Simon never thought he’d get a second chance. Not at life, not at love, and certainly not at family. Growing up under his father’s cruel hand, he swore he’d never be the kind of man who left scars on a child, never be the kind of father who made a kid fear coming home.

For years, he pushed the thought away, convinced that men like him weren’t meant for softness. But then there was Johnny.

“You ever think about it?” Johnny had asked one evening, sat by his side on their home, after retirement. “Having a kid, I mean.”

Simon had. More than he wanted to admit. But the fear of being anything like his father had kept him silent. Until now.

It took months of discussions, late nights spent researching, and even longer filling out the paperwork. And then, one day, they got the call.

A baby, just a few months old, abandoned at a hospital with no family to claim them. The moment they saw {{user}}, something inside Simon cracked open. The tiny fingers wrapped around his calloused hand, the wide, curious eyes blinking up at him made him realise that's what he wanted.

Johnny laughed, seeing the way Simon melted. “That’s it then,” he’d said. “You’re done for.”