The station is quieter than usual, a low hum of activity filling the spaces between the clicking of keyboards and the occasional ring of a phone. I'm at my desk, pushing through the last of the paperwork for the day. Russo bailed out about an hour ago, claiming he had to get home to the kids. Again. It's his go-to excuse, And as much as I should be pissed that he's leaving me with the grunt work, I'm not. He's a good guy, and I've got a soft spot for kids. Always have. Maybe because I want a few of my own someday.

I flip through the stack of reports, my pen scratching across the paper as I fill in the necessary details. The thought of kids lingers in the back of my mind, and before I know it, I'm thinking about Valarie. And Elias. That's one thing we didn't talk about—kids, a future. Hell, I don't even know if either of them wants kids, but it's something that's been sitting with me for a while now. Is it too soon to bring that up? Probably. It would only add complications to an already complicated situation. But still, it's on my mind. I was born to be a father.

Valarie's not on birth control, but she's always insistent on using condoms. Not that I mind, but damn, the thought of filling her up with my cum turns me on in a way I can't quite shake. But I can't think about that now. I shift in my chair, trying to focus on the paperwork in front of me instead of the growing tightness in my pants. I'm not getting hard at work. Not happening.

A knock on the doorframe pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see Jackson and Ryder standing there, leaning against the door like they own the place. Ryder's got that usual cocky grin on his face, and Jackson's got his arms crossed, looking like he's just waiting to say something smart.

"Hey, man, you still drowning in paperwork?" Jackson asks, smirking.

"Yeah, Russo bailed on me. Said something about his kids," I reply, shaking my head with a half-smile.

"Russo's always using those kids as an excuse," Ryder chimes in, rolling his eyes. "You'd think he's got a dozen of them with how often he's running home."

I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. "Yeah, well, can't really blame him. Family's important."

Jackson nods, his expression softening just a bit. "Yeah, I get that. Speaking of which, you still seeing that nurse? What's her name—Valarie?"

I nod, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at the mention of her name. "Yeah, I am."

"And how's that going?" Ryder asks, raising an eyebrow.

"It's still new," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. "But we're figuring it out. Things are going well. I really like her."

Jackson claps me on the shoulder. "That's all that matters then. You coming out with us after work? We're hitting up the bar for a few drinks."

"Yeah, I'll join you guys. But I'm gonna swing by and see Valarie first, bring her some snacks or something. She's working tonight," I say, already planning the visit in my head.

Ryder grins. "You're whipped, man."

"Maybe," I reply with a shrug. "But it's worth it."

After a bit more banter, Jackson and Ryder head out, leaving me to finish up the last of my paperwork. I wrap up quickly, eager to get out of here and see Valarie.

I stop by a convenience store on the way to the hospital, grabbing a few of her favorite snacks. I know she'll appreciate the gesture, even if it's small. It's the little things that count, right?

When I arrive at the hospital, I make my way through the familiar halls, nodding at a few of the nurses I recognize. Finally, I spot Valarie at the nurse's station, her back to me as she types something into a computer. I take a moment to just watch her, appreciating the way she moves, the way she seems so in control of everything around her.

I walk up behind her and gently place a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, beautiful," I say softly.

She turns around, her eyes lighting up when she sees me. "Declan! What are you doing here?"

"Just thought I'd bring you a little something to get you through the night before heading out with the guys," I say, holding up the bag of snacks.

Her smile widens, and she takes the bag from me, peeking inside. "You're too sweet, you know that?"

"Only for you," I reply, leaning in to give her a quick kiss.

We chat for a few more minutes. I can tell she's tired, but she's putting on a brave face like always. That's one of the things I admire about her—how strong she is, how she never lets anything get her down.

Eventually, I have to go, promising to text her later. As I'm walking out of the hospital, my thoughts still on Valarie and the future that's spinning in my head, I catch sight of a guy standing off to the side. He's staring at me with an intensity that immediately sets off my instincts. If I remember correctly, he's one of the surgical doctors or something—dark hair, serious expression. I can't place his name, though.

