WARNING: Sexual and adult situtations and language.
Stephanie cried herself to sleep every night, listening to the tape Ric had given her. Every song made her miss him so much more. She wore the dog tags 24/7, she never took then off. She got a letter from Ric as promised but he didn't have a lot of time to write so it was short. He made some new friends, he had to cut his hair and he was really tired. He told her he loved her and thought about her every day and also, as promised, he kept the picture in his underwear. He told her wouldn't be too much longer, his graduation was in August and he wanted her to come. She wrote him back immediatley and told him everytghing that was on her mind.
Ric laid in his bunk and read the letter he had got from his Babe. He loved her writting, it was so bubbly and cheerful like she was and he missed her so much. When he read about a dream she had and ow she went into descriptive detail, he closed his eyes and imagined the scene. Them on a tropical beach, making love at sunset. He started to get a little aroused at the images that went through his mind. He remember the feel of being buried inside her for the first time and the feel of her body being overcome by pleasure. The way she looked at him while he kissed her naked flesh and how she tasted when he went down on her. His memories were interupted when his bunkmate, Lester Santos, made a comment.
"Manoso, man. You better put that gun away before Sarg sees it." Lester laughed as he hopped on the top bunk.
"Fuck you, Santos."
"Not with that you won't!" Lester said as he leaned over the side of the bunk and yanked the letter out of Ric's hand.
Ric jumped up and yanked it back. He folded up the letter and placed it in his pillow case with the pictures of her. He willed himself to dream of her and he did.
Graduation was scheduled for August 13th, the day before his 20th birthday. Invitations were sent to his family as well as Stephanie's family. He knew Stephanie would be here, but he hadn't heard from his mother if they would be coming to see her youngest son graduate from Basic Training.
Stephanie had called Mrs. Manoso when she recieved the garduation announcement to find out if she would be going. Mrs. Manoso said she couldn't go on a trip to South Carolina. Stephanie assumed it was money that was the problem so, she asked her if she would like to ride down with her. Mrs. Manoso started cried.
"I can not go, dear. My mother is ill and I can not leave her. Please tell my son I love him very much and that I am very proud of him."
"I will tell him, Mama. I promise." Stephanie told Mrs. Manoso, who had insisted she call her Mama the first time Ric brought her home to introduce her to his family.
Stephanie's parents had bought her a car shortly after graduation, she got a red 1993 Buick Skylark. She never really figured out her father's obssesion with Buicks. She packed a small bag with a few changes of clothes. She kissed her mom and dad, and hit the road. She popped the tape that Ric had given her in the cassette player in her car and drove as far as she could before getting tired.
She was only about 2 hours from Ft. Jackson when she stopped and got a hotel room for the night. She had driven seven hours only stopping for gas, food and bathroom breaks. She would get up early so she could get to Ft. Jackson by 10 AM. The graduation ceremony was at Noon.
She entered the gates at Ft. Jackson at 10:15 AM and her heart fluttered. She knew he was close to her. She parked where the other guest had parked and followed a group in. She showed her invite to the uniformed solider at the gate of the field and he motioned her in. She was handed an event program. She read through the entire thing trying to locate his name. When she found it, she touched it. She looked through some more and there were a few pictures. She looked through them until she found him. He looked different except for his eyes and lips. He was more muscular, his hair was gone, but his eyes shined with pride and his lips were lonely.
At 11:45, the groups of men and women started to take places on the field. Stephanie memorized Ric's unit number and looked for him anxiuosly. The lady next to her placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Relax, dear. You'll see him soon."
"This has been the longest 9 weeks of my life. I miss him so much." Stephanie said to the lady.
"I'm sure he will say the thing dear, this wasn't a walk in the park for them either."
Stephanie smiled and before she knew it the ceremony was starting. She just stared at the picture of Ric in the program. She heard his unit number and looked up and met his eyes as he marched by. She smiled and a tear slipped down her cheek. The lady next to her whispered in her ear.
"He is a handsome young man, dear."
Steph wiped her tears and smiled, "Yes he is."
When the ceremony was over, Ric looked around to find where his Babe was. He saw her in the stands, she was crying. Suddenly he heard her voice.
"Ric! Ric!" She was running toward him.
"Babe!" He caught her in his arms and picked her up and spun her around. When he put her back on her feet, they just stared at each other for a long moment before embracing in a long passionate kiss.
"Get a room!" Lester said as he walked by. Ric pulled away from the kiss.
"Jealous, Santos?" Ric asked with a grin on his face.
Lester laughed, "Only of the size of your cock man. Cocky motherfucker."
"Lester!" the lady that had been sitting next to Stephanie in the stands popped him on the head, "Watch your mouth young man! There are ladies present." It was Lester's mother.
"Geez!" Lester exclaimed rubbing his shaved head.
