A Fresh Start

by MetusR

A story of a Commander and his daughter getting a fresh start on a new assignment. I'm also going to try and work this one at a T rating.

6. Chapter 6

Part Six – Breakfast for three

Jean Bart undid her ponytail and ran a hand through her hair, leaning against the rock I was sitting on as she sighed out, "It's not that I don't want to Richelieu, it's the fact that we all think you abandoned us."

"It's not like I had any choice in the matter, Jean, we tried to send word. Why didn't you come and look for us?" Richelieu responded, folding her arms under her bust, the empty glass still in her right hand.

Jean Bart makes a noise like she's irritated before saying, "Right, and I was going to abandon our home to the Iron Blood and the Sardegna Empire to come and look for a sister that seemed like she ran away when things got tough."

Richelieu sighs and looks out at the ocean before she says, "I am sorry Jean; I wish I could've been there when you needed me the most. I failed you in that regard and I failed the Orthodoxy because the Royal Navy held me and my escorts because they feared us falling into the hands of the Iron Blood."

Jean poured more of the rum and sipped it this time as she said, "I love a good fight and all Richi, so I'm not the one that needs any real comfort. Dunkerque got hurt the most when we had no choice but to run… she lost Strasbourg to the Sardegna as we ran to Suez."

Richi? Interesting, a sisterly pet name…

I watch as Richelieu moves closer to the rock and put her glass down, taking the bottle and filling her glass, sipping more as she says, "Jeanie, has anyone prayed for Strasbourg?"

Jean Bart looked at me, hard as she said, "That name better not get around the base Commandant…"

Putting down my glass and filling it I said, "What name?"

Jean Bart nodded at me as she turned her attention back to Richelieu and said, "I know Dunkerque has mourned her, but none of us really had the time to really pray for her… but she isn't the only one we lost on that run from Toulon."

Richelieu nodded, sipping her rum as she said, "I understand, we lost some as we ran from Brest to Davenport."

I take a sip of my own and offer out a dumb suggestion, "Then why not do something for all of them, at the same time?"

Both sisters look and blink at me a couple of times and I ask, "What?"

Richelieu smiled at me before looking at Jean and asking, "Well?"

Jean Bart shrugged and said, "It could be a start, I guess."

Sipping more of my rum I add, "We all need to start someplace."

Jean Bart lifted her glass and said "Cheers to that."

As one we all slammed back what was left in our glass, putting them down as one on the rock, Jean looked to Richelieu and told her, "I'll message you later, once I've had a chance to talk to the others and we'll work out a day and time."

To my surprise, I watched as Richelieu embraced Jean Bart in a familial embrace, which she returned, as Richelieu said to Jean Bart, "It is good to have my sister back, I've missed you, Jeanie."

When their embrace ended Richelieu looked to me and smiled as she said, "Thank you, Commandant, for bringing me here, but we should head back."

I sigh and look down before I say, "We should, but I need some time, I was drinking and I shouldn't drive for a while."

I watched as Jean went into her hideaway and climbed into her hammock as she said, "Then wait it out, I'm going to catch a nap in the sun."

Once she was in her hammock, Richelieu sat beside me, lightly touching my right hand with her left and giving me a demure smile as she said, "We can wait."

I give her a shy smile of my own and adjusted my fingers so that they were laced with hers, closed my eyes, and pointed my face skyward, and sighed. That sigh wasn't one of frustration, tiredness, or anything like that, it was one of contentment. I honestly hadn't felt this at ease in a long, long time, after a while Richelieu asks me; "What are you thinking about Commandant?"

I sigh again; there was just something about Richelieu that was so calming and I found my mouth speaking without running it past my brain first, "That I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time."

Richelieu bumped her shoulder against mine and asks, "Why do you think that is?"

I smile at her and still just let my mouth run, "Because I'm here with you. There is something about you Richelieu that I find calming and relaxing, enough so that I don't want to be without that feeling."

I could see her blush, brightly, she bites her lower lip before looking down, taking a deep breath and speaking to me in a hushed tone, "I find my attracting to you intriguing Commandant, but I cannot allow myself to indulge in it too fast."

Ouch.

Then again, that was actually really prudent. I need to shield Cassidy from getting too attached to someone too fast and I need to figure out my own crap too. I nod as I say to her, "I understand Richelieu, but I'd like to explore this, slowly."

To my surprise, I felt her head lean against my shoulder as she said, "Slow is good."

I sigh and lean my head against hers and watch the waves roll in.

