Today was the day, and I couldn't feel more empty.

I woke up before him as the blinding sun crept through his curtains, shining onto his face, creating an elegant glow through his hair. I gently brushed it to the side, wanting a better look at him.. for as long as I could.

He was so beautiful.

I carefully cuddled under his arm, hiding my face in his neck as I wrapped my arms around his stomach, holding him close. I could feel the warmth of his gentle breaths on neck as I felt him wrap his arm around me, pulling me in closer. I couldn't help but smile.

"Hi.." I whispered.

"Hi.." He said, gently kissing my forehead.

He hadn't even opened his eyes and I could tell that he felt it too.

"Did you finish packing?" I asked, softly running my fingers up and down his arm. He shook his head, now giggling to himself.

"Jake.." I sighed. His smile grew as he finally peeked over at me.

"I've still got time."

If only that were true.

"Come on." I groaned, forcing myself to sit up. He instantly reached up for me, pulling me back down next to him again. I held on tight, playing along for as long as he wanted. Just one of the many things I would miss.

I reached over for my phone to check the time.

6:00 AM. We only had an hour left.

"You have to get up." I said, pulling him back up. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as he finally pushed himself up, looking around his room in a daze.

"Go hop in the shower and I'll finish packing for you." I laughed, rolling out of bed and going over to his suitcase.

"You don't want to come wit-"

"No, Jake." I smirked back at him. "Not with everyone home." He playfully rolled his eyes, finally getting out of bed.

"Fine." He sighed, pulling in me, kissing my cheek before heading down the hall towards the bathroom.

I looked through what little he had already packed and gathered what else I thought he might need from his dresser, picking out things I knew he looked the cutest in. Looking around, I saw my t-shirt lying on the end of his bed. I picked it up, sneaking it into one of the side pockets, along with my letters to him.

I still couldn't believe he gave me his journal. It was the only thing I had to look forward to once he left. But even still, if it meant keeping him here, I could go the rest of my life never knowing what he had written, just as long as I had him now.

I didn't have to wait long before he made his way back into his room, wet hair falling into his face, damp towel tightly wrapped around his waist. I felt my cheeks burn the longer I held my stare on him, quickly looking away as he smirked back at me.

"You're all packed." I said, climbing onto his bed, sitting back as I watched him get dressed. After looking through his suitcase, he smiled back at me.

"You're already such a good wife." He giggled. My heart jumped, not unable to contain my giddy grin. I also noticed he hadn't taken off his ring. It was hard to ignore as he moved about, the glare of the rising sun reflecting off of it every which way he moved. I gently spun mine around my finger, loving that we had one more thing that was ours.

I also loved that he somehow already new my ring size.

"Do you know when you're gonna be playing close to home again?" I asked, watching as he made his way around the room, picking up things here and there, throwing them into the suitcase.

"Well, we planned to end it back here, so.."

"So not for a long time." I said softly, accepting that there would be no way around it.

"I could always fly you out, if you wanted to come to a few." He said, peeking over at me. It wasn't an awful idea, but even the thought of leaving my mom for just a few days was enough to make me nervous.

"I won't push it." He added, coming over, kissing the top of my head. "But just know that.. the offer is always on the table. Whenever you want, I'll make it happen." I nodded, peeking back up at him with a gentle smile.

"I just.. I can't wait to come back home to you." He sighed, staring back at me with dazed eyes.

"Jake, I don't want you to be counting down the days, I can do that for the both of us. I want you to appreciate every single day, because you deserve to, and then when it's time to come back home.. I'll be here waiting for you." His smile grew as he pulled me back into another long, tender kiss.

"But just.. promise me you won't drink too much." I added. He giggled to himself as he threw in a few more things, finally zipping up his bag.

"I'm not the one we have to worry about." He said. "But.. I have no reason to drink that much. I like to have that kinda fun with you, but.. if you're not there.. there's really no point."

"But.. you've always-"

"Cause you've always been there." He smirked. I bit down on my lip, trying to contain my smile. I guess he was right. All the times he drank the most, we were all together. So.. that was for me?

"But.. but you-"

"Jaime, you made me.. so nervous." He laughed. "I just.. I guess I always hoped that if I could just.. lighten up, and.. be fun, I don't know, it would make you notice me more."

"Oh, I definitely noticed you." I laughed, pulling him in closer to me. He sat down next to me on the edge of his bed, his eyes moving down to my lips.

"Then.. it was worth it." He sighed. "Despite the.. one too many nights with my head in the toilet." I shook my head, playfully rolling my eyes.

"You know.. you never had to do any of that to impress me. I've.. always loved you for exactly how you are, not the 'you' that you put on for everyone, but.. you. This you. He's my favorite." He reached up, gently caressing my face, pulling me into a passionate kiss.

"I wish you could've told me that then." He laughed. "Because.. it was all for you, Jaime. Just.. I'd do anything for you to look at me, just.. for a little bit longer, I would've done.. anything, if I knew it meant winning you over. And I hated how.. I felt like I always ruined so many things because.. I never had the courage that Josh did. Even that first day.. I.. I couldn't even talk to you. I.. I could barely move away from my mom's leg, and.. if I could've just.. sucked it up, who knows where we could have been, what we could have done.."

I hated that he thought like that. Sure, it would have been nicer if we had had more time together but.. what really mattered was that we had each other now. That was all I really cared about. The rest was just.. extra.

I felt my heart start to beat faster, my eyes now starting to tear up. I quickly blinked them away, avoiding his eyes.

"We.. we should get your stuff downstairs so we can pack the van." I said. He sighed, nodding before pulling me back into a quick kiss, pushing himself up from the bed.

"Okay." He said, his voice dropping. It was fun to reminisce but I could literally feel the minutes ticking away.

When we got outside, I could already see Josh and Sam gathered around the van, trying their best to fit in all of their equipment along with their luggage.

"You better hurry before there's no room for you." I giggled, gently nudging him. I then saw Josh turn to face us as he heard Jake's footsteps making their way down the driveway. I could feel my heart beating faster the longer he held his stare on me.

I couldn't help but think back to that first day, how eager he was to come over and meet me, how badly he wanted me to come over and play with him, how that lead to so many more moments along the way, so many firsts..

He then made his way over to me, reaching out for my hand.

"Jaime, can we.. " He started, motioning away from the van. I bit down on my lip, feeling my cheeks burn as I peeked over at Jake who was too busy trying his best to shove his suitcase into the van.

"Josh.."

"Jaime, I.. I think I deserve a goodbye." My heart dropped. I hesitated for a moment, before finally nodding.

"You're right." I said, peeking over at Jake again who was now looking back at me. He nodded, giving me a gentle smile.

I then reached out for his hand, feeling him slowly intertwine our fingers as he guided me across the yard, my heart dropping when I realized where he was leading us..

The tree out in the field.