Photographs

This story is part of the 'Virginiaverse.' While this is a stand-alone story, many of the events depicted below were referenced in other stories, in particular, "Promises Made and Promises Kept," so you may want to go back read them later for greater context.

© 2025 Candy_Kane54

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... It was a beautiful late summer/early fall morning. A high-pressure system covering the East Coast had produced a cloudless, blue sky that seemed to go on forever. The city that never slept was gearing up for another full day of activity, with commuters crowding the streets on their way to work. Very few pedestrians took the time to scan the sky and admire its beauty, concentrating instead on working their way through the crowded streets to their workplace. If anyone had been looking up, they would have noticed a lone passenger airplane flying south somewhat erratically and much lower than usual over the city until it struck the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, creating a huge fireball...

February 14, 1986

I started awake, forgetting where I was for a moment as I fought to remember the dream that had shaken me from my slumber. Except for a feeling of dread that quickly dissipated, the dream slipped away as I became aware of the body spooned up against me. An arm snaked over my ribs, and a hand gently cupped my breast and lightly massaged it, sending thrills through my body as my nipple ached and hardened from the stimulus, and I began humming my approval.

"Good morning, my love."

My hand came up to cover hers, encouraging her to continue her ministrations as I wriggled into her, saying, "Mmmmm... Good morning, my love."

I could feel her soft, warm lips nuzzling my neck, raising goosebumps as I felt her hips begin rolling, pressing her pussy into my ass. My pussy started burning and flowing in response, and I arched my back, pressing my shoulder blades into her breasts and my ass into her pussy. I felt her hard nipples digging into me as she pulled her lips from my neck and started nuzzling my ear.

By now, my whole body was on fire, and I wanted, no, needed, to show her that I appreciated what she was doing to me and to return the favor. I spun around and faced Bonnie, moving in to capture her lips with mine. Our mouths opened, and our tongues battled for supremacy. Our moans commingled, making a beautiful sound as we pressed into the kiss. Eventually, the kiss ended, but only because I needed oxygen. As I lay there gasping for air, I stared into Bonnie's brown eyes and gasped, "Good morning, my love."

Bonnie gasped, "Good morning, my love," in return. Hearing that, my heart clenched at the thought she felt the same for me that I felt for her. I had no idea when I first met her nine months ago that we'd end up in love with each other, but I was so thankful that we had.

I rolled over on top of Bonnie, and she spread her legs wide as I slipped between them, lifting myself up on my hands as I placed my knees on each side of her hips. We both started rolling our hips, instinctively syncing our efforts for maximum pleasure, grinding our pussies together as Bonnie's hands flew to my breasts and her legs wrapped around my hips. We locked eyes, and I dove into those dark pools as the impulses from my clit clashing against hers zinged through my body. When Bonnie started pinching, pulling, and rolling my hard, stiff nipples, the additional impulses drove me to roll my hips even harder. We both began quietly gasping, "Oh, God!" from our efforts.

The harder Bonnie crushed my breasts, the harder I ground our pussies together, driving us both toward the oncoming tsunami waves of our orgasms. When I felt Bonnie crash into her orgasm, I let go and let my orgasm crash over me, throwing me around like a leaf in the wind as I collapsed on top of Bonnie. Time went away as I indulged in the feelings crashing through my body, fighting to not pass out, wanting to enjoy every moment. I eventually rolled off of Bonnie, closed my eyes, and let my afterglow wash over me.

When I opened my eyes, I turned my head to look over at Bonnie. She was practically glowing from her orgasm, and my heart clenched again from the thought that this incredible woman found it in her heart to love me. My eyes began burning with unshed tears as I realized how lucky I was to have this woman in my life. I vowed to do whatever it would take to make sure this wonderful woman knew I loved and appreciated everything she did for me.

I continued my vigil until Bonnie's eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head to look back at me; her lips curved up in the corners as she rolled over on top of me and asked, "I hope you aren't finished yet...?"

... Finally, nature and the possibility of the boys running in on us forced us out of bed. As I finished my toilet, I reflected on what had led up to now...

***

... It had been a hectic time since the Challenger disaster. I was nearly exhausted from all the time I spent reviewing and reworking the launch requirements for the Brilliant Eyes program in the event the Space Shuttle would no longer be available for deployment. I had spent nearly sixteen hours a day for fourteen straight days on the phone and in meetings with contractors, the other SDI programs, launch systems programs, and the Pentagon, trying to determine what requirements would need to be updated if we had to use other means to get our satellites into orbit.

I was one of the lucky few who lived close enough that I could go home every night, even if for a short time. Many of my coworkers weren't so lucky, having to practically sleep in their offices or cars since they usually had two-hour commutes to get home. Everyone was getting frazzled, and tensions were increasing to the point that voices began to be raised. So, late Thursday afternoon, Colonel Lyles ordered a stand-down, telling all of us to get out of the office and take a three-day weekend. To reinforce his order, he told us that he would write anybody up who hadn't left in the next fifteen minutes. To say I was thrilled wouldn't have even begun to describe how I felt at hearing that.

Bonnie had been a godsend to me, greeting me wearing nothing but a smile when I got home exhausted late at night and sending me off wearing nothing but another smile early the next morning. As I quickly locked up my desk before grabbing my purse and joining the exodus for the parking lot, I began planning the weekend, wanting to make it up to Bonnie for everything she had done for me. I also intended to make it up with Matthew and Mark because I felt horrible, having missed interacting with them for the past two weeks. They had been asleep in bed before I got home and were still asleep and in bed when I left the next morning.

When I pulled into the garage, and before the garage door had completely gone down, the door into the house burst open. Matthew and Mark came running out to meet me, wide smiles on their faces, chorusing, "Aunt Ginny!" I quickly got out of the car before they both converged on me, nearly knocking me down in their eagerness to hug me. I put one arm around each of them, pulling them in, saying, "Thank you for the warm greeting!" I kissed each one on the head, my eyes getting moist from the thought of how much I loved Matthew and Mark.

I looked up and saw Bonnie standing in the doorway, letting me have this moment, a wide smile on her face. My eyes burned from the tears welling up in them, seeing the love for me she had on her face, and I lifted up a prayer, thankful for having this woman and these two boys in my life. I let go of the boys and said, "Let me get my briefcase, and I'll see you inside."

"Okay, Aunt Ginny!" Matthew and Mark echoed before heading inside, passing Bonnie as she stepped up to me.

"Hello, my love," she said before wrapping her arms around me and melting against me.

"Hello, my love," I echoed, my heart thrilling, as my arms went around her and our lips met. I closed my eyes, concentrating on the feel of her soft, warm, delicious lips against mine. The kiss started out chastely but quickly heated up as our mouths opened simultaneously, and we moaned into each other's mouths. I lost track of time as the world went away, and I surrendered to the love Bonnie had for me.

Once I ran out of air, I reluctantly broke the kiss, opened my eyes, and put my forehead against hers, staring into her eyes and seeing the hot, smoky desire she had for me. My entire body thrilled as I said, "I love you," despite knowing that those three words were totally inadequate in describing my feelings for her.

"I love you more," Bonnie replied, and I thrilled again, overwhelmed by the knowledge that she felt I deserved her love. I would never understand what I had done to earn her love. I vowed, once again, as I did every time I heard those words from her lips, that I would never do anything to make her regret that decision.

"Not possible," I answered, despite the nagging doubt I couldn't shake that what she said was true since that had become our ritual. I wanted to stay, arm in arm, with her forever, but I heard a furtive noise and looked over at the door and saw someone ducking out of sight. I sighed and said, "I need to spend some time with Matthew and Mark. I've neglected them for far too long."

