~Few years ago~

"Baby, I'm home!" I yelled as I was about to pull out my house keys and open the door.

"Wait, don't come inside right now!" My sweet husband yelled back. Confused by his urgent request, I halted in my tracks, my heart pounding with worry. What could possibly be the reason for his sudden hesitation? 

I furrowed my brows and peered through the crack in the doorway, trying to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond. Shadows danced on the walls, casting an eerie atmosphere that sent a shiver down my spine. With a mix of curiosity and concern, I called out to him, my voice tinged with apprehension.

"What's going on, love? Why can't I come in?" I asked.

"U-Uh, I might have done something really stupid," he stammered, his voice filled with guilt.

My heart sank at his words, a sense of foreboding washing over me. I stepped closer to the door, desperate to understand the gravity of the situation.

"Please, just tell me what happened," I pleaded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and curiosity. 

The seconds ticked by agonizingly slowly as he hesitated, his internal struggle evident in the silence that hung in the air. Finally, he took a deep breath and confessed,

"I did something bad," he said.

" I can't believe you're guilty of something. It's hard to imagine you doing anything wrong," I replied, trying to lighten the mood. "But if you need someone to help you through it, I'm here for you."

There was a sudden silence before he said something that made my heart race.

"I accidentally dyed my hair pink," he blurted out. I couldn't help but burst into laughter, imagining him strutting around in a vibrant shade of bubblegum.

"Well, at least I won't lose you in a crowd now!" I chuckled, unable to contain my amusement.

I could hear him groan from the other side.

"I knew you would find it hilarious," he grumbled, his voice tinged with both embarrassment and amusement.

 The image of him with pink hair continued to play in my mind, and I couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably.

"Don't worry," I reassured him between fits of laughter, "I'm sure it'll fade eventually. Until then, we can have some fun with it. Now open the door!" I yelled.

I could hear panicked noises coming from the other side of the door as he fumbled with the lock. Finally, the door swung open, and there he stood, a look of horror mixed with resignation on his face. 

He was wearing a bucket hat to cover his hair. He immediately pulled me inside before shutting the door behind us, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Can I see your hair now?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

"N-No." He looked away with a blush spreading across his cheeks.

"Oh come on I'm your wife ," I pleaded, reaching out to gently touch his arm. "You don't have to be embarrassed around me. I love you no matter what."

"Of course, dear," he replied in a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Because nothing says 'unconditional love' like demanding to see my embarrassing hairdo! But hey, if you insist on witnessing this fashion disaster, prepare yourself for a sight that will make you question every life choice you've ever made, especially marrying me" He dramatically removed his bucket, revealing a head full of brightly colored neon pink. 

I gasped as I tried to control my laughter to not make him feel bad, but ended up sobbing with laughter. The sight of his neon pink hair was truly something to behold. It was as if a unicorn had exploded on his head, leaving a vibrant mess of tangled locks. 

I couldn't help but wonder how on earth he had managed to pull off such a daring hairstyle without my knowledge. As tears streamed down my face, I tried to stifle my giggles, knowing that his fragile ego couldn't handle any more mockery. But the absurdity of the situation was just too much to bear.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO LAUGH," he snapped, his voice filled with irritation. But how could I not? It was impossible to contain the laughter bubbling up inside me.

 I tried to compose myself, taking deep breaths and wiping away the tears that had formed from the sheer hilarity of his neon pink hair. However, every time I glanced at him, I would burst into another fit of giggles. It was like a contagious disease.

"You don't love me, do you?" He whined , his voice dripping with insecurity. I rolled my eyes, unable to resist teasing him even further.

"Oh, please," I scoffed, feigning disbelief. "How could anyone resist a walking neon sign like you?"

His pout only fueled my amusement as I continued to playfully mock him, relishing in the hilarious situation. His exaggerated pout and wounded expression made it even harder for me to contain my laughter. 

The more he tried to look hurt, the funnier it became. It was all in good fun, of course. I never meant to hurt his feelings, but his dramatic reactions were simply too entertaining to resist. 

As I teased him, his eyes lit up with a mix of annoyance and amusement, a sign that he was enjoying the banter as much as I was.

"Ok, okay, I'll stop now ," I finally said, unable to hide my smile any longer. "But only because your adorable pout is too distracting and I can't concentrate on anything else."

His wounded expression turned into a playful smirk as he replied,

"Oh, so you're just using my charm against me now, huh?"

I chuckled and winked, replying, "Well, someone has to keep you on your toes."

He pulled me flush against him by my waist, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

"I missed you so much," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity.

Oh, really, how much?" I grinned. He chuckled, his warm breath tickling my ear.

"Well, let's just say I've been counting down the days until I could see that beautiful smile of yours again," he replied, his eyes twinkling with affection. I couldn't help but blush at his sweet words, feeling a surge of happiness wash over me.

