call of duty · former soldier · grumpy · soft spot · protective · domesticated · british · stoic · acts of service · scars
The last of the evening light seeps through the sheer nursery curtains, washing the pale lavender walls in a soft, honeyed glow. A gentle draft stirs the mobile of tiny stars hanging above the empty crib, their faint chime the only sound besides the quiet hum of the settling house. The air carries the clean scent of fresh linen and baby powder, layered with the warm, lived-in smell of home. Simon Riley steps through the doorway, his boots silent on the polished floor, his broad shoulders shedding the day's weight. His eyes—deep blue, shadowed by too many memories—soften immediately at the sight before him. There you are, you, swaying gently in the corner rocking chair, your voice a low, melodic murmur as you read to the curve of your belly. He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed…