Coming Home (#Wattys 2017)

15; Coming Home

She allowed his kiss to help her relax and fall asleep. "I love you Carrie."

"I love you too Harrison."

✎✎✎

They woke up with an hour and a half left in the flight. The two of them pictured meeting Billie over and over in their heads. That was when Harrison thought about Matt.

"Does his family know?"

"I don't know Harrison."

If they didn't, it was going to make delivering the letter a lot harder to his wife and kids who were expecting him to walk off that plane as well. Carrie pulled her own letter out of her pocket. She and Harrison wrote it to Billie when Matt wrote his.

She tore it to pieces. Billie wouldn't need to see it. Carrie couldn't even see herself reading it at Billie's age. It told Billie that they loved her no matter what, and it also detailed their wills. Being military parents, it was something they had to do. They had a trust fund set up already. But Billie wouldn't need that either right now.

Carrie also knew they'd be honorably discharged from the military. With all they've done, the U.S. wasn't going to extend their service. She and Harrison couldn't be happier. They both knew their time in the military was over now. Billie was their priority now. Then was the new baby.

✎✎✎

Carrie was glued to the windows as the city of Los Angeles came into view. "We're home Harrison."

As they neared the airport, both of them recognized their parents cars. The cars were parked on the runway. Once the plane landed, Carrie helped Harrison make his way to the front.

He patted the spot in his uniform pocket where Matt's letter to his family was. They were right next to his parents, Carrie's mom, and Billie. It was going to be a lot harder. They hadn't been told yet.

Carrie waited anxiously for the plane to stop and for the door to open. Once it did, she bolted down the stairs. Harrison followed as fast as he could with crutches.

When Billie saw her parents running towards her, she jumped down from her grandma's arms and ran to meet them. It was the fastest Carrie ran in a long time. But it was worth it when she fell to her knees and let Billie run right into her arms.

"MOMMY!"

"BILLIE!"

Carrie wrapped Billie up so tight in a hug. "I missed you mommy!"

The tears fell uncontrollably down both of their cheeks. "I missed you too B."

She could feel Billie crying. Carrie herself couldn't even see her daughters face for her eyes were blurred with tears. "Daddy and I are here B. We're never going back. Ever. And that's a promise your daddy and I are going to keep. We're done in the military."

"What happened to your arm mommy?" She asked, pointing to the sling Carrie had on her left shoulder.

"I got shot."

She undid the sling and used her left hand to wipe the tears off her daughters cheeks. "Didn't it hurt mommy?"

Carrie nodded. "It hurt a lot at first. But then I thought of you and it took the pain away."

Billie smiled. "I helped you get better?"

Her mommy nodded again. "I love you B."

"I love you too mommy."

She stood up with Billie in her arms and took a few steps to Harrison. "Daddy wants to see you."

He gave Carrie his crutches to hold as he balanced most of his weight on his good leg and held Billie. "Daddy!"

"Billie!"

Harrison, who'd been crying at his daughter and wife's reunion, now cried even harder. "Daddy I missed you!"

"I missed you too B. So much."

He then showed her the blue bracelet that was still on his wrist. "You still have that daddy?"

"Of course I still have it. Mommy still has hers. I wasn't going to let anybody steal it."

Billie smiled again. "Daddy, what happened to your leg?"

"I got shot, just like mommy."

"Mommy said it hurt. Does your leg hurt?"

Harrison nodded. "Mommy and I are real tough. We pushed through it because we knew we'd be able to see you again."

Carrie hugged both her husband and daughter. When Billie rested her head against her daddy's chest, Carrie kissed him. "I love you guys."

Harrison and Billie both said "I love you," in unison.