Hatchetfield.

Duke/McNamara

(Read last chapter to know what I'm doing :))

John strode through the front door, relieved to finally catch a break from all the work at PEIP. Some days he swears the administrative tasks were more exhausting than being out on a mission. Soon, a cat came up to him, meowing and rubbing her body against John's legs in greeting. "Hello, Holly." He greeted her back, bending down so he could pet her soft fur. Holly purred contentedly.

"She missed you a lot." Duke smirked as he leaned against the doorway between the living room and kitchen.

John raised a brow. "And you didn't?"

Duke chuckled and came over to give John a kiss, deep and adoring and sweet. "I missed you a lot more, darlin.'" He smiled softly and carded his fingers through John's hair affectionately.

"I missed you too, love." John smiled back fondly.

They move to the couch and sit down. Holly hopped up into John's lap and resumed purring as he gave her absentminded scritches. Duke rested his head against John's shoulder. They stay in comfortable silence for a while, just taking in each other's company.

"Anyway, dinner's ready. Should I call the kids now?" Duke asked.

John nodded, and so Duke headed up the stairs to call each of the kids down for dinner. He missed them too, and they were very much due for a nice, complete family dinner for the first time in months. There had probably been so much he missed out on and can't wait to hear what stories the kids had to tell him. Soon, the sound of footsteps on the staircase rang out as the rest of the family descended. Lex, Hannah, Daniel, and to John's surprise, Paul.

Duke caught on to John's surprise and chuckled. "It's your first night back from your mission, so I figured I'd ask, and Paul said he was available."

"Uh, hi." Paul gave a small awkward wave, which hasn't changed at all since John left.

"Glad to see you're finally wearing a watch, son." John smirked.

Paul looked down at his wrist. He actually didn't remember to put on the watch John gave him last Christmas. He didn't even have it in this house, he had it back at his apartment. In their seats, Hannah and Daniel snicker. But it's Lex who passes by Paul on the way to her seat next to Hannah, and subtly whispers. "You're welcome."

Like before, Duke and John started to serve the spaghetti to the kids, as per tradition, John would serve the noodles and Duke would serve the sauce. It was a small, simple ritual, but that was how they did things. John was glad to see it hadn't changed. As the evening progressed, Paul and Lex talked about work, and Hannah and Daniel talked about their hang-outs with Sophia, which had gotten a lot more frequent ever since Xander took her under his wing. John sat there, listening and nodding along. He was glad to see how much more they had all opened-up ever since their little family was brought together.

When dinner was over, Paul said his goodbyes and returned to his apartment. Then Lex tucked Hannah and Daniel into bed, which left Duke and John cleaning up in the kitchen together. John was washing the dishes when Duke hugged him from behind. "I'm so glad you're home again. You are way more efficient at that than I am." He joked lightly.

John laughed as he placed the last dish on the drying rack. "So that's the only reason why you want me around?"

"It's not the only reason, darlin.' I also miss having you in my arms like this." Duke grinned. "And I love you."

John spun around, while staying in the hug, then leaned forward to give Duke another kiss. "I love you too, my heart."