It was a quiet morning in base camp, with the young soldiers on the road, roaring through the air on their battered strong motorcycles. Such tranquillity gave Tom Mason a moment to reflect. Meditate on the events that had waterfell beneath their feet in the last days. His son had found love. At the time of his childhood, Hal Mason was a lady-pleaser, only ever settling for Karen. Karen was Hal's copy, despite the arguments of Hal; Tom knew that they could not be corrected together.
Hal and Lourdes did. It was as if there was an invisible attraction that had been their closer this time, from the ancient roots of the earth and the infinite cosmos. The wonders of life never ceased to amaze Tom. His thoughts were interrupted by the harmonious laugh of his youngest.
Welcoming the comforting embrace of Matt, he held his boy close. Shortly after the son of the middle, the middle no less important. His eyes sparkled with amusement at seeing Matt talk ninety miles per second of his time. His smile matched Tom.
"Where's Hal?" His attempt to small talk was transparent; Ben taunted softly, and sat next to his father. Had seen a stranger this way, they would have thought younger versions of Tom had united with him.
"Scouting the area with Maggie."
"Oh…has he…?"
Ben confirmed the suspicions of his father. The two brothers, Hal and Ben had talked together for hours, Ben on the side of the angels, urging his brother to say to Lourdes of his buried feelings. Hal on the side of the sane, remained unleashed in his decision, the premise being "it was too early."
"He loves her. But, it's too early, apparently."
Matt's voice exclaimed. "What does it matter?!"
Ben high-fived his younger brother to the approval of his intelligence. The young rogue was right in many ways, they almost lost Lourdes their fingertips, yet the reluctance of Hal pulled them back to life that had been.
"Give him time." Tom leant back against the wall, in deep thought.
"How much time do they have?"
"It would be cool though!" Matt's exclamation continued. The elders looked down at Matt in pure confusion, unable to keep pace with Matt's feeling thoughts. "Y'know, if they grew up and lived normally."
Tom's mouth twitched into a smile at the thought. Ben's face broke into a brilliant smile.
"The lacrosse player and the medic, huh?"
"One day, boys. Someday."