"Some will win, some will lose. Some were born to sing the blues. Oh, the movie never ends. It goes on and on, and on, and on." -Journey, Don't Stop Believin'

1996.

The year of Taiwan's first direct presidential election. Major League Soccer made its debut in the city of San Jose, and the United Nations adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Prince Charles and Princess Diana decided that love just wasn't enough and got divorced, while the world watched as scientists cloned a sheep named Dolly. No Doubt told all of us to "Don't Speak," while Tom Cruise stirred our hearts when he shouted "Show me the money!" in Jerry Maguire.

The last of the leaves had long ago fallen in the picturesque town of Northridge, North Carolina—making way for the bitter January snow. Northridge. The place, that at one point had seemed like it was a ride straight into the bitter banks of hell. A place that would forever plague me, while it shackled me to it as I screamed. I had never imagined that Northridge would grow on me with a fondness that was unlike the original cancer I was so convinced it was.

Northridge was home.

Northridge was as much a piece of me, as everything else that had come along, weaving its way into my core and leaving little pieces of it inside. Pieces that ended up molding me into the Rachel I never knew I wanted to be, but the Rachel I was always destined to be.

The blasting from the hairdryer paired nicely with Charlie's sweet voice as she sang along with the radio. Some new country song called "Strawberry Wine," blared across the small speakers. Her hips swung from side to side, as the hair brush lifted to her pink full lips and she belted out the high notes. I tapped the heel of my boot on the grey linoleum as I curled the hair of the young girl in my chair. Her soft strawberry highlights glimmered under the bulb lights of my station.

I peered over my shoulder as Charlie twirled once, before she snatched up the can of mouse and squirted a hefty dollop into her palms. Slapping them together, she ran them through the wet hair of Mrs. Peterson. When I deviated my gaze back to my station the photographs that lined my mirror caught my eye. Lines of pictures of me and Kai on various small trips in between his different deployments. The last one I had added was a trip to the redwoods, when we took off on his motorcycle and rode all the way to California. I snickered at the thought of making love to him under the stars, and for a second, I sighed in sadness. I missed Kai.

Three more weeks and he would be home from overseas. Hopefully, this time for good. I was anxious to not have our lives interrupted by the military any longer. I was ready and itching with anticipation for a forever, with the only man I had ever loved.

"Alright, Cindy, I think you are good as gold," I remarked with a smile, as I snatched the small can of hairspray from my table and spritzed her, before tugging off her cape and setting her free on the town. "Enjoy your dance tonight!"

"Thanks, Rach!" She smiled, as she dug out her money from her small shoulder bag and gave me a generous tip.

Tucking it into the back pocket of my tight jeans, I warmly smiled as I glanced up at the clock. It was almost time for me to head home and I was dying for a relaxing half hour in a hot bubble bath. Quickly sweeping my station, I threw my dirty combs in the disinfectant tub and tucked the rest of my supplies into my cart, securing everything for later.

"I'm out, Charlie!" I shouted over the song she was singing and she gave me a warm smile and a delicate wave, before resuming her attention back on her client.

Shrugging on my heavy jacket, I pulled my hair into a messy ponytail and fished my sunglasses out of my purse. The chill in the air, that wafted through the small crack in the glass door, made me wish I had brought my car instead of walking to work. It wasn't that far to Heyman Customs, and for a moment, I wondered if I should stop by and shoot the shit with Gas Mask before I headed home.

In the seven years I had been Kai's girlfriend, I had become increasingly close with his parents. So close, that I went to Catherine with my problems, more than my own mother. There were never any judgments when it came to Kai Sr. and Catherine. Just love. Things had slowly gotten better with my own family, and my mother had even started to ask when we would be gracing her with grandkids.

That had been a rough conversation. After Kai's first run overseas, we had tried to have a baby, but I had started to think that something might be wrong with me. No matter how hard we tried, it never panned out. Just a lot of disappointment when that monthly period showed up to shatter our dreams of a family. It was defeating to say the least, and it made me feel like I was inadequate and flawed. I knew that Kai didn't feel that way about me, and he never blamed me for a lack of a baby— he just blamed the timing or the situation.

