Ranger really should have waited until he got back home to shower, but his curiosity truly had gotten the better of him... and he definitely needed to get away from Heian without seeming too awkward.

Yeah, right. You are the definition of awkward right now, and it's totally not you.

He really didn't like feeling so nervous around another person.

He'll get over you. You're nothing so special, and you have the wrong stuff between your legs, anyways.

Reassured by his nonsensical mental pep talk, he hopped into the shower and got to work figuring out the temperature settings. There was a panel going up the side of the wall under the showerhead, which had all of his attention as he started turning on the water.

To his surprise, he was abruptly sprayed from both the front, from several different sprayers, above, from the main showerhead, and then from behind, from the showerhead he hadn't even noticed before!

Thankfully, his cat helped him remain on his feet when he jumped from the bombardment of cold water.

"He could have warned me," he grumbled as the temperature quickly warmed, drawing a sigh from between his lips as he let his body finally relax.

Okay, this feels kind of good.

He turned his back to the wall of sprayers and tilted his head beneath the rain of water directly above him.

Feels almost like a hot tub's jets.

Opening his eyes after lowering his head a few minutes later, Ranger resigned himself to actually showering instead of burning through Heian's hot water.

He ignored the fact that he was going to be smelling like the man until he washed himself again at home and quickly got busy scrubbing away all of the fever's sweat from his skin.

Once he was comfortable that his body was squeaky clean, he turned his attention to his hair and worked in a good amount of shampoo as he let himself get lost in thought.

It definitely smells like Heian's. Cucumber and mint.

He didn't dislike the scent, but it wasn't nearly as heavy as the one he used back at his house that was sandalwood mixed with a few other things. He definitely recognized the brand, though, and wasn't hesitant to use it. Heian knew his stuff when it came to hair care, which wasn't much of a surprise considering how well managed his own long hair looked.

Maybe I should start trying to touch it. That might make him back off a bit. Or it would just spur him on more. Yeah, probably that.

Shaking his head, Ranger grabbed the conditioner and quickly worked it through his hair, then rinsed it out after running his fingers through it to check for tangles.

He was just turning off the water, resigned to the chill that always accompanied getting out of a nice, hot shower, when a loud, continuous chime began echoing around the house.

It didn't quite sound like a fire alarm, and wasn't as loud as one, but Ranger knew better than to take chances. He hurried out of the shower stall and quickly tugged a towel around his waist.

He was downstairs a minute later, running toward the open front door.

Heian turned where he stood beside the door, seemingly hearing him coming, and gave him the most shockingly-bright smile he'd even seen on a person. He straightened slowly afterward, holding a young girl that looked to be around seven or eight. She was wrapped tightly in a large, soft blanket, and nervously tucked herself closer against Heian's chest when she noticed him coming.

Confused, Ranger stopped a few feet short of the two, his brow furrowing in utter bewilderment.

"I'm... really confused," he eventually mumbled, unable to ignore the fact that the two looked fairly similar.

Heian chuckled and stepped farther inside, then nudged the door closed with his bare foot before turning his attention back to Ranger.

"This is my daughter, Nia," he said proudly as the little girl continued to peek curiously at Ranger.

Wait... daughter? But the alarm? And wasn't she the horse that was outside all night the other day?

Heian walked over to one of his large black sofas and sat down, patting the seat beside him with a knowing smile.

Ranger narrowed his eyes, not quite sure he liked the situation, but did walk over to sit a cushion away, his arms folded over his bare chest.

"What's going on, Heian? If she's your daughter, and she's that horse that I've been seeing outside at random hours of the day... Just what the hell is going on?"

His tone of voice seemed to agitate the girl, who quickly ducked farther into the blanket, making just her eyes and forehead visible.

"Sorry," Ranger said quickly, not meaning to scare the kid.

"You might not like what I'm about to say, but just hear me out, please?" Heian said before hurrying into what he intended to say, figuring that Ranger probably had no response to his previous words. Which would be correct.

"It's a bit of a long story, but to shorten it a bit... she is my daughter and is seven and a half years old. And you're right. She is that horse that you've been seeing with the other mares."

Ranger was about to start cussing him out, especially for letting a seven year old stay outside at night, alone, but bit his tongue because of the little girl in the man's arms.

"I'm not really sure how to even say this, since you're the first person I've ever tried to tell," Heian said as he looked down at the little girl he was holding and she looked up at him. She offered him a half-crooked smile, and he returned it with one full one of his own.

"She's nonspeaking autistic, and has trouble with mobility due to a rare version of cerebral palsy," he said, making Ranger even more confused as to why she was outside.

"She was always upset that she couldn't communicate well, or even walk around without help. We went to so many doctors and rehabilitation facilities, but no matter how hard we tried, she just continued to shrink into herself. She didn't want to need help with everything, but unfortunately, she needed it most of the time."

Heian reached up with one hand and gently patted the little girl's head, making her smile widen as she reached up with one shaky hand and awkwardly grasped his lowering fingers.

"I felt hopeless... especially after my wife left. I just wanted to make Nia happy, but no amount of time, work, or money seemed to help. All of that changed when she shifted two years ago, though. The first time was rough, like most shifts for people. She was used to not being able to walk or talk, but all of a sudden she was in a different body altogether," Heian said as he gladly allowed his daughter to play with his hand, completely oblivious to the conversation about her.

