Peter's pov

The day had finally arrived for me to go home, and I knew that my family was going to be there, coming in heavy. And, while usually I would not have it any other way, I was, however, a little worried about keeping things from them while they were right there in front of me. We won, but as always, there was a price to be paid. Maybe Uncle Danny could help, he went through something similar when he was in service. Everything coming back was so... Quiet. On the way going, I had been freely joking around and talking with Jamey and Brooks, but now silence was a suffocating barrier around the bus. From a long ways away, I could see my entire family awaiting eagerly for me to get off the bus. My parents, siblings, cousins, in-laws, aunts and uncles were there along with Pop, Grandpa, LJ, Trevor and Greg, the last two being my high school best friends and former lacrosse teammates. Time to put that instant smile to good use. I sighed one more time, throwing a glance around the bus, then got off, my Purple Heart medal from the shrapnel incident and my Silver Star from the two-day battle engagement moving along with me, jostled by the wind. I was soon engulfed by a few dozens of pairs of arms. It was at that moment that I let my guard down and cried, even if just a bit. Not even a fraction of what I had pent up inside. My family was squeezing me for dear life, and I was hugging them back just as hard, trying to block most of the things I had seen. Besides, they could turn my insides out, the shrapnel that was embedded into my body did not even hurt anymore, having long been healed, but still no possibility of safe removal. Sure made for some fun with the airport metal detector...

Trying to lighten the obvious dark cloud looming over what should be a happy moment, Pop spoke up

"Let's head on home, I made all your favorites."

I smiled, a real one this time

"Thanks, Pop."

The next few smiles came even easier once the younger wave of Reagan kids pounced on me. My cousins and siblings. And Nicky had told me she was expecting. Covey, for her part, kept me in a firm but loving grip. She could tell something was up, but that I did not want to touch on the subject just yet. Once we had gotten home to the Bay Ridge Reagan Homestead, I put my stuff up and changed my clothes, putting the two medals back in my suitcase. Soon we started to feast on roast beef, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken and other favorites of mine. There was more food than on Thanksgiving. A few hours later, Uncle Danny motioned for me to follow him outside, and I did so, in actual relief. I had needed to get this out and talk to him, but it had been understandingly hard to do so in private during the celebration of my homecoming.

No sooner had we gone out of earshot, I hugged him, clinging to him as if my life depended on it, head hidden in his chest, breathing erratic

"Besides me and the driver, the bus... it was empty. Uncle Danny, it was empty! Two of my real close brothers in arms, Jamey and Brooks, I was able to save them and the rest of the platoon once, but then they... they were killed in front of me a few months later, and there was nothing that I could do but watch. It all happened so fast. And, of course I miss them, I lost them; but with names like Jamey and Brooks, I couldn't help but think of Uncle Jamie and Cousin Brooks... I don't regret going. I don't. I regret coming back alone. Why me? Or, at least, why JUST me?!"

Danny's pov

I felt tears prick my eyes at the state of my nephew, and his state. Emotions and words I knew all too well. Survivor's guilt. I dealt with an ugly batch of it after Fallujah. I too was the only to return from my platoon, the youngest of us died doing a round of perimeter check that I was meant to do before I had injured my ankle. I wrestled with it again after Linda died, knowing she would have been the better parent for the boys, but with help, we were much better today. And I promised myself I'd do everything in my power and more to help my nephew cross the bridge of recovery to get to the other side. Make some resemblance of peace with what happened. I'd just have to get some help from the family, and from Doc, the shrink I had been seeing for my grief and anger issues. I ran my hand through his hair and soothed

"Hey, we're gonna get you through this. Together. I promise. You, me and the rest of our village. Ok?"

Peter's pov

I nodded, feeling relief I hadn't felt in months

"Ok. Thanks, Uncle Danny."

He hugged me again

"Anytime. Whenever you're ready, we can go back inside. Proud of you."

I nodded, smiling again

"Thank you, Uncle Danny. For everything. But, I think I heard the word piecakie. We better go now."

Chuckling at my antics, my Uncle followed me back inside where all of us tore into the dessert that Pop had perfected. Noticing I had been crying, but correctly guessing I did not want to get into it, my girl squeezed my hand and asked

"So, what's the procedure of the transition from Armed Forces to the NYPD?"

Bringing my girl closer to me, I replied

"The training to become a New York City Police Department officer consists of two parts: the Police Academy training and the Field Training Officer Police Academy training lasts for approximately six months, during which recruits undergo intensive classroom instruction and physical training. The curriculum includes topics such as law, firearms training, defensive tactics, community policing, and emergency vehicle operation. Recruits also participate in scenario-based training exercises to prepare them for real-life situations they may encounter on the completing the Police Academy training, new officers move on to the FTO program, which typically lasts for several months. During this time, new officers are paired with experienced officers who help them apply the skills and knowledge they learned in the academy to real-life situations on the streets. The FTO program is designed to provide new officers with hands-on experience and to help them become more confident and competent in their an officer is on the force, their experience can vary depending on their assignment and the precinct in which they work. Some officers may work in specialized units such as the detective bureau or the emergency services unit, while others may work in community policing or patrol. Officers are also required to attend regular training sessions throughout their careers to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques, technologies, and policies in law enforcement. The job can be challenging and demanding, but it can also be rewarding for those who are committed to serving and protecting their communities."

