Eric looked in the mirror after shaving, the scar on his forehead very noticeable after he slicked his hair back. He sighed as he felt arms wrap around him, and the rose scent of his Mia’s shampoo invaded his nostrils.

"Your first day back." She whispered, running her fingers along his arm. "How does it feel?"

He chuckled and kissed her hand. "It feels like I don’t want to go back. Spending time with you and the kids was a nice change of pace." He grumbled.

"How much leave do you have left? Maybe we can take a trip down to Riemskin with them. I think Jessica would love to visit the ocean again."

Eric traced her hand with his fingers. "Two weeks wasn’t enough." He groaned.

Mia smacked the back of his head playfully. "You had ten days at the hospital, and two weeks of recovery time. You’ve been gone almost a full month. It’s time to get your lazy ass back to work." She said, kissing his shoulder.

"Although, if you keep treating my body like you did last night..." She pressed herself closer to him, whispering into his ear. "We might have another kid."

Eric paused as if trapped in time, his hand on her thigh, and she smirked as she watched his reaction. Her teasing smile told him she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

Eric pulled her around and pressed her against the sink. "Mm. I am always down to treat you like that." He said, kissing her.

They exchanged kisses a few more times before Eric’s watch beeped. He groaned, looking down at her naked body. "Tonight?"

She smirked. "Tonight."

Eric got dressed quickly after kissing Mia one more time. As he put his pants on, she ran a finger down his crotch area. "Don’t keep me waiting too long, my love." She said teasingly before pulling a robe over herself. They walked out of their room together.

Jessica was in her normal morning zombie mode as Mia made coffee. The teen was staring idly at her phone, while the bowl of cereal in front of her went mostly untouched.

Eric looked at Jessica and sighed. "Jess, eat your breakfast. We ain’t gonna be late just because you didn’t eat."

She didn’t respond, so Eric walked around her and ruffled her hair.

Jessica almost dropped her phone as she came to her senses. She glowered up at Eric and narrowed her eyes. "Dad! Do you have any idea how long it takes me to do my hair?" She groaned.

Eric laughed. "Why, so you can go out on a date?"

The teen groaned and laid her head down on the table. "You’re insufferable sometimes."

Mia smiled warmly at the two of them as she poured a fresh cup of coffee for herself. Eric grabbed a bagel and ate it quickly.

"Alright Jess, are you ready?"

Jessica mumbled into her hand eaten bowl of cereal. "Yeah, sure. I can’t wait to be put on guard duty again." She complained as she rinsed her bowl out. "It’s so boring!"

Eric chuckled and patted her head. "That’s part of being a soldier, kid. Besides, you’re the only one I can actually trust on the gate and not fall asleep or get lazy."

Jessica sighed and rolled her eyes "What did you tell me before? No good deed goes unpunished? It feels like I’m living that message in real time."

Eric laughed and Mia chuckled. Erics watche beeped again, and he sighed. "Alright, time to go."

Jessica groaned before hugging Mia. "I love you mom." She said, and Mia hugged her back, stroking Jessica’s hair. "I love you too, sweetie. Have fun on the gate!"

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Yeah... fun. Totally." She said before walking out the door.

Eric smirked before kissing Mia. He hugged her tightly. "I love you." He whispered, his hands tracing along her back.

"I love you too."

After dropping Jessica off at the front, Eric pulled up to Headquarters. He was going to park in his spot, until he noticed a red corvette in it.

"Are you fucking kidding me!" He growled, parking at the back of the lot. "Who’s the dumba-"

He saw Michael standing next to the car, smoking a cigarette with his arms crossed. "Morning Eric." He said as Eric walked up.

Eric sighed. "Eat a dick."

The two stared at each other for a moment before sharing a laugh. "It’s good to see ya man. Ya had me worried for a bit." Michael said as they walked into the building.

"Yeah, you and everyone else." Eric grumbled. The NCO at the Staff Duty desk nodded to Eric and Michael as they walked to the command room.

"How’s Ayeolla? You gonna be a father yet?"

Michael sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Man, don’t say that in front of her next time she comes up here. That woman will not stop talking about babies. And the king! Breh. He wanted to turn half the goddamn east wing into a nursery. That man is a demon in meetings and war, but when it comes to us he wants to use half the damn budget to spoil us."

Eric laughed and patted the captain on the back. "You’ll understand more when you are a father, bud."

Michael shook his head. "Stop calling me bud, dickhead. We’re the same age."

Eric smirked. "Yeah, but with about a ten year gap of service."

They took their seats in the room, and Eric arched his eyebrows. Next to Dragon King Tryasche and King Remory, a small man with a large grey beard sat. He was wearing a dirty black jacket, and he had a jagged U shaped scar on his cheek.

Across from Eric, a young woman sat. She had pointed ears, and wore a Purple dress. Her hair was straightened, and her green eyes seemed to be scanning the room on repeat. Two soldiers stood behind her.

Eric looked at Michael with arched eyebrows. "Are they the Dwarf king and Elf Queen?" He whispered.

Michael nodded. "Dwarf King Stronmam and Elf Queen Lisaeth. They became part of the alliance after we rescued them. When they were brought back here to Hood Hill, they took up residence here."

Eric crossed his arms, observing the two new members. "You don’t say."

Tryasche looked at Eric and nodded to him. "It is good to see you back, Master Sergeant." He said, his hand stroking his graying beard. "I heard that you were gravely injured in the last battle. It is of great relief to see you well."

Eric bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, your majesty. Your young dragons were of great help in liberating Dresken. I daresay that without the help of your people, many more soldiers would have been lost."

Tryasche smiled. "I am pleased to here that my kin helped you so well. I look forward to more of the same in the future."

Tryasche then turned to Stronmam. "This is the human I told you so much about earlier. He has been instrumental in helping the dragons, and has especially been good for teaching the young dragons manaless warfare."

Stronmam scratched his chin, eyeing Eric. "I see. Master Sergeant, it is a pleasure to meet you. Captain Stryer told me that your actions, as well as that of your daughters were a large part in securing my people’s freedom. I thank you sincerely for that."

Eric smiled and nodded back to the king. "Thank you. It is what anyone would have done in my situation.’

He felt Michael side-eyeing him and turned to the man. "What do you want?"

Michael sighed and leaned into Eric’s ear. "Say hi to the Queen too. She has been wanting to meet you as well."

Eric rubbed his face between his hands before turning to the Queen. She was eyeing him with curiosity before Eric spoke.

"Queen Lisaeth, I hope you are doing well. It is a pleasure fo meet you."

The queen smiled back. "The pleasure is mine, Master Sergsant. I am doing well, thank you. Your unit has helped my people better acclimate to no longer living in the forests or woodlands. I had never thought that I would be living in a human town, but now I see that it is not so bad."

Eric smiled as he wrote down the Queen and King’s names.

"I am glad you have acclimated well, your majesty. If there is anything further that you need, do not hesitate to ask. We will be sure to make sure you and your people are comfortable and safe."

Milano walked into the room with Miher. They sat down at the head of the table. Milano opened his notebook, while Miher looked up at Eric. "Master Sergeant Dryer, it is good to see you have come back safely," He said before looking at the new faces around the room.

"It is a pleasure to meet those whose forces now walk with our own. I look forward to ending this war and seeing what we can build together. We have much to discuss, and little time to waste. Let us get into it."