Precious time.

[MrKill]

Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
New Alexandria -- Home
Monday; 6:46 AM; 2532

A Marine was yelling, calling to John for help... crying. His face dissolved, replaced by a weird audible beeping.

John snapped upright, perspiration pouring down his face as the baby monitor on John's nightstand crackled with static. The first thing he noticed was the baby monitor on his nightstand as a result. The device had remained quiet for years but Beth and John kept it there for memory; sentimental value. Plus, they had something with their kids worked out. They weren't allowed to enter mom and dads room but they could see if they were up by talking into the baby monitor. The alarm clock next to it buzzing with a moderate volume. The baby monitor crackled. "Daaaad. You promised me pancakes. Daaaad."

"That's the only meal you know how to make." Beth remarked.

"Bullshit," John replied. "I do poutine too."

"Okay the- John, what's wrong?" Beth returned a sarcastic remark, but realized her husband had been sweating profusely during the night. John cleared his throat to talk but instead leaned over and kissed his wife on the forehead. It was just another nightmare about the battle John had experienced on Harvest.

Beth rolled over and sat up, "Another one?" She asked.

"Daaaadd. Paaaaaancaaaaakes. Daaaaad." The baby monitor screeched. John reached over and turned it off. The voice belonged to their second youngest, Jennifer. Beth and John had four children together. Travis, 7; Kyle, 6; Jenny, 5 and Adrianna, 3. They were good kids, the only regret John had was not spending enough time with them. Instead he took his duty too seriously, but he felt justified in the cause. He'd kill himself if he ever saw his family burned alive like he had many Marines during the Battle of Harvest.

"Yeah, but I'm alright." John said, removing his t-shirt. He walked over to his drawer, pulled out a plain green shirt, boxers and a pair of cargo pants. He looked over at Beth and smiled, "I'm going to have a quick shower. Can you get the pancake stuff ready for me?"

"Yeah," Beth replied, standing up. "Take your time, sweetheart, I'll make the pancakes today." John smiled and closed the door behind him, leaving it unlocked.

---

7:24 AM

"Dad!" Adrianna said, running up to her father. The freshly showered father picked up his daughter and replied with the same excitement. Adrianna laughed in her funny way, Travis and Kyle playing handheld games on their tactical pads. Jenny was building a model of a car John had bought her for her birthday.

"Here we go!" John said, putting his daughter down. He sat next between Jennifer and Adrianna, hot pancakes on their plate.

"Hi dad," Jenny said. "Do you like my car?"

"It's getting there, sweetie. Are you ready for school?"

"Do I have to go?"

"Yes."

"Okay," Jennifer said. "I'll finish my pancakes and get ready."

John put his hand over her daughters left shoulder and gave a healthy squeeze. He let go and got up, finding his way to the coffee machine, and allowing the sweet aroma of Harvests Coffee Beans fill his nostrils. He knew it would be the last time in a long time he had quality beans from the planet he had just came from. Shipments had stopped because the factories that made the bean were destroyed.

***

The clanking of forks, the thumps of plastic and glass cups, and the slurping of Canadian made maple syrup highlighted the morning meal. Kyle provided the bulk of the entertainment as he made fun of his Canadian heritage by literally using a straw to suck up the rest of the syrup that was left on his plate.

When John asked Kyle what he had learned of Canada he replied with a history lesson, detailing Canada from the 2400s to early 2500's. A century of history in a morning meal before school. It showed how little countries fought each other like they did back in the 20th and 21st centuries when a nation suddenly becomes space-born. United humanity spread across the starts, war almost forgotten. It made Canada's individual history rather boring, most kids wanted to learn about the UNSCs expansion in the cosmo.

"Time for school, kids." Beth said. "Sweetheart I've got the boys you take the girls."

"Alright," John replied. "Lets go girls."

"Dad, where am I going?" Adrianna asked.

It pained John with the answer but there was a reason for it, "Day care, sunshine."

"Miss Mollies?!" Adrianna exclaimed.

"Yes, Miss Mollies." John said. Adrianna pronounced her excitement with two arms up into the air and an excited yell.

By the time John was ready to leave Beth had already left. The on leave Marine chuckled to himself, Beth had adapted quick to being a mother of four by herself extremely well. If she was this quick it only made John more confident in her ability to handle the kids when he was 'at work'.

He also found Jenny and Anna by the van, waiting to be taken to school and daycare. John made a quick decision, one that he should probably have informed Beth, but the girls were going to be a little late today. John was leaving home tomorrow morning, this was the last day he'd see them for eight or more months. He had so little precious time to spend with his family. He opened up his chatter while walking towards the van and told Beth he was taking the girls to his favorite restaurant.

Beth agreed.

[WIP]