Tables turn...(JT)

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Ed listened intently as Colly spoke about Henry briefly and that he was in the Air Force. "A fly-boy huh? Guess that would be a pretty good choice, good head on his shoulders and some discipline, plus probably easier to talk to about all of this than most I would hope." And McMillan meant every word of it. He hoped that anyone that survived all of the horrible scenarios thrown at them would find someone easy to talk to. Would end up being a difficult burden to bare.

Then Colly asked a question that had never been asked of Ed before. "A lady eh?" Ed leaned his head back slightly and sorted through his memories. "Well there have been a couple, not a lot actually. A good woman was hard to come by in the type of life I had before the military. Most of them are just too mean, hateful and manipulative, and the rest are just idiots. But there were a select few that caught my eye. Sometimes I was even fortunate enough to catch theirs. None the less our paths went different ways, I hope they are doing well though. Last I heard one of them was pregnant, she always wanted children too, thought she would have made a great mother, I'm sure she still will, just won't be my kids." Ed lowered his head back down and came back to reality. Some of the women from his past still held strong memories with him that he didn't want to get lost in, at least not right now.

Then Ed remembered quite an important note in their relationship that he hadn't heard about in quite some time. "Hey, you ever find that horse of yours? Joey?"

[Stephen Colly]

"A fly-boy huh? Guess that would be a pretty good choice, good head on his shoulders and some discipline, plus probably easier to talk to about all of this than most I would hope."

Stephen suddenly wondered if Ed was mocking him, mocking him because of what he was. It was a odd sensation he felt. He cocked his head to one side, listening to him. But after a few seconds, he realised that Ed was being kind and sensible – yes, Henry did have his head firmly on his shoulders. Stephen nodded, ”Yes, yes he does. And we are happy...just keeping it secret is the trouble.” he said, glancing to the window as if suddenly paranoid that someone was listening at the windows. ”It’s nice to tell someone though.” he nodded his head at Edward.

Edward then started to talk about the women he had encountered in his life. The descriptions of the women made Stephen dislike them even more – he’d hate to end up getting some girl pregnant. But Ed spoke of them in a way that he seemed to respect them. Stephen could tell that Ed had deep memories of these women as his eyes seemed to glaze over until finally he snapped back into reality. Stephen leant forwards, watching him.

He then spoke of Joey, and Stephen nodded eagerly. ”Yes, a year ago. A girl found him and he’s at home at the moment. It was amazing, Ed. But now I think he has to go back to the army.” he glanced down at his hands, ”Because the way the war is going – not good for our side – they want to have more horses to pull things – cars and trucks are good but they need more....I dunno....my mother is helping to keep him there though. It’s just I was thrust into France a few weeks ago and haven’t been home since so I don’t know what has happened.” he shrugged. It was with care and consideration he spoke of his horse. He loved his horse but times were changing and he loved Henry now – maybe even more so. He stood up, he had grown since Edward had last seen him and went to the window, and the sun was drooping lower behind the trees. ”Trouble is, my men have got their suspicious of what I am...” he glanced back at Ed, the circles under his eyes were caught by the light and he looked suddenly much older. ”I am just worried....they may get the wrong impressions if I stay here too long.”

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Ed listened intently and became slightly concerned about Stephen having to keep his relationship a secret. "Hey man, if the risk isn't worth the reward..." He stopped for a moment, it was no his place to try and give someone advice about their relationship. "I wish you two the best man, I really do." And he meant it.

Ed smiled. "Yeah? Got him back home huh? Well that is great news Stephen. I'm very happy to hear that. Guess those tears in the rain by that old dirt track paid off huh?" Ed winked at Stephen as he recalled the first time he had ever met him. That fateful rainy morning back at an old Allied base. Two men, if you could have even called Colly that at the time, from very opposite ends of the spectrum, going on the adventures they had over all this time. Was quite a story. Now here they set, still polar opposites, but there was no question about it, both were men. It had been a few long and arduous years for both of them. They had seen their fair share and now Stephen was no longer that little kid Ed was trying to look out for. "Been through a lot man, you've grown up a lot as well. I can see it. I'm glad we've survived all of this, but part of me still hopes there is a bit of that scared kid down inside of you. That was one great guy the world could use more of." Not that he always wanted Colly to be that kid, that was selfish and insane. But the innocence that kid had, that's what made this world worth all of this horrible crap mankind put itself through.

Ed thought about his time as a leader of men. "Trust me, so long as you act confident and sound like you know what you are talking about, they will do as they are asked and keep the questions to 'When do we rest?' and 'When do we eat?' Promise you that." McMillan smiled, maybe Rafael had been right, maybe Edward did have enough leadership qualities to take a commission.