#avaloninc

[jerethesquid]

"Stop staring at me like I grew a second head."

Jeremiah stared– he couldn’t help it. She was breathtaking, and he felt embarrassed and awed and turned on all at the same time. He had no words to express that, however, and so he simply stared until she had said that comment. The man backtracked, shaking his head with a quiet apology.“Sorry sweet-pea–it’s just– god– you’re so beautiful…”

[jerethesquid]

✯

11– stealing from them

“Holly?”Confusion was the only thing that could describe what he was feeling. What was she doing? He would have expected this from somebody he didn’t know as well– but Holly? His Holly? No– something was definitely not right with this. Maybe he was making an impossibly huge judgement error. After all, he did just walk in. He couldn’t wrap his head around it, tiredness clouding his thoughts after a long flight. He thought he could surprise her with his early return, though now it seemed the other way around with the surprising bit. This has just got to be a misunderstanding, he was sure of it. So he was calm when he walked over to hug her tight, taking the item from her hand and putting it back in the drawer as he kissed her cheek.“Is there a reason you’re going through this drawer or am I being delusional?”His voice seemed amused enough, though he was genuinely curious.

[doctor-rockwell]

"They were there when I woke up this morning."

"Were they?"Nathan stared curiously, checking over the bruises around the connections of her prosthetics and her thighs."—Do they hurt or does it feel like the connections are too tight?"He was genuinely trying to help, trying to find the right problem to help fix it.

[jerethesquid]

Wed me?

Jeremiah only had a few moments left to actually say anything before he needed to climb aboard the ship. He was nervous though, not sure how he wanted the words to form even though he had rehearsed them time and time again, repeating the proposal in his head to make sure he gets the words right when he actually said them out loud. “Hey soldier— are you listening?”"Hm?"The man turned to face the woman in front of him with a soft smile, knowing of the loneliness that would sure come over her while he was gone overseas. He wished there was a way he could remove that emotion from her, but he would never do it— not after what she’s been through."I was telling you to come home safely."Jere smiled as her lips formed the sentence and he kissed her lightly with a quiet laugh."I wouldn’t think of doing otherwise— besides how would I marry you if I didn’t come home?"A look of shock formed and took over Holly’s face, her face reddening as what he could only assume as her reforming the words in her head. Then he was being hugged tight and he nearly sighed in relief and pulled out a ring from his pants pocket, sliding it onto her finger and handing her box."I have to go, I love you sweetpea, be safe while I’m gone, yea?""I love you too, soldier."Jere bent down then, kissing the top of his dog’s head and ruffling his fur."Keep an eye on her Lucky, I’m counting on you."A bark was his reply, and he smiled in response as the dog licked his nose."Good boy."The man kissed his fiancee again before leaving, later freaking out to his teammates because the love of his life actually said yes.

[jerethesquid]

Always by your side.

Jeremiah didn’t even remember what had happened. Though, he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to remember in the first place. As his eyes fluttered open, however, he nearly winced at the sudden burst of light and he had to squint while he waited for the light to adjust to his eyes. Eventually he shifted in the hospital bed with a groan and he heard a surprised and relieved gasp to his side."Jere??"His eyes travelled to the voice and he slowly smiled as he saw Holly sitting there so hopeful and relieved and it made him briefly question what had happened again. Jere shouldn’t dwell on it— and he took her hand as she sobbed and kiss his cheek, and then his nose, and then his lips. A tired and dry laugh escaped from his mouth and he placed chapped lips to his partner’s hand. Holly only moved closer and he smiled at her, gently wiping the falling tears off her face."Sorry it isn’t home, Soldier..""I’m always home with you by my side, sweetpea."

[jerethesquid]

"Would you leave me if I told you what I've done?"

"Hollsy, sweatpea, I’ve probably done some of the same things,"The navy man sighed, pulling the woman into a hug with his arms and kissing her neck gingerly."If I left you for something you’ve done in the past, I would be a hypocrite."

[jerethesquid]

✎

Holly—

I know you’ve been upset, sweetpea. I see you crying and it breaks my heart, it really does. I was thinking about you when the torpedo hit the ship yaknow— about how nice it could’ve been to settle down with you, have children even, and in a flash it was a gone, and everything was such a blur. I saved about ten men on that ship, Hollsy, and the entire time I was thinking about you— how great it would be for those men to have what I had with you, and I gave them that chance. And now, I’m giving you the chance to find that love again. Don’t forget me, I don’t want that, and I wouldn’t ask that of you, but please, find someone that can make you feel whole again, and who will give you care when you’re sick and broken.

Your sailor,Jeremiah.

P.s. Take care of Lucky for me, won’t you? You’re the only one besides me he’ll listen to.

[jerethesquid]

surprise!

12— A Valentine’s Day kiss

Jeremiah had been waiting all day for Holly to finally get home, he hadn’t even told Holly that he had been sent on leave that day, and spent the entire day planning, had asked Alma to let him into Holly’s house, to which she happily obliged. Even Lucky was starting to get restless and he probably didn’t even know what was going on. He had made Holly dinner when she had left for work and right about now he had simply been trying to keep it warm as he set up the dinner table— a candlelight in the center of the table, flower petals surrounding said candle, two plates and sets of silverware sat neatly next to each other. He couldn’t help but to wonder at how quaint it had all started to feel— he hadn’t thought of this when he had joined the Navy, that he would find somebody that would actually make him want to settle down and have a family, and want to be there for the family, and now the only thing missing was her. Luckily, that moment was extremely short lived as he heard the keys in the house door and he quickly served the meal, and waited as Lucky went to welcome her home. As Holly finally reached the dining room, he was proud to see the shock on her face, the wonder. So he had walked over with a warm smile and kissed her softly when she was about to speak."Happy Valentine’s Day, Hollsy."