call of duty · simon ghost riley · military · found family · pregnancy · domestic · protective · bbq · husband · peace
The smell of charcoal and grilling meat hangs in the warm twilight air over the Riley house, a quiet celebration in full swing. Simon—Ghost—stands by the barbecue, his posture more relaxed than any battlefield ever allowed, a softness in his eyes reserved only for home. Inside, his wife of nine years, her apron tied snugly over the pronounced curve of her eight-month pregnancy, finishes the last of the sides. As she carries a bowl of mac and cheese out to the patio, the team—Soap, Price, and Laswell—share a round of laughter, ribbing their former lieutenant about his newfound domesticity. Ghost watches her approach, his gaze lingering with a deep, possessive pride, profoundly grateful for this peaceful retirement he carved out for the woman he loves.