Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Ghost first started to wake up he knew he had hit his head pretty hard. He felt pain rush through him along with vague memories of being nearly blown up while driving a stolen truck as fast as he could. Hostiles on his six and not a fuckin clue on how to shake them.

He remembers that Price warned him that if anything went wrong this mission, there would be hell to pay. Apparently the payment was taken out of Ghost's ass. He grunted as he started to feel that his body was thoroughly wrecked as well. Not as bad as he would figure though. Small mercies.

He smelled antiseptics, must be in medical now. Doesn't remember how though, just remembers the vehicle rolling and hearing metal twist in on itself. He wonders vaguely how Price managed to pull his sorry ass out of that particular fuck up. One of many since Johnny died.

Fuck.

Ghost groaned when he attempted to open his eyes and the pain from morning light fell over him. Definitely a concussion at the very least. Another throb of pain made him jerk and he checked off nausea as well. Big ass concussion.

"Simon."

Vaguely the words register to Ghost, but he is honestly more preoccupied with keeping his head from splitting in two. Did medic not give him meds? He bet Price told them to keep him off the heavy stuff so Ghost was fully present when his Captain tore him a new ass.

"Can you hear me?"

"Shuddup." He slurs and receives a new spike of pain for his troubles.

The sound of a small chuckle, more of a breath of air, and then a hand is wrapping around his own. Ghost tenses, wonders if it's Gaz getting all mushy about almost losing another teammate. Again.

"Off yer Heid."

What? Ghost's eyes snap open and he cries out in pain but manages to see a silhouetted figure in front of him. He would know the outline of that figure anywhere. Even if it was missing a particularly stupid haircut.

"Johnny?" He asks, teeth bared as he opens his eyes again.

"Easy, Si. They have ye on the good stuff, but yer still gonna feel like you got hit by a mack."

Ghost forced his eyes to stay open, they watered from the pain, but eventually he could make out the features that fit the voice. John MacTavish. Grinning wolfishly, and alive, hair a bit longer than when Ghost had watched him get shot.

He was alive, or Ghost was dead.

"Johnny." Ghost whispers, doesn't know how to feel, his eyes burn though and he feels them water even more. He grits his teeth and fights the pain that wants him to close his eyes again.

Soap, seems a bit more worn and tired than usual, stares at Ghost with a bit of shock before a soft smile forms on his face. "What is it, Si? Ya hurt? I can tell the doctor te hurry."

Without even fully registering the words leaving Soap, Ghost reaches out and pulls the man into a tight hug. He doesn't think he has ever held someone as tightly as he held Johnny. His eyes still burn and he ignores the wetness he feels on his face.

"Thought I lost you." Johnny whispers and Ghost snorts, fuck that hurt. Johnny was the one that had gotten shot in the fucking head.

"You think I've survived everything I have to be taken out by a crash?" Ghost jokes, hates that his voice sounds harsh and choked. "Are you okay?"

Johnny snorts then and pulls back to wipe honest to God tears from his face. Never seen Soap cry before, even if his signature smile was still in place, it was unnerving in a way. "Me? 'course I'm okay, I didn't just almost die in an accident!"

Rolling his eyes at the dramatic display, Ghost lays back against the bed with a huff, a relieved smirk on his face as he stares up at his alive and well Sergeant.

Soap sits perched on the side of his bed and yanks at the sleeve of a thick cardigan. He seems so domesticated, his war hawk nowhere to be seen, and Ghost has so many questions.

"Nurse said she would send in the doctor." Soap says with a sigh, running his hand over his face. He looked so tired, older almost. Then Ghost catches the glint of gold around his ring finger and his mouth falls open.

"Mr. Riley!" Ghost jumps a bit but turns to see an older woman walk in with a clip board. "I see you're awake, how are you feeling?"

Without meaning to Ghost's eyes fall back to Soap, his eyes trailing down to the ring. "Bloody fucking confused, if I'm honest." He says tersely, feels a heat of anger start to form in his chest. Had Soap fucked off to go play civilian?

"That's quite normal I'm afraid. You had quite the accident, severe head injury. Any other symptoms? Pain, nausea, memory loss?" She asks approaching and starts to pull out a light to check his pupils.

"Headache." He says simply and glares at the woman while she forces open his eyes.

"Simon. Be nice." Soap chides through the side of his mouth and Ghost shoots him a rude gesture and an annoyed look. Soap seems annoyed but a soft fond smile spreads over his mouth.

"Soap's acting weird, but other than that, I'm solid." Ghost says giving the sergeant a meaningful look. He's confused by the strange look Soap gives him in return. As if he doesn't understand what just came out of Ghost's mouth.

The hand returns, gently placed in the back of Ghost's clenched fist."Si, why did you call me that?" He asks quietly, eyeing Ghost with furrowed brows.

"Yer fucking name innit?" Ghost snaps, annoyed.

The doctor raises an eyebrow and turns to look at Soap. "I thought your name was John?" She asks politely.

With a small huff Soap turns to the nurse with a nervous grin. "Nickname, but he hasn't called me that in a long while." He explains, cutting his eyes back to Ghost again.

"What?" Ghost asks, grits his teeth and can hear them grind together loudly. The doctor turns back to him with the light again and he swats it out of her hands.

The older woman startles and Soap stands up to stare at Ghost with shock. Like Ghost didn't have a right to be pissed at the moment.

"Where the fuck have you been anyways? Huh? Couldn't very well call a dead man by his call sign, let a line by his name." Ghost growls out, ignoring the doctor that was trying to ask him to calm down.

Johnny pales as he stares at Ghost, seemingly horrified by what Ghost was saying. Maybe he was guilty, good, Ghost wanted him to feel guilty.

"Better have a damn good reason for disappearing like that. Thought you were dead, we had a funeral for you." Ghost throws the blankets back and sits up with a wince. He intended on standing but his body was far too weak for that. It just pissed him off more.

"Say something you fucking wanker."

"Mr. Riley!" Ghost finally looks over at the Doctor. She looks nervous but stern as she glares at him. "That is enough. If you are confused or have questions, that is fine, but I will call security if you can't control yourself."

Ghost rolls his eyes and flops back against the bed. He hadn't gotten that loud by his own judgement. He has yelled louder at rookies for less than the shit Soap has pulled.

"Simon? What year is it?" Came Soap's question. His jaw was tense and Ghost felt his anger spike again. As if Soap had any reason to be pissed. No where near as many as Ghost did, he was sure of it.

"What kind of stupid-"

"Answer me." Soap snaps, his eyes narrowed, and mouth turned down in a frown.

Ghost sighs harshly, thinks about yelling again but decides to take a breath. "2024. Little over a year since your little disappearing act. Did they not have calenders wherever you fucked off to?"

All of the anger drains from Ghost as he sees Soap and the Doctor exchange shocked looks with one another. His anger does start to quickly rise up again as they continue their silent shocked staring for a few seconds longer than was preferred. Which was zero.

"What the fuck is it?"

His eyes were on his sergeant, but he heard the doctor clear her throat with intention. "Mr. Riley. The year is 2036." The doctor says slowly. "Can you please tell me what the last thing you remember is?"

Ghost blinks at her owlishly. "That's fuckin' bullshit. You taking the piss or what?"

"Simon!" Johnny snaps and Ghost shoots Soap a dirty look. Why does he keep calling him by his government name?

"Bomb blew my truck off the road while I was evading some hostiles. About ten kicks outside-" Ghost grunted as Soap quickly shot his hand out and covered Ghost's mouth.

"Civilian." Soap whispers hoarsely and nods towards the woman who seems horrified from what Ghost had been describing. "Sorry, he's ex military. I think he was describing a mission he was on in 2024. It's what caused his leg injury."

The words don't make any sense. He doesn't have a leg injury, not a recent one. He also isn't ex anything. Soap knows this, so what is with the story he is giving. Were they in hostile territory?

Either way, he's had enough of Soap's hand on his mouth. Ghost opens his mouth wide and bites down harshly on the meat of Soap's palm. The man yelps loudly and nearly falls backwards and glares at Ghost.

"Alright, now, enough. What the bloody hell is going on?" Ghost barks loudly making the woman jump and scramble away and Soap to take on a stiffer posture. Always the good little soldier.

The door to the hospital room opens and a small child runs in and Ghost feels like he is about to have an aneurysm with how out of control and fucking confusing everything feels. "What the fuck is that?" Ghost asks as the little girl clings to Soap's leg.

"Ah, a kid?" Soap says, as if that answered literally any of the thousands of questions going through Ghost's head.

"I fuckin' know a kid when I see one, what is it doing here?" Ghost snaps harshly and only feels a little guilty when the girl gasps and takes a step behind Soap.

Soap glares harshly at Ghost but before he can speak, the girl whimpers. "Why is Daddy yelling?"

There was ringing in Ghost's ears. Maybe he was still knocked out and this was some weird as fuck dream. The only thing he can bring himself to do is stare as Soap leans down, mumbles something to the little girl and kisses her head.

