"Sully," Michaela approached her husband. "Can you go upstairs and tell Katie dinner's ready?"
"Sure," Sully rose from his seat and made his way upstairs to his daughter's room. Opening the door his saw his little girl on her bed, holding her doll.
"I don't know Annie," she said. "Maybe I should ask Poppy."
"Ask Poppy what?" Sully entered.
Katie turned.
"Oh, hi," she smiled. "I didn't hear you come in."
Sully sat on her bed.
"You wanted to ask me something?" He said.
Katie shook her head.
"No," she lied.
"Well, what does Annie think, should you ask me something?"
Katie shrugged.
Sully touched his daughter's chin.
"What do you think?" He said. "Do you want to ask me?"
Katie nodded.
"Then ask me."
"I…I don't want you…to get mad at me," she fingered at the curls on her doll.
Leaning on his elbow, Sully laid on his side.
"I won't get mad you," he said.
"No?"
Sully shook his head.
"Well," she paused and bit her lip. "I was just wondering…you…you're not gonna leave…are you, Poppy?"
Sully frowned.
"Leave," he repeated. "Why would I leave?"
Lowering her head, Katie shrugged.
"It's just he said, that you weren't gonna stay with me."
"Who said that?" Sully inquired.
"I don't know," Katie mumbled.
"Katie," Sully moved closer to his daughter. "Honey, who said that I wasn't gonna stay with you?"
"The man who…took me away."
"Mr. Carraway?" Sully knew.
Katie nodded. She swallowed hard, attempting to hold back the tears rising in her eyes.
"He said, that you don't want me anymore…that you don't love me. And that you and mommy are…better off…with me gone," she cried.
"Katie," Sully wrapped his arms around her. "That's not true. I love you, sweetheart and so does mommy."
"You weren't better with me gone?" Her little voice shook.
"No," Sully's heart broke. "We were far from it, honey."
"So, you…love me?" She looked up at him.
Sully framed her face in his hands.
"More than life itself," he kissed her.
Katie frowned. Sully saw that she didn't quite believe him.
"Katie," he pulled her closer.
Fingering at her hair, Sully spoke softly.
"Listen to me, honey," he said. "A long time ago before I met your mommy, I knew another woman. We were married, and we had a baby."
Katie frowned and tilted her head to the side.
"You were a daddy?"
Sully nodded.
"But they both died," he went on. "I never thought I could go through anything that bad…and then you were taken away from me and mommy."
Sully paused for moment, attempting to hold back his emotions.
"My heart was broken, when you were gone, Katie," he said. "I was nothing but worse."
Katie wiped the tear that rolled down her cheek.
"So, you…love me?"
Sully cupped her face in his hands.
"Yes, sweetie, I love you so much."
Katie wrapped her small arms around his neck and snuggled close to him.
Sully took in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of his daughter's soft hair.
"I'm glad you love me, Poppy," Katie broke the embrace. "You know why?"
"Why's that?"
"I'm the luckiest girl in the world, because I have you and Mama."
Sully smiled.
"And I'm the luckiest Papa in the world," he said.
Katie frowned.
"Why?'
"Because of you and your Ma."
THE END