Chapter Text
Alice's shaky hands held up a large white sign with the words "Welcome Home Captain Williams." painted across the front in red. The tall woman holding up the sign stood, waiting impatiently, alone in the middle of the airport, her whole body buzzing with a combination of happiness, fear, and a little bit of uncertainty. No matter how she felt on the inside, nothing was going to make the large smile that was gracing her face disappear.
The news she had received over the telephone earlier in the week led to this moment. A moment, if she was being completely honest with herself, she wasn't sure was ever going to happen. Especially since this was Tasha's longest tour with her first couple tours lasting only 2 years.
Her fiancée was finally coming home. It had been almost 4 years since they'd seen each other in person since they'd felt each other's touch since they'd heard each other's voice that wasn't impaired by a lousy phone signal.
In an instant, emotions hit Alice like a boulder and she had to take a few deep breaths to calm herself. This was really happening. The one person she had truly been in love with her entire life was going to be right in front of her in less than 5 minutes. Suddenly worried about her looks, Alice smoothed out the front of the white blouse she was wearing. Deciding to skip her more sophisticated look today, instead, she opted for something a bit more casual with a pair of tight black jeans to go with her top and dark heels that pulled the look together. Of course, she was going to look her absolute best for her baby, even if as soon as they were home, Tasha would rip off those lovely clothes anyway.
Hearing the commotion of a new group of people entering the airport, the blonde woman snapped her head up, her eyes searching the line of people as they exited the long hallway that leads to the plane. It didn't take long before she saw the one face she'd longed to see. The impossibly wide smile stretched even further across her face. An image of a cliché scene popped into her head and honestly, she could see why it had been done so many times in film because she would be lying if she said she didn't feel the sudden urge to run toward her lover and fling herself into the soldier's arms.
Instead, Alice kept her composure, allowing her soldier to come to her, whose smile was just as big as hers. A dark-skinned woman dressed in fatigues nearly knocked down a group of small children as she pushed past to get to her fiancée. And once she'd made it in front of the journalist, her large bags slipped from her hands, landing on the ground with a rather loud thump. However, the sound went unnoticed by the two women as they stared at each other; taking in sights they hadn't seen in years. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Tasha leaned forward and wrapped her strong arms tightly around Alice's waist. She stepped closer until she was mere inches from the other woman, and took a breath before she allowed their lips to meet in a passionate kiss.
Immediately the world around them crumbled and fell away and nothing else in that moment mattered but the two of them. Alice pulled Tasha closer, clutching onto the front of her uniform tightly as they kissed. Their lips moved together in a semi-frantic way, reconnecting in an all too familiar dance and crowded with soft tongues and teeth.
A few moments later the sound of chit-chatting people and loud clomping feet brought the two out of their little world, however, they didn't pull away from each other completely. Alice kept her tight hold on Tasha's uniform shirt and their foreheads nearly touched as they stood close together. Finally, Alice was able to speak, "Please...please don't ever leave me again." It was a silly request, Tasha could never promise her something like that but she still demanded it. Even if she knew it was unrealistic.
Tasha chuckled softly, a few tears now rolling down her face. "I'm here. I'm here now and that's what matters." She responded, reassuring her fiancée as best as she could. She placed another kiss on Alice's lips. This time a lot slower and softer. Her way of savoring the moment. Committing this all to memory. Just in case.
Alice pulled away, her own tears now spilling down her face. Reluctantly she released her death grip on Tasha's shirt. She smiled lightly, smoothing out the crumpled material. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I've crinkled your uniform." She laughed, "And then I cried on it."
The dark soldier smiled, thumbing away a stray teardrop that lingered on Alice's cheek. "It's perfectly fine." She whispered.
The two women had ultimately decided that going home would be best. Tasha was tired from her travels and she was not up for being around a lot of people right now. She'd much rather go home and do some well needed catching up with her fiancée.
Alice turned her attention to Tasha once they'd reached the car and placed the soldier's bags safely in the trunk. She grinned, still trying to convince herself that all of this was real. The soldier looked back, a half-smile gracing her face in return. After a few moments had passed the blonde grasped Tasha's hand in her own. She brought it up to her lips to place a soft kiss on the back of it.
She turned, straightening herself, buckling her seatbelt and starting the car before driving off. Her favorite artist, Sam Smith played lightly in the background, drawing the two woman into a comfortable silence.
The song that was currently playing, Safe With Me, brought up some things for the young woman that had been playing on her mind. Alice wasn't oblivious to the fact that when some soldiers came home, they did with problems. PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts and physical injury, while Tasha didn't look physically hurt, at least not from what she could see. She couldn't help but wonder about her soldier's mental state.
Her fiancée hadn't really spoken much about her thoughts and feelings while they were Skyping. Most nights the dark-skinned woman kept it really simple and she never disclosed any deep details about what she was experiencing. The blonde would push, but she was always met with an "I'm doing fine, love." or a "Don't worry so much about me." She would let it go, not wanting to upset her lover when she had other and more important things to focus on but that didn't cease her ruminations. And as if on cue, her worry set in and she started to nibble on her bottom lip, eyes focused on the road but her mind thinking of the quiet woman sitting next to her. Was she really ready to face the possible effects the war had left on Tasha? Was Tasha?
"so I was thinking maybe we could have some people over tomorrow, welcome you home. Everyone misses you around The Planet, Tash." Alice proposed. Tasha was silent for a few more moments, her brows knitting as she thought. "I'm not sure if I ready for that just yet. Maybe after I've settled in a few more days, yeah?" Her voice was a bit soft, she didn't want to hurt Alice's feelings but she was really wasn't up for seeing anyone anytime soon. She just needed to be with her fiance, feeling connected and safe again. Alice glanced over at her soldier, she knew Tasha was more of a homebody but she also knew how much she loved their friends and her unwillingness to see them as soon as possible didn't sit well with Alice but she tried her best not to pry. "Sure, Tash. Whatever you want."
Once the two woman arrived home they immediately made their way inside, the soldier sighed loudly, finally able to feel comfort and safety, she dropped her bags near the door to be put up later. "Did you want something to eat?" Alice asked, making her way toward the kitchen. Tasha followed close behind but her mind was far away from the thoughts of food. She needed to feel Alice in a way that she hadn't in years. Before the blonde could get out her next question she was being turned and pinned against the marble island in the middle of the kitchen. She quickly welcomed the actions, knowing exactly where things were going to go and she most definitely did not have a single problem with it.