The little girl has tears in her eyes and stares at Ghost with concern. *Weird little shit.* Two other kids walk in, bit older. They smile at Ghost, almost seem excited to see him, but quickly look concerned as Soap quickly shuffles them towards the door.

"Wait, what's wrong with Dad?" He hears the tallest asks, a teen girl looking over her shoulder at Ghost with worry in her eyes. For Ghost.

"Nothing, Dad just can't have too many visitors right now. Take Lilith out to play or something." Soap says quickly, ushering the three kids from the room urgently.

"Wait." At first Ghost doesn't realize that he was the one that said it. Everyone turns to look at him, the doctor seeming nervous and ready to make good on her threat of security. "Who are these kids?" He asks hesitantly, desperately looking at Soap for answers.

The room is silent for what feels like a really long time. Ghost can't even bring himself to be angry or yell anymore as things start to slowly connect for him. The kids are looking at him and asking if their dad is okay, and no one corrected them.

Then the littlest one, Lilith, speaks up with tears in her eyes. "Daddy? Are you going to be okay?"

Swallowing harshly Ghosts looks from Soap to the little girl and back. His eyes brows raised and he feels like he might faint. His mouth drops open but nothing comes out.

"He's forgotten us?" The second smallest asks. Ghost furrows his brows and he licks his lips. He doesn't think he has forgotten anything, but he doesn't know these children. Doesn't know why they seem so worried about him. And he definitely doesn't understand why they are calling him Daddy, even if he forgot everything, he knows he never wanted children.

"That's enough, go, before I scalp ya." Soap says harshly in a low whisper. The two oldest nod, seeming to finally understand how serious the situation was. They grab the little girl and take off from the room and Soap closes the door harshly.

There is a thudding in Ghost's ears that almost drowns out the frantic low talking of Soap and the doctor. He can't really understand them, but Soap is crying again and keeps looking at him with so much fear and agony.

"Stop. What is happening?" The question comes out with so much more of a tremble than Ghost thought his voice capable of.

"Retrograde amnesia is my current theory." The doctor says bluntly. Ghost can't hear the rest, doesn't even try to pay attention.

---

The children don't return in the three days following. Ghost mostly keeps to himself even if Soap tries often to coax him into talking. He knows he has to face reality at some point, but he doesn't know if he can. Of all the things that has happened to him, this might be the hardest to confront.

"Simon?" Ghost slowly turns to look at Soap. The man is sat on the couch against the far wall, hasn't sat on the bed since that first day. "You think you would eat if I got you that tortellini you like from the Italian restaurant down the road?" He asks hopefully glancing at the untouched hospital food.

He can't help the frown that forms on his face and the narrowed eyes. Soap keeps forgetting that Ghost doesn't know what the fuck any of these things are or if he actually does like that food. He has the decency to look sheepish though, so Ghost tries to give him a shrug to show that it's fine.

"Okay then." Slowly Soap stands from the couch and gives a long stretch. Ghost watches him, keeps his eyes on him when he can. Like he is afraid his sergeant will disappear again if he doesn't keep an eye on him. "I have to go pick Tommy up from the airport."

That gets Ghost's attention. A small but very intense part of him surges with hope, that in this strange reality he has woken up in, Tommy, his brother, is still alive. "Tommy?" He asks gruffly, but his hands clench into fists with the intensity of that small speck of hope.

The sheepish look John gives him does make that hope twist a bit. Flicker with what it might mean. "Our son." He explains and Ghost falters.

"Our?" His gaze flicks down to the gold ring around Soap's finger, then to his own bare hands. Soap married in the last ten years, unsurprising. Ghost didn't, also not surprising. "Who did you marry?"

The fond smile is back, Soap keeps looking at him with it. Makes Ghost's skin crawl and heart rate pick up. "Maybe that's a question for another time. Tommy will get anxious if I leave him waiting. I'll come back with the soup." Soap explains in that horribly calm voice that doesn't match the spitfire Ghost remembers him being.

"Soap." The man hesitates in grabbing his things and looks back over at Ghost. "Who did you marry?" Ghost asks again, voice sharp and tense. There were probably far more important questions to be asked, but Ghost thought maybe this may not be as difficult to wrap his mind around.

That becomes a hesitant thought though with the way Soap shifts on his heels and chews at his lip. He looks like he wants to answer but also like he is about to bolt for the door. "Stop pussyfooting around, I need to know what I've missed in the last decade at some point." Ghost snaps.

"I married you."

Soap shrugged as he said it. Like it wasn't the most ridiculous and insane thing he has ever said in his entire life. Like it didn't conflict with so much of what Ghost thinks he knows about himself, is pretty sure about.

"Nice try. I don't have a ring." Ghost says with a false smile, flipping Soap off for good measure.

His sergeant makes a small noise and reaches for a plastic bag of Ghost's clothes and personal items He apparently had on before the wreck. Soap chuckles as he pulls out a matching band. He rushes over and pulls Ghost's left hand towards him, grinning and pleased with himself.

Before Soap can place the ring on his finger, Ghost jerks his hand back and tightens it into a fist. Eyes narrowed at the round shocked look that Soap gives him.

"Get out." Ghost says through clenched teeth.

"Simo-"

"Get the fuck out!" Ghost yells and tosses the first thing he can reach. Apparently the plate of bland mash they call food in this hospital.

The plate shatters against the floor and Soap's face drains of color again. His face hardens though, fists clenched, and he squeezes his eyes shut as he quickly leaves the room.

Ghost almost, no he definitely does, regrets his angry outburst once he was left in the room alone. Soap hasn't left in the last three days. Was by Ghost's side the entire time despite the pissy mood and lack of conversation. Now, all Ghost had for entertainment was his own thoughts.

It felt like a cruel trick. He got Soap back, but in exchange he was no longer in his own world. Sent to this strange reality where everything was different, wrong, and confusing. He kept thinking that Soap was playing a stupid prank on him. Maybe he would wake up in medical on base. Gaz would cry and tell him to stop being stupid. Price would make good on his threat of mandatory leave and therapy.

But instead Soap kept giving him fond smiles, sad eyes, and Ghost kept waking up in this horrible hospital. Ghost huffed out a breath and ran his hand over his bare face. In this reality he apparently ditched the balaclava, face covers all together, which was odd. Unrealistic.

His eyes trace the room and land on the bag Soap was supposed to grab, before Ghost threw his tantrum. He forgot it in his hurry to leave. Surely if there was any evidence to this being a hoax, it would be in Soap's bag, right?

Logically, no, but Ghost needed something to do. Needed a goal to figure this world out. So he slowly got up out of bed, cursing his weakened body and the bad leg he apparently got in the crash of '24. He limped to the couch and sat down with a groan.

"Fuckin' hell, I'm doing cardio nonstop when I get the fuck outta here." He swears to himself as he reaches for the bag and tugs it open.

There are what look like photo albums inside. Not exactly what he thought Soap would be carrying around. He groans in annoyance, it wasn't the evidence he needed for escaping this reality.

He did tug out an older looking album. It was thick and falling apart with faded coloration. He flipped it open to the first page and froze.

It was a picture of the 141. Around the time that Soap first joined. Ghost remembers it clearly and a sigh of relief shakes from him. Something he remembers. A life line.

Gaz and Soap are in the front, laughing at a joke that Soap told but Ghost can't quite remember. Price and Ghost are in the back. Price looks vaguely amused and Ghost is stood at a perfect parade rest, staring off behind the camera. He remembers being severely unimpressed, but just happy that Soap was a decent soldier.

He looks at some of the other photos and relaxes back into the stiff couch. They are from various times in the 141. He remembers almost all of them. The ones he doesn't remember look like they were mundane moments that Soap just so happened to capture.

He flips the pages and relives some of his best memories. He likes this little album, thinks he could even ask Soap for a copy of it. Then he flips to the last page. He frowns.

A wedding photo. With two grooms. One is obviously Soap, he still has his war hawk but there is a giant scar on one side of his head. Where he was shot.

Then there was Ghost. No mask, no gear, just a black tux, and smile on his face as he watches Johnny wave to the camera. They are holding hands in the picture and a sign in the background reads 'just married'.

Ghost slams the album closed and takes a large breath and holds it for a moment. When he releases it he has made his decision. He grabs the next album and flips it open.

It seems to pick up where the last one left off. The wedding. If there was any doubt as to whose wedding they were attending, it was crushed by the first few photos. Johnny and Ghost standing at the alter with Price grinning as he stood in for a priest. Again, Ghost was smiling. Looked as happy as he has ever been.

Another with Soap and Ghost dancing. A crowd of their closest friends and colleagues smiling at them while they held each other with matching grins. He stared at where Soap's face was tucked intimately into Ghost's neck.

Later photos were of the different guests. Price and Gaz obviously drinking heavily and laughing. Laswell and her wife, also dancing. Soap and Ghost again cutting a giant cake, Ghost glaring at a laughing Johnny who had just shoved cake into Ghost face. Then a picture of Ghost smiling while holding Soap's face down into the cake.

