Mike Bannon stood on the bow of the Destroyer as it pulled slowly into port in good ole Norfolk, Virginia. The breeze was nice and it felt great out on deck. The sun was shining and it was a balmy 75 degrees outside. The bright sun reflected off of the white uniforms of the sailors as they rushed around deck preparing to enter their home port for the first time in nine months. 

Mike had already packed his sea bag and printed his plane itinerary, he was planning on flying back home to see his girlfriend. They had started dating her, his junior year of high school; she knew of course that he had wanted to join the Navy. She supported him through his deployments and time away, to use an old cliche she was his anchor. They'd been dating now nearly six years and Mike was ready to take their relationship a step further. They'd talked through emails and letters during the long deployments and had often talked of settling down in a small town and starting a family. Mike so sure that she was the one, that when his ship pulled into Bahrain he had a jeweler custom make an engagement ring for her. The ring had a heart shaped ruby in the middle surrounded by small emeralds around the outside. The gold wedding band when put together rimmed the right side of the heart with small diamonds. The ring was packed away in his bags along with a bottle of wine he bought in France when they had ported there for a few days. 

He pulled the picture of his girlfriend out of his pocket once more and glanced at it, she was wearing the red dress she wore when she visited last fall and they went to the Navy Ball together. That was right before he left for deployment, and one of the last times he saw her. Tucking the picture away he secretly hoped that she would meet him at the pier. He knew she probably wouldn't be there, with her work schedule, but there was still hope.

Mike stood at his 50 cal gun mount watching the land and pier grow larger on the horizon. He could hear the communication between the bridge and other gunner's mates as they pulled slowly up to the pier. As the lines were cast from the ship, the sailors on the pier attached them to the bollards and the tug slowly backed away. Mike watched the crowd for a moment pressing against the iron bars of the gate, and waving at the sailors moving about on the deck. The crowd was dotted in red, white and blue balloons and lots of welcome home signs. Taking a deep breath, he did what he always did when the secure command came over his comms radio. He removed the ammo can from the 50 cal, and removed the weapon from the tripod. He carried the gun upright easily in one hand as he walked into the ship. 

Once his weapon was returned to the armory he ran to his berthing area and grabbed his sea bag. By the time he reached the deck, all of the new dads had already left the ship and the ship's enlisted crew were walking off slowly. He got in line and patiently waited to get down the stairs. As his foot touched the ground he excitedly began walking up the pier, hoping that she was there. His uniform waved loosely on his frame as he walked up the pier. He spent the majority of his time deployed in the gym working out since there was nothing else to do on the ship. He passed through the crowds slowly scanning hoping that maybe, just maybe she was here.