The Halls were finishing their dinner and Tanner wasn't having a conversation with Eddie about military life. Maggie shook her head at her son: considering she was in the Army, he should know about military life.
"So did you kill any bad guys?" asked Tanner.
"Tanner," Maggie scolded, "You don't just go around asking questions like that!"
"No, that's alright Mags, I can handle it," said Eddie, "We did try to take out as much of the Taliban as possible. Though in the future buddy, your mother's right."
"Okay, I'm sorry sir," said Tanner.
"You didn't know any better," said Eddie, "Would you excuse me?" he asked and went into their bedroom.
Maggie followed her husband into their room and asked, "You okay Eddie?"
"Yeah," said Eddie, "We just lost a lot of guys that's all."
Maggie went digging through her jewelry box and pulled something out of it. She sat down next to Eddie, "I know how that feels. Sergeant Joseph Foster. He was a buddy in my platoon. We lost him after a nasty fire fight. I always ask whether I could've done more. But after a while, I realized there are two rules in war. Rule number one: good soldiers die. Rule number two: you can't change rule number one."
Eddie nodded, "I know. He was just a good guy that's all."
"I know," said Maggie.
"I'm going back out with the kids. You coming?" asked Eddie.
"Yeah," said Maggie putting the bracelet back in her jewelry box and following Eddie. ******************************************************************************
Denise knocked on the door the Hanson house at 7 PM on the dot. Blake answered the door and let them, "Evening Colonel, Mrs. Sherwood."
"Evening Major," said Frank as the slowly brought himself in on his crutches, "So where's your wife?"
"She's upstairs," said Blake, "She was having a little trouble finding something that fit because she's carrying higher than she thought."
"Got you," said Frank sitting down on the couch.
"I'll go see if I can help her," said Denise and headed upstairs, leaving Frank and Blake alone.
The two men stood there awkwardly for a few moments before Frank spoke, "So, how's married life treating you?"
"Fine," said Blake sitting down on the couch.
"How's the baby doing?"
"She's doing well," said Blake, "Right on target with development and we basically have the waiting game now."
"Well that's good," said Frank.
"Look sir, you don't have to do this. I know I'm not your favorite person," said Blake.
Frank looked at Blake, wondering what to say next, "Look Major, it's not that I don't like you. it's just…" Frank stopped for a few moments before speaking again, "I love Tonya as if she's my own daughter. And I didn't want to see her get in trouble with the circumstances you both were in at first. And believe it or not, Dee and I didn't want to see you go to jail for something as simple as falling in love. But now that I've seen how much you love each other, I have a totally different opinion. I mean, when Tonya gave you a positive pregnancy test, you could have very well walked away and wanted nothing to do with your daughter. But instead, you manned up and accepted the responsibility of impending fatherhood. And I know that little girl is going to have amazing parents."
Blake nodded and said, "Thank you sir that means a lot. I mean I love Tonya, and I think unfortunately I just met the person I was supposed to marry in, shall I say…"
"The wrong circumstances," Frank supplied helpfully.
"Yeah," Blake chuckled lightly. The two men heard footsteps coming downstairs and Denise and Tonya appeared in the living room.
"Are you ready gentlemen?" asked Denise.
Blake stood and helped Frank stand as well, "Yeah we're ready." ******************************************************************************
The Restaurant…
Hector and Gloria had arrived at the restaurant and the waiter had already taken their orders. The pair sat there a little rigid for a few moments before Gloria broke the silence, "It's been awhile since we've done this."
"Yeah, I know. It's kind of nice," said Hector. The waiter brought their salads and their meals and they continued to eat in silence before Hector spoke again, "Look Gloria, I've been thinking. What I did, I really messed up. I have nothing but regrets about that night. When I was holding Nicholas, I was thinking, he shouldn't be my baby with someone else, he should be my baby with you. Granted I realize that if he was my baby with you, Charlie and Captain Galassini wouldn't have a kid, but…"
Gloria stopped him, "Hector, I… I still really care about you. It's been such a confusing time for me," she said, "And I think I might still be in love with you," she thought.
After dinner, Hector dropped Gloria off at the Hump Bar and showed her to the door, "You know, I don't really like the idea of you sleeping at the Hump," he said.
"It's just until my apartment is ready," she said.
"Well I think this evening was fun. Maybe we can do this again sometime?" asked Hector hesitantly.
Gloria smiled and nodded, "Yeah." And for the first time in several months, their lips met with burning passion. ******************************************************************************
The Sherwoods and the Hansons were also enjoying their time at the restaurant, both sharing marriage stories and Denise and Frank sharing parenting stories with the parents-to-be on what to do and what not to do, "So long story short, don't ever think that baby will be an easy baby when she gets to be closer to a year old," said Frank as he finished up the story about babysitting Sara Elizabeth Burton.
"Really, the Army Song as a lullaby?" asked Blake, "And needing to call General Holden?"
"Like I said, that baby kicked my butt," said Frank.
"That is one thing I'm not looking forward to is the sleepless nights," said Tonya, "Though I'm already experiencing that."
"I take it the baby wants to be active when Mommy wants to sleep?" asked Denise sympathetically.
Tonya nodded tiredly and Blake said, "She's been tossing and turning a lot."
"Well I can't say it gets any easier, be it the third trimester of pregnancy, the birth, or raising the baby," said Denise, "But I can guarantee you that being a parent will be the most rewarding role you ever have." Frank and Denise paid for the meal and drove Blake and Tonya home from the restaurant.
"Well this was nice. I hope we can do it again sometime," said Frank.
"We'll try," Tonya chuckled rubbing her abdomen where the baby was kicking, "But it might be difficult soon."
"Have a good night Colonel, Mrs. Sherwood," said Blake.
Frank nodded at Blake and said, "Blake, please call me Frank."
Blake nodded and Frank and Denise pulled out of the driveway. Blake opened the front door and followed Tonya inside. He kissed Tonya's abdomen and said, "Hey Princess, it's Daddy. I just wanted to say 'I love you.'"
"What was that all about?" chuckled Tonya.
Blake shrugged, "Nothing in particular. I just cant wait to meet her."
"I know me neither," whispered Tonya.
"I wonder what she's going to be like?" Blake asked, "Laid back like you or stubborn and obstinate like me."
Tonya giggled lightly, "We still have twelve weeks to go though."
"Yeah, I know," he said, "But it gives us something to look forward to, right little one?"
Julia started kicking again so Tonya said, "I think she says yes." ******************************************************************************
Tim was trying to sleep but he was getting plagues with nightmares. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was leaving Firebase Reno and all he saw was the man. The man he had killed with his bare hands. When he finally fell asleep, the man was there, pointing a gun at Tim's head. He couldn't help it. he rolled over and started to strangle the man. He didn't want to, but he felt like he had no choice.
"Tim, what are you doing!?" shouted Holly. Wait a minute the man hadn't talked when Tim had strangled him, "Tim stop! You're hurting me!" Holly was finally able to push Tim off and he rolled over and went back to sleep, "What is wrong with him? What is wrong with my baby? He needs help!" Holly thought to herself. She rolled over again and cried herself to sleep, determined to figure out what was wrong with Tim.