"Of course," Bonnie said. We parted, and I grabbed my briefcase before following her into the house.

Once we got inside, we were greeted by two guilty grins, so I knew they had seen us kissing. I momentarily worried that Matthew or Mark may not understand what they had seen and tell someone about it. I'd have to talk to them about it, but for right now, I needed to get out of my uniform and into something more comfortable. I smiled at them and said, "Let me change, and we'll sit down and catch up."

"Okay, Aunt Ginny!"

"Okay, Aunt Ginny!"

I entered my bedroom and quickly shed my uniform after kicking off my heels. I did a quick toilet before donning a sweatshirt, comfortable jeans, and some flats. I came out of the bedroom and went into the living room, eager to spend time with Matthew and Mark...

***

... At the breakfast table, I was reminded that today was Valentine's Day when I found two cards next to my plate. From the two broad smiles and pairs of eyes following my every move, I knew who they were from. I made a show of opening each one and reading it, my eyes burning from unshed tears as I thought about how quickly Matthew and Mark had taken to me. I knew their affection for me was genuine, and after reading each one, I thanked them for the beautiful card, getting an even bigger smile in return. It took me a moment to collect myself before I could dig into the delicious breakfast that Bonnie had prepared, and I locked eyes with her across the table and silently thanked her for raising such thoughtful boys.

When breakfast was done, I made the announcement that Bonnie and I had agreed to the night before. "We're going to go and get a family portrait taken today," I said. "So, I need you two to get cleaned up and get dressed up."

Matthew and Mark both jumped up and said, "Yes, Aunt Ginny," before dashing off. Bonnie and I shared a smile as we got up and quickly cleaned up the kitchen before heading into our bedroom to do the same. We donned complimentary sun dresses and helped each other brush out our hair. I loved it when Bonnie brushed out my hair because I could feel her love for me in each brush stroke. Of course, I returned the favor, admiring how silky soft her hair was as the brush flowed through it with almost no resistance.

I would have loved to stand there and brush her hair all day because it was so relaxing. However, we had things to do, so I reluctantly said, "All done, my love," as I stepped back and put the brush down.

Bonnie looked up at me and simply said, "Thank you, my love," but I heard more than that in those four words. I heard her love for me and how much she appreciated having me in her life to share the pleasant burden of raising two young boys into wonderful men.

When we exited the bedroom, we were greeted by Matthew and Mark, who presented themselves for inspection. Bonnie and I fussed over them for a moment, straightening a collar and combing Mark's shock of hair, which always looked like a bird's nest within minutes of being combed. Once we were done, I said, "Okay, let's go!"

We went out and got in my Mustang, making sure Matthew and Mark were buckled in. I handed Bonnie in before I got behind the wheel and took off. We were going to JCPenney's in Torrance on Hawthorne Boulevard to get the pictures taken. I would have preferred going to Olin Mills, but the drive to their nearest location would have been too long. However, the studios at JCPenney's didn't do a bad job, so we went there. We had to wait for a bit because we weren't the only ones taking advantage of the holiday to do the same.

When it was our time, the photographer arranged us for the shoot. I wanted to ensure that Matthew stood in front of or next to Bonnie since she had once shared with me that he was her favorite. I didn't need to say anything, though, since the photographer ended up arranging us that way. He took several pictures, having us change our pose several times. When he was done, he said, "You make a great picture. I'm sure you're going to love how it comes out."

He told us that they'd call when the pictures were ready, so we left and spent the rest of the day taking in a movie and going to the Manhattan Beach pier before visiting Grace. I really enjoyed spending the time with Matthew and Mark, wanting to make sure I was a part of their lives and making up for the past two weeks.

A week later, the studio called, and we went in to preview the photographs and select the pictures we wanted to buy. Bonnie and I, almost as one, pointed out the one that we both just loved. We decided to get the package of two portrait-sized pictures and eight wallet-sized photos. We then shopped for a couple of frames and looked forward to the call that the photographs were ready...

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... The black smoke from the fire was the only imperfection to the cloudless blue sky that seemed to go on forever. Everyone who could see the smoke from the fire stopped to watch, forgetting about their destinations as they began talking about what had happened. The traffic helicopters converged over the south end of the island, and all of the television stations were broadcasting live. Everyone assumed that it was a horrible accident, and the newscasters were reporting it as such. By now, everyone was scanning the skies, so when a lone passenger airplane flying northeast up the Upper Bay in a steep power dive smashed into the south face of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, creating another huge fireball, no one thought it was an accident anymore...

August 29, 1988

I started awake, forgetting where I was for a moment as I fought to remember the dream that had shaken me from my slumber. Except for a feeling of dread that quickly dissipated, the dream slipped away as I became aware of the body spooned up against me. An arm snaked over my ribs, and a hand gently cupped my breast and lightly massaged it, sending thrills through my body as my nipple ached and hardened from the stimulus, and I began humming my approval.

"Good morning, my love."

My hand came up to cover hers, encouraging her to continue her ministrations as I wriggled into her, saying, "Mmmmm... Good morning, my love."

I could feel her soft, warm lips nuzzling my neck, raising goosebumps as I felt her hips begin rolling, pressing her pussy into my ass. My pussy started burning and flowing in response, and I arched my back, pressing my shoulder blades into her breasts and my ass into her pussy. I felt her hard nipples digging into me as she pulled her lips from my neck and started nuzzling my ear.

By now, my whole body was on fire, and I wanted, no, needed, to show her that I appreciated what she was doing to me and to return the favor. I spun around and locked eyes with Bonnie, diving into those brown pools as I captured her lips with mine. Our mouths opened simultaneously, and I moaned into hers as I pressed into the kiss. Since the boys weren't with us, I didn't have to worry about waking them so I could express myself louder than I usually did. Bonnie returned my moan as the kiss continued, making a beautiful duet. The world went away for a while, and in its place was the kiss until I had to break to gasp in some air.

As soon as I could, I dove back in, capturing Bonnie's lips again before I rolled on top of her. I broke the kiss again and began kissing down over her jaw and onto her throat, finding all of the spots that drove her wild. Bonnie gasped, "Oh, God!" each time I hit the right spot, so I kept moving down. I worked my way over her clavicle and onto her chest, working my way between her breasts to the sensitive spots on the bottom of her breasts. Bonnie's hands flew to the back of my head, pressing my mouth into her breast and trying to guide me to where she wanted my mouth. I resisted, taking my time to capture the prize of her stiff, long nipple in my mouth. I made sure to hit all the right spots before I worked my way to her nipple. When I finally sucked her nipple in my mouth, swirling my tongue around her nipple, I could feel how crinkled her areola was with the tip of my tongue.

Bonnie's "Oh, God!" and the other noises she made spurred me on, and I licked and sucked on her nipple, feeling her body vibrating under me. She arched her back and rolled her hips, grinding her pussy on my core as I continued my assault. Finally, I captured her nipple between my teeth before pulling my head back, amazed at how far her breast stretched before her nipple scrapped its way out from between my teeth, snapping back into place.

I immediately dove back in, capturing her other nipple in my mouth, making sure to give it equal treatment, eliciting more beautiful noises from Bonnie. I then continued my journey to the prize between her legs, spending a moment on her divot before moving on down. By now, I was fighting Bonnie's hands, trying to push my mouth down to where she knew I was going. I was willing to, but I wanted to prolong her anticipation as much as I could despite my own desire to dive right in.

