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"All right, men," Don Pedro commanded the attention of his small crew below deck. "There are still storms around the Southern border which will prevent us from docking in Messina." To which everyone groaned, and one voice piped up, "Still?!"
Nodding, Don Pedro held up his hands. "I know, I know. Not the news we wanted to hear."
"So how long until we go home?" Claudio asked.
"Three, maybe four days." When the men grumbled again, Don Pedro cleared his throat. "However, I have arranged for us to dock in Bari and take a bus back to Messina." At their hopeful expressions, the corner of his mouth lifted up. "Unless you'd like to spend a few more days at sea."
"No!" They chorused.
"Good, because I already told Marcos to head for Bari. Prepare to dock in two hours."
The good news seemed to energize the group as everyone headed to their respective stations.
Don Pedro's company had been out to sea for the past seven months, carrying out patrol orders and other small missions. They'd been set to head home the previous day, but storms had diverted their course, keeping them on the Eastern Coast of Italy.
Tired of sailing in circles and wanting to get his men home, Don Pedro informed command he would be docking in Bari and to have transportation ready.
A five and a half hour drive after having been awake for nearly twenty hours in hopes of going home was not appealing, but neither was staying on a ship to wait out the weather.
By the time they docked, the men had their bags in hand and the ship was ready to be handed off. An officer greeted them with a salute and led them to their arranged bus.
Benedick walked so quickly it was almost a jog. "Everyone better get their asses on the bus or they're getting left behind." When Don Pedro raised his eyebrows, Benedick amended, "We would of course wait for you, my prince."
"Careful, Ben," Antoni, one of the junior lieutenants, said dryly. "You don't want people thinking you're excited to get home."
"To see your lovely wife perhaps..." Claudio added, earning a few chuckles.
Benedick snorted in derision, but Don Pedro didn't miss the way he subtly twisted his wedding ring around his finger.
The men piled on the bus, dropping heavily on the seats. Don Pedro was grateful he was able to procure a military bus instead of a transport truck, with only heavy canvass to protect them from the cold winds.
David, one of the privates, got behind the wheel and pulled out of the base. "Next stop home."
As soon as the vehicle reached the highway, the men turned quiet. Some dozed off, while others spoke softly amongst themselves. Claudio was engrossed in a book. Benedick had given up his fight with exhaustion and simply leaned his head against the glass window. It was a testament to how tired Benedick was with the dark bags under his eyes and his quiet demeanor.
While speaking to Claudio at one point during the journey, Don Pedro noticed Benedick pulling a crumpled piece of paper from his duffle bag and reading the words in his lap.
Don Pedro smiled as he recognized it as the letter Hero had stolen from Beatrice.
Time dragged on with the rush of the concrete road through a couple of cracked windows. Only did the energy change when they crossed the bridge to Messina.
The men slowly woke up, taking in the familiar sights and buildings of the town. Chatter grew louder as they approached the base.
The guard at the gate directed them to one of the hangars where families had been waiting. Thankfully command hadn't made people wait outside as they normally did when the boats docked.
When they entered the hangar, waiting families had piled together in seats, clearly exhausted themselves. But they, along with the bus passengers, jumped when David started honking the horn.
David's face turned red when he realized Don Pedro was sitting behind him. "My apologies, your grace." But Don Pedro just smiled.
Any momentary bother by the folks outside was quickly erased as they saw their loved ones had finally arrived home.
Once parked, Don Pedro stood at the front, watching as his men were practically vibrating with excitement to leave, but awaiting their proper dismissal. He didn't want to prolong reunions any longer.
"All right, dismissed!"
He'd barely gotten off the bus himself when Antoni came barreling from his seat, running right past him, his heavy boots thumping on the stairs.
This was honestly Don Pedro's favorite part of long voyages: coming home and watching his men reunite with their loved ones.
A reminder to do his absolute best to keep them all safe.
"Hey, sailor! You looking for a good time?!" A voice called from the group meeting Antoni. The lieutenant jumped into a hug from his boyfriend and their many friends.
"Who can run and hug Dad the fastest?!" a woman said, following a group of half a dozen children. Marcos, the boat operator, didn't make it but a few steps before being tackled by his kids.
Don Pedro remained leaning against the front of the bus as families came forward, recognizing their bleary eyed soldiers.
When Claudio exited, his face lit up with the biggest smile when he saw Hero waving at him.
Claudio took off at a fast jog to meet his wife. He caught her in a tight hug, spinning Hero around, much to her delight if her bubbly laughter was any indication.
Finally, Benedick dragged himself off the bus and saluted the prince which Don Pedro returned. Benedick started walking around the reunited groups, craning his neck every which way and then-
"Over here, jester!"
