{Normal POV}
(Saturday, September 11, 2021-8 pm)
[Raseri House]
It came off as a shock to everyone, including the paramedics that Troy was able to figure out what was wrong with Hayden right before the trip to the hospital. None of them would have thought about dehydration, or even considered that it might be the problem. Dustin thought it was food poisoning again, but Rachel believed it to be the flu. At one point, the two of them considered the possibility of it being both. However, Troy deduced on his own after Hayden passed out and a quick conversation about going unconscious while they were deployed led Troy to know precisely what Hayden was experiencing. Dehydration from being in the heat all day, and barely drinking because he was feeling ill and didn't want to throw up. Sure enough, after drinking the Gatorade, Hayden began to feel a little better. Troy had Hayden stay on water the rest of the night, and Hayden fell asleep by 9:45 pm. Before that, Troy had given Hayden a combination pain reliever and fever reducer. The next morning, Hayden's fever had come way down to 101.7, and there was nausea, with very little puking and discomfort with the aches. Otherwise, everything was fine. Hayden ended up with the flu for five days and given time off work to deal with that, and Hayden was grateful to be feeling better. The remainder of August was calm with the boy working hard and everyone just living their lives.
Cole turned eighteen-years-old on September 2, 2021, and his and Rosanna's daughter, now named Evelina Raseri, was born on August 24, 2021. Rosanna and Evelina were both residing in the Raseri Household currently with Rosanna's parent's permission since Rosanna would be seventeen until December 5, 2021. Rosanna was allowed out of school for one month, and it was fortunate that everything learned in September was all review from the year before. Rosanna would be back to class for October when the new material for their Senior Year would be taught. Evelina would be going to daycare during school hours. However, the living arrangements were not working for every member in the home. Troy and Hayden were both up at 4:30 am Monday through Friday to make it to work for 7 am, then home at 5:30 pm to get cleaned up for dinner. After all that, Troy and Hayden would go to sleep around 9:30, or 10 pm to prepare for the next day; this was not easy as there was a newborn in the house. Hayden didn't mind babies, but he and Troy put in long hours at work. When the two got home, they would try to do wedding plans, or make love, then get some rest.
Troy and Hayden knew that there needed to be some kind of change, but the two had been so busy lately that they haven't had time to sit down and talk about a solution to the problem. Thankfully, tonight, Rosanna and Cole were at Rosanna's parents' house so they could see the baby. Dustin and Rachel had gone out for dinner; this left Troy and Hayden alone, for once, with some peace and quiet.
"You're exhausted, babe," Troy pointed out.
"I worked twelve hours…" Hayden muttered tiredly. Yes, he indeed had worked that long today on a Saturday too no less. And according to Donovan; it might be staying that way, that Hayden works 6 to 6 Monday through Friday. Hayden had to be to work at 6 am, after a call from Donovan the night before at 10 pm, which meant he was up at 4 am to shower, get to the transportation center, catch the ferry, then a bus to get to Fort Archian. Hayden had to stay until 6 pm and finally come back home at 7:30 pm. Hayden had a late dinner, and could ultimately lay down to relax, but unable to actually fall asleep. Hayden didn't understand why there was a change in hours, but there wasn't much he could do either. Thankfully, he and Troy both had Sunday off.
"Can't sleep?" Troy wondered.
Hayden shook his head to Troy. "Too much on my mind,"
"Do you want to talk about it?" Troy inquired.
Hayden sighed heavily. "Aside from trying to figure out why I'm working twelve hours until further notice because Donovan won't tell me; I think it's time we consider moving out and getting a place," Hayden stated while looking at his fiancee.
"You too, huh?" Troy smiled a bit.
"Don't get me wrong, I love your family to pieces, and I am eternally grateful for all they've done since you and I met, babe. But with how much you and I work, and barely getting any sleep anymore?" Hayden began.
"Hey, you don't gotta explain it, Hayden. I feel the same way, and aside from my niece keeping us at night; we're engaged, and going to be married in thirteen months. I think we're at the point we can move into our own apartment," Troy said.
"Well, as long as we're on the same page with this; where do we go from here?" Hayden questioned.
"I guess that depends on what we're looking for in an apartment. I don't think we need to worry about the price range, maybe just location?" Troy offered.
"Being closer to the base would be nice," Hayden mentioned. "But that would put us an hour or so away from family and friends,"
"And I like being close to home, so do you," Troy pointed out as Hayden nodded.
"I guess that puts us in Berk as far as island location goes," Hayden stated. "We don't need a lot of space either, a one bedroom would suffice in my opinion," he added.
"I agree. Do you care what floor we're on? I'd preferably like to stay on first or second," Troy remarked. "Long day of work and a lot of stairs doesn't sound too enticing," he chuckled a little.
"I'm with you on that one," Hayden replied with a smile. "Alright, so Island of Berk; first or second floor one bedroom?" he asked.
"Seems alright with me," Troy nodded this time. "How about everything else? Washer/Dryer hookups? Parking space for my car is needed,"
"I'm not picky on additions as long as it's a place to live. Washer/Dryer hookups do sound nice, though," Hayden agreed. "Should we break out the computer and start looking for anything available?" he wondered next. Troy nodded as the two made their way upstairs to use the living room computer.
. . .