XXXX

XXXX

Almost a week had gone by before the Iris and Vichya fleets figured out a time and a place to hold a service for their fallen sisters; I was surprised to get an invitation for both myself and Cassidy from Richelieu herself. I and Cassidy sat in the third row on the chairs that had been set up, I could see a total of eleven pedestals that had been set up, each draped in a white sheet. Cassidy tugged on my arm and asked, "Dad, what do you think the flags are for?"

I thought about how Richelieu and Jean Bart had talked about people they had lost on their various runs and I leaned a little forward before I whispered back to Cassidy, "I think each one is to represent a fallen kansen."

Cassidy was quiet for a moment before she asked, "Do you mean dead?"

I sigh, it was a little more complex than that when it came to the kansen as I'd learned in the reports, and after a moment I try to explain a simple version to her, "Sort of. They were lost in battle, but if their hulls can be found we should be able to bring them back."

Cassidy folded her arms, looked down, and whispered to me, "I wish my mom had been a kansen."

I reached over and drew Cassidy into an embrace as I sighed and told her, "I miss her too…"

I was going to say something more, but I heard the doors behind us open, turning to see what was going on, I saw a precession of Vichya and Iris girls, two rows one of each faction with Jean Bart and Richelieu in the middle of both lines, both in very ceremonial outfits of white and gold. Each kansen was holding a singular white candle, they walked in steep with each other making what looked to be a semi-circle around the back of the pedestals, and again Richelieu and Jean Bart were in the center of the arc.

One by one all of them save for Jean and Richelieu lowered their heads, while a bell started to toll, slowly, almost mournfully. It rang out eleven times, I knew that this was once for each fallen sister. Once the bell had stopped Richelieu spoke first, "We are gathered here to off our prayers to our fallen sisters. To honor them, and what they gave their lives for."

To my surprise, Jean Bart followed up, as if this was well-practiced for them, "Though we are meant for war, they each had hopes and dreams, and through their sacrifice, we can still strive for our own."

I hadn't really thought about that side of things, the kansen were first developed as a way to strike back at the Sirens, as tools to help fill out the problem of lack of people to fill out ships to fight with. I don't think anyone really thought about them as having hopes and dreams before. I sit a little more forward as Richelieu continues, "Though they are now with God, we have been given a chance at a new beginning, a chance to restore our homeland."

Jean Bart spoke again, "Even with no soil of our own, the Orthodoxy is not rocks and dirt, it is us, the last of us."

Together as one, Richelieu and Jean Bart lit the center sheet with a candle, then they all set fire to one of the remaining ten. From behind the flames, I could see Richelieu looking at me, a very subtle smile on her lips as she added "Let this mark a new beginning, for all of us."

Once the fires had burned themselves out the French kansen left the chamber as a single line, signifying that they were united again I figured. After a few moments, Cassidy spoke up, "I don't get it…"

I smiled down at her and kissed the top of her head, just as I was about to say something I heard a voice speak up for me in a heavy French accent, "It was, more for us, to show each other that we are united in our losses as one people, rather than two separate factions."

I turned to see Richelieu standing there, her hands folded in front of her, she had changed back to her usual ornate dress when she felt my eyes on her, I saw her start to blush a little as she looked down and asked, "It has been recommended to me that I should see the Cattery, I was wondering if either of you knew the way?"

I looked to Cassidy and I can see the look in her eyes, she was already arming her puppy dog look and I sighed, getting out of my chair I said, "Of course Cardinal, would you like us to show you?"

Richelieu blushed deeper and fidgeted with her hands a little as she said softly, "Oui, I would like that."

The three of us walked out of the hall, Cassidy going off ahead a little, enjoying her returned mobility, Richelieu walked beside me and I felt her left hand brushing against my right hand. When I looked over to her, she smiled at me that warm, calming smile. I slipped my right hand around and behind her left and laced my fingers through hers, she looked at me and blushed brightly before she offered out, "I suggested that this be a new beginning, for all of us…"

She bit her lower lip before leaning in and whispering in my ear, "I would like to think that could mean you as well Daniel."

I watch Cassidy hurry over to the golden anchor in the center of the square, I know I've got a few seconds before she turns around so I lift mine and Richelieu's hands to kiss her fingers before letting our hands drop back down as I whisper back to her, "That is something I would very much like, but there is someone that I would need to be okay with a new beginning."

She smiles at me and winks as she teases, "If you didn't I would start to be worried that you are not the man I think you are."

It didn't take us too much longer to reach the Cattery, and just like last time the Meowfficers were all over me, did I mention I'm a dog person? It wasn't long before Richelieu came and sat down beside me to pick-up one of them up off of me as she asked, "Commander, I have a question…"

When I turned my attention to her, taking another one off of me, I told her, "Go ahead."

