For years I imagined my brother coming home. I imagined him picking on me, calling me names, doing stupid stuff with me, and wrestling with Moose. It seemed like a dream after a while when he just kept getting sent away and kept away. We stopped talking as much as we used to, telling each other what was really on our minds, and eventually, calls got to be a little awkward when we didn't know what to say. But never did I think we would lose our love and respect for one another. I still hold that to be true, no matter what happens between us.

***

"Jonah!" I cry as I race towards my brother. I don't hesitate to throw my arms around him, taking in the familiar scent of the cologne he's used since high school. I feel him spin me around as my tears blind my vision.

Dad's arms are around us in seconds, enveloping us both in a bear hug. I catch a glimpse of Dad with glossy eyes, but mostly he is grinning from ear to ear. Jonah tears up, but he quickly rubs his eyes to make the tears go away. Unashamed of my tears of pure joy, I let them fall as I cling to my brother.

"Jordan," he chuckles. At first, I think he's going to tell me that I need to let go of him, but then he squeezes me tighter. "I missed you."

"I missed you more," I whisper into his shoulder. Finally, I let go of him so that everyone else can get a hug.

I'm watching everyone's reunion from afar, feeling overwhelmed by how thankful I am for these people. Someone's arm snakes around my shoulders suddenly, and I turn to see Sawyer. I throw my arm around her waist and hug her.

"I cannot believe you," I joke. "The first time I've seen you in years and you're bringing my brother home to me."

"I'm chock-full of surprises," she chuckles. "And you still have hair!"

I roll my eyes at her reminder of my old and thankfully non-existent need to dye my hair a different color constantly. "Yes, thanks for noticing. I decided long ago to stop doing that... maturity, you know?"

I briefly remember my first interaction with Sawyer, one that's actually connected to Clay. He had just smuggled some milk cartons for me – those tiny ones the school gives you at lunch – and I sat down to eat with my brother and her. They were not the friendliest then, but it soon becomes apparent that they would be when Travis entered the equation.

We make out way to the kitchen bar and sit on the barstools. "What else do I not know?" When Sawyer and Travis first got together, I wasn't very close to them. I was always sort of close to Travis with him and my brother being such good friends, but not so much Sawyer. I was too busy running around with friends when she was around. But, over the years I've gotten close to her with our FaceTime calls when I'd talk to Travis about Jonah and just to catch up. He was like my brother when we first lived in Tennessee, and he still is. Now I have a sister figure to add to that.

I look at her bright smile and can't help but to smile myself. "What else have you been up to?"

She shrugs her shoulders, attempting a nonchalant look that doesn't work at all. "Oh, maybe that Travis and I opened our first restaurant."

I smack her shoulder playfully. "Of course you did! I'm not surprised."

"It's in town, actually. You need to come by and get a friendly discount."

"If you're giving friendly discounts, you'll have to give everyone one since you know everyone in town."

"Not even close," she assures me, patting my shoulder.

"There's the little brat." I hear him before I see him. Travis rubs my head and my hair goes everywhere. I let out a groan and swat his hand away. He plops down beside Sawyer on the couch and grins at me. Out of nowhere, Moose comes barreling down the stairs. As Jonah enters the living room, he's tackled by Moose in licks and soft barks.

Jonah kneels down and lets Moose crawl all over him. "There's my buddy!"

"Funny," I say, "you've been gone forever, and he still gets more excited seeing you than he does me."

Jonah laughs. "I can't help it that I'm irresistible."

I roll my eyes. "I'm glad you still have your sense of humor."

He sits down beside me and pats his leg for Moose to jump onto. Moose rests his head on my leg and I lean down to kiss his snout only to get a face full of slobbery tongue. I let out a loud yuck and wipe my face, but I still can't help but smile.

Looking around, I couldn't feel happier than right now. Everyone is here, alive, and seemingly healthy. What more could I ask for?

*

"We have some news," Sawyer announces quietly. We're sitting in the backyard now, a small fire going in the firepit. Jonah, Travis, and Sawyer all sit in lawn chairs while I'm flattened on the hammock that I brought to the backyard. Well, the hammock that Travis and Jonah brought to the backyard.

"Is it that you're pregnant?" Jonah laughs. Yeah, he's had a little too much to drink tonight.

Travis chucks an empty beer can at him but still laughs. Sawyer just rolls her eyes and smiles at me as I watch them all. I look down to see Moose lying down, his head propped on Sawyer's foot.

"Absolutely." The sarcasm in her voice is so foreign that it makes me laugh.

Travis just shakes his head. "On a serious note, we wanted to invite you guys to our wedding." The way he says this is so casually like it's not a big deal at all.

Jonah rests his head back against the chair and closes his eyes. "What makes you want to do it now?"

"Well, we decided that once we had everyone in one place that we wanted to be a part of it, we would. A real wedding with all the people we loved." I can see the sparkle in his eyes when he looks over at Sawyer, who looks tired.

"Why me?" Jonah asks, raising his head up to look over at his best friend.

"So you can be my best man."