The album makes a loud sound when Ghost slams it shut, that was enough of that. It was too real. Too Simon. Weird, and abnormally twisted from what he knew to be his true reality.

He hesitates for a long time before grabbing the next photo album. He isn't afraid, but he isn't sure he wants to know more. He holds the next album in his hands, glaring at the cover and imagining what grotesque obscurities were in it of a life that was obviously not his. Could never be his.

Slowly, he opens the album. He breathes a sigh of relief when there are only a few pictures on the page of a young recruit. Someone he doesn't recognize but they seem proud. He smirks, thinks of how a fresh face like that would have been a prime target for making an example of.

He flips the page and sees much the same. The young private, now a bit older, higher ranked. Then the next page. He sees himself stood next to the younger man. He has his mask and gear on, but he has a cane and seems to be leaning on it heavily.

"What the fuck." Ghost growls out and looks down at his own leg. He has seen and traced the unfamiliar and deep scars along his knee and thigh, didn't realize it was that bad though.

He narrows his eyes and flips the pages a few more times. He stops when there are no more pictures of this young man in his uniform. Instead it's of the young man sitting on a porch drinking a beer with Ghost. No mask again, no gear, just an old worn sweater and jeans.

He notices a bit of writing at the bottom and recognizes the horrible chicken scratch as Soap's hand writing.

'Tommy's first beer.'

His eyes widen and he rereads the words, just to make sure he translated Soap's handwriting correctly. *This* was Tommy. The son that Soap insists is theirs.

Ghost frowns as he stares at the image. Tommy and Soap only look to be about ten or fifteen years apart. So this kid couldn't be Soap's. Ghost almost feels relieved. This had to be the evidence that this reality was fabricated. This couldn't be real.

It feels easier to flip through the photos with that in mind. That none of this was real, a joke, prank, dream, anything but reality. He can't accept that this is his reality.

He watches the young man grow into a well off proper man in his early twenties. There are pictures of Tommy with Ghost and Soap during different activities. Birthday parties, holidays, camping. It was a nice little story, but Ghost knows that's all that it is.

He almost reaches for the next album when the door to his room opens. He freezes when he sees a red eyed Soap peek in.

"Ya gonna be a cunt and throw shit at me again?" He asks with narrowed eyes.

A long suffering sigh leaves Ghost and he shrugs non-committal. "Only if you keep lying to me."

Soap huffs and steps fully into the room. "Not lying, bawbag." He has a bag of takeout with him and he sets it on the rolling table be the hospital bed. "Found those did you?"

Ghost gives a nod and snorts. "Had me going with the wedding photos, I'll admit. Don't know how ya did that. Tommy is way too old to be your kid though." Ghost says with a cocky smirk.

"Our kid." Soap corrects with a sharp tone. Ghost looks up with narrowed eyes. "Tommy is *our* son. We adopted him, in a way. We were about to retire, met him and sort of just took him in." Soap says staring at the album in Ghost's hands.

A bit of anger starts to bubble up in Simon. He tries to keep it under control this time though. "Soap, this isn't funny." He hisses out, tossing the album to the side.

Soap nods his head and places his fists on his hips. "Oh, aye. It's not funny. It's honestly the worst. That you can't remember anything after 2024, so you don't remember me, retirement, the kids. Can't even get ya to believe me and all ya do is get pissy and throw shit when I tell ya what yer missing."

The rant was said in that same even and calm tone that Ghost despises hearing from Soap. It wasn't how he normally sounded. Normally he was full of energy and always joking. This was Soap, but ran down and exhausted. He hated it.

"Johnny, please. I need the truth, I can't do this." He admits quietly, glaring at the floor to keep himself from getting too angry in the face of Soap's own glare.

"It's the truth. All of it." Soap says firmly, annoyed, and sharp. Sounding much better in Ghost's opinion, but it made his stomach turn. "The last one in the bag is when ya met my family. We were already hitched by then and my Nan and Ma were furious. Made some funny pictures though"

Ghost scoffed and shook his head. Didn't even bother opening the album to confirm the story. "Simon. I wouldn't do this to you. Not in a million years would I ever think to lie to you or fuck with you about this."

It gets Ghost's attention and he grits his teeth as he realizes the truth of it. He knows Soap wouldn't do that to him. He trusts Soap with his life, they went through too much to not. He looked up and saw that same sturdy resolve that Soap always had before missions.

"Tell me, then." He already kind of regrets it, but he pinches the bridge of his nose and sits back to rest his tired body.

"Tell ye what?" Soap asks, sounding exasperated.

"Just, anything. About my life in the last ten years." When he looks up again, Johnny looks hesitant and upset. He grits his teeth again but tries to remember that the last time Soap tried to talk to him about this, he threw a plate at him. It makes sense that he would be hesitant and upset. "I won't get angry."

"That's a load of shite." Soap sasses with a roll of his eyes.

A smirk and a low laugh leaves Ghost before he can stop it. He's missed Soap, even if it is this odd version of him that's aged and calmer. "Right. I won't throw things at you." A corrects.

Soap sighs and slowly seems to come to a decision. He walks over to the couch, pushes the albums back into his bag, and sits down facing Simon. He cracks his neck and leans heavily again his arm propped on the back of the couch.

"What should I tell you about?" He asks, the resolved look is in his eyes again.

He looks so much like the Soap Ghost lost. It makes his chest ache. "Why did we get married?" He asks.

"Cause we fuckin' wanted to!" Soap says indignantly and far too loudly. Ghost winced but did appreciate the normalcy of it. "Ye asked me, and I said yes." He finishes firmly.

That didn't seem right though. "Why did I ask you to marry me? Was there something going on that a marriage would have solved?"

Soap deadpans at him before huffing and rubbing his hands harshly at his face. When he looks up there are splotches of color across his cheeks, not sure if it was from anger or the hard press of his hands. "We were shaggin' for a bit. Eventually decided we were okay with only ever shagging each other, then decided that we had to stop pretending we didn't say I love you before bed every night and you proposed. That's it. I don't know why you proposed, I assumed it was because you love me."

"That's gay." The sound of Soap slapping his palm to his forehead was so loud it nearly made Ghost wince. "What? That is literally gay." He says in his own defense.

"Simon Riley, I swear to mother Mary herself, if you don't at least remember that you are an intelligent being and start putting two and two together, I'll kill us both." Soap says firmly, his face getting redder, this time obviously from irritation or anger.

"I'm not gay Soap. I can't put two and two together when this shit doesn't add up." He snaps pointing down at the albums.

"Fuckin hell. Not this shit again." Soap says leaning back against the arm of the couch and turning his glare towards the window.

Ghost narrowed his eyes and curled his lip. That reaction was a little off putting. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Soap glanced at him and ran a hand through his grown out hair. "Just, forget it. We can approach that another time. What else do you want to know?"

A part of Ghost wants to argue, press, know what the fuck Soap was on about. Another larger part could sense he wasn't ready to hear it. Especially if had to do with him claiming to not be gay and being apparently married to his God damn subordinate.

"Tell me about the little kid." He says, swallows harshly. "The one that called me Daddy."

Soap looks crushed by the question. "Lilith. She was the first kid we actually chose to have from infancy. She is five, the youngest, mean as a rattlesnake, and you're her favorite parent cause you keep sneaking sweets to her." His eyes are glassy by the time he is done speaking, but he is giving Ghost the fond smile again.

"What about the other two kids. The girls that were with her. Who are they?" Ghost asks looking away, not sure if he can stomach looking at Soap right now. Not with the sad fondness.

"Maisy, she's seven. Likes science and such. Little weird, but a good kid. Then there is Darla, typical lass, she's fourteen and a holy fuckin' nightmare at times. Only really listens to you." Soap says with a touch of bitterness in his tone. "They all mostly only listen to you."

There is a sinking feeling in his chest. "They are all our kids?" He asks feeling numb and distant. Floaty, almost, and he recognizes it as shock trying to overwhelm him again.

"Yeah. We also have Silas. He's fifteen. Thinks he's real tough, the little shit. He's acted out a lot the last couple days. I get a text every hour from Darla that he has done some terrorist level shit." Johnny says with a huff.

After a moment of silence, Ghost looks up and sees that Soap is staring out the window again. He looks exhausted, on the verge of a breakdown himself. Probably from raising four kids and apparently going to pick up their fifth. Maybe also from dealing with Ghost. "So. We got married, adopted a bunch of kids, and lived happily ever after?" Ghost asks with a scoff.

A snort leaves Soap and it draws Ghost's attention again. The man was grinning, as wild and carefree as always. "About right." He agrees, and he looks happy. Genuinely pleased with the chaos and turmoil of what their life has apparently become. It doesn't make sense.

---

Ghost is allowed out of the hospital with strict limitations. Soap seems to be losing his mind about it more than Ghost apparently already has. He stresses about everything from how the kids and Ghost will interact to the stain on the rug that Lilith apparently made while Ghost was gone. He mumbles about all of it and gripes as he goes about helping Ghost prepare to leave.

