A.N: Hello, everyone! Today is Day Six of Wright Family Week 2022 with the prompt today being "Home"! I hope you enjoy reading!

Day Six: Home of Forever

"Well, you can sleep here if you want. I know it's not that great, but we can buy things to decorate later, okay?"

Phoenix and Trucy stood at the doorstep. The room used to be a guest room Mia used, but he had never used it since getting the office from his boss, so he might as well put it to good use.

"It's great, Daddy! It's more than enough for me to work on my magic tricks!"

R-Right, gotta get used to this "Daddy" business… Phoenix thought. Never in his life had he guessed someone would be calling him that. Before becoming a defense attorney, he had always been the socially awkward type. Since then, his life had been centered around his job and saving Maya.

There wasn't much room for him to have a kid. And he would have needed a girlfriend to have a child anyway, and this wasn't happening any time soon… especially not now.

While he was thinking about this, little Trucy began to run around the room, inspecting every little thing. Seeing the girl be so cheerful so soon after losing someone important to her made him smile. It was already pretty clear that she was braver than your average eight-year-old.

"Say, Daddy, can we set up some magic tricks here?! Oh, and here! And here!"

The disbarred attorney laughed as the young magician seemed to already have plans to make the room her own. To be honest, he had always thought the office looked kind of plain (which made sense for a law firm), so he thought a little decoration wouldn't hurt.

"Sure, sure," he told her with a comforting smile. "Whatever you need, you can tell me, and I'll see how to get it, okay?"

How he would pay for all of this, he had no idea. And yet, he couldn't refuse her that. After all, her father had just disappeared pretty much out of thin air. Being disbarred was nothing compared to that.

I'm lucky I saved up a bit over the years… He thought with a sweatdrop. Mia was a big spender, as was her little sister, but he wasn't. Still, I'll have to find another job soon if I don't want us to end up in the streets… *gulp*

"OK, thanks, Daddy!" Trucy said with her usual enthusiasm. It was pretty impressive that she could be so cheerful all the time. He figured this was something she and Maya would be able to bond over. "And I'll need to try some tricks on you, too! You don't mind if I try the saw trick on you, do you?"

Phoenix's eyes widened in fear as he gulped. "U-Um… L-Let's try some less dangerous tricks for now, okay…?" B-Besides, if I died now, Trucy would be all alone again… And getting sawn in half doesn't seem like a very pleasant way to go…

"Alright! I'm a professional, though! I've never missed a single trick, and I don't plan on missing one any time soon!" Trucy said proudly with her hands on her hips. "Just you wait, Daddy! We'll get through this together!"

"I'm sure we will, Trucy," he told her with a smile. She's so adorable… You need to keep strong for her, Phoenix… If not for yourself, then for her. "Well, I'll let you look around a bit more, okay? I'll make something for dinner and call you as soon as it's ready."

With one last nod from the little girl, Phoenix left Trucy to "explore" her new room. More than anything, he wanted her to feel at home. No matter how enthusiastic or hard-working she was, she was only an eight-year-old kid. Every child her age deserved a place to call home.

You don't seem like the type to complain, but… I'll make sure you have the best room a little girl can have, Trucy. I never thought I would be taking in an orphan like that, but I'll give it my best not to fail you the way I failed myself!

"Dinner's ready, Trucy!"

In an instant, the small magician appeared behind him, her mouth watering at the sight of the burgers Phoenix took out of the microwave.

"Hmm, looks tasty!" she said. "Did you make them yourself, Daddy?"

Phoenix scratched the back of his spikes. "N-No, I didn't… I'm not an amazing cook, to be honest… I hope you'll still like them, though." I'll have to pick up on a few recipes… Takeaway is no way to feed a growing girl, no matter how much Pearls loves it…

"They look so good! And I'm so hungry!"

The disbarred lawyer chuckled. The way Trucy was staring at the burgers reminded him way too much of a certain someone. This love for food was definitely something else they would be able to bond over.

"Okay. Well, let's eat, then," Phoenix suggested, bringing the small tray to the table inside the room. "I'll get you a napkin."

"N-No need, Daddy! I can eat like this!"

Before he could even turn around, Phoenix's eyes widened as he saw the little girl literally jump at her burger and take a mouthful even he couldn't rival… and he was twenty years older than she was! He had no idea how she could take so much food inside her mouth.

