𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞?

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆…?"

;— 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐛 𝐗𝐢𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐭.

𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐒 𝐑𝐏 | 𝐌𝐃𝐍𝐈

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– now that you’re back in my life. Was no sense of home without you before.” He admits quietly, that intense gaze not leaving her face.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

“I was debating callin’ as soon as I landed but surprisin’ you was so worth it, pip-squeak.” Caleb grins as he opens up the eggs, showing her that they’re all safe despite their fall in the grocery bags.

“I don’t think I could’ve gotten a better welcome home.” He adds, –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

When shifted back to her feet the small pout formed over the denying of her doing laundry, choosing to accept it since she'd probably be knocked out cold in his arms like always. The mention of groceries though made her face shift in horror.

‘ Shit, I did! ’

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– voice softening as he sets them side and puts the bags away; a large hand then reaching up to gently cup her cheek. He was already planning on accessing the cameras he had set up - for security, of course - to save the footage of her running at him.

“So happy to be home, –

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– to not be in the same room as her, in truth.

“Did I miss anythin’ else, baby?”

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

“No need. I’ll get to the laundry tomorrow after some good sleep, pip-squeak.” Slowly, Caleb stands, setting her on her feet as he gives her a playful little grin and one more kiss.

“For now though, maybe I’ll check the groceries survived the fall. Hope you didn’t have –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

It was tough to not worry about him while he was gone for days at a time, wondering when he'd be back in between doing her own missions. But getting to hear his voice on those recordings always eased her, the little bit of him she got to keep home with her.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– any eggs in there.” His tall frame is already making its way over to the discarded bags, carefully picking them up to carry them into the kitchen to help unpack them; throwing his hat down on the counter as he runs a hand through his hair.

Part of him was simply reluctant –

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– little sigh as he kisses her forehead.

“I’ll get washed up. Head for the shower and get this uniform off. You joinin’ me, princess?” Honestly he was tired. The thought of taking care of her too, getting to wash her hair and hold her under the hot water was too appealing.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

“I’m glad you’re not makin’ me fight for my rightful place after leavin’ you here all alone, pip-squeak.” A soft smile follows his words, his heart melting at the fact she had used the audios he’d recorded - from recipes, to bedtime stories he told her when they were –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

A content sigh left her when his hands cupped her cheeks, leaning into the touch as eyes closed while her own hands slipped up to hold over his.

‘ It's okay, I know you would have if you could. I just used the headphones you got me .. those audio clips you made for me⎯

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– younger, discussing plane types and models to simply counting her to sleep. Between that and the mental image of her cuddled up in his clothes, he can’t help the way he aches at the thought of her being alone.

Pure guilt.

Cuddling her in once more, Caleb exhales a shaky –

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– for a little while now that they have plenty data to look over. Any missions will be very much on this planet.” He assures, cupping her cheeks as he studies her intently; drinking in the sight of her with a pleased sigh.

“Even have a couple of days off to recover.”

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you from the storms, princess. And from a cold bed.” His smile is small but genuine, the teasing in his tone far too soft to have any real impact. He was far too happy to see the small blonde in his arms.

“But I’m back now, will be –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

She wouldn't even flinch when dropping with him, shifting to sit comfortably on the others lap as kisses trailed his face again while thumbs rubbed soft circles against his cheeks.

‘ Missed you too, Caleb. Been hard sleeping without you here, been a couple of storms. ’

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– enough to drive him insane and he had to just keep telling himself that she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

But she shouldn’t have to. It should have been him here with her.

“Missed you so much, pip-squeak.” He whispers, fingers running through her hair.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

Caleb is so gentle as he cradles her close, a quiet sigh of relief escaping against her lips as he refuses to pull away; instead sinking down onto the couch with her in his lap.

She was safe, she was well, nothing else mattered. Being so far away, so out of range, had been –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

Supported by his arms, hers would shift to cup his cheeks with both hands and lean into the kiss more, hers equally laced with yearning from the time he'd been away. It was hard to come home to an empty home and bed every day while he was out of signal and so far away.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– kisses to his face. It doesn’t last though, not when his lips are so eager to find her own to kiss her with a desperate edge.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

The surprise on her face is everything, the colonel unable to hold back his own grin as the bags hit the floor. He can’t even joke, not when he’s rushing to meet her half way to scoop her up with a breathless laugh.

“There’s my girl.” He breathes, eyes closing as she presses –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

Groceries were dropped to the floor upon seeing the others figure once she entered the home.

‘ Caleb, you're home!! ’

A gasp let out before rushing to him and jumping at the other to latch arms around his neck as kisses were littered along his face.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

Arriving back from a week spent in the Deepspace Tunnel and not being greeted by cuddles and kisses is insanity.

He’s so under-appreciated. Shaking his head.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

|| Took a small break from on here because stress lmao.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– wake him once more. Especially with her held close in his arms, her safety was everything to him.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

Eventually the toll of her warm body against his own takes effect, like the most comforting weighted blanket that he refuses to let go of, causing him to drift into a light sleep.

It was something that didn’t come easy to him most of the time due to a mixture of nightmares –

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝙱ᡣ𐭩𝙼𝙱S͜͡𝙷ꫀ𝙻𝙻‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍𝙱𝙻ᡣ𐭩N͜͡𝙳ꫀ‍ @rosenrounds]

The soft murmur of his name would leave her, cheek squished to his chest while partially drooling, the obvious indication that she was having the dreams about him cooking dishes for her again. Some things would never seem to change, and that was one.

[𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁 @_ColonelXia]

– that fluctuated between losing her, EVER, horrifying experiments, losing himself and his mind entirely…his mind was a fractured mess of trauma and it made remaining still and resting impossible.

And yet there he was, sleeping peacefully. Even if the smallest of noises could –