Smiling at me with pride, my Grandpa quipped

"What, did you memorize the whole handbook?"

I smiled, eager to fall back into the same easy banter and have a bit of relief from my reality, and quipped back

"Just the same light reading I've been doing for over a decade."

That caused the whole room to burst into laughter. A few hours later, my sister spoke up

"I think someone wants to share their homecoming day with their uncle..."

Nicky and Ricky had decided to not find out the gender of their baby, but all mysteries would soon be revealed. Mom and Ricky went in with her into the delivery room while the rest of us monopolized the waiting room again. Three hours later, Grant Richard Reagan-Kavinsky Rourke was born. Nicky insisted I be the first to hold him after her and Ricky, and my sister smiled softly

"He's named after your middle name, Peter."

Tears pricked my eyes, out of happiness rather than nightmares this time around

"Thank you, I'm honored."

I hugged the new parents, then relinquished my nephew to his three grandparents. Sadly, Mrs. Rourke had passed away when Ricky was young.

TIMESKIP- 2 years

Frank's pov

Two years had gone by since the birth of my great-grandson Grant and adoption of my great-granddaughter Stacy, and it was time for something very special. Graduation at the Police Academy. And not just any graduation, no. Not only was it Sean's first day at the Academy, making it two years until his graduation, but the class that was graduating was Peter's class, and he managed to score as best marksman in his class, not to my surprise. He had the top marks across the board. He also was the only one in his graduating class who had served instead of going the college route. Both paths are noble, of course, but his trajectory did distinguish him by giving him unparalleled experience prior to his training. He and his Lara Jean were now at the age of 22. She had graduated in Business and English Literature a few weeks ago, with a glowing 4.0 GPA.

I had been asked to say a few words about each of the graduates, and the request had made me more than happy. Now I could brag on my grandson without showing favoritism. I had visited with each of the families to gather some poignant things to say at their Commencement, but I knew exactly what I was going to say about my grandson.

"As for Graduate Officer Peter Grant Reagan- Kavinsky, he graduated top of his class across the board, joining the Academy shortly after serving a 2 year tour in Russia with the Marines, for which he received a Purple Heart medal for a shrapnel explosion and the Silver Star for saving his platoon after waging a two-day battle on enemy lines. Even prior to that, at 16 he found a dangerous drug operation in his high school and infiltrated, without a weapon, only a Kevlar vest he'd kept from a ride-along. He took down the ring from the inside, not one person in that school was even aware that drug existed. In the scuffle before NYPD arrived at the scene, this officer standing before you today had only house objects to defend himself with, and one Kevlar vest. No gun, no face guard, no backup on site. He sustained a shot to his collarbone, which the vest absorbed, leaving only a painful bruise, but his kneecap had been shattered, requiring surgery. It is that bravery that drove him every day, and that hopefully will drive each and every one of you out to the streets, then back to your families in one piece. Congratulations and my deepest gratitude to this year's New York City Police Officers!"

Then it was time for them to celebrate with their families.

Peter's pov

After the Commencement speech, I was quickly swarmed by my family and my Covey. After my family congratulated me endlessly and I had managed to convince my Mom that the millions of pictures she had taken by now were more than enough, I went off a little ways with Lara Jean, who smiled in my embrace

"I'm so proud of you, Peter. Congratulations. You achieved your dream job."

Kissing her, I smiled

"Thanks, Covey. I love you. And I'm so proud of you too. The menu for your bakery looks and tastes amazing. And the design? I gotta say, Lana outdid herself. She has serious talent."

Nodding, my girl replied

"Yep. She's been designing the bakery since day 1 of freshman year. And my book comes out in two weeks... I'm so excited! Look how far we've come since our fake dating scheme."

Kissing the side of her head, I playfully retorted

"My scheme. It was my idea, remember?"

She knew I wasn't serious about whose idea it was, so she just settled for playfully nudging me, both of us laughing, only stopping when my Cousin Joe came up to me, giving me a hug

"Congrats again, Pete."

I smiled

"Thanks, Joe."

He went on

"You're welcome. Oh, about your assignments... You were cleared both for the FIU, working under my command; and for the Special Stealth Response Forces Unit."

I celebrated

"Yes! But I also low-key miss when we could just jokingly call it the Reagan PD. SSRFU is kind of a mouthful."

My oldest cousin laughed

"I hear ya. Go enjoy your victory. We're having dinner at the house later to celebrate."

Left alone once more, I kissed my girlfriend before more family members could interrupt, as happy as I would have been to see them. I caught sight of a familiar face nearby in Central Park, then turned my eyes back to my Covey, shifting positions so that I had one knee on the ground. Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes glistening with tears of joy

"Lara Jean Song Covey, you have made me the best version of myself, the happiest version. You've shown me we can get through any and everything so long as we're together, and I want to spend the rest of our lives making you the happiest woman on Earth, the same way you've made me the happiest man. Would you do me the highest honor and be my wife?"

She kissed me, crying and nodding, and I slipped the ring on her finger. At that moment, a figure emerged from the trees across from us, wiping at his eyes. Lara Jean's father, Dr. Dan Covey. I had secured his permission a long time ago, and he filmed the proposal for me, now happily hugging us both. This has truly been a day to remember. To only make things sweeter, LJ's bakery and book were both a smashing success.