I feel myself smiling at the gesture. I remember Jonah telling me when Travis and Sawyer got married in a courthouse a year after graduating high school. He was a pessimist of course, but I could also see the happiness behind his tough exterior. The pictures I had seen showed the minimal effort they could put into their courthouse wedding, yet the love these two had for each other made up for it all. Now they wanted to have a real wedding. With Travis's best friend in it.

"Are you for real, man?" Jonah asks, his eyes widening. The alcohol is definitely helping him show his enthusiasm more than normal. "Of course I'll do it. Can we have a bachelor party?"

Jonah pulls Travis to his feet and gives him a bear hug. I can tell Travis is surprised by his gesture because of the look on his face. We all know Jonah is not one to come right out and say, let alone show, what he's feeling.

"Thanks, man. I'm happy you will. I'm happy you made it home safe, too." Jonah's eyes darken for only a second before he replaces it with the goofy smile that had been on his face before. "It's in about a month. I know that's late notice, but I wanted to ask you in person after I found out you'd be coming home."

"What made you think I'd say yes? Then you'd have to ask ole' Moose here." He nudges a sleepy Moose with his boot, then smacks Travis on the shoulder. "Can't wait to stand beside you and see you get hitched." Travis laughs at that.

"Jordan, you, your dad, and Laura have to come, too. You can each bring a guest if you want," Sawyer says, fighting to keep her eyes open. She offers a lazy smile as she relaxes back into the chair. "It wouldn't be the same without you."

"I'll be there," I tell them, sitting up to sit on the hammock like a chair. "Travis, I think you should get the poor girl home. She's about to fall asleep."

He chuckles, "I know. I guess it is pretty late. You ready, babe?"

She nods her head slightly and takes Travis' outreached hand to pull herself up. I make sure to give them both a hug before they leave, as does Jonah.

Sawyer lingers in her hug with Jonah to tell him something I can barely hear. "I'm so glad you made it back safely." He offers her a small smile that doesn't reach his eyes. I have to remind myself about Sawyer's past suddenly. Her parents were in the Army, and her mom died, leaving her dad and her alone. The story goes that her dad gave her up for adoption while dealing with his grief over losing his wife and she ended up with her adoptive parents. But she believed her biological father was dead for years until they were reunited. Talk about a family soap opera.

It was all a huge mess that ended up in the most beautiful person getting more love than she ever expected. I still try to figure out how bizarre things like that happen.

They promise to let us know when the wedding is for sure before they leave us.

I stay swinging in the hammock for a little while, watching Jonah stare into the fire with blank eyes. Eventually, I get up and sit in the chair next to him that Travis had been sitting in. A sleepy Moose moves over to rest at my feet, once again propping his head on my foot. What is it with this guy and feet?

"You seem a little... out of it." I chuckle, half meaning it as a joke. But when Jonah looks at me without any expression, I wonder if maybe there is more meaning behind it.

He nods his head slowly. "I had a little too much to drink." As if showing me an example, he crushes a can in his hand and tosses it onto the patio next to the bag we put cans in to recycle them. "Jet lag and alcohol don't mix well. Remember that baby sis." His words are slightly slurred.

"Jonah, are you okay?" I am hesitant to ask because of his drunken state, but he's concerning me. I haven't seen him drunk in years. "You're kind of scaring me."

At that, he looks over at me, his facial expression softening. He stands up then, steadying himself on the arm of the chair, then walks over to me. I take his outstretched hand and more or less hold him up rather than pull myself up.

He drops his arm around my shoulder, whether it's for support or for a hug, I'm not sure.

"There's nothing to be scared of, Jordy. I'm fine, you're fine, everyone is fine. I'm just glad to be home."

I help him inside and up the stairs to his room that he is yet to see and unpack some of his belongings.

"You're right." I practically push him down onto his bed. "I just haven't seen you drunk in a long time."

He shakes his head. "I had a little too much to drink in the fun of being home and around so many people. Don't be so dramatic." I'm taken aback by his annoyed tone, but I shrug it off. This is how we were before he left. Some things never change.

"Whatever, Jonah. Just get some sleep, okay? I'll talk to you in the morning." I walk over to the door and shut it until there's a crack. I can't quite leave him yet with this feeling in my gut that something is off. He just seems... different.

I watch him for a moment as he just sits there. He rubs a hand down his face and kicks off his shoes, lying back on the bed without changing out of his uniform or tossing a blanket over himself. He just lies there, pulling his legs up to his chest.

Silently, I creep in and grab a blanket draped over his desk chair. I lay it on top of him, then leave him like that. I head back to my room, wondering just how different things are going to be in the morning.

________________________

Let me know your thoughts!! Thanks for reading <3
Isn't the picture above so pretty? I found it on Pinterest!
For the song, I chose Another in the Fire by Hillsong UNITED & TAYA just time remind you that when it feels like you're walking through a fire of rough times, God is there with you. He's holding your hand always!!
If you already guessed it, Jonah is going through a bit of a fire himself, and even Jordan is too.