The month-long deployment had finally ended. The unmarked transport carrying Alicia, Lucy, and Kristen pulled into Aethel City just as dawn was breaking. Despite the exhaustion of the mission, their focus remained tactical.
There would be no immediate, dramatic reunions at the airport. Their return needed to be quiet, organized, and separate.
The vehicle stopped first at Lucy's high-rise apartment. Chris was waiting, leaning against the polished glass entrance, his posture professional but his eyes betraying a month of worry.
Lucy didn't run; she walked with her usual disciplined pace, meeting him halfway. Their hug was quiet, intense, and based on mutual respect for the protocol they had just completed.
"I ran the network diagnostics three times a day," Chris murmured into her hair.
"I needed to know my system was clean enough for your calls."
"It was perfect, Chris," Lucy confirmed, a soft smile appearing for the first time in weeks.
"Now, I need a shower and twelve hours of sleep. I'll see you at the penthouse later."
Next, the vehicle stopped at Kristen's trendy, artistic loft. Jake was waiting on the curb, unable to maintain the quiet professionalism of Chris. He exploded out of his car as soon as he saw her.
Kristen laughed, throwing herself into his arms. Their reunion was volatile, loud, and immediate—a reflection of their relationship.
Jake lifted her, spinning her around while kissing her fiercely, completely ignoring the few curious onlookers.
"I almost booked a flight to a random location every other day!" Jake confessed, holding her close.
"You almost broke me, K."
"Good. Now you know how committed I am," Kristen teased, then pulled him into a long, possessive kiss.
"I'll call you as soon as I've debriefed my apartment. CEO's party tonight?"
Finally, the vehicle took Alicia to her own discreet, highly secured apartment. She had insisted on no fanfare. She needed the immediate privacy to shed the soldier persona and prepare for the civilian world—and for Jason.
She found a single, perfect rose waiting on her kitchen counter with a note in Jason's handwriting: "Day 30. Your silence ends now. Dinner at the penthouse at eight. Don't be late."
*****
Alicia spent the day preparing. She shed the tactical gear, replaced the faint scent of combat with her favorite perfume, and chose a stunning, crimson dress that was both elegant and assertive. She arrived at Jason's penthouse exactly at 8:00 PM.
Jason answered the door himself. The month of separation, the worry, and the fierce commitment broke through his reserved composure.
Alicia saw the pure relief flood his eyes before he could hide it.
Alicia didn't wait. She dropped her small handbag and launched herself into his arms. The kiss was the culmination of thirty days of longing. It was long, passionate, and absolute, a total surrender of the control they had both maintained.
"Never," Jason murmured against her lips, holding her tightly.
"Never again will you disappear for that long without warning, soldier."
"Never again, CEO," Alicia promised, her voice husky with emotion.
He eventually pulled back, his hand resting proudly on the small of her back as he guided her inside.
"Welcome back, Alicia. I missed you every second," Jason said.
"Now, let's go merge our worlds."
.
.
.
The welcome home party was an intimate gathering of the six of them.
Jason led Alicia toward the bar area where Chris, Lucy, Jake, and Kristen were all gathered.
"Alicia," Jason announced, his hand resting proudly on her back. "Welcome to the inner circle."
He introduced Chris and Lucy first: "Alicia, you know Chris and Lucy. Chris is my partner in logic and the lead analyst. And Lucy is a strategic genius who keeps this man humble." Chris and Lucy offered welcoming nods.
Jason then turned to the friend who owned the private park.
"And now, my dearest friend," Jason said.
"Alicia, this is Jake. Owner of The Glen, the park you liked so much, and the reason we got privacy on Day Four. Jake, this is Alicia."
Jake offered a genuine, easy smile and a warm handshake.
"Welcome back. Jason was ready to launch a search party on Day Fifteen. He spent a month redesigning his living room based on your non-existent critique."
"Thank you, Jake," Alicia replied, her gaze warm.
"It was the perfect place for a private picnic."
Jason then guided Alicia toward Kristen.
"And of course, Kristen, who kept Lucy and you sane." Kristen gave Alicia a knowing smirk, acknowledging the success of their plan.
.
.
.
As the evening progressed, the party was lively, filled with relieved conversation. Later, when they found themselves alone on the quiet balcony, the atmosphere turned serious.
Jason pulled Alicia close. "You survived the separation. You kept your promise."
"And you kept your trust," Alicia countered, looking at him intently.
"Now for my promise. The seven days revealed passion. The month of patience revealed commitment. The rest of your trust is going to require a big story."
"I have all night," Jason said simply. "Tell me about the real beginning of your life."
Alicia knew she couldn't reveal the car crash lie or the search for her father yet. She settled on the truth he was most prepared to accept—the foundation of her partnership with Lucy and Kristen.
"You saw us today," Alicia began, her voice low.
"Lucy, Kristen, and me. We move as a unit. We're not just friends. To understand why I carry a gun and why I disappear, you need to know how we were formed. You need to know how Lucy met Chris, and how our operational unit came to be."
Jason pulled her close, his expression satisfied. "That's the truth I need right now. Tell me the story of the three soldiers.