My Heroine
Chapter 4
Lia watched Harry, who was seated on her left, laugh at a story Evans was telling him. He turned looking at her smiling, placing his hand in hers that was hidden underneath the table. She smiled back knowing automatically he didn’t believe it when he squeezed her hand. She moved placing her forehead on his right shoulder lasting only a mere moment before his free hand moved to her chin. Raising her head up, he placed his forehead against hers.
Harry searched her eyes seeing love, happiness and a hint of sadness, occupying the green orbs he has spent so much of his time gazing into. He knew why she was sad, it was the same reason he was. They have officially been together for about a month which meant she was heading back home in 2 weeks; he was stuck here another 2 months. In the month that they had been together, they had gradually grown closer to each other; the comfortable relationship they once had was now back. Harry couldn’t help but feel as though history was repeating itself, in more ways than one and he refused to make the same mistake again.
Placing a soft kiss to her forehead, he released her hand to wrap his arm around her pulling her closer to him. Lia leaned against his chest, resting a hand on his thigh. This is about as close as they ever got to cuddling, it was something that Lia really wouldn't miss once they were BOTH home and could actually have privacy. Smiling as his hand began playing with the fingers of the hand that rest on his thigh, she couldn’t help but think of the other things they could do once privacy wasn’t an issue.
“You know, you two really make a man miss his wife.” Davies said breaking into her thoughts. Lia smiled emphatically at the dark haired male, whose face shown the longing he felt as he stared at the couple.
“When was the last time you talked to Marcy?” She knew the guys had a hard time finding time to call home and when they did the call only last minutes. Lia couldn’t help but think about how she would join the many wives and girlfriends of the soldiers waiting nervously and anxiously, for their loves to call; once she left.
“3 weeks ago. I told you she was pregnant with our second didn’t I?” Lia nodded smiling. She genuinely enjoyed listening to the soldiers talk about their families; the look of pure happiness they had on their faces always made it worth it. “She said that Stella has been coming up with all these names for the baby. The best one I’ve heard is Cha-Cha.”
“We only have 2 more months Mate, then we will be home with our loved ones.” Smith told Davies reassuringly. Harry squeezed the hand that was warm in his. Lia glanced at Harry seeing the slight nod he gave her signaling that he wanted to leave.
“Alright Gents, I’m heading out. I’m sure I’ll see you all tomorrow at some point.” Moving around the table, she hugged all of them goodnight before moving to where Harry was standing.
Lia’s eyes looked up at the stars in the sky as she exited the Naafi. All the stars stood out in the sky, twinkling and shining bright, it was one of the things she would miss about being stationed here. There were many night when she first got here, after everything had happened, that she’d go out to one of the many outside lounge areas to gaze at the amazing display the universe created.
“Care to let me in that beautiful head of yours?” Harry sat down pulling her to the space between his legs on the seat. Lia leaned back against his chest feeling his arms automatically wrap themselves around her waist.
“I love the stars out here. You can see all of them and it isn’t diluted by the city lights. It’s peaceful despite everything that’s going on outside these walls.” Her voice was soft, calm, relaxed; her eyes continued to gaze up at the sky even though the covering to the seating area dulled its beauty. “Do you remember when we were kids and I’d go to Highgrove for dinner? How afterwards we’d go outside, lie on the grass and look up at the stars? It’s one of my favorite memories.”
Harry pressed his lips to her shoulder, holding them there for a moment.
“Mine is our first date. Do you remember it?” Lia turned to look at him. She noticed that his eyes danced with happiness at the memory.
“I do, but please tell me anyway.” She grinned causing a chuckle to rise out of him.
“As far as I remember it was a picnic outside, during sunset with some sandwiches I made.” Harry paused at the sight of her raised brow. “Okay, sandwiches Arthur made; always so picky.”
Lia laughed as he kissed her neck, blowing raspberries on the same spot right after.
“You wore that red dress I liked and I remember thinking you were the most beautiful girl in the world. Then when I finally got up the nerve to kiss you, the bloody sprinklers turn on! I still think that William did it. I remember getting ready to head back into the house when I turned and looked at you, you took my breath away. There you were soaking wet; laughing as you twirled around in the water. That’s when I knew I was in love with you.”
Silence fell over the couple as they remembered that night.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it, but we have to.” Lia turned, looking at him. Harry stared straight into her eyes. “I leave to go back home in 2 weeks, you’re still here for a month and a half after that.”
Harry knew right away what she was getting at.
