Something Worth Fighting For

by McNiel, Ashley

  What day is your appointment? I can’t wait to see more pictures of the little people. We’re leaving next Wednesday as far as I know so hopefully I’ll be able to see them before then. I know I’ll call you before then. I should be out for a week or two at the most or at least that’s the talk going on. I really hate to tell Ma via email so maybe I’ll call her or do it on Skype or just wait until we’re actually back. I emailed Ares the day you told me so he’s doing a good job of keeping his trap shut for once. I haven’t told my dad yet but I’ll email him once I’m done with yours and let him know. Did you think about telling Celeste?

  Eat some ice cream for me too. I’ll be home to get it for you myself before you know it. I’ll call soon. I love you, always.

  -Atlas

  ❋❋❋

  “Hey Kelly it’s your sister, call me when you get a chance. I need to talk to you. Love ya’.” I hung up, staring at Atlas’ latest email. I wasn’t sure what to reply yet so I was buying my time calling my brothers. I hit Tobias’ name next on my mission of telling my family.

  “Hey Ellie.” Toby’s voice picked up on the third ring. “What’s going on?”

  “Oh you know, the normal. Waiting out deployment, trying to figure out how to tell dad I’m pregnant with twins.” I heard him spit whatever he was drinking out.

  “You’re what?!”

  “You’re going to be an Uncle Toby.” I laughed, spinning around in the chair.

  “Ellie Belle that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet them. Have you told Keller? He’s going to freak.”

  “I tried calling him but he didn’t answer. I think they’re out in the field but I’m not sure.”

  “I’ll try and call him later. How’s Atlas?”

  “Over the moon. Ready to be out of the sandbox. How’s Jacob?”

  “Wonderful,” he sighed dreamily.

  “Well you better let me meet him soon. Before I’m all big and deformed looking.”

  “You’re ridiculous.” Toby laughed.

  “I have another call, I think it’s Keller. I’ll text you later. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Ellie.” I clicked over answering the other call.

  “Hello?”

  “You rang?” Keller’s voice was amused.

  “Yes, I’m selling subscriptions to the LA Times, I was wondering if you might be interested.”

  “What all comes with it?”

  “Sports, news, coupons, book reviews, gossip, and an announcement that your sister is pregnant.”

  “Excuse me, what was that last part again?”

  “You mean the gossip or that your sister is pregnant?”

  “Yeah that part. Um... holy shit.”

  “I kind of had the same reaction. Explains why I’ve been so sick though, right?”

  “How far along are you?”

  “About nine weeks, give or take a few days.”

  “Wow, a baby, I’m going to be an Uncle.”

  “Well that’s the thing, it’s actually babies.”

  “Babies? As in more than one?” Keller coughed.

  “As in two babies.”

  “Did Atlas have a stroke?”

  “No but I did.” I snorted crawling into bed with the laptop.

  “Have you told dad and Toby?”

  “Toby knows and I’m still trying to figure out how to tell dad.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  “No shit we figured you’d knock some base bunny up first.”

  “I don’t screw base bunnies or barrack rats, It’s diseased.”

  “Gross.”

  “Just the truth. Anyway, I have to run but send me pictures, email me, text me, keep me updated. I love you and take care of yourself.”

  “Yeah, I love you too. Be careful, please.” I sat the phone on the bed as I pulled up a fresh email and started writing to my husband.

  ❋❋❋

  To: Atlas Ryker

  From: Ellie Ryker

  July 30, 2014

  Hey there handsome. Well I have officially told both of my brothers and neither have threatened to kill you. They were however shocked and excited. My appointment is Monday morning so I’ll email you as soon as I get home from it and that way you can have some pictures before you leave. Hopefully I’ll have more exciting stuff to tell you then but I really don’t have much now. Since I quit my job I really don’t have a lot going on. I’ve been looking for a new one but I don’t think anyone is going to want to hire a girl that’s pregnant with twins. Have you thought about what they will be? Like a boy and a girl or two boys, identical? Wow, that’s a lot to think about.

