Forever my Marine

Chapter #11

Chapter #11
Few days later

Scarlett’s POV
I am finally back to 100% health, thanks to my amazing medic wife. She still teases me how I was so attached to her boobs, but honestly can she blame me? I love her boobs. We flew out to New York for my work and Chris, Shanna, and Bri joined us because the kids begged them too and they can’t say no to them. I’m currently at the Outset Headquarters in a meeting with Kate and our team. It has been down pouring all day. Gotta love New York weather. As we are going over our sales numbers, the power goes out. “Well that’s great” I say as I turn on my cell phone flashlight. Everyone else turns theirs on as well. Lightning lights up the sky with loud claps of thunder following, making us jump a little. We get alerts on our phones for severe weather and my phone starts ringing, Louri is calling. “Hey baby,” I answered. “Hi babe, did you get the alert on your phone?” She asks. “Yes we all did and our power went off in the building while we were having our meeting.” I tell her. “That’s not good, are you all safe though?” She asks. “Yes we are all in the conference room” I say. “Ok good, please stay away from the windows just in case. I think I’m going to head over to pick you up” she says. “Baby you don’t have to, we can ride it out here, I’m sure it’ll pass.” I tell her. “I’d feel better if I came and got you and we were home, the weather radar does not look like this is something that’s going to pass soon” she replies. “Alright, we will wrap up here then” I tell her. “Thank you, I’ll be there soon, I’ll take the escalade just in case any of the girls would feel more comfortable with a ride home” she tells me. “Ok sounds good baby, please drive safe,” I say to her and we hang up. “Well, Louri is worried this storm isn’t going to pass anytime soon and suggests she comes to pick me up. She’s taking the escalade in case you ladies would like a ride home if you don’t feel comfortable driving yourselves.” I tell them. They politely decline but Kate takes us up on the offer. We all gather our things and head down the stairs of the building together since the elevators are out and make it to the private garage. I make sure the girls make it to their cars safely and make them all promise me to let me know they made it home safely. These girls are like family to me and I wouldn’t want anything happening to them. Soon enough Louri pulls into the parking lot as they are leaving and she pulls up by Kate and I and quickly gets out of the car greeting us both with a hug. “Kate is the only one who needs a ride home” I tell her, making her nod and grab our bags to put inside the car and then proceeds to open the doors for us as well. “Thank you,” Kate and I said at the same time getting in.

Louri’s POV
Once Kate and Scarlett are in the car I quickly get over to the driver's side and get in. “How bad was the drive?” Scarlett asks. “Not too bad, just a lot of downpour, they are saying visibility is going to get more difficult as the storm comes over us.” I tell them. “Who’s watching the kids?” Scarlett asks. “Shanna, Bri and Chris are. They were over spending time with us and I had noticed how bad it was getting and turned on the weather channel and that’s when I saw the radar and thought of coming to get you.” I say to them as I pull out of the parking garage, taking Scarlett’s hand in mine. “Wow it really is coming down hard” Kate says. “Did you get a hold of your husband?”
Scarlett asks. “Yes, I texted him. He and the kids are at home safe and he’s very grateful that you offered to pick us up Louri” she says. “It’s no problem, I just figured I’d offer since we have a lifted SUV that’s all wheel drive it helps get through better” I say making them nod. We pull up to Kate’s home and I quickly get out grabbing an umbrella and her bag and getting to her door helping her out and running over to her front door. “Thank you again for bringing me home” she says, giving me a quick hug. “You’re welcome, stay safe. Say hi to the husband and kids from us” I tell her as she nods and goes inside as I turn around and head back to the car quickly putting away the umbrella and getting in and driving home. Once we get home I pull into our garage and open the door for Scarlett. “Thank you baby” she says, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “No problem”
I say to her as we walk inside. “Mommy! You made it safe” Devon says, running up to us and hugging us both. “Yes we did sweetie” Scarlett says, giving him a kiss on the top of his head. We walk into the living room greeting the others. “Well looks like we are going to be here overnight” Chris says. “You guys are more than welcome to stay” I say, walking into the kitchen to make tea and hot chocolate. A loud thunder claps making Louisa start crying. Shanna is quick to pick her up and rock her back and forth to calm her down. Scarlett heads upstairs to change into more comfortable clothing, most likely my hoodie and sweatpants.

