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The rest of the as about settling in and helping people find their niche The soldiers from the mall seemed relieved to finally be able to do their job They joined the guard ranks and began daily sweeps outside the wall Construction began on another courtyard that would house the four helicopters

The fort found itself onceLife moved on

Katie was too tired to help settle the new citizens of the fort She felt guilt, but after losing Jenni and her father, she just wanted to sleep Travis stayed with her the first day, but he could not stand not doing anything and returned to work

She nestled down in the bed, covered up in blankets, and slept To her dismay, she didn’t dream of Jenni To her relief she didn’t drea a picnic with Travis and Lydia She sat in the bright sunlight holding her baby as they laughed and told stories as she played with her baby’s toes The day had been beautiful in her dream The Texas sky seemed endless andwas going to go horribly wrong and destroy the tranquil scene, but it ended when she woke up to Travis lightly kissing her lips

"You were s in your sleep," he said as he slid into bed with her

She curled up against hiood dreaood dreaers played with the curls falling over his brow and he nestled into her arms "I wish I would dream about Jenni Juan and Jason did, but…I look for her in my dreams but never find her"

"You will," Travis pro to say yet to you You know Jenni She’s probably distracted watching over Jason and Juan and expects me to take care of you"

"True, but I miss her"

Travis kissed her brow softly "I ly brave"

"Or stupid"

"She did the right thing We both know it" Travis hesitated, then said in a gentler tone "You did the right thing"

"I know I know! But I just hate that she isn’t here anyht she’d be here for the birth of our baby I thought she’d be able to giveabout Jenni is that she always made choices with her heart She always did what she felt she had to do," Travis res that made her lovable even when you wanted to kick her ass for some of the stuff she pulled"

"Yeah I know She could be exasperating" She felt the tears welling up and she choked back a sob "But I loved her"

With gentleness that was soothing, Travis stroked Katie’s hair as he gazed into her eyes "She loved you, Katie You guys had a strong bond It’s still there Don’t forget that"

Katie wiped her tears away and tucked her head under his chin "I know I know But it still hurts and I still miss her"

Nerit was on watch on the hen Kevin finally reappeared froht, he stood rather shakily, a peanut butter sandwich in one hand, looking out over the town

"It’s real," he said with relief

Nerit shtly as he looked down over the town and saw people fro their lives once e success The Southern Baptists sat it out, but most of the people showed up in the ballroohter, plenty of beer, and lots of dancing

Kevin got on the dance floor with Nerit while Bill and Katarina attempted to remember the moves froet her to dance once or twice Guadalupe and Old Man Watkins sat together, laughing as they watched the kids dance

Katie satconversations with new friends and old She didn’t feel like dancing She had always danced with Jenni at these socials and it felt odd to not have her best friend around

After awhile, Travis stole Nerit away from Kevin and twirled her around

The music pounded and thuht

After co off the dance floor, Kevin sat next to Katie He had danced with quite a few of the ladies He was popular with the ht he quite handsoood to just sit down for a few and enjoy theTravis dance with Charlotte They didn’t really speak, but smiled at each other often

Now that their battle weariness had worn off after their long slumber, they were left with just a dull nu away

They were both slowly coe," Kevin finally said