Finally, I reached the prize. I could feel the heat from Bonnie's pussy as I nuzzled her lips, worming my tongue between her folds, gathering up her juices. Finally, I found her hole and plunged my tongue as deep into it as I could. Bonnie moaned, "Oh, God!" arching her back and thrusting her hips in an attempt to get more contact with my tongue. She lifted her head up, and we locked eyes. I could see the desire in her eyes as her heels came down on my shoulder blades, and her hands pressed my face into her pussy.

I didn't mind because I could have spent the rest of my life like this, giving Bonnie the ultimate pleasure. I plunged my tongue in and out, swirling it around to get all sides. Bonnie was rolling her hips, making my nose hit her clit as she ground her pussy against my mouth. Her whole body was thrumming and vibrating as I drove her closer and closer to her orgasm.

When I felt the time was right, I pulled my tongue out of her hole and moved up to capture her clit in my mouth. Bonnie redoubled her efforts, and I loved how her core strained from her efforts as I used my tongue to tease her little nub out of its sheath. I lashed it with my tongue until I felt it stiffen and emerge. Bonnie's eyes were pleading with me to send her over the edge, so I captured her nub between my teeth and lightly nipped it.

Bonnie threw her head back, arched her back, and her thighs snapped tight on my head as she keened her orgasm. I could feel her body spasming, her thighs trembling, as she tried to curl around her orgasm. I continued my assault on her clit, not being able to pull my head back in any event, eventually driving her into an even bigger orgasm. Bonnie's thighs tightened even more on my head, even as her hands were trying to push my head away as she worked through her orgasm. After one last whole-body spasm, Bonnie went limp and silent, her hands and thighs falling away as a gush of hot cum hit my chin.

I moved down to eagerly lap up her delicious nectar before I crawled out from between her legs and up alongside her, looking over her while she experienced her afterglow. I saw the slight sheen of sweat on her chest as it rose and fell, while my eyes burned from unshed tears as I drank in the beauty of this remarkable woman and wondered once again what I had done to deserve her love.

I lost track of time as I watched over my love, watching the twitches as the impulses that had shot through her body settled down. Finally, I saw the corners of her mouth curl up as her eyes fluttered open. Bonnie turned her head toward me and simply said, "Thank you, my love."

My eyes began leaking tears, and Bonnie reached up with her hand, touching one tear with her fingertip, and asked, "Why?"

"I'll never understand what I did to deserve your love."

"Well, what you just did to me was a pretty good start," Bonnie said with a chuckle, breaking the somber mood.

I had to smile at that, my heart leaping for joy, before saying, "There's more where that came from...."

... Finally, nature and the prospect of a long day of hiking ahead of us forced us out of bed. As I finished my toilet, I reflected on what had led up to now...

***

... As Colonel Lyles had promised and Colonel Stevens had delivered, my workload had increased since my below-the-zone promotion to Major. Having more responsibility meant that I couldn't delve into the technical details as much as I would have liked, needing to also manage the people under my command. With four contractors vying for the Brilliant Eyes production contract, I had four Captains under me, one committed exclusively to each contractor, each responsible for the day-to-day interactions with their contractor.

While I conducted any necessary briefings with the managers at each contractor facility, the Captains worked with the people actually performing the work. By now, the hardware was being constructed, and requirements were constantly being re-evaluated as the physical reality made it evident that some of our assumptions needed to be tweaked. Since Brilliant Eyes wasn't the only component of SDI, I was constantly on the phone with the Pentagon, coordinating with the other programs whenever we needed to make any updates to the requirements.

I was so glad to have Bonnie in my life, always meeting me with a smile and a kiss when I got home, many times late at night. All of the traveling I had to do meant many missed nights with her and, more importantly, many missed opportunities to interact with Matthew and Mark. They were growing up so fast, and I hated to miss out on their activities and spending time with them to show them I supported them. As much as I loved Bonnie, she never begrudged me for the time I spent with the boys because she knew she had my full attention once they went to bed.

It took some planning, but I managed to clear a week so I could take some leave and spend some time with Bonnie. When we visited Sequoia National Park last year for Matthew's birthday, we really enjoyed the scenery. I vowed that I'd like to come back and hike the trails, maybe even hiking up to the top of Half Dome. As much as I would have loved to have Matthew and Mark along, I really needed some alone time with Bonnie.

So I tearfully parted with the boys, leaving them with Grace while Bonnie and I headed up to the park. We had found a nice motel in Groveland, where we made reservations for three nights over the weekend, wanting to get back and spend some time with the boys before having to get back to the grind.

When I left the office Thursday afternoon, I was ready for the trip. We planned to leave Friday morning for the eight-hour drive up to Groveland. We would spend three nights at the Pine Mountain Motel before driving back the following Monday. We would then spend three days with Matthew and Mark before I returned to the office on Friday. I would have loved to take the second weekend off, as it would be the Labor Day holiday, but I had a TDY scheduled for the following week and needed to get everything ready for that trip...

***

... We had climbed to the top of Half Dome yesterday, so today, despite the aches from yesterday's hike, we were going to hike out to Glacier Point. We could have driven up there, but we wanted to experience the hike, so we planned to take the Four-Mile trail up to the overlook. We had asked Stephanie about it last night, and she gave us the lowdown on what to look for while hiking the trail, warning us that the trail was quite steep in some places, but the scenery would be worth the effort.

I made sure my Nikon F3 was packed, and I had several spare rolls of film and spare batteries. I wanted to take a lot of pictures today, having missed out on many of them yesterday when I forgot the extra batteries and drained the ones I had before we had even reached the top of Half Dome.

While I waited for Bonnie to be ready to go get breakfast, I got my wallet out of my purse and opened it. One of the photos caught my eye. It was the family portrait we had taken two years ago, and my heart clenched as I saw the big smiles on everyone's faces. I stood there looking at it and remembering what had transpired that day until Bonnie broke my reverie by coming out of the bathroom and saying, "I'm ready to go."

I put my wallet back into my purse and said, "Okay, let's grab some breakfast."

The radio was on in the breakfast room when we entered to grab breakfast. I was so glad that we hadn't tried to go to Yellowstone with all the wildfires burning there this year. There had been wildfires raging for months in the Yellowstone area, but they were so bad at the moment that the park was actually closed.

When Darl, the proprietor of the motel, bade us to have a good day, we vowed we would. After making sure all of our gear was in the car, we drove out to the park, taking the same route we did yesterday: Rte 120 to Big Oak Flat Road to El Porto Road to Southside Drive, stopping short of the campgrounds at the Four Mile Trailhead. After finding a parking spot and donning our gear and backpacks, we headed out. It was another beautiful morning, and having a heads up on what to expect on the trail, we paced ourselves, especially through the steep cutbacks as we ascended the mountain. We stopped several times, and I took pictures. It was so peaceful and beautiful, and I could see on Bonnie's face that she was really enjoying herself.

It was easy to lose track of time as we hiked along. The sun was near its zenith by the time we made it up to the lookout at Glacier Point, and it had warmed enough that, despite the altitude, we were starting to sweat. We found a spot and shed our backpacks and jackets as we looked around, admiring the view. Half Dome stood out in its isolation across the valley, and I viewed it in wonder, marveling at what we had done the day before when we had climbed to its top and looked out over the valley below.

I looked over at Bonnie and saw that same wonder on her face, and when she noticed I was looking at her, she looked back at me with a smile as wide as the one I felt on my lips. I felt my heart thrill as I declared, "I love you."

"I love you more."

"Not possible."

Despite all of the other people milling around the overlook, it was just me and Bonnie as I reveled in the love she professed for me. I would never understand how I had earned it, but as long as I had it, I'd do whatever I could to show my appreciation for it. I wanted to capture this moment, so when I got the chance, I asked one of the other people I saw using a Nikon F3, who introduced herself as Michelle if she would take a picture of Bonnie and me.

