A/N: GUYS. I'M BACK. I know I went away for about ten million years! I'm so sorry! But school has been killing me lately. Classes this semester on top of work is just making my life a big ball of crazy. BUT, I didn't forget about you! Or my OTP! So here's chapter twelve! Enjoy! – Melly

Chapter 12

Eve blinked away a few tears, ever since Mike had come home for this weekend; she was starting to think that the Mikey she knew and loved was gone. That the war had changed him, but that wasn't the case. The Mike she knew and loved was standing right here in front of her.

"Baby, are you okay?" Mike stepped forward; noticing the tears in her eyes as he gently stoked her cheek with the back of her hand.

Eve cleared her throat, nodding. "Yeah, I'm okay…I just…I thought you were gone….that's all." She gave Mike a weak smile.

Mike gave her a confused look. He wasn't quite sure what Eve meant by "gone". He was standing right here in front of her. "Eve, what do you mean by gone?" he whispered softly. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. I promised you a long time ago that I would always be here for you, and I meant that."

Eve sighed softly. "I just…" she stopped, she wasn't so sure how to explain herself. "I was starting to think that you changed. That the war had started to change you into a man I didn't know anymore…." She trailed off. "But that was silly of me to think of such a thing. Because clearly, the Michael Mizanin I know and love is standing right here in front of me."

Mike gave her a warm smile in return. "I'm sorry baby, have I been acting like a jerk?"

"No, not too much of one," she kissed his cheek. "Now, don't we have a dinner date to go to?"

Mike smiled, nodding his head. "I believe we have a lot of things going on tonight, Ms. Torres."

Eve smiled, looking into his perfect blue eyes. She had missed Mike so much, and she was so happy to have him back. "It's good to be able to spend this weekend with you, Mikey. Even if it is just a weekend, I know you have to go back, but I'm okay with that."

"I'll come back home to you for good soon, baby. Then it will be me and you against the world, raising that perfect family you and I talk about so much."

"Three kids, Mikey. Two boys and a girl," she smiled widely at him.

Mike smiled back, pressing his forehead against hers. "Our daughter will be beautiful as her mother."

Eve blushed as her eyes avoided eyes for a moment, trying to hide just how embarrassed she was. "Oh Mikey," she said softly. "I hope that our children as strong as you, and that they have your heart of gold. It's one of the things I love most about you, you know."

"No matter what our children are like, they'll be perfect because they're our children," he replied. His tone was soft as he kissed her knuckles. "Come on, let's go eat, baby."

Mike and Eve enjoyed a nice dinner on the beach on the roof of a building that Mike had rented out just for the two of them. The sun was in the middle of setting, and the view looked absolutely breathtaking from where Mike and Eve were sitting.

"Wow…." Eve said, she was at a loss of words. "Mikey…this is…..beautiful…" She said, still taking everything in around her. She had never seen such a beautiful sunset. "I've never seen anything so beautiful, Mikey. Thank you."

"I have," Mike said; his voice was soft as he looked into Eve's green eyes, his own blue eyes were soft as his tone of voice. "And it's sitting right in front of me."

Eve looked back at Mike, tears stinging behind her eyes. She wasn't sure what she did to deserve such a wonderful guy like Mike, but she thanked God every day for him.

Mike smiled when he saw that Eve was at a loss for words. But he liked leaving her at a loss for words, taking her breath away. "Would you like to go for a walk, Eve?"

Eve nodded as she stood to her feet, and placing her napkin on her empty plate. "That sounds perfect, babe."

Mike nodded in agreement, paid the bill, and he and Eve made their way down to the shoreline "Is there anything you want to talk about?" Eve asked, once they were walking in the sand, and the cool water was hitting their feet.

"I don't think so," Mike said quietly. After a few minutes passed, he looked and Eve and said, "what do you think about at night and I'm away, Eve?"

Eve waited a few minutes before responding. She didn't expect Mike to ask her this question. But maybe he was looking for something to help him feel more peaceful at night. "I think about you, of course. I think of you, and I wonder if you're safe. I wonder what you're doing, if you ever sleep…I think of all sorts of things, Mikey. But I most always think about if you're safe or not, or if you're in danger…" She swallowed hard. She hated thinking about the horrible things that could happen to Mike, but it was only reality.

"I'm always safe," he said. "I'm safe as I can be. I try my hardest to be safe as possible, Eve. I meant it when I told you that I was spending the rest of my life with you, but I can't do that if I leave this world too soon, now can I?" He offered the brunette a warm smile.

"No," Eve said, giving him a weak smile in return. "After you go back, how long until you come home again?"

"About five and a half months."

"Then you're home for good?"

Mike nodded. "Then I'm all yours. Forever."

Eve nodded, kissing him softly. "I can't wait until then, Mikey. I'll be counting down the days."

"So will I," he smiled, kissing her back. "Then I'll be counting down the hours, and the minutes, and the seconds until you're in my arms again."

"Zack will help me get through it again," she commented. "He's the reason I got through all of this the first time around. He's my rock when you aren't around."

Mike smiled. "I know he is, and I'm glad that someone is looking after my girl while I'm gone. Someone has to."

"I tried so hard to keep it together, Mikey…but then everything with Maryse started, and I felt so alone…and…" she sighed. "It just became too much for me."

"Eve," Mike said, turning her face gently so she was looking at him. "Don't try to deal with all of that on your own. Allow Zack to help you. Allow your friends to help you. I don't want you to be alone while I'm gone overseas. You need to be around people. I want you to be happy while I'm gone. I don't want you to be alone and miserable."

"I know, Mikey. And I'm trying my best. I promise."

"That's all I ever ask for," he said, kissing her softly.

The next day, Eve and Zack went to the airport to drop Mike off. Eve asked Zack to tag along so she wouldn't have to drive home from the airport alone.

Mike and Eve were standing by the gate that he would have to get on in a matter of moments. "Take care of yourself, baby. Please."

"I will," Eve promised as tears rolled down her cheeks. "But you have to take care of yourself too. Because I need you to come back to me, so we can finally start our family."

"Trust me when I promise you that I'll come back, okay?" He asked, brushing the hair out of her face. "I came back this time, and I'll come back again."

Eve nodded, as she sniffled. "Okay, I trust you." With that said, she kissed him one last time. "I love you." She said, "with all I have, and I mean it."

"I know you do, baby. I love you too. I'll see you soon."

Eve nodded as she glanced at the ground, and forced herself to walk away from Mike. If she stood in front of him any longer, she wouldn't be able to walk away from him.

Mike approached Zack as he watched Eve with sad eyes make his way back to Zack's car. "Please take care of her," he pleaded. "She can't take care of herself, even if she claims that she can, she can't. She's just too stubborn to ask for help."

"I will," Zack promised, hugging Mike. "I took care of her last time, and I'll take just as much care of her this time around. I know how much she means to you, Mike. I won't let anything happen to her."

Mike hugged him back as he cleared his throat. He was getting slightly emotional. "Thank you," he managed to choke out. "Don't forget to tell Eve I love her."

"I could never forget that," Zack said, as he handed Mike his bags.

Mike smiled weakly as he walked over to his gate and turned around one last time to wave goodbye to Zack. He couldn't wait to return home, and be home for good with the love of his life, for good.

A/N: Yay! Chapter twelve is finished! Don't forget to review, guys! :] Chapter 13 should be up soon! Love you guys!