More than anything, she wondered what would come next for them now that his homecoming had arrived. They'd known each other barely a year and a half, and they'd spent more of that time apart than they had together. Would things go back to normal? Would things move forward? Would Chloe still accept him as her Dad? Would they move in together? Would they become a "real" family? Would he still want her? Would she still love him?

So far away
So far away
Been far away for far too long

The deep rumbling of the busses could be heard in the distance as the flat face of the first bus soon turned the corner into the parking lot. The energy from the large crowd of families began to simmer. They were like a soda being shaken, each second growing closer to exploding. Morgan could feel her heart nearly beat out of her chest as she watched the dust kick up in the road. Justin had been gone for so long. Now, he was right there, right inside of those vehicles. It felt like if the wheels didn't stop rolling and the doors fling open right then and there, she was either going to burst with excitement and anticipation or keel over from a stress-induced heart attack.

The crowd began to shift as they waited anxiously. Some family and children were so overwhelmed with excitement and relief that they began to cry. Chloe reached up to take her Mother's hand, smiling ear to ear as the silver vehicles made their way down the aisle toward the administration building. Names were starting to be called out as the busses came closer, and the homemade signs were waving high in the air.

The busses slowed their approach, eventually creeping to a stop. Morgan grew nauseous, her stomach tossing and tumbling over itself. Emotions were pulsing so hard in her veins that her hands trembled. It was that adrenaline Justin was always talking about. The exhausts blew and the doors opened up with a squeak. Morgan felt Chloe squeeze her fingers tight. Soon, out came a short, thin marine with a dark green duffel bag thrown over his shoulder, closely followed by another. All at once the seemingly composed crowd erupted in a frenzy. Bodies dashed in all directions, everyone heading towards the busses as more and more marines stepped out onto the cement.

“I’ll wait here with Chloe, you gone on ahead.”

A deep voice broke Morgan's train of thought, and she looked down at Justin’s Father.

“What? Where am I going?”

He let out a snicker and motioned towards the crowd with a jut of his chin. It was a move Morgan had seen Justin make a million times.

"To find my son," he said. "I’m far too old to fight my way through the madness. We'll wait right here for you.”

Morgan looked down at Chloe, then back at Justin's Father just a split second before turning and practically leaping down the stairs. She started to fight her way through the wall of people, trying her best to politely shove past hugging families and Milso's searching for their returned loved ones as well. Briefly she wondered if wearing a skirt had been the best idea, since she was going to be running around and squeezing between all these people. She hadn't really considered the conditions of their reunion, all she knew was that today she wanted to do everything Justin liked - and he liked her legs.

So far away
So far away
Been far away for far too long

Morgan slowly made her way through the tightly packed groups of loved ones reuniting with their marines. She weaved and maneuvered her way between bodies, scanning the crowd wildly in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Justin. Maybe she'd passed him in the frenzy. Maybe he still hadn't gotten off. How would she ever find him in all of this madness? Looking out into the parking lot, a sea of green uniforms stretched before her. Everyone looked the same; all thin with buzzed haircuts and tired faces.

She began to grow even more anxious, panicking as her eyes flicked from face to face. She'd waited a year -an entire year- for him. Maybe it was silly, but the idea of waiting even one more minute after so long seemed like too much to take. Rather than keep running in circles, she tipped her head back and yelled into the air.

” Justin!”

There was no answer, and Morgan looked at the strangers surrounding her. Despite the fact that she was taller than some of the people in the crowd, she felt like they were swallowing her whole. The group surged forward, moving towards the steps, and she couldn’t see above their heads. The sea of green grew darker as she fought her way deeper into the mass. She continued to search every person, and around every large bag or tall marine blocking her view.

“Justin!”

She called his name louder, her frustration continuing to build. Where was he? Had she passed him? Had he make it back to stateside safe? Had something happened that she didn't know about yet?

Her actions grew desperate as she finally reached one of the busses with still no sign of Justin. She stood on her tiptoes, peeking into the windows in case anyone was inside. Seeing no one, she started to carelessly shove her way back through the crowd, oblivious to the beautiful reunions around her.

”Justin!” She called out again.

Now she was growing afraid. She should have found him by now; she should have seen him.

"Justin?!"

“Morgan!”

She stopped in her tracks, spinning in the direction of the voice.