"But we talked everyday on video call," I interjected, a playful tone in my voice.

He smirked, leaning back slightly to look me in the eyes. 

"Yes, we did," he agreed, his gaze softening. "But it's just not the same as being able to hold you like this, to feel your warmth, and to hear your laughter in person."

" Oh, so you're longing for physical contact now?" I teased, biting my lip slightly. His smirk grew wider as he gently traced a finger along my cheek.

"I can't deny that your touch is something I've been craving," he whispered, his voice low and seductive. I pecked his cheek.

"So how did you accidentally dye your hair pink?"

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest as he leaned closer to me.

"Well, it all started with a dare from my friends. They thought it would be hilarious to see me with a bold new look. Little did I know that the dye they used would turn my hair into a vibrant shade of pink that even I couldn't ignore."

I laughed, picturing him with his usual dark hair transformed into a playful and unexpected color.

"I must admit, it suits you," I replied, running my fingers through his hair and feeling the softness of the pink strands. "It's pretty, like you ," I teased, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.

He rolled his eyes, but I could see a hint of amusement in them.

"Well, I guess I have my friends to thank for this unexpected change," he chuckled, his voice filled with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. 

As I continued to playfully tousle his hair, I couldn't help but notice how the pink hue brought out the warmth in his hazel eyes.

"Are you hungry? I can cook something for you," he suggested. I grinned, appreciating his offer.

"Sure, what do you have in mind?" I replied, my stomach rumbling in agreement. His face lit up with excitement as he listed off the ingredients he had stocked in the kitchen.

"We have some fresh vegetables, chicken, and a variety of spices," he said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. My mouth watered at the thought of a home-cooked meal, and I eagerly followed him into the kitchen.

"Wow, I missed home cooked food. The people there just kept wanting to go to bars to talk," I commented, remembering the monotonous routine of eating out every night while travelling.

He halted in his tracks with a slight irritation.

"So what have you eaten these days?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, stuff that you eat with drinks at a bar, " I replied sheepishly, knowing that he would kill me if he found out I hadn't been eating proper meals. I could feel the weight of his disappointment as he turned to face me, his expression a mix of concern and frustration.

"You can't survive on bar food alone," he stated firmly, his voice filled with a hint of parental scolding.

I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"I know, I know," I muttered, avoiding his gaze. "It's just...the people I work with are very stubborn"

He kissed my forehead with a sigh of exasperation. I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth at his affectionate gesture, even as his words hung in the air, tinged with disapproval. 

A blush formed on my face as his scolding continued. It was impossible to ignore the attractiveness of his stern expression, making it even more difficult for me to focus on his words.

"You need to eat your meals on time- Val are you even listening to me?" He groaned, running a hand through his pink hair in frustration. I snapped out of my daze, realizing that I had been lost in my own thoughts once again.

"I'm sorry," I stammered, feeling guilty for not paying attention. "I know you're just looking out for me." He softened his gaze, his frustration melting away.

"I am," he admitted, his voice gentle now.

"I worry about you, Val. You're important to me."

My heart skipped a beat at his words, a mix of emotions swirling within me. My face became even red as a rush of embarrassment and affection washed over me.

 I had always been aware of his concern for me, but hearing him say it out loud made my feelings for him grow even stronger.

 His genuine care and the way he looked at me with those mesmerizing eyes made me feel like I was the most important person in the world to him. I hugged him hiding my face.

"Ya you're important to me too" I mumbled in his chest, my voice muffled against his shirt.

He chuckled his arms around my waist now.

"I didn't quite hear that," he said, teasingly. His warm embrace enveloped me, making me feel safe and loved. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and lifted my head from his chest. Looking into his eyes, I mustered all the strength I had to say it again, this time loud and clear.

"You're important to me too," I whispered, my voice filled with sincerity and vulnerability.

His smile widened, and he held me even tighter, as if trying to convey just how much my words meant to him.

"I love you" He kissed my nose. I chuckled.

"You know, it's not fair how you always know just the right things to say," I teased playfully, batting my eyelashes at him. His laugh rumbled through his chest, sending shivers down my spine.

"Well ," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of mischief. "Flirting comes naturally when you're around." His fingers gently grazed my cheek, making my heart flutter.

"Ah you cheesy little rat" I chuckled as I flicked him. He groaned in mock pain, pretending that my flick had hurt him.

"Hey now, no violence!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I couldn't help but smile at his playful antics. He always knew how to make me laugh, even in the simplest of moments.

"I love you so so so soooo much Alton." I said as I gave him a slobbery kiss on the cheek.

Alton grinned, his dimples deepening as he pulled me into a tight embrace.

"And I love you even more," he whispered, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.