Your eyes burned as the sun glared down at you, the uniform was sweaty and itchy, and you wanted out of the southern heat to run home to the small family you created before your deployment. Your son, your husband—yours. The word echoed in your mind like a primal breath of need as your body twitched with anticipation to see your family.

Your eyes darted towards the families that trampled through the grounds as you watched other soldiers get their “tap outs.” Your body swayed slightly as you stayed in position, your hands clasped behind your back, your legs squeezed together in an uncomfortable way, but it had become your routine the last six weeks to stay at "attention." It had become almost… normal to you.

“Mommy!” was yelled a few feet away from you, and you immediately knew who screamed that name—your son. Tears welled in your eyes almost immediately, knowing you couldn’t look at him until he or Rafe tapped you out. You felt a tug at the bottom of your shirt and you couldn’t stop the tears from falling freely.

“Hey, sweet girl,” Rafe said softly as he bent down and picked up Sutton—his son, his eyes filled with tears of happiness and relief to see you made it through bootcamp, his heart felt full knowing you were alive and okay.

“Mommy! Mommy!” Your son yelled as he reached for you. Rafe’s hand shot out and grabbed the little boy and carefully but firmly hauled the little one into his arms as the boy let out a pitiful whine for his mother.

Rafe’s heart beat fast inside his rib cage—his heart beat for you. He had missed you dearly during your time away, and he was beyond grateful to see you; his eyes burned bright with love and gratitude, his mind solely focused on you—your uniform, your army badges that stayed attached to your chest, and the gun on your hip that made you dangerously sexy