Scarlett’s POV
I head upstairs to change and put on one of Louri’s USMC hoodies and sweatpants and put my hair up in a ponytail. As I’m about to walk out of our room the power goes out. “Ugh Louri!” I shout out. “Already on it babe” she says as I head downstairs and I see her handing out flashlights. “Chris and I are going to go to the shed really quick and check on the back up generator” she says. “Ok, please be careful” I tell her. “We will, oh by the way nice hoody” she says smirking, making me blush. “Ok, lovebirds move it along” Chris says, making Louri roll her eyes as they head out to the backyard. “Mommy” I hear Maya say. “Yes, my sweet baby?” I say looking at her. “Up?” She asks making grabby hands at me. I pick her up and hold her close to me. “I’m scawed”’she says. “It’s ok baby, it’s just raining. Mama and uncle Chris are going to fix the lights and everything will be ok” I tell her while rubbing her back soothingly.

Louri’s POV
Chris and I head out to the shed and I hand him the flashlight to hold while I check on the generator. “Ah, it looks like the oil level is a little low” I say to Chris as I go to grab the hose from the small tank that I have in the back of the shed that stores back up oil for the generator. I unscrew the cap and start filling the oil, checking the gauge to make sure I don’t overfill it. “There, that should be good” I say while putting the cap back on and putting the hose away. I flip the switch on and it starts humming lowly indicating it is indeed working. “Wow, I’m impressed,” Chris says. “It’s a necessity for all homes to have a backup generator, never know when the power will go out.” I tell him, making him nod. “I will definitely look into getting one once I’m back home” he says. We head back out of the shed and into the house and we take off our jackets and shoes. “The power should be back on shortly” I tell Scarlett and the others. I see that Maya is clinging onto Scarlett and walk over to them. “Everything ok sweet pea?” I ask. “Scawed” Maya says as she looks over at me while still gripping onto Scarlett’s hoody, well my hoody. “Aww Maya it’ll be ok, uncle Chrissy and I fixed the generator, the lights will come back on in a few minutes.” I tell her giving her a kiss on the head. “And don’t worry, mommy and I will always keep you guys safe” I say, hoping to reassure her a bit more.
“We should build a fort like we used to when we were younger,” Chris says. “I think that’s a great idea. Little Marine, why don’t you help Uncle Chrissy and I get the things we need to make the best fort ever?” I ask Devon. “Yes Mama! I’m so excited” he exclaims, making us laugh. “Alright we gotta get a bunch of pillows and blankets” I tell him as he runs off upstairs. “He is so like you when you were his age” Shanna says, making me smile. I head upstairs with Chris in tow as we collect pillows and blankets and bring them downstairs to the living room. We move the couches around so that they are across from each other. We also grab chairs from the dining room to help hold up the blankets as well. Devon comes running down the stairs with blankets in his arms. “Devon, what did we say about running in the house?” Scarlett asks. “Sorry mommy,” he says as he places the blankets down. We start putting up the blankets on the tops of the couches and hanging them over the chairs. We place some of the pillows on the chairs to help anchor the blankets and prevent them from falling. “Didn’t know we had adult children” Scarlett says to Shanna and Bri. “Hey I heard that” I say, making them giggle. We get the fort set up and place some blankets and pillows inside so it would be comfy to sit in. “Can we have snacks inside the fort?” Devon asks. “Sure we can little Marine” I say ruffling his hair making him smile widely. We go into the kitchen and grab some snacks and juice boxes and head back to the living room. “Ok the fort is ready,” I say, pulling up the front blanket to let everyone in. We get inside and we turn on our flashlights and Devon and the girls get really excited about how big the fort is. “This is so cool” thank you Mama and Uncle Chrissy. “You’re welcome” we say at the same time smiling. I nudge my shoulder into Chris smiling. We tell stories and make little shadow figures with the flashlights. Everyone was laughing and having a good time forgetting about the storm. Another great memory to share together.

A/N: Hey everybody, Chris here. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. See you all in the next one.