"W-Well, aren't you a big eater!" Phoenix said, staring surprisingly. And just as messy as Maya… He thought with an amused smile.

"Food is important when you're planning to work hard, Daddy!" Trucy said with her mouth full. "You should eat a lot too!"

"No talking with your mouth full, young lady," he gently admonished. "If you're still hungry… I guess I can take another burger out."

She made sure to swallow her current bite before replying. The idea seemed to make her thrilled. "Yay! I could eat another ten!"

Considering how quickly you ate this one… I actually wouldn't be surprised if you could! He thought, beginning to struggle to see how he would feed her in the long run. Does every girl on this planet have an oversized stomach or something?!

Phoenix nodded. "Alright, but this is the last one, okay? You'll have a bellyache if you eat too much."

"Okay, Daddy! Thanks!"

The man smiled as he turned towards the microwave and prepared another burger. He was so thankful for Trucy's never-dying energy: if not for that, Phoenix figured he would be feeling a little more than hopeless right now.

After a couple of minutes, the disbarred lawyer opened the microwave again and took out the piping hot burger. He laughed when he saw Trucy lick her lips expectantly.

"Okay, eat up, Trucy!"

"Yum!"

Without a moment of hesitation, the little girl leaped on her food as if it were her last meal on earth. Phoenix looked over her with eyes filled with kindness. Whatever he had done to deserve to have Trucy in his life, he was a million times thankful.

He had no idea how good a father he would be, but he knew one thing: he would do everything in his power so that the smile on Trucy's face would never leave.

"Hm, will those do, Trucy?"

Phoenix gave the little girl some pajamas he had found in his laundry basket. Luckily, they looked like they could fit her almost perfectly.

"Yes, Daddy, they're perfect!" she said, looking joyfully at the colorful pajamas. "Where did you get them, Daddy?"

"O-Oh, well… I know another little girl your age. These are hers. You can have them for now, though, and I'll buy you new ones as soon as I can."

Trucy's eyes lit up as she heard those words. "Can I meet her, Daddy?! I wanna!"

"Haha, of course, Trucy," he assured her with a hearty laugh, ruffling her hair. "I'm sure you'll love her."

Sharing a smile, Phoenix was surprised when Trucy wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, Daddy. You're so cool!"

I… I don't think a disgraced lawyer is that cool, but… He stroked her back soothingly, finding the little one's warmth more comfortable than expected. Hearing this coming from you… puts me at peace.

He pulled away and kneeled so that he was at face level with her. He placed a soft hand on her cheek. "Thank you, Trucy. Now, it's time for bed, alright? You need to rest a lot."

"Okay, Daddy!" she said without objection.

"Well, I'll let you change, okay? Tell me when I can turn around."

He gave her intimacy as she changed into Pearl's pajamas. After less than a minute, she tapped him on the shoulder.

"All done, Daddy!" she said, wearing the small medium's pajamas like they were designed for her. "I'm ready for bed!"

She hopped on the bed, making Phoenix sigh in amusement. Honestly, she didn't look even a little bit tired, even after all that moving around earlier.

"Okay. I'll wash your outfit so you can wear it again tomorrow, okay?" She nodded with a smile. "Alright, then." He walked over to the bed and tucked her in. "Sleep well, Trucy. Sweet dreams."

"Thanks, Daddy!"

At this moment, as Trucy looked at him with those eyes full of joy and happiness, Phoenix felt happier than ever before in his life. His situation sucked, to put it lightly, but he had never felt so glad.

Never felt so glad that little Trucy had a roof over her head and that the smile she deserved to have on her face was still there. Never felt so glad that he had someone's approval.

She was his daughter. Perhaps she didn't share neither his blood nor his genes, but they shared something worth even more than that: a bond.

"You're welcome, my little girl," he said tenderly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Daddy promises he'll always be here for you, okay?"

When she nodded, Phoenix knew they had forged a promise. From this moment on, their fates would be linked forever.

She closed her eyes as he stood up and watched over her. Not two weeks before, he had never even met her. And yet, fate had decided they would be together.

For the first time since that dreadful trial, Phoenix felt like fate was being kind to him. Maybe he didn't have a job anymore, maybe he had almost no money, maybe he had almost no self-esteem… but he had her.

And it mattered way more than anything.

"I love you, Trucy Wright."

The End.

A.N: This was probably my favorite entry to write for this week! I hope you liked it, too! Please leave a review, and I'll see you tomorrow for the final day of this event!