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Monica never considered herself to be a motherly type. She’d more than earned her high position in the Crownsguard and was utterly and completely devoted to her work. Romantic entanglements were not something she ever desired and she’d never even thought about the possibility of having children.
All of which, rapidly fell apart in the face of the grieving, orphaned, eight-year-old boy, who was sobbing in her arms.
“Please don’t go,” Talcott begged as he sniffled into her shirt.
“I’m here,” Monica reassured as she held him tightly, “I’m not going anywhere.” She meant every word as she protectively rocked the distraught child until he cried himself to sleep.
Carefully, she tucked Talcott into bed and watched him sleep for a good hour before she was certain he wouldn’t wake up anytime soon. Then she snuck down the stairs and out onto the front porch of the house. Iris should be arriving in Cape Caem sometime tomorrow. Which meant Monica didn’t really need to stay beyond that. But for reasons she couldn’t completely explain, she wanted to.
Mind made up, Monica picked up her phone and dialed.
Cor answered swiftly, as expected. “Report.”
“I am reassigning myself to be primarily based at Cape Caem for the foreseeable future,” Monica said simply.
It was a ballsy move. Bordering on the line of insubordination. There was a short pause before her superior officer finally replied, “Understood.”
Letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, Monica said, “Thank you, Sir.”
Cor’s voice softened from his clipped tone as he replied, “Thank you, Monica. Caem is a critical and strategic base. I’ll reassign Dustin there as well to help with reconnaissance.” There was another short pause before he gruffly added, “Take care of them.”
Grateful that he understood, Monica confirmed, “I will, Sir. Thanks again.”
Cor disconnected without further comment.
Monica took a deep breath of the salty air before turning around and heading back into the house. She might not be a mother, but she made a promise to a little boy that she intended to keep. In the morning, when Talcott woke up… Monica was going to be right there, beside him.