Wanted to post this chapter today in remembrance of 9/11. As hard as it it to believe, I know some of you reading this weren't old enough to remember. But I was about six years old. I think its why i wanted to join the military, and I think in a way its also what motivates me to also want to become a police officer.

So, in remembrance.

Never Forget all the firefighters, police officers, and innocent people who died that day.

"Where's Mr. Jem?" Nala asked with a yawn as she woke up with the early morning sun peeking in.

Winter turned to see she was wearing an oversized 101st airborne t shirt as pyjamas.

"He had to get an early start today Nala, he made your breakfast before he left." Winter said as it was still weird to realize that they had a faunus child staying with them now.

Winter didn't have a problem with faunus at all. Far from it. She just found it odd how quickly Jem had taken a liking to her. It was kind of cute. It was like they had known each other in a previous incarnation, but that had to have been ridiculous. Either way, she admitted, it was kind of cute to see the two interact. The best part was the other day, Jem cooked steak again on the grill. And him and Nala were practically mirroring each other while eating steak, almost like that scene from Jaws, but a hundred times better. It had already been a week since Nala had arrived, so needless to say the little lion girl was growing on her too. But not as much as Jem. Jem seemed to have a soft spot for her.

"Oh yay!" Nala said as she sat down.

Winter smiled a bit as he noticed that Jem had taken the liberty of putting Nala's breakfast under a heat lamp so that it would still be nice and warm for her when she woke up. Nala's mouth watered as she noticed that there was bacon, eggs, and some nice chocolate chip pancakes for her. The little faunus would admit she was really enjoying her time on this planet. Well, except for the fact that she had never been out in public because of the fact her tail would give her away. Even though that did make her sad, Jem always tried to make it up for her by taking her on some of his outdoor adventures and trying to help her have fun at home.

Winter calmly sipped her tea as she ate her own breakfast, that surprisingly Jem had also made for her before he left. But the thing that surprised her was just WHAT he cooked for her. While Jem was a health nut much like herself, he didn't nearly take it as serious as she did. But this morning he had gone the extra mile. He made her protein pancakes with some mixed berries on the side, along with whole wheat toast with a light layer of cinammon, as well as some green tea and turkey bacon. Winter had been surprised.

But he told her that as long as he was making breakfast for Nala, he decided to make Winter some breakfast too. She had to admit, it was actually a sweet gesture.

"Ms. Winter?" Nala asked as Winter was sipping her tea.

"Yes?" She said between sips.

"Are you Mr. Jem's girlfriend?"

PFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Winter coughed and accidentally spit her tea out back into the cup.

"Koff Koff! I'm sorry, what?" She asked as she wasn't sure if she heard her right.

"Well, you two live together, and he made you breakfast? Are you his girlfriend?" She asked with that innocent head tilt.

"Oh! No! No of course not!" Winter said as she sputtered out her reply.

"Huh? Really? You say that like it would be a bad thing?" Nala seemed confused.

"Well uh, hes just not my type Nala..." Winter said as Nala got even more confused.

"Why not?" She asked as she didn't understand.

"Because..." Winter tried to rack her brain for answers.

But nothing was coming to mind.

"Its just, he cooked you breakfast, that seems like a nice thing to do." Nala pointed out.

"Yes it was..." Winter did not like where this was going.

"And you both live together..."

"Well, thats not my choi-"

"That and-" Nala was about to go on but Winter stood up.

"Uhm, I have to use the bathroom really quick." She said as she ran out of the trailer to use the bathroom in the actual house.

"Huh, wonder what thats about?" Nala asked as she looked down at her pancake.

"Awwwwww, he made a smiley face for me!" Nala cheered in happiness as she took a big bite.

Winter ran to the house to the bathroom and even though she didn't really need to use it, she decided as long as she was in there, she may as well take a shower just to clear her head. She stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the shower letting the hot water run over her as she began to wash her hair.

"Why couldn't I think of anything to say to her?" Winter thought to herself as she couldn't understand why she couldn't refute Nala's points.

"Then again, she did have a lot of things to say." Winter hadn't been prepared for all the questions.

Maybe it was something else she had to think about.

JEM

Jem was sitting outside his old elementary school. Some would find it odd what he was doing, but he explained why he was doing it to one of his old teachers. He could remember he was here on this day 19 years ago when one of the most major events of his life happened.

He could remember he had nearly missed the bus that day, and he was this close to having to get his mom to drive him here. But he remembered the day ended fairly quickly. He remembered how his teacher told them all that their parents were coming to pick them up. Which he didn't understand. He could remember his mom came and picked him up, and he thought he was getting out of school for the day. But he couldn't find a way to celebrate, because he saw how scared his mom looked.

He remembered how he got home and he saw his Dad home for once. It didn't make any sense because he knew his dad was always working at the factory during the week, so why was he suddenly back home? And then he saw what his dad had put on.

He saw the image of the towers burning. At first he thought it was just an accident.

And then the second plane hit.

He remembered his dad clenched his fist, and for the first time in his life, it was probably the first time he had seen his dad cry. His mom broke down, and Jem couldn't help but feel the same.

The rest of the day went the same, everyone was trying to figure out what was going on. Nobody was sure if anything else was going to happen. And when news came that the pentagon was hit, he remembered how scared his mom was.

He didn't go back to school the next day. His dad didn't go back to work the next day. It was almost as if his small town had shut down for awhile.

It was all he saw for days on end was more footage and more details coming out. Even though he was only six, it left a deep impression in him.

He could remember as he got older, his reasoning for joining the military only grew stronger. That day instilled him a sense of loyalty and duty to his country. He remembered how his grandfather was a veteran, his dad was a veteran, and a former police officer before he retired and went to work at a factory, in a way it helped solidify his belief that service to ones country was not only honorable, but it was essential.

He looked over his phone at the text messages he was getting from his local police department about the recruiting process.

He put his phone away and he got in his truck.

To think that one day had made such an impact on his life.

A lot of people say Never Forget but don't mean it.

But to him it really was a day he would never forget.

The world he was born into no longer existed.

But it was up to him and people like him to ensure that they could create a world that would be better for everyone.

Back home

Winter and Nala saw Jem walk back into the trailer. For once he was looking solemn, Winter had never seen him like this. Nala didn't even like the way he was looking right now. She was so used to seeing him happy, it didn't feel right to see him sad.

"Jem?" Winter asked as she walked over to him.

"Are you ok-" She was not expecting what happened next.

Jem hugged her.

Usually she would push him away. But this time was different. His grip was soft, and she could almost feel tears on her shoulder.

She held him close, thinking that he must have really needed this.

Nala seeing that Mr. Jem was crying, immediately came over and joined the hug. Even if it was just around his midsection.

While the day was full of pain and sadness. The one thing everyone had to remember was at the end of the day you had to be grateful for the things you had.

Tomorrow wasn't guaranteed, and you needed to learn to cherish what you have.

Never forget.