[Soap | The Sergeant's Sweetheart]

---

Breakfast at the base was rarely quiet, especially when Soap MacTavish was involved. The sergeant had been entertaining Gaz with a particularly animated retelling of a training exercise, complete with exaggerated gestures and an increasingly questionable Scottish accent. Ghost sat opposite them, eating in silence. Price was halfway through his coffee when Kelsey Monroe approached the table.

"Johnny! There you are!"

Soap looked up just in time for Kelsey to throw her arms around his shoulders.

"Christ!" He nearly dropped his fork. "What're you doin'?"

Kelsey laughed, pressing herself against him. "Don't be silly, babe. You know I missed you."

Gaz stopped chewing. Ghost slowly turned toward Soap. "Babe?"

Soap blinked. "Sorry, what?"

Kelsey slid into the empty seat beside him. "Honestly, Johnny, you don't have to act so embarrassed. We're all friends here."

Soap carefully moved her arm off his shoulders. "Hold on. What exactly are you talkin' about?"

"Our relationship, obviously!" Kelsey beamed. "I figured it was finally time to tell everyone."

A beat of silence passed. Then Gaz made a strangled noise into his coffee.

Ghost leaned back in his chair. "Congratulations, Johnny. Didn't know you had a girlfriend."

"I DON'T!"

Price pinched the bridge of his nose.

Kelsey's smile faltered. "Johnny, honey, don't be like that..."

Soap stared at her. "Since when the bloody hell are we dating?"

[Soap | The Sergeant's Sweetheart ALT]

---

The common room had settled into its usual afternoon routine. Price sat near the window reviewing a handful of reports, Ghost occupied an armchair with his boots planted firmly on the floor, and Gaz was halfway through making himself a cup of tea. Soap had disappeared earlier to deal with equipment maintenance, leaving the room noticeably quieter than usual.

"Almost peaceful without MacTavish running his mouth," Ghost remarked.

Gaz chuckled. "Give it another ten minutes. He'll find something to complain about."

"Usually does."

Sergeant Kelsey Monroe, seated nearby, gave a fond little sigh. "Oh, Johnny's always been such a chatterbox. It's honestly one of the things I love about him."

Gaz glanced over. "Love?"

Kelsey smiled. "Well, obviously. He's my boyfriend."

Ghost's gaze shifted toward her. Price stopped writing.

Gaz blinked. "Sorry, he's your what?"

"My boyfriend," Kelsey repeated, as though the answer should have been obvious. "We've been together for a while now. I thought you boys knew."

Ghost leaned back slightly. "First I've heard of it."

"Oh, Johnny wanted to keep things quiet." She giggled. "You know how he gets. Always teasing, never serious about anything."

Gaz frowned thoughtfully. Soap was certainly friendly enough, but he'd never mentioned having a girlfriend. "How long's this been going on, then?"

"A few months." Kelsey lowered her voice conspiratorially. "He even sneaks over to my quarters after lights-out sometimes."

Price's pen stopped moving. Ghost turned his head. Gaz stared.

"Does he, now?" Price asked.

Kelsey nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, yes! He's terribly affectionate when we're alone."

Ghost's expression remained unreadable. "Funny. Johnny usually can't keep his mouth shut about anything."

Kelsey laughed a little too quickly. "Well, some things are private!"

Price set his pen down. "Sergeant Monroe," he said, his tone becoming distinctly more attentive, "perhaps you'd care to elaborate on these late-night visits."

[Gaz | The Sergeant's Darling]

---

The recreation room had become an unofficial gathering spot after the day's training exercises. Soap was stretched across one of the sofas, Ghost occupied the armchair nearest the window, and Price was reviewing something on his phone. Gaz stood near the kitchenette, preparing himself another cup of tea.

Kelsey Monroe had been talking for nearly ten minutes. "...and honestly, Kyle's just the most thoughtful boyfriend. He remembers everything."

Soap glanced up from his phone. "Boyfriend?"

Kelsey smiled sweetly. "Oh! I suppose I haven't told you boys yet."

Ghost's eyes narrowed slightly. "Here we go."

Kelsey ignored him. "Kyle and I have been together for a while now. We've just been keeping it quiet because, you know, workplace relationships can be complicated."

Price lowered his phone. "Have you?"

"Oh, yes! And he's planning something special for our anniversary next week."

Gaz, who had just returned from the kitchenette, stopped walking. "My what?"

Kelsey turned toward him with a delighted smile. "Our anniversary, silly!"

Gaz stared at her for several seconds. Then he looked toward Soap. "Did I miss something?"

Soap was already grinning. "Apparently you've got an anniversary, mate."

Gaz set his tea down. "Right." He folded his arms, his expression remaining remarkably composed. "Kelsey, would you mind telling me exactly when this relationship supposedly started?"

[Gaz | The Sergeant's Darling ALT]

---

The afternoon had been remarkably uneventful. Price occupied his usual armchair in the common room, reviewing paperwork while Ghost sat nearby cleaning a piece of equipment. Soap was sprawled across the sofa, complaining about the lack of anything interesting to do. Gaz had stepped out earlier to handle some administrative work.

"Think Gaz's still buried in paperwork?" Soap asked, tossing his phone onto the cushion beside him.

"Likely," Price replied without looking up.

"Poor bastard. Rather him than me."

Sergeant Kelsey Monroe, who had been quietly listening from a nearby chair, smiled to herself. "Oh, he's probably planning something."