Maybe, we'd have some good news this time around. I was finally late, thanks to an impromptu visit from Kai on a three day leave a few months ago, that got very hot and heavy. Cecelia had talked me into doing some weird shit with Drano and my pee. Supposedly, if you mixed the two it changed color if you were pregnant, but it just looked like a bunch of weird foamy pee to me and it smelled horrible. Just the thought of that made my stomach lurch and churn.

One last look around, to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything, I finally pushed open the door to Charlemagne's Beauty Shop and entered the dimming day. The sight in front of me, however, stopped me dead in my tracks. Perched up against the light pole, dressed in his fatigues, was the man who always made my heart soar. His hair looked a tiny bit longer than the last time I had seen him, but still gone were his long locks.

I hated the military for that one simple reason.

He pushed off the pole and smiled, as he beckoned me with open arms. Dropping my bag on the sidewalk with a thud, I almost barreled into an unsuspecting pedestrian as I rushed towards him and leaped into his arms. My mouth slammed down on his as he hoisted me up into his grip.

Feverishly kissing him as if he contained all the air that my body needed to survive, I drowned all my recent worry, fears, anxiousness, and longing into that one passionate kiss. Kai was the first one to pull away, as a beaming smile played across his features.

"Surprise, gorgeous girl," he softly said, as he leaned in again and wrapped his lips around mine.

"I think I slipped on the icy sidewalk and hit my head. I'm probably bleeding out right now as people walk by me, because this has to be a dream. You're not supposed to be here."

Kai laughed and set me down on the sidewalk. "I might have lied."

"What?" I faked heartbreak as I clamped my hand over my mouth with exasperation.

"Just a little, but I got a surprise," he said with a chuckle as he pulled some papers from his pocket. Handing them to me, I briefly read over the words on the form—Honorable Discharge.

"Really?" I asked in shock as I clutched the papers close to my chest.

"Yeah, but that's not my only surprise. I got you a present." He dangled a set of keys in front of my face and I scrunched my nose up as I tilted my head slightly.

"You got me keys."

"I got you a beauty shop, actually," he stated with a proud smile. "Charlie's been puttin' out the feelers to retire. She wants to move to Florida and my pops helped me with all the business end stuff to buy it from her. I know you've always wanted to own your own place. We can make it whatever you want it to be, gorgeous girl."

I squealed with excitement as I took the set of keys and threw my arms around his torso. "Then, I love my keys! But, I really love you. I might have a surprise for you as well, my gorgeous boy."

"Then, you can tell me all about it after I get you home and say hello to you properly. But first, there's someone I'd like you to meet." Kai turned and my gaze followed him to a tall, African American man who stood perched up next to a newer grey truck. He was as imposing as Kai was, but there was something to him that felt warm and familiar. Something brotherly. "Brass, this is my girl Rachel, that I can't seem to stop talkin' about all those times in the desert. Queenie, this is Patrick Jones."

"It's a pleasure, Patrick. Kai's written about you several times," I offered the smiling man my hand and his friendly touch told me that everything was finally falling into place.

Kai was home and ready to build up his father's club in a way that had never been done before. New members and new friends, all building a family for the future; and as my stomach churned with the first hints of a sort of afternoon sickness, I smiled fondly that maybe, just maybe, Kai and I were also building a little family of our own.

☠️

________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Hey!

Thanks for reading Promises & Patches. Kai and Rachel's little love story was very fun to explore and we all know that they're end game from Beasts & Burdens.

Feel free to let me know what you thought in the comments and I look forward to writing a few more novellas to accompany the main novels in the future. A new novella will debut sometime early next year, and update around the same time as Jacko's book (Book 3, Devil's and Daughters)

Thanks again to all my readers for your support. I can't thank you guys enough <3

Ami