I couldn't see anything. It was dark everywhere.

And since I couldn't rely on my eyesight, I had to rely on everything else.

I closed my eyes, listening to my surroundings. I could hear my own heart beating loudly in my chest. I tried to calm down, to control my own breath and heart.

However, by the time I calmed my own body, it was too late. I felt cold metal on the back of my head, which couldn't be anything other than a gun.

"Whoever you are, when you shoot, pray to God it kills me." It was a threat I planned to follow through on.

This is not how I thought today would turn out. Actually, I thought it was going to be another normal day. That was until I received a message with a time and place.

Of course, I couldn't resist, so I ended up here. A gun to my head. Good job, Lyssa.

"Shoot? No, I'm just happy to see you." A familiar female voice called from behind me. The gunhead disappeared and suddenly there was a light.

"Nyx." I clenched my jaw and turned around.

"Lyssa." She smiled. "We have not seen each other for a long time."

"Yes, the best months of my life. What are you doing here? What problems are you carrying today?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Problems? Me?" She clutched her chest. "You are insulting me."

"Really?" I raised one eyebrow.

"Not really." She shook her head and hid the gun behind her belt on her back.

"So what are you doing here or why didn't you text me normally? Or, you know, knock on the door like a normal person?"

"Admit it, you couldn't resist the mysterious message." She smiled triumphantly. "You miss the thrill. The excitement."

"I've got a kid who's almost a teen, so no, I'm not missing any excitement. Now, what are you doing here?" I don't like that she's avoiding the question.

"I have a problem." She exhaled heavily.

"What a surprise." I rolled my eyes. "Who did you piss off this time?"

"No, it's not like that."

"Okay, so whose body do you need to get rid of?" I frowned.

"Ha-ha-ha, funny. I'm serious." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Uhm, me too." I shrugged my shoulders. "Okay, what's going on? Talk."

"I think..." She nervously played with the ring on her right hand. "I think that..."

"Okay, start talking or..."

"I think I'm in love." She suddenly screamed and that silenced me more than anything in my entire life. What did she just say?

I knew that Nyx had returned to her hometown, to her family, a few years back. But sometimes she stopped by with some "work". It must have been difficult for her to return to normal life.

But the fact that she fell in love? That's news.

"Um, congratulations?" I said carefully, not knowing what she wanted from me.

"What? No." She frowned. "You have to help me."

"So back to my question...whose body do we have to get rid of?" At this moment, I just wanted to play with her a little.

"Lyssa this is serious. I don't know what to do."

"Okay, let's elaborate a bit on this situation. You called me to an abandoned warehouse, outside of any civilization, rather than talking comfortably in my house, to ask me what to do with your feelings?" I summarized my thoughts in a simple sentence.

"No, of course not." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well...Okay, that's exactly what I did." She sighed in defeat.

"You're a lost cause." I started walking away.

"No Lyssa wait!"

"I can't have this conversation here, Nyx. Get your ass in my car." I ordered her and soon I heard her footsteps behind me. We sat in my car and I drove down the road. "So, you want to tell me who it is?" I asked, my attention on the road ahead.

"His name is Julian."

"Okay, go ahead."

"He's two years older, he lives next door to my parents, he's a car mechanic, and I lose my mind when I'm with him." She put her head in her hands.

I don't want to upset her because she obviously cares about this, but she's adorable right now. It's unusual to see Nyx vulnerable.

"And you think you love him?" I looked at her for a second before returning my gaze back to the road.

"I don't know." She let out a desperate breath. "I just... when I'm with him, I feel."

"Nyx, it's been almost four years since we've been completely free, you've never had anything with anyone?" I didn't want to sound so reproachful, but it happened.

"Of course I did, but not like this. I slept with guys the moment it was all over. It was the first time I could choose who I slept with. It wasn't an order."

"And that guy you slept with for the first time? Do you have feelings for him? Or did you?" I raised an eyebrow. This is a really strange conversation that I never thought I would have.

"What no." She said a little touched. "It was a one-night stand. Although it happened more than once. But that's not my point. I don't have feelings for Kai."

"WHAT?" I jerked the steering wheel to the right and stopped off the road. "You slept with Kai? Killian's brother? When?" I looked at her horrified. When did it happen? How could I miss this?

"Does it matter?" She looked at me confused. "It was a long time ago. And it only happened a few times. Don't make a big deal out of it."

