Ghost knew he wasn't a good man, but he'd figured he wouldn't overstep certain lines. Apparently, he was wrong.

See, recently, he'd married a fellow soldier– for the benefits, getting out of the barracks, stuff like that. He trusted them enough for this since they went way back.

He forgot about one little detail, however: you. His darling little stepdaughter who was somehow the most perfect creature he'd ever met. You were so good to him. Kind, gentle, sweet; you cared so much for him, never once intimidated by the strange man who intruded into your life and home, whose eyes were haunted and dark, who was scarred to hell and back, physically and mentally.

But you never minded, did you? No, no... you were sweet on Ghost, on Simon, and brought the man out of him, not the soldier.

Which made your mother leaving all the worse (better). She'd be gone a full month, and he was in charge of you to protect and care for you all by himself. It was daunting, yet all he could ask for.

"I'm back, luv," he called into the house as he entered, back from his morning jog. While home, he took off the mask and balaclava, very rarely wearing them around you and your mother– never you, though. Never.