Sorry for the lateness in updates. School is a beyoch. I got finals next week. Fingers crossed. :3

I own anything not Disney, and bitch you better not take it.

They weren't a church-going couple. Sure, they'd both gone to church, they both had a religion, but they weren't devout. They didn't pray over every meal, but they did when they remembered. They had crosses hanging in every room of their home, sometimes more than one. They usually did their best to keep their mouths in check, and they often told stories of the Bible to the children. But no, Amelia and Delbert Doppler were not the type to dress up each Sunday and go to the church on the other side of town.

But the occasion called for it.

Amelia had taken the time. Done her hair up, put on a beautiful Sunday dress with faint blue flowers on it. She'd dressed the children in their nicest clothes and Delbert had made himself look appropriate as well. And it wasn't just them, but their friends and family, too. Jim, Onyx, a near weeping Sarah, and Aurora and Penifold as well. Edmund and Erica, who'd postponed their wedding due to the war. Just so all the family would be present instead of the few that remained while the others were thrust into hell three months early. Honey stood, holding her nieces Tillie and Jib, who were both fussing with the frill of their dresses. Amelia gave herself one look in the mirror before putting on a hat, one simple and elegant like her dress. Delbert came behind her, Matey in one hand, his other sliding around his wife's hip as he planted a kiss on her cheek. She gave him a faint smile and sighed. She started walking down the stairs with the lot when she felt something tug on her dress, and she looked down to see Sunny, who whined and held his hands up as if to say, "carry me".

Amelia smiled slightly and picked him up, kissing his cheek as he wrapped his arms around her neck. She walked down the stairs, her heart heavier than before. It began weighing her down more and more as they all loaded into either Delbert and Amelia's carriage or Aurora and Penifold's. They started off. By then, sitting between her husband and sister, her son in her lap, babbling and chewing on her finger, she was visibly holding back tears. Delbert glanced her way and frowned, taking the reins in one hand, using the other to hold hers. Amelia whimpered. Like a child.

Pathetic. She thought. That's what I am. Pathetic. I'm a grown woman. I shouldn't be near weeping like this. Bloody hell. I'm no ninny. She glanced behind her at her other three toddlers, which sat between Sarah, who had her face in a handkerchief, and Jim, who was staring to the side as if he was trying to remember everything. Like he might never see it again.

It was when she truly realized she might not ever see any of this ever again that she gave into the tears.

"On this day, we thank the Lord for our soldiers, who, in the early morn of tomorrow, will be called to the docks and taken far from us. From their church, family, and friends, to defend all we have gained in our time in the Terran Empire." The Preacher said this solemnly to the over-packed church, filled with crying women, children, and grown men. Some wore their uniforms instead of church clothes, and nearly all the veterans stood at the back, hands held firmly over their hearts, unmoving.

"May He be with all the brave men and woman I see here today. May He protect them and, if it be their time, may he carry them to the Heavens and may He let the families who remain live well and keep faith in their Lord. Amen."

"Amen." The church rang loudly, soon followed by crying as everyone began slowly emptying out as the organ played a bittersweet farewell tune. There were no dry eyes in the Doppler family. Even Jeffery, who'd come with his wife, a man known to lack in the areas of emotional sensitivity and usually came off as stand-offish and uncaring, was hugging his son and crying.

Never knew he could care...

Amelia thought quietly while drying her eyes with her handkerchief. Her whole life, she'd never been fond of Jeffery. He'd hated Arrow, his brother. Since finding out about Arrow's...less than noble past, she'd read more journals and found that Jeffery had never been apart of it. That he'd always disliked Arrow and Veronica, both brutal, sick, and sadistic in his mind. He'd been rather cool to Amelia since she'd become part of the "family", and that explained why. She'd rarely seen Onyx when he was a young man until Clara was born, and even then it was rare. She did start seeing him more frequently after she moved out, but even then Jeffery had always been cold. But now, as she saw him pull away from Onyx and wipe his eyes with his sleeve, saying something she figured to be a goodbye to him, she related to Jeffery, and she let this turn into accepting warmth for the man. She even felt a bit sympathetic for him, knowing that he was staying at Crescentia spaceport because his forces were requested more at base than at war. She turned her head when she heard a small, childish whimper come from Onyx before he hugged his father. She breathed deeply, trying to hold back more tears threatening to spill over. Delbert was waiting for her at the door. She bounded over and nearly knocked him to the ground in a hug. He didn't object, not in the least, and kissed her deeply. They remained lip locked for a good bit, just outside the entrance of the church, Delbert's hand twirling Amelia's hair, hers gripping his like a lifeline as she took deep gasping breaths between kisses. No one bothered them, and neither was really surprised.

They finally ceased their kissing after awhile, breathing heavily, their faces close enough each could feel the other's breath on their skin.

"I d-don't want to leave, Delby." Amelia whimpered quietly, resting her head below his, taking in the scent of his cologne. He pet her head.

"I don't w-w-want y-you t-t-to leave..." He whispered, his voice quivering like a sad violin. Amelia mewed like a kitten and buried her face in his chest.

"Bloody wars...t-that's all t-t-they a-are blood b-baths created b-by j-jelousy and r-rage and...and f-fear. Damned...damned fear..."

Delbert soothingly rubbed her back, resisting the urge to throw up.

Come tomorrow, he may never see his darling again.

Amelia looked upon her crew. Sturdy men and women all with proud naval records under their belts, and she bet most with photos of those they loved tucked into the breast pocket of their uniforms. She looked off to the side, seeing Jim on his own ship. Jim looked back and gave a thumbs up. Good to go.

"Ready, Clarkson?" Amelia said, looking to her side. Clement nodded.

"Aye, Admiral."

"Good, then. Give the order. The fleet will leave now, heading Northwest, 3200. Use the call system."

"Yes, ma'am." Clement nodded and ran behind her, shouting the order through an electrically powered speaking tube. Amelia watched from the bridge for a moment before descending to the lower deck, glancing about to make sure the crew were doing as they were told before going to the upper deck, standing at the bow. She looked out at the docks of Crescentia, seeing them. The families. Men, women, children. Bidding farewell to their loved ones, possibly forever. She scanned the crowd, her eyes finding hers. Clara, Edmund, Delbert, and the children. Even from this distance her sharp eyesight caught tears trickling down all their cheeks.

Her heart ached.

She waved slowly. They waved back. She took a deep breath and stood on the railing of the bow, filling her lungs and cupping her hands over her mouth as the ships began to rise.

"FOR HONOR, FAMILY, AND EMPIRE!"

Her words carried to the crowd. They stopped waving. In union, young and old cupped their hands around their mouths.

"FOR HONOR, FAMILY, AND EMPIRE!"