We posed by the railing with Half Dome behind us, and Michelle took several pictures, wanting to ensure at least one of them would come out. When she handed my camera back to me, she said, "You two make a cute picture."

Bonnie and I shared a smile before I said, "Yes, I guess we do. Thanks for doing this."

"No problem," Michelle said before she went back to taking her own pictures.

We ate lunch and spent more time enjoying the view before we geared up for the hike back down to the car. You would think hiking back down would be easier than hiking up, but the steep slopes made it difficult to maintain control and not descend too fast. Finally, we made it back down to our car, and we packed our gear away before heading back to the motel. As I drove through the beautiful scenery, it hit me that we'd be leaving early in the morning. I looked over at Bonnie and saw from the look on her face that she was probably thinking the same thing...

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... It was a beautiful late summer/early fall morning. A high-pressure system covering the East Coast had produced a cloudless, blue sky that seemed to go on forever. The groundskeepers at Arlington National Cemetery were already at work, maintaining the grounds and preparing for the several burial services that would be held today. It was quiet, except for the distant, muffled sounds of traffic from the expressways running alongside the cemetery as commuters made their way to work and the birds singing in the trees. The quiet solemnity of the grounds was suddenly broken by the roar of a low-flying passenger airplane that just barely cleared the treetops, flying east-southeast until it struck the West face of the Pentagon...

May 23, 1998

I started awake, forgetting where I was for a moment as I fought to remember the dream that had shaken me from my slumber. Except for a feeling of dread that quickly dissipated, the dream slipped away as I became aware of the body spooned up against me. An arm snaked over my ribs, and a hand gently cupped my breast and lightly massaged it, sending thrills through my body as my nipple ached and hardened from the stimulus, and I began humming my approval.

"Good morning, my love."

My hand came up to cover hers, encouraging her to continue her ministrations as I wriggled into her, saying, "Mmmmm... Good morning, my love."

I could feel her soft, warm lips nuzzling my neck, raising goosebumps as I felt her hips begin rolling, pressing her pussy into my ass. My pussy started burning and flowing in response, and I arched my back, pressing my shoulder blades into her breasts and my ass into her pussy. I felt her hard nipples digging into me as she pulled her lips from my neck and started nuzzling my ear.

By now, my whole body was on fire, and I wanted, no, needed, to show her that I appreciated what she was doing to me and to return the favor. I spun around and rolled on top of Judy, straddling her core as my lips captured hers. I lost myself in the kiss as our mouths both opened and our moans commingled to make a beautiful noise. Our tongues fought for dominance as I began rolling my hips and grinding my pussy against her core. I felt her hands go to my ass and clench it, massaging it and encouraging me to continue.

Before I blacked out from lack of oxygen, I broke the kiss and stared down into her brown pools, seeing her love for me in them. I hoped she could see my love for her in my eyes as well while we both gasped for breath. My eyes began burning from unshed tears as I contemplated how lucky I was to have this woman in my life. Like me, Judy had lost the love of her life, and like me, she despaired that she'd ever find someone else to love and spend the rest of her life with. For whatever reason, we found each other and fell in love again. I blinked back the unborn tears and said, "I love you."

"I love you, too," Judy replied before our lips met again. Time went away as I reveled in the feel of her lips on mine. Before the intensity of the kiss escalated, I broke the kiss and began nuzzling my way down over her jaw and onto her neck, suckling the spots I knew drove her crazy. It was easy to tell when I found a good spot because her hands clenched my ass when I did.

I nuzzled my way down onto her chest while working my body down so my pussy was now grinding against her pussy. I loved the sounds Judy was making, especially the gasp she made when I sucked her stiff, long nipple into my mouth. I grasped her other nipple between the forefinger and thumb of my left hand, pinching, pulling, and rolling it as I sucked, licked, and nibbled the one in my mouth.

Judy arched her back and gasped, "Oh, God, yes!" when I took her nipple between my teeth and bit down on it. Her hands flew to the back of my head, pressing my mouth into her breast, encouraging me to continue chewing on it as she frantically rolled her hips, grinding her pussy into mine. I could feel her body trembling and spasming as I drove her to orgasm.

I switched nipples and continued my assault, feeling Judy writhing under me. I could feel my orgasm building up as we both sped up our churning hips. The impulses zinging through my body from our mutual exertions were beginning to overwhelm me when I felt and heard Judy crash into her orgasm. That set me off, and I flew into my orgasm, throwing my head back to keen my orgasm as I hung on for dear life while Judy thrashed and spasmed under me.

Judy went limp, and I collapsed on top of her, both of us gasping to get oxygen in our lungs. I could feel the effects of the endorphins overwhelming me as I lay my head between Judy's breasts. I could hear her heart hammering away while her chest heaved as I faded away...

... My eyes fluttered open, and I raised my head and looked up into Judy's face. Her eyes were still closed, and I could see that the corners of her mouth were curled slightly up as she enjoyed her afterglow. I could feel my heart thrill at the thought that I was able to make her come undone like that and that I could enjoy it with her. Eventually, her eyes fluttered open, and our gazes locked. A wide smile broke across her face, and I returned it as she said, "I hope you aren't done just yet...?"

... Finally, nature and the events that would be transpiring today forced us out of bed. As I performed my morning toilet, I reflected on the events leading up to today...

***

... When Matthew informed me that he was signing up for the Army Reserve Officer Training Corp (AROTC) program at UC-Irvine, my pride at his decision warred with my fear that something bad could happen to him. I understood why he was doing it; as we sat together, he looked me straight in the eye as he explained his reasoning for taking this step. I could tell he had put a lot of thought into the decision. I loved that he wasn't asking for my permission but was gently telling me that he was his own man now and capable of making this type of decision for himself.

My eyes began burning with unshed tears as the realization that Matthew was now a man flew through my brain. "Oh, Matthew, I'm so proud of you," I said as I hugged him tightly. I thought about how proud Bonnie would have been of Matthew, and I threw up a prayer to God, thanking Him for giving me the wisdom to raise Matthew into the man he had become.

"Thanks for understanding, Mom," he replied, returning my hug.

"Your mom would be so proud of you, too," I said as we disengaged.

Matthew looked me in the eye as he said, "I know, Mom. She tells me that whenever I think of her."

I reached up and cupped his cheek as I said, "Don't you ever stop thinking of her."

"Oh, I won't, Mom," he replied with a small smile...

... When Matthew announced his intention to go through the Rite of Confirmation, I was sure he hadn't expected to hear four women squealing their delight as we all took turns hugging him and telling him how happy we were. Matthew had already completed the period of catechumenate, and with the season of Lent approaching, it was the perfect time for him to participate in the Rite of Election, culminating in the Rite of Confirmation.

After Judy took her turn to hug Matthew, he looked her in the eye and said, "I plan to ask your father to be my sponsor for my Confirmation. Do you think he'll mind?"

I saw Judy tear up before she said, "I'm sure he'll be honored to do it, Matthew."

Matthew looked over at me after that exchange, and I nodded my agreement with tears in my eyes, too. While Judy or I would have been happy to be his sponsor, neither of us was eligible since we were living in sin, according to the Church. As it was his nature to look out for others, I understood why he would want to include Judy's family in the process...

***

... After heading downstairs, I entered the study to boot up the desktop computer and turn on the radio to get a sense of the traffic conditions. As I waited for the computer to come up, I looked over the photos on my desk. The family portrait of Bonnie, Matthew, Mark, and me caught my eye. Memories of that day boiled up in my consciousness, and I teared up for a moment while reliving those memories and how much Matthew had grown since then.

