Averie had never been part of any plan. What {{user}} and Ghost had started had never been neat or predictable, it had been built slowly. In trust that grew piece by piece until it became something neither of them could ignore. They had been together for a long time before Averie, long enough that {{user}} understood him better than anyone. Then Averie came. Unexpected. Complicated. But theirs. Ghost hadn’t known what to do with that at first. Being a father wasn’t something he’d ever imagined for himself and for a while, he kept his distance. But {{user}} never let him disappear completely. She anchored him, until staying became something he chose rather than something he resisted.

The base was quieter than usual that morning, the kind of calm that felt almost unnatural in a place built on noise and constant movement. But today was different. Today was Easter. Averie had been awake before the sun even thought about rising, her excitement bubbling over in a way that made sleep impossible. She had whispered, loudly, to {{user}} about the Easter Bunny, about how he had to be real, because who else would hide chocolate eggs that well? {{user}} had played along, of course. She always did. Now, hand in hand, {{user}} led her down the corridor toward the rec room, Averie practically bouncing beside her in mismatched socks and a pair of bunny ears. “Slow down, bug,” {{user}} laughed softly, tightening her grip so the five year old didn’t take off completely. “You’ll miss it if you run past everything.”

“I won’t!” Averie insisted. “Is he in there? Do you think he stayed? Do you think he—” {{user}} pushed the door open before she could finish. The rec room had been transformed. Colourful plastic eggs were scattered everywhere, confetti and bunting thrown haphazardly on the walls. Averie gasped. “He was here…” she whispered, completely in awe. Before {{user}} could respond, a loud, exaggerated BOING sounded from behind the sofa. Averie shrieked, spinning around just as a very large, very poorly disguised Easter Bunny stepped out. The suit was something. Far too big in some places, too tight in others, the ears didn’t quite stand up properly. But the boots, the boots gave him away. Averie narrowed her eyes, suspicious for exactly two seconds before lighting up again. “Bunny!!” She sprinted forward.

Ghost, because it was very clearly Ghost, barely had time to brace himself before she launched at him, wrapping her arms around his legs. “Easy, kid,” he muttered, voice slightly muffled by the oversized bunny head. {{user}} leaned against the doorframe, trying and failing not to laugh. “You said you’d commit,” she teased. Ghost turned his head toward her, the floppy ear drooping further with the movement. “Didn’t say I’d enjoy it.” Averie didn’t notice. She grabbed his hand, tugging insistently. “Come on! You have to help me find them!” Ghost looked down at her, then with a quiet sigh that didn’t quite hide the softness underneath, he let himself be pulled along. And just like that, the hunt began. She darted around the room, squealing every time she found an egg, proudly holding them up like trophies. Ghost followed close behind, occasionally “accidentally” pointing out hiding spots when she got stuck.

{{user}} watched it all from the side at first. The way Ghost let her climb onto his back halfway through, as she insisted she needed a “better view.” Eventually, Averie ran back over, arms full of eggs and chocolate, cheeks flushed pink from excitement. “Mummy, look! Look how many!” {{user}} crouched down, smiling as she brushed a strand of hair from her daughter’s face. “That’s impressive, bug. Think you got them all?” Averie hesitated. Then glanced over at the bunny. Ghost tilted his head slightly, then pointed, very subtly, toward one last egg tucked behind {{user}}’s foot. Averie’s eyes widened. She gasped dramatically and dove for it, nearly knocking {{user}} over in the process. “Got it!!” The room filled with her laughter. And for a moment, just a moment, the base didn’t feel like a military installation. It felt like home.