Ollie and her dad had discussed exactly what they were going to tell Izzy when things had gone south in Somalia. Olivia always had been a terrible liar. She hadn't been in direct combat but it was close enough that it had done a number on her psyche at least temporarily. If asked she couldn't talk about it. That was the truth but deep down the discussion with her dad had her wondering if she was really cut out for this. Training was one thing, but having someone who was half blown into pieces in your care in a helo was an entirely different story. 

Olivia was tired, and thankful that she could try and pass whatever emotions remained as her just being exhausted. One problem with their theory was that Izzy could get the information from the operation if she really wanted to do so. Political strings were a thing and Olivia didn't think that her mother was above pulling them either. Stepping into the house ahead of her dad she threw her bag in the closet. The one by the door where everyone kept their bags packed and ready to go in case something happened. "Mom! Al!" she called through the house hoping really that neither of them were home.


Tag: Lt. Victor Gauthier, Pvt. Alastair Gauthier, Maj. Isabella Gauthier

From the chaos of Somalia to the journey back home was a scenery change that had not been all too foreign to Victor, but he had to hark back to his younger years - to the first time he had experienced combat as a young marine as that was the first time his daughter had experienced it. Victor was proud of what she had gone through and the mental stress that it would have placed on her with the level of danger, and yet at the same time, he knew that it was only the beginning.

The journey back home had consisted of them straightening out their story to what they would tell Izzy. Victor had practice darting around the truth around his wife, but there were still things that Izzy would probably be able to find out through her own connections within the town and the political strings behind her. Victor would allow the day to continue, see what she said and respond accordingly.

No plan survived the battlefield, no matter how well it had been planned out.

He was shattered, having both suffered from the long, adrenaline filled mission to the jet-lag he was bound to suffer from. Victor watched Ollie ahead of him as they stepped through the house and towards the cabinet where they stored their go-bags, closing the door once the both of them had stepped through. He remained largely quiet, listening to whether there was anyone home as he locked the cabinet behind them.

Tag: Pvt. Alastair Gauthier, SA Olivia Gauthier, Maj. Isabella Gauthier

Alastair was back home for a few days in between training. He had hoped to catch his twin and father before he had to go but the news of a deployment the idea had completely gone pear shaped. He was used to it though and instead settled himself in his room catching up on what he had forgotten to do last time he was home. Including washing clothes and packing his bag again to make sure that things were in the one place. He was almost finished that when he heard the front door go and the familiar sound of the closet door followed by his sisters voice. "Up here, be with you in a minute." He stated folding the last of his stuff.

Home at last. Alastiar was trying not to be too eager as he fled his room and practically ran down the stairs. Being away from home sucked because he hardly got to see anyone anymore. Between training, days off and different military branches he was glad just to be in the same space at the same time as any family member right now. He had a list to catch them up on plus the fact he got to mess about with his first set of explosives which he wasnt too sure his parents would appreciate but maybe his sister would like that one a little better.

“Ollie, Dad!” He called out as he saw them stood by the closet door. “Where did you guys get to? Been here hours already and you guys go and abandon me and mum for a flight?” He teased though sure if the military came calling it wasnt like they couldnt not answer. Still he was glad to see his entire family back in one piece as he hadn’t a clue where they had gotten to this time.

Tag: SA Olivia Gauthier, Maj. Isabella Gauthier, Lt. Victor Gauthier

They had been gone far too long for Isabella’s liking. Even if she was a Marine herself, the two had been gone at sea for nearing 3 months now and it had just been her and Al at home. She heard her son’s comment from the living room. Olivia looking like she had seen a ghost and Victor had that look in his eyes. “Lieutenant?” It was usually reserved for when she was upset but she was overly worried in this case. Taking a moment she took a step forward and wrapped her arms around him. “Do we need to talk?” She whispered in his ear just hugging him. The worry needed to melt and in this case, it had multiplied.

