You stopped in front of his house and looked up at the sky. A smirk appeared on your lips.

"I think it's time for me to leave.", you said and pressed a kiss on his cheek.

Marcus frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean?", he asked and grabbed your hand to pull you into the house. "You stay the night."

Unsure, you frowned.

"Are you sure?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Of course I am. Why should I let you go now? I won't make that mistake again."

You laughed, but couldn't hide the hesitation that shimmered in your eyes.

"And what about your little crotch goblin?", you asked as he opened the door to his apartment and threw his boots into a corner. "She didn't seem to like me very much."

He frowned.

"Don't call her that!"

You shrugged.

"Am I wrong thought?"

Smiling softly, he shook his head and had to swallow a laugh. It made him feel bad but somehow he found it funny to call a child a crotch goblin.

Especially his own.

"You startled her, that's all.", he said, pushing open the door that came first in the hallway to throw a glance into his daughter's room. "Besides, she's already asleep. I'll explain everything to her in the morning. Don't worry."

When you took a look through the crack you had to smile.

Ren's little face was buried between blankets and pillows, while she held a stuffed bunny tightly. She looked so peaceful as if nothing in this world could pull her out of her dreams.

"How adorable.", you mumbled and gave him a quick kiss before turning away. "Thank the arcane she comes after her mother."

Frowning, he closed the door.

"What's that supposed to mean.", he asked, slightly salty.

You chuckled.

"Let's just say that your face is not a suitable one for a little girl. Or your mood swings. Your impatience... The grumpy expressions you always make."

"Hey!", he gave you a bump on the shoulder and pushed you through another door into his bedroom. "Those are bold words for someone who has fallen in love with me anyway."

Laughing, you put your arms around his neck to trap him in a kiss.

"What can I say? You are very handsome."

He rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning.

"You're so lucky I'm used to you and your big mouth. Otherwise I would have strangled you long ago."

"Oh really? You were welcome to try that a few minutes ago."

You winked.

Immediately he blushed, as if he hadn't been the one responsible for your back pain. With an exhausted groan, he lowered his head.

"Don't make me think about it.", he begged, and dropped onto the bed with you. "I could get hard."

Smirking, you sat on him.

"No more stamina for a third round?"

He shook his head.

"I am old."

"And a dad."

"In this apartment we have to be a little more..."

"Civil?", you asked and kissed him.

"I would be very grateful to you for that."

You rolled your eyes and pretended to be bored with the request.

"What have I gotten myself into? Not only an old boyfriend, but also the responsibility of a child."

He laughed.

"I want to remind you were are almost the same age."

"Yeah but I have no experience as a parent."

"We'll see about that. If Ren really doesn't like you, you have to go anyways."

"The words of a good dad."

He laughed.

"Anything for my daughter.", he kissed you. "Now stop talking and start sleeping. I'm two seconds away from fainting."

You chuckled.

"Old man.", you kissed him.

Still sleepy you opened one eye as the warm rays of the sun kissed your face. The world outside the window bathed in a soft, golden light while birds chased across the blue sky.

At first you wondered where you were, the sheets felt so different from the ones in your hotel and it smelled suspiciously strong of men's perfume. But the scent was familiar.

Yawning, you stretched.

Behind you something moved. A strong arm wrapped around your waist to pull you against a rising and falling chest.

With a deep sigh, Marcus buried his face in the crutch of your neck.

"You smell like a grave.", he murmured, and breathed a kiss on the tip of your nose. "Let's take a shower after getting up."

You rolled your eyes.

"Good morning to you too, sheriff.", you said, and turned to rest your head on his chest.

The steady beat of his heart filled your ears. It sounded like a song.

Smiling, he leaned back into the pillows. The gray strands of his hair shimmered in the light.

"Slept well?", he asked, letting his fingertips dance over your bare shoulders. "How's your back?"

You flicked two fingers against his forehead.

"You're an ass, Marcus.", you laughed and sat on him.

His hands rose to your thighs and squeezed gently.

"You can just say I was the best you had. No need to get embarrassed."

Smiling, you leaned forward to kiss him.

He leaned into the touch of your lips, trying to capture the sweet taste of yours. His eyes fell shut again. He sighed, pressing his hips against your middle.

Grinning against his lips, you moved a little just to make things clear that you would be teasing him worse if he wasn't stopping right away.

His hands traveled to your hips.

But before the situation could get heated, the sound of a door opening filled the comfortable silence.

Startled, you grabbed the blanket to cover the two of you.

Marcus swallowed hard. With an embarrassed smile, he turned his head to look at Ren.

Wide-eyed, she stood in the doorway, a stuffed animal tucked under her arm, staring at the two of you.

"Hey, little fox...", he tried to smile at her like he always did but was so awkward trying. "Did you sleep well?"

Ren's eyes fell into you. He eyebrows rose, making her look exactly like Marcus when he had been her age.

"Can you make us pancakes for breakfast?", she asked you with a begging expression. "Daddy's don't taste good."