"She shifted back pretty quickly, having only been a young horse for an hour or so. After that, I began to see something really change in her. She shifted again two days later, and that's when things really took off. I'm not sure how, and the doctors are completely dumbfounded, but that second time she shifted... she stood up, all on her own."

Ranger felt his eyes widen at the man's words, utterly shocked. He didn't know much about cerebral palsy, or autism, in all honesty, but he couldn't imagine the amount of joy his daughter must have felt when she found out that she was suddenly able to move, and without any help, too.

"She can also speak as a horse, too. I've heard her say all sorts of things about you," Ranger said, teasing Heian and earning a laugh from the man as the situation lightened a little.

Heian squeezed his daughter in a gentle hug before continuing.

"Absolutely. She's quite a talker in her other form. Let me explain the last bit of this situation, though, so you don't continue to misunderstand," Heian said, earning Ranger's quiet attention.

Heian leaned back against the couch, and much to Ranger's surprise, he noticed that the man's daughter had already fallen asleep against him, nestled into the blanket.

"I didn't let her out of my site for the first several months when she decided to stay as a horse. And you can bet that I immediately sold our two stallions and transformed their double stall into one for her to access whenever she wished."

Ranger nodded, starting to piece together what was really going on.

"Well, after many months without shifting back, I had to start working at least part of my time. I was taking care of the horses and other animals, of course, but that didn't pay the bills that needed to be handled. So, I began taking a few hours of my day to deal with the fields I was growing on. I also sold some of our extra animals, which gave me back at least some of my time."

"I remained outside with her as often as I could, but as time went on and I saw how strong she had become, and how independent, I realized that while she was in her horse form, she really didn't need me there twenty-four seven. She practically became the matriarch of the herd in less than a year and, as I'm sure you've heard and seen, is quite a smart, strong-willed spitfire."

Ranger looked down at the girl again, shocked and impressed by her situation. By both of their situations.

"So that alarm I heard while in the shower... Was that because she had come to the porch? Did she do that once before, shifted right outside, and you hadn't caught it?"

Heian's face darkened with a memory as he slowly nodded.

"Yes, thankfully it was a warm summer night, but I immediately knew that I had to get some sort of alarm so that it would never happen again. She couldn't stand up well enough to open the door, even though I never locked it anymore since she'd first stayed outside when I came in to sleep."

Ranger nodded, feeling a little relieved.

"How long has it been since she last decided to come to the house?" he asked, curious.

Heian smiled at his words as he looked back down at his daughter.

"About four months."

Four months?

He couldn't fathom how hard that must have been. Sure, she was right outside or in the heated barn, but just by looking at the man's face, it was clear that the whole situation had taken its tole on him.

"I think she came back because of you, too," Heian said quietly, making Ranger blink in surprise.

"Me?"

Heian nodded and carefully stood up, then headed toward the stairs.

Ranger waited a moment, then followed. They ended up in a medium-sized bedroom with soft pink sheets and teddy bears galore. He waited at the doorway, looking down the hall as Heian gently tucked his daughter in, then situated a small necklace with an electronic call button beside her pillow.

Once he was back in the hallway and had the door mostly closed, leaving a small crack so that he could check on her periodically, Heian slid his hand into Ranger's and tugged him back toward his own bedroom.

"I bet you she was curious about the man who always brought her daddy home when he went off for a little bit. When you actually came in here and stayed for the night, I was hoping, and praying, that she'd want to come in and see you, too."

Being more than a bit overwhelmed, Ranger remained silent as Heian went through a large closet of things. He eventually pulled out some winter clothes and handed them to Ranger.

Oh right, I need to get dressed.

He turned his back to Heian and tugged the dark blue sweater over his head, then reached for his towel, only to pause and stare over his shoulder at the man nonchalantly watching with bright, hopeful eyes.

"You..."

Sighing, Ranger walked to the bathroom and stepped inside, shutting the door behind himself so that he could get dressed without an audience. He really did need to get home and tend to his chores, and he had no doubt that Heian wanted to spend time with his daughter as soon as she woke up.

When he stepped out, fully dressed, Heian was waiting for him, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Come back and visit sometime? I'm sure Nia would love to run around with you outside," he said, hope in his dark brown eyes.

Looking away, Ranger wanted to tell him no, because honestly, he shouldn't lead the guy on...

"Maybe," he mumbled as he walked out the door.

He heard Heian follow him downstairs, but the man stopped when Ranger stepped outside.

"Take care, Ranger. Thank you for spending some time with me, though I'm sure most of it wasn't by choice."

Rolling his eyes, Ranger started heading down the porch stairs, only pausing when Heian shouted to him.

"You can borrow a horse, if you'd like!"

Glancing back over his shoulder, Ranger gave him a look, then replied.

"So that you have a reason to come back to my property soon?"

The look on Heian's face proved his thought correct, making him shake his head as he began to jog.

Ranger easily set a decent pace, then disappeared into the forest at the edge of the pasture that surrounded the house. He only looked back when he was sure Heian had already shut the door. Except, the had man remained there, his form blurry off in the distance, but still standing tall, watching him.

Hmph. Strange, stubborn horse, Ranger thought before turning away for the final time and disappearing from sight.