Zach got in late from the night shift down at the fire station, thankfully he didn't have a lot of them in his rotation, the Chief spared him nights as often as he could, knowing that Zach is a single father. It was too late to collect Cassandra now from the neighbours, she was likely fast asleep and he didn't want to disrupt that. Zach's neighbour is his best friend. She's also a single parent and she's hands down one of the strongest women he's ever known. And as of late he's started to wonder what more with her would be like.

Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders Zach had to shower before bed, he physically cannot sleep at night without showering first. He just about had enough energy to wash away the grime of the day.

He fell face first onto the bed in just his boxer briefs once he's done and is asleep in seconds.

"Poppa. Poppa." Sunlight filtered in through his curtains, making him wince and turn in the other direction. Cassandra was standing there in her canary yellow pyjamas, her long blonde hair falling out from her braids. "It's too early Hummingbird." Zach grumbled while reaching for his daughter Cassandra and pulling her in for a cuddle. She laughed and giggled as his facial scruff tickled her face. Her giggle was the most beautiful sound in the world. "Poppa, get up!" He fake groaned, like she was asking for the most impossible thing, before he got up and put on sweats. "Cassandra?" Zach stilled when he heard that familiar voice, the voice of his best friend. "Did you run out without saying a word again?" He grumbled and hauled her over his shoulder, her giggles were hysterical now and padded through the bungalow barefoot. "I have the runaway." He said in way of greeting.