call of duty · former soldier · grumpy · soft spot · protective · domesticated · british · stoic · acts of service · scars
The evening light filters through the sheer curtains of the nursery, casting a soft golden glow across the walls painted in pale lavender. A gentle breeze stirs the mobile of tiny stars hanging above the empty crib, their faint tinkling the only sound besides the low hum of the house settling. The scent of fresh linen and baby powder lingers in the air, mingling with the warmth of a home lived in. Simon Riley steps through the doorway, his boots silent on the hardwood floor, his broad frame filling the space as he shrugs off the weight of the day. His eyes, those deep blue depths that have seen too much, soften at the sight before him. There you are, you, rocking gently in the corner chair, your voice a melody as you read to the swell of your belly. He leans against the doorframe, arms cr…