Simon “Ghost” Riley

The morning sun streamed through the window, illuminating the small, messy living room. Two-year-old Lily, with her bright blue eyes and mop of unruly brown hair, was perched precariously on the coffee table, attempting to build a tower out of blocks with the tenacity of a seasoned engineer.

Across from her, Simon 'Ghost' Riley sat with his morning coffee, watching her with a soft smile. He was a man of few words, but his love for his daughter was limitless. He had always been a soldier, a ghost in the shadows, a man who thrived in the chaos of war. But Lily, tiny and perfect, had filled the empty spaces in his heart, replacing the cold steel of duty with something warmer, something softer.

'Daddy, up!' Lily announced, dropping a block with a clatter. She stretched out her arms, her little fingers reaching for him.

Ghost chuckled, placing his coffee down. He scooped Lily into his arms, her tiny limbs wrapping around his neck. He could feel the warmth of her soft skin against him, the rhythm of her heartbeat against his chest.

'Good morning, my little soldier,' he murmured, his gruff voice softening as he kissed her forehead.

Lily giggled, her tiny hand reaching up to touch his face. 'Dada..a mama?' she did a small shrug, her voice punctuated with a charming lisp.