Author's note: Some time ago, I listened to the song "Baby girl" by Will Hoge and I just had to write a (short) Pretender story.

Jarod was smiling as he watched his baby girl sleeping in her crib. Her sleep was as peaceful as the sleep of any other eighteen month old child, and Jarod hoped that it would ever be like that. The moon was shining through the French window, and his girl's little face was touched by silver moon light.

How much he adored this baby girl – his little baby girl! Eventually, he had found what was missing. He had found an inner peace with someone he had never expected – or ever dared to hope - to find.

Sometimes, he couldn't get his eyes off her when she was sleeping; partly because he feared he would loose her. However, the next morning, she would open her dark brown eyes, and look at him with her cheekish smile, or with curiosity.

'She's already like you,' Parker had said three days after their daughter's birth. Did she say it because she wanted to tell herself the girl didn't belong to her, knowing she would loose her like she lost her mother once? 'What might be safer than giving the one person I love more than anything else to the man who's the master of hiding – and who happens to be the man I love most?'

'I don't know if I could ever give you away, Jamie,' Jarod now told hi sleeping child. My heart would break, the pretender thought to himself.

May the sunlight find your face,
Even when the rain does fall.

Carefully, he touched Jamie's cheeks with his fingertips as he remembered the song. 'Yeah, you're like me – and like her, too. You're special.'

And get back on your feet again,
Every time you trip and fall.

'You have her stuborness, you know? My whole life, I was searching for my family, and I found you – that was more than I could ever dare to wish for. You'll never give up,' he said. Not even if it breaks you, he added in his mind and the thought scared him.

And keep your heart wide open
And always taking in.
Even when it's broken,
Be strong enough
To fix it up again.

'I will do everything to protect you.'

Oh little baby girl,
Sweet little baby girl.
Be strong in this great big world.
Oh litte baby girl.

'There's a whole world out of here. And I don't know everything that's going to happen – I wish that I can stay with you for eternity."

And I hope your hands are steady.
And you'll never need to make a fist.

Her tiny fingers moved a little bit, and as he touched them softly with his index finger, the little hand grabbed his finger.

And I hope when you are ready,
You'll get one never ending kiss.

'When you're grown up… But you'll aways be my baby girl – always.'

And I hope that deep inside you,
There's a sweet eternal song.
And I hope the words are pretty,
That you always sing along.

Oh little baby girl,
Sweet little baby girl.
Be strong in this great big world.
Oh litte baby girl.

And I hope your friends are many,
And your laughters always loud.

'Life isn't easy – especially not for us. However, we'll make it through; I will do anything I can do be with you.'

To help you when you're lonely,
And pick you up when you're down.
And make your eyes always shine bright love,
And learn to see the light.

'You can already see the light, can't you?'

To take the time to listen,
To decide yourself what's wrong or right.

'And you'll be like me – no, you'll be better. And loved.'

Oh little baby girl,
Sweet little baby girl.
Be strong in this great big world.
Oh litte baby girl.

Oh little baby girl,
Sweet little baby girl.
I whish I could hold your hand in this great big world.
Oh little baby girl,

Oh little baby girl,
Sweet little baby girl,
O little baby girl.