Chapter Text
They were going home. They were actually going home. It would be awhile before they would get the official recall, but for then they delighted in the knowledge, their game of baseball having a new energy about it.
The officers watched them with amusement - although Lipton and Harry were more vocal, cheering on all the guys. Buck had flown out to meet with them, a smile that they hadn’t seen since the man had been injured in Holland, now sitting with them, taking a break as catcher.
Sitting close by was Grant. Stuck in wolf form until his wounds were fully healed, there were bandages wrapped around his middle. He watched the game rather wistfully, no doubt wanting to chase after balls in the outfield like Talbert, Babe, and Muck were doing.
Not that he was alone as the guys that were up to bat made it a point to come sit on the grass with him while they waited their turn at the plate. At the moment, Skinny was combing his fingers through timber fur.
Grant perked up when Talbert came over, ball in his mouth and wagging his tail. Talbert set it on the ground, rolling it towards Grant. Grant’s tail whapped on the ground, bending to roll it back with his nose. The pair spent some time going back and forth, Grant starting to try and get it past Talbert like he was a goalie at a soccer match.
It really wasn’t long though before the rest of the men gave up on the baseball game altogether. It was falling apart with their talk of where they’d be going, what they’d be doing. Sure, they had those discussions before, but that was all under the assumption that they’d be shipped out to the Pacific first.
All of the human pack - plus Martin - were headed back to their home towns. Though they were all quick to agree they needed to stay in touch. Addresses were exchanged, along with tentative plans of a reunion.
Liebgott flopped onto the ground, looking up at the sky. He grunted as a body fell half on top of him, smiling up at Web. Those two, they were headed to San Francisco after a quick stop at Webster’s childhood home to pick up some things. His father would never approve of mating with a wolf of Liebgott’s standing but Web didn’t care - it was long overdue to be out from under the thumb of his father.
Roe’s lap was full of a furball known as Babe. Luz was idly scratching behind an ear while he talked to Roe about their own plans. Luz assured that Guarnere and Toye would be thrilled to see them and to stick around as long as they liked - after all, Luz’s home was in Philly now. Roe was anxious to get back home to Louisiana - and show off his mate to his family.
Malarkey was going home for a short time but would be joining Muck in Tonawanda, seeing as how Muck planned to finally mate with Fay. Then again, there was no doubt most of the pack would be there as well. It was just Malarkey that was likely to stay.
Talbert was currently talking Grant’s ear off, insisting that he would go back to Los Angeles with him to help him until he was back on his feet. Grant leveled him with a look - and a paw to the face - but Talbert didn’t let up. It didn’t help when Web spoke up, inviting the pair to San Francisco whenever they wanted. Little had they known that Grant and Liebgott had discussed some time ago about Grant making a move.
Speirs and Lipton were still planning to return to Lipton’s hometown, while Dick and Nix were off to Lancaster, but the four discussed taking weekend trips together - New York, Chicago - as well as being hosting sites for the reunions that were bound to happen the way the pack was talking.
“Thinking of stopping in Philadelphia,” Dick mentioned, “Check on Bill and Joe.”
“It’s on our way through,” Nix conceded, lifting a shoulder.
“That’d be nice,” Lipton commented, looking over at Speirs to see what he thought.
Speirs sighed, only pretending to be put out as he replied, “I suppose we could stop by as well.”
Nix slapped the back of his hand on Lipton’s shoulder. “You guys could come stay a bit with Dick and I.”
“Yeah? That would be great.”
As the pair kept conversing and making plans, Speirs and Dick shared a look over top of their heads. It might have been a mistake allowing Nix and Lipton to become friends. Then again, the Alphas couldn’t much complain about seeing more of each other either.
A little over a year later, Dick and Nix walked into the Veteran’s Hall they were having the reunion at to find Toye hopping on one leg, holding his prosthetic limb in hand and brandishing it at Liebgott as he yelled at him. Guarnere was grabbing for his mate but Luz was holding him back as he laughed, Web just looking at Liebgott rather fondly.
A few wolves ran by in form - Muck, Malarkey, and Babe by the looks of things - and a few children were tossing a ball in the air for another to catch - Grant, what a surprise - with Talbert running circles around them.
The pair spotted Speirs sitting with his chin in his hand, looking at the controlled chaos in defeat, while Lipton was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
“I don’t even know what to say about any of this,” Nix commented.
Dick smiled over at him, taking his hand. “Let’s go say hi to the pack, hmm?”
One howl later and everything stopped. Before they knew it though, the entire pack had surrounded them, welcoming their other Alpha pair.
Dick could only smile. It was good to be home with the Easy Pack.
/End