  Darcy is forcing me out of the house today for food and shopping. Don’t worry I won’t over do it. But you better make Adam send her a warning just in case. I’m feeling particularly whiny today so I won’t make this too much longer. I don’t want to be Debbie Downer. I hope to hear from you soon. Be careful, please. I love you, always.

  ~Ellie

  ❋❋❋

  My version of taking it easy and Darcy’s was drastically different. Instead of hitting every shop she saw it was only every other it seemed. Adam was never going to be able to keep up with her. She talked me into a couple of tank tops and a pair of maternity jeans but other then that I kept my pocket book tightly sealed. Babies were going to be expensive after all.

  I fell into bed when we got back home at four. My eyelids were way too heavy and all I wanted to do was sleep until tomorrow. As soon as I started to drift off my phone started buzzing beside me. Growling I felt around for where I had tossed it. “Hello?” I answered softly, eyes still closed.

  “Hey beautiful.” Atlas’ voice made me smile despite my sour mood.

  “Hey there handsome, how are you?”

  “Were you sleeping?”

  “Not yet. We just got back from Darcy’s version of taking it easy. Holy hell.” Atlas laughed as I rubbed my face trying to wake up.

  “I should have known. Adam told her to go easy on you but apparently she doesn’t know the meaning of the word. I’m going to have to have a talk with her about that. Did you get anything good? I’m doing okay. We’ve been getting our shit together to move out but other then that I’ve had a little down time. Been listening to you sing which is a nice change. It’s not Hawaii but it’s good enough for now.”

  “I got a couple of shirts and a pair of maternity pants. Hmm, I don’t think much could top Hawaii.” I giggled thinking about sneaking down to the beach naked the third night we were there.

  “You’re thinking about me naked.” Atlas accused.

  “When am I not?”

  “Mmm, same here.”

  “You think about yourself naked too?” Atlas snorted, I imagined him rolling his eyes as he shook his head.

  “Well hell yeah, you’ve seen me, why wouldn’t I?”

  “Narcissistic bastard.”

  “You know it, baby.” Atlas chuckled. “Actually I was thinking about you naked.”

  “I’d like to think about her naked too.” I heard a male voice call from the background.

  “I’ll rip your heart out if you talk about my wife, Phillips.” Atlas yelled away from the phone as I laughed.

  “Ah, I see I’m the pin up girl of the tent. My father would love that.”

  “He wishes.”

  “My father? I highly doubt that.”

  “You’re such a smartass.”

  “It’s one of my better qualities.”

  “What on Earth am I going to do with you?”

  “Keep me, I hope.” I said, smiling.

  “Count on it. I miss you, you crazy feisty woman.”

  “I miss you too, baby. I wish you were here with us.” I laid my hand on my stomach, rubbing the tiny roundness.

  “I wish I was too. I will be soon, I promise.” He sighed. “I have to go but I’ll call you Monday or Tuesday, one day before we head out.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” I bit my bottom lip, holding in the tears. />
  “I know you will.”

  “Be careful, please. We love you.”

  “I love you guys too, always.”

  I held the phone to my ear as the other end went silent. I wasn’t ready to let go yet. I didn’t want him to be gone already. Some days the phone calls made it better and some days it just made me miss him that much more. I turned over in the bed, still clutching my phone in my hand and cried myself to sleep in his pillow.

  ❋❋❋

  To: Ellie Ryker

  From: Atlas Ryker

  August 2, 2014

  It’s doctor day! I can’t wait to hear all about it. Talk to you soon. I love you all immensely, always.

  -Atlas

  ❋❋❋

  We were heading back from the doctor, Darcy had insisted on going with me since Atlas couldn’t. I was now holding even more pictures of our babies. They were a tiny bit bigger beans now than they were a few weeks ago. As soon as I was in the door I went to the computer and scanned the pictures in attaching them to an email to Atlas. I snapped a couple of pictures of my tummy in the bathroom mirror and sent those to the computer as well.

