K9 Companions

4

Sirius grinned as he held up his phone, positioning it just right to capture the moment: Buck sitting on the floor, Archive with his head on Buck’s stomach, and the entire scene radiating a quiet joy. Without thinking twice, he snapped a picture and quickly typed out a message to his sergeant.

"I'm going to be a dad, sir!"

It felt surreal typing those words, and for a moment, Sirius just stared at the screen, his heart pounding in his chest. He sent the text and leaned back, not expecting a response right away. But only seconds later, his phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a text notification, and Sirius’s eyes widened when he saw the reply.

"Congratulations, kid. Are you ready to retire?"

Sirius blinked, caught off guard. Retire? He hadn’t thought about it much. He was only thirty, but the idea of leaving the service for good? That was a whole new chapter of life he hadn’t considered until now. He hesitated, reading the message again before replying.

"Really, sir?"

A brief pause followed, then another buzz.

"You and your brother can both retire if you please. You’ve done more than your share. Time to focus on your family."

Sirius stared at the message, his breath catching in his throat. The thought of stepping away from the military—of leaving the life that had shaped him and Regulus—felt huge. But at the same time, something about it felt right. He glanced down at Buck, who was still lounging on the floor, petting Archive absentmindedly. Buck deserved someone who would be there, really there, for him and the baby. Sirius wanted to be that person.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he thought it through, but his heart had already made the decision. He typed back a simple message.

"Yes, sir. I want to be there for my baby."

Another quick buzz.

"Paperwork will be sent, kid. I’m here if you need anything. Keep Archive and Lucifer happy—they deserve some peace too."

Sirius let out a shaky breath, his heart swelling with emotion. A small tear rolled down his cheek, and he quickly wiped it away, not wanting to make a scene in front of everyone. He smiled, though, feeling lighter than he had in years. This was it. A fresh start.

He handed his phone to Regulus, unable to find the right words.

Regulus took the phone and read the messages. His brow furrowed in confusion. “Why me, though?” he asked, glancing up at Sirius. “Are you sure I should retire too?”

Sirius smiled softly. “If you want to stay, Reg, that’s okay. You don’t have to do this just because I am.”

Regulus stared down at the phone, then back at his brother. He hesitated, but then a smile crept onto his face. “No,” he said quietly. “I’m staying with you.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, sensing something else in Regulus’s voice. Before he could ask, Regulus leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Besides,” he continued, “I think it’s time for Eddie to say yes to the ring that’s been burning a hole in my pocket.”

Sirius’s eyes lit up, and he grinned, his earlier emotions giving way to excitement. “Are you serious?” he whispered back, his voice full of surprise and happiness.

Regulus nodded, his lips curling into a nervous but hopeful smile. “Yeah. It’s time.”

“Go for it,” Sirius encouraged, his grin growing wider. “Don’t wait any longer. He’s been waiting for you.”

Regulus took a deep breath, pulling the small box from his pocket. He held it in his hands for a moment, feeling its weight. His heart raced, but he knew this was the right moment. There was no turning back now.

“Hey, Eddie,” Regulus called out, his voice steady despite the nerves swirling inside him.

Eddie, who had been talking with one of the team members, turned toward Regulus. His expression softened when he saw the way Regulus was looking at him. “Yeah?” he asked, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

Without a word, Regulus walked over and handed Eddie the small velvet box, his hand shaking just slightly. Then, with a deep breath, he sat back down, not saying a word, waiting to see how Eddie would react. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, every second stretching into what felt like minutes.

Eddie looked down at the box in his hand, his eyes widening in surprise. The entire team fell silent, all eyes on the pair. Even Lucifer seemed to sense the shift in energy, leaping up onto the couch beside Eddie, his nose twitching as he sniffed around curiously.

“What…?” Eddie began, glancing back at Regulus, confusion and hope mixing in his expression.

Regulus smiled nervously. “Open it,” he said, his voice soft but steady.

Eddie’s hands trembled slightly as he popped open the box. Inside was a simple yet stunning ring—a symbol of everything Regulus wanted to say but couldn’t find the words for. Eddie stared at it for a long moment, his face unreadable.

Then, slowly, he looked back up at Regulus, a grin breaking across his face. “You’re serious?” he asked, his voice filled with disbelief, hope, and a little laughter.

Regulus nodded, his own smile growing wider. “I am. I’ve been carrying that thing around for weeks, waiting for the right moment.”

Eddie’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he stood up, walking over to where Regulus sat. He knelt down in front of him, gently taking Regulus’s hand. “You’ve been waiting for the right moment?” Eddie asked, his voice full of affection. “I think this is perfect.”

Lucifer, sensing the happiness, barked sharply and wagged his tail, nudging at Eddie as if to say, “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Eddie laughed, looking down at the enthusiastic dog. “Even Lucifer thinks it’s time.”

He stood up, sliding the ring onto his finger, then leaned down and kissed Regulus softly, sealing the moment. The room erupted into cheers, Sirius grinning from ear to ear as he clapped.

“Well done, little brother,” Sirius said, his voice full of pride. “I knew you had it in you.”

As the team gathered around to offer congratulations, Archive and Lucifer barked excitedly, adding their own joyful sounds to the celebration.