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Early in the morning after, before the sun has fully risen, Rye's eyes fluttered open. At first he was confused, being familiar with the barrack's bunk beds, but soon Rye felt Cloud's heartbeat and slow breathing in his arms. Relaxing again, Rye waited patiently for Cloud to wake. Although Rye knew it could be a few hours since Cloud wasn't used to waking up as early as Rye was now.

It's so good to be home, Rye thought. He closed his eyes to listen to Cloud's heartbeat, along with the birds outside. Drifting in and out of consciousness, Rye lost track of the time.

When Rye was in a half-asleep state, he felt Cloud stir and clutch Rye's arms, pulling them tighter around Cloud. Too tired to process that information, Rye didn't react; until Cloud turned around in his arms and faced Rye nose-to-nose.

"Good morning sleepy," Cloud said when Rye's eyelids opened a millimeter.

"Morning," Rye returned Cloud's greeting. He started to wake up more. "Who are you calling sleepy? I've been awake for the past couple hours."

"Hmm," Cloud pretended to think. "Doesn't seem like that to me." He laughed.

Rye smiled. With a groan, Rye sat up and stretched, yawning. Cloud sat up as well and leaned against Rye, nuzzling Rye's fur. Rye let his arms fall, with one going around Cloud's shoulders and gave Cloud a gentle squeeze.

Cloud reached up to Rye's heart and pinched the paw print pedant on Rye's necklace. "I hope you usually took this off at night so you didn't strange yourself," Cloud commented still playing with the pendant.

"Like I told you when I left, I'm never going to take it off," Rye replied with a smile. "It did draw the attention of the other recruits though."

"Did they give you a hard time?"

"Of course not." Rye smiled. "I can control them, I was their superior officer since the first week of training."

"My Rye," Cloud said with pride. "An officer already. I'm lucky to have you."

"Come on lazy," Rye said with sarcasm and a chuckle. "We didn't shower last night and we still have all that chlorine in our fur."

"You still rink of it," Cloud laughed and got out of the bed. While Cloud waited for Rye, Rye noticed that they both were still without any clothes. Ignoring his temporary distraction, Rye followed Cloud into the bathroom to the shower.

Cloud turned on the shower, but while he waited for the water to warm up, he turned back toward Rye and hugged him, pressing his body against Rye's.

Aroused by the action, Rye instinctively took a step back from Cloud. Cloud frowned and looked at Rye through sad eyes.

"Sorry," Rye apologized. "I've been at camp for so long and wasn't allowed to feel this way. It was a reflex. I'm sorry."

Cloud smiled, understanding now. "Don't worry about it. But you're still going to shower with me." Cloud grabbed Rye by the paw and led him into the shower.

Warm water rinsed off the two otters but they didn't pay attention to it as they held each other and relaxed. Several minutes went by, with both of them simply enjoying each other's company, until Cloud turned Rye around and ran a brush through his fur.

"I hope you didn't crawl through too much mud," Cloud said, still brushing Rye's shoulders, like how a little girl would brush her doll's hair. "Dry mud is so painful to clean."

"I showered thoroughly after training exercises like that," Rye replied, while he washed his chest and arms. "When I was a kid, I always played in the mud though so I know what you mean about dry mud." Cloud chuckled, brushing further down Rye's back until he was at the base of Rye's tail. "Okay, okay. My turn."

Rye turned around to face Cloud again and held out his paw for the brush. Cloud smiled crookedly but handed the brush to Rye and turned his tail to the otter.

"What time did I fall asleep last night?" Cloud asked, while Rye started to brush the white fur.

"Early," Rye answered. "Ariel told me that you were up the entire night yesterday."

"Yeah," Cloud admitted sheepishly. "I was so nervous-slash-excited that you were coming back, I was feeling sick while waiting for you at the airport. When I started to see people from you plane get enter the terminal, I got shy and stayed in the back of the crowd."

"I wish you wouldn't depend on me so much," Rye said sternly.

"I love you Rye," Cloud simply replied.

"I know, and I love you too Cloud." Rye finished brushing Cloud's shoulders so he moved down the white otter's lower back. "I guess I can't really say anything myself. I was literally panicking when I didn't see you right away and I wanted to be in your arms as soon as possible."

Cloud smiled. "So you depend on me just as much as I depend on you."

"I guess so. . . I love when your fur shines like this."

With their fur rinsed free of chlorine, both otters got out of the shower and soon had towels around their waists. They casually combed their fur into the shape they liked it, and began searching for food.

While Cloud sat on the couch, laying his tail across his lap and brushing it, Rye searched the fridge for food but didn't find any.

"Hun, we're out of food," Rye commented, closing the fridge.

"Oh shoot," Cloud said nearly jumping off the couch. "I totally forgot. We'll go out to eat."