Soap glanced over. "Planning what?"

Kelsey giggled. "Well, our anniversary's coming up. He's been acting awfully secretive lately."

Ghost's hands paused.

Soap blinked. "Your anniversary?"

"Mhm!" Kelsey beamed. "Kyle and I have been together for months. I think he's planning something romantic."

Price slowly raised his eyes from the paperwork. "You're involved with Garrick?"

"Oh, yes! We've just been keeping it quiet." She sighed dreamily. "He's such a gentleman. Always thinking of little ways to surprise me."

Soap sat upright. "Hold on. Gaz has a girlfriend?"

Ghost glanced toward him. "Apparently."

Kelsey nodded enthusiastically. "Actually, I think he might be planning something even bigger."

Soap narrowed his eyes. "Bigger?"

She lowered her voice, looking delighted with herself. "Well, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I wouldn't be surprised if he proposed."

Silence.

Soap's mouth fell open. "Proposed?"

Ghost slowly set his equipment aside. Price removed his reading glasses.

Kelsey smiled sweetly. "I mean, we've talked about our future together. He's absolutely devoted to me."

Soap looked between Ghost and Price. "Are we talkin' about the same Kyle Garrick?"

Ghost tilted his head. "That's a hell of a development."

Price studied Kelsey for a long moment. "Sergeant Monroe," he said carefully, "how long did you say this relationship has been going on?"

[Price | The Captain's Favorite]

---

The briefing had been scheduled for 0900. By 0905, Captain Price was already regretting allowing Kelsey Monroe anywhere near the conference table. Soap and Gaz occupied their usual seats, quietly discussing the previous day's training. Ghost stood near the wall with his arms folded, while Price organized several mission folders at the head of the table.

Kelsey, meanwhile, had decided to sit in the chair immediately beside him. "John, darling, you really ought to take a break. You work yourself far too hard."

Price didn't look up. "Monroe. We're working."

She giggled. "Oh, don't be like that! You weren't so formal last night."

Soap's conversation with Gaz abruptly stopped. Ghost turned his head.

Price slowly lowered the folder in his hands. "Excuse me?"

Kelsey smiled, seemingly delighted by the attention. "Well, I suppose there's no point hiding it anymore. John and I have been seeing each other privately."

Silence. Then Soap coughed into his fist. Gaz stared at the tabletop.

Ghost muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "You've got to be joking."

Price regarded Kelsey with an expression that had made considerably more experienced soldiers reconsider their life choices. "Sergeant Monroe."

Her smile brightened. "Yes, darling?"

"First, you will address me as Captain Price while on duty."

Kelsey blinked.

"Second, you will stop telling personnel that we're romantically involved."

"But John—"

"Third," Price interrupted, his voice dropping into something dangerously quiet, "you will explain precisely why you've been spreading that claim around my base."

Soap suddenly found the ceiling fascinating. Ghost remained perfectly still. Gaz wisely said nothing.

Price leaned forward. "I'm waiting, Sergeant."

[Price | The Captain's Favorite ALT]

---

The common room was unusually relaxed for a weekday afternoon. Soap had commandeered the television, Gaz occupied the sofa with a mug of tea, and Ghost sat near the window, quietly maintaining his equipment. Captain Price was elsewhere on base attending a meeting with senior command, leaving the three soldiers to enjoy a rare moment without their commanding officer's supervision.

"Reckon the old man's gonna have us running drills tomorrow?" Soap asked.

"Depends how much paperwork he's got waiting," Gaz replied.

Ghost grunted. "Wouldn't count on a quiet morning."

From a nearby chair, Sergeant Kelsey Monroe gave a small, affectionate laugh. "Oh, John won't be making anyone do anything too strenuous tomorrow. He's been absolutely exhausted lately."

Soap glanced toward her. "John?"

"Captain Price, silly." Kelsey smiled. "I keep telling him he needs to rest more, but you know how stubborn he gets."

Gaz raised an eyebrow. "You're on first-name terms with the captain?"

Kelsey giggled. "Well, of course. It'd be a little strange to call my boyfriend 'Captain' all the time, wouldn't it?"

Soap stopped moving. Ghost slowly lifted his head.

Gaz lowered his mug. "Your boyfriend?" Gaz repeated.

Kelsey blinked. "Oh! I suppose we haven't told you yet."

Soap stared. "You're shaggin' the captain?"

"Johnny!" Gaz hissed.

"What? It's a fair question!"

Kelsey laughed, her cheeks flushing with apparent embarrassment. "Well, we were trying to keep things professional, but honestly, it's been difficult. John's so protective of me."

Ghost's eyes narrowed. "Protective how?"

"Oh, you know." She waved a hand dismissively. "Making sure I get the assignments I deserve, keeping me out of dangerous situations. He says I'm far too important to risk."

The humor gradually disappeared from Gaz's expression. "Price told you that?"

Kelsey nodded confidently. "He even promised to put in a good word for my next promotion."

Soap exchanged a look with Gaz.

Ghost set his equipment down. "That's a serious claim, Monroe."

Kelsey smiled, seemingly oblivious to the shift in atmosphere. "Oh, don't worry. John wouldn't mind me telling you boys."

Ghost leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "Wouldn't he?"

Gaz placed his mug on the table.

"Because I reckon that's something we'd better hear from the captain himself."