My eyes were then drawn to the picture of Bonnie and me with Half Dome in the background. I brushed it with my fingertips, thinking, "Oh, Bonnie, I wish you could be here today. You'd be so proud of Matthew." I tore my burning eyes away from that picture and looked at the newest family portrait, taken last year, making me smile at the sight of everyone towering over me since I was only 5'2", while everyone else was 5'9" or taller, making me look like the child. The computer beeped, and I turned my attention to it, logging in to get the traffic reports while listening to the radio in the background.

Once I was satisfied that traffic wouldn't be more of a problem than usual, I logged out, powered down the computer, and turned off the radio. I went out into the kitchen to start breakfast, looking forward to having both girls joining Judy and me this morning.

Judy soon came down, and after a side hug and a chaste kiss, she pitched in to help. When the doorbell rang, I said, "I'll get it!" and hurried to the door. I threw it wide and saw Amy and Emily, both with wide smiles on their face as they greeted me, taking turns to hug me and give me a kiss on the cheek before heading inside.

After a round of greetings and hugs with their mother, we sat down for breakfast. After a quick blessing, we dug in, discussing our plans for the day as we ate. Amy and Emily were moving back in for the summer before heading back to Loyola Marymount University for Amy's senior and Emily's sophomore years. Mark would also be moving back in for the summer, but we were going to meet up with him and Matthew down at UC Irvine today.

Amy's and Emily's excitement mirrored mine and Judy's as we got ready to go. We were all going together in my new 1998 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra convertible. Ford had finally decided to upgrade the Mustang and return it to its prominence as a muscle car, so when they offered the Cobra with a ragtop and the 4.6L DOHC V8, I just had to get one.

The unfolding scandal of President Clinton and the intern, Monica Lewinski, dominated the airways as we headed down to UC Irvine for the day's ceremonies. When Matthew entered the Army ROTC program after giving up his soccer scholarship, he had met and exceeded every part of the program and would be getting commissioned today. I was so proud of him, and he looked so handsome in his uniform.

It was a beautiful day, so I drove down the 405 with the top down, fighting the traffic and loving the response and power of the engine. When we finally arrived at the school auditorium for the graduation ceremony, we met up with Grace and Kathy, who had driven down separately. We entered the auditorium and met up with Mark. After a round of hugs, which left Mark red-faced with embarrassment, we found seats to watch the graduation ceremony. I had hoped that Judy's parents, Joe and Betty, would be able to attend today's ceremonies. However, they were out of town visiting Judy's sister Joan's family. Judy's nephew, Andrew, was graduating high school, and he had wanted his grandparents to attend.

When Matthew went up to get his diploma, we restrained from celebrating per the rules we were given when we entered the auditorium. My heart swelled with pride as I watched Matthew cross himself and point to heaven, honoring his mother before he pointed to me and mouthed, "I love you!" It was hard to see for a moment as the tears welled up in my eyes. Once the graduation ceremony was over, we headed over to the ROTC building for the Commissioning ceremonies that would be held there today.

Matthew wasn't the only Army ROTC graduate being commissioned today, so we sat through several of the ceremonies before it was Matthew's turn. We all stood up, and I made sure my camera was ready as Matthew turned and faced Captain Davis. When he raised his right hand, my heart nearly burst with the pride I had for him. Captain Davis stated, "I, state your name, do solemnly swear..."

Matthew replied, "I, Matthew William Joseph Hanratty, do solemnly swear...

My heart swelled with pride as I heard that. Matthew had gone through Confirmation last year, asking Judy's father, Joseph Saginario, to be his sponsor. Matthew had chosen Joseph for his Confirmation name to honor him, cementing our families even tighter together.

By the time his ceremony ended and he was presented as Second Lieutenant Hanratty, I had gone through an entire roll of film, wanting to capture the memory of this moment. I quickly started a new roll of film, taking pictures of each of us with Matthew and, finally, a group picture.

Matthew had a week before he needed to report to Fort Benning in Georgia for his first assignment, so he planned to drive back home with Mark after packing up their luggage. Before we parted, I hugged Matthew hard and said, "I'm so proud of you, Matthew."

"I know, Mom," he replied with a smile. He looked me in the eye before saying, "You inspired me to take this step. I don't know if I would have done it if you hadn't set the example for me."

When I heard that, I teared up before burying my face in his chest. "Oh, Matthew, I wish your mom could be here."

"She is, Mom. She is," he said as he wrapped his arms around me. We maintained the hug for a beat before I backed away, not wanting to embarrass him in front of his peers. Judy, Amy, and Emily took their turn congratulating him, each of them giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Matthew had reveled in his role as Amy's and Emily's big brother. I could see their pride in him in their eyes, so I made a note to myself to get copies of the photos I took for them once they were developed.

When I got the pictures developed, it was difficult to pick out one that I liked more than the others. I finally chose one where Matthew had just been presented as Second Lieutenant Hanratty, resplendent in his Dress Blue uniform, with the butter bars shining bright on his shoulders. I had several copies made of it in both portrait and wallet-sized pictures, and I went shopping with Judy to pick out some frames for the portraits...

########

... It was a beautiful late summer/early fall morning. A high-pressure system covering the East Coast had produced a cloudless, blue sky that seemed to go on forever. The quiet countryside had woken up, the light dew sparkling on the grass from the bright sunlight. The cows were munching their way across their pastures, having been recently milked. The birds were flitting about, chattering away and feasting on the ripening abundance from the corn fields until, like a bolt of lightning from the blue, a metallic streak struck the ground vertically, making a small crater and creating a huge fireball...

June 21, 2001

I started awake, forgetting where I was for a moment as I fought to remember the dream that had shaken me from my slumber. Except for a feeling of dread that quickly dissipated, the dream slipped away as I became aware of the body spooned up against me. An arm snaked over my ribs, and a hand gently cupped my breast and lightly massaged it, sending thrills through my body as my nipple ached and hardened from the stimulus, and I began humming my approval.

"Good morning, my love."

My hand came up to cover hers, encouraging her to continue her ministrations as I wriggled into her, saying, "Mmmmm... Good morning, my love."

I could feel her soft, warm lips nuzzling my neck, raising goosebumps as I felt her hips begin rolling, pressing her pussy into my ass. My pussy started burning and flowing in response, and I arched my back, pressing my shoulder blades into her breasts and my ass into her pussy. I felt her hard nipples digging into me as she pulled her lips from my neck and started nuzzling my ear.

By now, my whole body was on fire, and I wanted, no, needed, to show her that I appreciated what she was doing to me and to return the favor. I squeezed her hand to encourage her to continue her ministrations as impulses shot through my body. Taking the hint, Judy dug her fingers into my breast, making me moan my approval.

Once she had me moaning and writhing, her hand left my breast and started trailing down over my core. I lifted my leg, draping it over hers, to give her access to my pussy. When her hand slid between my thighs and cupped my pussy, she murmured, "God, you are so wet and hot."

"Only for you, dear," I moaned as she squeezed, sending pulses through my body that made me arch my back and begin rolling my hips, humping against her hand, trying to get more contact between it and my clit. When I felt her finger work its way between my lips, I moaned even louder, not worried about anyone hearing me, with all of the kids out of the house for now. When her finger slid into me, I moaned, "Oh, God," and thrust my hips, wanting her finger as deep into me as possible.

"You like that?" Judy asked, her lips next to my ear.

"You know I do," I moaned in reply.

"Good," Judy said as I felt another finger slide in to join the first, stretching and filling me.

