After a few weeks of parenting Angel, Barley started to get the hang of being a dad, even though she can be a bit messy at times. One time, Barley and Ian took her to the park and she ended up from head to toe, covered in mud and completely happy, even trying to get it on her father and uncle. It took them at least an hour to wash the mud off of her and she wasn't having it.
The best side of parenting her is that she almost took her first steps until she stumbled a bit into her father's arms but she was still working on it. Laurel tried to help Angel exercise her wings and she tries to get the hang of flying by she could be airborne for a few seconds, the longest was at least 50 seconds
One day, Barley said that he was going to get his daughter a present and Ian and Laurel decided to watch her while he was out.
"Angel, Peek-a-boo" Ian said weakly. Angel instantly laughed. She tried to grab for Ian's pointy nose and he leaned away from her. Laurel was holding her and she felt her wings flapped every time she laughed at Ian playing peek-a-boo with her. Sometimes Colt's laugh would entertain the baby girl, as she had grown used to the centaur, as long as he was careful not to crush to the poor baby. It almost happened until she squealed to let him know that she was there. It gave Barley a heart attack. Luckily he was on duty today.
Then Barley returned with 2 large shopping bags in hand. Angel tried her best to flap her wings and squirm towards him
"Woah woah, sweetie" Laurel said, feeling her wiggle in her arms. She brought her granddaughter over to her father, who took her and blew a raspberry on her tummy and she gave him the sweetest giggle ever heard.
"Were you a good girl while I was gone?" Barley asked his daughter, tickling her.
"Baba" she babbled. Then He gave her a bunch of kisses on her cheek.
"Daddy has a surprise for you, close your eyes, no peeking" Barley cooed at her
Angel immediately shut her eyes, and began to bounce around as she loved surprises. He took out a stuffed teddy bear that was half the size of her. It had a wizard cloak and hat and a plaid bowtie on it
"Okay sweetie, Open your eyes" Angel opened her eyes and beamed at the toy and she reached for it and she snuggled it as hard as she could
"Aww, Barley…" Laurel awed. Ian had a sweet smile on his face seeing his niece happy
"I got you a few more clothes sweetie, come on let's try them on" Barley took his daughter and the shopping bags to his room.
After at least 5 of the 30 outfits that Angel tried on, Barley got a phone call. Angel began to whine reaching for him.
"It's okay princess, it'll be a minute. Barley stepped outside of his room to take the call. Blazey then ran over to the baby girl, who was more than happy to play.
After a few minutes, he returned to see his daughter trying to copy Blazey, lying in her back and wiggling around. He crept on and scooped her in his arms. They tried on the rest of the outfits and He rocked her slowly, humming a small lullaby to her. She fell asleep in his arms and he placed her down in the new bassinet Laurel got for her last week, placed her teddy bear by her side and tucked her in. Blazey ran over and fell asleep in front of the little bed as if to protect her owner's child.
"Good girl" Barley softly tells Blazey, patting her head and he gently exited the room.
Turns out the call was about a Quest of Yore campaign. He hasn't had a campaign since Angel came into his life. At least, his little girl was asleep while they played. Laurel disapproved of this since he has a child that he had to care for. He promised her that it wouldn't be long.
Barley and his friends were sitting around the dining room table. They were in the middle of their figurines visiting the Manticore's Tavern.
"Please your fearlessness, we need the map to The Brave Wilderness…" Shrub Roasthammer spoke in his best warrior voice.
"No it's too dangerous to go there, the most deadlliest grave lies within the-" Barley started
"Ba" Sure enough, Barley turned to see his infant daughter tilting her head at her father. She was holding onto her blanket
"Hey, sweetie" Barley went to pick her up and showed her to his campaign members.
"Bar, I didn't know you had a kid" Shrub pointed out.
"Awww So cute...What's it's name" an elf girl asked
"Her name is Angel…" Barley looked down at her and rubbed his nose with hers
"Why Angel" asked a troll. Then the baby girl began to flap her wings and show the other 3 her beautiful wings. "Oh"
"Aww, Can I hold her" the elf girl asked. Barley went around the table to give his daughter to his friend. "Aww, so precious, she looks like you" Angel giggled at this and tried to reach for her nose.
Barley chuckled. "I bet she got curious and wanted to play…"
"Bar, she's a 12 and a ½ month infant, she won't know how to play" Shrub argued looking at the size of Angel.
"Not unless we teach her at an early age...right sweetie pie" Angel babbled happily.
The elf girl gave her back to her father and he sat her on his lap as they played. He ended up giving her his warrior helmet and puts it on her small head. They all ended up have a good time, even playing with the baby for a bit.
After the campaign, it was time for Angel to go to sleep, but first Barley had to change her. It was a chore he got used to because apparently, she inherited his scent. They were in the bathroom with Angel lying on the changing table
Okay sweetie, Daddy will be there in a minute" Barley called, fetching her diapers
"Da-da Dada" Angel bleated quietly
"Okay sweet girl, just a sec-" Barley stopped looking in the cabinet and turned to face his daughter, could it be?
"Dada" She repeated for him
Barley grinned ear to ear "Holy tooth of Zadar, your first word, baby girl, I'm your first word" Barley picked her up.
"IAN, MOM, COLT, Come quick" Barley yelled.
The three then rush to the bathroom thinking that something might be wrong with Angel
"What happened?" Laurel gasped
"Is she okay?" Ian asked
"Angel said her first word" Barley said proudly
"She did" they all kneel to her.
"Come on, princess, Say it again" Barley held up Angel
"Dada" She said
"Aww" Laurel and Colt awed
"Your her first word Barley" Ian said with a hand on his heart.
Barley was so happy that he ended up playing with her and the baby was so happy for the attention so she said her first word in an endless string.
After changing her, He put her into her new pajamas but she had too much energy to go to sleep
"Come on, sweetie, your teddy is waiting for you" Barley said nudging toward her bassinet where her new toy sat. Yet she was still too bouncy. Barley then chuckled and picked her up and cradled her in his arms as he sang her a lullaby
"You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold
You're daddy's little girl to have and hold
A precious gem is what you are
You're my bright and shining star
You're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree
You're the Easter bunny to your family and me
You're sugar you're spice, you're everything nice
And you're daddy's little girl"
After he sang the song, He found his daughter fast asleep in his arms.
"Daddy loves you princess...I promise I won't let anything happen to you, Angel"
Barley then have her a gentle kiss on her head and placed her in her little bed, placed her teddy next to her and tucked her in.
He turned to see Ian, Laurel and Colt looking at her with very warm smiles on their faces
"That was beautiful" Laurel said
"I told you, he'd make a good father" Ian replied
All Barley could do was give the a smile and looked back at his sleeping baby, His pride and joy. He loved her with all of his heart and he promised to be the best father he could be to her.
But sometimes he worried if it would be enough, knowing that he has to be both mommy and daddy, but he was willing to sacrifice a lot for her. But he knew he had a supportive family right behind him to help and support the child and himself. He knew that would be enough
A/N- I had to use Daddy's little girl by Michael Buble for these two. You sould go take a listen and you'll see that it'll match. I had to change up two words because you know, Barley is a single dad to her. Anyway I hope you are enjoying it.