Craig laid on top of a blanket of grass with a few dandelions, a rang of all colors, poking up through.  A tall weeping willow blew in the gentle breeze as the sun’s warmth surrounded him, though the shade from the tree kept the raven haired boy nice and cool. His eyes gentle shut and a smile formed on Craig’s lips.

“There you are, beautiful!” A voice hollered from at the bottom of the short hill. Craig couldn’t see the voice belonged to but he didn’t have to. He knew that voice all too well. Craig sat up and watched as a blonde haired boy, no older than twenty, walked up the steep hill with and orange jacket hugging his thin figure and a pair of jeans for his legs.

“Hey Kenny, where you been?” Craig asked as Kenny sat down. Kenny let out a small laugh as he settled on the ground next to the other boy.

“Places. How have you and Jake been?” Kenny’s voice was soft and gentle.

“We’ve been struggling without you…Why didn’t you come back?” Craig felt tears begin to form in his eyes. Kenny fell silent. He honestly wasn’t sure how to answer that.

“Craig, Hun, you know I would of done anything possible to get back to you guys. You’re my family and I love you…But you need to stay strong okay?” Kenny asked as he pulled Craig in closer.

Craig let out gentle sobs as he hugged the other body tightly, never wanting to let go. How could he stay strong?! He had just lost his love…

“Craig listen to me…I need you to listen carefully, babe.” Kenny gently pulled Craig’s head up to look him in the eye; god, how Craig missed those pearly blues that belonged to the one and only Kenny McCormick.  “Go to our closet and on the top shelf in the very back, there is a small box. I want you to have it, okay? Don’t you forget!!” Kenny gently smiled.

“I miss you…”
“I know.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Craig shot up in his bed and looked around the empty room. The only light in the bedroom came from the television, still playing the news. He tightened his fist around the velvet red comforter that covered his half naked body.

Quick with his actions, Craig threw the blanket of his body and stood up quick. He reached out shaky hands towards the white handle on the closet they once shared. He slowly opened up the closet and reached up.

‘Top shelf. Close to back.’ Craig thought. He quickly found the box and took it back to his bed so he could see it properly. The box was small and had a small blue ribbon tied around it and topped off with a small knot. Kenny never could tie a proper bow. Craig couldn’t help but laugh at the thought as he untied the silky smooth ribbon.

He slowly peeled open the velvet black box and felt tears slowly fall down his pale cheeks.

Sitting inside the box was a small diamond ring tucked in between two little foam blacks covered by silk white cloth and a note tapped to the top of it. Craig put the ring on, still smiling with tears pouring down, and grabbed the note.

‘Dear Craig,
In case I don’t make it back this time, I want you to have this. If by some chance you find this before I make it back, then you better act pretty damn surprised when I pop the question. I love you, beautiful. You and Jake keep safe, Okay?
Love, Captain McCormick…A.k.A.  Your almost fiancé and baby daddy.’

Craig sat back on the bed with the note still in hand. He jumped as he heard a small voice coming from the door of the room.

“Why are you crying, daddy?”  Craig looked over and saw Jake, his son, standing in the door way. His blonde hair was a mess, his Scooby doo pajama shirt hung off his shoulder, and he had a nemo dipper on that Kenny had bought him before leaving earlier that day.

“It’s nothing, Jake. What are you still doing up?” Craig asked, wiping away the tears.
“I had a dream about daddy. When will he be home?” Jake asked jumping up and sitting in his dad’s lap.
Craig turned his head towards the television and then back to his son.
“I don’t think he is this time…”

‘I’m sad to report that a tragic event happened leaving dozens of families worried and tearful. A plan transporting new soldiers to Afghanistan was hit by a missile. The plan crashed somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. There have been no bodies, dead or alive, have been found yet. The U.S. Navy is sending troops to search the ocean above and below as the Military search lands. All we can do now is wait…’