-Tyler's P.O.V.-

"I wanted you to know that I won't be training today, I have to fix up the porch on Fox's house..." I explain, and there's a sigh on the other end of the line.

"Just try to keep our scheduled cook-out tonight, okay? I want to be able to hang out with you, kiddo." I hear in response and chuckle.

"Dad, don't worry, the barbeque is still on... If you can bring the drinks like I commented about? I wouldn't mind having some cider from back home..."

There is a gentle laugh, and then another voice saying something. "I'll be sure to bring it, kiddo. I gotta go, duty calls once again... Talk to you later, alright?"

"Alright, dad. Take care, and see you tonight~!" I comment, then hang up and sigh. This barbeque was going to legitimately be awesome. General Landin was able to get some requisitions of some heavily aged spiced apple cider from back in the states. Literally, all he did was put Spiced Cider in the place of Machine Gun on the requisition form he sent in. The perks of being a General, right?

Careful not to disturb Saber, I move quietly out from the room and moved towards the living room. Sitting down on the couch at the entry, I curl up on the soft, lavender smelling cushions and look at my phone, silently pleading that it rings. Silently pleading that Fox would call back. Silently dreaming and hoping that she got my messages. After a long moment, I hit the call button after hitting 2 on the dial-pad again. Within a moment, it started ringing.

"Pick up, Fox, baby, please... Please, pick up...." I whisper to the dial tone, before sighing as Fox starts talking those familiar words of 'I'm not able to get your call, leave a message'.

"Fox... Please, I know I sound desperate... I know I must sound like a love-struck idiot... If you're getting y messages... If you're getting my calls... Please... Send some kind of signal. Send me a sign... I'm holding on... I'm holding on to you... I won't ever let you go, Fox... You used to call me the Hound... Always finding things everyone else couldn't find for the life of them... This may sound stupid... But Fox... You're the Fox to my Hound... You're the Ying of my Yang... I'll hold on forever... Please... let me know you're safe... I love you, baby... I love you, Fox... Please..."

I come to realize that I'm in tears, and I hang up, hugging myself and just crying. Why were all the things I desire in life always taken away? First, Dad... then, Mom... then, a normal life... then, love... then, seemingly my sanity... And now, love is stripped of my life once more. I open my eyes from crying, blearily sitting up, and I hear footsteps, soft and paddling-like.

'Rider, I felt your agony... Do you need anything?~'

I shake my head gently and smile. "Aw, Saber... Did... Did I wake you?" I ask weakly, and she shakes her head.

'I was awakened by the alarm clock... I was going to ask if I could go and see Drako. I told him that I would be-'

"Absolutely, Saber." I say with a soft smile. "You can go see Drako. He's your mate, Saber, not gonna hold you back, now that you two are bound to one another. That... would definitely be an asshole move..." I admit, and the German Shepard sized dragoness hops onto me, wings going around me tightly as a loud purr blasts from her chest.

'OH THANK YOU, ROTHAI~! I love you, Tyler, my dear Rider... I will be back soon, okay?~ Don't worry, I'll check in before your barbeque... I'll let you and Micheal have the night together... Drako wants to show me these falls near the base, right inside the boundaries... He says the ice glitters like my eyes in the light of a full moon...'

Oh, that love-smitten Drako. He's a real charmer! I laugh gently and nod. "Oh, man, Saber, you got yourself a keeper~ He's a poetic one, isn't he?"

'You have no idea, m'Rider~' Saber hums happily. 'I best get going. Love you, and I'll see you soon, okay?~'

"M'kay~ Be safe, alright, hun?... Please, really..." I ask, and Saber nods gently. "Alright... and Sight-Share those Falls with me, okay? I wanna see them, too, you know..."

Saber laughs musically, nodding and then turning, heading out the door and leaving it open behind her. I smirk and shake my head, walking over and closing it, before going back and sitting down. I gently pick up a picture on the coffee table, looking at it with a soft, warm smile.

Fox smiled up at me, having a tiny Blagden in a headlock, the two looking like they just had a really good wrestling match. I smile a little more as I wonder who won and then gently laugh a little. "Had to be Fox... Blagden's got nothing on her..." I chuckle and then sigh, closing my eyes and listening to the silence. A moment later, I let out a breath and looking towards my iPod lying on the table. I pick it up, and hit play, putting one earbud in and listening for a moment.

"I don't like my mind right now... Stacking up problems that are so unnecessary...Wish that I could slow things down..." I sing softly, before closing my eyes again, letting myself sing more freely, letting my old singing voice come out, one that I hadn't used since Fox had been transferred. "I wanna let go but there's comfort in the panic. And I drive myself crazy...Thinking everything's about me. Yeah, I drive myself crazy, 'Cause I can't escape the gravity...."

I let my voice carry my emotions, gently swaying as I sing louder, letting all of my sadness, fear, and regret of not telling Fox face-to-face leave me through my singing.

"I'm holding on... Why is everything so heavy? Holding on... So much more than I can carry. I keep dragging around what's bringing me down. If I just let go, I'd be set free. Holding on... Why is everything so heavy?"

"You say that I'm paranoid?
But I'm pretty sure the world is out to get me
It's not like I make the choice...
To let my mind stay so fucking messy!
I know I'm not the center of the universe,
But you keep spinning 'round me just the same!
I know I'm not the center of the universe,
But you keep spinning 'round me just the same!~"

"I'm holding on!
Why is everything so heavy?!
Holding on!
So much more than I can carry!
I keep dragging around what's bringing me down!
If I just let go, I'd be set free~
Holding on...
Why is everything so heavy?

"I know I'm not the center of the universe
But you keep spinning 'round me just the same
I know I'm not the center of the universe
But you keep spinning 'round me just the same
And I drive myself crazy~
Thinking everything's about me!"

"Holding on!
Why is everything so heavy?~
Holding on...
So much more than I can carry~!
I keep dragging around what's bringing me down!
If I just let go, I'd be set free~
Holding on~!
Why is everything so heavy?...
Why is everything so heavy?...
Why is everything so heavy?~"

I let the last notes fade off, and gently close my eyes, taking a deep breath. After a long moment of listening to the silence, I can tell that Saber is still sleeping and that the house is still just as empty as before. I smile slightly as I relax on the couch, before getting up and heading into the kitchen. Grabbing a glass from the cabinet, I open the fridge and browse within its cooled depths. "Could have sworn I put a Coke in here..." I mutter, frowning gently as I keep pushing things aside. "Come on... Where are you hiding, you little bugger~... Gimme your cold, refreshing goodness!..." I mutter with a soft laugh, before grinning as I see the wonderful, neon red and white label. "Bingo, there you are my precious~" I cheer softly, pulling it out and closing the fridge, and then I freeze in place, eyes slightly widening.

Why? Simple!...

Someone had snuck up from behind me and was now hugging me gently. Someone who appears to have just walked right in. 

"Whoever you are, it'd be good if you-" I start, turning my head to look back at the individual, and my eyes widen as I see just who was hugging me. "- Knocked..." My voice comes out as a bit of a whispered breath, and a moment later, the Coke sits forgotten, my arms firmly wrapped around someone far more important. Someone, as my father said mere days before, that I would never see again...

Colonel Fox, living, breathing, and tightly hugging me.

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PART ONE OF TWO