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THIRTY-SEVEN

GAGE

The bus rolls to a stop, and the familiar sight of a sea of family members greets us. The sight is both exhilarating and overwhelming. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the emotional roller coaster that awaits. This is it—the moment I’ve been dreaming of since I got the orders to deploy.

I’m home.

As I step off the bus, the crowd parts slightly, and there she is—Ale.

Her face is a mix of joy, relief, and barely contained tears.

My eyes trail her body and I am awestruck.

Ale’s in the prettiest long, blue maternity dress, her belly round, looking absolutely stunning.

She’s holding Zoe, who is squirming excitedly in her arms, reaching out towards me.

Behind them, I see Morales’ wife, along with a few other familiar faces from our unit’s families.

But my focus is solely on Ale and Zoe.

My wife and daughter.

I make my way towards them, my heart pounding in my chest. Moving before them and embracing both of them, kissing Ale so softly that it’s almost like a dream that I’m really home.

“Daddy’s home, Princesa ,” I whisper, not believing that I’m actually here. She giggles, and it’s the most magical sound I’ve ever heard, her little hands exploring every inch of me as if to make sure I’m real. “Da…” Then she blows some raspberries on my cheek, making the both of us laugh.

“Well, not completely a Dada, but I will take it.” I laugh, hoisting her up and kissing her belly.

“Don’t let her fool you. She’s been saying it for a few days now.” Ale steps forward, and I pull her into our embrace, the three of us united in a tight hug. I can feel her tears soaking into my shirt, and I know she’s been holding onto this moment just as tightly as I have.

“I’m home, Ale,” I murmur into her hair. “I’m finally home.”

She pulls back, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I’ve missed you so much, Gage. So fucking much, Carino. ” She looks at Zoe, who is babbling away in my arms, oblivious to the depth of our reunion. “And Zoe has grown so much. It’s hard to believe it was only three months.”

I smile, looking down at my daughter. “She’s a big girl now, isn’t she?” I say, tickling her belly. She squeals with laughter, and the sound is music to my ears. I turn my attention back to Ale, cupping her face in my hands. “And you? How have you been?”

She takes a deep breath, her expression sobering. “I’ve been okay. The social worker did her visit and everything is in order for the adoption. And the baby...” She places my hand on her belly, and I feel a slight kick. “The baby is growing strong.”

I smile, feeling a surge of protectiveness and love. “That’s my boy or girl in there,” I say, my voice filled with pride. “ Fuerte y feroz, como su madre. ”

Ale laughs softly, and for a moment, we just stand there, holding each other, soaking in the reality of being together again. But beneath the joy, there’s an underlying sadness, a void left by Ryder’s absence.

Morales approaches, clapping me on the back. “We’re home! Now it’s time to have that baby and enjoy a little R I should have protected Ryder and the others from the brutality of war.

A soft footstep behind me and the hair standing up on the back of my neck let me know Ale’s with me. She takes a seat beside me, her hand finding mine in the darkness. “Come to bed,” she says softly. “You did everything you could. Ryder knew the risks, and he served alongside you.”

I nod, but the words do little to ease the pain in my chest. “I just keep thinking about him, about the life he’ll never have, the family he’ll never know. It’s not fair, Ale. None of it is fair.”

She squeezes my hand, her voice steady and sure. “You’re right, it’s not fair. War is never fair. ”

I take a deep breath, letting everything settle. “You’re right, baby. Let’s go to bed.” I smirk and bring her hand to my lips. “I have a lot of missed time with my wife’s pussy that I need to make up for.”

I stand, pulling Ale up with me, her body pressing against mine as I lead her inside. The house is quiet, but I can hear the faint sound of Zoe’s noise machine on the baby monitor. I guide her to our bedroom, pushing the door shut with my foot.

Ale turns to face me, her eyes reflecting the soft moonlight filtering through the window.

She’s more beautiful than ever, her pregnancy giving her a glow that takes my breath away.

I reach out, cupping her face, my thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks.

She leans into my touch, her eyes never leaving mine.