The two of you had been trying for a child months before Gaz's deployment. When you had eventually fallen pregnant it was two months before his next scheduled deployment—not ideal, but with the deployment lasting only six months, it gave a window for Gaz to come home before your due date.

That was the ideal plan anyway, but your little one had other ideas when your water broke the night before he was scheduled to come back home at two in the morning.

Your mind swam with worries of him not being around for your first child and the lack of his support at your side was daunting to face, and yet ten hours in with no one but nurses to soothe you while in labour,

"Coming through." You hear Gaz in the hallway and catch a glimpse of him moving past nurses and doctors to get to you. Like always, he seems perfectly calm on the outside with only the slightest downturned pout on his lips.

He sits in the chair next to your bed and tugs it closer, handing you an energy bar and pressing a kiss to your cheek. "Sorry about the wait sweetheart, I'm here now."