I moaned my approval as I felt her fingertips brush my G-Spot, sending a pulse throughout my body that made me squirm with pleasure. Judy began pistoning her fingers in and out, making sure to stimulate both my clit and my G-Spot on every thrust, driving me into a frenzy as I rolled my hips in sync with her thrusts.

I could feel my inevitable orgasm rushing toward me like a tsunami wave ready to break over the shore as I surrendered myself to Judy's ministrations. I was panting and moaning, desperate to reach my goal of a mind-blowing orgasm.

I began chanting, "Oh, God," as the tsunami of my orgasm reared up over me. I felt a third finger join the other two, stretching and filling me even more as I writhed under Judy's assault. The world went away, and the only thing that I was aware of were the impulses crashing through my body as I screamed my way into my orgasm, losing control over my body as my orgasm crashed over me, tossing me around like flotsam on the waves. Losing control, I reveled in the chaos until I faded away...

... The first thing I became aware of was the sweet nothings Judy was murmuring in my ear. I was so blissed out that I could do nothing but lie there, basking in my afterglow and thinking how lucky I was to have this wonderful, loving woman in my life. Eventually, I was able to open my eyes and look up into Judy's beautiful face as she looked down at me, a satisfied look on her face. I smiled and managed to say, "You look like the cat that ate the canary."

Judy smiled down at me and said, "Not a canary, love, but I do plan to eat a pussy...."

... Finally, nature and the anticipation of the day's event forced us out of bed to face the day. As I performed my toilet, I thought about the events that had led up to what would transpire today...

***

... Matthew was coming home today on a one-week pass. He had just finished Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course (IBOLC) at Ft. Moore at the top of his class, and I was so proud of him. I knew he would excel there because he had always been the leader in his social circles since high school. Now, he was taking it to the next level. With this training under his belt, he'd be a Captain by this time next year.

I had heard from Matthew regularly, with him calling me monthly, if not more frequently, to keep me up to date on his career. He had pinned on his silver bars last year and had been given greater opportunities to put his leadership skills to work. He told me how all of the enlisted under him had seen the pictures of Amy and Emily and had told him how lucky he was to have such beautiful sisters. I told Matthew not to let Amy and Emily hear that because they would be insufferable. He just chuckled and defended them, saying they both already knew they were the cat's meow.

Despite the uptick in defense spending under the new Bush administration, Judy and I had both managed to take the rest of the week off and would be going to LAX to pick Matthew up today. We were expecting his flight to arrive around noon so we wouldn't have to hurry to go and get him.

I was so excited that he was coming and that everyone would be there to celebrate. Amy had just finished her second year at Loyola Law School, working on her JD. Mark had just finished his first year at UCLA Law School, working on his JD. He had hung up his soccer cleats upon graduation from UC Irvine, having declined an offer to go pro and deciding that he wanted to be a lawyer. Emily had just graduated with a B. S. in Accounting from Loyola Marymount and would be entering the M. S. A. program there this fall. Judy and I were so proud of all of them; we were eager to see them and have them around for the summer...

***

... After finishing my toilet, I headed downstairs to get breakfast started. I popped into the study to turn on the radio and power up the computer to check the weather and traffic conditions. As I waited on the computer, I glanced at the photos: the family portrait with Bonnie, Matthew, Mark, and me; the picture of Bonnie and me with Half-Dome in back of us; the family portrait with Judy and me and all of the kids; and the photograph of Matthew, resplendent in his uniform when he was commissioned. The memories of what had transpired leading up to each of those photos being taken flashed through my brain, and I realized how lucky I was to have had those people in my life.

The computer dinged, breaking me out of my reverie, and I quickly checked for traffic and weather, making sure there would be no weather events to delay Matthew's flight. Finding that everything seemed to be normal for the time of day, I logged out and hurried out to the kitchen to get breakfast started.

I had just finished plating the food with Judy's help when I heard the doorbell ring. I said, "I'll get it," and hurried to the door, throwing it wide open, expecting one of the kids to have just arrived. I was greeted by Amy and Emily, both of them grinning widely as they took turns gathering me up in a hug as they entered. They had arrived together, so I had to scramble to whip up breakfast for them and reheat our food so we could all eat together.

Halfway through breakfast, the doorbell rang again. Amy jumped up and said, "I'll get it," and hurried off to answer the door. Judy and I shared a look because we were expecting Mark, and it had become obvious to us that Amy thought of Mark as more than just her 'step-brother.' We heard the faint sounds of greetings before Amy led Mark into the kitchen, both of them grinning widely and exchanging covert glances. We all took turns greeting Mark while Amy quickly threw some breakfast together for Mark. Amy made room for Mark to sit between her and Emily as we sat back down and caught up on everyone's activities until the food that hadn't been eaten had gone cold.

Once the table had been cleared and the dishes done, Judy and I prepared to go get Matthew. Amy, Emily, and Mark would stay here and decorate the place while preparing for Matthew's welcome party. I felt my heart thrill at seeing the love they all had for Matthew. He had stepped up and taken on the mantle of big brother, reveling in it, and it was evident in all their faces that he had earned their love.

We made it to the airport without too much trouble and parked in the garage before entering the terminal. We found the gate where Matthew's flight would pull up to and arrived just as the door was opened and the passengers started deplaning. When Matthew strode through the door in his uniform, I teared up at seeing the man that Matthew had grown into. I idly noted how all of the other people reacted to his presence: the women all covertly glancing at him and all of the men unconsciously showing him deference, acknowledging that he was the alpha male in the room. As mature as Matthew had been before entering the Army, it was now ten-fold evident as he confidently looked around for me. When our eyes met, I felt my heart thrill with the love for me I saw in them as a wide smile broke over his face.

I practically ran up to him and threw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest as I exclaimed, "Oh, Matthew. I love you so much!"

"I love you, too, Mom."

I didn't want to embarrass Matthew, so I backed away, but not before giving him a kiss on his cheek as he bent down to receive it and let Judy have her turn to greet him. Judy stepped up, hugged him, and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek before backing away. We headed for the baggage claim area, and while we waited for his bag to appear, he regaled us with tales of the school he had just attended.

Once his bag appeared, we headed for the car. Ever the gentleman he was, he opened and held the doors for us as we exited the terminal. Once we were in the car and made our way to the exit, it wasn't long before we pulled up to the house. I could tell that Matthew was looking forward to seeing Mark, Amy, and Emily. He clambered out of the car and hurried to the door while Judy and I held back, letting him have his moment with his siblings.

The door flew open, and Amy and Emily burst out, squealing their delight at seeing Matthew. Mark followed, more sedately, waiting his turn to greet his big brother. Both women wrapped their arms around Matthew as he wrapped an arm around each of them, tolerating their enthusiastic greeting. Both women remarked on how handsome he was, planting kisses on his cheeks. Matthew returned the compliments, telling them how lucky he was to have such beautiful and intelligent sisters.

Amy and Emily stepped back, and Mark took his turn to greet Matthew. They clasped hands before Matthew pulled Mark in for a hug. I could tell that Mark was proud of Matthew and that Matthew cared for Mark as only an older brother could. When they separated, Mark told Matthew to go on in and he'd get his bag. The girls took the opportunity to grab each of Matthew's hands and pull him inside. Matthew looked back at me with a smile on his face, and I felt my heart thrill at seeing the love he had for his 'sisters' in his eyes.

Judy and I followed Matthew into the house and saw that the girls had put up a sign saying 'Welcome Home' in the doorway to the dining room. There was a cake on the table, along with drinks and ice cream. Mark came in with Matthew's bag and took it up to the bedroom Matthew would share with Mark while he was visiting.

