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𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙇𝙑𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙃𝙎 𝘼𝙂𝙊

0430 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀
𝗦𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗚𝗢, 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗔

I held onto Colton's waist as we finished doing our morning routine. Usually, when he gets up for work I just force myself back to sleep but today I couldn't. I was in intolerable pain from a reason I wasn't aware of.

"What's wrong Bubba?" He asked turning to face me with a soft expression

"'My head and stomach are killing me," I replied leaning against his bare chest causing him to rub and kiss my head as he dialed a number

'Hey, Boone, Dinah's not feeling good so I'm not going to be in today' He said into the phone as I walked back over to our bed seeing Max and Sky had helped themselves to the bottom causing me to smile as I rubbed their head

'When?' He then asked with his demeanor changing causing me to look over toward him now wondering what they were talking about

'Alright' Colton replied blankly before hanging up the phone and sighing stressfully

"Baby, I have to talk to you." He said as he walked back into our bedroom

"About?" I asked as I sat on the side of the bed rubbing Max and Sky's head

He then walked over to where I sat and stood in front of me causing me to look up to face him as he grabbed my hand gently.

"Remember when I told you we had a bit of an issue in Iraq?" He asked causing me to nod

"Well, the past month 1,200 Marines were sent in and I'm going to be honest with you it's not looking good...So Boone just confirmed with me that they're sending our team out there along with some other special forces to go and execute a messiah threatening terrorism." He said causing my heart to sink

"Wait, what?" I asked in disbelief feeling my eyes water

"I thought everything was good over there?" I then asked

"It was until a platoon was bombed" He answered

"How bad is it Colton?" I asked while looking him in the eyes

"Out of those 1,200 Marines only 700 returned to the states, most with mental or physical injuries or both." He admitted causing tears to silently fall from my eyes

"When do you have to go?" I asked as he wiped my eyes

"Next week." He answered causing me to break down in uncontrollable tears and him to sit next to me pulling me into his arms

We had just started getting ready for the next step in our lives and this is just dropped on us. I've been to Iraq during active warfare and seen Marines die in front of my eyes.

I just couldn't fathom the thought of losing my husband.

Yes, he is the best combat Seal in Navy history and one of the best snipers behind Ross but things happen when you least expect them to.

"Baby, don't stress yourself. I'll be fine." He said as he held me close

"What if it's not though?!" I cried causing Max and Sky to crowd around us licking my cheeks

"Give Mom some room you two." He then said softly to them

"Dinah, I promise you I will be fine." He said as I wrapped my arms around him tightly

"I really don't want you to go," I said as I pulled away softly to face him

"I don't want to go either, baby" He replied as he wiped my eyes again

"I'm sorry, I know I need to be strong for you but it hurts." I said causing him to nod his head "No" before he said, "No, baby, if you need to cry, cry. If anything I'm holding back my tears so I don't have you stressing about the situation more."

"Well, practice what you preach, Captain," I said forcing a low laugh that ended with a sniffle causing him to smile

"I will but right now you're more important." He replied kissing my forehead

"I'm never more important to you in our relationship. What you feel matters too." I said placing my hand on his cheek

"I know that, Dinah. But I also know when I get on that plane to be shipped out your heart is going to break and until I return it won't mend." He replied as I slipped onto his lap leaning my head against his shoulder

"How long do you have to be there?" I then asked while trying to keep my tears in

"2 months. But depending on how hard it is for me and the guys to get in and execute or regulate things, it could be longer." He answered as he rubbed my back

"Okay," I said lowly accepting our fate

Colton then pulled away slightly to face me causing me to pout, "Hey, hey...Max and Sky are going to be here with you and I trust them to protect you when I can't. Plus, I'm going to call you every day and talk about how much I miss you...and want to touch you, plus how much life feels so empty without you." He said causing me to smile

"Keep this on to protect you," I said lowly as I touched the gold cross I had gifted him on his birthday

"I promised I would when you first gave it to me. The promise still stands." He replied causing me to nod

"Everything's going to be fine." He reassured before placing a kiss on my lips that I returned

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0830 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀
𝗦𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗚𝗢, 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗔

This next week seemed to fly by and with each day that passed, my wife seemed to lose her spark more and more.

Last night we definitely made love to each other like never before but it still wasn't going to fill that void we both now were missing. And when she started crying after and it broke my heart.

I gently then grabbed Dinah's hand as we stood by me and the guys' departure plane before saying, "I'm going to miss you, baby."

"I'm going to miss you too." She replied with tears falling from her brown eyes

I then slipped off my wedding band and slid it onto her thumb and said, "I hope you know I'm coming back for that."

She then smiled and nodded as I then slipped on a black Military band for the married personnel.

"You better come back to us exactly how you left." She said referring to her, Max, and Sky causing me to laugh as I wrapped my arms around her pulling her closer to me

"I've been on about 15 tours and coming back in one piece was something I always give thanks that I was able to do, sexy," I replied before bending down to Max and Sky and beginning to hug and kiss them

"I'm going to miss you two, too," I said as I began to rub their backs

"Especially you howling at random times during the day and night, annoying me, trying to bite me when I don't give you treats, you trying to terrorize me in my own house because it makes your Mom laugh, and you just all around being the problem pup," I said to Sky resulting in her howling at me

"Yeah, yeah. Love you too." I replied causing Dinah to laugh

"And you, if you have to, bite Sky because Lord knows I'm sick of huskies, her howling and playful nibbling already..." I said to Max jokingly causing Dinah to laugh hardly

"Stop it, Colton!" My wife then said now in uncontrollable laughter

"Okay, Okay...take care of them, man. Love you too." I said to Max as he licked my face and I rubbed his head

"Alright, Captain and Lieutenant Commander, we're cleared for take off in 3 minutes." One of the pilots announced causing me to stand as I sighed before resting my hands on Dinah's cheeks

"I love you so much," I said as she began to cry more causing me to wipe her eyes as mine watered

"I love you too." She replied before I kissed her passionately with watery eyes

"I have to go, baby." I then said as I pulled back slowly

"You be safe, Captain." She replied sniffling as she wiped my eyes

"I will, I promise," I replied kissing her forehead

"You lovebirds have me ready to cry!" Franks said causing me to roll my eyes beginning to laugh

"Houston and Andrews bring your asses! The pilots are scared of you two's rank and won't tell you guys it's time to go." Ross then said causing Dinah to laugh

"Yeah, don't worry Dinah and Veronica, we got these twos backs!" Banks then said to me and Houston's wife's

"The pretty boys are always safe with us!" Boone then said

"You better. Me and Dinah do not mind kicking you fours asses" Veronica said causing us to laugh

"I'm good on that. I saw Dinah kick Colton's ass six years ago and that's a fight I do not want to be a part of! Plus, adding another angry wife to the mix, we're good!" Ross said causing me to roll my eyes

"I'll call you right when we land." I then said to Dinah causing her to nod before I kissed her again

All I prayed now was for my wife to be fine without me momentarily and that I was able to make it through my 16th tour.

A/N: Okay, so pretty gut-wrenching chapter🤧 But, how'd you all like it? And what are you guys looking forward to? How do you guys feel about Colton being on deployment in an active war zone? And do you all think Dinah will be fine? Remember to vote, comment, share and add to your library!! Love yaaa🖤🖤🖤