Chapter 5

Carolina woke up to her 6:30 am alarm on her phone. She let out a yawn before getting out of bed. She forgot that she still had to go to work today even though York was coming back.

This sucks, thought Carolina. She made her way into the bathroom, took a quick shower, dried her hair, brushed her teeth, got dressed in a turquoise shirt with a brown cardigan sweater to go over it, and ate some breakfast all in a matter of forty-five minutes. After finishing her morning routine, she grabbed her purse, put her phone in her pocket, and nabbed her keys off the counter before heading out of her apartment.

Upon exiting her apartment, Carolina was met with one of her very good friends, Connie, whom she nearly ran into since she was in such a big hurry to go into work.

"Connie! Sorry sorry!" exclaimed Carolina.

"Whoah- it's fine, nothing to worry about." replied Connie.

"Yeah..it's just I was trying to get to work, and York's coming home, and- and I'm just kind've 'off' today if that makes any sense." explained Carolina.

"Holy crap! York is coming home?!" replied a practically screaming Connie.

"Yeah! Wait- why are you so excited?" said Carolina with a quirking brow.

"Well, I was just coming here to tell you that I would fill in for you. You always overwork yourself, and hey I guess it worked out pretty well for you now." smiled Connie.

Carolina immediately pulled Connie into a tight hug. "That's so sweet of you Connie..I guess I should head to the airport. I promise I'll repay you in some way."

"Oh you don't have to repay me. Just go find York 'cause I bet he's looking for you- or will be. I don't know." shrugged Connie, then turning to get back into her own car. She waved at Carolina before she drove off which left Carolina to think for a few moments.

Snapping out of her daydream, Carolina practically hopped into her 2016 Honda Civic and pushed the on button. It was a gift from York with the help of his parents, and a paid off one at that. Satisfied that she was okay to back up from her parking space, she did, then giving the car some gas and accelerating to the main road. She quickly made her way onto the interstate with her destination being the JFK Airport in New York.

The screech of the C-130's tires on the pavement of the airport were enough to get York's heart going. It's not that didn't like flying, it was landing that always had him anxious.

"York. You okay man?" said North as he gave him a nudge on his shoulder to grab his attention.

"Huh? Oh- yeah yeah." responded York quite idly.

"Yeah, well you had better be good. 'You know who' is going to be looking for you."

"Yeah, of course North. Of course."

"What gives man? Plane ride got your panties in a wad?"

"What? No. I'm fine. I guess I'm just anxious to get off is all."

North nodded as he gripped York's shoulder just a little harder. "Un-wad yourself. That woman has been dying to see you, and you are dying to see her as well- hell even I know that even though your current state suggests you could care less."

York smirked at North before taking a hand and copying North's shoulder grip. "Alright. Yeah, you're right."

And just like that they were at the gate. The cargo bay doors of the plane opened up and all of the platoon members grabbed their gear and stepped off into the blinding sun. They were all sporting their dressier UCP fatigues with their tan combat boots with a hefty olive drab pack in tow. When they finally made it to the air conditioning of JFK they were met with a bunch of happy families clapping for their return. Various platoon members went to meet their girlfriends, parents, brothers, sisters, whatever. North and Wash stuck with York as he kept looking for Carolina whom he didn't see.

"She's gotta be around here." reassured Wash.

"Yeah, don't worry York." affirmed North.

"I don't know man. She had work today." said York with a skeptical sadness in his voice.

"YORK!" screamed a woman behind a bulk of the crowd who was quite literally shoving her way through.

York immediately smiled upon seeing the beautiful red hair Carolina had, and even more so when he got a glimpse of her green eyes. North and Wash simply pushed York forward which earned a glare in their direction from the man himself. That was cut short when Carolina practically tackled him, but York was quite strong so he simply caught her and gave her the biggest hug she could have asked for.

"I missed you so much York." breathed Carolina.

"I know. Me too Lina." responded York, a happiness in his voice. Quite the opposite of earlier.

"Alright you lovebirds, let's get out of the main walkway, yeah?" butted in North.

The 'Lovebirds' broke apart for a moment to get out of the way, but not before they shared a quick but blissful kiss. Something they both nearly forgot the feeling of.

"So. What's next?" squeaked Wash as he fiddled with his 8-point cap.

"Well. Where's your family North? Wash?" asked York as he looked between them.

"Oh, well I didn't get a chance to tell my sis, so I'll just have to surprise her." said North.

"Same here. Mom and Dad should be quite happy to see me." gleamed Wash.

"Alright, I can drop you guys off wherever." offered Carolina.

"Yeah, it's the least we can do." nodded York.

"That would be nice. Maybe drop me off at my parents and then I can drop North off." agreed Wash.

"Sounds cool with me. Hell, I get to sleep for a while again." smiled North at the thought of some more rest.

Finally after swapping radio stations and driving all over the place for a few hours, it was finally down to Carolina and York in the Civic. When they finally got back to Carolina's apartment, they were both equally tired, but York still had some energy which prompted him to make some dinner for the two of them.

"Voila! Mac and Cheese!" smirked York. He was a good cook, but he settled with a box of Kraft since it was late.

"Oh boy." said Carolina with a sarcastic tone.

"Hey! Kraft is the best. Well at least when I'm not the one making the food." shrugged York, visibly tired now.

They both sat on the couch across from the T.V. and just ate their dinner in silence. Truth be told they were starting to get pretty tired now, but thankfully it was a Friday so neither had anything to worry about. As soon as they finished their meal, Carolina leaned against York who leaned his head against her's which eventually led to the two cuddling on the couch as they drifted away into a fine night of rest.