Coming Home

Jamie wasn't going to cry. He was determined not to.

"Baby, don't look at me like that," André whispered and Jamie choked back a sob.

"It's okay, André. I understand. Fighting for freedom is always more important than my graduation. I guess I'll see you in a few months," André blew him a kiss before disconnecting the Skype call. Jamie couldn't stop the flowing tears. He wasn't angry with André, he couldn't be. He was angry at the military for drafting André during his senior year of college. It was unfair, but they had made it work.

"Ello?" Jamie's friend, Lance, immediately answered the phone.

"He—He's not coming," Jamie said in between racks of sobbing.

"No! You are kidding, right?"

"I wish I was. I just, can you and Li come over. I just need to have people with me right now,"

"Oui, I will call him and be there in ten minutes," true to Lance's work, he was there in ten minutes with blankets, pillows, and their other friend, Liam.

"Thanks, guys," Jamie sniffed and accepted the hug from Lance.

"Alright, let's get the sad sap into pajamas and we can binge watch The Flash," Jamie laughed slightly at Liam's words and went to go throw on a pair of long pajama pants and a sweater. The sweater he pulled out was André's and as soon as Jamie smelled the cologne he missed, he started crying again.

Was it too much to ask that his boyfriend be there when he graduates with his Bachelor's degree?

Apparently, it was, because André wasn't going to be there to watch him walk across the stage; André wasn't going to be there to kiss him and spin him when he was released; and worst of all, André wasn't going to be there to finally head to the new apartment Jamie made a down payment on last month to surprise him. None of that was going to happen now and it crushed him.

"Oh, Jamie," Lance was behind him, wrapping his arms around him, as Jamie poured out his heart onto André sweatshirt.

"It's going to be alright," Liam said, kneeling down in front of him, "He'll be home soon enough and we'll all go out for drinks and have a few laughs. Okay a lot of laughs, but still, we'll be together again." Jamie shook his head.

"It won't be soon enough," he said dejectedly. As he stood up, Lance kissed his forehead.

"Come on, Mon Ami. We'll go sleep in the living room and cuddle, okay?"

Jamie nodded and wiped his eyes.

"Thanks, guys; I don't know what I'd do without you,"

Graduation Day — Two Weeks Later

"Awe! Look at you, all handsome and tuxedoed up!" Lance beamed at Jamie who was smiling for the camera that Liam was holding.

"Thanks for being here guys! I can't believe I finally made it!" The words 'I just wish André was here too' were left stuck in Jamie's throat. He was not going to let that ruin his day.

"Congratulations, Jamie," a voice said behind Jamie and he turned to see Brandon Reece.

"Thank you, Brandon. I only wish André were here to see it,"

"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll see it eventually," Jamie noticed a twinkle in Brandon's eye before he left.

"What did Reece want?" Liam asked and Jamie shrugged.

"Just to congratulate me,"

"Oh! It's time; hurry inside before you're late!" Jamie zipped up his gown and refigured the cap on top of his head. The cap, though originally black was painted to look like a military uniform with a rainbow trim around it. No one really knew what the symbolism was and that made it even more special for Jamie.