"Okay." Rye headed back to his bedroom when the doorbell rang. Rye looked at Cloud questioningly but Cloud only shrugged his shoulders and continued brushing. Still with only a towel on, Rye opened the door, revealing Ariel and Patrick.

"You two are always naked," Ariel said allowing herself in. "It's hard to believe that you two still haven't had sex."

"Ariel!" Rye screamed.

"Calm down boy," Ariel laughed leading toward the kitchen. She was carrying two brown bags. "I've brought you guys some food and Patrick and I are going to cook for you."

Rye stood on the other side of the bar that separated the kitchen from the main room, where Cloud joined him. They watched as Ariel took groceries out of the brown bags, and Patrick pulled out pots and pans. Rye put his arm around Cloud's waist.

"Go get some clothes on you two," Ariel ordered. "We'll have breakfast done soon enough."

"Something's different about you Ariel," Rye commented and turned to head toward the bedroom, but stopped when Ariel responded to his comment.

"You're right," she said. "I care about you two like you're both my own brothers now. Go get clothes on!"

Rye smiled and continued to lead Cloud back to the room. Cloud started to go through the closet and his clothes while Rye opened one of the drawers to find all of his clothes neatly folded inside.

"I washed them all before we left for the airport," Cloud said dropping his towel and slipping on clothes. "So they're all clean and ready for you to wear them again."

"Thanks," Rye responded and got dressed as well.

Within a few seconds, they were both casually dressed and walking back out to the kitchen. Ariel was at the stove while Patrick was unloading groceries into the refrigerator. "Breakfast will be done soon," Ariel announced.

"What're you making?" Rye questioned.

"Simple pancakes, eggs and sausage," Ariel answered. "We're not staying so there's just enough for you two."

"What?" Rye asked surprised. "Why aren't you staying?"

"Because I promised Cloud to let him have you to himself all day," Ariel replied with a grin.

"Yep," Cloud confirmed Ariel's statement. "I thought you forgot when you came over."

"Of course I didn't forget," Ariel put some of the food on two separate plates. "You've been over at my house all this time, so I was sure you were out of food. I just thought I'd be polite."

"Thanks again Ariel," Rye said.

"What are you and Patrick doing today?" Cloud asked Ariel.

"Homework," she said with a scoff. "Mr. Hall always does this when there's a party going on. It's so annoying. Breakfast is done." Ariel put two plates of steaming food on the table. "Enjoy."

Rye and Cloud sat at the table and started to pick at their food when Ariel and Patrick said their goodbyes and left, leaving the two otters to themselves.

"So," Rye started to speak between bites. "What do you have planned for us today?"

Cloud smiled without looking up from his plate. "Well, I did have the whole day planned out but now with you here, I don't want to do anything except be with you." Cloud stabbed a sausage with his fork but just stared at it. "I'm not all that hungry."

"Me neither," Rye admitted. Rye took both plates to the sink and went back to the table, grabbing Cloud's paw. "Tell me what you had planned for today," Rye requested with a smile and led Cloud to the couch.

They lied down on the couch, with Cloud wrapping his arms around Rye. "Well, since the party was last night, and we have school tomorrow I didn't plan too much. I thought we could head down to the beach, and do some shopping while we're there. I was hoping that we could watch a movie tonight too, before dinner at your favorite restaurant but there's nothing good in the theaters right now."

"That all sounds like fun," Rye said, holding onto Cloud's paws that were tight around his chest. "We haven't been to the beach since we met. It'll be nice to go again. We should bring our camera!"

Cloud chuckled. "Okay, go get ready then. I hope you don't mind if we skip swimming, and just walk along the shore."

"Nope," Rye said, standing up. "All that salt is a pain to get out of your fur." After giving Cloud a kiss on the cheek, Rye went back to his own bedroom and sifted through his clothes. Rye pulled out a pair of his nicest jeans and a few choices of shirts, and then set them on the bed.

As Rye started to undress, Cloud walked in, stepped behind Rye, and helped him take off his shorts. Rye leaned back against Cloud's fur and allowed Cloud to undress him. Cloud giggled and let the shorts fall off around Rye's waist. "You lazy otter, I'm not going to dress you too."

Rye laughed but remained resting against Cloud's chest. Cloud put his paws around Rye's waist. "Which shirt do you think I should wear?" Rye asked looking down at the clothes he set on his bed.

"Hmm," Cloud hummed, letting go of Rye and examining the clothes. He picked up an expensive button-up black shirt. "I've always liked this one on you. You hardly wear it and yet you paid 120 dollars for it."

"It was on sale, remember?" Rye said slipping on his jeans. "I only paid twenty-six for it."

Cloud held the shirt up for Rye. Rye put his arms through the sleeves and Cloud straightened it. He started to button it up for Rye also.

"I thought you said you weren't going to dress me," Rye said with a smile, watching Cloud move down the shirt, buttoning it up.

