As Marinete Dupain-Cheng Agreste approached her father on the dance floor, music began to play. The sound of children's laughter filked the venue as she looped her arms around his neck. Tom neld his daughter as the singing began.
There's two things I know for sure. She was sent here from heaven, and she's daddy's little girl.
The father daughter duo began to sway along with the music as Tom's mind drifted back to when his little girl was, well, little.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night, she talks to Jesus and I close my eyes. And I thank God for all of the joy in my life. Oh but most of all for butterfly kisses after bedtime prayers.
" Papa, can you read me a bedtime story?" Asked a three year old Marinete.
" Sure sweetie. You get snuggled into bed while I get a book." He had replied.
He pulled his daughter's favorite book from the shelf and sat down beside her bed. She stared at her father with childhood innoucence as he read the story to her, showing her the pictures. By the time he had finished reading, she had fallen asleep. He stood, kissed her head, put the book away, and quietky exited her room, careful nit to wake his little girl.
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair.
"Papa, stop it!" The now five year old Marinete said to her father as he stuck daisies in her pigtails. " I'm trying to color!"
He looked down at his daughter as she continues her drawing. With a mischevious grin, hestuck one more flower in her hair and made a run for it. On cue, Marinete got up from her work to chase her father. After running for about three minutes, she had finally caught up. " I told you to stop it Papa. No means no." She stated, quoting her teacher.
" Okay. Okay I'll stop." He said, catching his breath.
" Walk beside the pony daddy, it's my first ride."
The Dupain-Cheng family had gone to the county fair when an eight year old Marinete spotted the pony rides. " Can I pretty please go ride a pony Daddy?" She said, giving him puppy dog eyes.
" Sure, honey. Let's go get in line." He said, leading his daughter by the hand.
After waiting for about ten minutes, it finally Marinette's turn to ride. The worker helped her onto the pony as she looked at her father. " Papa I'm scared. Can you walk with me?" She asked.
"Of course sweatheart." He said as she began to ride.
" I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
"Great job Marinette!" He exclaimed as his daughter iced her first cake.
" Thank you Papa." Replies the ten year old girl standing before him.
He continued to watch until his wife came up behind him. "She's growing up so fast."
"Yeah she is. It seems like just yesterday I was holdering in my arms, feeding her formula. Now look at her, she's baking her very first cake." He replied.
With all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right, to deserve a hug in the morning and butterfly kisses at night.
Sweet 16 today. She's looking like her mama, a little more everyday.
As she walks down the stairs in her black and red dress, he can't help but notice how much she looks like her mother; with her raven colored hair and petite figure. He still can't seem to comprehend the fact that his baby girl was turning sixteen today. His thoughts, however, are interrupted by the blond haired boy standing beside him. " Wow Mari. You look incredible."
"Thanks, Adrien." She says as she walks down the stairs to meet her date.
" Are you ready to head over to the party?" He asks as they intertwine their fingers.
" I think so." She says walking over to her parents. " Bye Maman. Bye Papa. I'll see you at the party." She says hugging them amd leaving.
" She's not my little girl anymore, is she Sabine?" He asks his wife.
" She will always be your little girl, Tom." She replies.
One part woman, the other part girl. To perfume and makeup, from ribbons and curls. Trying her wings out in this great big world.
"Marinette what happened to your pigtails?" Asks Sabine as her daughter comes into the bakery with her hair down.
"I just thought I'd try something new." The seventeen year old replied. " Alya and I bought some makeuo at the mall yesterday and I thought since I'm trying one new thing, why not try a new hairstyle too?""Oh okay. You look very nice Marinette." Her father said. " Are you going to school now?"
"Yep. Bye Maman. Bye Papa." She said as she hurried out the door.
"Our baby isn't a baby anymore." Commented Tom as he wiped a tear from his eye.
But I remember butterfly kisses after bedtims prayers. Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair. " You know how much I lovw you Daddy, but if you don't mind, I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time.""Hello?" Said the twenty year old Marinette as she picked up the phone. "Hi Marinette. Do you want to come home tommorow night for game night with Maman and I?" Asked her father."Hi Papa. I wish I could but I have game night with Adrien, Alya, and Nino tommorow night. Sorry. " she replied.
"It's alright sweetheart. I've got to get back to the bakery. HAve fun with your friends." He said, hanging up.
When he got into the bakery Sabine asked, " What did she say?"
"She can't come. She has game night with her friends." He replies, glumly.
With all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve her love in the morning and butterfly kisses at night.All the precious time, like the wind the years go by.'How was it that twenty two years passed by in what seemed like an hour?' He thought as he continued to dance with his daughter.
Little butterfly, spread your wing and fly.She'll change her name today. She'll make a promise, and I'll give her away."What brings you here Adrien?" Tom asks his daughter's boyfriend, who looked quite nervous.
"I'm here to get your blessing sir, to propose to Marinette." Replyed the blond, making no eye contact.
"Of course you can have my blessing, son!" Exclaimed Tom while hugging the boy. " But if you break my little girl's heart, it won't be pretty."
" Thank you sir." Adrien said.
" Please, call me papa." Replied Tom.
Standing in the bride room, just staring at her. She asked me what I'm thinking and I said " I'm not sure. I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl." She leaned over amd gave me butterfly kisses, with her mama standing there.
As soon as she saw her father, she knew something was bothering him. When she and her parents were alone inthe bridal room, she took the oppurtunity to talk to him. "Papa, are you okay?"
"I'm okay. I'm just a little worried that you'll leave after you and Adrien get married." Replied her father.
She waked over to her father and hugged him tightly upon hearing this. " Papa, I would never leave you. I'm your little girl. I don't know what I would do if I weren't able to see you everyday."
Stickimg little white flowers all up in her hair. " Walk me down the aisle daddy, It's just about time." "Does my wedding gown look pretty Daddy." " Daddy don't cry.""Ready Papa?" The bride asked as they stood outside the doors ti the sanctuary.
"Yep. Are you sweetie?" He asked his baby girl.
"I hope so." She replied, taking a breath as the doors opened and they began down the aisle.
With all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right, to deserve her love in the morning and butterfly kisses. I couldn't ask God for more. Man, this is what love is. I know I've gotta let her go, but I'll alwats remember and hug in the morning amd butterfly kisses.
As people clapped and wiped their eyes, Tom kissed his daughter's head and whispered into her ear, " No matter how old you get, where you go, and what happens, you will always be my little girl."