“I know, you don’t have to worry Angel. I was serious when I said that I wanted all of you. I am not going to make the same mistake again, not when I finally have you right where you belong; with me. Nothing will change that. I will call you when I can and then see you once I get home.” Harry paused grinning as he continued. “Where I can take you on a proper date, spend alone time with you that isn’t outside on a lawn chair. I can actually give you a good cuddle and we can finally fix all this frustration we’ve been feeling.”
Lia blushed at his words, biting her lip gently to stop the smile that wanted to form.
“I’m going home to you, that’s what’s going to get me through that last month and a half without you here. You’re going to be there waiting for me when I get there right?” Her eyes welled with tears at his question; at his confession that the thought of her waiting for him at home will get him through the rest of his deployment. She knew that this was his promise to her.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” She whispered her own promise, moving her lips to his sealing their promises with a kiss and their hearts.
*****
Lia opened her eyes at the sound of a car horn outside her window, effectively waking her for her dream.
London.
She had been home for a couple of days now, but her heart was still at Camp Bastion.
‘And so starts the nervous waiting game.’ She thought, checking her phone noticing no missed calls as she got out of bed. Moving towards the window, she stretched out all her aching muscles. Lia groaned as she saw the constant, white curtain that was falling outside and accumulating on the ground. Unconsciously, her face scrunched up in disgust for the weather she was no longer accustomed to.
Lia continued to glare at the weather outside hoping it would cause it all to disappear, when her phone rang. Turning her head to glance at it, she moved to pick it up.
“Hello?”
“Good morning dear. How are you enjoying being home?” Lia’s heart dropped in disappointment when the voice spoke.
“Yes, but I strongly dislike this white blanket that has decided to form outside.” The voice on the other line rang with laughter. “What do I owe this pleasure of an early morning phone call Gran? I hope everything is well.”
“Yes, everything is fine. I was hoping you’d join me for lunch today. It will be ready for 2, so please be here for 1.” Gran replied, Lia held in the sigh that she wanted to let out. Any other day, she would be excited to see the woman who she’s grown to adore, admire and consider her own grandmother, but today she honestly didn’t feel like doing much. However, Lia also knew that this wasn’t an invitation or question; it was a request that left no room for personal opinion.
“I’d love to Gran. What time should I expect a car?”
“Actually dear, William is going to pick you up at 12:30. I will see you when you arrive. Ta Darling.”
“Wait. What-“ Lia was met with the sound of the other line clicking. Gran had hung up on her knowing she’d protest that decision. She stood frozen with her phone pressed against her ear.
William.
Harry searched her eyes seeing love, happiness and a hint of sadness, occupying the green orbs he has spent so much of his time gazing into. He knew why she was sad, it was the same reason he was. They have officially been together for about a month which meant she was heading back home in 2 weeks; he was stuck here another 2 months. In the month that they had been together, they had gradually grown closer to each other; the comfortable relationship they once had was now back. Harry couldn’t help but feel as though history was repeating itself, in more ways than one and he refused to make the same mistake again.
Placing a soft kiss to her forehead, he released her hand to wrap his arm around her pulling her closer to him. Lia leaned against his chest, resting a hand on his thigh. This is about as close as they ever got to cuddling, it was something that Lia really wouldn't miss once they were BOTH home and could actually have privacy. Smiling as his hand began playing with the fingers of the hand that rest on his thigh, she couldn’t help but think of the other things they could do once privacy wasn’t an issue.
“You know, you two really make a man miss his wife.” Davies said breaking into her thoughts. Lia smiled emphatically at the dark haired male, whose face shown the longing he felt as he stared at the couple.
“When was the last time you talked to Marcy?” She knew the guys had a hard time finding time to call home and when they did the call only last minutes. Lia couldn’t help but think about how she would join the many wives and girlfriends of the soldiers waiting nervously and anxiously, for their loves to call; once she left.
“3 weeks ago. I told you she was pregnant with our second didn’t I?” Lia nodded smiling. She genuinely enjoyed listening to the soldiers talk about their families; the look of pure happiness they had on their faces always made it worth it. “She said that Stella has been coming up with all these names for the baby. The best one I’ve heard is Cha-Cha.”
“We only have 2 more months Mate, then we will be home with our loved ones.” Smith told Davies reassuringly. Harry squeezed the hand that was warm in his. Lia glanced at Harry seeing the slight nod he gave her signaling that he wanted to leave.
“Alright Gents, I’m heading out. I’m sure I’ll see you all tomorrow at some point.” Moving around the table, she hugged all of them goodnight before moving to where Harry was standing.
