With a soft bang the airplane finally touched the ground of the Brize Norton. She ran a hand through the wisps of hair that weren't held together by the French braid. She was back after a five month tour with Two Section in Kenya; her third tour.

She sighted. So many years ago she never thought she would be her today, sitting on a plane that took her from a foreign country back to British soil. She thought the future was set for her. She would, eventually then, marry Artan and work in that damned nail salon for the rest of her live, occasionally enjoying a night out with the girls.

Back then she lived a life which only revolved around having a good time but also taking care of her family. She never once looked or took care of herself in a way she deserved. But now that she was in the army, she was finally daring herself to take care of herself, but also taking care of the local population she met during her deployments. She was making a difference and she always wanted that. Mean something to someone, since she never thought she had.

The plane reduced its speed, eventually coming to a halt. The people inside the plane stood up, taking their kit in hand before making their way to the exit, towards family and friends that would be waiting for them. She sighted one more time, before walking out of the aircraft.

When she walked into the hall of Brize Norton she looked around, trying to spot some familiar faces. After a few seconds she was met with the mysterious, dark eyes she was used to see before falling asleep at night. Those eyes that said everything his words couldn't. She smiled.

"Is this just as worse as your family actually turning up?", Kinders said standing behind her. He must have noticed her looking at the former captain of the "Under Five's".

She laughed. "No", she said, adjusting the rucksack on her back. "This is so much better."

Kinders gave her a pat on the back, before walking past her. He turned around, a cheeky smile present on his face. "Don't enjoy it too much! Need you fit for training next week."

She was about to respond to the Sergeants comment, when Baz Vegas walked past her and said, a little too loud for her liking: "And he really means fit. No hard labor, if you know what I'm sayin'." He wiggled his eyebrows before eyeballing the person waiting for her. Charles simply laughed at the comment of his former comrade in arms.

"Sometimes I wish ain't ever understand what you're sayin'."

"Always a please talkin' to ya, Dawesy", he said, winking at her before greeting his family.

She took the final steps towards the dashing man waiting for her. "Hey", he said softly, the look on his face said it all. It said the things that weren't appropriate to say in the presence of his son.

She kissed him briefly on the lips. "Hey", she said in the same manner as he just did, hoping he would understand the underlying meaning behind that one syllable.

Sam interrupted the moment, tugging the sleeve of her army uniform. She raised his two hands, presenting her with a small package. She took it and turned it around. She was met with a photo which was taken a few weeks before she went to Kenya on her third tour. During the Summer Bank Holiday she, Charles and Sam spent a long weekend in Cornwall, near Saint Just. One of the most magical places in the UK she admitted afterwards. She had no idea that her own country hid so many beautiful places.

She let her hand glide across the soft, wooden frame, her fingertips touching the small engravings in the frame. "You made that for me?"

Sam nodded, his eyes wide in excitement. "Daddy helped."

She knelt down next to him, so that they would be at the same eyelevel. "Thanks, mate", she said. She pulled him into a hug. "I love it."

She stood up again, wanting to get her kit when she saw that Charles already had it in his hands and around his shoulders. She began to protest, but he cut her off by saying: "You had a long flight. The least I could do is carry the bag."

"Fine", she said, while they made their way towards the exit.

He simply laughed at her response. He knew she liked her independence. It was the result of the way she was brought up and where she grew up. She always had to fight for the things she wanted in her life, especially when it came down to getting accepted in the army. She had to do that all by herself, with no help or support from others, including her parents. Not that she really blamed them. Look at how proud they were of her right now.

Sometimes it felt weird and unnatural when Charles was being supportive of her, encouraging her to actually go back to Afghan for her second tour to train the medics. Afterwards she was glad she did go back, since it was an experience she would never forget. He was right; she needed it. She needed it to come to terms with the death of Smurf, but also with accepting that Bashira was in good hands. That there was nothing she could do for the girl anymore.

"You're mum and dad are on their way", Charles said, interrupting her trail of thoughts. "They had some trouble renting the car, so I said we'll meet them half way." She simply nodded before getting in the car.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his naked body against hers, their fingers entangled in each other's loving embrace. She felt his breath in her neck, causing a unusual feeling running down her spine.

The afternoon and part of the evening was spent in their apartment, which they had bought a few months after she had returned from her second tour. Rebecca picked Sam up from there and not a few moments later her parents left as well.

When she was in Kenya she had missed these kind of moments. Sam had become a big part of her life, but also part of her family's. He interacted with her brothers and sisters, who had taken him in without asking too many questions.

All of a sudden the person next to her stirred. When he noticed that she was awake as well, he kissed her on her cheek. "I have missed this", he whispered in her ear. One hand caressed hers, taking it in his before kissing the top of it briefly. "I have missed you."

"Missed you too." Her hand untangled from his, making its way towards his face. She caressed it, the blunt angles of his face so soft under her touch while the first traces of his beard were stinging in her hand.

She kissed him on the lips, a feeling of happiness spreading across her entire body. She moved to be closer to him, feeling his one hand running across her body while the other ran through her hair. She had missed this, him so much. She hadn't realized how much she had missed it until she laid awake not a few minutes ago.

How was it ever possible that her life turned out the way it was right now? Someone she had this nagging feeling in the back of her head, saying to her that she didn't deserve to be this happy. That that kind of life was never meant for her and that it would be taken away from her when she wasn't on her guard.

When Charles was shot on the bridge in Afghan she thought fate would take him away from her, that it would take the one person that would make her happy away from her, because she didn't deserve to be cherished like that. And she thought fate was right when he passed her in the hallway of the hospital in Birmingham, the tubes and machines everywhere.

She rested her head on his bare chest, breathing in the scent of his soap and cologne. "So, how was the tour, really?", he asked, kissing the top of her head before resting his head on top of it.

"It was great, really great." She smiled. "We helped the African people rebuild everything that was destroyed. Helping them restore the water systems and that."

"No heroics?"

She laughed; he knew her too well. "Nah, not this time. Only do that when you watch my back."

"Really", he asked, doubting the answer she'd just given him.

"Nah", she said, a chuckle followed. "Not really."

"Knew the promise was too good to be true."

"Yup, that's me."

He kissed her on the cheek again, his lips leaving traces of true love on her cheeks, like it was present in the bedroom with them. "Wouldn't want my girl any different", he whispered in her ear.

"Your girl?", she teased him.

"Well, you are, aren't you."

She giggled like a love struck teenager would do. Even though she outgrew the age where she had giggled over a guy, she couldn't help but do exactly that when it came down to him. "Suppose you're right."

He didn't respond to her words. He simply lifted her chin up with his index finger, before putting another kiss on her lips. Oh, how she wanted to stay here forever, always in the presence of this man that loved her unconditionally.

Well, after a few days of silence, I'm back with another one shot. I had some difficulty coming up with something for a one shot, so that's why it took so long. I hope you've enjoyed it. Reviews are always very welcome.