Glad I Met You [AmericaXReader] CH9

  After all the New Year's celebrations calmed down it was back to work a few days later-Lucy being picked up by her parents the day before her first day back from her break. She heard less from Alfred because of his busy traveling schedule, but he tried to make it a point to at least call her once or twice a week.

"It's only been a week and you already look depressed."
She spun around in her chair and found Matthew smiling in the doorway of her office with a brown paper bag in hand.
"I do not look depressed," She protested. She sniffed the air as the aroma of food began to fill her office. "That smells good!"
"Got your favorite from Antonio's restaurant," He said, setting the paper bag onto her desk and taking out the containers. "He even gave me a discount though I had to promise to bring you in the next time I go in."
"Aw, he's adorable," She giggled, excited to eat the amazing food Antonio had made.
"Hey, don't get any ideas," Matthew said sternly. "You're still in a relationship with my brother."
She pretended to be hurt, "Mattie you should know me better!"
Matthew laughed, sitting across from her with his food. He glanced at her computer screen and smirked. "Are you really re-reading emails that he sent you?"
She spun back around to her computer to close out of her email- her face growing warm. "Hey, no judgment! I've spent so much time him over the last few weeks that it's hard to be away from him."
"How long has it been since you two started going out?"
"About four months," She replied, before biting into churro. "I hope I see him again soon."
"His work schedule is pretty crazy at the beginning of the year usually. And he's been talking about possibly having to do a tour-"
"Tour?" She questioned. "What do you mean by that?"
Matthew stared at her for a moment blankly. "You mean…he hasn't told you?"
She was starting to panic. "Told me what?"
"Alfred always had a patriotic streak and when he came out of high school we didn't really have the money at the time for him to go to college so he went into the army because they would help him pay for college. He figured he would be doing something good for his country and helping his education," Matthew told her quietly, his old soft and whispery voice that he had in college making a comeback. "He moved into the National Guard last year as a Blackhawk pilot, but that doesn't mean he doesn't see the frontlines, it just makes is less likely."
"Why wouldn't he tell me, especially if he might be going on a tour?"
Matthew sighed, "I asked him the same thing when I noticed you hadn't said anything about it. He said he was nervous and was afraid about what you would say." He noticed her confusion. "I know, I told him you wouldn't care and would be madder when you found out in the next few months."
"Does this stem from other girls leaving him?" She asked.
Matthew nodded, "He's been pretty traumatized. I know it sounds like he dates around a lot but he's really been in only one other serious relationship the others were flings. The girl was really nice actually, but when he had to go on a tour two years ago she flipped and threated to leave him if he went. She knew he was in the army and still threw a fit. Of course Alfred left because he would face jail time if he rejected the order, so she left him and he never spoke or saw her again."
[Name] wanted to be angry at Alfred, but felt bad for him. He was doing his job and the girl didn't understand it all. "Why didn't I see anything related to the military at his house?"
"Did you go to his room?" Matthew questioned. She shook her head. "His uniform and everything is in there."
She stayed quiet for a few minutes while she finished her food. "He said that he loved me…do you think he meant it?"
Matthew looked in her in the eyes, all traces of his previous nervousness gone. "If he said it, he meant it. We might not get along often, but I know that if he said that he loved you he meant it."
~.~.~

  It wasn't until the middle of January when she finally could sit down and have a Skype conversation with Alfred. Though she wanted to unload her thoughts about him not telling her he was in the reserves the moment after Matthew had told her about it she knew she had to wait.
"I miss you!" He whined with a pout.
She smiled despite the frustration she had towards him. "I miss you too hun."
Alfred tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What's wrong? You don't look happy."
She sighed knowing it was now or never. "Alfred…why didn't you tell me you were a Blackhawk pilot in the National Guard?"
He visibility stiffen- blue eyes wide. "W-who told you?"
"Matthew," She replied. "But that's beside the point. I need it to come from you."
  She watched him duck his head in shame, before slowly meeting her gaze a moment later. He began to tell her what Matthew had weeks earlier- he needed money for college and he wanted to serve his country. The girl he was in a relationship with left him because he went off to serve overseas. He liked the career he was currently in so he switched to the National Guard so he could spend more time with the company he was currently with, but there has been talk that his squad might be sent overseas, but he wouldn't know for sure until next week.
By time he finished telling her he almost looked like he was about to cry. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you up front. I wanted to, but I guess I was too nervous to tell you." He gave a low, humorless chuckle. "I'm a mess."
"Yeah, but you're mine," She smiled. "Don't be afraid to tell me anything Alfred. I'm your girlfriend aren't I?"
"Yeah, you are," He grinned. "Sorry, I promise to be more open. I love you [Name]."
"I love you too Al."
~.~.~.

[One Week Later]
  She felt herself begin to trembling, a sob threatening to take over her. She wanted to hold him and never let him go. All she could do though was whisper into the phone: "When do you leave?"
"In a month," Alfred replied softly. "Is it okay if I fly out there to see you?"
"Of course it is," She replied. "I have to see you…"
He said he would take the next flight out to Chicago and call when he landed. Until then she paced her apartment until she was calm enough to call Matthew.
"Mattie," She said, voice cracking from crying so hard. "He's leaving!"
"He's being sent overseas?" He questioned, shocked that that was the first thing he heard when he picked up the phone. "When?"
"The end of February," She replied. "He's flying out here tonight…"
Like the amazing friend he was, he stayed on the phone with her until she fell asleep on the couch which wasn't long because she had cried so hard. She loved Alfred so much that it hurt to let him go- she barely saw him! She was awoken by a knock on her front door around two in the morning. When she opened it she found him smiling at her.
"It'll be alright," He said softly as she wrapped her arms around him and leaned on his chest. "I'm still here."
"I know," She murmured. "It's just hard to let go."
  She let him lead her to bed and lay down next her- pulling her to his chest. As she laid there she thought about the girl he dated before and how she reacted to him being deployed. Sure she was heartbroken and sad- wanting nothing more than for him to stay- but she wouldn't change his loyalty to his country for anything. It was part of him and she would accept it because she loved him.