(no subject)
"What'ya thinkin' bout?"
"Uh... well, I'm thinking about when your mother's going to get back so we can all go on a picnic."
Eyes blinked up at him, one slightly greener than the other. "No you're not..."
Wilden Ritter DeMarcus sighed. It was still a little unnerving - and frustrating - that his daughter could do that. It kept him honest... well, more honest, but it was still... frustrating. Honesty, in his mind, wasn't always the best policy. However, he was finding that it was the only one he could get away with in this family.
He had never claimed to be an honest man. A true one, perhaps, but honest? Honest about being dishonest... That had to count for something.
His daughter tilted her head, waiting.
Bloody... "Well, your mama's not the... only thing on my mind, I suppose. But I do hope she gets back soon so we can all have fun together."
"Kay..." God, she was so bloody brilliant. He still didn't understand how such a beautiful, smart little girl could be his. How something so... pure, could come out of something, so... Well, not.
He smiled a bit at her. "You're quite the smart little lady, you know that?"
She smiled back, bigger, showing off the dimples in her cheeks and the twinkles in her eyes. She definitely inherited her mother's twinkle. "I know that!" Twinkle, and a few other qualities.
"I know you know that!" Shaking his head, he just couldn't stop smiling. She had that effect on him. It was... a little terrifying, really. But amazing. A bit like flying, maybe.
"I know you know I know that!" she giggled, and he scooped her up, propping her against his waist and spinning them about. She screamed, delighted. She already had a horse, though he could credit himself as a good enough parent not to let her ride past a canter. Maybe in a few more months... or a bit more disarming twinkles.
The back door opened, flashing sunlight through the hall beside them. Mr. Ritter's smile shifted a little, but it didn't fade. All things changed in time... but some never completely faded, after all. He put his daughter down. "Picnic time?"
She nodded, cheeks rosy and eyes twinkling. "I won't tell mama that you were thinking about more than picnics."
He could only give the child a little bow. "I am forever grateful."
"I know!" She chortled, running out into the hallway and towards the lady and the light.