This is Prompt No. 3-Ending
There is something intensely satisfying about moving into one's own home. As I watch my husband and brother-in-law move our bed in through the narrow doorway, I smile to myself. I really can't help but smile, for the war is over, we are moving into the houses that are rightfully ours, and most of all, we are safe.
"Do you think they'll hurt themselves?" Caitlyn asks. I turn to smile at her as well. Smiling is all I seem to be capable of now!
"Probably," I sigh, though the gesture is overdone and we both laugh.
I take a box from Anna, chiding her about carrying things that are too heavy for her, and instead pass it over to her husband, my brother. My brother. There is something inside of me that aches as I watch one of my best friends and my brother working together to help us move into the house next door to them.
Four years ago, they had not worked as equals. Four years ago, I had never met Shane. Four years ago, my life had been, in all instances, rather dull and boring. But that had changed. I made a mental note to write a small little letter of thanks to Tess for dragging me to that ball in France in the first place.
The ball in France. My, that seemed like ages ago now! Was it really only four years ago that I had met Shane? Was it really only four years ago that I had run away from home to become a soldier instead of my brother?
"What are you thinking about?" Caitlyn asks me, watching my face curiously. I come out of my daze and glance back over at her, realizing that there were probably several emotions that had flown across my face while I had been off in thought.
"The Confederate camp," I tell her. "The one where I met Jason."
As though we can't help it, we both turn and look over at where Jason and Daniella are playing with our children, laughing and creating quite the uproar. I watch as Jason picks up my daughter and my mind takes me back to the time that he and I had shared a tent and the time when he had taught me how to load a gun.
"That seems like forever and a day ago," Caitlyn tells me, wincing as she watches Nate get his hand momentarily caught in between the doorframe and the bed. She's not listening at the moment, so I wait to make sure that Nate is able to squeeze through the door, pulling the bed in behind him, before I continue.
"It does," I tell her. "It seems like a very long time since I met you."
Caitlyn grins and her own face takes on a thoughtful look as she, no doubt, remembers the day that Shane brought me to the base, gunshot and feverish. "Yes, you didn't look so great then," she teases me, and I playfully give her shoulder a push. "But," she continues, giving me a look that tells me that she isn't finished, "you looked gorgeous on your wedding day."
My own smile grows wider as I remember those first three, perfect weeks of matrimony before Shane left. I nod and say, "And then I was so scared about having a baby."
Caitlyn actually laughs and she nods rapidly. "You should've seen your face that day when you went running to Brown. You looked like death was after you!"
I scrunch up my nose, feeling silly. "Well, I was scared!" I protest indignantly, but my smile is still there.
"We've had quite a life, haven't we?" Caitlyn asks, sounding as though she is so much older than she really is. Yet, when I look at her, I realize that she does look older than she really is. Everyone from the base looks old for their age. Everyone looks tired.
"It's taken its toll on us," I say thoughtfully, wondering if I look the same. I must, for I've gone through almost everything that Caitlyn has, and a little more. I glance over at Shane and examine him for a moment. Does he look old? No, but he looks knowledgeable, like he's been through so much more than he should have. "And he has," I think, remembering back the year it's been since Europe.
"Somehow, though," Caitlyn tells me, "we've all gotten through it. We've all done our duties, and we've even had a bit of life during it." She glances over at her own son who is toddling around, trying to catch Shania and failing miserably. Caitlyn's face breaks out into a loving smile as she watches her son squeal in both indignation and delight.
Yes, we've all grown older, we've all been through so much, but as I think back over the journey my life has taken me on, I couldn't think of a better one to have been on. Really, how many people do you know that would take their brother's place, expecting to die for him, get captured by the enemy, which is really the side they wish to be on in the first place, and fall in love while they're at it?
How many people do you know of that grew up on a plantation, sewing doilies for their hope chests, and instead, were trained as spies only a few years later? How many people do you know of that were invited to Queen Victoria's grand court, only to find that their mission had been compromised years before they ever went?
How many people do you know of that were beaten and broken while in prison as a spy, waiting for the summons to arrive to execute them, yet lived to tell the tale? How many people do you know of that had their husband come rushing in, just hours before said execution, to rescue them? How many people do you know of that survived a British navy attack when they were really the ones at fault? How many people do you know of that found love and happiness where they never expected it, and were able to serve in one of the greatest underground bases ever known under President Lincoln's administration?
Can you answer those questions, my dear reader?…No? Well, that's what I thought. And that is why my story is different.
A/N: It's actually over. :( When I finished, I just kind of sat there, staring at the computer screen. I never really thought that it would come to an end, but it has. Because the first chapter that I wrote of this story was done in first person, I decided to end the story that way. I hope that you all enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it, and if you have not already, I hope that you might nominate it for the Best Overall Story award for the Official Camp Rock Awards. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your reviews! Please review one last time for this last chapter!! :D Some of you have asked what I'm planning to do next, and I have a couple of stories in mind, but I'm going to post the first chapter of a new one right after I post this, so please check out Love is Unconscious, and tell me what you think. If you guys like it, I'll continue. Thank you again, my readers. You are all, indeed, awesome!! Love, cr8vgrl
