I do not own this but we all know who does! Please enjoy and review.

There was not enough time in the world to say everything I wanted to say. This would be the last time I would hold her hand for seven months. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she tried to hold herself together for me. For this singular instance nothing else mattered. The war that was taking me away from the love of my life was insignificant. The drone of the bus engines and the smell of the diesel fuel broke into my subconscious. It was time to leave. I placed a final kiss on her cherry lips. I savored the feel and her taste as families around me were saying their goodbyes. She clung to me and her tears soaked the front of my uniform.

I turned to board the bus as my girl dashed up to me and pressed something into my hand. Looking down all my brain registered was a white stick. A white stick with a plus sign in the small window. I dropped my bag and I know the look on my face was priceless.

"You-you-you" was all I could stammer out. The shock overrode my normally thick accent.

"Yes baby, I'm about a month in. I wanted to surprise you before you got on the bus. To give you something to fight to come home to." Her voice roughened by days of crying had never sounded so beautiful to me.

I took her small body into my arms for a crushing embrace. All around me my fellow Marines whooped and hollered as one of their Staff Sergeants laid a big fat kiss on his beautiful pregnant wife. Nothing could stop the grin on my face when I finally let her go, wild eyed and panting. Some of the wives that she was close with ran over to hug the both of us and to tell me good bye. I didn't want to leave. The door to the bus seemed like it was miles away instead of just a few feet.

Kneeling down in front of my girl I placed both hands on her stomach and looked up into her beautiful espresso eyes.

"I always had something to fight for. You. But now I have two reasons to make it home safe and sound. I love you Isabella. I'll be home before you know it."

With those parting words I turned away from the love of my life and our unborn child and headed out to fight for their freedom. This was my third deployment and during the last two Bella was always strong and devoted to me. It broke my heart knowing I would miss so many things. Doctors appointments and sono…damn what are those things again? Oh, sonograms, but I knew she would share everything to me. When we first met over four years ago just four months before my first deployment she made a promise to me. That she would write me everyday of every deployment no matter what. Those letters were my lifeline.

Each sweet word no matter how inane the topic brightened my humdrum existence. Every day we fought to stay alive and everyday I remembered how I was fighting for.

The door of the bus hissed shut as the drive put it into gear. I looked out of my window and saw Bella standing there with tearing pouring down her face. One hand was wrapped around her stomach and the other was clutching a set of my dog tags she always wore around her neck. There wasn't a lot of conversation for the first 20 minutes or so. Everyone on that bus were thinking about who they just left behind, potentially for good. We slowly started chatting about what was in store for us and making jokes about each other. A brotherhood of misguided children(1). We all strove to make the man next to him forget about his worries at least for a little while.

A few plane trips and another long trip in a cramped vehicle and we were surrounded by desert. It was like something out of Time magazine. The sun was just rising painting the sand around us with pinks and oranges. The air was still cold and our breaths misted the air in front of us. We reported in and got our living assignments. Many of these young men had never deployed. This was their first taste of the war we were fighting. One P.F.C.(2) hung back from the rest of the group. Fear was etched across his face. He couldn't have been more than 18 or 19. I stepped away from my fellow Staff NCOs(3) and made my way over to him.

"What's your name Marine?"

Startled he looked up.

"P.F.C. Andrews, Sir" He spoke with a slight southern accent.

"This your first time away from home?"

"Yes Sir."

"Well stick with the group and you'll do just fine. Now why don't you go and try and get settled in before our gear arrives."

He snapped a salute and walked off, his boots silent in the dust. His face reminded me of the young man I was the first time I deployed. Scared but full of nervous excitement. I hope his luck was as good as mine.

Reaching into my pack for my cigarettes and lighter my hand found an envelope. It smelled like home.

Dearest Jasper,

It's 8 a.m. and I can't get back to sleep. I always hope that each time you leave it will get easier but it never does. I hope you liked my surprise at the bus station. I miss you already even though you are just inches away snoring your fool head off. You know I am already counting down the minutes until you get home. I can't believe that in just hours I'll lose you for seven months again. But at least this time I made some friends so I won't be too lonely while you're gone. Plus you know our families won't be leaving me alone once WE break them the good news. I'm thinking three months along is fair. I miss you baby and I love you more than anything.

Yours forever,

B

I folded up the letter with a shit eating grin on my face and put in my flak jacket (4a) safe and sound behind a SAPI plate(4b). Lighting up my cigarette I smile to myself.

"Today is going to be a GREAT day in the sand box."

Hope you all enjoyed the second installment in my one-shot series. I put together a small glossary for those of you not familiar with specific military terms J please review.

1-Some Marines refer to themselves as "Uncle Sam's Misguided Children" (U.S.M.C) You may find this slogan printed on shirts, hats and car window decals. One of the many monikers Marines have given themselves over the years.

2- PFC- Private first class one of the two lowest ranks in the Military.

2- NCO- Non Commissioned Officer-An enlisted member of the armed forces, such as a corporal, sergeant, or petty officer, appointed to a rank conferring leadership over other enlisted personnel.

4a-Flak Jacket-Generally a vest worn to protect the wearer from shrapnel and grenade fragments or other non direct fire debris. Most people associate them with bullet proof vests.

4b- SAPI Plate-Small Arms Protective Insert- Body armor which are inserted into pockets on a flak jacket. Used to dissipate the force of a projectile , also can stop the fragments of the rounds which prevents injury.