When I was 16 I met the love of my life. She was beautiful, smart and sassy, everything I wanted and everything I didn't want. She made me better in every way and I didn't even think she knew it.
At 18 I decided on 2 things. One of them was to marry her and the other was to follow in my fathers foot steps and join the army. She hated the second part. Threatened to divorce me 5 months after we tied the knot but I wouldn't let her go and eventually she accepted my choice.
My father was in the military and severed in Vietnam. From what my mother told me. He was a great soldier. Brave and strong, never backed down, never surrendered. She would tell us these elaborate stories about him and how he was the best soldier the army ever had. As a kid I believed every word of it. As an adult I wanted to believe it but being in the army myself now it was hard. Especially when there's no way I can carry 3 men on my back while shooting a semi but still I wanted to believe he was a war hero and I wanted to believe that someday I would be one to.
However, here I was, returning from a year long leave and I was faced with the decision to either retire or go on another deployment but After 10 years in the military, I was tired. And I knew Tara was to. Year after year she stood by my side and raised our kids all the while pursuing her dream of becoming a neonatal surgeon, while I was out pursuing mine. I was top in my class and became a general in 10 years. I made sure everything I did was the way it should be. Except I was seriously lacking in the husband and dad department. I felt like I didn't even know my kids and somehow I lost track of my wife. Of course we spoke practically everyday but it was mostly about me or one of the kids wanting to talk to me. Looking back on it now though, I was ashamed and I guess I got so caught up in my own career that I didn't even realize I was putting her on the back burner.
"General Teller" I heard someone call, turning around I saw my lieutenant General approach me. He stoped in front of me and saluted, I returned the gesture and we both began to walk toward the plane that would take us home. "Have you thought more about the offer?" He asked me and I nodded my head.
"I don't think I'm going to take it. I miss my wife and kids. I feel like I haven't seen them in 10 years not just a year. I think it's time from me to retire and move on to the next chapter in my life. One that will allow me to see my children on their birthdays every year" I still wanted to talk to Tara about the decision before I made it but I think my mind was already made up way before I was even told I was finally going home.
"Honestly, I think I might follow you out" I stop in my tracks and look at my oldest friend. We enlisted together, had each others back on the battle field and climbed the ranks. Harry "Opie" Winston was my brother in every way.
"Are you serious?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Just like you, man. I missed the birth of my kids cause I was on deployment. I missed anniversaries and birthdays, Christmas's and summer vacations. I don't want Miss anymore. It's time for me to retire and just be a family man. The army will always be here. Watching my kids grow up though?" He nodded thoughtfully "That's a one time deal and I don't want to miss anymore of it"
I nodded in full understanding and slapped him on the back "I support you brother"
"Thanks man. Have you told Tara yet?"
"Nope. Gonna surprise her. I haven't even told her that I'm coming home." Smirking I get on to the plane and head home.
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I arrived home later than I thought. I knew the kids would be asleep and that was a little disappointing but I'd see them tomorrow. At least now I can spend some time with Tara and make some important decisions.
Walking up the porch steps I could hear the TV inside and smiled. Tara was still up. I opened the door and the sight before me was beautiful. Tara was curled up on the couch asleep. A book on her lap and a glass of wine on the table. Closing the door quietly I took off my hat, put my bag on the floor and walked over to her. Crouching down next to her I ran a finger down her cheek "Hey pretty girl" I whispered the nick name I had given her when we first met.
A smile graced her beautiful face "Jax" she whispered back but then her eyes flew open and she looked at me "Jax?!"
"Hey baby"
"Your here?" She asked and looked around the room.
"Looks like it" I smirk.
She laughs and swats at my chest playfully "Still a jackass. Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?! I would have..." she stood up and I pushed her back down.
"I know and that's why I didn't tell you. I wanted to surprise you and the kids" I told her as I sat down on the couch. She got up again and I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap. "Where are you going?"
"I was going to wake the kids. There going to be so happy to have you home" she beamed and tried to get up but I kept a firm grip on her waist.
"Let them sleep. We can surprise them at breakfast. Tonight I just want to be with my wife." Leaning up I capture her lips in mine and give her a sweet kiss. It's something I've been wanting to do for almost a year now. Those video messages were just not enough for me.
"Mmmm" she hummed against my lips and pulled away just enough to ask "How long are you here for?"
"About that..." I trail off sheepishly.
"Please don't tell me just a day, Jackson. I can't do that again we can't put the kids through that again. It was hard last time I just don't-" she rambled on until I shut her up with another kiss.
"Tara, baby, listen to me please." She stares at me waiting for an explanation and I take a deep breath before continuing "I'm home for good if I want to be. If we decided it's best for our family. I can retire now or I can go on another deployment and continue to climb the ranks but this is our choice. What do you want?"