She watched as their daughter elbowed her twin. The fun happy bounce that was their daughter was neutral. It was the same look Victor could get after deployments. Isabella felt her stomach in her throat. All she could do was hope that the lies didn’t come, she wouldn’t be able to handle that right now. Mentally, she was thinking the worst; either someone was injured or had seen more than they bargained for. Izzy hadn’t really even been on the battlefield to understand. Her version of a fight was on paper.



SA Olivia Gauthier,Lt. Victor Gauthier,Pvt. Alastair Gauthier,

Olivia ran straight for her brother. Her brother and her dad were the ones she confided in; but she wasn’t sure if she could talk to them about this. Seeing people torn apart and floating in the water had been horrific if anything. But Al was back and that was probably the best news that Ollie had all day. There was genuine smile on her face. The first that hadn’t been faked all day. Even her dad’s humor had failed on the car ride over. Screw where she had been, “You’re back!” Ollie was glad to see him.

Though her mother’s words hit her like a freight train as she heard her father being chastised. “Andiyicingi ukuba kufuneka sihlangane.” (I don’t think we need to be sticking around) She really didn’t want to be around when Isabella starting laying into her dad for whatever reason. Right now, their mom didn’t seem please. Ollie’s eyes said the two of them needed to talk. Now Olivia understood why coming back from a deployment was so hard. She just hoped that her brother wouldn’t fly off his rocker if she confided in him.

Tag: Lt. Victor Gauthier,Pvt. Alastair Gauthier,Maj. Isabella Gauthier

(ooc: I am using Xhosa language as the translation for the twins language. It was the closest i could find on google translate to anything that sounded like gibberish)

"Hey Al." Victor had tried going for a light-hearted approach in greeting his son, trying to wipe the exhaustion off his face but it had settled in. So much so that his greeting had come off strained, even trying to raise the corners of his lips had been unwanted effort.

"Lieutenant?"

It was his wife's voice that had brought him closer to reality. Victor's eyes shifted from his daughter to his wife, taking in the fact that after three months away, he was back. It was one of the best feelings in the world, but it was at this point that he had no words - Ollie and he had even attempted a cover story but judging by the state the two of them were in, there was really little to be said.

His hands wrapped around her torso, as her hands wrapped around him.

Victor knew that this was a regular for him, that he had been away multiple times before but this...was a tough deployment. He had fallen into a silence after the question was posed, simply allowing himself to reiterate the fact that he was home with his wife and his two children intact.

He nodded, a certain stiffness in his neck as he moved that he had yet to stretch out. "I need a drink first, Izzy." Vic replied softly.

His mother had it pegged the minute she mentioned talking, the fact that his sister was thinking that sticking around was a bad idea and his dad. The trying too hard and strained greeting wasnt like him at all. Alastair knew when a bad day or deployment had been had and this was it, even the fact that his father wanted a drink. Yeah that was best left to be handled by their mother as he grinned at both his father and Ollie.

Alastair caught his sister in his arms, hugging her tightly. Yeah it was good to be home again he thought. “Good to have you back home dad. You’ve been missed.” He said deciding that trying to make the man laugh or asking the million dollar question right now as likely a pretty bad idea all around. “And yeah I’m back Ollie, I get back and you guys are gone. How is this fair?” He asked grinning as he nudged her lightly.

“Makhe siphume apha phambi kokuba umama.” (Let's get out of here before mum goes crazy) Al said grinning just glad to see the both of them back in one piece. “Ngoko kwenzekani nawe? Ndiyazi iziganeko ezizeleyo ukuze ungazami ukwenza oko utata enokumomotheka kunye nomdla.” (So what is going on with you? I know somethings off so don't even try to do what dad did with the smile and enthusiasm.) He asked her, if there was one thing he did know it was when his twin was out of sorts becuase he had that feeling. His dad tried and failed and sure later he would ask how he was doing too but right now it was one each and compare notes with his mum later on what was said.

Something was off with her and Al didnt excatly let up much when he had a sense that something was wrong. He was just glad he wasnt his dad right now though what his mum would do to him, Al would do to Ollie to make sure she was okay as he decided to let her go where she wanted to.

