You And Me

Chapter 22

I'm sitting on my couch holding my son Chase Noah Ross. It's been about a month since the baby was born. My entire family is still here.

My Dad left with all the guys his age and younger, but nobody younger than eighteen.

They all looked nervous.

Noah walks in the door first, and then the rest of the guys come. I stand up and put Chase in his crib.

When I go back to the living room, Noah is standing with his hands in his pockets.

He looks so nervous.

Dad's face is completely blank, along with everyone else.

Marcus looks nervous.

Not for himself.

But for me.

In fact, everyone does.

I take a deep breath.

"What?" I ask.

"We need to talk." Noah says quietly.

"Don't bring her in there." Dad warns.

I look at him.

An then it clicks.

"You're going back into the military."

I turn to lock myself in our room, but Noah grabs my wrist and darts past me.

He shuts the door.

"We all are." He says.

I stare at him.

"Okay, this is a sick ass joke-"

"Love, it's not a joke." Noah whispers.

All I see is pain.

Pure pain in his eyes.

He's not kidding.

"No." I shake my head. "Why would you do this to me, dammit! You saw how bad I was when Dad was gone!"

"I don't have a choice." he whispers.

"Fuck this. Pack your shit. We're going to France. Or England."

He grasps my shoulders.

"They're not letting men on planes. We're at war with Russia and too many people are-"

he cuts off.

"Dying." I whisper.

"Everyone from the age of eighteen to fifty is forced to go."

I feel this giant weight dropped on my body.

It's not just my Dad this time.

It's Marcus too.

And Mr. Ross. And Skander. And Wesley. And Sage. And Jay.

And Noah.

"Then you're getting a sex change." I say.

"Anna, no. I can't." he whispers. "I have to go. There's no way out of it."

I shake my head.

"Please tell me you're kidding." I whisper weakly.

He looks away from me.

Because he can't take the look in my eyes.
"I'm so sorry." he whispers. "I wish I could."

I look at him, right in his eyes.

And then at my father, and my father-in-law, and my brother and my cousin, and my best friends.

All of them.

I could lose all of them.

Noah grabs my hand.

"I need you to stay strong for me." he whispers. "For Chase."

I look down, taking a deep breath.

And then I nod.

I won't.

I know I won't be able to.

But I tell him I will.

Because if I don't, he'll be too worried about me out there to pay attention to what he's doing.

"As long as you promise to come home to me." I whisper.

"You know I can't promise you that." he whispers.

Don't cry.

Do not fucking cry you big puss.

"Promise me you'll try." I whisper.

He nods. "I promise." he hugs me.