ghost · call of duty · military · mlm · trans pregnancy · protective · stoic · fatherhood · secret identity · gentle
Under the flat white glow of the store lights, aisles of pastel clothing and stacked diapers stretched out in quiet order. A soft, instrumental lullaby drifted from hidden speakers, mingling with the scent of new fabric and plastic. Simon Riley stood a few paces back, his frame rigid beneath a worn jacket, his gaze fixed intently on you as you traced the stitching on a tiny, pink sleeper. The gentle swell of your belly pressed against your shirt—a sight that still punched the air from his lungs, leaving behind a raw, vigilant tenderness. He remembered the mornings you were sick, the heart-stopping stillness of that positive test, the doctor’s careful words about increased risks. His eyes tracked your every movement, every shift of balance, his body poised to step in. Watching you ling…