"They're just...talking." Mirage was saying as Lottie opened the door.
"Daddy?"
Buddy looked behind him to see Lottie, sad faced with one arm clutching her teddy bear.
"Lottie, what is it? Daddy's busy and-"
Before he could finish his sentence, thunder roared loudly. Lottie screamed and ran over to her father, wrapping her hands around his waist.
"Oh, Lottie, honey," Buddy said sympathetically, lifting Lottie into her arms. "It's okay. It's just thunder."
"I know but it's s-scary!" The tears were falling now as Lottie cuddled into her father's shoulder.
Buddy sighed. He knew there was only one way to calm her down. "I have Mommy on the phone, wanna talk you her?"
Lottie stopped crying immediately and started smiling and saying, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
Buddy smiled as he sat Lottie down on the chair and put the headset, which was a little too big for a four year old, on her.
"Hi Mommy!" Lottie exclaimed.
Startled that Lottie was the one talking, Mirage chucked a bit. "Hi baby! Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"Yea, but the storm is really scary. Are you coming home yet? I miss you Mommy!"
"Not yet, princess. But I'll be back soon, I promise. I miss you too baby! Can I talk to Daddy for a minute?"
Lottie frowned a bit, but she still seemed cheerful. "Okay. And Mommy?"
"Yes princess?"
"Love you."
Mirage smiled. "I love you too sweetie."
Lottie handed Buddy the headset. "She wants to talk to you, Daddy."
"Thank you princess." Buddy said putting on the headset. "Sorry about that." He said to Mirage. "I knew that was the only way to calm her down."
"Well, you were right. Thank goodness I'm coming home tomorrow. I miss the baby so much."
"And she misses you."
"Daddy uppy!" Lottie reached her hands out, asking to be picked up.
Buddy chuckled as he lifted Lottie into his arms and placed her on his hip. Lottie yawned as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I think it's time for you to go back to bed." Buddy said.
"But Daddy it's scary!" Lottie whined.
"Hey, hey," Buddy met eyes with his daughter. "It's just bowling."
Lottie scrunched up her nose in confusion. "Huh?"
Buddy smiled. At only four, she was a spitting image of her mother. The way she acted, sometimes he thinks he's talking to Mirage.
"When you hear the thunder, it's just people bowling in heaven. And when lightning strikes, they get a strike!"
"Cool!" Lottie giggled. After a moment, lightning illuminated the room. "Strike!"
Buddy chuckled. "That's right. Can you go to bed now?"
Lottie nodded sleepily, closing her eyes. Buddy walked the short distance to her room and laid her down in bed. By the time he did that, she was half asleep.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I love you princess."
"Love you too Daddy." Lottie smiled as she fell asleep.
Throughout all this, Mirage was just smiling, lucky that Buddy forgot to put the headset on mute while it happened.