Soldier's Son

(1) Playing ball

Mid Winter in South Carolina

Riley and myself took my five year old son to the walking park. It was a grey over cast day...cold but my son Gunner did not care as long as he had his ball and his Aunt by his side.

I wouldn't be staying long, I had to get to work down at the local bar (Don Juan). Don our boss LOL. I sat on a bench half reading (50 Shades of Grey) and half watching Riley my 24 year old sister playing kick ball with Gunner.

Riley kicked the ball a bit too hard and Gunner missed it...( Scary thought, but the whole missing that ball was like it was ment to happen.)

Before my son's ball or himself went rolling down the hill, a tall, dark haired man wearing sun glasses stopped the ball and my son at the same time. With my heart in my throat I watched as Gunner looked up at the man and thanked him as the man smiled before kneiling before him and giving him the ball back.

Riley then ran over to the man and Gunner. She began talking to him as if she has met him before, then she began blushing as he removed his sun-glasses. I was too far away to hear what was going on, but Riley was star struck.

Dammit...Riley and Gunner was walking toward me being followed by the stranger. The wind picked up a bit and played in Gunner's shoulder length wavey brown hair. He took the color from his father and the wavyiness from me.

"OMG...OMG! Elise please tell me you have a pen and paper in your bag." Riley begged as Gunner grabbed his juice box.

"Riley, what on earth are you doing?" I asked as I watched Riley dig into my huge pocket book then I glancing up at the tall stranger. "Thank you for saving my son and his ball." I said noticing Riley found a pen and paper.

"My pleasure." He said in a accent I was not use to...wanting to say England UK.

"I know you wont know him, but this is Richard Armitage from the Hobbit movies he's the one I thought that should have played Christian Grey in 50 shades of Grey instead of Jamie Dornan." Riley said all excited making Richard turn 50 shades of red.

"I was the Dwarf King, not a Hobbit thank God." Richard said laughing. The sound of his laughter lit up Gunner's face making him smile which tugged on my heart strings.

"Bit tall for a Dwarf aren't you?" I asked as Riley handed me back my Pocket book since she had her two items she needed. I saw Richard looking at the purple heart in a case in my bag.

"My late husband, it was an award he never knew he got." I said as all the excitment of meeting someone new went out the window.

"I'm very sorry for your loss." Richard said as he looked to Gunner.

"Michael knew what he was doing, been gone 2 1/2 years now." I said as Richard somewhat bowed his head.

"I remember, you must have played the handsome blue eyed Dwarf." I said changing the subject. Richard removed his sun glasses as he let me see those remarkable eyes of his.

"Thank you...I think..." Richard said as he signed the notepad paper for Riley as I looked at my cell phone and seen the time.

"Dammit, I have to go. Pleasure to meet you Mr. Armitage." I said shaking his hand.

"Just Richard please, but you are?" He asked.

"Elise Stevens." I said as tossed my cell phone into my bag then threw my bag over my shoulder. "Oh Riley fix Gunner his chicken tenders when you get home...sorry but I must run to get to work before I'm late." I added.

"May I take your sister and your son out to lunch?" Richard asked making me stop in my tracks and turn around seeing Riley eye-ball me begging me silently behind Richard but then stopped when he turned to look at her as if she was playing her innocent little Angel card.

"Are you sure it's to lunch and not kidnapping the two of them...because I swear you will be glad to return them." I said laughing as Riley flipped me the bird.

"Promise just lunch." Richard said not knowing how to except my southern humor, but laughed none the less.

"Riley please behave, I don't have to tell Gunner to." I said seeing Riley mimic me before kneiling down as my son wrapped his arms around my neck. "You be a good boy, Mr....Richard is taking you and Aunt Riley to lunch ok." I added as he nodded and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Can I still have my chicken tenders?" Gunner asked turning to Richard who stood behind him with his hand offered to Gunner to take.

"You can have what ever you want." Richard said as Gunner took his hand and smiled.

"Thank you, you don't have to do this you know." I said standing up and admiring a nice looking man in jeans and leather jacket.

"Your very welcome...and I want to. It's not a every day thing when I feel welcomed somewhere. I'll have Riley call you when I take her and Gunner home, and don't work too hard." Richard said with a wink that made me blush.

"I'll try not to, how hard is it to baby sit drunks at a bar?" I asked making Richard shrug his shoulders and smile.

"I guess can be very hard...so be careful." Richard said as he turned and walked to Riley. Couldn't miss that butt of his in jeans if my life depended on it. I would have to tell Chrystal about this...she would die.