< just_1_word - Heart - My Daughter's Eyes >
Nadine Lewis
Batman (OC)
1285 (minus lyrics)
In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
"Closet's all clear, and there's nothing under there," Nadine Dent said with a smile. The little girl nestled under the covers looked doubtful. Her mother smiled. "I promise."
Dalia Dent, only four-years-old, grabbed onto her sleeve. "Mommy..."
Nadine kissed her forehead. "Okay, sweetheart." She got up long enough to turn on the closet light and opened the door just a crack. "How's that?"
"Better," the little girl admitted.
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me.
"And I'll stay right here until you fall asleep." She sat on the bed, touching her daughter's hair. "How's that sound?"
"I love you, Mommy." Even now, Dalia was fighting to keep her eyes open.
Nadine smiled. She glanced over to the bedroom door and saw her husband standing there. Her attention went back to her daughter. "I love you too, Dalia." She closed her own eyes briefly as she promised, "There's nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart. Nothing."
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal.
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace.
"Mom."
Nadine Dent looked up from where she sat on the couch. The living room looked like a hurricane had gone through it-- two lamps were broken, an end table on its side, and a dent in the wall needed repairing. She was a little worse for wear too, the skin around her left eye beginning to show a bruise. Anyone could see that she'd been crying.
"Ela, you should be asleep."
The eight-year-old girl frowned. "How'm I s'posed to sleep?"
"I'm sorry," her mother whispered.
Duela Dent went to the couch and climbed up onto it. She sat beside the older woman and let herself be hugged. Nadine kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You should go back to bed."
For a long time, the child sat there in silence. She looked up at her mother, considered the questions she had. Finally, though, she had to ask at least one. "Are you and Daddy going to get divorced?"
This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak.
Nadine's response came immediately. "Of course not." Then, a moment later, she asked, "Why would you think that?"
Duela looked up at her. "Kieran's parents are getting a divorce. He said they used to fight a lot..."
"Ela, that's never going to happen, I promise." Nadine rubbed her daughter's back lightly, let the girl cuddle close to her. "Your father and I love each other much. We just fight. It's not-- we're not going to..."
Duela nodded, trying to hide the sniffle she gave, but her mother pulled her closer. "Promise?"
"I promise."
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes.
And when she wraps her hand around my finger,
It puts a smile in my heart.
"Oh, this one's cute!"
Nadine stood a ways off from her eleven-year-old daughter and husband. Harvey Dent leaned forward, arms rested on the thin wire fence. His good side was visible from where his wife could see, and she smiled at his smile.
"Pick out whichever one you want," he told the girl. In the enclosed area, Dalia Dent picked up and put down several small retriever puppies before finally picking up one.
"He's so small!" she told her father, showing him the puppy.
"He's the runt of the litter," the owner said from nearby. "Sweetest thing on earth." He opened the gate for the girl and kept the other puppies from escaping. While Dalia held the little gold dog, listing off names and watching for a reaction, the two men looked at each other. "The Missus coming over?"
Harvey shook his head. "She's not really fond of dogs," he said after some consideration.
Everything becomes a little clearer.
"And you're gettin' a puppy?"
"She agreed," Harvey replied. "She said she'll get used to it, and, well, she will." It would take awhile, he knew that, but he believed his wife. "Dalia," he said, touching his daughter's shoulder, "why don't you go show your mom?"
Dalia nodded and went over to Nadine. She knew her mother well enough-- even if the fear of dogs had never been spoken-- to give Nadine some room, to just hold up the puppy for approval.
Nadine managed to reach over and briefly touch the dog's head, pulling her hand back quickly when it tried to lick her hand. "It's adorable, Dalia."
"I still need to pick a name," the girl said, grinning.
I realize what life is all about.
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough.
"What if he doesn't come home?"
"Ela."
"What? He might not. It's been--"
"He'll be home, Ela." Nadine smiled, pushing a piece of hair out of her thirteen-year-old daughter's face. "You know he always comes home for Christmas."
"He was really pissed when he left, and it's only been a couple days." She ignored her mother's reproving look. "He never gets over it that fast when he's in that bad a mood."
"You were saying?" Nadine replied when she heard the sound of a key in the lock.
It's giving more when you feel like giving up.
"Daddy!" Duela raced to her father, teenage pride forgotten, and she flung her arms around his neck.
Harvey Dent smiled as much as he was able and ruffled the hair Nadine had just straightened. The look faded when he looked at his wife, even though she did her best to smile at him.
"Are you hungry?" Nadine asked.
"I'm fine." He looked at her a moment more before turning his attention to his daughter. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" he teased. "Santa can't come if you're awake."
Nadine laughed at the look Duela gave him.
Duela hugged him again. "I'm glad you're home."
