hunnyfresh - Letters from War

And for the record, you do have a friend. Me.

Merry Christmas, Regina. Give the little man a hug from me.

Emma

January 15 2004

Emma,

I didn't expect such an establishment to honour the troops like that, but that's a splendid idea. That gives me ideas to encourage Storybrooke to be more proactive in their support. Unfortunately I didn't catch the program, but my reporter showed me a picture of her, and she's quite beautiful. I presume the rest of your camp are quite envious.

Henry sends multiple drawings this time. He's recently discovered Disney movies since he received Treasure Planet for Christmas. It isn't something I would have purchased for him, but I appreciate his enthusiasm for it. It's the older ones with the princesses in distress I hope he doesn't obsess over.

I hope you're well.

Regina

P.S. You were included in my few friends count.

March 29 2004

Hi!

Good news. I'm going home! Another division is making their circulation and they're basically just sending us home until they need us again. God, I've been waiting for this day for so long. I can't wait to see August. I can't wait drive my car again. And food! God, I've been craving fast food for so long.

Thank you, Regina, for making these last few years bearable. It'll be nice to have some relaxation.

Don't forget you're awesome.

Emma

Emma quickly jotted her name and sealed the envelope just as the final mail call was announced. She had dropped her letter in just in time before she navigated her way back to her own sector where the cot she had called home for the past year was bare once again. Gone were the drawings Henry had sent her and the few photographs she, August, and Neal had taken over the years. All her letters and gifts from Regina were packed safely away in her duffel. She worked quickly, anxious and excited, nervous that maybe if she didn't pack fast enough they would revoke her privilege of going home.

Home , Emma thought as she sat on her bed. She didn't have a place in her name other than her car, but the letters she sent to August told her that the blonde was welcome to stay with him in his Boston apartment. Maybe she would head there. Or maybe she would do a cross country trip, visiting the cities with just her and her car. She did have a month off after all. But as she thought back to the Storybrooke postcard that had once hung proudly on her wall, she wondered, maybe she could take a detour somewhere along the way.

Chapter 3

Chapter Notes

Disclaimer in Chapter One.

AN: So I lied. This is looking to extend past three chapters, though how many for sure, I haven't decided yet. Thank you all so much for your reviews, favourites, and alerts! My email acted up, so I may have missed replying to a handful of you, but I appreciate all your support! I got this chapter written because I was avoiding my responsibilities as a graduating university student. I hope you guys enjoy their first meeting!

" Attention, passengers. It is currently 11:54 AM, and we will be arriving in Boston Logan International Airport in approximately fifteen minutes. Please return to your seats and prepare for landing. "

The ding of the intercom woke Emma from her sleep, and within seconds she was alert, already taking inventory of her fellow passengers who were either making their way back to their seats or telling their children to put away their GameBoys. The baby three rows behind her had quieted down sometime an hour ago, and the middle aged woman seated beside her had finished off her third round of the rosary. The woman had claimed to always be a nervous flyer, but she was anxious now more than ever yet found solace in sitting beside Emma who had yet to change out of her uniform.

It was too late now, anyway. They'd be landing in a couple minutes. Emma inhaled a deep breath and stared out the window where the runway was coming into focus. A small smile tugged at her lips when she realized she hadn't been back to the city in years. She had racked up months of leave being on reserve, but it wasn't until she was deployed did she feel the need to use them. The break from constant vigilance was much needed, and her commanders were relieved when she opted on going home for a month.

The plane rocked as it landed making the agitated woman beside her clutch at Emma's wrist instinctively, but the soldier allowed the move, calming the woman down with a reassuring look. Within moments the speaker announced they had arrived and to exit the plane in an orderly fashion, thanking them for their business and hoping they had enjoyed their flight.

Emma stood and grabbed her carry on sack that held a few clothes, essentials like toiletries and documents, and her letters and gifts from Regina and Henry. If her luggage were to get lost there was no way in hell she'd have those placed out of her reach.

It was a lengthy process just getting to the terminal where August had agreed to meet her. Airports had locked down on their security, randomly inspecting certain passengers Emma noticed, but it helped that her uniform made the process just a tad bit quicker. Shouldering her sack and finding her duffel with relative ease, Emma marched toward the arrivals ramp, eyes peeled for the familiar scruffy haired brunette she had learned to call brother. Her eyes landed on a cardboard with SWAN written in August's messy scrawl. She picked up the pace when she saw August, holding up the sign in his lap as he sat in a wheelchair, his signature grin sporting his face.

"August," she called out and dropped her duffel beside his chair, leaning down to hug the man.

"You're off duty, soldier," the man quipped when she released him. He placed the cardboard on his lap and leaned over his chair to lift Emma's duffel on top of it too. "You can relax, you know?"

She shook her head and adjusted the rucksack on her back before taking the handle of his wheelchair. "How's everything? I thought you were getting a prosthetic."

He lifted the pant of his left leg to show the metal and plastic that was his new calf. "Still in rehab. It takes some getting used to. I wanted a wooden one, like a peg, you know? But I was told I'd look like a pirate."

Emma chuckled as they left the airport. "But you're okay?"

"Never better, kid."

The cab ride from the airport to Emma's storage locker where they had picked up her Volkswagen beetle to August's apartment had taken the better part of the afternoon. As soon as he rolled in, August was already asking if Emma wanted to order in as the blonde was dumping her duffel and rucksack at the base of the couch she'd be calling her bed for the next month.

Emma took in his apartment, simple in its furnishings with its brick walls and single bedroom and bathroom. The only alarming thing was the amount of beer bottles in the recycling bin by the garbage. "Did you have a party?" Emma asked directly, her arms crossed as she eyed August who was searching through take-out menus.

He turned his head to the recycling bin and didn't bash an eye turning back toward Emma. "I have my vices, right?"

"August-"

"Emma," he interrupted. "I'm getting help. Not just for my leg."

Her face remained impassive as they continued to read one another. Finally, the blonde raised a questioning eyebrow deeming his statement true. "Okay," she conceded quietly. "Is there anything I can do?"

He tossed the menus on the table between them. "You can pick dinner tonight."

Emma was out of her uniform and back into a tank top and jeans. Empty Chinese cartons littered the coffee table in front of her where they had decided to eat. August had laughed, saying he nearly did the same thing when he was discharged from the hospital. It took him months of rehab and cardio to lose the extra pounds he had gained from his overindulgence. She smirked and showed off her stomach, claiming that her toned abs had nothing to worry about.