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 14

Lancel was happy that it was time for the school holidays. Even if it wasn't his fault, he had missed so much with Lelia when he had been sick! Sadly, it was raining, so they couldn't really go out, but they had managed to find something to amuse themselves during the bad weather. He thanked the Seven he had a daughter who enjoyed creative hobbies. Sure, he and Elora had introduced her to that and always encouraged her creativity but there were children who simply didn't like it. However, Lelia seemed to like it enough, so it was rather easy for him to find activities to keep her entertained for a while. The cookies they had made were cooling down and she was quietly sitting, focused on her colouring book, leaving Lancel time to think. He looked at Amerei's number, unsure if he should call her again. He couldn't help thinking back on her words when they last had coffee together. Something had happened, he was sure of it. He wanted to help, he really did, he wanted to return the favour. She had been there for him, the best she could, when he wasn't well. He was a Lannister and Lannisters always paid their debts. It made him so mad that he was powerless when she was hurt about something. She had managed to make him feel a bit more alive, heck, he dared even say he felt more like a man. She had managed to bring the man in him to begin to rise again, to coexists peacefully with the dad in him, just like they used to before. But was he the right person for her to open up about something that pained her? How could he pretend to be that man? He could call her, true, for anything, true, but that? How presomptuous! He surprised himself by the depth of his feelings about it. He was upset about her being possibly sad more than he imagined. He cared to a point it was even scary. What was she to him? A friend? Yes, that was beyond dispute. Amerei Frey was a good friend and was on the way to become one of his truest and greatest friends in his whole life. But there was something more, something he couldn't identify. It bothered him not to know what it was. The doorbell rang, taking him from his mental investigation, much to his relief. He had a tendency of thinking too much for his own sake and health.

"Hey Lancel!" Janei happily greeted

She was accompanied by their mother. As soon as Lelia heard them, she ran to them to hug them both. As much as she loved living with her dad like they used to, she missed her grandparents and her aunt.

"Seven Macaronis, you are soaked!" Lancel commented

"Seven Macaronis?" Janei replied

"I never swear in front of children." Her brother smirked

He put the kettle on, hoping tea would help them feeling warmer.

"I wanted to make sure you had everything you need." Dorna explained

Her son smiled. That was so typical of his mother. And thus, he wasn't surprised to see she had brought home-made dishes for Lelia and him.

"We're getting there."

"I can tell, there are cookies."

"Want some?"

She took a bite and her face changed.

"Those are..."

"The ones you and I used to bake when I was a kid and with the twins when they were old enough."

"I used to do them all the time with my grandmother..."

"See, the legacy goes on. And I'm pretty sure Martyn and Willem will do the same with their own babies."

She had a tearful smile. She didn't think Lancel would actually remember. Just like she had never thought he'd do the same with his own baby.

"Daddy, look! Janei bought me a cross stitching kit!" Lelia suddenly exclaimed

"Made for children, of course. The needle is big and made of plastic. And it doesn't hurt." She quickly explained

"Janei. I trust you." He simply answered

Mother and son watched as the teenager was explaining the basic of cross stitching to her niece, the way her own mother taught her. Lancel smiled. Janei was a natural with children. From the corner of his eye, he could notice his mother looking too, but something was bothering her.

"Is everything okay?" He carefully asked, not too loud

"Yes..."

"So... Did she come out a long time ago?"

Dorna shook her head.

"About a month before you came. It wasn't easy for her, she was afraid to disappoint us."

After a small moment of silence, she added:

"Don't get me wrong. I'm proud of her. I'm very happy she understood herself and found her path so early in her life. Some people die without embracing who they were, having lived a life of bitterness , anger and self-hatred. It's just..."

She seemed to think of her words, of how to say them, for them to carry out her feelings.

"She's my only daughter. And like all mothers, I guess, I always saw her as a little princess who'd get married to a boy and have children. I must sound so awful..."

"No. You make sense. Children always surprise us. We think we know them and they take turns we never expected. Coming-out isn't easy on the family as well. You and Dad love Janei. You didn't shut her down when she opened herself to you both. Other parents of your age would have tried to kick the lesbian out of her."

"Gods, that's horrible!"

"See? What matters is that you care, that you love her, that you support her. That's more than enough. At least, that's what a new father in the fatherhood game thinks of that."

"Lelia is five, you're not new to fatherhood."

"You have four children, three are adults and the last is in the middle of her teenage years. You have more experience."

Dorna laughed.

"I should thank Janei."

She looked puzzled.

"Now, I have an excuse to get back into the cross stitching business."

Their afternoon was filled with laughs and good memories for the years to come.

To Be Continued