"Is Dada always gonna have that?" Alder turned red at Emmalyn's words and self-consciously used his left hand to hold his right arm. She gazed curiously at the sling.

"No," he said. "Just for a few weeks." Emmalyn looked up at him, with a smile. I watched them with a smile on my face. "It's busy healing," he explained.

"Oh okay," Emmalyn replied. She walked over to me. "Why must it heal, Farda?" I knelt in front of her. I smiled, looking at my daughter. Emmalyn couldn't pronounce 'Dad' or 'Father' properly yet but I didn't mind.

"He broke it," I explained. "He fell out of a tree." She blinked at me.

"Oh." I took her hand.

"Want to see the backyard?" I asked. Emmalyn's eyes seemed to sparkle. She nodded and we walked outside. Em's eyes widened and she let go of my hand. She started to play in the garden. I smiled, gazing at the young girl I was now the father of. That Alder and I were the parents of.

Our daughter, Emmalyn Marie Sense.

Watching the girl play in the garden made me feel nostalgic and... sad. I used to play back in my parents' garden when I was young. Before.... before they started fighting. I remember my father used to watch my mother and I play in the garden. Before... I was the age that Emmalyn was now. When I was her age.... that was when the problems started...

"Amour?" Alder's voice surprised me. I turned to face him.

"Oh hey." He was looking at me worried.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I nodded.

"I'm fine." I turned away from him and walked into the house, past him. I walked into our room. I closed the door. I never wanted to see him again. But.... I missed him. I missed those days when my family was happy. "Why should I play the okay boy and lie? Saying I don't miss you?" I sang, changing the lyrics of 'Requiem' accordingly. I looked at the ceiling. I heard the door open.

"Sullivan, I can clearly tell you're not fine. I know you better than that," Alder's voice said. I turned to face him. His blue gaze was worried but also hard. "Tell me, what's wrong?" I sighed.

"I was... thinking about my father." I said quietly. Alder gazed at me. He walked into the room.

"Come out and watch your daughter, our daughter, to take your mind off it." He took my hand and I let him lead me out. I saw the flash of honey blonde hair playing in the backyard. I smiled.

"Our daughter...." Alder gave a small nod. Emmalyn was busy watching a butterfly on a flower bush.

"Mm Mhm," Alder agreed softly. "We have a family now. We have a kid. We have a cat." I grinned at him.

"Uh huh," I said, brightening. The butterfly flew onto Emmalyn's nose and she giggled. "We do." The butterfly's blue wings flapped once and then it left Emmalyn's nose and she started chasing it. Alder giggled. The giggle I loved so much.

"Mon petit Papillon," Alder said, watching our daughter chase the butterfly. I smiled at him.

"Emma! Over here!" She turned at my call and ran toward me. I caught her in hug and then picked her up. Emmalyn glanced over at Alder and smiled.

"Papillon," he said, ruffling his left hand in Emmalyn's hair. "How was your play in the garden?" He asked. Emmalyn squealed happily.

"It was very fun!" She answered, eyes closed in a happy expression. I found myself smiling. Emmalyn looked at me. "Where's kitty?" She asked. I shrugged.

"Don't know, how about we go look for her?" I asked.

"Okay!" Still holding her, I walked inside and we started looking for Reyna. The cat appeared from around the bend and I placed Emmalyn back down. Once down, Emmalyn raced over to the cat who backed away in surprise. I turned toward Alder.

"How did you come up with her name?" I asked him. Alder gazed at me.

"I chose a name I knew you would've liked. Her middle name, Marie, is quite a popular French girl name. And Emmalyn was a name that you'd brought up in conversation before. I believe it was when we were younger. I think we were talking about what we would name our children or something."

"Really? I don't remember that."

"I didn't think you would've."

"Huh."