I went into the study to get my camera, wanting to record the occasion. I ensured there was film in the camera before taking pictures, making sure to get one of Matthew with each of us. Finally, after setting up the tripod, I took a group picture with me standing in front of Matthew. Once the picture-taking was over, Matthew was given the honor of cutting the cake. By now, his demeanor had finally shed the stiffness of being an Army officer, and the good-humored son I loved with all my heart became apparent. When I came up to get my piece of cake, Matthew smiled down at me and simply said, "Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Matthew," I replied around the lump in my throat. I went and sat next to Judy, the comfort of her presence relaxing me. I sat there eating my cake and basking in contentment while watching the interactions between the kids.

I leaned into Judy and said, "God, I'm so lucky."

"I think we both are, dear," Judy replied, pressing back. We exchanged smiles, and I threw up a prayer to God, thanking Him for all of the blessings He had bestowed upon me and my family. Finally, Matthew begged off, saying he wanted to change out of his uniform, and headed upstairs. The girls helped with the cleanup, and we prepared for the arrival of Grace and Kathy, who were going to spend the day with us. Joe and Betty were coming by later for dinner, as we planned to have a cookout in the backyard to celebrate Matthew's visit...

########

... A convoy of military vehicles, several of them HMMWVs, was slowly making its way down the dirt road. It was a hot, sunny day, and the dust raised by the wheels rose in a cloud that hovered over the convoy since there was no breeze to be found. The second HMMWV had three long whip antennas on it, indicating that it was the command vehicle. As the convoy approached a crossroads, it ground to a halt while a discussion by radio between the command vehicle and the lead vehicle took place to decide which way to go. If anyone had been outside their vehicles, they might have heard a faint metallic clank before a louder "Whumph" was heard. A few seconds later, a faint whistling sound would have been heard, growing louder before something struck the command vehicle dead-center, exploding into a huge fireball...

July 4, 2002

I started awake, forgetting where I was for a moment as I fought to remember the dream that had shaken me from my slumber. Except for a feeling of dread that quickly dissipated, the dream slipped away as I became aware of the body spooned up against me. An arm snaked over my ribs, and a hand gently cupped my breast and lightly massaged it, sending thrills through my body as my nipple ached and hardened from the stimulus, and I began humming my approval.

"Good morning, my love."

My hand came up to cover hers, encouraging her to continue her ministrations as I wriggled into her, saying, "Mmmmm... Good morning, my love."

I could feel her soft, warm lips nuzzling my neck, raising goosebumps as I felt her hips begin rolling, pressing her pussy into my ass. My pussy started burning and flowing in response, and I arched my back, pressing my shoulder blades into her breasts and my ass into her pussy. I felt her hard nipples digging into me as she pulled her lips from my neck and started nuzzling my ear.

By now, my whole body was on fire, and I wanted, no, needed, to show her that I appreciated what she was doing to me and to return the favor. I spun around and captured her lips with mine. I pressed into the kiss, arching my back and crushing my breasts into hers, and I could feel her respond as our tongues battled for supremacy. The kiss continued until we mutually broke to gasp in some air. Feeling especially randy, once I could talk, I reached up and cupped her cheek, smiled, and said, "Why don't you strap up, dear, and show me how much you love me?"

A wide smile broke over Judy's face as she turned and sat up, reaching for the drawer in the nightstand. I watched, fascinated, as Judy stood up after pulling out the harness with a purple dildo attached to it and quickly stepping into it. She pulled it up and buckled it in place. My pussy began burning, and my juices started flowing as Judy pulled out the lubricant and spread it over her girl cock, my eyes following her hand as she carefully lubricated every inch of its surface.

As Judy climbed up on the bed, I spread my legs wide, anxious to have her girl cock inside me. I remembered how it had taken me a long time to get used to the idea of a girl cock inside me, but as I used it on Judy and saw how she enjoyed it, I eventually gave in and let her use it on me, opening my eyes to a whole new way to enjoy sex. I watched her girl cock bouncing up and down as she crawled between my legs and up over me. She looked me in the eye and asked, "Are you ready to receive my love?"

I cupped Judy's beautiful face with my hands and said, "Why don't you check?"

Judy balanced herself on her left hand and reached for my pussy with her right hand. When she cupped it, I thrust my hips and pressed my pussy against her hand. She gasped, "Oh, my God, you're so hot and wet!"

"Only for you, dear," I moaned as I reached down to grab her girl cock and guide it to its destination.

Judy squeezed my pussy before removing her hand. I grabbed her girl cock and guided the head to my entrance. Judy locked eyes with mine as she gently pressed in. My hands flew to her breasts as I felt her girl cock slowly stretch my hole as the bulbous head pushed its way in. I stared into Judy's eyes as her girl cock fully entered me, and I felt her pussy nestle up to mine. I moaned my approval as I wrapped my legs around her hips.

Judy held still as my pussy adjusted itself to her girl cock being fully inside me. When she asked, "Ready?" I nodded my head and squeezed her breasts, digging my fingers into her flesh to reinforce my affirmation. Judy began withdrawing her girl cock, and before the head could pop out, she reversed course and pressed back in until our pussies kissed again.

I moaned my approval as Judy slowly picked up the pace, pistoning her girl cock in and out in continuous motion. I moaned, "Harder!" and Judy responded, slamming her hips into my thighs, sending shocks through my body, and forcing a grunt out of my mouth. I thrust my hips in an attempt to get more contact and pressed my heels into her ass to help her give me what I wanted. I could see in her eyes that Judy was getting close to her orgasm as I began to be overwhelmed by all of the impulses zinging through my body. Judy continued churning her hips, pistoning her girl cock faster and faster until my orgasm crashed over me. I lost control of my body, and I began thrashing around, keening my orgasm.

Judy didn't stop her assault, continuing to slam her hips into my thighs, driving me to an even bigger orgasm before I felt her body collapse onto mine as the world faded away...

... When the world came back, the first thing I noted was the empty feeling in my pussy, missing the fullness of Judy's girl cock. I opened my eyes and turned my head and saw Judy lying next to me, a blissed look on her face. Her girl cock stood proud, gleaming from the lubrication and my juices on it. I could feel my heart thrill at the thought that this wonderful woman could find it in her heart to love me, and I vowed to make sure she knew that I loved her in return.

I watched over Judy, letting her enjoy her afterglow, thankful that she had made the effort to make sure I had enjoyed her ministrations. When her breathing sped up, and her eyes fluttered open and met mine, I said, "Thank you, my love."

Judy smiled and said, "It was my pleasure, my love."

I returned, "Well, I think it was my pleasure, too...."

... Finally, nature and the anticipation of the day's events forced us out of bed to face the day. As I finished up my toilet, I reflected back on the events leading up to today's planned activities...

***

... The events of 9/11 were a shock to all of us. When the second plane flew into the tower on live TV, everyone immediately knew we were under attack and that things would never be the same again. My thoughts immediately went to Matthew, and, for the first time, I worried for his safety. When I heard about the plane that had hit the Pentagon, it was like a punch in the gut. When I found out that the plane had hit the Army part of the Pentagon, I was torn: glad that the people I had known in the Air Force hadn't been hit but worried for Mark since his superiors had been affected.

Not much work was accomplished that day, as everyone was paying attention to all of the radios and TVs tuned into the coverage of the ongoing events. When my phone rang, and the Caller ID didn't identify the call, I snatched up the phone. My heart leaped with joy when I heard Matthew say, "Hello, Mom."

"Oh, Matthew, are you okay?"

