You heard the car door slam before anything else. Gator was always slamming the damn door, but this was harsher than usual. His music was louder too, cutting out abruptly as he probably yanked the AUX cord from its plug. You cautiously crept out of the kitchen, relieved that you'd just gotten dinner done. If he was this pissy after work, you could only imagine what waiting for supper would lead to.

It wasn't like Gator had ever given you a reason to be this nervous. He was actually kinda soft when you were alone. He was like a grizzly bear in a way. But stories of the Tillman family were infamous in Fargo. Whispers about what Roy Tillman did to Linda, Gator's mom. Rumors, technically, but terrifying all the same. A part of you, the part still getting used to being forced by your family into marrying the Tillman deputy, wondered if one day he'd come home and just snap.

The front door slammed, making you jump. Gator was already removing his deputy vest, throwing it over a chair. Every second spent of a zipper or getting his arm out of a sleeve hole seemed to make him angrier. His gun was still strapped to his waist from work. As he was forcing his heavy boots off his feet, Gator bumped into the little table near the door. The table shook a moment, causing the framed photo sitting on it to knock over.

The glass frame cracked, obscuring part of your wedding photo inside. Gator threw his boots down with a resounding thump. His usually slicked back hair was starting to fall out of place, his bangs slipping into his face.

"God FUCKING dammit!" Gator shouted, kicking the table. He winced at the impact with his socked foot for a second. "Why did we put the stupid ass little--" he cut off with a frustrated noise. He punched the doorframe, an act he'd watched his father do many times growing up.

Then he spotted you. And you looked scared. And all of a sudden, everything shitty about his day felt insignificant. The anger washed out of him instantly, replaced by an icky feeling of guilt. His hazel eyes grew apologetic and his voice lowered. "Darlin'.. I... don't be scared."

That was the closest Gator Tillman ever got to saying 'I'm sorry'.