My Soldier - Missing Home

Open Up

A/N ~~ Time for Harley to tell Lizzie what's been on her mind since coming home, how do we think it will go? Anyone nervous...?

~~Thursday Afternoon, L.A.~~

Lizzie POV

"So, who is who on this picture?" I ask after I scroll onto the next picture on Harley's phone. Harley's smile suddenly beaming beside me as she is still peaking over my shoulder at her phone screen, looking at the group picture infront of us both. Everyone in the picture with huge, tired smiles and dusty Uniforms. "That was when we were in Kenya on an Outreach Project.." Harley begins to tell me easily as she reaches out towards her phone with her free hand, her other still sitting on my hip underneath my t-shirt with her thumb lightly stroking across my hip bone sending small shivers up my body. "If I remember correctly, Bones is the one taking the picture." She adds before starting to point out people to me. "Easy one first, that's me lying down at the front on the sandbags." She points out and I can't help but smile seeing my Soldier in her Uniform. She always looks so fucking good! "Your hair is different.." I notice the small difference to how it is cut and styled as she laughs beside me and nods her head. "We were working with Special Forces and one of the guys is a trained barber, so he offered to give us a trim at the Base." Harley explains and I smile as I listen to her, always a hint of pride and passion whenever she talks about her job, it's amazing to listen too. "I see.. So who else is here?" I ask, eager to know more about her and who she works with. "Okay so behind me is Miles, a mischievous grin on his face because he was winding me up to make sure I would smile." I can't help but giggle at her tone as she talks about Miles. I know he is one of her closest friends, she always talks so highly of him. I can't wait to meet him one day. "And next to him was our Medic at the time, Hannah." Harley carries on and I can't help but cringe a little hearing an unfamiliar name matched with a beautiful brunette in the photo. I know I have no right to feel jealous about it but something in me has this automatic reaction after what has happened in the past, something I know Harley would never do to me, but being hurt before has brought on a strong, uncontrollable defensive wall that is hard to get over.

"Why did she leave?" I manage to ask quietly and Harley seems to sense my slight bit of discomfort as her hand on my hip wraps around me a little tighter as her hand moves to trace small patterns on my bare stomach with her finger tips, something so small and delicate but it gives me the reassurance I need to shake away my anxious thoughts as I concentrate on her touch. "She wanted to settle down and have a family." Harley tells me and I nod my head softly at the information. "Is that when you became the Medic?" I ask, wanting to learn more about her and she slowly nods her head in reply. "Luckily yeah, I was fully trained at that point and Charlie was looking into my Transfer options, but then Hannah pulled me and Charlie into his Office when we got home and told us she was leaving. Charlie offered me the position there and then." She explains and my smile grows with how proud I am of her. She is incredible and I am so lucky to call her my girlfriend. "Do you still speak with Hannah?" I ask without thinking about it and she chuckles beside me before leaving a few kisses against my shoulder. "Here and there just to check in and say hello. Nothing more." She assures me easily and I feel my cheeks burning up in embarressment. I didn't even know Harley then so I hate feeling like this. "That's.. Sweet of you Harley." I say but my tone gives away how my body is reacting deep down right now. I feel Harley breathe out heavily before leaning back down on my shoulder. "Before your mind starts to spiral, yes something happened between us. Nothing serious but it happened a couple of times. She is now married to her Husband with two cute kids living in Wales and she works in a Hospital as an A&E Nurse. I haven't seen her in years and if she ever does text me in the future, you will know about it baby. You have nothing to worry about with me." Fuck, I love this girl so much..