"Big deal? You slept with...no" I took a deep breath and squeezed the steering wheel in my hands. "It doesn't matter. It happened a long time ago." I said it to myself more than to her. "It's okay."

"Since you've got everything together in your head, can we get back to Julian?" She said as if it was nothing that she slept with my brother-in-law.

I don't want any more surprises today. I have enough for the whole year.

*****

After about three hours of talking with Nyx in a cafe, in the city, I finally got home.

Finally, Nyx decided to take my advice and tell him about her life. That way she will find out if he loves her too or not. If not, I have a feeling she's going to kill me. Literally. But that's a problem for the future.

And speaking of problems...

"It's not okay, Lucy." I heard Killian as soon as I entered the house. He sounded pissed.

"What now?" I exhaled heavily and closed the door behind me. I walked into the living room to find Lucy sitting on the couch with her hands on her legs while Killian stood over her with one hand on his hip and the other pointing at her.

A few months ago Lucy decided she wanted to cut her hair, I have to say, it suits her. Now her light brown hair was just touching her shoulders. She was wearing a white dress and her favorite shoes that had strawberries on them.

Killian hasn't changed much. His hair was a little longer than normal and he had a few wrinkles, but that was probably from Lucy. As usual, he was wearing a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark pants. I can only tell from this that he was at some meeting not long ago.

"Everything okay here?" Lucy looked at me while Killian glared at her. What did I miss?

"No, Dad is just exaggerating. As always." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I am exaggerating?" He dug his finger into his chest.

"Okay, why don't we calm down a bit?" I walked over to them, noticing Odin lying at Lucy's feet. "What happened?" I stopped by Killian and put my hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down.

"Lucy, why don't you tell your mother what happened?" He straightened up and crossed his arms over his chest, obviously cranky.

This really doesn't look good.

"Lucy?" I tried to sound calm. "What happened?" I repeated.

"It's not that big of a deal." She muttered, her gaze dropping to the floor.

"Honey, what's not a big deal?" I bent down to her and put my hands on her knees.

"I..." She started, but Killian beat her to it.

"She has a boyfriend!"

I bit my lip, trying to hold back a laugh. You have got to be kidding me. So much yelling for something so stupid?

"Is that true, Lucy?" She just nodded but didn't look me in the eye. I caught her chin between my fingers and lifted her head up. "Is he cute?" I smiled and she blushed. I take that as a yes.

"Lyssa! Stop supporting her in this. She's eleven." I heard some annoying sound behind me.

"Scud, I can handle it." I winked at her and without another word she stood up, Odin immediately with her, and they left.

"This is not the end of this conversation, young lady!" Killian shouted after her. "We'll talk about this later."

"Killian, babe." I put my hands on his chest. On the one hand, I tried to calm him down, and on the other, I wanted to make sure that he wouldn't run after her.

"This is ridiculous." His chest heaved rapidly, his gaze still on Lucy, who was slowly disappearing from our sight. "She's eleven."

"Killy," I repeated his name and he finally looked at me, fire in his eyes. "Calm down."

"Lyssa..." He said my name warningly, and I have to say, in another case, we would have ended up in our bed rather quickly.

"You know what I was doing when I was eleven?" I raised an eyebrow and Killian exhaled heavily. "Exactly."

"But..."

"I know, I know." I interrupted him. "I get it. I really do, but you have to stop. She's living a normal life, that's what we wanted for her, right?"

"Yeah, but normal life means shopping with her friends, not having a boyfriend."

"You're unbelievable." I laughed and shook my head. "You're going to have a heart attack when she'll want to marry don't you?" My hands slipped from his firm chest.

"I'm trying to protect her."

I was going to joke and say that the only protection she'll be needing in the next few years is a condom, but I have a feeling he'd explode and Lucy would immediately go to an all-girls school.

"I'm supposed to be in town in a few minutes, and right now I can't even drive."

"Then take Theo. He'll give you a ride. I'll talk to Lucy, okay?"

"Okay." He exhaled in defeat.

"It's going to be okay, it's just a phase." I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss. "Go before it's too late. I love you."

"Love you too." He kissed me on the cheek and walked away like a sad puppy with his head down.

