Parental Bond
Disclaimer: I do not own Mortal Kombat or any of the characters.
Author's Note: I would like to thank everyone who reviewed the first Parental Bond one-shot! You guys are awesome.
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Sonya Blade hated admitting defeat, especially to the likes of Johnny Cage but as soon as Cassie's fever had hit the delirium stage and she'd started asking for her father, the tough as nails blonde had to reluctantly scratch a tally on her estranged husband's side of the invisible 'divorce battle' board. She was getting used to it, though; he'd already won so many battles since their separation began a year and a half ago.
He'd been the bigger person and moved out of their amazing home, opting for a small condo nearby instead.
When the divorce proceedings began, he was adamant that thirteen was a tough age and Cassie would need her mother. Though she could tell he was disappointed, he didn't make a big fuss about only having her on the weekends.
He'd offered to pay child support and alimony.
Anything Sonya wanted or secretly cared about but would never bring herself to officially ask for in the divorce was hers.
There were no arguments. Every time things got heated, insulting or just this side of permanently damaging, he walked away.
"I'm not going to fight you, Sonya," he'd told her during one of their early court mandated mediation sessions. "I want you to be happy and since our marriage isn't making you happy, it needs to end but that doesn't mean I want to be your enemy."
It made her sick. He was civil, understanding and constantly bending over backwards to be accommodating to whatever she wanted. He was already so far ahead of her in the divorce battle that there was no way she could possibly catch up, did he have to take her daughter too?
As soon as Cassie had been born, Sonya knew that she'd be a daddy's girl and that was okay while they were still married but ever since he'd walked out Cassie's unconditional adoration of her father was nothing more than a reminder that she'd failed not only as a wife but apparently as a mother as well. When she wasn't feeling well, it just added salt to the wound.
When she'd first gotten sick a few days ago, Sonya had mustered every bit of maternal instinct she possessed and tried to diligently take care of her little girl only to find herself lacking her estranged husband's bedside manner. Johnny knew their princess like the back of his hand.
He knew that she preferred juice over ginger ale.
He cut the crust off her sandwiches but didn't throw it away because she wanted to eat it last.
When her throat was sore she preferred chocolate ice cream to vanilla.
No matter how old she was having her teddy bear when she didn't feel well was a must.
Classics like The Gist of My Fist and Ninja Mime were the answer to everything from the common cold to strep.
Sonya couldn't compete; she just didn't have that Cage charisma that put their little girl at ease so it was with a deep feeling of dread that she called Johnny Cage.
That had been three hours ago and apparently he had been on some movie set in California. She had assured him that Cassie would be fine and that just hearing his voice over the phone would do her some good but Sonya knew him. She could practically guarantee, bet her life on it in fact, that he had used his charm and celebrity status to land a seat on a plane within the hour. Needless to say she wasn't surprised when the door to their home swung open around midnight and in stepped the infamous Johnny Cage, looking disheveled and war torn in fight pants and an open sweat jacket, chest covered in fake blood.
He immediately stopped in his tracks when he saw her, obviously not expecting her to be up and unsure of how she would react to his presence.
Having expected him she merely sighed and stepped to the side. "She's in our room," she informed with a flippant gesture to the back of the house. "I figured she'd be more comfortable in there."
She wouldn't dare tell him that Cassie was the only person to even set foot in their room since the separation. There weren't as many ghosts in the guest room.
After a moment he nodded and brushed past her and she immediately knew that she wouldn't have to worry about running into him for the rest of the night.
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Sonya groaned and slapped her alarm clock into silence with a bit more force than was strictly necessary. The normally early riser hadn't felt this groggy and unrested since her days in boot camp.
It was his fault.
She had assumed that knowing he was here, taking care of Cassie the way she needed to be taken care of would bring her some peace and allow her to sleep but sleep hadn't come 'til four. She just hadn't been able rest knowing that he was just a few doors down.
How long would he stay?
Would he insist on sticking around until Cassie was better?
Would he leave before breakfast?
Didn't he have a movie to get back to?
Shaking her head and resolving to match him, civil and accommodating for honey sweet and hospitable, she padded down the hall to peek in on her angel. It was almost time for her medicine.
The sight that greeted her when she opened the door coupled with the memories associated with the bedroom stole her breath for a moment. There in the middle of their king sized bed laid her two night owls, illuminated by the Citizen Cage DVD menu loop.
Over the years Johnny Cage had done many things to surprise, woo and make her fall desperately in love with him. If there was any doubt in her mind as to whether or not she still loved him despite the terrible turn their life together had taken, the answer was now as clear as day. She couldn't not love him, especially after seeing him with their daughter; it was impossible.
Quietly closing the door, she turned and made her way to the kitchen. She had a breakfast for three to prepare.
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