I can see the hope in her eyes as she cups my face "what do YOU want, baby. This is your dream. I'll follow what ever you want to do. What is it that you want?"
Raising my arms I motion around the house "I want this. I want you. I want our kids. What I don't want, Tara, Is to miss another birthday or anniversary I don't want to miss my kids faces on Christmas I want take them trick or treating. I want to help them with homework and more than anything I want us to be us again. I know you still love me as much as you did 10 years ago but I don't want to see you cry cause I'm leaving you again and I don't want you to feel like our time is limited. I want my family, Tara. I don't want to miss out anymore" by the time I was finished tears were streaming down her face and I leaned up to kiss them away.
"Then do it, baby. Come home for good, stay with us" she said as she leaned her forehead against mine.
"I am and I'm never going to leave you again" I kissed her with a such a force it knocked her breathless then I picked her up and took her to our bedroom and made love to her for hours just to make sure she knew, her husband was here to stay.
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The next morning Tara woke up before me and ran downstairs to start breakfast. We agreed that I would walk in after the kids were seated, to surprise them. I couldn't wait to see them. My crazy, vibrant, amazing little trio. Abel was just 9 and smarter than any kid in his class. That he got from his mother. Thomas was 7 and was more like me, adventurous, a quick thinker and a thrill seeker. Charlotte was 5 and the perfect mixture of both Tara and I. She was smart and adventurous, a book worm and a thrill seeker all in one. My kids were my greatest creation and they had an amazing mother that made sure they represented that in every way. Although, I may be biased. They are my kids after all.
Getting out of bed I threw on my sweat pants and a tshirt then went down stairs to finally greet the rest of my family. I could hear the quiet laughter and charlotte trying to convince her brothers to play barbie with her. They wouldn't budge though and said no almost immediately after she asked.
"Good morning everyone" I said as normal as I could.
"Morning dad" all three of them said in unison but then snapped their eyes to me.
"Dad!" Thomas was up first and practically tackled me to floor with a giant hug. "Dad!" Abel was next followed by my rambunctious little girl "Daddy! Your home!"
"Yes I'm home" I told them and kissed each of their bouncing heads.
"Alright kids let your father breathe" Tara said with a smile "Come and eat before it gets cold"
They each gave me one more big hug before sitting down. Walking over to Tara I gave her a quick kiss before I took my spot at the head of the table.
"How long are you staying for daddy?" Charlotte asked first, which didn't surprise me. She was such a daddies girl. One time she cried so much about me leaving that I had to sneak out after she fell asleep. I hated that the most. Tara would tell me how much of a funk charlotte would be in weeks after I already left.
Tara joined us after she served everyone and smiled at our baby girl. "Well what if we told you three that dads not leaving anymore?"
The boys stopped eating and looked up at me "Is it true?" Abel asked and I nodded "Yup. I'm home for good. No more deployments and no more leaving for years at a time. I'm here to stay"
The kids all stared at me wide eyed before they jumped up and, this time, actually managed to tackle me to the ground. "Sorry dad" Thomas smiled and got up first.
"It's ok kiddo" I ruffled his hair then picked up charlotte, tossing her in the air I kissed both her cheeks before setting her down. This happiness, my families happiness, was all that mattered to me. "How about we go to the park?" I looked at Tara and she shrugged.
"Sounds good to me. Kids go get dressed" she shook her head and smiled as they all cheered and ran upstairs. "Nothing is going to wipe those smiles off their faces today"
"Good. I'm glad their happy" I tugged her into my arms and kissed her "Good morning"
She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back softly "Of course they are. We all are"
"I'm really, really happy about that." Hearing her say those words made this all worth it. "You know Opie's leaving to. He's retiring with me"
Tara's face lit up again "Donnas going to be so happy"
Nodding, I grab a piece of bacon off my plate "Maybe we should take a family vacation some where? Spend some time with the kids and figure out what our next move is going to be"
She sat down at the table and pulled me down to join her "About that...Our next move?"
"Yeah?"
"I got this really amazing offer to be the head neonatal surgeon at this hospital in California. I wasn't going to take it because you were based here and this is where we built our life but now that your done..." she trailed off and I knew what she was asking. It was a no brainer for me. She stood by me for so long and went threw hell for me to pursue my dream. Now it was my turn to do the same for her. Chicago would alway be here but the Tellers where moving to California. Our next journey.
"Take it, babe. Defiantly take it"
"Really?" I could already see the smile forming on her lips and I couldn't help to smile with her.
"Yeah. It's my turn to back you now. We'll take a trip out there make the kids like it then break it to them when we come back. It'll be fine, baby. We'll make it work"
She jumped up and sat in my lap "I love you" she declared and I smiled "I love you to. Where is this place at anyway?"
She shrugged "It's in a town called charming"
I scoffed "Charming? Sounds like a fairytale"