It began as a father’s promise to his sons: He would build them a treehouse when he returned from fighting a war in Iraq. But it all soon devolved into a months-long legal battle over zoning regulations and the little red tree fort in the front yard of Mark Grapin’s Fairfax County home. Now, eight months after Grapin hammered home the first nail, his boys – Sean, 9, and Eric, 11 – will finally be able to play in their treehouse without worrying that the county will come and force them to tear it down. The county Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday granted Grapin a zoning variance that allows him to keep the treehouse, and his promise to his sons.

“I’m not looking for 15 minutes of fame,” Grapin said. “I’m just trying to do the right thing by my boys.”