Spinning on the balls of his feet, Benedick found the source of the call and whatever exhaustion he carried instantly melted away. Benedick's mouth broke into a wide, relieved smile.
Beatrice stood a few meters away, having waved her arm to get his attention. Once she had it, the fond exasperation on her face morphed into loving relief.
Dropping his duffle bag, Benedick ignored everything around him as he walked towards his wife. Beatrice did the same, as if nothing else mattered in the world, but her husband.
Don Pedro watched as the two embraced in a hard hug. Beatrice shuddered, closing her eyes tightly before burying her face in Benedick's neck. Don Pedro couldn't see his friend's face but imagined Benedick was equally relieved.
Once upon a time the sight might have gutted him, but now there was only a small pang in Don Pedro's chest. His proposal two years ago wasn't in jest, but he knew Beatrice never looked at him the way she looked at Benedick. He was a far better match than Don Pedro could have ever been for her.
He only hoped he could find someone who looked at him with the same love and affection.
Before he could get lost in any further despair, Don Pedro felt someone touch his shoulder.
"Welcome back, Prince!" Leonato greeted enthusiastically. "I trust you had a safe voyage."
Blinking in surprise, Don Pedro returned Leonato's exuberant handshake. "We did, yes, thank you. What brings you here? Did you bring your daughter and niece to the base?"
Scoffing, Leonato rolled his eyes. "No, they arrived well before myself. Actually I'd tried to coax them away earlier for supper and possibly some sleep before you arrived, but the look Beatrice gave me was positively mutinous!"
Don Pedro chuckled. "That sounds right."
Leonato grinned widely. “But I came to welcome you home! I’d hoped to invite you to stay at the villa for a few days.”
Don Pedro smiled in return, feeling a warmth of affection for his friend. He was used to arriving from voyages with only his brother by his side, but it was nice to have a dear friend awaiting his return. “Thank you, my lord. I heartily accept.”
Beatrice startled out of her dozing when she heard the horn honking. The loud noise reverberated in the hollow hangar, but it was never a more welcome sound.
Benedick was home.
Hero leaned heavily against her, trying desperately to stay awake. They'd been waiting since early afternoon for the ship to dock, only to be told later in the evening the men would be arriving by bus. It'd been a long, long day, with the possibility the company might not even arrive until days later.
Beatrice nudged her cousin, and Hero looked at her with exhausted, half-hooded eyes. "They're back."
That seemed to awaken Hero as she jumped from her seat. "Finally!"
True the venture had been simple border patrol, with no real danger, but Beatrice knew the knot of fear in her stomach wouldn't dissipate until she saw her husband.
It seemed to take ages until the bus stopped, and the men started departing. One by one, they got off the bus and the tension in Beatrice's chest tightened and tightened because one by one they weren't Benedick!
Hero completely ignored her when she saw Claudio and rushed away. There was still a stir of irritation when Beatrice saw her brother in law, having never quite forgotten what he did to Hero when they were first to be married. But, she reminded herself, Hero seemed happy, and that was really what mattered. And Beatrice would forgive Claudio.
Eventually...maybe...
But those thoughts evaporated instantly the moment Benedick lumbered down the stairs, looking every which way, but to Beatrice.
He was unshaven and his hair sticking up in all directions and his fatigues badly wrinkled, but had never appeared more beautiful.
Hopping up, Beatrice waved her arm. "Over here, jester!"
It took another short moment for Bendick to turn around...again, but then his eyes finally found hers; the relief on his face was palpable. His smile was the wide, goofy grin he wore when she saw him covered in paint shortly before they married. Two years later, and it still gave Beatrice a giddy thrill to know that someone, particularly Benedick, was that happy to see her.
She felt her eyes water as she jogged around other families, before finally , finally meeting her husband in a fierce embrace. Closing her eyes, Beatrice pressed her face into his neck, shuddering in relief. She’d never been one to believe in soulmates, or any such thing, but in this moment, Beatrice finally felt whole again.
She wasn’t sure how long they’d been standing there, but Benedick finally spoke, “My lady missed me enough to be crying?” The levity in his words was belied by his own hoarse voice, clogged with tears.
Beatrice gave a watery chuckle. “Only because you’re hugging too hard. You’re squeezing the tears out, you big baby.”
Chuckling slightly, Benedick pulled back. His brown eyes were red rimmed as he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her. Moaning in sheer relief, Beatrice allowed herself to get lost in the feel of his lips and the sweet and oh so wonderful taste of him.
Some long moments later, they finally pulled apart. One of her hands still played with the hair at the nape of his neck while she moved her other hand to his face. She sighed happily at the feel of the stubble of his cheek under her caressing thumb. Benedick turned his head enough to kiss her palm.
With a happy sigh, she said, "Let's go home."