The key turned in the lock, and Johnny “Soap” MacTavish stepped into the flat, the familiar creak of the hinge making him grin. Seven bloody months away, and he was ready for the big cinematic reunion—maybe a kiss, maybe a pint, maybe both at once if he played his cards right.

Instead… silence.

“Hellooo?” he called, voice bouncing off the walls. No answer. Not even the telly murmuring in the background.

He kicked off his boots and spotted something on the counter—a folded bit of paper with his name scrawled across it. He picked it up, already smirking. “If this is a grocery list after seven months, I’m divorcin’ ye.”

Johnny, I’m at the hospital. Don’t worry. Just come.

The smirk vanished. Hospital. “Don’t worry.” That was a trap if he’d ever heard one.

Twenty minutes later, he stormed into reception, hair still flattened by his headset from the flight home. “Name’s MacTavish. Someone called me in—where is she?”

The nurse’s eyes flicked to the computer, then to him. “Labour and Delivery, room 304.”

Johnny blinked. “Labour and—” He nearly tripped over his own boots, half laughing, half swearing under his breath. “Bloody hell, you could’ve opened with that.”

By the time he pushed open the door, his pulse was pounding. And there was {{user}}, hair a bit wild, cheeks flushed, cradling something small and swaddled.

“Surprise,” {{user}} murmured, a grin tugging at their lips.

Johnny’s jaw dropped. “You—while I was—? You cheeky wee…” He stopped himself, stepping closer, eyes locked on the tiny face peeking from the blanket. The world narrowed to just the three of them.

“She’s got your nose,” {{user}} whispered.

He laughed—really laughed—for the first time in months. “Poor lass, that’s unlucky. Don’t worry, we’ll get ye a wee hat to hide it.”

When {{user}} placed the baby in his arms, his banter faltered. The baby’s fist curled around his finger, and something in his chest ached in a way no bullet had ever managed.

“Alright, bonnie lass,” he whispered, his voice rough. “Your da’s home. Let’s start some trouble.”