Richelieu pulled the Meowfficer into a tight hug, hiding her lips as her tone of voice became a bit of a teasing tone, "Is there a way to get these Meowfficers to like me as much as they like you?"

I laugh, but Cassidy seemed to overhear it as she called back, "That's easy, be a dog person!"

Richelieu tilted her head at me and I sighed and explained the concept of a dog to her, to my lack of surprise she seemed to be more enamored with the Meowfficers. After a couple of hours at the Cattery, Cassidy issued her standard proclamation of 'I'm hungry!', what surprised me was when she pulled on my right hand and Richelieu's left saying, "Let's go to the pub!"

I looked to Richelieu and added, "You're welcome to join us."

Richelieu winked at me as she said to Cassidy, "Oui, let us go to the pub."

XXXX

XXXX

After dinner I had Cassidy on my back, her chin resting on my shoulder as we walked home, we had said good night to Richelieu after dinner so now it was just the two of us. About halfway home, Cassidy asked me a question I wasn't expecting, "Dad, do you like Miss Richelieu?"

I look skyward for a moment before asking her in return, "Is it okay if I do?"

She's quiet for a moment before she asked "You're not going to forget about my mom right?"

I shake my head and adjust her weight on me back as I say, "I don't think I'll ever forget your mom. But I'm not going to lie, Sweetheart, I like being around Richelieu, she makes me feel like everything will be alright."

I sigh and bite my lower lip before I admit to her, "Honestly Cassidy, I've been kind of lonely for a long time… Not that you're not wonderful company, but I…"

I could almost hear her eyes roll as she added for me, "You mean in a grown-up way… like how Miss Dunkerque was asking about?"

I bob my head up and down as we keep going as I say, "Yeah, that's one aspect of it."

Cassidy sighed and leaned her head against mine as she said, "I'm sorry Dad; I didn't know you were sad."

I give a half-smile just as we reach our door as I say to her, "It's okay Sweetheart, you being happy has been my major priority, but it's okay for me to find some happiness right?"

Cassidy put her hand in mine and squeezed it as she grinned at me as she said, "Yup."

As I opened the door I reached over with my other hand and ruffled her hair as I said, "Good, now go grab a bath or a shower, we've got enough time for stories tonight too."

XXXX

XXXX

After getting Cassidy squared away for the night I head back downstairs and stretch my back and I look at the picture of Savanna on the mantle and I think about the chain of events and start to wonder something out loud, "Did you set things in motion to bring Richelieu into my life?"

I mean when I stopped and thought about it, a month after I had that crazy real dream, Richelieu came into my life and I had to admit I hadn't found to have that same kind of click with anyone since Savanna. Even with Dunkerque and Algérie, it hadn't felt as easy as it does with Richelieu.

As I sit on my couch, I look out the window just as it starts to rain and I take out my phone, my thumb pausing over the texting app. On one hand, I wanted to message Richelieu, I liked talking to her, but didn't want to seem too eager. I sigh and put my phone down on a side table, no sooner had I done that, then I heard a knock at my door. Getting up I head over to see who is at my door, not really knowing what to expect, I open it to see Richelieu, her cheeks a little red and a basket held in both of her hands, I can see a bottle sticking out of it and she asks, "I hope I am not interrupting…"

She paused to look around behind me before adding, "Daniel."

I give her a warm smile and I ask her, "Not at all, would you like to come in?"

I see her cheeks get even redder as she looks down at the basket, she bites her lower lip before shaking her head from side to side and asking me, "How about we sit out here and enjoy some wine, while we listen to the rain?"

I nod and gesture to the porch swing and say to her, "I'll be right back with some glasses."

We didn't say much during the first glass, but as we both started our second glass I leaned a little forward, resting my arms on my legs and slowly rocking the swing back and forth with my feet as I say to Richelieu, "I talked to Cassidy tonight; she's okay with me trying to find some happiness."

Richelieu moved a little closer to me so that our hips were touching and she gave me that shy smile of hers as she asked, "Any idea of where you might try to find it?"

I laugh as I say, "Happiness comes from within, I know that much."

She bumps my shoulder with hers again as she says, "Oui, it does."

I could hear her sigh, and I took my right hand and placed it over her left, lacing my fingers through hers as I say, "Cassidy asked me directly if I like you, Richelieu."

Richelieu did her best to hide her own curiosity as she asked, "Oh?"

"I asked her if it was okay if I do." I say to her, turning to look her in the eyes as I sat upright a little more.

