Page 12 of Flawed Revenge

So, he was throwing everything he had at this. It was everything he’d ever wanted but had been too afraid to seek out on his own. Didn't matter how slim the chances were that he could rebuild what he’d destroyed, he’d give it everything he had, including laying himself bare before his girl and sharing the whole truth with her.

“Morning,” he said, turning to face Kate and Ariella as they entered the kitchen. Kate had warned him that, despite the fact that she needed a lot of sleep, their daughter was an early riser and would likely be up before the sun.

Which meant, of course, he was up too.

They were all early risers in this house, but this morning, instead of heading out for a training session with his team, he was in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Everything he could think of that a nine-year-old might want for breakfast, since he hadn't thought to ask Kate what Ariella’s favorites were before she tucked the girl into bed and locked herself in the room next door.

As much as he hated not knowing everything there was to know about his daughter, there was time for him to learn it all. For now, at least, he had Ariella close, and he was going to make the most of it.

“Morning, Dad.” Ariella beamed at him, her teddy in her arms. Seemed she didn't go anywhere without the thing, and when Kate had noticed him looking at it, he’d seen her blush, obviously embarrassed for him to realize she’d given the bear he’d won for her to their daughter. Not that she had anything to be embarrassed about.

Since Kate merely nodded as a greeting, he pasted on a smile, determined to prove to her that he could be someone she could trust again. Someone she could lean on as she navigated the world of mothering a dying child.

“Wasn't sure what you like for breakfast, so I made some of everything,” he explained, waving his arms to indicate the counters currently filled with food.

“Wow, Dad, you made so much,” Ariella exclaimed.

“She usually just has toast,” Kate started, and he braced himself to be told off for doing something so extravagant without her permission, but instead she offered up a small smile. “Because I don’t have time to cook this for her, but I think you covered all her favorites. Ariella eats pretty much anything.”

Pride rushed through him. It might be a small thing, but he’d made his daughter and the woman he loved happy, and that meant everything to him. “There’s plenty for all of us. The others will be down later and will finish off whatever we don’t eat.”

“I think there’s going to be a lot left over,” Kate said as she guided Ariella over to the table. “Ariella doesn’t usually have a very big appetite.”

“I want some of everything,” Ariella immediately piped up.

“Sure thing, Ari-Bear,” he said as he started filling a plate for his daughter.

The little girl giggled at the nickname. “Ari-Bear?”

“You don’t like it?” he asked as he brought her plate to her. If she didn't like the nickname, he’d come up with something else, or nothing at all and just use her name. All he wanted to do was make her happy, make up for lost time. While he still could.

“I like it,” Ariella replied. “Mom, can I have sprinkles on my waffles?”

“If Leo has some,” Kate replied as she took a seat beside her daughter, then began to rifle through the bag she’d brought with her.

“Do you have sprinkles, Daddy?”

“Umm, yeah, I think so. Let me check.” They’d stocked up on most baking-related items because they’d been trying to make the place as homey as they could as their little Delta Team family grew.

“It’s okay if you don’t, this little crazy girl of mine is just a bit obsessed with sprinkles at the moment,” Kate teased Ariella, who giggled.

“They make everything more fun, and since I don’t always get to do fun things with my friends, I like to do fun things at home,” Ariella explained, and while Kate’s smile didn't drop, he saw the pain in her eyes as her daughter talked about the things she had to miss out on.

Lion felt an echoing pang in his chest. Just because he’d spent the last decade believing his child no longer existed, didn't mean he hadn't also spent it wishing he’d handled things better. There was zero anger on his part about Kate lying by omission that she’d kept their baby. The opposite, he was so glad she had, while simultaneously devastated that he might lose his little girl almost as soon as he’d gotten her.

“Sprinkles do make things more fun,” he agreed. “And you're in luck, because we have some. You know what else is fun?” he asked as he passed Ariella the sprinkles, then went to grab food for himself and Kate.

“What?” Ariella asked.

“We have a whole forest out there to explore, your very own forest. I thought I could take you out and show you my absolute favorite place. If that’s okay with your mom,” Lion added. He might be Ariella’s father, but he’d had no part in raising her, and he wasn't expecting to be given parental privileges right off the bat. He was going to have to prove himself to both of his girls.

“Can I, Mom?” Ariella begged around a mouthful of syrup and sprinkle-covered waffles.

Kate hesitated, and he could almost hear her internal argument. Just because she hadn't yelled and screamed at him, choosing the formally polite route instead, it didn't mean she wasn't still—rightfully—furious with him for their past. No doubt the idea of leaving her daughter alone with him, especially given Ariella was so sick, also filled her with fear.

“Please, Mommy.” Ariella batted her eyelashes at her mother.

“You have to take your medication after breakfast, and you have to have a transfusion as well,” Kate said slowly.