This is Prompt No. 77-Circle
"Are we there yet?"
Shane rolled his eyes as he heard the familiar question yet again. Ever since they had heard someone from the bird's nest cry, "Land ho!" Mitchie had nearly been beside herself with excitement. She was currently pacing up and down the tiny room, which didn't give her much room to pace. She would take seven steps and would then have to turn again and go back the other way.
Finally, Shane couldn't stand her pacing anymore. "Mitchie, please," he said softly. "Stop pacing. It's getting on my nerves."
Mitchie stopped immediately and sat down next to her husband on the bed. "Sorry," she murmured. "I don't mean to be annoying."
Shane found himself regretting his use of words and kissed her forehead, saying softly, "I know you don't. You're just eager to get home." He pulled her close and hugged her to him. "Just like me."
Mitchie smiled. "I can't believe we're almost home."
Shane pulled away, smiling at her. "Should we go up on deck?" he asked. "We can watch the States appear."
Mitchie smiled, knowing that Shane was trying to keep her occupied. "Sure," she said, and took the hand he offered as he guided her out of their room and up onto the deck.
They moved through the sailors to the railing, peering over the water to see their land growing larger and larger as they drew closer. Mitchie couldn't keep the wide smile off her face. They were almost home!
"I suppose you two are happy to be going home," said a voice.
Mitchie and Shane both turned to find the captain standing behind them, watching them admire the chunk of land that was their home. "Yes," they both said at the same time, and laughed at their synchrony.
The captain joined them by the railing, looking out over the sea that had been his home for many years. "If anyone deserves to get to where they want to go, it's you two," he told them honestly. "It's been a long, long time since I've seen anyone as dedicated to their country as you two."
"Thank you," Shane said quietly.
"And," the captain went on with a small smile, "I've never seen anyone as dedicated to each other as you two." His smile widened considerably and he added, "It's a treat to see."
Mitchie ducked her head, honored. "Thank you," she said, mirroring Shane's reaction. "That means so much to us."
The captain laid a hand on each of their shoulders and said, "I don't put much stock in the superstitious things other sailors do, but I think that this is an exception. I bless you two with the blessing of the sea. May you be rewarded for your efforts, and may you live long and prosper." He smiled again and added slightly sheepishly, "And perhaps, sometime, may we meet again."
Mitchie nodded, trying to keep from crying. The sentiment that such a blessing carried was more than she felt entitled to. "You're going to make me cry," she playfully accused.
The captain coughed and said briskly, "Yes, well, I'd, uh, better get back to, uh, my duties." He sniffed, and Mitchie realized that he also was trying to hold back tears. He gave Shane a hearty clap on the back and then turned away from them, calling out, "What are you looking at? Back to your station!" The unfortunate sailor scurried back to his job as quickly as he could, glancing over his shoulder uncertainly.
Mitchie and Shane both smiled as they watched the inwardly-gentle captain walk away. They turned back to the railing, surprised at how quickly the shore had appeared when they had not been looking for it. Shane gripped Mitchie's hand tighter and she squeezed back, knowing exactly what he meant. They were actually close to going home.
About an hour later, the ship docked in a small port, and Mitchie and Shane were forced to say goodbye to the ship, the crew, and the captain. Everyone on board had gathered on the top deck to see them off. As Mitchie and Shane walked past them, each sailor doffed his cap to them. The sign of their admiration was much more than Mitchie had expected, and she smiled appreciatively and nodded to each man as she passed.
Shane guided her through the busy port to the stable at the far end. He disappeared inside for a moment and brought out two beautiful horses, handing the reins to Mitchie and turning to take the two saddles from the small stable hand that was waddling behind him. "Thank you, lad," Shane said, pressing two coins into the boy's hand and watching as his eyes widened with happiness.
"Sir?" he asked hesitantly, wondering if Shane had made a mistake.
Shane shook his head. "Do you remember when I asked you to take care of these horses a couple months ago?"
The boy nodded. "Yes sir," he said.
"And did you take care of them?" Shane asked.
The boy nodded. "I tried, sir."
Shane ruffled his hair affectionately, no doubt thinking of his daughter at home. "Yes, you did, and you did a very good job." He eased the boy's hand back towards his little body and said, "You deserve those coins."
The boy nodded, pocketing the coins and grinning widely. "Thank you sir!" he cried before he ran off.
Shane grinned and turned to Mitchie. "He's a sweet kid." He took the reins from her and began saddling the two horses.
Mitchie rubbed the nose of one and she grinned when it whiffed her hair and cheek. "Where did these horses come from?" she asked curiously.
Shane smiled. "They're part of your payment on the mission," he explained. "The general gave them to me in advance because he figured that I would need a way to get you back."
"I see," Mitchie said, examining the horse again. "I like my payments," she mused to herself.
Shane laughed and swung Mitchie into her saddle before mounting his own animal. "Ready?" he asked her with a smile on his face.
She grinned back. "Absolutely," she assured him.
