Ghost downed the rest of his drink and winced, looking out at the desert with a sigh. Fours years to the day since Tommy had died. He smiled bitterly and refilled his glass. He would never have been able to guess where his life was heading after that. Somehow still alive and contemplating a serious relationship for the first time in his life.

"Hey."

He glanced around to see Roach climbing the stairs and smiled. "Hey, yourself. How'd you find me?"

"Soap gave me a hint." Roach sat down next to him, legs dangling over the edge of the roof. "Mind some company?"

"Only if it's you, love."

His answering smile was brighter than the sunset. "What's the occasion?"

"A toast to Tommy." Ghost handed him the glass and after a moment's hesitation, Roach downed the drink.

He winced. "That's some strong stuff."

"Too much for you to handle?"

"Definitely." He grinned and handed it back. His expression sobered up a moment later and he reached out to touch Ghost's arm, covering the tattoo hidden by his sleeve. "How you doing?"

"I'm good."

Roach hummed and moved closer, resting his head on his shoulder. "I don't believe you."

Ghost huffed out a soft laugh and closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of having Roach so close. "I miss him." He murmured after a minute. "We weren't that close but... he was my brother. I sometimes wish I could call him up and just talk like we used to. He'd love to hear all about you."

"What about me?"

"My annoying Sergeant who somehow became my friend. He would never believe all the things we've done together, let alone that I went home with you." Ghost found Roach's hand and squeezed it but kept his eyes on the horizon. "Never much of a people person."

"I know." Roach squeezed back. "I wish I could've met him."

"He would've loved you." Ghost's voice caught and he closed his eyes again, giving his head a small shake. He would have loved taking Gary to meet Tommy, showing off his gorgeous Sergeant. He was sure Tommy would have given him grief over it. Some things weren't meant to be though.

"Just like you huh?"

"You wish." He glanced down, getting lost in Roach's shining eyes and warm smile immediately. "What made you hunt me down?"

"Had a feeling you needed me."

"Pretty confident words."

"Doesn't make it untrue." Roach pressed closer, wrapping himself around Ghost's arm and he looked up at him with that smile still in place. "Admit it, you need me."

Ghost rolled his eyes and looked away.

"Hey!" Roach poked him in the ribs. "Don't be cruel."

"Alright, love. I need you."

"Better."

"Do you need me?" Ghost asked quietly, not quite realising he'd spoken out loud.

"Yes," Roach responded after a long moment. He sighed and pressed even closer, almost on Ghost's lap now. "I need you, Simon."

Something hot and unbearable coursed through his veins. Ghost supposed it must be love. Exhaling slowly, he tried to compose himself. Maybe the drinks weren't such a good idea.

"Tell me more about Tommy."

So he did, giving Roach an abbreviated version of his childhood which skimmed over most of the bad things. "We weren't very close as kids. It was only after I joined the army we reconnected, must've been about twenty-one when Tommy called me up out of the blue. He'd been in rehab and was sober for the first time in years, trying to make amends with me I suppose. I... wasn't very receptive. Took me a long time to forgive him but by then it was too late, he was back on the drugs."

"It wasn't your fault." Ghost started, having forgotten about Roach for a moment there. He glanced down and Roach smiled. "You're still blaming yourself, aren't you?"

"He might not have taken the drugs if I'd been there. Too busy playing soldier to answer Tommy's calls and look where we ended up. He's dead and I can never make things right." It was Ghost's biggest regret, shutting out his brother until it was too late. "I was never very good at opening up."

"It doesn't seem that way to me?"

"I'm trying very hard with you, love." Ghost's jaw clenched as he again looked at the now dark sky. Talking openly with Roach was hard but he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. He'd decided long ago to always try and be honest with Roach. "We're partners, after all. Can't expect you to trust me if I'm always lying and pushing you away."

"You know I trust you with my life." He replied confidently.

"I know."

"Do you trust me?" Roach caught his jaw, pulling his head down so they could look at each other.

"With everything I have."

He smiled, face radiant in the moonlight. "I'm going to hold you to that."

Before Ghost could respond, they heard someone on the metal stairs and turned to look as Price appeared. He took one look at them and sighed. "Is this where my scotch ended up?"

Roach looked at him in amusement and Ghost held up the bottle. "Guilty."

A few moments later, Soap joined them and sat down on Ghost's other side. He snatched the bottle away and took a drink before offering it to Price. "Might as well finish it now it's open. I told you not to leave it layin' around. Good drink like this was bound to be snatched up."

Price took it and sighed, looking at the three of them with clear disapproval. "I should report all three of you."

"To who? You're the CO now after Shepherd." Ghost pointed out. "Besides, Roach only had one drink so you can't blame him. He didn't know I'd stolen it."

"Yeah, punish Ghost he's the ringleader." Soap added, winking to Roach who pressed his face against Ghost's arm in an effort not to smile. It didn't work, he could feel it against his skin, warm and so very tempting. "I'm just a witness."

"Who drank the evidence." Ghost pointed out.

Price rolled his eyes but joined them and they passed the bottle back and forth until it was empty. Roach declined to drink more though, probably for the best with his tolerance levels. He seemed to enjoy it, all the same, still smiling and laughing with Soap when the Captain tried to hug Ghost's other arm but ended up getting an elbow to the cheek.

Ghost didn't care what the other two thought of his current position with Roach. They both knew how he felt anyway. If anything, they might back off after seeing them so close together. Or, they would tease him something worse. Ghost fervently hoped for the former.

Roach was the first to call it a night and reluctantly, Ghost let him go so he could stand. "Night, guys." He waved and hurried down the stairs.

Soap waited until the sound of his footsteps had faded before turning to smirk at Ghost. "What were you two doing up here? Snuck up to the roof with alcohol? Did we interrupt something?" He waggled his eyebrows at Price. "Date night?"

"No."

"Seems like it." Price smiled and tipped his hat. "'Bout time you said something."

Ghost sneered and got up. "Fuck off, the both of you."

"I think he's frustrated."

"Sexually frustrated."

"No more than you two." Ghost flipped them off and shoved his hands in his pockets, the temperature had dropped rapidly. "I hope you're both hungover tomorrow."

"Not likely, you drank most of my scotch." Price scratched his beard thoughtfully. "What were you doing up here?"

"None of your business." He headed for the stairs before they could ask more questions. "And I'll replace the bottle."

"Thank you!"