"Johnny! Sit the fuck down for a second." Ghost finally snaps when Soap all but runs him over with his pacing. The man sits immediately and stares up at Ghost with a nervous pinch at his brows.

The urge to comfort Soap is there, but he isn't good at that. At least this version of him isn't. "Just, breathe. Been through actual war and you didn't freak out this bad."

Soap rolls his eyes but his shoulders ease and a small curl of his lips lets Ghost know it helped some. It felt sort of good. Knowing that he had eased some of Soap's stress.

"You had the talk with the kids? That I uh, can't remember?" Ghost asks with a frown. Soap gives a solemn nod and Ghost returns it. "Right. What intel do I need before I meet them?"

Soap snorts and chuckles. "They're our kids, not missions." He teases with another bout of laughter. Ghost huffs but can't bring himself to mind the tease too much.

"Lilith is spoiled rotten by you, so she will probably come to you with most requests. She'll be the most up your ass." Johnny explains thoughtfully.

Ghost vaguely wonders again if this is all real. The idea of him actually spoiling a child sounds a little out of his reach. "Maisy will talk your ear off and she's honestly the strangest kid I have ever met. There honestly isn't a warning good enough for her, just be on your toes."

Ghost gives a curt nod. "Silas and Darla are going to be ass hole teenagers. That's all I can say about that." Soap says with a grimace before quickly continuing. "And Tommy is a bit reserved and skittish but he's the sweetest boy. Well, 'man', he gets pouty when we call him our boy." Soap explains with a sharp grin.

Ghost takes a deep breath, files away the limited information, and prepares himself mentally the whole way to their house. He doesn't think it's enough, this feels like flying in blind to a suicide mission.

He isn't surprised when he doesn't recognize the house. He is surprised with how well put together it is. It was nice, brick, two story, and pretty big. He could see a large front yard and a back yard that seemed to extend into a patch of woods. He liked it as far as looks went, never thought he would have this picture perfect of a house though.

As soon as Soap put the truck in park, Ghost was apparently not to drive for a while, the front door bursts open and five kids ranging from 28 to 5 stepped out and stared curiously towards the truck. It sent a chill down Ghost's spine. This was his family.

"How the fuck did you convince me to have five kids? I didn't want any." Ghost huffs to himself as he eyes the small gathering.

"Hush! Don't let them hear you say shit like that." Soap says sternly, and Ghost feels like the Scot would actually attack him if he slipped up around the kids with that.

"Yes, sir." Ghost intones with narrowed eyes. Soap just grins at him and wiggles his eyebrows, like an absolute idiot. Ghost waits till Soap is out of the truck to snort at the look.

"Daddy!" The littlest one, Lilith, cheers as they start to walk up the stone path. Ghost grimaces, he feels nervous. The Ghost doesn't do nervous, but here he is. Nauseous with nerves at the idea of meeting an excited five year old.

"That's you, by the way. You are Daddy and Dad. I'm Dada and Da." Soap whispers at him quickly. Ghost makes a face but quickly straightens it at the look Soap gives him.

"Copy."

Before he even makes it to the porch, he realizes it's the same one from the photo of Tommy's first beer just more weathered, Lilith launches herself at him. By instinct alone he catches her but almost falls when he forgets he has a bad leg.

"Damn it." He hisses as he barely managed to keep himself from tipping over. The little girl tenses in his arms and looks up nervously at him. "Hi." He says simply down at the girl.

He is met with the most beaming smile he has ever seen. Crooked little teeth, round pink cheeks, and tiny hands reaching up for him. His heart stops for a moment and he turns to look at Soap for help. He is already pushing past the kids to get inside though.

Fucking traitor.

"I want up." The little girl demands impatiently, a little pout forming on her face. A heavy sigh leaves Ghost as he carefully lifts the little girl. She squirms and giggles excitedly but Ghost manages to secure her on his hip. He ignores the memories that try to latch on at holding a small child. He takes a few unsteady steps when the young man, Tommy, steps to his side and places a hand on the middle of his back.

"I got you, Dad. We'll get you a new cane." He says in a soft tone. Sounds a bit like Soap when the man speaks in his irritating soft calm voice.

"Sure." Ghost agrees passively. He wants to work on not needing a cane. His body feels fragile and weak, he isn't going to let that fly. He reminds himself of his promise to work on cardio and starts mentally adding a few other exercises to the list.

"Maisy said you forgot me." Lilith says with the softest little whine Ghost has ever heard. He looks down at her and feels a weird tightening in his chest from the most perfectly, manipulative, puppy eyes that have ever been executed.

"You're Lilith, five years old, and you stink." He says truthfully. The little girl vaguely smelled like crayons and glue. To his surprise she tilted her head back and laughed loud and freely. As if his little insult was the funniest thing she had ever heard. "You stink a whole lot." He grumbles as he keeps walking with Tommy's help.

Lilith is giggling and grinning the whole time Ghost walks. When he makes it inside he hates how winded he feels. He slowly lowers Lilith to the ground even as the girl pouts about it.

"You're only five but already weigh a fuck ton." He complains a bit, knowing begrudgingly that he just wasn't in shape anymore. Still, Lilith giggles before running off and it makes Ghost pause as he watches her care free and happy. Not bothered at all by Ghost's gruff nature.

"Dad?"

He watches as another teen enters the room. Must be Silas. His hair is dark, long, and curly, thrown back in a messy bun withtendrils escaping here and there. He eyes Ghost with an oddly defensive look before hurrying away.

"Dad."

The two girls from the hospital, apparently Maisy and Darla, walk past Ghost and follow Soap into the kitchen where the man is clanging around noisily and cursing things in ways Ghost doesn't understand.

"Dad."

Ghost snaps his attention back to Tommy. The lad is staring at him, and Ghost belatedly remembers that he is this 'Dad' that he keeps hearing be called to. "What?"

Tommy seems hesitant and looks around the room nervously. He steps a bit closer and lowers his voice, making Ghost tilt his head to hear him. "If you need any help, just ask and I'll help fill you in."

It seems Soap had been right. Tommy was a good kid, a little nervous looking, but good. "Sure." Ghost says and starts to walk towards the kitchen. He shoots a frown at Tommy when he tries to keep assisting Ghost, and the man backs away with a small sheepish smile.

He can't help rolling his eyes. None of the kids are allegedly biologically his or Soap's, but he can't deny that they seem to have picked up plenty of mannerisms from them. Tommy seems to have taken up Soap's boyish nature.

"Soap." Ghost calls out leaning an arm against the entryway to the kitchen. He blinks in surprise when a bottle of dish liquid is held in front of him. He follows the arm to see Darla holding the bottle out while staring at her phone absently.

"Oh, that's just too funny." Soap says from where he was standing, fridge door propped open and loud laughter leaving him.

"What?" Darla snaps defensively with a small curl of her lip.

Ghost pushes the dish liquid back towards her and sighs. "When did we stop going by our call signs?" He asks in annoyance as he takes a few steps towards a messy dining table off to the side.

Once he sits down he stares around the kitchen. It's fairly clean, but filled to the brim with items. Different appliances line the counters, jars and other random items are scattered on the counters, and Ghost spots what looks like a naked doll sitting precariously close to a sink with left over dishwater.

Soap hums in thought as he turns back to the fridge. "Probably a bit after we bought the house. We were getting ready to foster Darla." He explains while he rummages around.

Absently Ghost glances over at the eldest girl, Darla, and sees her quickly look away and back to her phone before grinning and walking from the kitchen. "Why?" Ghost asks watching through the kitchen doorway as another smaller kid chases after Darla. Maisy, he thinks.

He nearly jumps when Soap kicks another chair out from under the table and plops down with a sigh. He places down a glass of water and nudges it towards Ghost and pops open a beer for himself.

"Not sure, just sort of happened." He says with a small scrunch to his face as he thinks about it.

Ghost uses his distracted thinking to snatch the beer from his hand and takes a deep pull from it. It's cold and his favorite brand. He sighs, almost content, as he lowers the bottle.

"Simon?" Ghost turns to narrow his eyes at Soap but he stops when he sees the concerned look on his face.

Soap looks between the bottle and Simon nervously. "What? Don't tell me I don't even fucking drink anymore." He never drank a lot, doesn't even know why he is complaining. Everything just feels so different.

A shuttering sigh leaves Soap and he shakes his head. "It's fine, you don't plan on getting drunk. Right?"

The way Soap cautiously looks at him from the corner of his eye sends a disgusted tremble through his body. Soap almost looks scared, just for a small second. Of Ghost. He doesn't like the implications of that one bit and he feels his blood go cold.

"Obviously not, there are kids around." He says in a level tone, eyeing the way Soap seems to relax with no small amount of dread. "Just wanted a sip." He says with a low growl and pushes the bottle back to Soap and snatches up the water.

He feels unnerved. Shaken to his core. There wasn't a reality that he could imagine not being a monster, but he could never be that type of monster. Not like his father. Drunk and rage filled, looking for any target available to unleash on. No, he wouldn't be that. But had he been?