Tag: Lt. Victor Gauthier, Maj. Isabella Gauthier, SA Olivia Gauthier

The twins were talking off in their own little language. If she was lucky, then maybe the two would talk and she wouldn’t have to have this discussion with Olivia too. Though it wasn’t usual for her daughter to avoid her and that is what was happening. Having hardly said a word to each other since the father/daughter duo had walked in the door. This was a huge mess.

Izzy knew that things had been bad if he needed to drink. “You need a drink like a hole in the head.” Isabella wasn’t the drinking type, She didn’t stop Victor from drinking but she never really approved of him using it as a retreat for not talking. Izzy was as tall as Victor or close enough that she could look him in the eyes. She was not a petite woman and knew how to use every inch of her height to intimidate. Though this wasn’t what she was doing here.

Leaning on Victor she looked over to Ollie trying to judge her daughter’s state of mind. The twin’s language always set her into some sort of motherly worry. Not that they were purposefully hiding stuff but she knew Alastair and Victor always got to understand more of what was going on with Olivia than she did. Though she was also worried about Victor, especially since he had mentioned drinking. Isabella nodded her head into the bedroom. The one place they could talk without being interrupted. Perhaps more comfortable than a dining room chair.

Tag: Lt. Victor Gauthier,Pvt. Alastair Gauthier,Maj. Isabella Gauthier
Ooc: I will get to Olivia in the next few days

Ollie rolled her eyes at her brother. Not her fault he’d decided to go into the Army when he did and it wasn’t like she could ignore her own orders to make time for her family. Though Al was just out of training and Olivia had already seen combat. Not intentionally on the part of her trainers and superiors mind you. No, she was pretty sure that Marcus hadn’t wanted her anywhere near the mess that had been Somalia. Between her dad and her trainer, they’d been the only two she could confide in who had been there with her.

Though Olivia was happy to be in the arms of her twin. She nodded when he said they needed to get out of there. “Andikwazi ukuthetha ngawo. Ewe, uTata andinokuthetha ngawo.” (I can't talk about it. Well, Dad and I can talk about it.) She leaned her head into her brother’s shoulder. Her and Marcus had talked and talked and well she wasn’t about to get into the fact that her trainer was now technically her boyfriend. Oh that would just cause all sorts of issues.

Ollie headed into the basement room. The ones that the twins shared as a sort of school work/ library. Their parents rarely if ever bothered them in there. Once she’d closed the door behind them she started back into English. “I saw things. Things that… I realized I am going to have to deal with because of what I chose to do. I wasn’t ready for it. There is some stuff no matter how hard you train you can’t be ready for.” She wasn’t sure if she was giving advice or trying to talk herself into not deserting the Coast Guard. They owned her for the next several years, it wasn’t like she really had a choice. “I’ve got to handle it and I will.” She hugged her brother once more. “I’m just glad to be home.” No, she wasn’t going to take her family for granted. They were all military and one day one of them might not come home it was that realization that probably hurt the most.

Tag: Lt. Victor Gauthier,Pvt. Alastair Gauthier,Maj. Isabella Gauthier

Vic let out a light scoff at Izzy's comment. He knew it was out of her concern of what she saw unfolding in front of him, he was never the best at covering up - he was only fairly good at diverting her attention. Right now, he needed a drink but for the sake of preventing something to flare up with Izzy's current worries, Vic decided that he would have to take one later.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she leaned against him. Victor was worried, she had been quiet on the way home and couldn't help but think back to his own experience when he had been first thrown into the throes of combat. It was messy, it was tough but ultimately - it was the life that they all had signed up for.

Vic felt her head incline, his head turning to see her gesturing in the direction of their bedroom. He inwardly sighed as he dropped his arm back to his side as he nodded. He began padding over in that direction, watching as they disappeared into the basement. Right now, he needed to focus on his wife as he pushed open the door and went to sit on the bed - beginning to remove his shoes. Partially refusing to meet his wife's gaze for a moment longer.



