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Athena didn’t usually come home for lunch. Her days rarely left room for it—calls stacked up, paperwork never ended, and something always needed her attention. But today, for once, things slowed down just enough for her to slip away.
She didn’t text Bobby. The thought crossed her mind, but she figured she’d surprise him.
The house was quiet when she stepped inside.
No loud TV, no clatter of utensils in the kitchen, just the low hum of the air conditioning and the soft creak of the door as she closed it behind her. Athena kicked off her shoes and set her keys on the table, rolling her shoulders once to let some of the tension go. The silence actually felt good.
Then she heard it.
At first, it was faint, a voice echoing slightly through the hallway. She paused, head tilting.
“…’cause I’m your lady…”
Athena blinked.
“…and you are my man—”
She froze. That was Bobby.
Her eyebrows lifted slowly as his voice grew louder, clearer, full and strong in a way she did not expect to hear in the middle of the day.
“…whenever you reach for me—”
Athena pressed her lips together, already fighting the smile tugging at them. “Oh, this man,” she muttered under her breath.
Moving quietly down the hall, she was careful with each step, not wanting to interrupt whatever performance was happening. The bedroom door was open just enough for her to slip through, and the singing grew louder, echoing off the walls.
The bathroom door, however, was wide open. Steam drifted out into the bedroom, curling into the air. And through it—
“…I’m gonna do all that I can—!”
Bobby Nash was in the shower. Singing. But not just singing, performing.
Athena leaned against the bathroom doorway for a second, taking it all in. She couldn’t see him fully through the shower glass, but his silhouette was clear: one hand braced against the wall, the other moving like he was holding a microphone. Her smile broke free.
He had no idea she was home. None.
“…lost is how I’m feeling lying in your arms—!”
She stepped inside the bathroom as quietly as she could manage, leaning her hip against the counter, arms crossed as she watched.
She had seen her husband do a lot of things—lead his team into burning buildings without hesitation, stand steady in the middle of chaos, carry more weight than most people ever should. But she hadn’t expected to find him like this, singing a Celine Dion song in the shower.
Athena shook her head slightly, amused.
“…when the world outside’s too much to take—!”
His voice lifted, stronger now, like he was really getting into it. Athena raised an eyebrow. “Oh, he is committed,” she murmured. For a second, she just watched.
Then the idea hit her.
She stared at him, then at her pocket, then back at him, a slow grin spreading across her face.
“What the hell,” she whispered, reaching into her pocket for her phone. She hesitated for half a second before opening the camera and hitting record.
“…that all ends when I’m with you—!”
Athena had to press her lips together again to keep from laughing out loud. Bobby shifted under the water, running a hand through his hair, completely unaware he had an audience now.
“…even though there may be times—!”
She leaned a little more comfortably against the counter, settling in. “Oh, I’m not missing this,” she whispered.
“…it seems I’m far away—!”
He pointed, actually pointed, like he was reaching for someone across a stage.
Athena nearly lost it right there.
“…never wonder where I am—!”
Her shoulders shook silently as she held the phone steady.
“…’cause I am always by your side—!”
He hit that line with his whole chest, his voice echoing in the bathroom, and Athena had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
“…’cause I’m your lady—!”
She whispered under her breath, “Yes, I am.”
“…and you are my man—!”
“Mm-hmm,” she nodded, fully entertained.
“…whenever you reach for me—!”
Athena tilted her head, watching him like she was at a concert.
“…I’ll do all that I can—!”
He leaned forward slightly, like he was giving everything he had to that note. Athena’s eyes softened just a little. Because, as funny as this was, he sounded good. Really good.
“…we’re heading for something—!”
The water shifted as he moved again.
“…somewhere I’ve never been—!”
Athena let out a quiet breath, still smiling.
“…sometimes I am frightened—!”
He paused just slightly, like the line meant something to him, and Athena noticed.
“…but I’m ready to learn—!”
He lifted his head, voice steady again.
“…of the power of love—!”
And then he finished.
The last note faded. The water kept running. For a second, there was just silence. Athena hit stop on her phone.
A few seconds later, the water shut off. Athena straightened slightly, adjusting her stance.
The shower door slid open. Bobby stepped out, reaching for a towel, and froze.
Athena stood there, leaning against the counter, arms folded, one eyebrow raised, a smirk sitting right on her face.
Bobby blinked. Once. Twice.
“…Athena.”
“Robert.”
Bobby paused. Water dripped from his hair onto the tile.
“You’re home.”
“I am.”
Silence stretched between them for a second. Then Athena slowly lifted her phone. Bobby’s eyes dropped to it. Then widened.
"You didn’t.”
“Oh, I absolutely did.”
