She finally parted her lisp from his, noses inches apart as their gazes met. "I love you," Joe murmured, and M.J. smiled, knocking her forehead into his. "Love you too," she whispered, her heart racing.
M.J. finally pried herself out of his hold, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder, before she stepped away, saluting sharply. "I'll see you back in the states, sergeant...I'll be looking forward to it."
Joe chuckled, closing his fingers around the ring, his dark eyes shining with happiness. "Me too, lieutenant. Me too."
--
"Ma?"
M.J. stepped through the threshold of the house. It was dark inside, as was to be expected at nearly a quarter to midnight, but she'd at least have expected someone to be awake. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part. Not as though they knew she'd be home, right? She scratched the back of her head, and pulled her customary cap off, hanging it on a rack by the door.
"Ma? Ma, I'm home."
There was the sound of shuffling somewhere in the back of the house, and M.J. blinked and squinted her eyes when a light flickered on at the far end of the hall. Then, a familiar shadow, and an all too familiar voice made her heart ache and tears well in the corner of her eyes.
(Continuation of Chapter 9)