Terminal One

The Homecoming

Same Day
Back in Atlanta...

"Daddy, have you heard anything?..." Fatima asked desperately.

"Nothing yet Baby Girl." Richard sighed, placing his phone down on the kitchen island. After getting the voicemail of a friend who's in Alaska working on the disaster that happened.

"The only thing he was able to tell me was that Fort Greely suffered a major bombing and there were a lot of casualties. Sadly they have to do a body count along with an investigation so as soon as that's over." "But when will it be over..." Richard shakes his head, "It's no easy way to tell or know Fatima..." Richard mumbled, looking into his daughter's bloodshot eyes once again.

He saw this same look on her face when Brandon died but this was different, it was deeper and so was the love.

Fatima has barely slept and eaten since the Airman officers came by the house to inform her of an "incident" at Fort Greely that resulted in the "death" of Zac.

She refused to believe it and told them that she would not sign off on a funeral until his body was found and brought back to Atlanta.

She knew in her heart of hearts that Zac wasn't dead, so for them to come and already declare it with zero evidence and no body. She wasn't having it. She told them to take their asses back and look for him.

She didn't care if they were or weren't stationed at Fort Greely. She said what she said and got confirmation to do so when she called Naomi about the situation, who called her a few hours later to confirm the news of the incident and the multiple casualties.

Although Fatima felt sympathy for the lives lost she only cared about ONE.....

Buzz, buzz, buzz

"Naomi? Please.." "They found his body Fatima, meet me at the airport..." Naomi said, hanging up.

"Baby Girl, now is not the time to break down...." Richard said, holding her up by her shoulders, because she's hyperventilating.

"Daddy..." he brings her in for a hug, "They..." "It's ok..." "I can't do this..." "What did Naomi say?" "She said they found his body..." she cried out then broke down.

Richard holds her tight but still manages to end up on the floor, with Fatima wailing in his arms.

"What's going on?" Big Ma, Amanda, and Beverly asked, hearing the noise of different parts of the house.

"Babe. Can you call Mia and Nicholas and tell them to keep the kids?" "Uh sure...." Beverly murmurs, with Angel on her hip, seeing that look on husbands face.

Amanda places Iyonna down gently, as Beverly takes both kids away from the commotion.

"Richard..." "Right now, all we know is that Naomi called and said to meet her at the airport because they found his body..." "Oh God..." Amanda sucked in a breath, holding on to Big Ma, who's displaying a stern and calm front yet the tears in her eyes are saying everything different.

"Momma...." "Not MY Peanut..." Big Ma declared again. "Nanomi said meet at the airport rite?"

"Yes. Ms. Angel.." Richard replied, still holding on to Faitma. "Well that's what we gon' do. Cupcake, get up and let's get to dat airport. God ain't done wit'ch ya story yet." Big Ma stated, holding Amanda, as they left the kitchen.

10 hours later....
Atlanta International Airport

Fatima's knees are shaking uncontrollable as she sits then stands pacing the floor in anticipation. Naomi called her and told her to meet at the airport but that was almost over 10 hours ago. And she hasn't answered her call since and as much as Fatima wanted to buy a plane ticket to Alaska, Naomi told her not to because she wasn't gonna get anywhere or make anyone do their job any quicker, especially with everything they had going on.

Looking at her phone again. "Where is she?!!!" she mumbled to herself.

"You have reached the..." "FUCK!!!" "Baby Girl, have a drink of water, eat some food, something..." Richard pleaded, stuffing his face because he eats when he's nervous. 

"Daddy. I can't..." she told him. "I'm so nervous..." she admitted. "What if..." "Nope, remember no rabbit holes." he voiced, finishing up his leftover burger from 2 hours ago. "We're gonna believe and have faith in God's protection, you hear me."

Fatima nods.

Big Ma and Amanda went to get something to eat and were on their way back. Since her legs started to get stiff she needed to move around for the circulation.

Beverly stayed back with Mia and Nicholas to watch the kids.

"Anything yet..." Amanda asked, as Richard shook his head no...

She gives Richard a cup of coffee, as Big Ma rests in the chair beside him.

"Ms. Angel, you think you bought enough airport trinkets?" Richard chuckled, looking at all the bags.

"I shop when I'm nervous..." Big Ma confessed.

Almost twenty minutes later...

"Are you okay to walk? Or do you need a wheelchair?" Naomi asked.

"I can walk..." Zac uttered in a groan, "It's only a broken arm. I'll be alright."

"A broken arm and a few ribs..." "Naomi, I'm cool." He reiterated. "Considering I almost lost my life. I'm grateful that it's only a few broken ribs and a broken arm that can all be healed....But my life...yeah. I can't get that back."

Naomi nods with understanding, as they proceed to walk toward the exit.

Sitting at baggage claim because that's where Naomi told Fatima to meet her. She thought it was quite odd considering she only said they found his body, while never confirming whether he was dead or alive, however she took it as a good sign considering she knows that dead bodies usually go to the airport cargo terminal so that the funeral home representative can pick them up.

"Baby Girl, LOOK!!!!" Fatima looks in the direction that her father is pointing.

Her heart drops to the floor as she takes off running.

He smiles. "Let me brace myself." he mumbles to himself, seeing Fatima come at full speed.

"OUF!" he let out in a breath, with his muscles tight, eyes closed taking in her scent.

Hearing her cries were both a joy and a pain, but he knew it was something different. 

"You good Mamas?!" he asked, as Fatima shook her head no burying her head in the cup of his neck, holding onto him for life itself. 

Zac sucked his teeth, nodding, "It's gon' be alright." he tells her. "I'm home now..." he repeated, as he started to walk, holding Fatima with one arm, letting her whimper and cry her eyes out. 

"I'm home now."