Military Heart

Chapter One.

I stare at my phone, waiting for it to ring as I sit on the couch.  My four month, pregnant belly barely seen through his hoodie.  The phone rings and I answer it quickly.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Burr.  I'm going to come and take you baby clothes shopping."

"Ugh! Mom! I'm waiting for Seth to call!"

"Wow, you don't sound very pleased to speak with your mother."

"Sorry, mom.  I just miss him a  lot, you know that."

"Have you been sitting on that couch, all day, waiting for him to all?"  She asks pointedly.

"Psh- no. Why would- yes."

She giggles, "I'll be over later."

"Okay, bye, mom. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart." 

I set the phone back down and begin to rub my pregnant belly absentmindedly as I think back.

He attempts to wipe my tears but more flood my cheeks.

"Baby, please don't cry.  I'll be home before you know it.   You won't even have enough time to miss me."

"Please don't leave me, please."  I cling to him tightly, my tears staining his shirt.

"I have to go, sweetie."

"Seth..."  I bite my lip, looking up at him.

"Yes, beautiful?"  He looks down at me, showing me his dazzling smile.

"I... I'm pregnant."

I'm ripped out of my flash-back when my phone rings.  I pick it up and answer it quickly.

"Hello?"

"Arbor.." He breaths.

"Oh, Seth!"  Here come the water works.  "I miss you so much!"

"Baby, don't cry."  You can hear the small smile in his voice.  "How have you been, gorgeous?"

I wipe my tears quickly and fight with myself, trying not to make more come.  "It's been hell, Seth.  I miss you so much.  I need you here."  Yeah, I didn't win that fight.

"I need you here too, beautiful."

I bite my lip, "Do you know when you can come home yet?"

"No, baby.  I don't know, I'm not really told anything... at all.  But, as soon as I find out- and I'm able to call you- I'll let you know.  I really hope it's soon though."

I sigh loudly, "Okay."

I hear him swallow, you can tell he's fighting back tears just like I had.  "It sucks here with out you."

"It sucks here with out you too.  My mother is trying to take me shopping."

He chuckles, "Emily loves to shop, you know that."

I grin, "I know, I know.  I don't, she's should know by now."

"Yes, she should.  No one should make my baby do something she doesn't want to do."

I giggle.

"What are you guys going for?"

"Baby clothes," I sigh.

"Oh.  What's the gender?"

"I don't know yet.  But mom insists on buying clothes for both gender.  I swear, old age has gotten to her."

He starts laughing, a laugh that I miss so dearly. "Wow.  Very nice to your mother, aren't you?"

"The nicest," I say, grinning.

He sighs, "Our fifteen minutes are almost up."

I nod even though he can't see me, "Okay, Clearwater."

"Don't.."  He sighs.  "I love you so much.  Stay strong for me okay.. for our baby.  I'll be home before you know it.  Try to be happy like I'm not there and go have fun with friends.  I'm sure my mom misses you.. or your mom.  Don't sit around on the couch and wait for me to call next month.  Be active, it's better for you and the baby.  Don't say good-bye. Because saying good-bye, means going away. And going away means forgetting.  You can't forget about all of our times together... ever.  You can't for get about how much I love you or how much I am in love with you."  You can hear the tears in his voice.

We sit sobbing silently as his words seep into my brain, taking up the capacity of my thoughts.  All I want is him to hold me tightly in his arms while his thumbs caress my cheeks.  

"I have to go..." He croaks out.

"Please don't leave me.. please."  I repeat my words from four months ago.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Seth."

Before he could respond the line clicks off.  I slam my phone down on the maple-wood coffee table.  My body falls apart on the couch, the sobbing begins.  Soon, my dream land consumes me.  I'd have to say, my dream land is my favorite place when he's not around.  Which seems to be a lot, lately.

"Arbor, baby, wake up.  Come on, sweetheart.  Wake up."

I peal my eyes open to see my mother hovering over me.

She sighs, "You poor thing."  She pulls me up into a hug.  "Everything will be alright, I promise."

"Don't promise anything to me.  He might not come home... you never know."  My face emotionless, eyes tired, voice strained. 

She pulls away, looking at my face.  "Don't you dare say that, Arbor." She begins, sternly.  "Seth is strong, you know that.  He will come home.  I can't tell you when but he will be alive when he comes back."

I make my head move up and down mechanically, showing her I understand, tearing my eyes away from hers.

She pulls me up off the couch.  "Go get washed up.  We're leaving soon."