Forever My Marine Pt2

Chapter #77

Chapter #77

August 20th 2022

Louri’s POV

I’m currently sulking outside my pod smoking a cigarette, I only smoke while on deployment. I use nicotine gum when I’m home. Being a Marine is a stressful job ok but I know it’s a shitty excuse. My phone isn’t working and I can’t call home and I haven't received a single letter from Scarlett or the kids. Yes I know Scarlett writes them but they tell her what they want to say. The reason I am sulking like a kid is because Greg managed to reach home and I’m petty. I’m just lighting my third cigarette when I hear my wife’s voice ring out from the doorway of the pod I share with Greg. “Louri! Baby can you hear us!!” I look up to see Greg holding his phone to me as he is on a call with Scarlett. “Oh fuck! Hey guys!” I say hiding the cigarette behind my back. “HI MAMA!!” Devon screams. “Hey little Marine, I miss you so much." I say as I subtly stomp out the cigarette. The kids don't know I smoke when I’m on deployment. They know not to touch 'Mama’s special gum' as Scarlett calls it. "Here I’ll give you some space." Greg says handing me his phone and ushering me into our pod. "I will go get everyone!" Devon says excitedly as he runs off. "I saw the cigarette, thank you for stomping it out without Devon seeing it." She says. "I’m sorry I'm smoking again. I just got stressed and I know that isn’t an excuse or anything." I ramble on. "Louri I am not going to judge you for smoking. Hell I used to and there are pictures on the internet to prove it so I have no place to judge." She says softly. "I don't smoke as much as I used to." I tell her. "Hey, that's a good step in the right direction." She smiles at me. "Mama!" Maya’s little voice rings through the phone cutting off Scarlett and I's conversation about my smoking. "Hey Maya boo." I greet her. "Mama, I'm Louisa." She pouts. "Really you are huh?" I play along and she nods and Scarlett just looks at us fondly. "Then how did you change your eyes?" I ask with a raised eyebrow and I hear Louisa in the background. "I TOLD YOU MAMA NEVER GETS US CONFUSED!" She shouts. "Inside voice Lou Lou." Scarlett says softly. "I'm the weal Lou Lou." Louisa says and I nod with a smile. "Look at my three favorite girls." Scarlett says. "That's just rude. What about me?" Flo asks, coming into frame with Thomas. "You are neither my wife nor child so hush it." Scarlett says. "Uh Hi Flo, what are you doing there?" I ask. "I guess my letter hasn't arrived yet." Scarlett says before continuing. "Florence’s place flooded and she was going to stay in a hotel but we have room so she’s staying a while. I'm surprised you didn't get my letter yet, I sent it on the second and normally it only takes a week to get to you. I have gotten yours. I write to you every day." She says. "I haven't gotten any letters hun." I say sadly.

Scarlett’s POV 

After I hear Louri say she hasn't received anything it makes me frown. I see her exit her pod and walk to another building. "O'BRIEN! OVER HERE NOW!" She growls at whoever this O'Brien is. "Lt.Col Evans, I told you there is nothing for you." He sounds annoyed. "Louri, ask him if there is anything for Lt.Col Evans-Johansson." I say knowing he can't hear me because she connected the phone to her ear buds earlier. "Why didn’t I think of that? O’brien my full name is Evans-Johansson. Is there anything under that name?” She asks a little softer than before. “Yes there is a whole stack but I need to see an ID, you know protocol and all.” I hear him say and she pulls it out of her breast pocket and shows him and he hands her a small bag full of mail. She apologizes for being so rude in the past few weeks and thanks him for his patience and leaves. “Sorry about that, normally my mail is brought to the pod, not the mail room where all the mailboxes are.” She says. “I’m glad it’s been sorted. There should be some wallet sized prints from Thomas’ party in the earliest one I knew you would want at least one.” I tell her and she dumps the pile of mail onto her cot. “Is this from the cat?” She laughs holding up an envelope that has cat stickers on it. “Gizmo misses you.” Louisa says cutely. “Aww well I will make sure to read it later. Ah here, this one has the earliest post mark.” She says opening the letter and skims over it before putting the picture in her left breast pocket where she keeps the others. “Now you have a full set!” Devon says as if they are baseball cards. “I do and do you know why I always keep them in this pocket?” She asks him and the girls shake their heads. “Because the heart is on the left side of your chest so I keep you close to my heart.” She says. We end up talking for a few hours till Greg comes back to the pod and tells Louri that IT is almost done with fixing her phone and that it’s also getting late. They have to be up at ‘the ass crack of dawn’ his words. We say goodnight, I thank Greg for letting Louri use his phone and we hang up. 

A/N: Aww cute chapter. Anygays see you in the next one.