Hello all, I am truly sincerely touched by your well wishes in the reviews and DMs I have received. It really means a lot because these past few months has been really hard for me. Thank you, you are all truly sweet people so much so you guys even made me cry T.T

I do hope you enjoy the chapter and I will update again as soon as I can :)

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Cross hugged his daughter tightly the moment she jumped into his arms. Lavi watched, a smile forming on his lips seeing the act of affection. Everyone knew Cross to be an arse but since he had come back to the Black Order with his daughter in tow, he was different. Now, he is a gentleman towards woman, focuses on his work, strict with the rules and most impressively, Lavi actually hears the General clearly voice out his thoughts in meetings showcasing a brilliance and intelligence he usually hid behind his apparently pretended laziness. However, he was still the same narcissistic, opinionated, abrasive and brash man he had always observed since their first encounter.

Kanda had to admit as well that Cross was different around Amber especially, he was affectionate and gentle around her. He had a habit of spoiling his teenage daughter which of course, the tiny redhead enjoyed and made use of immensely. Amber was different too around her father; she seemed more child-like, much less of the mature teenager she was, more mischievous and always at her max level of adorable sometimes calling her father papa and sometimes even daddy which Kanda tried his best to ignore because he realized that he was starting to find it endearing.

It was clear after their mission to both young adults that were having feelings for the little redhead but of course, they had to be careful especially with an overprotective father like Cross Marian.

"Guys? What are you two doing?"

The two blinked realizing that Cross and his daughter were far ahead of them, the spectacled man carried his daughter easily, somehow able to support her weight with just one arm. Amber had her arms wrapped around her father's neck.

"What's the matter?" she asks, tilting her head to the side.

"We're coming!" Lavi answers loudly, dragging Kanda after him to catch up.

Allen was nervous which was obvious by his erratic pacing causing Leenalee and Link who were sitting on the couch to sigh in exasperation.

"Allen, could you please relax?"

The Englishman stops turning to see Leenalee looking at him worriedly, "I'm sorry."

"Just sit next to her and sit still Walker. Cross will be coming in with the other soon so just relax."

Allen gulps, the three of them were waiting in Cross's office with Miss Brigitte Frey calmly and quietly doing paperwork at her Chief Assistant desk in the corner. They were told to wait because Amber had just returned and wanted to speak with everyone.

What was she going to say?

"Papa"

"Yes love?"

"I need to go to the ladies room."

Cross put her down and after a quick kiss to the cheek by Amber, she hurried off leaving a smiling father with his two subordinates.

"Erm Sir? May I ask you something?"

"Bookman Jr, if it's permission to date my daughter then the answer is an indefinite no."

"No sir, that isn't it" Lavi answered quickly, sweatdropping.

Cross scoffed, "Good because if you ever ask me of that, I will make sure that Panda has to search for a new apprentice."

Lavi tried not to let his intimidation show on his face and hoped he spoke coherently, "I was just wondering, why have you been so different since Amber came to the Black Order?"

Cross raised an eyebrow, surprised that anyone bothered to ask much less dared to.

"I married her mother when I was young but before I met her, everyone knew me as a womanizing, notorious boor who drank alcohol every day with no guilty conscious whatsoever."

Somehow the two managed not to make a sound of agreement with Cross's self assessment letting him continue speaking.

"So when she died and after I sent Amber away, I fell back to my old habits. Naturally with Amber back, I've changed again. I can't be a father if I'm crude and ill-tempered around everyone now can I?"

Lavi did the smart thing by not saying anything about the fact the he was in fact still crude and ill-tempered.

"So you have not been with a woman since Amber returned?" Kanda asks curiously.

"No."

"No alcohol?"

"I still drink. I add Courvoisier to my morning coffee to get me through the day."

Lavi sweatdropped, hearing the plain answer, "You take alcohol in the morning? In your coffee?"

Cross rolls his eyes at the young man's dubious tone, "This Supervisor job is absolutely hellish Bookman Junior, only an idiot would take this job."

"But you did." Kanda points out. "And your grandfather."

Cross snorts, "Don't remind me. If Amber wasn't involved in the deal I wouldn't have even bothered."

"Why was she even involved?" asks Kanda.

"As leverage. That bastard Leverrier knows my daughter is my weakness."

"Papa!"

Speak of the devil herself, the men turns and Cross stretches out his arms so that Amber could jump into his embrace again, "Sorry for taking so long!"

Cross smirks before kissing her daughter on the temple, "Not a problem love now let's go."

Kanda and Lavi watched, impressed as Amber somehow maneuvered her body out of Cross's embrace to ride piggyback on her father, "Onward!"

