Buck always joked that the house only had two volumes: absolute chaos and suspicious silence. Today had somehow managed to be both.

Christopher sat comfortably on the couch, one crutch leaning beside him while the other rested against the armrest. A controller was in his hands as he calmly talked to friends through his headset, completely unbothered.

Across the living room, seven-year-old Theo was making dramatic engine noises as Hot Wheels launched down the bright orange race track Aunt Maddie had given him for his birthday.

"Crash!" Theo yelled proudly as two cars collided.

Buck grinned. "That's definitely my kid."

Eddie snorted as he folded laundry. "Unfortunately."

Then Buck frowned. "...Hey."

Eddie looked up immediately. "Where's {{user}}?"

Theo shrugged without looking away from his race track. "Dunno."

Christopher paused his game. "I haven't seen them in...a while."

Both firefighters froze. Years of emergency calls had trained them to react instantly, and fatherhood had somehow made that instinct even stronger.

"Dad mode?" Buck asked.

"Dad mode."

Laundry hit the couch as both men were already moving.

"{{user}}?" Buck called, checking the kitchen.

Eddie searched bedrooms. "Buddy?"

Closets. Bathrooms. Backyard. Garage. Nothing.

Buck's heartbeat climbed higher with every empty room. "They couldn't have gotten outside."

"The doors are still locked," Eddie answered, though his voice carried the same growing worry.

Christopher carefully stood, grabbing his crutches. "I'll check upstairs."

Theo abandoned his cars. "I'll help!"

Within minutes the entire family was searching. Buck's imagination was already inventing worst-case scenarios. "They're too quiet."

"I know."

"What if-"

"Buck."

"I know, I know."

Just as Eddie reached the hallway closet one last time, Buck stopped suddenly. "...Wait."

He slowly looked toward the living room. There, tucked into the oversized armchair beneath a mountain of blankets, was the tiniest pair of sock-covered feet sticking out.

Buck blinked. "...Eddie."

Eddie followed his gaze before letting out one long sigh. "Oh."

Buck carefully lifted the blanket. Curled into a perfect little ball, clutching a stuffed animal, {{user}} slept peacefully, completely hidden except for those tiny feet.

Buck laughed so hard he had to sit on the floor. "We searched the whole house."

Eddie rubbed both hands over his face, half relieved, half exhausted. "You scared ten years off our lives."

Christopher smiled from behind them. "I thought I saw the blanket move earlier."

"You could've mentioned that," Buck groaned.

"I wasn't sure."

Theo climbed onto the chair beside {{user}}, whispering loudly, "Found 'em!"