I'm not sure if it was the wine taking over or not, but she leaned in, tilting her head to the side slightly, I twisted my body slightly, tilting my head to the other side while I used my left hand to brush her right cheek moments before our lips touched again. Again they felt so soft, moist, but not too wet, again she made that noise she does, letting me know she likes this. When it breaks, she licks her lips and smiles at me as she tells me, "I like you too Daniel."

There was a crack of thunder and a flash in the sky, my brow knit together and I asked her, "It doesn't look like the rain is going to let up tonight, would you like to sleep here tonight? I've got a spare room and bed."

She blushed brightly and bit her lower lip and asked, "Are you sure?"

I brushed her cheek again and kissed her again before saying, "I'm sure."

We placed our foreheads against each other for a moment as she admitted, "But I have nothing to sleep in…"

I smiled at her as I said, "Then let's go up to my room and we'll find you a shirt to put on."

XXXX

Following Richelieu

XXXX

I stretch and yawn, looking around the room, this isn't my room. I sit up in the bed I'm in as last night comes back to my mind, I had come over to Daniel's last night and we drank wine on the porch, listening to the rain. I look down at the shirt I'm in, grey with the word Navy written across my bust, a smirk comes to my lips before I look around the room quickly and sniff the shirt, it still smells like him.

I pick up my phone and I see that it's still early and I think about doing something nice for him and his daughter, they did let me sleep here after all. I head down to the kitchen; I find a loaf of bread, some eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and most importantly, butter. Just as I finish in the fridge, I use one of my hips to close it; I put everything on the counter and turn around to see a blond girl, standing in the kitchen, rubbing one of her eyes with the back of her hand and a stuffed rabbit in the other hand. She looks just adorable in her pink pajamas, she blinks at me a couple of times like she is trying to process what she's seeing, I had to laugh at her choice of words, "That's my Dad's shirt…"

"Oui, it is." I say back as I start to heat some milk and butter in a large saucepan while I turn on the oven.

Once it's going I start chopping the bread into little cubes and I spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray. I stop and give the milk and butter a stir before I go and start to put the dry ingredients into the bowl and she asks me, "Does Dad know you're wearing it?"

I smile to myself as I say to her, "Oui, he passed it to me last night."

That was when she asked me a question I hadn't expected, "Did you do grown-up stuff with him last night?"

I blinked a couple of times as I thought about it; we did drink wine and kissed a few times, I shrugged and told her the truth, "We drank some wine and kissed… but it was raining so heavily last night he offered to let me stay in the spare room overnight."

I check on the milk and butter, seeing that it's ready I mix in the milk, butter, and eggs into the dry ingredients before putting it into the dish and putting it into the oven for a while. Cassidy got off of her stool and went to the fridge and she took out the milk jug, before asking me, "Could you pass me a cup please?"

I turn around and reach up to pull down a glass and I feel the shirt ride, exposing my undergarments and Cassidy again said something, "I like your underwear, they look so soft…"

I blush, brightly, I had put on nice underwear last night before I came over, on the off chance I chose to do something with Daniel, I wanted to look my best… but in the end, I chose not to, I was about to say something to her when she asked me a question that actually forced me to think about how to answer it, "Do you love my Dad?"

I turned to face her, my mouth hung open for a moment before I closed it and thought about my answer.

XXXX

Back to the Commander's POV

XXXX

I can smell something cooking… that forces me awake, Cassidy doesn't use the stove. I hurry downstairs and I hear my daughter ask someone a question, "Do you love my Dad?"

I stop in my tracks, the only other person that should be in my house right now is Richelieu, there is silence coming from the kitchen for a few moments before I hear a heavy French accent, "Non, at least not right now. Love is something that can take time to develop, Cassidy. For now, I like your father very much, but I am not in love right now."

I'm not sure how to react to that one, but it was an honest answer. Truth be told, I liked Richelieu a lot, but love? No… I wasn't there yet either, but I could see myself there with time. I chose to come around the corner then, Richelieu spotted me first, her cheeks becoming bright red and I scooped up Cassidy from behind in a big hug and she said to me, "Dad, Miss Richelieu slept over and she's making breakfast!"

I carry Cassidy over with me as I come over to Richelieu; I lean in a little to her as I say, "Good morning."

Her blush gets brighter as she leans a little closer and kisses me before saying, "Bonjour."

Between us, Cassidy made a noise of disgust as she said, "Gross… grown-ups kissing."

Both I and Richelieu found ourselves laughing at this.

XXXX

XXXX

A/N: Chapter six down, I'm not sure how many more chapters this one is going to be, should be a fun heartwarming trip to the end though.