"Men." I shook my head and started walking to Lucy's room. Her door was open and she was sitting on the bed, Odin on her thighs as she scratched him. I leaned against the doorframe and stared at them for a moment before saying anything. "So a boyfriend, huh?"

"Is Dad really angry?" She looked up at me, remorse in her eyes.

"Don't worry, he'll survive." I smiled and walked over to her. I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulders. "So how long has this been going on?"

"It's not that serious, mom. We just kissed once." She almost whispered.

"Kissed?" I asked surprised. "Don't tell your dad that, because he's really going to have a heart attack." But even before that, he would find that poor guy and make his life hell.

"I don't want him to be angry."

"Oh Lucy, he's not angry." I ran my hand through her hair. "He's just not ready for you to grow up. He's scared."

"But he will always be my dad." She pulled away, confusion on her face. "What is he scared of?"

"That he will lose you." I caressed her cheek. "Every parent is afraid of that."

"You too?"

"Nope," I said confidently. "I won't let you." I tickled her and she immediately started laughing.

"Mom, stop it." She tried to pull away, but I wouldn't let her.

"No chance." I laughed and we "struggled" for a while before finally ending with me hugging her from behind. "Peace?"

"Peace." She laughed.

"How about we go bake something? A show of peace for Dad?"

"Um, mom?" She pulled back and looked at me seriously. "You are not allowed to be in the kitchen."

"Lucy!" She jumped off the bed before I caught her. "Lucy Acker, come here right this second!" I stood up, but she had already run away.

"Never!" She shouted with laughter.

"Can you tackle her for me?" I looked down at Odin, who just sighed. "You can't handle her anymore, can you?" I patted his head and started walking behind Lucy.



To say I'm tired is an understatement. I can't even think anymore.

I thanked Theo who dropped me off in front of my house and told him to say hi to Luna before we said goodnight.

I've gotten used to no one being home since everyone moved. Kai was last, but I'm happy for him. Even though I'm in over my head right now.

I opened the main door and immediately smelled sugar. The first thing that came to mind? Lyssa is in the kitchen again. So this will be fun.

I walked into the living room to find them both on the couch laughing at something while the TV was playing in the background.

"Killy, just in time." Lyssa noticed me. "Wow, you look like you got run over by a truck, are you okay?" Lucy, who was sitting with her back to me, turned to see me. She was no longer wearing a dress like before, but a big t-shirt and shorts that she wears for sleeping.

"Work." I waved my hand over it.

"We baked cookies. Do you want one?" She lifted the plate from the table.

"Are they poisoned?" I walked over to them and took one.

"You'll find out." She laughed.

"Is the kitchen still standing?" I raised an eyebrow before taking a bite. And to be honest, they're not bad. They are not bad at all.

"Ha-ha-ha, funny." She rolled her eyes, but a second later I saw hesitation on her face. "I'll go make sure I turn off the oven."

There is my wife.

Lyssa quickly stood up and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me and Lucy alone.

The atmosphere in here? Not good. Not good at all. We got into a bit of a fight today.

But what did she expect when I found out she had a boyfriend? She's eleven, too young. And even if she's eighteen, I won't be okay with that. No man will ever be good enough for my daughter.

"Dad? Are you still mad at me?" She looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

I exhaled heavily and slowly sat down where Lyssa had been sitting a moment ago. "No, Lucy. Of course, I'm not mad at you. I just..."

"Was afraid someone would steal me from you?" She interrupted me and I looked at her in surprise. How does she know? "Mom said you probably felt that way."

"A little, yes," I admitted.

"You know you're still my dad, right? I only have one. No one can replace you."

Whoever said that guys can't cry obviously didn't have a daughter telling them this.

"Come here." I put my arm around her shoulders and Lucy buried herself in my chest. "You will always be my little girl. No matter how old you are."

"I know." She crossed her arm over my chest and hugged me. "I love you dad."

"Me too, Lucy. I love you too." I rested my head on hers and sighed happily. This is all I need in life.

"I feel left out." I pulled away from Lucy to see Lyssa in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. How long did she stand there?

"So come here." I laughed and opened my other arm for her to sit next to me. Without hesitation, she moved and sat under my arm. "I have both my girls with me now." I kissed both of their hair.

"And a kitchen that stands," Lyssa said proudly.

The three of us exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

I have my wife and daughter with me. And if this isn't my happy ending, I don't know what is.



What else to say other than I missed this story? <3