His gaze is sharp, almost too focused, like he's sizing me up for something. The moment he realizes I'm looking back, he glances away, pretending like he's suddenly interested in the wall. It's the kind of look I've seen a million times in my line of work—the kind that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I file it away, not sure what to make of it. Could be nothing, just a doctor in his own head, but as a cop, you learn to pay attention to those gut feelings. I shake it off as I head to my car, reminding myself that I get all kinds of looks from people. Comes with the badge.

I head out to meet up with Jackson and Ryder, but as I walk back to my car, I can't help but think about the future again. Kids, marriage, everything that comes with it. It's something I want, something I've always wanted. But with Valarie and Elias in the picture, I know it's going to be different. Complicated, but maybe in the best way possible.

By the time I pull up to the bar where Jackson and Ryder are waiting, I've mostly forgotten about the doctor. The place isn't anything like Disorderly, the bar where Valarie goes with her friends. No neon lights or thumping music here. Just a low-key dive where the drinks are cheap, and the clientele is mostly law enforcement and firefighters looking to unwind. The kind of place where nobody gives a damn about what you do for a living, as long as you don't start trouble.

I walk in, spotting a few familiar faces at the bar—a couple of guys from the station, some firefighters I've run into on calls. They nod in my direction, and I nod back, my eyes searching for Jackson and Ryder. I find them tucked away in a corner booth, a pitcher of beer already on the table.

I stop by the bar first, grabbing a glass before heading over. Jackson spots me and raises his glass in greeting, a grin on his face. Ryder's leaning back in the booth, looking like he's already settled in for the night.

"About time you got here," Jackson says as I slide into the booth. "We were starting to think you were ditching us for your lady friend."

"Nah, just dropped by to bring her some snacks," I reply, pouring myself a glass of beer from the pitcher. "She's working tonight, remember? So, how's work been? Any interesting calls?"

Ryder's the first to jump in, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "You won't believe this shit. We had a call the other night—some guy broke into a pet store, right? But he wasn't after the cash register or anything. Nope, the bastard was trying to steal a snake."

"A snake?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, a fucking python or something," Ryder says, shaking his head in disbelief. "The guy's got it wrapped around his arm like it's a damn scarf when we show up. And get this—he tries to make a run for it with the snake still on him."

Jackson laughs, slapping the table. "I wish I could've seen that. Did you guys catch him?"

"Of course," Ryder says, grinning. "But not before the snake decided it didn't want to be a part of his bullshit anymore and started squeezing his arm. The guy's screaming his head off by the time we get him in cuffs. Probably thought he was gonna lose his arm."

I shake my head, chuckling. "Man, people are fucking crazy."

"You're telling me," Jackson agrees, still laughing. "But hey, it keeps the job interesting."

We settle into an easy rhythm, the conversation flowing from one topic to the next. Work, life, the occasional rant about Russo bailing on paperwork again. It's good to just sit back and shoot the shit with the guys, no pressure, no drama. Just beer, banter, and the kind of camaraderie that only comes from being in the trenches together.

After a few beers, I'm feeling loose, the stress of the day slipping away. Jackson's telling a story about some rookie who tried to impress the captain and ended up getting his patrol car stuck in a ditch, and Ryder's laughing so hard he's practically crying. It's moments like this that remind me why I love this job, despite all the bullshit that comes with it.

But even as I'm laughing along with them, my mind keeps drifting back to Valarie. And Elias. And the conversation we're going to have in a few days. It's not just the future with Valarie that I'm thinking about now. It's the future with both of them. How the hell is this going to work? And why the fuck am I so okay with the idea of it?

I take another sip of my beer, trying to push those thoughts aside for now. Tonight is about relaxing, unwinding with the guys. But even as I tell myself that, I know it's only a matter of time before those questions come back, demanding answers.

For now, though, I let myself get lost in the conversation, the laughter, the familiar comfort of being with friends who've got my back, no matter what.