  ❋❋❋

  To: Atlas Ryker

  From: Ellie Ryker

  August 2, 2014

  A few pictures of our twinkies and the tiny bump they are making protrude from my stomach. I guess I can forgive them for that as long as their daddy still thinks I’m hot. I think I’m going to go to my dad’s this weekend and bring the pictures and him a case of beer and see what he says. Hope to hear from you soon. Be careful, please. I love you, always.

  ~Ellie + Twinkies

  ❋❋❋

  I was feeling good today. The doctor had confirmed twins which I wasn’t sure whether I was excited or terrified about. She said that I would start showing sooner since there were two babies instead of one and that little bump was definitely caused by our twinkies. She answered the million questions Darcy and I threw at her with more patience than I had ever seen.

  Ten minutes after I sent the email my phone started ringing. “Hello?” I picked up on the second ring.

  “I think you are incredibly sexy.” Atlas laughed on the other end of the line.

  “That’s very good to know.” I smiled as I sat on the bed, pulling my knees up to me.

  “I love the pictures. I’m trying to talk someone into printing them out for me so I can take them with me. That would make it just about... Graduation day, I believe?”

  “I think that’s about right.”

  “Figures, first time coming back from not seeing you for five months. I probably could have impregnated a sock at that point.” I laughed, rolling my eyes.

  “Well instead you thoroughly impregnated me.”

  “Twice as much as the normal, super human sperm. It was much more fun than a sock.”

  “I’m not even going to ask how you know about that...”

  “Anyway!” He cut me off as I laughed. “How are you feeling?”

  “Pretty good today actually. A little anxious since I won’t be hearing from you for a while but other then that we’re pretty good.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Let me worry about you.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me, you need to focus on your mission and staying safe.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do, Ginger.” Atlas growled. “I’ll worry about you if I want.”

  “I’ll worry about you if I want, Cowboy.” I threw back at him, causing him to laugh. “All is fair in love and war, babe.”

  “What about being hopelessly in love during a war?”

  “How about you just worry about coming home to me and your babies?”

  “That I can do.”

  “Good, I hope it’s sooner rather than later. Have you talked to Ma yet?” I asked, picking at the string on my leggings.

  “No, I think I’m going to wait until I get back or something, I’m not sure. My dad is pretty excited though. I’m sure she will be too I just hate to tell her that her first grandchildren are coming over the phone or through email. It seems so impersonal.”

  “That’s how I felt about telling you. I had known for a couple of weeks but I didn’t want to write you an email and be like hey guess what, I’m knocked up! It just didn’t seem right. I was going to wait until you were back but I didn’t want to be several months along and you be like super shocked. Darcy finally told me that either I told you or she was going to let Adam tell you and I wasn’t going to have that. Yes, Adam already knew Darcy told him as soon as she could.” Atlas was laughing as I rambled on. “I mean why would I want him to tell you when I could tell you but I just wanted it to be special and I ended up telling you over Skype of all things. I guess that’s better than through email though.”

  “Pause, take a breath.” He said as I giggled.

  “Sorry, I get carried away sometimes.”

  “You know I’m just messing with you, beautiful.”

  “I know, I just feel like I have to say everything at once because I don’t know when I’m going to get to talk to you again.”

  “Just calm down, baby. Everything is going to be fine. You’ll hear from me soon. I can’t keep you worried. You know your dad checks in on me, right? If anything happens they will let him know and you’ll know right away.”

  “I didn’t know that.” I smiled as tears stung my eyes. These hormones were going to be the death of me.

  “Yeah, all the time, actually. I think he worries enough for both of us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean he worries that something might happen to me and how that would effect you and thus ends up worrying about you just as much as he worries about me being over here. No matter what you’re still your daddy’s priority. Just so happens I became one of them too. Funny how a little time and marriage works.”