Lia’s eyes looked up at the stars in the sky as she exited the Naafi. All the stars stood out in the sky, twinkling and shining bright, it was one of the things she would miss about being stationed here. There were many night when she first got here, after everything had happened, that she’d go out to one of the many outside lounge areas to gaze at the amazing display the universe created.
“Care to let me in that beautiful head of yours?” Harry sat down pulling her to the space between his legs on the seat. Lia leaned back against his chest feeling his arms automatically wrap themselves around her waist.
“I love the stars out here. You can see all of them and it isn’t diluted by the city lights. It’s peaceful despite everything that’s going on outside these walls.” Her voice was soft, calm, relaxed; her eyes continued to gaze up at the sky even though the covering to the seating area dulled its beauty. “Do you remember when we were kids and I’d go to Highgrove for dinner? How afterwards we’d go outside, lie on the grass and look up at the stars? It’s one of my favorite memories.”
Harry pressed his lips to her shoulder, holding them there for a moment.
“Mine is our first date. Do you remember it?” Lia turned to look at him. She noticed that his eyes danced with happiness at the memory.
“I do, but please tell me anyway.” She grinned causing a chuckle to rise out of him.
“As far as I remember it was a picnic outside, during sunset with some sandwiches I made.” Harry paused at the sight of her raised brow. “Okay, sandwiches Arthur made; always so picky.”
Lia laughed as he kissed her neck, blowing raspberries on the same spot right after.
“You wore that red dress I liked and I remember thinking you were the most beautiful girl in the world. Then when I finally got up the nerve to kiss you, the bloody sprinklers turn on! I still think that William did it. I remember getting ready to head back into the house when I turned and looked at you, you took my breath away. There you were soaking wet; laughing as you twirled around in the water. That’s when I knew I was in love with you.”
Silence fell over the couple as they remembered that night.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it, but we have to.” Lia turned, looking at him. Harry stared straight into her eyes. “I leave to go back home in 2 weeks, you’re still here for a month and a half after that.”
Harry knew right away what she was getting at.
“I know, you don’t have to worry Angel. I was serious when I said that I wanted all of you. I am not going to make the same mistake again, not when I finally have you right where you belong; with me. Nothing will change that. I will call you when I can and then see you once I get home.” Harry paused grinning as he continued. “Where I can take you on a proper date, spend alone time with you that isn’t outside on a lawn chair. I can actually give you a good cuddle and we can finally fix all this frustration we’ve been feeling.”
Lia blushed at his words, biting her lip gently to stop the smile that wanted to form.
“I’m going home to you, that’s what’s going to get me through that last month and a half without you here. You’re going to be there waiting for me when I get there right?” Her eyes welled with tears at his question; at his confession that the thought of her waiting for him at home will get him through the rest of his deployment. She knew that this was his promise to her.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” She whispered her own promise, moving her lips to his sealing their promises with a kiss and their hearts.
*****
Lia opened her eyes at the sound of a car horn outside her window, effectively waking her for her dream.
London.
She had been home for a couple of days now, but her heart was still at Camp Bastion.
‘And so starts the nervous waiting game.’ She thought, checking her phone noticing no missed calls as she got out of bed. Moving towards the window, she stretched out all her aching muscles. Lia groaned as she saw the constant, white curtain that was falling outside and accumulating on the ground. Unconsciously, her face scrunched up in disgust for the weather she was no longer accustomed to.
Lia continued to glare at the weather outside hoping it would cause it all to disappear, when her phone rang. Turning her head to glance at it, she moved to pick it up.
“Hello?”
“Good morning dear. How are you enjoying being home?” Lia’s heart dropped in disappointment when the voice spoke.
“Yes, but I strongly dislike this white blanket that has decided to form outside.” The voice on the other line rang with laughter. “What do I owe this pleasure of an early morning phone call Gran? I hope everything is well.”
“Yes, everything is fine. I was hoping you’d join me for lunch today. It will be ready for 2, so please be here for 1.” Gran replied, Lia held in the sigh that she wanted to let out. Any other day, she would be excited to see the woman who she’s grown to adore, admire and consider her own grandmother, but today she honestly didn’t feel like doing much. However, Lia also knew that this wasn’t an invitation or question; it was a request that left no room for personal opinion.
“I’d love to Gran. What time should I expect a car?”
“Actually dear, William is going to pick you up at 12:30. I will see you when you arrive. Ta Darling.”
“Wait. What-“ Lia was met with the sound of the other line clicking. Gran had hung up on her knowing she’d protest that decision. She stood frozen with her phone pressed against her ear.
William.