“Morgan!” She heard again.

Slowly her eyes scanned the faces coming towards her, until they finally landed on a tall man straight ahead, flashing a megawatt smile. A variety of emotions ran through her: happiness, relief, excitement, nervousness, hope.

But you know, you know, you know
I wanted, I wanted you stay
Cause I needed, I need to hear you say

Morgan took off in a run, her eyes locking on his face and never turning away. His skin was dark thanks to weeks spent in the sun, and stress had deepened the lines into his forehead, but his blue eyes were shining like beacons in the night. He looked tired, slightly older, yet still as handsome as ever.

The sea parted, opening a narrow pathway straight to him. She ran full speed, watching as he stopped to drop his bag and open his arms. She leaped onto him, their chest colliding and causing Justin to stumble back a bit. He wrapped his arms around her body, holding her tightly as her legs locked around his waist. He buried his face into the curve of her neck, inhaling her scent. It was just as he remembered, vanilla.

She ran her fingers down the back of his neck as she inhaled the scent from his worn uniform. He smelled the same; an intoxicating mixture of the woodsy outdoors, cologne, and musk. She pulled back long enough to look into his blue eyes, their foreheads resting against one another. He felt the same as he had before: strong, warm, impenetrable.

Justin held on tight to the backs of Morgan’s thighs as he hoisted her up a bit higher on his body. A gust of wind blew her hair past his face, tickling his nose. She gently caressed the sides of his neck, looking down at him. They were so close, his mouth barely a breath away from hers. Out of nowhere Morgan forgot how to breath.

True to form, Justin didn't bother waiting for any sort of permission or approval before kissing her. His lips captured hers, drawing her in and shutting out the crowd around them. His lips were soft, and he tasted like a glass of ice cold water. A familiar feeling washed over Morgan, invading her senses. Finally she felt at home, she felt like herself again. It was almost as if for months she'd been lost and wandering in some unknown, uncharted land. But now, here with him, she was some place familiar and understandable. Here was where things felt right.

I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you, for being away for far too long
So keep breathing cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it, hold on to me never let me go

Morgan's mind was reeling. Finally, she and Justin were having this picture perfect moment they'd been waiting for and dreaming about for months. But, at the same time it was so incredibly overwhelming. She'd missed him so much, for so long, and now here he was in her arms. All the nights alone, all of the letters, emails, tears, doubts - all of it was over. He'd be here with her, next to her, able to hold her, talk to her, help her, touch her. He'd completed his mission, and made it back safe and sound. Not only had he survived, but she'd survived too. They'd survived as a couple, and their family had survived together. The realization brought tears to Morgan's eyes, and she didn't even begin to have to strength to hold them back.

Justin felt her begin to cry, and he couldn't help the chuckle that passed his lips. He understood what she was feeling - the sudden end of a journey and realizing you've made it. Deployments were things that broke a lot of families. They ended marriages, foreclosed homes, and even orphaned children. Having made it through together, still in love and hopelessly devoted, he knew that they'd built a special bond that which could never be broken, no matter how difficult the test. She was his Morgan, forever.

"It's okay," he told her. "I'm home. I'm here, it's over."

Keep breathing cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it, hold onto me never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold onto me never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold onto me never let me go

He felt Morgan nod against his shoulder, and after a moment Justin set her feet back on the ground. He pulled back to look at her face, drinking in her chocolate brown eyes. He was about to tell her how beautiful she was when another voice interrupted the moment.

"Well, well, Serge, looks like you and Morgan survived your first deployment."

Justin turned at looked at Wilson. He had an arm slung over Elaine's shoulders, and both were smiling gleefully.

"No more Dad picking you up, huh?"

"Oh, Mr. Timberlake is still here," Morgan said, leaning against Justin's side. "He just waits in the back now."

Justin smirked, and Wilson gave him a pat on the shoulder before they headed off to find the rest of their family. Justin hoisted his duffel bag onto his shoulder and took Morgan's hand.

"Let's get outta here. I've had enough Marine Corps to last awhile."

Morgan nodded, tucking herself against his side as they slowly pushed their way through the growing crowd. All around them people were crying, screaming, laughing. There was love everywhere as families reunited on the grass - passionate kisses, short pats on the back, long overdue tight embraces, bright smiles. The air was so thick with emotion Morgan might have started crying, if she hadn't been already.

