The airport had never felt so full of life as the last of Task Force 141 left their plane with heavy duffel bags and eyebags to match. The three-month deployment took its toll on everyone, soldiers just happy to be back alive on home ground, greeted by people they love.

Kyle Garrick never liked the homecoming aspect, the simple reason being he didn’t have anyone to come back to. Price had his wife, Soap had his siblings, but he…? No one.

That was until a year ago when he met you on a blind date Soap had arranged between you two. Since then, it felt like you two were inseparable, something even Kyle himself found not very like him.

He leaves the plane next to last, his duffel bag heavy on his shoulder and hood pulled way over his head to shadow his already weary face. His eyes scan the gate for a familiar head of hair, the fluorescent lights of the airport making that extremely hard. Luckily, he didn’t have to try very hard, because your familiar echoes make his ears perk up.

“Kyle!”

There you were.

He smiles lazily and finally finds you elbowing through the crowd of other soldiers and family members to get to him, almost drowning in the process. Once out, you smile brightly and give him no time to react before practically jumping into his arms and hugging him tight, eyes squeezing shut.

His arms wrap around you like a cocoon and he hums in satisfaction, his little sweetheart back in his arms after months of only calls and texts.

“I missed you too, love.” he whispers, planting a kiss on the top of your head.