[Living Room]
Troy sat in the chair with Hayden next to him at the edge of the recliner to see the screen. Troy pulled up one of the more recommended websites to find apartments; vww . theberkianclassifieds . ap. This page offered more than apartments and homes; it had job listings, lost, found, and pet adoptions, selling cars, etc. It was a general website to use when searching for something, and the bonus was that it updated every Sunday, which meant anything they found now was brand new.
"Alright, let's see what we got. You have the notebook to write down anything we want to check out?" Troy asked as Hayden lifted it up with a smile. Troy put in the information that they wanted such as apartments. The page loaded as a list of sixty-two came up. Troy checked the boxes for one bedroom, parking space, washer/dryer hookups, and let it refresh; this time the number became seventeen.
"Not a bad result," Hayden said. Troy nodded while browsing through each one; mainly looking at the location in Berk and if there was anything included.
"Well, the cool thing is that all one bedrooms aren't super expensive on their own," Troy informed. "Some of these have pictures and were recently remodeled with modern appliances, which is a plus. This one seems kind'a nice, and looks like a house too,"
"Let's click on it, see the full description," Hayden suggested. Troy did so as the page loaded once more.
"First floor, $780 per month, one parking space in the driveway, small fenced in backyard. Freshly painted, updated appliances, carpeted bedroom, hardwoods in kitchen and living room, a tiled, full bathroom," Troy began to read.
"It's only that expensive because the rent includes snow and trash removal, lawn care, gas, and electricity. Oh, and it looks like a washer and dryer come already hooked up in the apartment. So this place has everything for under $800," Hayden enlightened while continuing to read.
"And it's five minutes to the transportation center, which is fifteen minutes from where we are now. Says the upstairs tenants are a young couple with no kids, two cats, and friendly and quiet. Hah, and the apartment is sound-proof to block out noise from the transport office," Troy laughed a little.
"And this got added yesterday around 4 pm. I think we should give it a shot, likely won't find a better deal with all that," Hayden offered.
"I've got the number right here; want to see if maybe we can view the apartment tomorrow? It's our only day off, and Odin knows how long it will stay available," Troy asked. Hayden nodded as Troy got his phone and dialed the number; both of them hoping to get lucky for a showing tomorrow and possibly be apartment owners. Sure, it might be a bit rushed to find a place, and get it within two days, but who cared. Troy and Hayden were twenty-one-years-old and with everything going in their lives; it was time to start a life together in their own place.
. . .
(Saturday, October 2, 2021)
Troy and Hayden were able to check out the apartment on the 12th of September, and the two loved it! The entire place was beautiful with everything they wanted for a great price. Hayden and Troy decided that same day that they wouldn't pass the opportunity up, so they began the paperwork to hopefully call the place theirs. It was standard to run a background check, but the landlord knew by the fact Troy and Hayden were Marines that they were right people to rent to. The following Thursday from that viewing; the man called to say everything came back and all they needed to do was come through to sign the lease and handle the financial portion, which was paying the October rent, and a security deposit. On Troy and Hayden's next off day; they took care of that. Two signatures and $1,600 later; the lovers were holding keys to their new apartment. However, they still hadn't told anyone about the decision to move since they hadn't been sure what would happen in the beginning. Now, everything was settled, and it needed to happen. So tonight, everyone was getting together for dinner at a local restaurant.
The time was 5:30 pm as Hayden was the final addition to the group that were already seated. However, he hadn't arrived yet. At 5: 40, Hayden waltzed in, removing his hate and making his way over to them.
"There you are, babe," Troy got out of his spot to hug Hayden, and kiss him gently. Hayden looked beat, as in tired. Unfortunately, poor Hayden was still in his DTU(Drill Training Uniform), consisting of black boots then a brown, black, and green camouflage pattern for the pants and coat.
"Sorry, I'm late. You couldn't have started without me," Hayden sighed.
"We didn't mind waiting," Vivian smiled. "And since when do you work weekends, son?"
"Isn't this the first weekend of the month; both of you are usually at drill, aren't you?" Dustin mentioned.
"Drill weekends moved to the last weekend of every month now, and I've been getting stuck on random Saturday or Sunday shifts since September…" Hayden mumbled, taking his seat next to Troy now.
"And you've been working ten to twelve-hour days, Hayden. Hell, didn't you pull two fourteen-hour shifts this week?" Troy asked as Hayden nodded. "Bludvist still hasn't told you why?"
"No, and it's starting to irritate me," Hayden admitted. "Anyway, I'd love to do anything but talk about work, so can we change the subject, please?"
"Of course, Love," Troy said in response. Not long after that; the waiter came over to take everyone's order, then the male left to put it in as Hayden was enjoying a cup of coffee in high hopes of it waking up a little more. "So should we tell them now?"
"One way or the other; we're telling them," Hayden shrugged.
"Tell us what?" Cole blinked.
"Troy and I did a little talking a few weeks ago, and decided that it's time for us to take another step in our relationship," Hayden said.
"You two are already engaged, living together, and have had sex. What else is there to do besides get married next year?" Shane wondered.
"Move out into a place of our own," Troy stated as it went quiet. "Hayden and I already have an apartment five minutes from the transportation center, and we're moving starting the move next Saturday," Hayden held Troy's hand with a smile as everyone's eyes widened at the information.