Page 122 of Forever Fallen

“Daddy, can we go fly while you’re home?”

“I’m never leaving again,” Ryan said thickly, kissing his son’s cheek and ruffling his hair. “You are stuck with me, buddy.”

“Yay!”

“About that,” Valkyrie began, peering around the corner. “Did Alpo or Thumper talk to you yet? We need another instructor at Flyboys. Your Cessna is there, and you might as well do what you love – and what you are best at.”

“I was hoping you’d say that…” Ryan smiled. “I think teaching these kids how to fly is about the best thing ever.”

“He can’t solo until he’s thirty-five, okay?” Sophie interjected, frowning at him.

“Soph, he’ll be fine… and he can solo when he’s ready.”

“I second that,” Valkyrie chimed in.

“I guess we’ll discuss this later.”

“Not much to talk about,” Ryan said openly. “Flying is in the blood. You either love it – or you don’t. If Ben wants to fly, he’ll be surrounded by the best pilots, the best maintained equipment, and a team that is invested in making sure our boy is safe. Besides, Valkyrie is teaching Toby – and Thumper is teaching Samantha.”

“And neither are my child,” she grumbled.

“Later…” Valkyrie walked past him muttering under his breath quickly. “Pick your battles, Reaper.” He piped up and waved. “See you later, Sophie – and congratulations on the new baby, you two.”

“No kidding…” Ryan chuckled, setting Ben down on the living room floor. The child immediately tried to get Ryan to pick him back up, pulling at him, only to have her husband kneel in front of him.

“I promise I will be here every day from now on, Ben,” Ryan began gently, understanding that the boy was scared he’d leave again. That had been several emails each time he left, because Ben was looking for his daddy everywhere and didn’t understand.

“Can you show me your pretty new sister, Ruby?”

“She’s right there,” the boy said, frowning at Ryan, causing Sophie to smother a laugh.

“Well, alright then…” Ryan chuckled, getting to his feet, and moving to sit beside Sophie on the couch.

“Hey beautiful,” Ryan began…

“Isn’t she lovely?” Sophie agreed, smiling at the baby.

“I was talking about my wife,” he said tenderly, leaning forward to kiss her. His lips brushed hers, soft, gentle, and there was something incredible at knowing the touch or feel of your husband’s lips, she realized.

“Welcome home,” she breathed, letting out a sigh of happiness.

Ryan looked at the baby, before glancing at Sophie, and then reached forward to stroke the infant’s little cheek. Her daughter jumped slightly because she was halfway asleep, and uncurled her little hand, stretching out those long fingers, before curling them again.

“She’s breathtaking…” he smiled. “My little princess.”

“Right?”

He put his finger near Ruby’s hand and the infant instinctively curled her hand around it… and Sophie nearly laughed at the image of her big strong husband, her Reaper, literally falling into submission.

This tiny slip of a girl, their infant daughter, had wrapped Ryan around her finger in seconds flat. He might be proud of his boy, spoil and indulge him, but this girl? His tiny princess…

She was everything to him.

“Daddy…” Ben interrupted, grabbing Ryan’s thumb, and smiling at him. “Come play with me.”

“Go…” Sophie urged knowingly.

Ryan leaned down, kissed his daughter’s forehead, and breathed deeply of that sweet baby scent, before handing Ruby back to Sophie.

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