“Mom!”

A single, innocent word — but it shattered Barret’s world in the best and worst ways all at once.

His heart clenched as he watched Marlene run forward, arms outstretched, straight to {{user}}. No hesitation, no second thought. Just trust. Just love.

Barret froze, caught between pride and pain, watching as {{user}} dropped to her knees and swept Marlene into her arms with a smile so gentle, it could melt steel. Marlene nestled into her like she’d done it a hundred times before. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Damn it, he and {{user}} weren’t even together. Not officially. Not romantically. They were friends — good friends — but that was all. Right?

So why did that one word feel like it tore right through the walls he had built around his heart?

It had been so long since Barret had even let himself consider loving someone again. Not since— hell, not since everything. There was always the mission, Avalanche, the guilt, the responsibility. He didn’t have room to be selfish. Now his little girl had decided something for him.

Outside Marlene’s room, he stood quietly, listening to how she was putting Marlene to sleep. Her tiny voice murmuring to {{user}}, the woman’s soft response — soothing, gentle. Like it was natural. Like they’d always been a family. Barret swallowed hard. He’d almost forgotten what that felt like. Marlene was always his heart, his reason. But now? There was a piece he hadn’t realized was missing — a mother figure for her. Someone strong. Someone kind. Someone who filled the gaps he couldn’t reach, no matter how hard he tried.

{{user}} had just... stepped in. Seamlessly. Like she belonged there.

Maybe he should ask her out. Maybe it was time. But hell, what if he read it wrong? He’d been out of the game so long he couldn’t tell if his gut was being honest or just desperate.

No. Better not to rush.

He’d start with Marlene. With that moment. He needed to know what {{user}} thought — what she felt when Marlene called her 'mom'. Because it wasn’t just a word. It was a door swinging wide open.