AN: May post other chapters...Originally saw the soldier here as Raoul but it could be anybody you want it to be.
Kira was sitting in her writing class as a page, daydreaming about what she and her best friend Ryan would do to get today's cherrytarts, when the door slammed open and in walked Lord haMinch, the pages' training master.
"The army has returned from the war. I know most of you have family out there, so come. We will greet them." With that he left the room with the pages trailing behind.
As the pages reached the palace yard, most of the boys found familiar faces and ran to greet them. Kira hung back at the door to the palace not wanting her hopes to be crushed when he wasn't there, again. It was only supposed to be six months, but six months turned to seven and now it had been over two years. She knew he wasn't dead for his letters hadn't stopped but she doubted he'd be back today.
Across the yard, a tired soldier led his horse through the crowd, looking for the black hair of the girl he had missed so much. He saw many pages out and about, so his green eyed Kira should be here. But he hadn't caught sight of her, yet.
As Kira stood by the door, she allowed herself one look over the crowed. A head of curly brown hair caught her eye, but it couldn't be him, could it? Standing to take better look, she met the man's eyes and immediately knew it was him. Not caring how she looked, Kira ran toward the towering man. Upon reaching him, she flung her arms and legs around the man she had sorely missed, burying her head into his shoulder as she began to cry.
"I thought you'd never come back," she stuttered between sobs.
"I could never leave you, forever, Kira," the soldier replied.
"I love you, Daddy."
His breath caught in his chest. He wasn't her father, at least not in blood. But he had raised her…She had never called him that before…But why shouldn't she? She was his little green eyed girl, after all.
"I love you too, sweetheart. Let's go home."
"I am home, Daddy. Here in your arms."