"Of course I'm home," Harvey replied. "I wouldn't miss Christmas."
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
"Don't people get that it takes time?" Dalia complained, stabbing a piece of meat on her plate with her fork. "It's like they expect him to just snap his fingers and-- poof, troubles gone."
Nadine smiled. "They do," she agreed. "People are stupid like that. They think that change comes from one person saying things need to change. Even with a good plan, it takes time."
"Oh." The young woman, twenty-two, hesitated. She looked at her parents. Her mother had that sad smile on her face, and her father was looking at his food. "Right. Sorry."
"You're right," Harvey admitted.
"It takes time, and people aren't patient," Nadine chimed in. "But as long as Mayor Stephens holds his ground--"
"--And doesn't get killed--" her husband muttered. He ignored his wife and daughter's glares.
"He'll get that change going," the older woman finished.
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
Nadine wondered what Duela would have to say on the subject. She had her own experience with someone who wanted to change the world, an experience that wasn't as like Nadine's as her mother would have expected. She didn't trust Jonathan Crane with her daughter, not for one moment, but Duela seemed oddly happy. Of course, she'd always thought she was happy.
She sighed, looking at her younger daughter. The table felt unbalanced. She and Harvey sat on one side, Dalia on the other. Duela should be there, next to her sister, to even things out.
As if knowing what his wife was thinking, Harvey reached over, gripping Nadine's hand. She returned the gesture, aware of the steady stream of Dalia's talking dying down.
"Please, go on," she urged, offering a smile. "I'm sorry I didn't catch that last bit."
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy she made me.
This time, she listened. She listened, holding her husband's hand, as Dalia talked about new legislation Mayor Stephens wanted to enact, as every pro and con was presented with vivid detail, as her daughter dreamed about a better future. She could hardly believe she'd been that young once herself, had the same ideals.
What happened to her wouldn't happen to Dalia. Dalia was smarter than to misplace her trust, knew where lines were drawn. She wouldn't get herself into half the trouble Nadine had at her age. That wasn't to say she wasn't a little reckless. Nadine saw that. Dalia got that trait from both sides.
Still, a little recklessness could go far. It inspired freedom and risk. There was always risk involved in order to succeed. She was passionate too, another trait that Nadine hoped would only help her, not hinder her. Though, as much as she worried, she knew better.
Dalia would be just fine. She, not unlike her sister, could take anything this world threw at her. Take it and keep coming. Nadine knew both her girls would be fine.
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes.
Batman (OC)
1285 (minus lyrics)
In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
"Closet's all clear, and there's nothing under there," Nadine Dent said with a smile. The little girl nestled under the covers looked doubtful. Her mother smiled. "I promise."
Dalia Dent, only four-years-old, grabbed onto her sleeve. "Mommy..."
Nadine kissed her forehead. "Okay, sweetheart." She got up long enough to turn on the closet light and opened the door just a crack. "How's that?"
"Better," the little girl admitted.
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me.
"And I'll stay right here until you fall asleep." She sat on the bed, touching her daughter's hair. "How's that sound?"
"I love you, Mommy." Even now, Dalia was fighting to keep her eyes open.
Nadine smiled. She glanced over to the bedroom door and saw her husband standing there. Her attention went back to her daughter. "I love you too, Dalia." She closed her own eyes briefly as she promised, "There's nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart. Nothing."
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal.
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace.
"Mom."
Nadine Dent looked up from where she sat on the couch. The living room looked like a hurricane had gone through it-- two lamps were broken, an end table on its side, and a dent in the wall needed repairing. She was a little worse for wear too, the skin around her left eye beginning to show a bruise. Anyone could see that she'd been crying.
"Ela, you should be asleep."
The eight-year-old girl frowned. "How'm I s'posed to sleep?"
"I'm sorry," her mother whispered.
Duela Dent went to the couch and climbed up onto it. She sat beside the older woman and let herself be hugged. Nadine kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You should go back to bed."
For a long time, the child sat there in silence. She looked up at her mother, considered the questions she had. Finally, though, she had to ask at least one. "Are you and Daddy going to get divorced?"
This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak.
Nadine's response came immediately. "Of course not." Then, a moment later, she asked, "Why would you think that?"
Duela looked up at her. "Kieran's parents are getting a divorce. He said they used to fight a lot..."
"Ela, that's never going to happen, I promise." Nadine rubbed her daughter's back lightly, let the girl cuddle close to her. "Your father and I love each other much. We just fight. It's not-- we're not going to..."
Duela nodded, trying to hide the sniffle she gave, but her mother pulled her closer. "Promise?"
"I promise."
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes.
And when she wraps her hand around my finger,
It puts a smile in my heart.
"Oh, this one's cute!"
