The day came that she had been dreading - the day that she had to say goodbye to him. She woke as he tried to get out of bed without disturbing her.

“Don’t go yet, please!” she pleaded. “Stay. Let’s say goodbye properly. Then you won’t have to come and see me off, and I won’t cry like a baby.”

“I can’t. I have to be on duty in 45 mikes.” he said, shaking his head. “And I’ll come see you off, don’t worry. I know you won’t cry. That’s not your style.”

She almost yelled at him. ”It’s not my style? And how the hell would you know what my style is? As if you even care!”

He just stared at her, shocked. ”Of course I care. Do you think I want to stand there and watch you go?”

She shook her head. “How am I supposed to know what you think? It’s not like you actually tell me anything!”

She felt terrible. Here she was, yelling at him, seeing the distress on his face, and yet she couldn’t help herself. She needed to make him hurt as much as she was hurting. Leaving him was so much harder than she’d imagined it would be.

“Well, maybe I’m not good at this stuff!” he yelled back at her furiously. “What did you think we were doing these past weeks? Did you think I’d just get on with my life and forget about you? Is that it? Is that what you want me to do? Because if it is, then I’m sorry to have to disappoint you, but I can’t do that!” He stopped to take a breath.

She was distraught. “Oh Ty, I’m so sorry. I did think you’d do that. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” The tears flowed down her cheeks. * Now he thinks I don’t care about him at all, she thought. He thinks I’m just a heartless bitch.*

She leaned into his arms as he came to sit beside her on the bed.

”I love you.“ he whispered. ”I didn’t think I’d ever say that to anyone again. But you - you made me say it. You made me love you. You’re my little elf. You always will be, wherever I am, and wherever you are, you will always be my elf.”

She smiled. “Your elf?”

He nodded. “My elf.”

“Oh god, Ty. How am I going to say goodbye? Please don’t come to see me off. I don’t think I’ll be able to cope.” She knew if he were there she’d fall to pieces, especially after what he’d just said. ” I love you too. You do know that, don’t you?”

He nodded, kissing the top of her head. “So, we’re settled, yes? I won’t come to see you off. But as soon as I can - as soon as this war’s over - I’m coming to find you. Because I really need my elf.”

She smiled. ”I’ll hold you to that!”

He stood up. ”I really have to go, but I’m going to miss you so much.” And with a quick final kiss, he left.

She got up, showered and dressed, and then packed her things, readying herself for her journey home.

She’d come all this way because her mother had wanted to help out some big shot friends of hers, and now, just when she knew what and who she wanted in this life, she had to leave. To go back to that shut off world she’d grown up in. Only now she knew far more than they’d bargained for, and she was going to use it to her advantage.

He’d been working out in the gym when Hawkes had found him.

“Sir… Colonel… the mail came. They had a package for you, but you weren’t there, so I collected it for you. It’s from Dylan.” he added with a grin, “She sent me a letter too.”

“Thank you, Hawkes. Leave it there. I’ll open it later.” His heart pounded at the thought that she’d actually bothered to send him something. He’d got mail, just like everyone else! And it was typical of her that she’d written to Hawkes as well; she’d really liked him, saying he reminded her of the young boys she grew up with!

He saved opening it until he got back to his quarters. It wasn’t a huge parcel - just about a bit bigger than shoebox size. But he really didn’t care. It was from Dylan - that’s all that mattered.

He kicked off his boots and got comfy on his bunk. He felt as he imagined kids must feel at Christmas, all excited to see what was in the box. Opening it, he found a letter on top of several brightly wrapped, smaller packages. Keen though he was to know what was in the other packages, he made himself wait and read the letter first.

“Dear Ty,

That sounds so formal doesn’t it? How about… My dearest, darlingTy? Sound better? No, didn’t think so…. Well, what about this one? Hi gorgeous! Yup - that’ll do.”

He smiled, it sounded just like her,

“Well here I am, home again and missing you so very much. I sure hope you miss me! I spoke to my mother; we had a long long talk. You were right - my father was an invitro. And all the women who first came here had babies by invitro’s. She has no idea where he is now, and is not at all happy about you and me. In fact, she said something quite nasty. I told her it’s a hard life, but it’s my life, and there’s nothing she can do. She didn’t like it, but she’ll come around, eventually. I think she already is. She keeps asking me odd questions about you, so expect another letter, from my mother. Her part time job used to be with the Spanish Inquisition! Anyway, enough of her. I got you a few presents. You’re a hard man to buy for, do you know that? So most of them are silly things, but I’m keeping my eyes open. You’ll be getting more of these parcels, count on it!

I love you…your elf

Dylan“

He put the letter to one side and looked at the parcels. There were 8 of them, all different shapes. He noticed they had stickers on them. She’d written a message on each one! He picked up the smallest first, reading the sticker…”This is for you to keep in your wallet, for the next time we meet up.”

He opened the tiny yellow package - a condom! She’d sent him a single condom. Laughing out loud, he thought my, she’s brazen

Reaching for the next, he found a small round package wrapped in blue paper. The sticker read….”For when you miss me, to remind you of our good times together.” It was a pot of red paint.

The next package was cylindrical; the sticker simply read,”This goes with the other!” It was a roll of paper to go with the paint, and she’d put her own footprints on the start of the roll.

Than came a small square green package. ”This is for you to use as target practice.”, the label read. It contained a framed photo of Dylan, dressed in what he assumed was an elf outfit, grinning like a fool and blushing as red as a beetroot! He smiled. It was so her

The package after simply read, ”I was told these should be in all packages I send, but they won’t survive the journey! Console yourself with the knowledge that it’s the thought that counts!” It contained a well-wrapped box of home made cookies. He opened them and tried one. Mmmmm, he thought. Not bad… not bad at all

The next was wrapped in silver paper and felt soft and squishy. The sticker read, ”To replace the one I ruined… it’ll bring out your eyes!” Opening it, he found a collarless soft silk shirt, of a beautiful royal blue. He grinned, remembering the way she’d fairly ripped his shirt from his back the first night they’d spent together.

There was a short, slim black wrapped one next. He found a small silver dirk, and a little note. “The Dirk is for tucking into your sock when you’re wearing your kilt! But as you don’t wear one, you’ll have to stick it in your boot! It’s engraved in The Gaelic, with the McQueen clan motto, which sums you up perfectly… “Constant and Faithful”. Just make sure you stay that way, because I bought one for me too, and I’m not afraid to use it!”

He held the small, delicate dirk in his hand. It looked too small to do any real damage, but it had a vicious point to it. He was touched that she’d done her research to find the right one; he’d wear it in his boot everyday, a reminder that she was waiting for him… that she loved him.

The final package was a small white one. “My mother says these are traditional!” It contained a single pair of black socks, and a little note. “Sorry ‘bout these, but everyone says you have to send socks to soldiers!”

He sat on the bed surrounded by these weird and wonderful gifts, feeling overwhelmed that she had bothered to send him anything at all, that she cared enough to do so. For the first time in his life he knew for certain that he was loved, and that he himself was in love.

Finally he got up and started to put the presents away. The dirk took pride of place on the shelf, and the photo he put on his desk, where he’d be able to see it always. It was so her, his own personal elf. He loved it.

He sat down, rummaging in a desk drawer. Somewhere, he knew, he had a photo of himself in his dress blues. If he could only find it, he could send it to Dylan, and then she’d have a reminder too. Having finally found it, he pulled up a pad and a pen, smiling at the picture as he began to write a letter back.

~~~~~Fin~~~~

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