A kid steps into the kitchen then and Ghost clenches his hand around the glass. Their house seemed to be a never ending line of movement and sound. Was this really what Ghost would have wanted?

Maisy was a lanky child with sandy blonde hair that seemed in a constant state of frizz. She seemed sweet but when she spoke it was eerily intelligent. "Da, Silas says I can't tell you that he is going to see his boyfriend or else he'll tell you that I'm trying to use psychology to make Darla give me her stuff. I won't let him hold that over me though, so there. I told you myself."

Ghost blinks and slowly looks over at Soap. How did they even begin to address that, was Soap the one that handled discipline? How would Ghost handle that? He had no idea, and he was frustrated just thinking about it. What all about that was supposed to take priority, and was he supposed to feel respect for the kid's decision to rat them both out?

"Silas has a boyfriend?"

That was a good place to start, Ghost silently thanks Soap for giving them a starting point. "How old is Silas again?"

Maisy and Soap answer at the same time without even turning to look at Ghost. "Fifteen."

"Seems a little young for all that, don't you think? Shouldn't he wait till he is older and knows more." Ghost asks feeling an old twisting wrongness in his stomach that feels like hearing his dad's truck pull into the driveway.

"I actually think we agreed they could start dating at about this age." Soap says thoughtfully, but then turns to Ghost with a severe frown. "Not without telling us though, and definitely not when I specifically told the kids to stay in for the next few days."

Ghost furrowed his brows. "We let them choose to be gay at this age?" Ghost asks, genuinely lost in how this was playing out. He knows he has misstepped when not only Soap but also little Maisy send him disapproving looks. Ghost stares back at Soap, not wanting to glare at a judgmental little girl, but both ignore him and go back to speaking to each other.

A long drawn out sigh leaves Soap, and he places his head into his hands. "Tell Silas to come here." He says quietly, subdued by his obvious exhaustion and exasperation. Ghost feels oddly guilty, wonders if being with Ghost has made Soap this exhausted and worn out version of himself. Or was it the kids? He never looked like this in combat.

"Can't." Maisy says firmly. She doesn't elaborate even as Soap narrows his eyes and lifts his head to stare at her expectantly.

"Why can't you?" Ghost asks. Still not sure how to engage with these children, but knowing he doesn't want to sit back and watch Soap struggle alone. They were a team, apparently in more ways than one.

Maisy gives another shrug. "He already left."

"That eejit!" Soap barks and Ghost nearly snorts if not for the wide eyed look on the girl's face.

Maisy steps closer to Ghost and gives a small huff and turns to look up at him, even sitting down she is still much smaller than he is. He doesn't know why but he ends up holding his hand out for her. She easily takes his hand and together they turn to look at Soap who is running his hand through his hair roughly. Ghost takes notice that the girl is running his fingers across his calloused as if that were soothing.

It takes him a moment but Soap seems to pull himself together and he gives a sharp nod. "Right." He stands up and yanks out his phone. "Guess I'm going to go hunt 'im down."

A small bit of panic rushes through Ghost as he realizes that Soap intends on leaving him here with all of the kids. "Let me come with you." Ghost says quickly and tries to move to stand up but nearly knocks the girl down beside him. "Sorry, Macy." He says gruffly and places a hand on her shoulder to shift her back a bit so he can stand.

"Maisy!" She yells out, sounding highly offended. Ghost doesn't glance back as he catches up with Soap in the entryway slipping on his shoes.

"Simon yer supposed to be resting. Not driving all over hell and back looking for Silas." He says with frustration but doesn't deny Ghost as he follows him to the front door.

"Tommy! Your in charge! Gonna look for Silas again!" Soap yells through the house. Ghost looks for Tommy and vaguely hears someone yell back in acknowledgement.

---

"I dinnae Ken."

Ghost looks over at Soap silently. They were driving around quietly, so he isn't entirely sure what Soap is talking about.

"Am I meant to have asked a question?" Ghost asks as he turns his eyes back to searching for Silas.

Soap huffs but shakes his head. "No. What went wrong with that lad? He was so sweet then suddenly he's this raging hormoning teenager that can't listen for shit."

Ghost smirks to himself, it was a bit ironic hearing Soap bitching about someone not listening to orders. "He's a teenager. I don't know what you expected." Ghost murmurs.

"Not fucking this! Listen, I ken your still trying to wrap your head around all of this, but will ya help me?" Soap leans over and places a hand on Ghost's thigh.

He tenses immediately. Looks down at the hand and then slowly looks at Soap with a raised brow. The man seems to falter for a moment and then pulls his hand back sharply. Ghost wonders if that's a common touch for them, if he allowed that often enough for Soap to have instinctively gone for it.

"What are you asking me to do?" He asks, turning away from Soap again. He swallows dryly, trying to keep his eyes out for anyone that vaguely looks like a shit eating teen boy.

A strangled sound comes from Soap. "I honestly don't know?" He says sounding unsure. "I won't lie, you deal with the kids more than I do, I don't know how you do it."

That was yet another piece of information that seemed so misplaced. Ghost wasn't exactly a kid person. "So what, I'm the stay at home mom?" Ghost asks, means it to be a joke.

Soap smirks, it looks wolfish and familiar. "Aye, living the milf life." He chuckles and glances at Ghost with a bounce of his eyebrows. Ghost chuckles, low and pleased that it seems like they still had their stupid jokes. Like on missions, over comms, except they are married.

It nearly chokes Ghost when he realizes that Soap meant the line to be suggestive, flirtatious. Not like over the comms, joking and grounding, but genuine. "Focus sergeant."

The way Soap's jaw clicks shut and his eyes widen nearly has a grin spreading over Ghost's face. He feels a slight twitch to the corner of his mouth, especially when a nice deep red blush spreads over Soap's cheeks.

Interesting. The title has never done that to Soap before. Ghost finds himself lost in the unfamiliarity of Soap blushing. That wasn't a look he had seen in the man's face before. Not that he could remember at least, he feels like even with his more recent memory loss, he would have remembered seeing this.

"Hush." Soap says with a slight pout. Another newer and interesting look. Huh, Ghost really has missed a lot. "No' Sergeant anymore. Just John."

Ghost frowned at that, and he pushes away the thoughts he was having harshly. How can Soap say that? Even if they were retired, had kids, and were married. They were still going to carry their previous life with them. Weren't they still in part Soap and Ghost? Sergeant and Lieutenant?

It didn't make sense.

"Holy shit that's him." The truck veers to the left and Ghost turns his attention quickly to the boy walking on the side of the road.

"Please, Si, I'm begging you. Try to see if you can do something about him." Soap asks seeming desperate and frustrated. This was a bit more familiar. Like the time he begged to be taken off duty so he could meet friends for a night on the town.

"Alright. I ain't promising a thing though. Kid looks like a fucking punk." Johnny laughs and watches as Ghost climbs out of the truck.

"Silas!" He barks out. The boy turns and frowns, his whole body slumping as he realizes he's been found out. "Where exactly are you heading?"

The teen eyes Ghost for a moment, seeming to evaluate the man for a moment before standing straighter, obviously trying to play cocky and smooth. "Just out."

"Soap," Ghost shakes his head. It takes him a second to remember what the kids call them. "Your Da said you were supposed to stay home."

Silas grimaces and looks over at the truck with narrowed eyes. "I'm just walking, not like a little exercise is going to hurt anything." He says grumpily as he turns to look up at Ghost.

The attitude from these kids was really starting to get under Ghost's skin. He crosses his arms. "Just a walk huh? How about I join you?"

Just like that, the cocky casualness in Silas's posture is gone. He tenses and his eyes widen. "Well?" Ghost asks, sharp and clear.

Silas opens his mouth but only let a few aborted words leave his mouth before he grits his teeth and glares. "Maisy told." Ghost gives one simply nod and the teen groans loudly and clenches his fists.

"In the truck. Now." Ghost says as patiently as he can, which he was never really known for when it came to others. Silas turns and glares at Ghost for a moment, silently trying to stare the man down.

Cute.

He gives in after a moment, buckling under Ghost's unfaltering gaze. "Fine!" He yells and stomps childishly towards the truck. Ghost walks him back, chuckling to himself at the idea of being challenged by a fifteen year old, and climbs back into the passenger seat.

"Welcome back." Soap says with that fond smile again. Ghost stares for a second, letting the odd mesh of feelings it causes sting at him.

"Yeah whatever." Comes icily from the back seat.

"Excuse me?" Ghost huffs just as Soap snaps the same question, turning to glare at Silas.

Still a perfect team.

"I don't think you realize just how much trouble you are in, Silas." Soap hisses as he faces forward and angrily shifts the truck back into Drive.

"I don't care." Silas snaps. Just as Soap goes to say something else Silas yells. "I said I don't care!"

"Stop the truck." Soap looks over at Ghost with a curious look but stops the vehicle only a foot or two away from where they were stopped just before.

Ghost unbuckles and opens the truck door. "Silas, on me." He says firmly. He hesitates, realizes the kid may not understand that, but is pleased when Silas groans and steps out of the truck. Good.

