" Hanson was cut off when Thatcher went flying backward after a gun was fired, "Thatcher!" Hanson said in fear as he scrambled over and saw Thatcher had been his at the base of his neck, a deep graze but still bad and needed treatment immediately. "Don't you dare die on me," he said firmly while grabbing whatever he could from his vest to hold pressure on the wound.
"Hanson, what do we do?! That chopper can't take us all!" Ella asked with worry.
Hanson knew that Aubree and himself would be okay, they didn't require immediate treatment. What choice did he have now? None. "Vin!" Hanson called.
"Yes, sir?" Vincent asked.
"Take the squadron and friendlies back to the base for treatment," Hanson told him.
"Of cour-Wait, what about you?!" Vincent went wide-eyed realizing what Hanson was doing.
"Don't worry about me. Thatcher needs a hospital in the next twenty minutes, or he's dead. Understand me? Don't let Thatcher die and take Alpha Wing squadron back to the base, Sergeant Hofferson and I will remain here until another chopper arrives. We'll be okay for an hour or so. I have MRE's and plenty of ammo, just go. Save the others, worry about me later. Go. Now, that's an order." Hanson demanded.
"Sir, yes sir." Vincent sighed as he rounded the others up, when the cover fire started, Vincent got them out while Hanson stood at the mouth of the cave and watched them load up. "We'll be back for you, Hanson. I swear it!" Vincent called as the chopper was lifting up to leave.
"I believe it! Go!" Hanson yelled back. The helicopter left, and Hanson watched it get farther and farther away while he took out a few of the enemies nearing them. When that was done and cleared, for the time being, Hanson returned inside the cave and sat down beside Aubree. This is not how he wanted this night to go, but he had to save the others. He and Aubree would be okay for a bit by themselves. If nothing else, at least now they had time to talk. Just the two of them.
