I clicked save on the word document and closed my laptop and sighed in contentment. I had finally finished my English paper that was due in two days. I got up and walked into the living room picking up toys along the way and putting them in the basket by the wall. I dragged myself over to the couch and sat down hoping to get a little bit of rest before Kylie came back from Chad's.

"Hello? We're back!" Chad's voice rang out across the house before he appeared at the door way with a giggly Kylie in his arms.

"Hey!" I said getting off the couch and walking over to them, "Was she well behaved?" I asked taking her out of Chad's arms.

"Of course!" Chad said while tickling her stomach causing her to shriek in excitement.

"Thanks Chad, you've helped me so much." I said sincerely as I placed Kylie in her play pen, "I don't know how I would manage everything without you."

"I love watching Kylie, you know that." Chad said with a smile.

I giggled, "I know."

"So have you decided what you are going to do for her birthday next week?" Chad asked.

"I don't have enough money to do anything big, so it will probably just be here at the apartment with the gang." I said emotionally.

"I'll help pay for some of the stuff Gabby. Please don't cry." Chad said walking over to me and pulling me in a hug.

"That's not why I'm crying. Troy is going to miss Kylie's first birthday because he doesn't come back till next month or at least that's what the last letter said. I haven't gotten a letter in months Chad, what if something happened?" I said as tears started falling down my cheeks.

"Hey." Chad said trying to comfort me, "Troy promised that he would come back and Troy has yet to break a promise to you." Chad said rubbing my back in circles trying to calm me.

I nodded my head and sniffled while pulling back from his embrace, "Thanks Chad." I said while wiping my tears.

Chad nodded and looked at his watch, "Well I've got class in an hour but call me if you need me ok?"

I nodded. Chad kissed my head and jogged out of the apartment. I turned back to see Kylie asleep in her play pen. I walked over to the bookcase and pulled out the box that held all the letters that Troy sent me. I sat on the couch and opened the box carefully grabbing the last letter I had gotten from Troy.

Dearest Gabriella,
Today the infantry battalion commander handed me the dog tags of my best mate, the one I told you about in the previous letters, who had just been killed while on a mission with his unit. He was hit by a 60mm mortar. He was a great Soldier. His picture now hangs at the entrance to our section area. We'll carry it home with us when we leave. I can't believe he is gone…images of the last time I spoke to him haunt my dreams. I have also been informed that I will have to stay an extra two months over here and i won't be able to make it home for my visit. I can't come home until my full 20 months are served, but I want you to know whether I make it or not, it's all part of the plan. It can't be changed, only completed. Gabriella will be the last word I'll say. Your face will be the last picture that goes through my eyes. ... I just hope that you're proud of what I'm doing and have faith in my decisions. I will try hard and not give up. I just want to say sorry for anything I have ever done wrong. And I'm doing it all for you, baby girl. You and our peanut. I love you both.
Love,
Troy

As I finished reading the letter my body racked with sobs. I don't know what I will do if he doesn't come home. Kylie looks so much like him and has his personality; she is like a constant reminder of him. I shoved the letter back in the box while wiping my tears and got up before putting it back in its rightful place. I looked at the time and saw that it was lunch time and that I hadn't eaten and that Kylie probably hadn't either. I looked back at Kylie to see that she was still asleep. I walked into the small kitchen and pulled out a box of cheerios and put them in a plastic bowl so when Kylie woke up they would be ready. I walked to the refrigerator and opened it, I grabbed and apple and a bottle of water. I grabbed the bowl of cheerios on my way back to the living room. I walked in to see Kylie standing up holding on to the edge with her bright blue eyes shining with curiosity.

"Hey peanut. Are you hungry?" I asked with a smile as I set everything down on the coffee table and walked over to the play pen to pick her up.

"FOOD!" Kylie exclaimed happily.

I laughed, "I'm guessing Uncle Chad taught you that word." I sat down on the couch with Kylie in my lap and handed her the bowl of cheerios. I sat there watching her eat. It doesn't feel like I've had Kylie in my life for almost a year, she is definitely a blessing. I played with Kylie as she ate her cheerios which kept her giggling like crazy. Kylie started feeding me her cheerios and I started eating them making noises causing her to shriek in excitement which always puts a smile on my face. I heard the doorbell ring so I put Kylie in her play pen with her cheerios and grabbed my bottle of water as I went to go answer the door. I opened the door to see a man in an army uniform with his back to me.

"Umm excuse me, can I help you?" I asked as my voice started shaking. What if something happened to Troy, what if the guy before me was about to turn around and tell me that the love of my life and the father of my child is now laying six feet under without meeting his daughter. I felt my heart racing as all the possibilities ran through my mind. The guy turned around and when I looked up at him my eyes connected with the familiar pair of bright blue eyes that belonged to two people. My beautiful daughter and Troy, the love of my life.