They spurred their horses on, urging them to reach their fullest potential. Mitchie closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the gait of the horse, the brisk winter wind blowing on her face, and the sunshine that shone down on her. She was finally back on familiar ground, and in only a matter of hours, she would be home once again with her family around her.
They rode all day, stopping only to eat and rest the horses. Mitchie could tell by Shane's eager demeanor that he was just as eager as she to reach home, so she didn't protest when they rode into the night. Finally, close to midnight, Shane pulled his horse up to a stop and Mitchie did so as well.
"Do you mind stopping here for the night?" Shane asked. "Everyone's expecting us tomorrow and we're a few hours away from home, so we won't make it tonight."
Mitchie nodded. "Sure," she said, trying hard to mask her disappointment. She knew that she had been unrealistic when she had hoped that they might get home that night, but she had still hoped for it, and was naturally crushed when it did not work out the way she had planned for it to.
She let Shane make camp and hobble the horses, for she was too tired to, and then she eagerly laid down, letting his strong arms circle around her, keeping her safe and warm and secure. Together, they fell asleep, eager for the next morning to arrive.
Mitchie awoke to the smell of eggs and coffee. She lifted her head, slightly groggy from the short hours she had slept, and was surprised to see Shane, bending over a tiny little fire he had created. He looked up when she stirred, and he smiled at her. "Morning," he said gently.
"Morning," she returned, rolling over so that she could stand and walk to where he was sitting. He handed her a plate with one egg on it, and also gave her a cup of coffee. "Hope you don't mind," he said apologetically. "It's all I could find."
Mitchie raised an eyebrow and noted his sheepish look. "Where did you find this?" she asked.
Shane shook his head. "You don't want to know," he told her mysteriously. "The coffee was already in my sack, though."
Mitchie realized that he wasn't going to tell her, so she let the matter drop. No doubt some farmer would be missing two eggs somewhere, but at the moment, she couldn't feel sorry for the farmer or upset at Shane. The eggs were too good!
Soon after they ate, Shane and Mitchie saddled up the horses and continued their journey towards the base. It was just after lunch, which they hadn't stopped for, that Mitchie recognized the woods right before theā¦.
And even as she realized where she was, the shack appeared in front of her through the line of trees. She tapped her horse with her heels and the obedient animal thundered through the trees, giving her a clear view of the shack.
There stood everyone, the general, Brown, Nate, Jason, Daniella, Caitlyn with a baby on her hip, and a little girl holding Caitlyn's hand, waiting for the two riders. Mitchie pulled her horse up sharply halfway across the field between the woods and the shack as a sudden realization struck her. Her daughter would not remember who she was.
She looked at the little girl, the spitting image of herself, and she felt her heart break. Shania would shy away from her. She would think that she was a stranger. She would not recognize her as the woman that loved her so much.
The little girl, however, did not shy away. She returned Mitchie's gaze with a searching one of her own, and then, wonder of wonders, a grin broke out on her face and she tore her hand out of Caitlyn's. "Mama!" she cried, hopping down each porch step with effort and running across the field, waving her little hands in the air as she toddled. "Mama! Papa!"
Mitchie kicked her feet out of the stirrups and leapt to the ground, barely noticing Shane doing the same thing, and ran to meet her daughter. When she reached her, Mitchie went down on her knees, ignoring the sparse snow still on the ground, in order to be closer to her daughter's height and wrapped her arms around her little girl, kissing her cheeks, her eyes, her nose, and her forehead.
"Oh Shania," she whispered as she hugged the girl close. She felt Shane hugging them both as well, and she felt complete. Her little family. Her little circle of love.
She gave Shania another kiss and then stood, turning to the rest of the people waiting for her. Caitlyn was the first to leap into action, as was normal Caitlyn behavior. She gave a cry and flew down the porch steps, racing towards Mitchie with her arms outstretched. The two women hugged each other so hard that they lost their breath, and were barely able to gain it back before the whole family was swarming around them, eager to give both Mitchie and Shane a hug and welcome them back.
Mitchie and Shane stood in the middle of the family circle, Mitchie holding Shania on her hip since neither of them were willing to be separated any longer from each other. Mitchie, knowing that she would not be heard over the crowd of people around her, looked at Caitlyn and then looked pointedly at Shania, asking a silent question.
Caitlyn raised her voice so that she could be heard over the din of the crowd around them. "I showed her the picture of you and Shane from your wedding every night and told her everything I could about you two." She shrugged. "I was hoping it would help, and it did!"
Mitchie hugged her daughter to her and delighted as the little girl buried her cheek in Mitchie's shoulder. "Thank you," she mouthed so as not to disturb her daughter.
As she looked around the little gathering, Mitchie's heart soared yet again. Some people had a family tree. She had a family circle, one built on love and friendships that would last forever.
A/N: Long chapter!! Hope you all liked it, though! Thank you to SceneKidsWetTheBed for favoriting. I hope that you'll review soon and tell me exactly what you like! :D Thank you again, all of you, so much for reading and reviewing. Over 600 reviews!!! Wow! Also, thanks so much to mickeyhagg for logging in so that I can actually thank her! LOL! Anyways, please review you guys! I love hearing from you!!!
