Disclaimer: Game of Thrones is D&D's property, after being GRRM's property. Or else, Lancel would be the happiest kid in Westeros, should it be mine.

Summary: Kill the husband and let the father be born. That was exactly how Lancel felt ever since his wife passed away two years ago, leaving him with their only daughter to care for.

In his daughter's eyes

Chapter 1

Married at 22, a father at 23 and a widow at 26. That wasn't how Lancel Lannister had planned his life to turn out. In an ideal world, his wife would be still alive and they'd raise their daughter together, maybe they'd even have another baby together, perhaps a little boy. Though he didn't really care about the gender. He looked at the clock as he finished parking near the school.

"Fuck, I'm late... I hope she hasn't waited for me for too long..."

An urgent matter at work had caught up with him as he was getting ready to fetch his daughter at school and if he was just five minutes late, he knew how his little Lelia felt when she knew he had to drive and was late. Her mother, his first love, Elora, had died in a car accident two years ago. Some drunkard had refused her the priority and he was driving way too fast. What eased him a bit was knowing she died right away, she didn't have the time to suffer, to feel her life escaping her body. And while Lelia was still so little at that time, she seemed to remember what caused her mother's death and she was never at ease when her father had to drive alone.

"I didn't even have the time to call the school, to have her know I was on my way... Damn, I'm such an idiot!"

He started to make his way in the building and was more than relieved to see his precious little girl in a normal state. Actually, she didn't seem to have noticed he was late, as she was playing with dolls along with a girl of her age, with black hair and blue eyes. They were the last ones in the classroom. Lancel noticed the piece of paper near the coats. One had the name Nymeria Waters on it.

"Waters? Sounds familiar... That's right! Gendry's daughter! The one he had with Arya Stark. While unmarried, I hope Sansa and her mom didn't have a heart attack when it happened."

He didn't care about such details, but to know other people did made him laugh, it sounded so medieval. Yes, he was married when he became a father but not because he wanted to be married first. It simply happened that way.

"Lelia, your father is here." The teacher sweetly said before adding that Nymeria's parents were also here

"Daddy!" The little girl shouted as she ran for a hug, a hug he gladly offered

Nymeria went to her parents and took Gendry's hand before reaching for Arya's. Arya took it too. Lancel could see she wanted to remain her true self while being loving to Nymeria. He found that admirable.

"Daddy can you help me, please?" Lelia asked

She always had troubles with the zippers on her coat. He knelt and closed it for her.

"We have to go get some groceries before we go home. But if you are tired, I can drop you at Uncle Willem's place and fetch you when I am done." Lancel explained

"I'll go with you. I can carry the bags." She offered

He smiled and they made their way to the car. Lancel looked at her. She was always so sweet, so polite, so well behaved... That it scared him. Lelia had always been an easy child, who did some mischief, like any other children of her age, but ever since Elora died, she had became the child who never did anything wrong. It worried him. He was afraid she was holding back so that he wouldn't have to deal with more work, as it was just the of them now. He knew it was certainly unconscious, she couldn't have planned it, she was too young, but he feared she was missing out on being a kid so that it would be easier for him. Never a tantrum, never a curse word, always obedient, more like a pet than a child. He felt as if he was failing her. It was his role to protect her, not the other way around. Strolling in the store's alleys, he could see her gazing at many things, the candies, the toys, but she didn't touch anything. An object fell, as her arm was too close from the shelf. She stopped, took the object and put it back. He smiled. He didn't know many five years old who did that. Even Janei. Janei did it when she was pointed out she had made something fall. Lelia did it on her own.

"What are we going to eat tonight, Daddy?" She asked

"I was thinking of pasta with salmon." He replied

"And cream?" She asked again, sounding excited. It was her favourite dish.

"And lots of cream." He promised, half laughing

"Yay!"

As they were walking to pay, Lancel heard two women speaking of them behind them. He had recognized them, Beth Cassel and Jeyne Poole. They were nice people but they weren't discrete and didn't realize that their gossips could hurt.

"It's been two years since Elora passed away, isn't it? Yet, Lancel still hasn't found someone else."

"He definitely should. He's handsome, he likes kids, he has a good situation."

"And besides, his daughter needs a mother figure. As good as he can be, he could never be as good as a mother can. A father cannot replace a mother or be both."

His hands tightened around the caddy's rod. He knew he couldn't replace Elora. Still, he couldn't understand why people thought a single father couldn't handle raising a child. So many women did! So why couldn't he? Because he was born with a penis instead of a vagina? His daughter never lacked food, food he cooked out from scratches, he made sure she had her share of vegetables, she always had clean and proper clothes, he knew how to do her hair, everything a mother did, he could do. And two years, that wasn't that long.

"I hate them." He could hear Lelia whisper

"You shouldn't, Princess. They are not mean. They just worry. But they don't say it the right way."

"I don't need a new mommy. I have you."

"And I have you."

XXXXX

Lancel kissed Lelia's forehead as she had fallen asleep after he had read her a bedtime story. She was into Snow White these days, it appeared. He looked at her sleeping form. She looked like an angel. The strength of the love he had for her still surprised him. She was all he had, she was priceless and he wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. He left her, but as he was walking down the corridor, he felt dizzy.

"Not again..."

He had felt unwell for weeks now.

"I'll be on vacation soon, it will pass..."

Or so he hoped. It was getting worse. He slept, but didn't feel refreshed or rested when he woke up, when he actually managed to sleep. He was catching colds on colds, he had bad and lasting headaches, and lacked appetite. Between his work and taking care of Lelia, he didn't grant himself some time for his own pleasure. Lelia's pleasure made his pleasure, he didn't need special time for himself.

"Yeah, it will be better when I have my days off. When I don't have to run all day, when it will be just Lelia and me, having fun."

He lied down on his bed and closed his eyes.

That night was a night when sleep was kind enough to take him into account in its schedule.

To Be Continued