I was so excited. My brothers and my fiancé were coming home.
  "You look amazing Y/N." Lindsey, my brother, Gerard's, wife and I were going. Mikey's wife wasn't able to make it. Her sister was getting married.
   Lindsey and I found the hall easily, then we sat inside, waiting for the soldiers to come in and everyone to flood into hugs and kisses. I took a deep breath. "Everyone will be okay." Lindsey says as she touches her pearl necklace. I squirm in my chair, nervous as heck.
   I couldn't wait for them to come home. My boys and their friends. I just couldn't wait to have them in my arms again. I wrapped two fingers around my engagement ring and moved it around my finger as a nervous habit.
   It didn't help that I had big news with me. Frank won't believe his eyes. I know Gerard and Mikey are gonna be happy too. Gerard is gonna be so happy to see Lindsey again as well, and of course I have to tell Mikey about Kristen. It's fine, but I just want to hug them all. To hear their voices again. To see their faces in real life.
   The microphone was tapped and a sergeant stepped up and introduced the platoons one by one that were coming home. Ladies stood up in groups and clusters and hugged sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, anyone. My head popped up and so did Lindsey's as our platoon number was called. We stood and I saw Frank right away. I ran to him and ran into his open arms, smiling and trying not to shed happy tears. He rubbed my shoulder. "Baby. I'm so glad to see you again."
   "Me too Frankie, come here I have something to show you." I grabbed his hand and let him over to our baby girl. "A month ago. Her name's Lily."  She was laid in her carrier. He picked her up and held her, looking at her with so much gentle care in his expression. I was smiling like a dork.
   "She's beautiful. Hi Lily. I'm your dad." She fluttered her eyes open and he coped at her. I saw Gerard come in. I left Frank to be with his new daughter and ran towards my brother. Ray was with them along with Bob.
  "Y/N." Ray smiled when he saw me. "How was the new kid?" I laughed as he brought me into a hug.
   "Wonderful. Frank has her right now."
  "What's her name?" Bob asked.
  "Lily." I smiled then adjusted my gaze to my brother who was crying.
   "Gerard. It's okay, I'm fine you guys are fine. Just overwhelmed?" I hugged him and he embraced my hug more than he usually does.
    Frank came over with Lily and everyone cooed at her but Gerard stayed where he was. "Come look at your niece." I smiled softly and then brought Gerard over. Keeping an eye out for Mikey. Gerard took her from Frank and introduced himself and of course told me she was beautiful. Frank wrapped his arm tightly around me. They were all acting a little weird, but maybe I was just because we haven't all been together for a little under a year. I still hadn't seen Mikey and they moved on.
  We all found a table is when I asked. "Hey, Frank. Where's Mikey? I wanna see my little brother." I made it private. He looked at the floor then faced me in his chair and I faced him. He grabbed both my hands and never looked back up.
   "Honey. Mikey uh, he died in battle. He's not coming home." Thad when he looked up is when he finished. His eyes were watering up with tears as mine just flowed. Everyone else at our table went silent. I leaned forward into Frank's chest. That's when Lily started crying too, from something else. I looked at her and Frank told me to go take a minute in the bathroom, he'd get this. I got up, my legs weak, going to the bathroom.
  I stumbled in and collapsed onto the back wall. My baby brother was dead. I remember holding him in the delivery room, I remember teaching him to read while our parents worked. My baby brother was dead. I knew he shouldn't have gone with Gerard. I knew it and I should've told him. It's all my fault.

Mikey's dead.

And it's my fault.

___________________________
  (Frank's P.O.V.)
     I knew Y/N wasn't going to take the news well, I tried everything to help her. Nothing was working. I made her her favorite dinner, I even put Lily to bed. I let her lay on my lap while I played with her hair,while we watched one of her favorite movies that happened to be on.
   I knew it was going to be hard for her. I hated coming home to this. I hated that I had to tell her. "I'm sorry babe."
   "It's not your fault."
   "I know, but I'm still sorry. Do you wanna go to bed?"
   She nodded and I picked her up, putting her in our bed and tucking her in, shutting the lamp off and closing the door behind me. I left a note on the counter after spending some time with Lily.
   I was at the bar pretty late. Gerard was still take the death pretty hard as well. He hasn't stopped crying. "I'm sorry Gee."  He said the same thing as Y/N.
  "It's not your fault." Of course he blamed himself too, just like Y/N. I felt so bad for them. Gerard actually watched Mikey die though. Y/N just found out.
   I told him. He should've listened about going. He was to young to go.

  God. Mikey's dead. I should've protected him.