"Start walking." Ghost demands and places a heavy hand on the teens shoulder to get him to start moving.

"Simon?" Soap asks half hanging out the truck window.

He motions for Soap to keep driving behind them. "What are we doing?" Silas asks exasperated as he and Ghost keep walking and Soap slowly drives the truck behind them with his hazard lights on.

Ghost doesn't answer right away. Mostly trying to analyze how his leg is feeling. It's tense, sore, feels like it'll last a bit though. "Walking. That's what you wanted right?"

The struck look Silas gives him has Ghost grinning a bit. "Dad! Let's just get back in the truck." The teen growls as he turns to walk back to the vehicle.

He snatches Silas by the hood of his jacket and sharply turns him back around. "No, we are walking. Start moving before I make it a run."

Silas curses under his breath but keeps moving without Ghost needing to push anymore. After a silent couple of minutes Silas glances at him with a deep frown. "Your leg is going to hurt pretty bad if we keep walking. Let's just go home already."

A puff of breath leaves Ghost and he smirks. "Good manipulation tactic, but not very effective." Another groan leaves Silas and he glares harshly at the ground as they continue to walk. "Why did you yell at Soap like that."

"What?" Silas asks turning to give Ghost a dumbfounded look.

It was starting to piss Ghost off that his past self apparently gave up their callsigns. It was a small detail, but one that irritated him. "Your Da." He grounds out.

Silas turns away from Ghost. He thinks the teen won't answer at first. Eventually though, Silas kicks a rock harshly and mumbles out his answer. "He's always mad at me."

Ghost raises his brow but remains silent and waits for Silas to continue.

"I just can't be in the house right now. Everyone is freaked out and upset about you losing your memory. I feel like they keep, I don't know, looking at me?" Silas runs a hand through his loose hair and looks guilt ridden for a moment. "And then you don't even know who I am. You have no idea about anything that we've done or said. It's all gone, and I'm a stranger to you. But you're still my dad, and I remember everything." Silas sniffs harshly.

It hadn't registered to Ghost that for everyone else this situation was probably just as confusing. Especially for the kids. He stops and Silas stops as well, turning to look at Ghost with watery eyes and a fierce glare.

"You're okay." Ghost murmurs, isn't really sure what to say other than that. He isn't good at comforting, but he keeps talking anyways. "It's hard, and hard things are hard. Just how it is."

Silas grimaces and rolls his eyes. "Thanks Dad, that did literally nothing to help."

"Wasn't supposed to, ya little shit." Ghost says firmly. Silas seems to take the insult in stride so Ghost isn't too worried about Soap getting pissed at him for it. "It's just the facts. Things are going to be hard, don't make this shit harder. Especially not for your Da. He didn't do anything."

Silas blinks slowly and looks down at his shoes as he slides them across the road. He is quiet for a bit and glances back at Soap in the truck. "Da was half out his head while you were gone. Testy as all hell. By my calculations, I'm technically grounded for the next year."

Ghost raises his brows and glances back to Soap who seems to be playing on his phone while he waits for Ghost and Silas to sort things out. Hard to imagine Soap, rebellious, feral, John MacTavish, as being too stern. "Ironic."

When he looks back at Silas the teen is giving him an odd look. He decides to elaborate, figuring it wouldn't hurt. "Soap was one of the most reckless rule breakers I knew when we met. Obeyed orders for the most part, but always how he chose to obey them."

The way Silas's eyes grew wide had Ghost chuckling a bit. "He was a little shit too." Silas grins at that and Ghost thinks Soap wouldn't be happy about it, but thinks Silas should hear just how shit eating his Da used to be. "One time he snuck explosives on an exfil home and almost got us all killed. I had him running laps and scrubbing latrines for months after. Didn't stop him from doing it again though."

Slowly Silas turned his gawking stare back towards Soap. He grins, eyes sparkling with intrigue, kind of like how he's seen Soap look at explosions. "Not Da." He breathes in awe.

"Better bloody believe it, your Da was a devil. I think he deserves the little bit of hell you put him through, for all the hell he put me through." Ghost says with a sharp grin of his own as he thinks back on the mischief Soap got up to.

The wide grin that Silas gives him is probably the only smile he has seen in any of the kid's faces except Lilith. He realizes he adores it, making the kids grin. He's kind of good at it too. A big shock to him honestly.

"That being said. I can't have you going too far with it. He's stressed, everyone is." Silas's smile fades and Ghost sighs. He has enjoyed the moment connecting to this kid, but Soap asked him to handle things, so he will. Knows this is a necessary evil. He's familiar with those. "So, we are going to walk all the way home, you are going to genuinely apologize to your Da, then you are going to your room untill dinner, and then immediately going back to your room after."

"But that's not-"

Silas starts to shout but Ghost cuts him off quickly. "It is fair, and you will do it." His tone leaves no room for argument and Silas huffs and sags heavily in defeat.

"Fine."

---

By the time they make it back to the house, Simon's leg hurts pretty bad, but he had said he was going to exercise more. He focuses on breathing through it and gives Silas an unimpressed look as the kid pants heavily.

"Why do you walk so fast?" He asks through ragged breaths. Ghost doesn't answer, just nudges Silas when Soap finishes parking the truck and heads towards them with a curious look.

Silas groans and whines about it but he stands up and faces Soap. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Da."

Soap stares at Silas in shock then glances up at Ghost. When Silas doesn't continue, Ghost gives his shoulder another sharp nudge and gets a huff from the teen. "I'm also sorry I left the house without telling you, even when you told me not to."

"Good enough for now. Go to your room." When Silas turns Ghost stops him. "I'll talk to him about things, yeah?" Silas's anger seems to ease a bit, and he gives Ghost a small nod before grumpily heading inside.

Honestly, Silas seems just like any other troubled rookie he has trained. Just needs discipline and someone to hear him out once in a while. Ghost feels accomplished and turns to give Soap a smug look.

It fades quickly when he realizes just how close Soap is and leaning closer. "Thank you, Simon." He says, genuinely sounding relieved, and is wrapping his arms around Ghost's shoulders. He tucks his face against Ghost's shoulder and presses them close together.

Without his say so, his arms come up and wrap around Soap's waist. There is a puff of hot breath against Ghost's bare neck that sends his skin into a rush of goose bumps. His eyes slowly track down to Soap, seemingly at peace in his arms, lingering, resting. Didn't look nearly as stunned or tense as Ghost felt.

"I know I'm wierding you out. Just missed this, I think." Soap says softly and slowly leans back. Ghost readily lets him, but doesn't confirm Soap's statement. He is weirded out, but he doesn't think saying that would help the situation.

Soap grins, shoves his hands into his jeans and sighs as he briefly looks at the ground. Gathering himself, Ghost realizes. "Alright, spill it. What is wrong with Silas. I know you got something out of him."

A slow grin spreads over Ghost's lips. "Says you went a bit mad while I was gone. Couldn't handle things while I was down for the count, Sergeant?" He teases gruffly.

Just like before, a light flush spreads over Soap's cheeks. It does something odd in Ghost's chest and he tilts his head as he examines Soap's face. "In my defense!" Soap says getting riled up from Ghost's tease. "There are five of them. I was out numbered!"

A chuckle leaves Ghost. "Seen you beat better odds than that. Getting soft?" The banter feels familiar and Ghost feels a tension in his body ease just a bit.

"Ooch, hush. You know I'm never soft when you're around, big guy." Soap says with a bark of laughter. Ghost can't help the roll of his eyes and a smirk at Soap's comment.

Good to know some things haven't changed after all. It seemed like nothing was the same, except this. He could tolerate the rest, as long as he and Soap could still have these stupid moments. "Down boy. Kids are at the window."

Soap leans around him and waves his hand to shoo the kids giggling at the window. "Eyes in the back of yer head." Soap says with that fond look again.

"If I recall, it was especially handy when it came to you." Ghost jokes with a smirk, still recalling just how much trouble Soap used to be able to find.

"Yeah well." Soap says looking a bit lost for words. He crosses his arms though and tilts his chin up. "I'm a lot more mature now."

Ghost shakes his head and turns towards the house with a slight wince as his knee complains. "Let's go inside, fucking knee is hurting." Ghost says with a huff.

A worried look is shot towards Ghost's knee but then Soap furrows his brows in consideration. "You actually seem to be able to get around a lot better than usual. You normally wouldn't have been able to walk that far."

"Sure." Ghost says, mourning the fact that from his current memories, it was only a few days ago that he was ten years younger and didn't have bad leg. Could have walked five times that distance without pain.

"Ye think it's one of those phenomenons where ya lose one ability and another one gets stronger?" Soap asks seeming almost excited about the insane idea.

"Absolutely, I lost ten years of my life and now my leg is magically healing." He intones shooting a raised brow at Soap.

Loud laughter follows after him as they enter the house and he turns to stare, watching Soap's wild laughter and delighted expression. He missed it. Thought he would never see it again, had been haunted by every way he could blame himself for it's loss.