Nadine stood a ways off from her eleven-year-old daughter and husband. Harvey Dent leaned forward, arms rested on the thin wire fence. His good side was visible from where his wife could see, and she smiled at his smile.
"Pick out whichever one you want," he told the girl. In the enclosed area, Dalia Dent picked up and put down several small retriever puppies before finally picking up one.
"He's so small!" she told her father, showing him the puppy.
"He's the runt of the litter," the owner said from nearby. "Sweetest thing on earth." He opened the gate for the girl and kept the other puppies from escaping. While Dalia held the little gold dog, listing off names and watching for a reaction, the two men looked at each other. "The Missus coming over?"
Harvey shook his head. "She's not really fond of dogs," he said after some consideration.
Everything becomes a little clearer.
"And you're gettin' a puppy?"
"She agreed," Harvey replied. "She said she'll get used to it, and, well, she will." It would take awhile, he knew that, but he believed his wife. "Dalia," he said, touching his daughter's shoulder, "why don't you go show your mom?"
Dalia nodded and went over to Nadine. She knew her mother well enough-- even if the fear of dogs had never been spoken-- to give Nadine some room, to just hold up the puppy for approval.
Nadine managed to reach over and briefly touch the dog's head, pulling her hand back quickly when it tried to lick her hand. "It's adorable, Dalia."
"I still need to pick a name," the girl said, grinning.
I realize what life is all about.
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough.
"What if he doesn't come home?"
"Ela."
"What? He might not. It's been--"
"He'll be home, Ela." Nadine smiled, pushing a piece of hair out of her thirteen-year-old daughter's face. "You know he always comes home for Christmas."
"He was really pissed when he left, and it's only been a couple days." She ignored her mother's reproving look. "He never gets over it that fast when he's in that bad a mood."
"You were saying?" Nadine replied when she heard the sound of a key in the lock.
It's giving more when you feel like giving up.
"Daddy!" Duela raced to her father, teenage pride forgotten, and she flung her arms around his neck.
Harvey Dent smiled as much as he was able and ruffled the hair Nadine had just straightened. The look faded when he looked at his wife, even though she did her best to smile at him.
"Are you hungry?" Nadine asked.
"I'm fine." He looked at her a moment more before turning his attention to his daughter. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" he teased. "Santa can't come if you're awake."
Nadine laughed at the look Duela gave him.
Duela hugged him again. "I'm glad you're home."
"Of course I'm home," Harvey replied. "I wouldn't miss Christmas."
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
"Don't people get that it takes time?" Dalia complained, stabbing a piece of meat on her plate with her fork. "It's like they expect him to just snap his fingers and-- poof, troubles gone."
Nadine smiled. "They do," she agreed. "People are stupid like that. They think that change comes from one person saying things need to change. Even with a good plan, it takes time."
"Oh." The young woman, twenty-two, hesitated. She looked at her parents. Her mother had that sad smile on her face, and her father was looking at his food. "Right. Sorry."
"You're right," Harvey admitted.
"It takes time, and people aren't patient," Nadine chimed in. "But as long as Mayor Stephens holds his ground--"
"--And doesn't get killed--" her husband muttered. He ignored his wife and daughter's glares.
"He'll get that change going," the older woman finished.
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
Nadine wondered what Duela would have to say on the subject. She had her own experience with someone who wanted to change the world, an experience that wasn't as like Nadine's as her mother would have expected. She didn't trust Jonathan Crane with her daughter, not for one moment, but Duela seemed oddly happy. Of course, she'd always thought she was happy.
She sighed, looking at her younger daughter. The table felt unbalanced. She and Harvey sat on one side, Dalia on the other. Duela should be there, next to her sister, to even things out.
As if knowing what his wife was thinking, Harvey reached over, gripping Nadine's hand. She returned the gesture, aware of the steady stream of Dalia's talking dying down.
"Please, go on," she urged, offering a smile. "I'm sorry I didn't catch that last bit."
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy she made me.
This time, she listened. She listened, holding her husband's hand, as Dalia talked about new legislation Mayor Stephens wanted to enact, as every pro and con was presented with vivid detail, as her daughter dreamed about a better future. She could hardly believe she'd been that young once herself, had the same ideals.
What happened to her wouldn't happen to Dalia. Dalia was smarter than to misplace her trust, knew where lines were drawn. She wouldn't get herself into half the trouble Nadine had at her age. That wasn't to say she wasn't a little reckless. Nadine saw that. Dalia got that trait from both sides.
Still, a little recklessness could go far. It inspired freedom and risk. There was always risk involved in order to succeed. She was passionate too, another trait that Nadine hoped would only help her, not hinder her. Though, as much as she worried, she knew better.
Dalia would be just fine. She, not unlike her sister, could take anything this world threw at her. Take it and keep coming. Nadine knew both her girls would be fine.
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes.