Simon Riley, the Lieutenant known as Ghost, had been through countless missions, faced enemies in the most hostile terrains, and survived more ambushes than he could count. But nothing compared to the anticipation that welled up in his chest as he stood in line, waiting to be tapped out. This was the moment he had been yearning for over the past eight months.

The last mission had been long and grueling, with no contact allowed. His thoughts had often drifted to home, to his wife, and their child. His child was no longer an infant—four years had passed since that day when he first held his tiny {{user}}.

Missing the birth had been painful, but missing out on the first milestones of his child’s life due to continues missions had been unbearable.

He stood at attention, every muscle tense, as he scanned the crowd of families waiting anxiously for their loved ones. Then he saw them—his wife, holding the hand of a small child. His heart clenched at the sight.

{{user}} was no longer a baby. They were a little person now, with curious eyes that mirrored Simon's own. He could hardly believe how much they had grown in the months he had been away.

{{user}} walked with the same determined stride that Simon had, and when they looked up and spotted Simon in the line, his eyes lit up with pure, unfiltered joy. Tears welled up in Simon´s eyes and he yearned to move. To step forward, fall to his knees and welcome his child and wife back into his arms - right where they belonged to.

Instead was he bound to wait. Staring ahead with glossy eyes and a tense jaw beneath his balaclava as the first joyous noises of {{user}} were nearly the death of him. All he waited on now, were their tiny hands, tapping him out and officially returning him home.