"What are you staring at?" Soap asks as he kicks off his shoes.

"My husband, apparently." Ghost grumbles to himself as he looks down to kick his own shoes off. He hates how odd that feels to say. He hasn't even began to break down what any of this life means to him, and apparently being gay was one of the things waiting to be figured out.

"Aye." Soap says softly. Ghost thinks it sounds fond, but also a bit sad. He decides to not look up at the man, doesn't want to see what expression is attached to that tone.

"Daddy!" Ghost jumps a bit as a small hand snatches his. "What do you call a floating nose?"

A huff of laughter leaves Ghost before he can stop himself as he looks down at the bushy haired girl smiling mischievously up at him. Maisy. "Tell me."

She grins widely, he notices she is missing one of her bottom teeth. "No body nose!"

Ghost grins, can't help it. "That's a good one. What about the guy that got his body cut in half?" He asks, he hears Soap start trying to fuss at him but he keeps his focus on Maisy.

The little girl grins and giggles a bit as she swings his hand. "You told me this one already Daddy. He's all right now." She finishes for him.

Ghost gives an approving nod and smirks. "Yeah. But I didn't tell you that he's a bit depressed now. Says there is nothing left to him." He retorts back quickly.

The little girl throws her head back and laughs loudly. She tugs at Ghost's hand and presses her face into his forearm as she laughs. Ghost laughs a bit too, more at her reaction than his own joke. "Like that one did ya?"

Maisy nods her head and grins up at Ghost as her giggles slow down. It's adorable, he can admit that. Cuter still when Lilith runs up to Maisy and smacks her arm before running away with a giggle of her own, yelling out, "Tag".

Just like that, both kids are running off. Yelling and laughing as they chase each other. Ghost watches them, feels something tighten and loosen in his chest simultaneously. He may not have wanted this, still doesn't really know about it, but he can see the appeal of it. A little.

"I didn't know you told our seven year old jokes like that." Ghost slowly looks over at Soap. The man has a stern disapproving look on his face and an expectant raised brow.

He gives a shrug. "She seems to like them." He says with a smirk. His grin only grows when Soap eventually smirks as well.

"If we get calls again about her saying inappropriate shite at school, you are going to talk to them this time." He says shoving a warning finger in Ghost's face, but his smile is warm and he seems to barely be holding back a laugh.

---

Dinner is chaos. They order a metric shit ton of pizza and everyone gathers in the kitchen to eat. Almost everyone is speaking, loud and energetic. Darla is arguing with Silas about something that happened at school. Maisy is explaining the entire story line to something Ghost wasn't able to keep up with. Soap is trying to convince Lilith that pepperoni isn't spicy.

It's too much. Ghost yet again finds himself wondering if this was really something he had chosen for himself. How did he do it? What was the secret that had turned him into this civilian family man. Someone that cared for the kids, handled domestic problems, didn't carry a gun, where a mask, made the kids laugh. It didn't make any sense.

"Dad." Ghost slowly looks over and is almost surprised to see Tommy silently sitting next to him. Apparently the only other quiet family member. "Wanna sit on the porch with me. It's a little loud."

He follows Tommy readily. No one even bats an eye at them leaving. He's filled with relief as soon as they are outside. The chill of the night and the silence was exactly what his nerves needed. Loud, he could usually handle, but with these people who were supposed to be his family in a house he's apparently lived in for years. It was disturbing, unfamiliar.

"It's not always that bad, but it is a pretty noisy house." Tommy says leaning over the banister.

Ghost makes a low sound of acknowledgement. So far he has had one on one time with almost all of the kids1 . Tommy was different though, he couldn't make a dumb joke and expect it to work like it did for the younger kids.

"So, Da was really vague about how much you could remember. Do you remember meeting me at all?" Tommy asks, not really looking at Ghost but still seeming to be gauging his reaction.

"Nope." He says simply. Almost regrets his honesty when Tommy deflates heavily and stares out at the yard with a deep frown.

"Figured as much. So, me calling you Dad is probably really weird. When we met, you were still lieutenant Ghost." Tommy explains, he seems lost in the memory.

It's the first time since Ghost woke up from the accident that anyone has referred to him as Ghost. It puts him at ease in a way that is probably not what Tommy wants. He likes the distance, the security, of being Ghost.

"When we first met, you scared the shit out of me." Tommy speaks suddenly. It's not a surprising statement, Ghost scared a lot of people on sight.

He nods, turns his gaze back out to the yard. His eyes scanning the unfamiliar perimeter. Tommy apparently takes this as an invitation to keep talking.

"You came to my base for recruitment, and I had been on duty for almost twenty four hours. So when I suddenly saw you and your mask approaching, I thought for sure I was hallucinating." He explains with a small breathy laugh.

Ghost turns and stares curiously at Tommy. "You met me when I was still in the 141, right? You must have been around eighteen."

Tommy nods and digs into one of his pockets. "I was nineteen, actually. Really fucking Bad at being in the military too. Some reason we kept bumping into each other, you kept helping me improve. Then you introduced me to Soap. He joked about you adopting me."

Ghost listens as Tommy pulls out a pack of cigarettes and pulls two of them out. He hands one to Ghost and light his own. "Funny enough, you guys kind of did in the end." He hands the lighter to Ghost. "I mean, not really, but still."

Ghost stares at the cigarette for a moment before sticking it in his mouth and lighting it. He lets the smoke he exhales slowly curl from his lips as he turns to look at Tommy. "You call us Da and Dad now though. Why are you not really adopted?"

Tommy glances at Ghost for a moment but quickly turns his gaze away. "I mean, I do, but it's only because the other kids. When you guys adopted Darla she was only five and that's what we were trying to get her to call you guys. I just kept doing it, and you guys kept bringing home kids, so it just made sense to keep doing it."

Ghost nodded. He supposes that mystery solved itself. He did feel a bit odd that a grown man was calling him Dad. "I'd get it, if you wanted me to stop. Especially since you don't know who I am." He says softly.

When Ghost looks at him, it's obvious that Tommy is trying to look like this conversation isn't bothering him. His voice is uneven and toned down a bit though. It makes Ghost wonder if Tommy would cry if he said yes.

"Soap would beat my ass. You were the first kid he told me about." Ghost explains. He won't lie and say he likes it or anything, but he decides he will allow it.

Tommy turns with a frown, bordering on a petulant pout. "I keep telling you guys, I'm not a kid." He grumbles.

It brings a smirk to Ghost's mouth when he recalls that Soap had warned him that Tommy gets pouty about this. "How old are you?" He asks flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

"Just turned twenty eight." He says with a sigh. "I feel so old."

"Fuckin hell. You're a baby, shut it." Ghost grouches and stubs the cigarette out on the banister.

"Da will kill you if he sees that." Tommy says nodding to the black mark left behind from the cigarette.

"He'd have to be able to win in a fight against me first." Ghost shrugs but is sure to tuck the rest of the cigarette into his pocket. Soap was bitchy when he wanted to be, and Ghost didn't have the patience for it right now.

Tommy scoffed. "I haven't seen either of you spar in so long. Sometimes I wonder if he even has any soldier left in him."

It's not said in a way that sounds like an insult, but Ghost still feels annoyed and defensive. "What happened?" He finds himself asking. When Tommy gives him a confused look he shakes his head. "Nevermind. Tell me about your life right now. I should know shit about my eldest son."

It's not easy for Ghost to let those words come out neutrally, but he manages and Tommy seems almost relieved.

"I have a girlfriend, her name is Amara. She wanted to come but me and Da figured it might be best for you to only meet who you needed to for now. As far as I know, you two get along, she always says she feels like you dislike her, but I tell her it's just how your face is." He explains quietly with a happy smile.

They sit and talk for a while. Tommy talks about his life vaguely. He goes into plenty of detail about Amara, obviously has deep feelings for her, but he easily side steps any specific details about himself.

"What is it you're hiding, Tommy?" Ghost interrupts him as he tries to talk around Ghost's most recent question about his current specialization.

Another of those near pouts grace Tommy's face and he sighs and hangs his head. "I, uh, haven't told either of you this. I was left the military."

With the nervous look Tommy sends Ghost, it seems he thinks Ghost, or rather his Dad, is meant to have a bigger reaction than the blank stare he gives him. "Okay."

Tommy's lips thin as a complicated emotion seems to pass over him. Ghost waits patiently, only too sure Tommy will explain if he waits him out.

"You and Da were military legends. I've only ever been kinda okay as a soldier. Never really liked it either." There is a curl to Tommy's lip and disgust in his voice. Ghost only mildly glares at the face. "You don't remember, but you guys trained with me so much. Always pushed me to do better and celebrated the most and loudest any time I did anything good Military related. I never liked the military though, and I never learned to like it the way you guys did."

"Stop." Ghost interrupts sharply. Tommy looks crushed, his face falls and he seems to immediately fall into a negative head space.

"Soap." Ghost dreams it with a warning tone, turning his head to glare at the front door that was ever so slightly cracked open.