Tag: Maj. Isabella Gauthier, Pvt. Alastair Gauthier, SA Olivia Gauthier

Al knew his dad well enough to know that drinking meant it was bad, the fact that trying to divert onto something else hadn’t worked so yeah he wouldnt want to be in his dads shoes right now with his mum. Then again getting to the problem that seemed to have happened without talking about it, sure the military was great when it denied you the right to talk to your family about what you were doing. Al glance at his dad not sure what to say as he just tried to smile, he was home and that was as much as he could have ever wished for.

“Kufuneka uxoxe nomnye malunga nalo. Ngaba awukwazi ukuhamba yonke into ecinga ngayo?” (Well you've got to talk to someone about it. Can't you just go all hypothetical on it?) Alastiar asked her knowing the answer all ready but it never hurt to try. The twins talked about everything and not being able to talk about something, that was new to him and it hurt not being able to help. Heading to the basement he tried not to think too much on it but then he couldnt exactly not do that.

Al listened to Ollie but she seemed to have given herself the best advice anyone could do. He just smiled when she hugged him again as he hugged her back. She had no idea how much he had missed her, his best friend and sister rolled into one and sure he missed his parents too but right now his parents needed each other so getting in the middle of that wasnt the best idea. “I’m glad you’re home too Ollie, its not the same without you.” He admitted, “Maybe I should have joined the Coast Guard too just to make sure you’re okay.” He mused knowing he couldnt exactly chop and change now.

“I wont push you on details but you’re one of the two strongest women I know so you can handle it.” He said trying to be supportive and not talk about the one thing that was starting to bug him. “I guess you just have to figure it out for you but you can talk to dad about it right. It might be good for you two as well, at least you can talk together on it since it looks like we don’t get to talk work like we could school. But that doesn’t mean I get to stop worrying about you and dad because I still do and will.” Not being about to talk to his sister about work but then he figured that extended to family too. He had chosen Army, now he was wondering if that was the right decision though it wasnt like he could go back on the paperwork. Nope he would just need to figure that out on his own which was strange to even think.

Tag: Maj. Isabella Gauthier, SA Olivia Gauthier, Lt. Victor Gauthier

Isabella didn’t fail to notice that Victor was refusing to look at her. They were always able to talk about everything but this and she knew that his tight lipped manner was a tell tale sign that something had gone wrong. Though she knew by the way they were carrying themselves that neither Victor not Ollie were injured physically. Isabella sat down beside Victor and rubbed his shoulders.

Everything she could think to say was going to come out wrong and spiteful so she decided to say nothing at all. It took a lot to get deep under Isabella’s skin and this was one of those things that did, them just sitting here not talking under a stalemate.

She tried to open her mouth to say something else but still held back the words. These words weren’t spiteful, but more of sounded like she didn’t care which was quite the opposite. Isabella had a way with words, she had a law degree and that is what happens when lawyers try to put words together. But this wasn’t some closing argument or some deposition, this was her family. She settled for setting her head down on Victor’s shoulder and taking a few breaths.

Tag: Lt. Victor Gauthier,Pvt. Alastair Gauthier,SA Olivia Gauthier,

“I did talk to dad about it.” Ollie pointed out once they were in their own place where their parents couldn’t hear them. “That doesn’t stop me from seeing things all over again when I close my eyes.” She admitted with a small shrug. Then she started going off about something they played when they were kids. Not that they weren’t still kids, but she meant much younger.

“Do you remember when we used to play under the blanket forts with nerf guns and we thought it was all fun and games?” She started drawing circles with her finger on the table. “Like even the card game ‘war sounds morbid now.” Ollie knew she could always talk to Josiah about things too but that was different. He’d been there. It hurt not to be able to tell her twin everything.

“I came to the realization that what I saw, what I went through… it’s what I signed up for. Not being able to do that, or having to do it. It weighs on me. I want to be numb to it? Does that make me a bad person?” She didn’t really want to be numb to it all, she had signed up to help people but that came with a certain amount of having to stomach the worse parts of her career path. “Nerf guns don’t exactly prepare you for the real thing.”

Tag: Pvt. Alastair Gauthier,Maj. Isabella Gauthier,Lt. Victor Gauthier,