Coming Home

If someone had told me I would be knocking on Rae's door today, I would have punched them in the face. Honestly, if someone told me I would still want Rae in my life, I probably would have just told them to fuck themselves. Whatever Rae and I were, it really needed to not be a thing. But after my little post last night, all the fans were dying to know about Rae. They were basically begging me to give it a third try.

To say I was surprised when Rae and Charlie had opened the door would be a fucking understatement. Charlie had been her commanding officer years ago, but I didn't ever think they would wind up living together. For some unknown reason, it hurt my heart to see that. That ugly green monster had reared its head, and that was not something I wanted to feel for a woman who had hurt me so many times.

Rae stared at me, confusion clear in her eyes. "Matt, what are you doing here?" She stood slightly behind Charlie, like she thought I was going to hurt her or something.

"We need to talk." I placed my hands behind my back. "I think my Facebook post may have sparked something."

Tilting her head, Rae motioned for me to come inside. "What exactly do you mean, Sanders?This isn't something I wanted to be a part of. I left all of that behind six years ago. I left you behind six years ago."

Closing my eyes, I did my best to not instantly retaliate. All we did was rile each other up; it's why our marriage had ended in fighting and nearly killing each other. "The Deathbats want us to try to be a couple again."

Charlie cocked an eyebrow at me. "That's not happening."

"Trust me, Marine, I don't want that to happen. I just came to warn Rae because I have no doubt they are trying to track her down. And when they find you, Rae, they are going to come for Charlie too. You need to be prepared."

"How much do they know, Matt?" Rae's voice was soft. "Do they know about Iraq where you ruined my shoulder? Do they know about Jimmy's death and how you cheated on your fiance? Do they know about Virginia and me aborting our child? Do they know about Germany and you leaving me to rot?"

Fire entered my body. "Why do you always want to pick a fight with me? I'm trying to be fucking civil here. I'm trying to better myself, and you just want to start shit!" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Rae, you blame me for everything. You always have. Grow up and take responsibility for you life. I don't want to fight. I just came here to prepare you."

"And I want to know what I need to be prepare for, Matt. I get stared at every damn for my limp, for not having a leg. If it's just people staring at, I can handle that. But if they want to invade my life and know everything that happened between us, I will not be pleasant." She crossed her arms over her chest.

I stared into her eyes, willing myself not to say what I wanted so desperately to say. "When have you ever been pleasant?"

"KNOCK IT THE FUCK OFF!" Charlie looked between the two of us. "You are thirty-five and thirty-four years old. Stop acting like children. Thank you, Matt, for coming to tell us about the possible fan situation. Rae, don't antagonize a man who just got out of the hospital."

I stared down at my hands. I felt like my old commanding officer, Dan, was shouting at me. That was never a feeling I had enjoyed very much. By the look on Rae's face, she felt the same way.

"Sorry, Sanders."

"Yeah, me too." I looked between the couple and then turned to the door. "I hope you two are happy."

Notes

It's short, but it's something.