Logan
Langley AFB
I can barely breathe as I close the distance between Lila and me. I see the way she’s standing there, waiting for me, the cold air brushing against her skin, like she belongs.
Her eyes meet mine, and the whole damn world pauses for a second. It feels like all the air has been sucked away from the flight line. It’s not the jets roaring in my ears or the weight of the mission anymore. It’s just Lila.
I step toward her faster, breaking into a run, and when I’m close enough, I don’t wait. I reach for her, pulling her into my arms like I’m scared if I don’t hold on, she’ll disappear.
“Logan...” She says my name like it’s sacred, throwing her arms around my neck. She doesn’t even seem to care that I’m covered in sweat, probably looking like hell.
“I love you,” I rasp, burying my face in her hair, taking in the familiar scent of her.
I inhale deeply, trying to push away the exhaustion, the heaviness that’s been hanging over me since Ryan’s death.
It’s all still there. But in this moment, with Lila in my arms, that weight is giving way to relief.
When I pull back, my hands rest on her hips, and I look at her. She’s wearing my fight jacket, her long braided hair is windblown, and her cheeks and nose are pink from the cold. I swear, she’s never looked more beautiful.
Her fingers brush against my jaw, and I feel the weight of everything. Of Reaper. Of Ryan. And that damn hole inside me.
I try to swallow all the emotions I’m feeling. “I missed you,” I say, though it doesn’t begin to cover it.
“I missed you, Logan. So much,” she replies softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I let myself feel it. The solace. The homecoming.
The reality of the mission is also there, pressing in, too loud to ignore.
“I should check in with my flight,” I say, stepping back reluctantly, though every part of me wants to keep holding onto her. “You want to come with me?”
She looks up at me, her eyes soft, but I can see the hesitation there. She must feel it. The silence left by Ryan’s death that still lingers in the corners.
“Yes,” she says.
I roll the stiff ache out of my left shoulder and lead her toward the group, my hand finding hers like it always has. Dalton and Wells are already gathered, checking in with Townsend as he runs through his final inspection beside his jet.
The sound of voices and the low hum of engines fill the air. It’s a familiar soundtrack.
I stop a few paces away from Townsend, releasing Lila’s hand only long enough to raise my own in a quick salute. He returns it, his eyes sharp but carry a hint of relief. I thread my fingers with Lila’s and pull us closer to my flight.
“James,” he greets me, standing tall. His signature smirk tugging at his lips, though it's not as carefree as it used to be. “Hey, Lila.”
“Welcome home, guys!” She beams, offering her beautiful smile to Townsend, then Dalton, then Wells. She hesitates like she isn’t sure if she should hug them but she decides better of it and throws her arms around each of the men.
“Townsend,” I begin, “everything good to go?”
“Yeah,” he answers with a slight grin. “Looking forward to some leave?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, some time off sounds pretty good right about now.” Lila locks her arms around my waist, tightly side-hugging me. I don’t stop the smile that spreads across my face and drop a kiss in her hair.
Dalton gives a weary but genuine smile. None of us has slept more than the minimum required hours since the mission ended a few days ago. “Definitely. I’d say we earned it.” His eyes flicker toward Lila, and for a moment, I see something else in them, like he’s glad to see me with her.
She smiles brightly at Dalton, then untangles herself from me.
Lila lets her fingers trail down my arm, lacing her fingers with mine.
It’s the natural way she touches me, her effortless need to keep us connected.
“You know,” she starts, bumping shoulders with him.
“Ivy was asking about you the other day.”
He levels her with a look. “Don’t mess with me. She’s beautiful. And is so out of my league.”
She taps her finger to her chin, pretending to consider this. “If only I knew someone who could put in a good word.” She winks.
Wells steps forward, his easygoing energy only slightly off. “Everett’s right, she’s definitely out of his league,” he says, grinning as he claps his hand on Dalton’s shoulder. Then he turns to Townsend and me. “I’m thinking I might actually get some sleep for once, if I’m lucky.”
I glance at Lila, her hand still resting in mine. I can almost taste the freedom that comes with time off, and it feels damn good.
Dalton is right. We’ve earned it.
I turn back to the guys and Townsend speaks up. “Alright, we’re cleared for departure. You guys ready to get the hell out of here?”
I give him a sharp nod, the grin back on his face. “Absolutely.”
Wells and Dalton both nod, their voices a little more relaxed now and we walk back into the sunlight. There’s a sense of relief in the air, like the weight of the mission is finally starting to lift.
But seriously, I love you, brother.
I look up, taking a deep breath and nodding toward the sky.
See you on the other side, brother.
I press my free hand against the ache in my chest.
Pulling Lila against my side, I squeeze her shoulder, needing her to understand the weight of what I’m about to say next.
I want this. Her, with me, forever.
I want our home. Our life. The quiet mornings. The late-night talks.
The arduous moments that test us and remind us we belong together, and the light ones that make every test worthwhile.
I want her as my wife. The mother of my children. The woman I come home to after every mission and every deployment. Every time I climb in and out of that cockpit.
“Let’s go home,” I say.