  “He’s so wonderful but if he doesn’t keep me updated I’m going to have to kick his ass.” I scowled as Atlas chuckled.

  “I think you’re the only person I’ve met that isn’t absolutely terrified of him. I mean I’ve seen him make big guys cry and you’re here having him wrapped around your finger. It’s sweet really, to think that guy has a heart after all. I was convinced for a while that he was made of stone.”

  “Are we talking about the same Benjamin Grant? He’s a big teddy bear.”

  “Of course he is to you, you’re his little girl!”

  “Well you’ll be the same way if we have a little girl.”

  “Man, I don’t even want to think about us having a little girl. If she looks like her Mama she’ll never be allowed to leave the house.” I could imagine Atlas rubbing his face, holding the back of his neck just thinking about it.

  “I feel sorry for her already. If one of them is a girl that is.”

  “When do you find out?”

  “You should be home by then so we will be able to find out together. If not I’ll wait until you are so we can.”

  “Really? You’ll wait so I can be there?”

  “Of course, baby.”

  “That will be perfect. I can’t wait.” He sounded like he was letting all of the air out of his lungs. “I have to go but I’ll email you before we leave, send me one too if you get some time.”

  “For you? I have nothing but time. Be careful out there, please. We love you, always.”

  “I will. I love you and the babies too, always.”

  I held my breath as he hung up and laid the phone down on the bed, hoping that it wasn’t going to be the last time I spoke to him. My dad would definitely be hearing it for not letting me know he had the ability to check on him. Making me wait for weeks to hear that he’s okay. Ugh!

  Darcy knocked softly on the door poking her head inside. “How you holding up?” She curled up in the bed with me.

  “I’m okay. I’m worried but that’s to be expected, right? I just want this shit over with so I can stop constantly worrying about whether or not he’s going to come home to me. I hate waiting by
the phone all hours of the day and night and sleeping with the laptop screen open. I mean we were married for two weeks before he had to leave again. That hardly seems fair.”

  “I know, sweetie. I would just like to be able to go a day without wondering if Adam is being safe if him and Atlas are looking after each other.”

  “I can assure you that they are. Those two are inseparable.”

  “So when are you telling Pops?” She crossed her ankles as I laid back in the bed.

  “Saturday, I figured I’d go over with some beer and cook him dinner and tell him then. I did tell Toby and Keller though.”

  “Nice, I have to work or I would go over there with you.”

  “No big deal, I’m not as worried about it anymore. I mean there is definitely no changing it so he can either get on board or get off at the next stop.”

  “Wow, kind of harsh don’t you think?”

  “Honestly? No. That’s why I’m not worried about it anymore.”

  “Whatever you think, sweetie.” Darcy squeezed my hand before sliding off of the bed. “I’m going to go wait for my man to call.”

  “Send him my love.” I waved as she walked out the door and pulled out my laptop to write my husband.

  ❋❋❋

  To: Atlas Ryker

  From: Ellie Ryker

  August 2, 2014

  Hey there handsome. It’s only been about an hour since I got off the phone with you but I miss the sound of your voice already. I know you said you would email me soon but I wanted to go ahead and send you yours just incase you didn’t have enough time to send me one and you would have one to take with you. What am I trying to say? My head is kind of scrambled right now after my talk with Darcy.

  I can’t tell you how ready I am for all of this to be over. I think I say that every time I write to you. I’m just ready to be back in your arms, to hold you to me, to kiss you, to see your handsome face every morning when I wake up. To make you food in the middle of the night. Although it might be the other way around now. I sometimes feel like we got cheated only getting to be married for two weeks before you had to leave again. I know that’s a stupid way to see it but it’s a brutally honest thought. The best part of it though is knowing that you’re mine. You knowing that there is someone at home that loves you and is waiting for you, because baby, I am waiting.