That drew a chuckle from Matthew, and I immediately knew without a word that he was. He said, "Mom, we haven't been deployed yet." Then his voice turned serious, and he said, "We've already received word that we are going to be mobilized, but no one knows when or where just yet. I'll be okay. In all probability, our unit won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Special Forces will be the first ones in, wherever it is."

Hearing Matthew's calm summation of the situation stilled my disquiet, and I said, "Well, just be careful and use your head." I didn't want to burden him with my worry, so I left it at that.

That drew another chuckle from Matthew before he said, "Mom, our helmets are good, but not that good."

I had to laugh at that, and I felt much better. I said, "Point taken. Well, I'd better let you go, for now. I love you, Matthew."

"I love you, too, Mom. I'll call again when I can. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

I practically ran to Judy's office to let her know that I had heard from Matthew. When I burst into her office with a wide smile on my face, she immediately knew and jumped up and gathered me up in her arms, and the world went away as our lips met...

... Of course, it had to be Afghanistan. The hellhole that had laughed off the invasion of the USSR, who were next-door neighbors, while we had to deploy from half a world away. As Matthew had told me, the Special Forces had gone in first. The images of them on horseback had become iconic as they went in to try to find Osama Bin Laden, who had claimed credit for the attacks on 9/11. The Taliban, who controlled 90% of the country, were hiding Bin Laden, and despite the pounding our Air Force was handing out, we would need to send in ground troops to root him out.

I heard from Matthew weekly, always making sure to call me to let me know his status. When he called at the beginning of April to tell me that his unit had finally been ordered to deploy to Afghanistan, I hid my anxiety from him, not wanting to burden him any more than he already was with getting his unit ready to go. He assured me he was going to be the most careful soldier ever, so I wouldn't have to worry. Despite my fear, I was so proud of him for how he was handling the situation and told him so...

... Once Matthew's unit deployed to Afghanistan, I only heard from him sporadically. I missed him and worried incessantly about him but hid it from him whenever he did manage to call. I had heard from him last week when he called me to tell me that he had finally pinned on his Captain's bars. I was so proud of him, and despite the static that made it almost impossible to hear each other, I managed to tell him that...

***

... After finishing my toilet, I headed downstairs to get breakfast started. I stopped in the study and turned on the radio to get the weather, traffic, and war reports. I glanced at the photos displayed there, my eyes drawn to that first family photo with Bonnie, Matthew, and Mark. For a moment, I thought I saw a glowing halo around Matthew, but when I blinked, it disappeared. I thought about him being over in Afghanistan and hoped he was being careful.

My eye caught the picture of me and Bonnie with Half Dome behind us, and I wondered what Bonnie would say about Matthew being in a war. I looked over to Matthew's commissioning picture, and again, I thought I saw a slight glow around his face before I blinked, and it disappeared. A slight feeling of disquiet fell over me as I looked at the last picture I took of him with all of us together last year. I would have sworn with my hand on a Bible that I saw Matthew mouth, "I love you, Mom," before I blinked and the picture returned to its original appearance.

I turned the radio off and headed out to the kitchen, where Judy joined me and began making breakfast, expecting Mark, Amy, and Emily to arrive soon to spend the holiday with us. We were also expecting Grace and Kathy to join us for dinner later in the day. There was going to be a fireworks show off the pier tonight, and we were all looking forward to meeting up with Judy's parents to see them together. The disquiet I had experienced in the study dissipated as we made breakfast, Judy's easy smile and the conversation making me forget about it.

Amy had graduated from Loyola Law School at the top of her class and had just been accepted as an associate at O'Sullivan, Battaglia, and Glick Law Firm. Judy and I were so proud of her and were looking forward to seeing her. Emily had finished the first year of her MBA at Loyola Marymount University, and Mark had finished his second year at UCLA Law School.

Just as we had finished cleaning up after breakfast, I heard the doorbell ring. I yelled out to Judy, "I'll get it!" and ran to the door, expecting the kids to begin showing up, and threw it wide. Instead of seeing someone I expected, there were two Army soldiers in uniform standing there. At that moment, time seemed to stop as I took in the tableau before me. I first noted that the person who had apparently rung the doorbell was a Colonel who had silver cross insignia on the lapels of his Dress Blue uniform. He had his hands clasped together and had a solemn yet kindly look on his face.

The second soldier, a Gunnery Sergeant, resplendent in his Dress Blue uniform, stood rigidly at attention, facing me, also with a solemn look on his face. Almost idly, my eyes locked onto his white-glove-clad right hand, following it as it slowly came up in a salute. My attention was drawn back to the officer as he slowly reached out to me and queried, "Mrs. Hanratty?"

I almost laughed at the sound of his voice, seeming to talk in slow motion, before it hit me what was happening. Time snapped back to full speed as the slight dread I had felt earlier smashed back into me a hundred-fold more intense. "Noooooo!!!" I screamed until my throat was raw, closing my eyes, believing if I screamed my denial loud enough, it would no longer be true. My knees buckled, and I slowly crumpled to the ground while memories began flashing through my brain...

... Matthew looked up at me from the other end of the bench and asked, "Do you like my mom...?"

... Matthew looked down as if embarrassed and asked, "Aunt Ginny, are you a lesbian...?"

... "Mark and I talked it over, and we've decided to call you 'Mom.' Even though you aren't our biological mom, you've been our second mom for seven years, and it just seemed silly to us to continue calling you Mom 2.0...."

... Matthew put his arm around me and said, "I remember the first time Mom brought us with her to meet you. She was so happy and was practically dancing around, getting us ready to go. Mark and I picked up on it and were getting excited to see you, too...."

... "I did it, Mom!" Matthew said once I answered the phone.

"Did what?" I asked, hearing the excitement in his voice.

"I made the team...!"

... Matthew realized what I was asking, and a smile lit up his face as he asked, "You found someone you're interested in, Mom...?"

As my knees hit the ground, I felt a presence next to me. At first, I assumed it was the Chaplain. I felt an arm go around my shoulders, and I heard Matthew say, "Mom! Mom! It's okay! Don't give up, Mom! I need you to be strong for Mark and Grandma!"

"Matthew?!?"

"It's okay, Mom. Don't worry about me. I'm okay. Mark needs you now. Grandma needs you. Judy needs you. Amy and Emily need you. You've been there for all of them, and they still need you. Don't give up, Mom. I love you."

"Oh, Matthew, I love you, too," I murmured, no longer questioning the fact that I was speaking with him.

"Mom says you need to be okay with this. She says she loves you and is waiting for you. I've got to go now, Mom. Be strong. I love you."

With that, I felt his presence depart just as I felt hands on my shoulder. I pleaded, "No, don't go," before I opened my eyes and found the Chaplain had squatted down next to me and had grabbed my shoulders to keep me from collapsing into a heap.

Just then, Judy burst out the door and cried, "Virginia! What's the matter? Why are these soldiers here?"

She had a scared look on her face, and seeing that and remembering what Matthew had just said to me, I struggled to my feet, shaking off the Chaplain's hands on my shoulders, and took her into my arms. As her arms tightened around me, I said, "Matthew's gone."

"Gone?!? Where?!?"

"Matthew's dead, dear."

I felt Judy's body tense up before an "Oh, God!" burst from her lips. She started shaking as the enormity of my words sank in. Through her sobs, she said, "Oh, Virginia. I'm so sorry."

I began crying myself, indulging in the tears that needed to be shed. I told myself that it would be okay to cry for a little bit, but not for too long. After all, Matthew had given me a task to do, and with Judy's strength to bolster mine, I was determined to do it to the best of my ability.

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I hope all of my American readers have a great Independence Day. Please thank a Gold Star Mother or Father for their sacrifice as we celebrate the holiday.