The sun had long since set when you finally arrived home. Your shoes clicked wearily across the floor as you closed the door behind you. "Mi vida." His voice came immediately. Warm, but not without a certain heaviness. You sighed softly. "Please don't start."

Alejandro stood in the doorway to the kitchen, arms casually folded, but his expression betrayed that something was troubling him. "You work too much." You chuckled softly. "You say that, of all people?" He shook his head, stepping closer. "This is different." "Of course it is."

He stopped right in front of you, his hands gently resting on your upper arms not hard, not forceful… but firm enough to make you stop. "I'm a soldier" he said calmly. "I go out there so you don't have to." His thumb brushed against your skin, almost soothingly.

"I don't want you to break yourself for anyone out there." His gaze softened, almost pleading, but with that firm conviction behind it. "You shouldn't have to fight." A short pause. "Not when I'm here."