A/N: As I watched a montage of military reunions on ESPN, my muse decided that this story should be written. To all of our Veterans out there, thank you for defending our freedom. I applaud your bravery and sacrifice. I also applaud your families sacrifice as well. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Not mine...I still wish though...

Knowing that this could be the last time she saw her brother, killed her. For Erin, it was like opening a brand new wound. Her brother had been home all of 7 months and now he was being deployed again. She could see the pain and worry in everyone's eyes.

She knew that she wasn't going to be his last good bye that was reserved for his wife Linda. They had decided to get married three months after he got back. However their thoughts of starting a family were derailed when Danny received the phone call that he would be redeployed within the month. She knew she couldn't do it alone. However that didn't change anything, Linda had found out two days before he left that she was pregnant. She wanted him with her for the pregnancy however she knew that it wasn't possible. Linda held out hope that he would be back in time for the birth of their child.

Erin could see the fear in her new sister-in-law's eyes. She could see it in the way Linda held on to Danny's hand. She watched as her brother hugged their mom and dad. Trying her best and failing to keep the tears at bay.

Her mom was a mess and her dad was just as bad, for they were sending their oldest son into a war zone. They were beyond proud of him and the path he had chosen, but Erin could see that they were…scared.

She watched as her two youngest brothers gave their hero a parting hug. However it seemed to last longer than any of them thought it would.

She watched as Joe patted his brother on the shoulder, wished him luck and told Danny to come home safe.

She watched as Jamie fell to pieces in front of everyone. He and Danny had never been close, but everyone knew just how much the youngest looked up to his oldest brother. If he lost Danny, Jamie would be lost as well. She wanted to join in the hug but knew that whatever was being said was meant to be between two brothers.

As Danny made his way to her, she watch him pick up her daughter Nicky with such ease and yet a sense of protectiveness that Erin knew he was ready to be a father. She heard him to whisper to Nicky that he would be home as soon as he could, and to take care of her mom. That she would always been his second favorite girl, tied with Erin of course. And in that moment he looked at her with tear-reddened eyes. And in those eyes she saw fear and hope. All she could do was take her older brother in her arms and cry.

"Come home safe Danny. We all love you too much to lose you. We all need you. Please stay safe," Erin whispered to her hero. Not wanting to let go because this could be the last time she would he was safe until he was home again.

"I'll try my best. Take care of my girl. Linda is going to need to the extra help. She is going to need you. I love ya sis," Danny whispered as he let go.

Erin watched as Danny embraced his new wife and finally let the tears flow. She could hear him tell Linda that he loved her with all of his heart and would come home so that he could be her husband and a father. After one last embrace he picked up his bag and stepped on the escalator to carry him away from his family. With one last wave she felt the tears flow, hoping and praying that her brother, her hero would come home safe to them.