“Athena—”
“You were really feeling that song, baby.”
He closed his eyes briefly, exhaling. “I didn’t know you were home.”
“Clearly.” She pushed off the counter, taking a step closer, still holding the phone. “You got range,” she added casually.
Bobby stared at her. “I am asking you, very nicely,” he said, carefully, “to delete that.”
Athena tilted her head. “I don’t know. That was a full performance. Feels wrong to just erase it.”
“Athena.”
“Bobby.”
He ran a hand over his face, already knowing he wasn’t going to win this easily. “You recorded the whole thing?”
“Every second.”
He let out a quiet groan. “That is… deeply unfortunate.”
Athena smiled wider. “Oh, I think it’s very fortunate.”
“For you.”
“For me,” she confirmed.
Bobby reached for his towel, wrapping it around his waist, still watching her carefully. “Who have you sent it to?”
Athena gasped, offended. “Excuse you. I just got here.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
“It is the answer you’re getting right now.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Athena.”
She took another step closer, lowering her voice just a little. “Relax,” she said. “I haven’t sent it to anyone.”
“Yet.”
She shrugged. “Depends on how you behave.”
Bobby stared at her for a long moment. Then he shook his head. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“I really am.”
He let out a breath, then glanced at the phone again. “…I sound okay?”
Athena's expression softened. “You sounded more than okay,” she said honestly. “You sounded really good, baby.”
He studied her face, like he was trying to decide if she meant it. “You’re not just saying that.”
“I don’t ‘just say’ things,” she replied.
That was true, and Bobby knew it.
Bobby’s shoulders eased a little.
Then he caught himself. “And yet," he said glancing at her phone again, "you’re still holding that over me.”
Athena lifted the phone slightly. “Because this?” she said. “This is gold.”
He pointed at it. “That better not leave this house.”
“No promises.”
“Athena.”
She smiled again. “Hmmm…,” she said, sweetly.
He stepped closer, stopping just in front of her. “You’re really not going to delete it.”
She met his eyes. “Nope.”
Bobby stared at her, then did something she didn’t expect. He reached for her. Athena barely had time to react before he pulled her in, one arm around her waist, the other reaching for the phone.
“Hey—!”
She twisted slightly, holding it out of his reach.
“Give me that.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Athena—”
“Bobby—”
He tried again, and she laughed as she dodged him.
“You are not getting this phone.”
“I will absolutely get that phone.”
“You are half-dressed,” she pointed out.
“That has never stopped me before.”
“That is not the argument you think it is.”
He almost smiled. Almost.
Then he lunged again, and Athena slipped to the side, quick on her feet.
“Careful,” she warned, still laughing. “You’re going to slip.”
“I’m willing to take that risk.”
Athena giggled. “That is a terrible decision.”
“Delete the video, Sergeant.”
“Not happening, Captain.”
They ended up close again, both a little out of breath.
Bobby looked at her, his expression soft. “You came home."
“Yeah.”
“For lunch?”
“Thought I’d check on my husband, she said. "See how he's enjoying his day off.”
He nodded. “Caught me in a… vulnerable moment.”
Athena smiled. “Very vulnerable.”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Not anytime soon.”
He shook his head again, “Alright,” he said.
Athena narrowed her eyes slightly. “Alright?”
“Alright.”
She didn’t buy that for a second. “You’re up to something.”
“Maybe.”
She took a small step back. “Bobby—”
He moved fast. Faster than she expected.
In one smooth motion, he pulled her in again, wrapped his arm around her, and lifted her.
“Bobby!”
“Delete the video.”
“No!”
He shifted his grip, holding her securely as he stepped toward the shower.
Athena gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
“Robert Nash, if you put me in that shower, so help me!”
“Delete it.”
She clutched her phone tighter. “Never.”
He smiled. Then turned slightly toward the still-wet tile.
“Bobby!”
“Last chance.”
Athena glared at him. “…Fine!”
He paused. “Fine?”
“I’ll keep it,” she added quickly. “But I won’t send it.”
He stared at her. “That is not the deal.”
“It is now.”
For a second, it was quiet. All that was heard was water dripping behind them.
Then Bobby sighed. "You are impossible.”
“And yet,” she said, breathless but smiling, “you married me.”
He looked at her lovingly. “Best decision I ever made.”
Athena’s expression softened again, just for a moment. Then she lifted her phone between them.
“And I got proof you can hit a high note.”
Bobby groaned and pulled her into another damp embrace, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’re dangerous, you know that?”
She grinned, settling into his arms, pressing a kiss to his chest. “And you, Bobby Nash, are a star.”
And in that moment, lunch could wait, because coming home to her husband singing in the shower was the kind of concert Athena wouldn’t miss for the world.