Sirius grinned as he let out a long, relieved breath. His hands, still slightly trembling from the emotional whirlwind of the past few minutes, reached into his pocket, pulling out the small, polished state tag he'd been holding onto. He glanced down at Archive, who sat dutifully by his side, his ever-alert Belgian Malinois watching his every move with those sharp, loyal eyes. Sirius smiled at the dog, full of affection and gratitude for the years they'd spent together.

"Reg, could you record this for the Sarge?" Sirius asked, handing his phone over to his brother. "He'll want to see it."

Regulus nodded, taking the phone and moving to a good angle. He activated the camera, steadying it as he focused on Sirius and Archive, knowing how significant this moment was. The room had quieted down after the earlier celebrations, and now everyone watched, sensing something meaningful was about to happen.

Sirius sat down beside Archive, his hand resting gently on the dog's head. The room was filled with warmth, a mix of nostalgia and pride hanging in the air. Archive, always so disciplined, sat straight and proud, waiting for his handler's next command.

"K9 Archive," Sirius began, his voice calm but filled with emotion. "You are now in full retirement."

A murmur rippled through the room as everyone watched, a mix of awe and respect washing over them. Archive had been through so much with Sirius—missions, challenges, long nights, and dangerous situations. The bond between handler and dog ran deep, deeper than most could ever understand. Sirius took a moment, his throat tightening slightly as he carefully removed Archive's old service tag from his collar. He then replaced it with a new tag, one that simply read: "Retired K9."

"You've served well, buddy," Sirius said softly, his voice cracking just slightly as he spoke. He reached down and scratched Archive behind the ears. Archive's tail wagged briefly, but the dog remained seated, his posture one of complete professionalism. It was as if he understood the gravity of the moment.

"Thank you," Sirius whispered, his voice barely audible, but Archive's ears twitched, and he seemed to understand.

To everyone's surprise, Archive then lifted his paw and gave a sharp salute toward the camera, as if to acknowledge his own retirement. The team gasped softly, their admiration for the dog—and for Sirius—growing by the second.

"Did… did he just salute?" Eddie asked, his voice full of wonder.

Sirius chuckled, though his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Yeah, he knows what's up. He's been trained for just about anything." Archive, still holding his salute, sat there with such pride that it brought a round of applause from everyone in the room.

"Good boy," Sirius said, giving Archive a pat on the head before letting him rest fully. The dog shifted, sitting back down and relaxing, as if knowing his job was truly done. He was no longer on duty.

Buck had been standing off to the side, a soft smile playing at his lips as he watched. His love for Sirius grew even stronger in moments like this—when Sirius's strength and tenderness intertwined so effortlessly. Seeing Sirius retire Archive was the final confirmation for Buck. He knew what was coming, but he had to hear it from Sirius himself.

Sirius leaned back, feeling the weight of the decision fully settle on his shoulders, but it wasn't a bad weight. It was a release, a letting go of a part of his life that had shaped him, but no longer defined him. He glanced over at Buck, who had a questioning look in his eyes.

"What's going on, Sirius?" Buck asked, stepping closer. There was a gentle curiosity in his voice, but also a trace of concern. He needed to know what Sirius's decision was, what his future held, especially with the baby on the way.

Sirius met Buck's gaze, his smile soft but filled with certainty. He stood up and walked over to Buck, his hand brushing gently against Buck's slightly rounded stomach. He could feel the soft movements beneath his palm—their child, a part of both of them, already making their presence known.

"I'm staying home," Sirius said, his voice steady and filled with quiet resolution.

Buck blinked, his expression momentarily unreadable, before a slow smile spread across his face. "You're… you're what?"

Sirius took a deep breath, the weight of the words finally lifting from his chest. "I'm retired, Buck. As of today. I'm done. I want to be here, with you… and with our baby. I don't want to miss a thing."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Buck just stared at Sirius, processing the words. Then, slowly, his eyes filled with tears. But these were tears of joy, of relief, of everything he hadn't allowed himself to hope for.

"You're serious?" Buck whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

Sirius grinned, nodding. "Yeah, I'm serious. I've done enough. It's time to focus on what matters most—our family."

Before Buck could respond, Archive, as if sensing the emotional energy in the room, padded over to Sirius and Buck. He nudged Sirius's hand, then placed his head in Buck's lap, his eyes gazing up at both of them with a softness that was unmistakable. Archive was off-duty now, but he wasn't done protecting the people he loved.

Buck laughed, wiping away his tears as he pet Archive's head. "Guess he's not going to stop watching over us, huh?"

Sirius chuckled, his arm slipping around Buck's waist as he leaned in closer. "Not a chance. He's in this for the long haul, just like me."

Archive, as if on cue, raised his paw and placed it gently on Buck's stomach. The baby kicked again, and Archive's ears perked up. He looked back and forth between Buck and Sirius, his tail wagging slowly, as if he knew he had a new mission now—to protect the growing family that was forming right before him.

Regulus, still holding the camera, sniffled quietly behind it. "I think I'm going to cry," he muttered, trying to hold back his emotions as he captured the scene.

Eddie grinned, wrapping an arm around Regulus's shoulders. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," he said teasingly.

The rest of the team stood around, watching in awe as Sirius and Buck shared a quiet moment of joy, Archive lying at their feet like the loyal companion he was. The future looked bright, filled with hope, love, and the promise of new beginnings.

As the camera continued to roll, Sirius glanced at Regulus and gave him a nod. Regulus smiled, knowing that everything was exactly as it should be.

Sirius leaned down and kissed Buck softly, his heart full.

"I love you, Buck."

"I love you too, Sirius."

And with that, they knew—this was just the beginning.