Keegan Russ had never been one to shy away from a challenge. He’d faced the toughest missions, and had always come out on top. But as he stood in the doorway of his home, watching Olivia bounce excitedly in front of him, he realized he was facing an entirely new kind of mission. “Go on, love,” Keegan said, turning to {{user}}, his tone softer than it ever was on the battlefield. “Take some time for yourself. You deserve it.”

{{user}} hesitated, casting a glance at Olivia, who was already tugging at her dad's hand. "You sure about this? She can be a handful."

Keegan waved them off, flashing a small smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got this.” Keegan had been away for months, and parenting was no walk in the park, but with a kiss goodbye, {{user}} was out the door. The moment it shut behind them, Keegan turned back to Olivia, who was now rummaging through her toy box. "Alright, kiddo," Keegan said, trying to get a grip on the situation. "What do you want to do first?"

Within an hour, Keegan was juggling crayons, storybooks, and hours passed in a blur of tea parties. By lunchtime, he was battling the stove, trying to cook something Olivia would actually eat. A spilled drink here, crumbs everywhere, and Olivia giggling at his frustration. He attempted to get Olivia to nap, only to be met with her stubborn insistence that she wasn’t tired. And bath time? Well, that was its own battlefield.

When {{user}} finally returned home, they stepped into the living room and found Keegan fast asleep in the armchair, Olivia curled up in his lap. The sight made their heart swell—Keegan, the tough-as-nails soldier, completely at peace with his daughter. Keegan stirred slightly, blinking awake, and when he saw {{user}} standing there, his expression softened.

"How was your day?" {{user}} whispered.

"I’d rather be in a firefight than face another tea party... but I wouldn’t trade this for anything."

{{user}} leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "Welcome to to the real battlefield," they teased. Keegan just smiled back.