"I apologize for my son dear, he has no manners where ladies are concerned." she said with a smile.
Steph turned back to Ric and he caught her lips with his. He pulled away and smiled at her.
"Let's get out of here!" he said scooping her up in his arms and running toward the parking lot.
"Manoso!"
Ric froze in the spot and put Stephanie on her feet. He stood stalk straight.
"Yes, Sir"
"At ease solider" Ric relaxed but stood with his hands behind his back, looking at this slightly older solider.
"Please introduce me to your lady that I heard so much about." he asked Ric.
"Stephanie, this is Sergeant Davis. He was our Drill Sergeant."
"Please to meet you, sir." Stephanie said and smiled.
"It's a pleasure ma'am, Ricardo here is a natural solider, a born leader." he turned back to face Ric, "I have an offer for you, Ricardo. I'm offering it to several of the men in your unit." Ric nodded to Sgt. Davis , so he continued.
"I'm reccomending you, Blanchard, Brown, Santos and Celmens to Ranger training. You are five of the most outstanding men to come through Basic in a while. I have never made recommendations right out of Basic, but you are five exceptional young men. I'm proud to have been your Drill Sergeant, solider."
"Thank you sir, I'm honored."
"Your dismissed Manoso, have a happy birthday, son." Ric relaxed completely and picked up Stephanie again.
"Oh I plan on it, sir!" He took off running with Stephanie flung over his shoulder. She waved at Sergeant Davis and he just shook his head and turned back to talk to some of the other graduates.
Ric got them a hotel room in town and planned on spending time in on his birthday but, first, he was curious about his mother. Ric and Steph laid in the bed, still fully clothed, just enjoying the moment of being in each others arms after 9 weeks apart. Stephanie had something to tell Ric, but she was nerveous about how he might react to the news. Ric was first to break the silence.
"Did you talk to Mama?" he asked her.
"Your grandmother is ill, and she couldn't leave her alone. She told me to tell you she loved you and she very very proud of you." Stephanie smiled a sad smile.
Ric was crushed, he loved his mother and grandmother very much and really wished they could have been here to see him. Ric looked at Stephanie's face, she had something else on her mind.
"Something worng, Babe?"
"I don't know how to tell you what I need to say. I didn't say anything in the last letter becuase I wanted to tell you face to face."
"What is it, Babe?"
Stephanie looked him in the eyes and her nerves took over, she sighed.
"Babe, please tell me."
"You remember our last few days together before you left."
"I remembered them every night, I would see you laying in front of me. I could taste you, smell you, feel you. Those were the memories that got me through some of the toughest times during training."
Stephanie smiled, "Well, we will have something else to remind us of the memories, Ric."
He wasn't sure where she was going with this so he asked, "And what's that." he kissed her lips softly. Her lips were just as soft as he had remembered.
"I'm pregnant, Ric."
Ric's emotions were crossed. He loved Stephanie so much and had dreamed of them getting married and having a family one day. He was scared, what were her thoughts, did she want to keep it? Did she want to keep him?
"Wow" was all he said. They were silent for what seemed like hours when it was probally just a few minutes. He held her and didn't let her go.
"What are your thoughts, Babe?" he asked wanting to know where she stood on the subject of having a baby, his baby.
"I'm not sure. I'm not going to be able to go to college like I planned because I want to keep the baby, but I want to keep you, too. Are you going to go through more training like Sgt. Davis offered?"
"This puts everything in a new perspective, Babe. I want to get all the training thats available for me but, now, I want what is going to best for you and our child. You want to get married?"
"Ric, don't marry me because you have to, do it because you love me."
"I'm wouldn't have asked if I didn't love you, Babe." His mouth crashed down on hers and before they knew it, they were both naked and tangled in the sweat soaked sheets and it was dark outside.
They slept so much better than either of them had slept in the past 9 months. When Stephanie woke up Ric was smiling at her. He watched her sleep for the past 2 hours. She had a smile on her face the whole time. Ric had pondered if she would answer his question he asked the day before.
"Morning, Babe." he said brushing her hair from her face.
"Morning" she said smiling at him. He kissed her deeply and then pulled her over on top of him.
"Will you marry me, Babe?" he asked straight faced and serious.
She stared at him for a few beats before answering him, "Yes" then she kissed him and rolled her hips causing his erection to slide into her. He let out a groan and pulled her closer to him. They made love for about an hour before Stephanie's stomach voiced its protest. She was hungry.
They left the hotel and headed out on the road go back home, but Stephanie was concerned how long he would be home before he left again. She new that he loved her and she loved hm. But could she handle getting through this turning point in her life. She knew one day she would be a wife and mother, but didn't expect it so soon.
I want to thank everyone for reading this, what ever it is LOL. I will post another chapter probably on Monday 6/4/07.