"I changed my mind," Cloud admitted with a laugh. Cloud buttoned the last button, and then unbuttoned a couple near Rye's neck. "I like it when you show a little chest."

Rye laughed. He stepped away from Cloud and pulled out a belt from the drawers, and put it on. "You should start getting dressed too," Rye said.

"Alright," Cloud agreed and started to undress.

Several minutes went by before they were both sharply dressed, well-groomed and ready to go out the door. Cloud locked the door behind them and headed toward their car, Rye's car.

"It's your car, so you drive," Cloud said tossing Rye the keys.

Rye smiled. He opened the door for Cloud before settling himself behind the wheel. Starting the car, Rye sped out of the apartment complex parking lot. Satisfied that the car was still in good shape, Rye casually cruised down the street heading toward the highway. "Feels good to be able to drive this car again," Rye accelerated, after turning onto the on-ramp.

"What did you drive while you were at camp?" Cloud asked.

"Big Hummers, and SUV's," Rye answered. "I don't like controlling those things. They're too big. I did enjoy flying the jets though."

"You were allowed to fly a jet after only three months?" Cloud asked, astonished.

"Yeah, my officers made a bet to see if I could really fly it without damaging it since I did well enough in the stimulation room."

"They made a bet whether you'd kill yourself or not?" Cloud said, sounding upset.

"They just wanted me to take off horizontally and land," Rye explained as he moved into the carpool lane. "But I decided to go for a flight. It wasn't that hard and going that fast is such a thriller."

"Well, just be safe," Cloud said.

"I always am," Rye responded.

The white otter played with the iPod and turned on some music. It was no more than ten minutes later when Rye was parking the car along the beach. Locking the car and putting quarters into parking meter, Rye put his arm around Cloud and walked toward the waves on the beach.

"Have you been doing much while I've been away?" Rye asked as they both walked parallel to the waves, still arm-in-arm.

Cloud kept his eyes on the sand below him, watching where he stepped when he replied. "Nothing much more than what I told you in my letters."

Younglings played and splashed in the waves, while their parents watched them from the beach. The two otters walked passed many of them, and an occasional other couple that was walking along the beach also.

"Did you think about me much while you were at camp?" Cloud asked after several minutes of silence, almost shy to ask the question.

"I thought about you every time I could get a chance to," Rye answered through a smile. "Your letters is what I looked forward towards most, every week. Every night and every time I took a shower, this necklace you bought me reminded me of you all the time." Rye showed the paw print pendant to Cloud.

"Then I'm thankful that I bought it," Cloud said with a crooked smile. "I hope you didn't stare at the other guys in the showers."

Rye laughed out loud. "No. No, of course not. That'd get me in much deeper trouble than I would have wanted, besides none of them compare to you. You have no need to worry; I love you, no one else and I swear that I will remain loyal to you."

Pleased with Rye's response, Cloud struggled to keep from giggling. "I know I don't need to worry. I was only joking. I know you're faithful."

"As I know you are too. This isn't the Dark Ages anymore, so I wouldn't expect many people to cheat on their mate."

Two male foxes, who were holding hands, walked by Rye and Cloud but the two couples ignored each other.

"I don't understand what went through people's minds back during that time," Cloud commented. "I know the military is still a bit old-fashioned. Did any of your recruits know that you're gay?"

"No, I kept. . . " Rye thought about it for a second. "Well, when I left someone saw us separate who was going to a different fort but he was cool with it. But other than that, I didn't think it was anyone else's business."

"I didn't want to ask in a letter just in case someone was eavesdropping. But I hope you did make friends."

"Friends, and enemies. I didn't want to worry you anymore so that's why I didn't write about it. But after the first week, someone grew suspicious about my orientation so they started to be hostile towards me."

"You should have written me about this!"

"I didn't want you to worry. Besides, I had just sent a letter and a couple days afterwards, he successfully attempted to get into a physical confrontation with me. He was in the hospital wing for nearly two weeks."

"I still say you should have told me about this sooner," Cloud sulked.

"Don't be mad at me," Rye pleaded. Kissing Cloud on the neck, Rye attempted to gain his affection again.

"Ah, don't do that," Cloud said with shock, and then chuckled. "I'm not mad at you. I can never be mad at you. Just please don't try to handle everything on your own, I want to help wherever I can."

Rye smiled, and defied Cloud's request by kissing his neck again.

"Stop that," Cloud laughed and blushed. He leaned closer to Rye's ear and whispered, "When you kiss me on the neck like that, it makes me . . . you know."

Rye laughed and squeezed Cloud's waist tighter. "Sorry. I'll remember that for later though."

Cloud also laughed.

For three hours, Cloud and Rye wandered up and down the shore talking about all the things that they left out in their letters, occasionally browsing a nearby shop. When the sun passed its highest point, the otters were headed back to their car.