Thirty-Seven Years Ago

She was beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful.

The most perfect thing he'd ever seen and when he looked at his brother Joel knew he was thinking the same thing. "I can't believe you made this."

"My part was easy." Stephen said with a quiet laugh, glancing down the short hall to where his wife was resting. "Evie's the miracle maker."

Lofty words from a man who didn't believe in the divine but having heard his little brother talk about his wife, fiancé, girlfriend, pretty girl from the café ad nauseum it wasn't surprising. He'd been in love with her from the second he'd laid eyes on her and a goner the second she flashed her smile. And luckily the feeling had been mutual. He'd never seen two people more in love, except for their parents. But they'd been a lot older, not spring chickens his dad had joked, happily setting their mom up for whatever wicked comment she was in the mood for. Fifty-eight years hadn't dulled their spark one bit and though three was a lot less Stephen and Evelyn reminded him of them. Two people who didn't just have trust, respect and admiration for each other but who…

Who just saw each other.

It was a sting Joel was still working through that he didn't think he was ever going to find someone like that for himself. Or that he'd be allowed to keep them if he did. Once upon a time it had been possible, mom had taught them to believe in once upon a times, to fight for them and that was what they'd done. Together. And if making sure his brother got to have his happily ever after meant he had to give up a future he didn't have yet then he was fine with that. Proud to do it. He was just… He was going to miss being a part of it.

He was going to miss watching this little girl grow up. It had only been three months and she was already so different from the pictures of the newborn he had in his wallet, the one he was going to have to find a safe place to hide. He was supposed to get rid of it but he didn't know if he could do that.

"You don't have to do this." Stephen said quietly but his voice was tight- pleading. "It's overkill-"

"Is it going to keep you safer?"

His brothers face twisted and he made himself memorize that too. "It's not your job to care of me anymore."

"My job is to protect this country and it's citizens. And I like Evie so I'm not going to hold her heritage against her. Your job is to take care of your girls."

"It doesn't have to be this way." Stephen insisted, coming around to stand in front of him but he turned his attention to Theresa; she was quiet now but the kid had a pair of lungs on her. A tiny tempest. "We can figure something out-"

"This is the solution little bro." Joel said firmly, holding back a smile at his brothers huff of frustration before he fell into line. "They might be killing me but it's not an actual death sentence. Things will be different than either of us thought but that's okay- this isn't going to be the last time we see each other."

"But she's not going to know you." His brother said quietly and the sadness in his voice brought tears to his eyes.

"I'll know her. And I'll take care of her. Always."

"That was never what I was worried about." Stephen said hoarsely but a knock at the door ended their conversation.

Since Evelyn was still sleeping, mom slept when baby slept they went outside to greet their friends, another pang hitting him when he wondered how long it would be until the four of them were together again. Sam had entered the Navy with the two of them, fresh off the graduation stage and he'd been the first to leave, three years ago when his wife Clara gave birth to their son. First because though neither had said anything they'd all noticed she hadn't had a drink all week.

At eighteen he'd thought joining the Navy to explore the world was a way to avoid growing up, and learned quickly how false that was but this was a whole other level.

Parenthood.

Two nights and he'd lost both his brothers, but it was worth it. And he wasn't completely alone. It might not be as often but he knew he could always rely on Phil in a pickle, his friend making a dry face when his grin gave away what he was thinking. "How's my second favourite American?"

"You know she's half." The other man pointed out, quickly raising his hands as he hid a smirk. "Dislike it all you want, it's true. Maybe she'll end up on my side."

"She's going to have her own side." His brother said proudly, running a finger down her nose when she started quietly fussing, which made all of them soften their voices.

"She's so tiny." Phil whispered, peering over Sam's shoulder like he was afraid to get too close. He'd always been that way, the odd one out in their little group, the one not supposed to be a part of it and he wouldn't have been if it weren't for Qatar.

If you saved his life, he was going to owe you. You saved his brothers lives, he was going to have your back.

You catch a grenade midair and throw it back?

Lifetime respect.

A whistle caught their attention and they turned to see Evie standing in the doorway, sleepy-eyed but smirking as she held up a camera. "Smile."

"You're supposed to say that before you take the picture." Sam said as he blinked the flash out of his eyes, he and Phil doing the same but Stephen was already at her side. Kissing her, as per usual, before he grinned at the polaroid.

They shouldn't keep it. Those were the rules but… Sometimes they needed a reminder of what they were fighting for.

Happily ever after over once upon a time.