"Troy!" I screamed, throwing myself into his arms dropping my water bottle in the process and almost knocking him backwards as I started to cry. Troy caught me easily, wrapping his arms tightly around me, keeping me pinned to his body as I took in his familiarities, his smell, the way his arms felt around me, the way his breathing tickled my neck, everything in that moment was just the way I remembered it on the night before he left almost two years ago.

"Hey baby girl." Troy whispered as he placed me on the ground, his grip around me still tight as if he was never letting go of me again.

I looked up at Troy and saw that he had matured so much since the last time I saw him. His facial features were more defined, he was much tanner, and more built. You could tell by the look on his face that he had seen "Troy." I whispered again, still unable to comprehend that he was standing in front of me at that very second, his arms around me and his lips drawing closer to mine. But as our lips connected it felt like we had never been apart. Just as Troy ran his tongue across my bottom lip a small voice came from inside the house "MOMMA!", and we both looked up, just staring into each other's eyes as huge grins started to cross our faces.

"Is that..?" Troy asked in excitement and disbelief, I nodded quickly. I led Troy inside, his right arm still firmly around my waist as we entered the house. I watched as Troy's blue eyes met with Kylie's and my heart soared as she stood at the edge of her play pen looking at him.

"Dada!" She exclaimed, and Troy looked over at me excitedly.

"She knows who I am?" He asked with tears of joy in his eyes.

"We have tons of photos up of you." I admitted. "If something was to happen, I didn't want our baby not knowing who you were."

"I love you baby girl." Troy said as he flashed me a watery grin. I left Troy's arms and walked over to the play pen and picking Kylie up before making my way back to Troy.

"Troy this is Kylie Marie Bolton, your daughter." I said emotionally as Troy stood there looking at her in awe as tears of joy continued to escape his bright blue eyes. I motioned for Troy to come closer as I started to put Kylie in his arms. Troy seemed hesitant at first but then melted into the touch of Kylie as he held her to his body.

Troy took a shaky breath as if trying to get control of his emotions "Hey peanut, your Daddy's home." He whispered. Kylie gave Troy a big bright smile and reached up and touched Troy's cheek causing Troy to break down into sobs as he held her close. I watched as Troy, the love of my life that had been through almost two years of combat and had probably had seen more than anyone his age should, break down at a single touch from his daughter. Kylie soon fell asleep in Troy's arms as Troy just stood there and watched her sleep.

I came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Why don't you go tuck her in wildcat." I said giving him a small smile. Troy turned to look at me his bright eyes shining before nodding and giving me a kiss. I watched as he walked down the hall in search of Kylie's room. I turned around and started cleaning up all the mess that had accumulated for the day. As I finished putting Kylies dish in the sink I made my way to Kylie's room but stopped at the doorway when I heard Troy talking.

Troy was looking into Kylies crib stroking her head, "I've missed out on so much of your life Kylie and it kills me inside that your momma had to do it all by herself, but she's done a wonderful job. I thought about you and your mom everyday while I was in Iraq, some days it was the only thing that kept me going. You two mean the world to me and I promise right now that I will always be here for you both. I may have missed out on a lot peanut, but I'm not missing anything else….because I'm home for good." Troy finished with tears in his eyes.

"Is that true?" I asked through my tears causing Troy to turn around in surprise.

Troy nodded his head with a smile, "I'm home for good baby girl." He said as he walked slowly over to me.

I could feel my breath catch in my throat as I saw the look in his eyes, one I'd missed for twenty long months.

"Troy." I whispered as his lips met mine in an urgent kiss. Our lips worked together until I couldn't hold myself up any more. Troy sensed this and pinned me to the wall outside Kylie's room before his tongue dove into my mouth and our tongues started to work together to provide us with the familiar sensations that a heavy make out session gave us.

"Your bags are outside" I whispered again as Troy's lips moved down to my neck, sucking and nibbling at the soft skin, causing me to let out a soft moan.

Troy moved his mouth away from my neck, looking deep into my eyes as he spoke.

"Fuck the bags." He said with a smirk before he started to walk me backwards towards our bedroom

"Does anyone know you're back?" I asked between kisses and Troy shook his head. "Good, cause I see us going into hiding for the next few days." I say with a seductive smirk. Troy lets out a deep growl as he attaches our lips once again.

I giggled as Troy sweeps me into his arms and carried me the rest of the way into my bedroom, placing me on the ground once we were inside and pinning my body to the door, pushing it shut in the process. I melted into his touch being thankful that once again Troy had kept his promise.