Cross let out a laugh, a fatherly laugh the two male exorcists rarely heard, it was a deep, warm and hearty laugh; he was obviously amused by his child's playfulness as he held her close before walking on with his little double giggling merrily in his ear.

"She isn't a weakness."

Kanda turns, looking at Lavi.

"Amber isn't a weakness for him. She is his passion and his reason to be the man he is today."

Kanda nods, his expression thoughtful, "She is is his pride and joy."

"GUYSSS!" Amber calls loudly. "Stop chatting and hurry up! The rest are waiting!"

The door opens and an enthusiastic greeting was heard.

"Hi Allen! Hi Leenalee! Hi Link!"

Link turned along with everyone and was surprised to see a smirking Cross carrying his daughter on his back with Kanda and Lavi by his side. But before Allen could even open his mouth to return his little's sister's greeting, Amber's attention was elsewhere.

"Brigette!"

Everyone watched as Amber got down from her father's back to run over to the Chief Assistant to hug her warmly, "Hi! Did you miss me?"

A titter rippled across the room as Brigitte returned the affectionate embrace, "Yes little one, I have missed you and your father has been absolutely irritable to control during your absence."

Cross snorted, obviously disagreeing causing Amber to laugh herself.

Everyone else present in the room, watched on, intrigued by the young, blue-haired woman with the deep French accent who rarely spoke much less showed emotion.

"You're wearing the soap I gave you."

The small redhead nodded, grinning, "Sure am! The soaps you give me are really fragrant! Makes me feel even more girly that I really am!"

Leenalee blinked her eyes in realization, hearing this.

So that's where she gets all her soaps from.

Bridgette smiles, "That was the point little one. You can never feel more French than using French soap."

Link coughed, having enough of all the lady talk, "Excuse me but weren't we all called here for a reason?"

Suddenly the sound of one strong clap was heard, making everyone turn to the front to see Cross already at his desk.

"Unfortunately he's right so Amber start away."

Amber smiles as she comes forward, moving to sit on her father's desk casually with one leg crossed over the other. As the exorcists came closer for the debrief, Allen notices the complete change in demeanor, gone was her cheerful playfulness replaced with a sober expression that somehow made the white-haired teen even more uneasy.

"Pass me your reports first." Amber orders, looking at Kanda and Lavi specifically.

They do as asked and passes them over to her father before turning back to give Allen cool stare.

"Do you have any theories as to why I didn't allow you to use the Ark?"

The Destroyer of Time shakes his head, frowning.

"You were stabbed by Crown Clown and as it's been noted during your time practicing with the sword that Crown Clown isn't supposed to be able to hurt humans remember?"

The exorcists minus Kanda were immediately alarmed by the realization but Allen obviously was the most shaken.

"What does that mean exactly?"

"The Noah within you is getting stronger."

Leenalee immediately takes Allen's hand in hers to squeeze tightly for comfort while Link tightened his fists in anger, hearing this.

"So...what's going to h-happen now?" the white-haired teenager asks, obviously startled,

"You are not allowed, I repeat not allowed to ever use the Ark again. I suspect that the 14th grew stronger within because you had been using the Ark for the HQ transport and the Science Department's frequent experiments. From now on, you are to forget about it. Clear?"

Allen nods his head solemnly, no arguments at all. Satisfied, Amber addresses everyone else before her.

"No one is to ever repeat what was said in this room to anyone."

"Yes" the teens chorused together.

"Allen"

The grey-eyed teen looks up to see Amber take his free hand in hers, "I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I really am but I promise you I will cure you and rid you of the 14th. I may not be able to finish this enchantment as early as I estimated but at the most, I will finish it by the end of the year."

"Provided Walker makes it that long." mutters Link.

"Well gee Link, could you make me feel any more stressed?"

Link reddens, seeing her irate stare.

"I just-"

"No, it's alright. I understand your feelings but I do keep my promises and I will definitely do my best to cure Allen as soon as I possible can."

Allen smiles a little, Amber was so warm and her eyes seemed soft and gentle showing him that she was sincere; despite obviously feeling the pressure, she was willing to really try and help him.

"Thank you."

The young redhead smiles back but the sweet moment between them didn't last long because Cross cleared his throat for an obvious distraction.

"Ahem, now while my daughter busies herself with her research for the enchantment, the rest of the available exorcists will be undergoing many, many missions. We have recently uncovered some very useful intel thanks to Amber."

Leenalee arched an eyebrow curious, casting a glance at the young witch, "How so?"

"Secret" the copper-eyed girl answers, smirking as she puts a finger to her lips.

Without letting anyone question her further, Cross finishes up the meeting in a regular Cross fashion, "Now, all of you excluding Amber and Bridgette, get out of my office. You're making my office feel stuffy."

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A review would be most appreciated! Hope you liked the chapter! ^^

Have a good day! :)