The six months of pure torture had passed. Jack was going to see his family again.

The late August sun beat down mercilessly atop Jack's head as he stepped out onto the train station, Davey at his side. The two men looked around, finding that the station was exceptionally crowded for the typical day. Both men brought their eyes around the platform, desperate for the sight of their loved ones.

Voices resonated back and forth as other men were reunited with their families. It wasn't until a familiar voice sounded in his ear that they began to look around frantically for its source, "Jack! Davey!"

Katherine and their three children were standing with the Jacobses. Jack couldn't seem to remember making the journey across the station, but he soon found that his lips were pressed against his wife's very own. The six months they missed of each other's presences were placed into that one kiss, and they felt like two lovesick teenagers during the strike again. They wanted to drown out the world and its troubles and focus on just their presences. All they needed was a penthouse for that memory to be recreated.

They pulled apart slowly, embracing each other and relishing in their contact. Davey, too, was embracing his wife, looking down at his newborn son and cooing adoringly at the infant.

"I'm so glad you're back," Katherine whispered so only Jack could hear, resting her hands on the back of his neck before trailing them down to rest on his shoulders. "Even if it was only six months."

Jack didn't respond, knowing he was better with actions than words. He tightened his arms around Katherine's waist and drew her presence closer to him, resting his chin on top of her shoulder. After their extensive embrace, they drew their arms away from each other and turned to face Velma, Veronica, and Joseph. Jack stepped forward wrapped his arms around each of his children individually. Those six months away from his family were difficult, but he was proud to say that he left for a good cause.

But he was terrified for the possibility of war.

<><><>

"'January, 1917,'" Katherine sighed, seating herself beside Jack in the parlor and reading an article from a newspaper. "'Germany has continued the usage of unauthorized submarine welfare and has continued to provoke and threaten the United States and their trade system with other European countries. President Wilson has undergone meetings with Congress.'"

"So that means...?"

"A war could be approaching," Katherine sighed, hugging her arms. She was terrified of bringing her eyes up to Jack's. Five months had passed since Jack returned from training, but neither could forget the possibility of what that training meant. "Those damn Germans..." Katherine cursed weakly.

Jack brought his hand to Katherine's, intertwining their fingers. "It's gonna be okay, Ace." His reassurance did nothing to uplift Katherine's mood, the mental stability in her mind falling apart with every week that passed.

The war wasn't looking much better, either. The only reason the Germans even stopped using unauthorized submarine actions was to keep the U.S. out of the war, but that didn't seem to matter anymore. The Germans were confident they could win the war, which didn't do well for the Allied powers. If the Allies fell, so did the U.S.'s economical state.

Which only meant one thing: the country's biggest fear was likely to come true.

"I hope it will be, but the world doesn't seem to be merciful in our circumstance," Katherine mumbled, feeling the blood leaving her face and goosebumps crawl over every inch of her skin as a result of her fear. "I just... after everything, a war is the last thing the country needs. And I... I don't want you to leave..."

Jack exhaled deeply, embracing Katherine tightly in his arms, "I ain't gonna leave ya, Ace. If they're gonna call for a war, then I'll only be gone for a short time. But I won't leave ya."

"And the kids?" Katherine breathed.

"I ain't gonna leave them, either," Jack responded tenderly, running his fingers comfortingly through Katherine's hair. "After all we've gone through, we don't need ta focus on the bad things, Ace. Let's be happy."

"How?"

"What do you think we can do?"

Katherine thought over her options, turning her body in the seat so she was facing Jack directly. She was deep in thought, before the simplest of thoughts came to her mind and her expression brightened. "We should go out. Just a night between the two of us. We can go to Irving Hall and see a show. Like old times."

"Just like old times," Jack responded, taking Katherine's hands and drawing her body close to his. "Okay. Tonight."

<><><>

It was safe to say that Katherine's and Jack's attentions were brought far away from the thoughts of war at even the simplest sight of Irving Hall. Memories flooded back into their minds at the time they met for the second time in the private box and the rally that was held in the theater. The appearance had changed minimally in the two decades that had passed. The only drastic changes were the external renovations.

As Katherine and Jack stepped into the theater and were seated in two private seats, the realization hit them: Medda wouldn't be performing like the old days. They had seemingly forgotten that Medda passed away in 1910 from influenza. It was another misfortune that placed itself in their lives. Neither of them found it easy to say goodbye to the woman who selflessly cared for them in their teen years.

Memories with Medda were bittersweet, but they weren't sad memories. Medda lived a long, happy life, and that was all Jack and Katherine could ask for.