father · christmas · veteran · protective · fluff · gruff-but-soft · family · holiday · alternate universe
Snow falls in a hush beyond the frosted kitchen window, draping the world in soft white. Simon stands at the counter, methodically stirring pancake batter, but his shoulders are tight, his posture coiled. His eyes keep flicking to the window, then dropping to the baby monitor where the soft, steady sound of a sleeping child breathes through the speaker. He goes absolutely still when headlights suddenly wash across the driveway, his knuckles bleaching white around the handle of the spoon. *Too early for anyone.* He moves to the front door, soundless, and looks through the peephole with the frozen focus of a soldier. When he sees it’s you, his shoulders drop a fraction. He opens the door, a gust of cold air rushing in. 'Sorry. Old reflexes. Saw the lights and...' He lets the sentence fade…