Ad Astra Per Aspera [2] - Band of Brothers

62 | new life

" Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."

- Napoleon Hill

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The sun of Rhode Island on a blissful November afternoon was one of the most freeing feelings that Catherine ever felt within her body. The soft breeze was one of the last as late fall was quickly approaching, but for that moment, in the early afternoon by the bay.

George had made a show of taking his favorite quilt from the house and lying it out in the green grass under one of the oak trees in the park by the bay, grinning up at Catherine as he sat down on it and looked up at her with glowing eyes.

Of course, Catherine couldn't help but sit down beside him watching him softly lean in to press a soft kiss to her cheek and wrap an arm around her shoulder.

In recent days, George couldn't seem to stop talking about wanting to have kids - of course, Catherine was beyond excited to take him up on the discussion of kids. Seeing his eyes glow as he talked about showing his first son, possibly how to tie his shoe or ride his bike for the first time made her smile even more each time. She loved the way he got so excited, grinning like a kid on Christmas.

And now sitting beside him, she saw that same love glowing in his eyes again. With his coat wrapped around her shoulders, smelling like his favorite cologne, she couldn't help but smile softly to herself as she listened to George talk quietly against her ear, pressing gentle kisses every so often there, as their eyes stayed on the bay.

This was what she wanted, a life, a free life, a life where she felt simply just calm. Being with George, his jacket over her shoulders, his fingers intertwined with hers, she felt so peacefully calm.

" Hey, George?" she said softly, letting her eyes train on him for a moment as he looked up at her with a smile.

" Yeah?" he asked quietly, and he watched her smile softly.

" Nothing.." she said shyly, glancing down at their hands for a moment as the wind ruffled their hair for a moment, bringing a calm silence between the two as they sat there, " just thinking."

" About what?" George said, softly reaching up to place a piece of stray hair behind her ear with a soft smile. Catherine met his eyes for a moment and watched the soft brown of his eyes gently touch her blue.

" Just...." Catherine sighed," I know that you'll be a great father." George chuckled softly and watched her.

" I was hoping I would be." he said, watching as Catherine watched him softly for a brief moment and smile slowly.

" I was thinking that you could hope a bit more, in maybe 9 months?" Catherine asked him and George froze, his eyes the only thing moving on his face as he watched her.