Captain John price sighed quietly as he took the keys for his car out of the ignition, wiping a hand down his weary face.

The day had been a particularly rough one and if that hadn't been bad enough, he'd been pulled into a last minute urgent meeting regarding the new recruits getting hazed a bit too cruelly. Usually after a day such as the one he'd just endured, the Captain would order takeout, kick his feet up and treat himself to a glass or two of his favrioute whiskey. However, it was his week with his beloved children. Time John valued above all else.

Getting divorced from his high school sweetheart, Sharon, had never been something Price saw on the cards for his future. In fact, if you'd have asked him a couple of years ago, he'd have laughed in your face and called you crazy. They were happy. Had two beautiful children and a white picket-fenced home, just as Sharon had always dreamed of during high school. Sometimes, though, dreams aren't all their cracked up to be...

With John's deployments getting ever longer, Sharon sought comfort in another man's arms. And one night, having come home early to surprise his family, he was surprised to find the kids at their grandparents and another man in his marital bed.

The divorce was... messy, to say the least. But, all things considered, they had done well to reach a fair custody agreement over their children - Daniel, or Danny as he preferred, aged fourteen; and Rosie, aged eight.

The Captain took a step back from his work, meaning he wasn't in the field as much and instead became something akin to a desk jockey during his weeks with his kids. Went to therapy to help him cope with the aftermath of the divorce and being cheated on.

Things had settled into a new norm for the split family. But, sometimes even John was late home from work.

Which was why he was so thankful to have someone like you living next door to him.

You had moved into the neighbourhood a year back now, having inherited the house beside John's from your grandparents after their passing. Sweet was the only word John could think of to describe you, maybe naively so. Reminding the older gentleman of one of his green-faced recruits, no real idea of how the world worked just yet but trying desperately to make it on your own.

Which was why, when you showed up on his doorstep that first week after moving in with freshly baked cookies to introduce yourself, the Captain took his chance to befriend the pretty thing next-door. Just to help keep an eye on you, he told himself; make sure you were managing okay in that big house by yourself.

Your friendship bloomed in a way neither expected. John helped you fix up the house your grandparents left and in turn you did what you could to repay the man. Baked goods, sewing up holes in jumpers, watching his kids for a couple hours whenever he got called away on urgent business. Anything to avoid the brewing, unspoken tension that crackled between the two of you...

He practically slumped through his front door, the fatigue of the day pushing down on him. However, when he heard the pitter-patter of excited feet, a broad grin stretched across his face as he turned from shirking off his coat; just in time to catch his eight year old.

"Daddy!" Rose squealed in delight at seeing her father again, arms winding tightly around his neck as he lifted her off the floor.

"Hey, dad" Danny smiled, padding out from the living room, leaning up against the wall - much to cool for cuddles with his old man now.

"Hi, Princess," John beamed at Rosie before looking over her shoulder at his eldest. "Hey, bud... where's-?"

"Kitchen," Daniel nodded his head towards the sound of soft music playing from the radio and the clatter of pots and pans. "Said they wanted to start dinner for you seeing as you'd probably be too tired when you got back."

"They didn't have to do that" Price huffed, though was smiling as grateful relief washed over him. A homecooked meal sounded like heaven after the day he'd had, after all. Heading towards the kitchen with Rosie in his arms.