Night. Summer. The open windows admit a soft breeze into Franny's bedroom. As the sun goes down, Quinn leads the red-haired child to bed, wobbly and tired in her footie sleeper. Her thumb is plugged in deep, and she has her love bunny, but as Quinn tries to encourage her to go to bed, she pulls her thumb out long enough to say a word.
"Story," she says.
Quinn, ever a soft touch for an extra book, story or treat, sits in the rocking chair next to Franny's bed, and lifts her into his lap. "OK, honey. You want a book, or you want me to make one up?"
"Dada," the kid says. It still slays him, he didn't teach her that. Maybe Carrie did.
Franny's room had been pretty spare when he moved in, if functional. The bright mobile on the ceiling, the kitty poster on the wall, the stuffed toy octopus on her bed, the rocking chair they sat in - all that came from Quinn, shyly introducing himself into the child's life. "Go ahead and spoil her," Carrie had said, indulgently. "I know you're going to anyway." She was right, and he had.
"Once upon a time," Quinn began, "There was a beautiful princess who was living in a high castle. And there was a brave man who loved her, but she didn't know it."
Franny plugged her thumb back in, and relaxed on Peter's lap, eyes at half-mast.
"The man performed all kinds of heroic deeds. He fought bad guys, and traveled all around the kingdom. He'd do anything to protect his princess, you see," Quinn said, wistfully, "Because he loved her so much."
Quinn's powers of observation had not declined since he'd left Dar Adal's team – his perception was as keen as ever. He was aware of movement in the hallway. Carrie, listening.
"Finally, after some terrible trials, the Princess finally noticed the man. And she realized he was really a handsome Prince," Quinn said, choking up in spite of himself. "So…"
Carrie moved carefully around the corner, and stood leaning on the doorframe, eyes aglow.
"She's asleep," Carrie said, indicating the sleeping child.
Quinn looked down. Sure enough, Franny's eyes were closed. He stood up and laid her in her bed, covered her with a light blanket. Carrie turned out the lamp, leaving only a Hello Kitty nightlight burning – yet another gift from Quinn.
Carrie's voice was thick, as she took Quinn's hand, and led him to their bedroom. "Tell me how the story ends," she said.
Quinn smiled. "I think you know. But I can show you," he said invitingly.
Carrie shut the door to their bedroom tightly, and made sure to turn the lock.