When they finally reached the steps Chloe had her back to them. She was chatting with Justin's Dad, waving her hands animatedly. The way her curly ponytail bounced behind her back reminded Morgan of the way Chloe had looked as a little girl, all gangly limbs and dressed in head-to-toe pink. It wasn't until her Grandpop smiled at something behind her that Chloe's attention shifted. She turned to face the steps, prepared to look for her Mom amongst the sea. Instead, she saw Justin a few feet away.

"Dad!" She screamed out.

Chloe flung her arms open, rushing down the final few steps separating them. Justin smiled back, his eyes widening at the difference in her physical appearance as she came closer. This girl was a half a foot taller, with all her teeth and a rebellious sparkle in her eye. She flung herself on him, and Justin wondered if it was a trait she'd gotten from her Mom. Her long arms wrapped around him, and he held her tightly, listening to Selena Gomez play from the headphones around her neck.

"Baby girl!" He said. "I missed you so much."

Chloe leaded back in his arms, smiling widely.

"I missed you too Dad. I'm glad your back."

"What happened to you?" he asked. "You're not my little Chloe anymore."

"Of course, Dad," she said. "You were gone a long time. I'm a big kid now."

Justin nodded, biting back to urge to laugh.

"I see that," he said, setting her back on her feet. "Your Mom and I will have to talk about what she's feeding you. Maybe we can slow that process down a little bit so I can catch up."

Chloe rolled her eyes, giving her Dad a nudge.

Justin turned to his own Dad. The older man stood from his concrete seat with a smile. They shared a tight, strong embrace, and Justin felt his Dad let out a sigh.

"How are ya doing, son?"

There was a subtle arch in his father brow, and Justin knew there was a double meaning to that question. While he was by no means a perfect man coming home from tour, he had done his best to follow through on keeping up with his counseling and medication while away. Missions and travel didn't allow treatment to be as regular as it would have been at home, but he had made many improvements regardless of the setbacks.

"I'm good, Pop," Justin answered honestly. "I'm doing good. I'm just glad to be home."

"Can we go home now?" Chloe asked impatiently.

Everyone looked down at her. She already had one of her headphones pulled back over her ear.

"Yes, please," Justin agreed. "Let's get out of here."

He hoisted his duffle onto his shoulder, and took Morgan's hand in his. Chloe walked ahead with Grandpa, telling him about a pair of concert tickets she'd love to receive as an early Christmas present. The large crowd had leisurely milled out into the parking lot, with brothers-in-arms saying farewell to one another, and squadron leaders shouting PT times to their units. The group made their way to Justin's Audi. Chloe and Grandpop climbed into the backseat, while Morgan opened the trunk so Justin could toss his duffel inside. She held the black key in her hand, hooked over one of her fingers. Maybe she should drive so he could relax on his first trip home.

"Do you wanna ride shot-?"

"No, I'll drive," he said, interrupting her words.

Morgan felt shivers run all over her. He had leaned down, his solid body pressed against her side. His voice, deep and low, was a mere hair's breathe from her ear. That dirty and rugged smell wafted past her nose. She hadn't heard his voice like that in so long - hadn't been this close to him in so long. She felt that ever-present magnetic pull to him vibrate all the way to her core. He pulled the keys from her limp fingers and slammed the trunk shut, eyeing the sudden stiff and distracted tone in her body.

He'd be lying if he said that he hadn't wanted her from the moment he spotted her in the crowd. He saw her white tank and red and white flouncy skirt, her long curls swinging around her waist as she forced her way through the crowd to get to him. If it had been up to him, everyone else would have left and he'd have had his way with her right there, right then. Now, as they were heading back for their first night at home together, he was sure that she wanted him just as bad.

The Staff Sergeant moved behind her, reaching out to gave her a firm smack on the butt as he headed for the driver's side. Morgan jumped, glanced around the parking lot to see if anyone had seen, then turned to him with surprised eyes.

"Justin," she hissed.

"Daddy's home, little girl. I know you like it.," he grinned, opening the door and putting one leg into the car.

Morgan refused to dignify that statement with a response, instead she smirked and looked away.

"Come on, let's go home. I'm fuckin' starving," he said before disappearing inside.

This time Morgan smiled.

Let's go home.

She liked the sound of that.