Tommy turns to stare in shock and the color drains from his face as Soap sheepishly opens the door fully and steps out onto the porch. "Don't even know why I still try to sneak around ye, spooky bastard." Soap says coming to bump his shoulder against Ghost's.

Tommy swallows nervously and Ghost slowly turns to look at the man with a raised brow. "Did you want to keep talking?"

Tommy looks over at Soap and back to Ghost. "No, sir." He says stiffly.

"Wasn't a question."

Soap looks between Tommy and Ghost with confusion and Tommy looks damn near ready to cry again. No, there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that Ghost and Soap weren't already aware that Tommy wasn't cut out for the military. So Ghost turns to Soap and nods his head towards Tommy.

It takes Soap a second but he turns his gaze back to Tommy. "The hell is happening?"

Tommy bites his lip harshly and gives Ghost a betrayed look. "Just tell him, Tommy. I somehow doubt the world will end."

"Oh God, yer making me nervous now, spit it out lad." Soap says furrowing his brows as he stares Tommy down.

"I left the military. A while ago. I never renewed my contract last year." Tommy admits frantically, running his palms down the side of his jeans as his eyes flick between Soap and Ghost.

"Ah." The sound is almost dismissive and Ghost looks down at Soap who is smiling at Tommy. "Figured it would happen eventually. What was the final straw? It was the MREs wasn't it?" Soap asks with a soft chuckle.

Slowly Tommy shakes his head. He stares for a moment before a soft puff of laughter leaves him. "I thought you guys would be disappointed that I wasn't like you."

"Hear that? Wanted to be like us." Soap jokes as he elbows Ghost, earning a small glare that he ignores as he turns his attention back to Tommy "Ye weren't ever gonna be like us TomTom. We wouldn't have allowed it."

The confusion on Tommy's face had Ghost speaking up to clarify. "Soap and I have killed, hunted, been hunted, tortured, were tortured, nearly died, seen comrade's deaths, you name it"

It reaffirms to Ghost that they must have known quickly how soft Tommy was as he watches the man go pale as he spoke. "We don't want that for you. We honestly thought you would have left the first time your contact came up." Soap shrugs.

"Okay. Then, I want to tell you that I'm going to school to be a veterinarian. I started at the beginning of fall." Tommy confesses as he looks between his parents again.

Ghost gives a small nod, sure that anything would have been better for Tommy than military. Soap grins and claps Tommy on the shoulder excitedly. "Look at that! Perfect!" Soap cheers and Ghost watches as Tommy relaxes and grins back brightly.

A shiver runs through Soap. "It's fucking cold out here. Let's go inside already. Don't think I didn't smell the cigarette smoke when I came out here though, told me you were done with those." Tommy stiffens again as Soap fusses and Ghost rolls his eyes. He's had enough of having emotional conversations. He's exhausted.

---
As soon as soap manages to send all the kids off to bed, Ghost demands a bed of his own. He's led to a spacious bedroom, two closets, and a very large bed centered against the far wall.

"You picked out the bed, didn't you." Ghost states it more than asks. He knows he wouldn't have gone with anything more than what they would have strictly needed. Soap's smirk as he starts undressing is answer enough.

When Ghost crawls into bed he sighs heavily. He had to admit it felt nice, definitely luxurious. He will not be admitting that out loud though.

"How do you want to do this?" Ghost cracks an eye open and stares at Soap curiously. "Want me to sleep on the floor, a pillow wall? Socks on so it isn't gay?" Soap asks and then laughs at his own joke.

"We've spooned naked for hours on a mission before. I'm not about to have a tizzy about sharing a large bed with you while clothed." He answers sharply, closing his eyes again and relaxing back into the bed.

There is the sound of walking when the lights go out. Walking again, and a dip in the mattress. Soap settles under the covers quickly and makes a pleased sound as he shuffles a bit closer.

"Hey." He whispers, still somehow louder than is necessary, and Ghost grunts in response. "Are you interested in me, like at all?"

It's an odd question, sets Ghost on edge with all the hidden conversations surrounding it. "Interested how, Johnny?"

Another pleased hum leaves Soap, and Ghost thinks it may have to do with him calling him Johnny. "Ah, we don't have to worry about it. Just, we're back at square one. Don't know if I should flirt with you or keep it at old banter."

Despite the grin Ghost can hear in the man's voice, he thinks he knows Johnny well enough to know that there is an underlying seriousness to the conversation. "I don't know." He answers honestly.

Soap is silent for a while. The darkness of the room keeps Ghost from being able to see his expressions. "Alright then." He says finally, shifting in the bed again. "Goodnight, Lt."

Despite being pleased at hearing the title again, Ghost feels like it may not be an entirely good thing from Soap. Not this one, who has been allowed the freedom of 'Simon' for ten years. He can't have another emotional conversation tonight though, not with how taxing the day has been. "Night."

---

There is an alarm buzzing when Ghost first opens his eyes. It's still dark, and for a blissful moment, he thinks he is in his barracks. Blackout curtains drawn tight.

"Steamin' fuckin' Jesus."

Ghost sighs, the warmth that clings to his back slowly shifts and eventually leans away. He's retired, a civilian, married to his Sergeant, doesn't wear his mask anymore, and has five kids.

"Simon?" He has become Simon again, and it starts to grind against him how impossible that is. Simon Riley died. Yet everyone expects Ghost to think that he dug that part of him up and buried Ghost in his stead?

"What?" He growls out.

"Crank bastard, wanted to know if ye were gettin' up. Gonna make coffee." Soap says, his own voice hoarse and tinged with lingering tiredness.

Another sigh leaves Ghost as he pushes himself up, runs a hand through his hair and grunts in acknowledgement. Soap turns on a lamp and they go about getting dressed. Soap pointing out his own personal closet and listing off where his clothes are usually stored.

When Ghost opens it, there are nothing but civilian clothes. He searches through them, there are no signs of his past. He growls in frustration as he pulls on some jeans and tugs a simple sweater on.

He slams the door, hears something fall in the closet, but doesn't open it to check. He turns and sees a half dressed and unimpressed Soap.

"Problem?" He asks as he starts to finish pulling on his clothes. Seeming in less of a hurry than Ghost was.

He debates for a moment demanding where his shit is. That he knows he wouldn't have thrown out his gear, wouldn't have entered civilian life without a gun, knife, fucking something. He hesitates though when he hears talking in the hallway. He knows the kids could hear, and he is genuinely going to try to not terrorize the kids.

"Nothing." He says bitterly. He doesn't want to, but he feels that bitterness towards Soap. This isn't what he wanted for his life, but he wonders if it's what Johnny had asked from him.

"Da! I forgot to tell you that I have a club meeting today!"

Ghost narrowed his eyes at their bedroom door and Soap groaned in annoyance. "Why didn't you tell me yesterday, Darla?" He shouts back, moving a bit faster.

Ghost watches Soap for the rest of the morning. The man seems stressed, exhausted, and nearing his wits end. It makes Ghost wonder if this life wasn't good for Johnny either.

But then Maisy accidentally falls and her precarious stack of pancakes falls to the floor. Everyone ends up smattered in butter and syrup.

Ghost huffs and looks over at Soap stood at the stove. There is a firm line to his mouth and what looks like a slight twitch to his left eye. Ghost watches carefully, wondering if this will be the moment he learns that they were never meant for this life. That it's turned them into something they aren't.

"Way to go, short stack." Silas intones with annoyance as he kicks a stray pancake off his boot.

"Yeah, Da looks like he is about to flip." Darla groans as she wipes at some butter and syrup along her leg.

Ghost looks at the two teenagers with surprise. Were those intentional puns. "What can I say? It's a sticky situation." Maisy says with a nervous laugh as she sits up.

Everyone turns to Ghost, and the man tenses under their gazes. They look expectant, like it was his turn to speak a line he doesn't have memorized. He narrows his eyes before giving in with a soft sigh. "Those jokes kind of fell flat." He grumbles and turns his gaze away.

The room is silent for a moment and Ghost wonders if that was the wrong response. If he was suppose to get up and be fatherly or some shit. Go comfort the overwhelmed Soap or help Maisy clean up her mess. Then there is a snort and his eyes shoot up to see Soap holding a hand over his face but unable to hide the mirth in his eyes.

Maisy chuckles and the rest start to giggle and snort while Soap all but collapses in his own fit of laughter. Ghost stares at these people, laughing and snorting happily without a care in the world. As if the line of bad jokes had cleared all the tension in the room. Grounded them, as it had done in Las Almas for Soaps and Ghost.

"Fuckin' hell." He grumbles to himself. Somehow that just makes soap laugh louder as he turns back towards the stove and flips another pancake.

It didn't make this feel right, none of it felt right, but Ghost kept his eyes curiously on Soaps as the man seemed to bask in his rejuvenation. Humming and dancing as he called out orders for the kids to get ready for school. Ghost rapped his knuckles against the table in irritation. The bitterness tried to spike, but he couldn't deny that it had always been particularly difficult to hold any negative feelings against Soap.