rl

blur of curls and cotton pajama

y

the living room with arms wide open. I dropped to my knees inst

n my arms. I ran a hand gently through her thick ha

ng like the rest of t

you!" sh

too, munchki

kled. "Wanna

" I said with

d mine like it was the most natural thing in the world, and

! It's t

y shoulder, and she nodded, the co

n arrived at a door decorated with sparkly stickers and

open, and I s

s, the plush rug, even the lampshade wore the same cheerful hue. A canopy bed sat i

ss, Pink was clearly

e like she was presenting

es wide in genuine wond

ound her legs. "I just had a makeover a few m

ell. You have

ture queen. I stood by the door for a moment, just wa

, for a secon

have so many storybook

, moving to sit cro

any books as she could carry. She returned with an armful, books stacked haphazardly, so

a triumphant smile. "We can

, Nia and the Moonlight, each cover more colorful than the last. She told me which ones were h

pulled it from the pile, turned i

!" she shouted brightly, h

ed slightly, ju

e and wide eyes. "Darling," she sai

. My brea

d you that?" I

r brought any woman home before. Not even one. And now you're here. So...

augh, though my

little fingers fidgeted with the edge of the s

pmother, are you?" she asked. "The one w

. My mouth opened,

r even the idea of it. The weight of that title, the responsibility behind it...it

and a coldness crept

, but the word

ice floated into the r

princ

h look

g in his pocket, the other loosening his tie as if he ha

e lit up.

arms, the book forgotten, the question

briefly to mine. There was something unreada

h your ten thousand questio

led. "On

and this time there was

some things to discuss," he said. I knew he was

f?" She ask

...Adul

ly as she agreed. He

back to me and gave me a parting hug, and just then, we stepped

as the door clicked gently shut behind us. Mr. Stark followed, his footsteps silent on the plus

iet was heavier than it should've been, at least for m

e low and uncertain. "I'm

his expression unr

ts. And now her. Lyn is just an innocent child. She's so sweet, trusting, and doesn't deserve all this deception. You kno

know. I don't know how to be a mother. I've never really thought of

r a long moment, e

her," he said flatly. "That w

omach

n paper." He stressed it as though he wa

aving second thoughts, I suggest you remember you've alread