Home Safe(?) Home (OTA, tag to his daughter)

[circusoffools]

Syracuse was fishing fewer hours in the last two weeks. He was catching enough, still, to provide his quota to Kate and the fancy restaurant and some for Ruby, too, but he would moor his boat a half-hour before Annie was due to get out of school and he'd be waiting outside the school for his daughter when she got out. He wasn't paranoid, mind. He

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[notyour_queen]

Gorgo had been sitting at a bench by the playground for quite some time. She had noticed the man arrive and stay, looking very patient as he sat there.

She decided to approach, smiling, giving him a nod. "Good day," she greeted, standing before him as he sat on the table. "Are you waiting for your child?" Said as she looked toward the school while she placed a hand on her growing belly.

[notyour_queen]

She looked at her with compassion. "That would be every parent's wish, yes?" Spoken quietly. "It seems to me that it is what you are doing. I am sure your child appreciates it, since you mentioned she is a smart one." Gorgo gave him a smile.

[circusoffools]

He loved her so much that it hurt his chest.

It looked like the school was letting out and the kids were starting to stream out. He stood up. "You should meet her," he told Gorgo.

[anniecuriouser]

"I would love to meet your daughter," Gorgo told Syracuse, as she turned to watch the children file out of the school.

A little girl, tiny for her age, skipped toward the playground, her eyes meeting her Da's and Annie's smile grew. Her steps hastened as well, her backpack bouncing on her back as she raced toward her Da, her arms out and open.

It would be no secret that Annie liked it whenever Syracuse was there after school. It reassured her. It comforted her.

[circusoffools]

"There's my Annie .... " Syracuse leaned down to catch her, lifting her up for a big hug, eyes closing as he felt her, warm and solid and fine. "Hello, luv. How was your day?"

[anniecuriouser]

And so it started.

Annie spoke rapidly, telling him what she had learned in each class one by one until she noticed the woman there watching her, looking quite amused.

She stopped mid-sentence, telling him about a quiz she did well at.

"Hello," Annie said, smiling at the pregnant woman. "You're having a baby," she observed.

Gorgo smiled and nodded, her eyes moving from the little girl to her father. "I see now what you mean."

[circusoffools]

"Smart," Syracuse agreed. "Annie, this is Gorgo. She's gonna have a wee baby in a couple of months."

[anniecuriouser]

Wordlessly she had asked to be put back down. She approached the woman, smiling at her because Annie thought her beautiful.

"Are ya excited about a baby?" She asked, her hand reaching over to hold on to her Da's, not wanting to let him go - make sure he was close.

"I am, yes," Gorgo replied with a smile. "My husband, he wants a little girl, quite like you, I would imagine." Maximus would love this energetic little girl.

[circusoffools]

"Nobody quite like Annie," Syracuse said, unable to hold back a smile. "But she'll be somethin," he was sure.

[anniecuriouser]

She turned to her Da if only to smile lovingly up at him before she turned to Gorgo again.

"Ya dress different. Where are ya from?" Annie asked, always the curious one.

"I am from Greece," the Queen replied. "From a time long before yours I am sure." She looked over at Syracuse again. "I trust she is always this inquisitive with you?" Amusement crinkled the corners of her eyes.

[circusoffools]

"She teaches me things," Syracuse agreed, still smiling. Greece? He'd heard about Greece.

[anniecuriouser]

Annie looked up at her Da, wrinkling her nose. "I don't always teach him things," she replied. "But sometimes I do." She still held his hand.

"I am sure your father teaches you many things as well," Gorgo could not help the grin on her face at this exuberant little one.

[circusoffools]

At that, Syracuse looked away. It had taken her nearly dying for him to get sober. What could he teach her? He squeezed Annie's hand. Maybe it was time to go.

[anniecuriouser]

But Annie wasn't quite done speaking to the woman from Greece.

"Aye, he does," she nodded. "I can stir the boat. Me Da's a fisherman and his boat is in the marina. And he tells me stories," she added. They were shite stories but Annie didn't say that.

"Stories? That's wonderful." Gorgo looked up at Syracuse then. "My husband, Maximus and I run the farm," she told them both. "Perhaps come spring you might care to visit. Also during harvest so that both of you can pick fruits." It was always peaceful at the farm. "You are welcome to visit anytime."

[circusoffools]

A farm?

Syracuse looked back at the woman. "A farm, Annie, eh? Pick some fruits?" He grinned down at his daughter.

[anniecuriouser]

"Anytime you would like to," Gorgo stressed, "you are welcome, both of you."

Annie looked between Gorgo and her Da. "Can we go, Da?" Annie had never been to a farm before. She tugged at her Da's hand.