For Love & honor

Prologue

Aria's pov

Watching the planes crash into the towers changed me forever. Knowing instantly my husband was gone forever broke something inside of me. I didn't need the officers to come to my door and tell me what I already know.

I didn't shed a tear that day. I just got angry. After my husband was buried, I went down to the recruiter's office and signed up. I had so many plans, but they died right along with my husband. I had to do this. I needed to feel like I was doing something.

I didn't know if they would take me because I wasn't in shape. I have always been a curvy girl. People always called me fat. When I got to boot camp a few of the guys laughed at me. They said someone lazy like me would never make it. I would show them.

I would prove I can do this. See I wanted revenge on the monsters that took my husband away from me. I had to do this. I needed this, or else I would fall apart. It seems like no one believed in me. That only pushed me to do better.

I was tired of being the victim. I had one person here that I would call a friend. He has been in since he was 18 so he has helped me out here a lot. We shouldn't be friends since he's my commanding officer, but he's nice to be around.

His girlfriend left him for someone else. I told him about my husband, and we bonded over being broken hearted. It was nice to have someone to talk too here. I didn't feel so alone anymore.

Everyone accuses us of being more than friends but were not. My heart is shattered. I could never love anyone again. I was better off being alone. one could ever take the place of my husband.

Diesel's pov

I look around at all the new recruits thinking I was once like them. Now I have seen too much and done too much. I'm feeling old and worn down, and I'm only 32. I put in my paperwork, and soon I will be retired from all of this.

I wanted to have a life outside of war. I have been in since the day I turned 18

Now I was ready to meet someone, and possibly get married one day. I know who I have my eye on, but it will never happen. She hasn't been the same since she lost her husband a few years back.

We met when she came here for boot camp. Everyone said she wouldn't make it, but she did. We have become inseparable. Yet we are just friends. She feels that moving on would be betraying her husband.

I wish more than anything that Aria would love me the way I love her. Maybe that's another reason I am leaving. I need to put some distance between us. I need to get over her. Hell, I haven't dated since my girl left me when I was shipped over to Iraq. She sent me the famous "Dear John" letter.

I couldn't really blame her for not sticking around. At the time we were both young, and we never promised each other a future. At the time I was broken up over it, but now I am over it.

I just want to find a nice woman and settle down. I want to have a family. That's the one thing I have always wanted. Honestly, I want that with Aria, but I know it will never happen. I need to get that fool thinking out of my head.

She has told me time and time again the only man for her was her husband. I mean we have held hands a few times, and she did kiss me once. But she regretted it right after. She broke my heart when she said it was a mistake that will never happen again. No, the best thing for me is to leave this place and forget all about her.