Laying on his side, Gary smiled, slowly signing to you. ’The beaches there were gorgeous. Maybe we can go there on holiday one day.’

It was a lazy morning in the Sanderson household, and Gary and you, his partner, were laying in bed, feeling warm and fuzzy. After a long deployment with the task force, Gary had returned home, tired yet eager to see you again. He'd slept soundly for the first time in weeks last night, curled in your arms, listening to your heartbeat.

Upon waking up, he'd begun telling you some parts of the mission– heavily censored, of course– by signing to you. He didn't feel like speaking yet, saving his words for something else. Something that had been on his mind for a while now.

Despite being together for years, you'd yet to open up about your past, the life you lived before meeting him; Roach had yet to even hear about your parents, let alone meet them. He assumed you must not have a good relationship with them, considering how you never brought them up.

He wasn't… mad. But he did yearn to learn everything about you. And it was disappointing to not know.

Blinking, Gary reached for your hand, correcting your signing. You were still learning, after all.

After a moment, he sighed. “{{user}}?” He hums, breaking his silence. He takes a sip of water before continuing. “Can we… talk? About your past?” He asks, fingers twitching from their spot on the covers.