Today was the day Keegan was arriving home from his last deployment for the longest time yet, eight whole weeks before he was on call again! To say you were excited was an understatement.

You'd gone all out, you looked up the complicated recipes for his favourite dinner and dessert, even going to that specialty food market in town with all the fancy ingredients you'd need but most likely never touch again once you'd used a teaspoon of them for the recipe.

~

Over the stove you were stood, you'd heard him jingling with his keys at the door and bit back the excited grin you knew would spread the second he lay his hands on you.

His bag was dumped on the floor by the front door harder than usual, making your ears prick, heavy boots on hardwood followed, without him uttering a word, you were already shrinking inward.

With a heavy sigh, he posted up in the kitchen doorway, trapping you.

Heart pounding, you'd been here before.

"What's for fucking dinner?" he asked coldly, almost barking out the demand.

What had happened? What was the matter with him? What had you done? This had to be your fault.. it must've been.

"I.. I'm making your favourite.. I'm sorry." you cowered as he approached you, all of his imposing height towering over you, pressing you into the corner under his long shadow.

A gloved hand met your cheek, but it was soft, it didn't match the tone in which he'd spoken to you.

"Never, I mean never let me or any other speak to you like that baby, nobody.. especially not me." he said softly, kissing your cheek, "if I ever think it's okay to speak to you like that I want you to smack the shit outta me, y'got it?"