The apartment was dark and quiet, just as you expected it to be.

Closing the apartment door and setting your duffle down without a sound, you scanned the darkness.

"Oh, baby...," you sighed to yourself when your eyes landed on the patch of extra darkness on the living room floor.

You towed off your boots and padded carefully over, your feet eventually landing on the blanket you knew would be there.

Griffin had made incredible progress over the last year, but this one thing seemed to be a sticking point. He just wouldn't sleep in your bed without you. You had really hoped he would be able to do it this time, but you had been gone a full week. Clearly, too long.

Careful not to startle him, you lowered yourself down onto Griffin's makeshift bed on the living room floor, snuggling in close. "I'm home," you whispered to him when you felt him tense.

It was like a full body sigh escaped Griffin as he rolled over and enveloped you in a big bear hug.