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 11
In many ways, Lancel felt reborn. Two months ago, he would have never imagined he'd be able to go out in town with his daughter again. He was stuck in bed, exhausted and sleeping in most of the time. The dizziness that had plagued him was long gone and it was only now that he fully realized the extent of how unwell he had been, by ironically feeling so good it was liberating. He had listened to himself and rested, he allowed himself to relax and to have moments for him. It was still feeling awkward and wrong to him, but he took it as a mean to remain healthy and to avoid falling back in his illness. And Lelia's joy at the idea to be able to go out with her father again made him want to stick to that commitment. Lancel had also thought of leaving his job. He considered it carefully. Sure, he didn't really need to work, he was already quite wealthy, and he had saved up a lot, but he always felt uneasy at the idea of him just chilling while other fathers had to work to even try to put some food in their kids' plates. He didn't hate the job but he didn't particulary liked it, he had taken it because it was something he could do. And he was wondering what he'd do all day, jobless, waiting for Lelia's class to be over.
"Daddy, look! It's Ami!" Lelia cheered
Ahead of them, Amerei was staring at the window shop of a baby store, certainly shopping more for her future nephew or niece. The feeling of déjà vu was overwhelmed by the rod Lancel suddenly felt in his guts and he thanked the cold wind, as it gave him as excuse of his red cheeks. She was astonishing. Her hair was slightly wavy and fell on her shoulders, covered by a red leather jacket. She was wearing some tight black jeans with brown tight-high boots. She was being a vision to him once again and he wondered why she had that effect on him. He was too old for the lust crush thing anyway.
"Hi Ami!"
"Oh! Hi Lelia! How are you?"
She had knelt to kiss the girl's cheeks and raising her eyes to meet Lancel's, she had a small smile.
"It's good to see you again."
He had to admit the feeling was shared.
"Willem had told me you were unwell. I wanted to call you but I didn't want to bother you. Or your parents."
An awkward silence settled in before she got up and regained her composure.
"I still owe you two drinks, Lannister."
"Bring it on, Frey."
His playfullness gave her hope. He really was on the way to be truly 26 again.
XXXXX
Sitting at the table of a tea shop, watching Lelia playing quietly not far from him, Lancel was enjoying this moment of peace. It had been litteraly years since he had been out for a drink with someone, for the fun of it. Amerei's words were still on his mind. She had wanted to call but she didn't want to bother him while unwell. She actually cared for him. He wondered why this new was making him so warm inside. It felt weird. Not unpleasant though, it was enjoyable. But it felt weird. Why did it make him so joyful? If anything, Amerei was a friend, and he wondered if he could actually consider themselves friends. Yes, they got on well, she had saved Lelia's life, but they barely talk or interacted. And why was there this nagging feeling of chemistry?
"So... How have you been doing?" He asked
"Quite fine actually. But I admit I am facing a dilemma."
He looked at her, she was staring at her coffee.
"I do love my current job. The colleagues are nice, the place is nice and I do love working there. But I am considering having my own shop. And I don't know if I should do it. I feel like I'd be betraying them when they were so nice to me."
"Where do you work?"
"In a sex shop."
His face remained unchanged and she thought of how teen Lancel would have blushed at the idea of her working there. She wondered if he thought she was joking.
"And what would your boutique be about?"
"Clothes and underwear. Sexy style but not porn style."
"Then, why would you be betraying them? You wouldn't be selling the same items. Maybe you could even have a partnership with them. They could be retaillers for some of your products."
"Where did you learn to be such a good business man?"
"I'm Tywin's nephew, remember?"
They shared a laugh.
"If you are unsure, give yourself some time to think about it. Sometimes, we thnk we want something while it's just a temporary desire, not a yearning. We are on the same boat."
"You consider changing careers?"
"I consider being a full time stay-at-home dad."
"You'd be employee on the month every month."
Lancel smiled as he looked at Lelia drawing.
"Thank you again for saving her."
It had been almost a whisper but Amerei could hear how much it meant to him, and also the sadness behind it. Lelia was all he had. He did have a family who loved him and he knew it, but he craved to be more than a son, and sadly, on other fields, he was always alone. It saddened her. She studied him for a moment. Lancel had always been handsome, but for one brief moment, she saw more behind his appearance. Something hard hit her gut. She was actually starting to fall for the guy! Amerei was never ashamed of her sexuality, she had embraced it and it had become her flag and her armour but deep down, she knew why sex mattered so much to her. Beyond the obvious fact that she absolutely loved the activity, what she sought behind it was the love and tenderness her parents had always refused her, dissapointed by her gender after miscarriages and hopes for a boy. And Lancel was someone full of both. No wonder she was attracted.
"Calm your tits, sister." She thought "It's just a crush, not real love."
"Lelia and I are moving back home soon."
His words almost startled her as she was lost in her mind.
"That's great!"
"Feel free to drop by at any time. Lelia will be all too pleased."
"I'm glad she likes me."
Lancel shocked her, but in a good way, as he retrieved a pen and paper to give her his phone numbers: the one for his home and his personal one.
"Now, now, are you making a move on me, Lannister?" She joked
"I'm making sure I am getting the phone call you craved to give me." He teased
He didn't want to admit he couldn't wait until she would give him that call.
XXXXX
Lancel smiled as he sat on the couch, his brothers joining him. Lelia was by his side and was happily telling her uncles about the day she had with her father.
"Daddy?" She asked
"Yes, Princess?"
"Is Ami your girlfriend?"
He almost choked on his coke and he felt himself blushing so much he wondered if he was as red as the roses Kevan had offered Dorna earlier that day. Martyn and Willem were laughing.
"Ami as in Amerei Frey?" Willem inquired
"Yep." His niece replied
"Aww, I hope so, that would mean you and I would be brothers twice, Lany."
"I'm not dating anyone!"
What had gotten into his daughter's head?!
"Why do you think so, honey?" Martyn carefully demanded
"Well, Ami is pretty. She's nice. She's funny. And whenever she's around, Daddy seems happier. He smiles, he jokes. They're good friends and she's a girl, so she could be his girlfriend."
"Best logic ever!" Willem commented
"Guys..." Lancel whined meekly
"But you know that, if your daddy marries her, she'll be your stepmommy?" Martyn continued
"I'd like having her as a mom, she's always kind to me. And she likes Daddy."
Lancel remained silent as he thought back on his father's words, about Lelia being happy at his happiness, about her being clever and knowing he wouldn't seek to replace Elora in her heart should he marry again. She had just proved him, all over again, how mature and intelligent she was. The Seven Gods really blessed him with her.
"Now, that's a cheerful talk." Dorna stated as she entered the room. "Care to tell me what's going on?"
"We're marrying Lancel, Mom!" Willem launched
"Aww, my little boy is getting married!"
"Mom! Don't support them! I'm not marrying anyone!" Lancel protested, making the twins and Lelia laugh
Seeing her three sons like that, it felt like the good old days, back when they were teenagers.
Seeing Lancel like that, so young and full of life again, it felt like a miracle.
To Be Continued