Redhawk Caldera the manuscript

kivaluk cannot help the soft look he gives his mother-in-law that speaks volume to the fact that the added words of 'taking care of her' perplexes him. i love her, he replies speaking the words as the most obvious thing in the world; voice thick and throat tight. he'd loved chickadee for a long time, before he even realized he loved her.

and he was endlessly grateful that she'd chosen him ... because there had been a moment when he'd been afraid if he didn't shoot his shot that she wouldn't. that stratos' return would take her away from him.

it was the boot to the butt that he'd needed to come face to face with the realization that he didn't want to live a day of his life without her and keep that door open for someone else to be her husband ... and that he could never be just her friend.

and our children. they were what mattered most to him in the world: not a rank nor a title. they will always be my priority. kivaluk offers this as parting words, even though he suspects she does not need him to; he was more than willing to put action behind those words too. had done so already and would keep doing so.