Decades later

"Daddy! Daddy!".

I looked up from my iPad tablet to see my little daughter running up to me with her small arms around a massive plush stegosaurus. A faint "Jingle Bell Rock" played from speakers hidden by the wreaths and garlands, as I sat and waited on a rocking horse several sizes too small for me. The heater was on too strong and I debated taking the jacket off my suit and tie before it began to swelter. A small kid-sized Christmas tree lit up the department store's kid's corner as I had waited for my kid to pick something. Beyond the windows I could see streets bustling with other shoppers.

She dropped the dinosaur and put on a cross look on her face, arms crossed.

"Daddy, you're not paying attention. Are you looking at those squiggly lines again?".

I closed out the incriminating stock market quoting app and tapped something random.

"If it's a boy, we'll name him Neji. And if it's a girl, we'll name her…"

"Well, Lily-chan, it's important for dad's work," I tried to explain.

"I don't see why squiggly lines are more important than me," Lily pouted in her cute little green dress. The style wouldn't look out of place among Santa's elves, come to think.

I set the iPad down. I hated seeing Lily upset, it almost looked as if I had made my wife upset too. "Aw, sweetie, they're not. Of course mommy and I think you're the most important in the world."

I ruffled her hair, the light glinting off the diamond on my ring finger. She had her mother's beautiful, shiny black hair, albeit much longer than the latter ever wore it. They even curled up at the ends just like hers. Her eyes are my eyes, though, and sometimes looking into them felt like a mirror.

"Now," I steered back the conversation, pointing to the stuffed animal on the ground. "That's quite a big one, isn't it? Aren't you a bit old for stuffed animals, though?".

"Well…" she looked to the ground, twisting her body and flailing her arms back and forth. She hadn't figured out how to tell a convincing lie yet, and she knew it, and I could see her debating within herself on what to say next.

"I can tell you," she said, "but you have to promise not to tell mommy."

"Why not?".

"Mommy works for the government," Lily stated.

"Uh oh," I intoned in my serious voice. "Did you get in trouble at school?".

"No, no!" she disclaimed, waving her hands. "But, um, it's um…"

"OK, I promise I won't tell her," I declared, my curiosity clawing for whatever my child so wanted to tell me. Lily cupped her hand over my ear, and said it in such a low voice I had to ask her to repeat it.

"I don't really want a Christmas present," she whispered.

"Oh," I began, turning, "isn't that a good thi - "

"Um…I want to get something for…um, there's this boy in my class."

I grinned, and looked at her. She fidgeted in nervousness, looking at her feet, unsure of what I would think.

"I know he likes dinosaurs," she added.

"That's not a bad thing at all," I judged.

"It's against the law!" she cried in resignation, stamping a foot. "It's just not fair."

I can't help myself, and laughed a little. "You know, Lily-chan, you should really talk about this with mommy."

"Mommy says people have to follow the law on TV," she protested.

I brushed a lock of hair by the side of Lily's face. "Sometimes, mommy has to say things she doesn't really believe on TV to keep her job."

"Isn't that lying?" Lily pointed out. "You and mommy tell me not to lie."

"Ummm…" She had a good point, and I couldn't really answer in a curt, comprehensible way for her age. "You shouldn't because when kids lie it's generally bad. But mommy's job sometimes involves lying to make things better. It's hard and you'll learn later."

"I want to learn now!" she demanded.

"Then pay attention in school and get good grades, I guess," I dismissed. Then you lower your voice, almost conspiratorial.

"You know, Lily-chan?" I murmured, "Mommy once loved someone too."

"You mean, outside the Yukari system?" Lily asked, incredulous eyes widening. "No way!".

I nodded, when my phone vibrated.

"The IMF wants an advance copy of your remarks at Davos next month," I heard someone say in the distance.

The click of high heels. "Tell them I'll send it tomorrow," in that unmistakable, melodious voice.

Misaki Takasaki walked in, flanked by two sunglasses and headset-clad aides lugging briefcases spilling out with paper. Not much had changed over the many years. She had swapped her school uniform for a professional blazer and pencil skirt and heels. A single shock of stressed grey streaked through the side of her hair, and a careful observer could see her hands shake a bit. Even the pressures and the years, however, had spared her beautiful face and that irresistible smile.

"The North Korean delegation will be in Tokyo in two days," the other aide pointed out.

Takasaki put up a hand and turned to them. "Can't I just take some time to watch my kid grow up? Otherwise what's all this for?". She gestured first to Lily, then outside.

The aides nodded, bowed, and retreated. "Yes, madame Foreign Secretary."

"Misaki!" I called out, leaping to hug her and peck her on the cheek. "I was so nervous about what was happening, I'm so happy you're safe! What happened out there? Aren't you supposed to be at the G20 summit?".

"We had to cancel the treaty signing due to the…climate change protests outside. I knew we should have disinvited the Americans," Takasaki explained. "I'm safe, don't worry."

She turned to Lily, crouching down to eye level with her and pinching her cheek. "Anyway, that's not important. What about you, Lily, how's my awesome little girl doing? Have you picked out a Christmas present for yourself yet?".

"Ummm…" Lily trailed, then diverted the subject. "Oh, you know, daddy said you loved someone! Is that true?".

"Lily!" I called out. Takasaki shot me a look, then restored her usual graceful smile.

"Your daddy and I love each other very much," she asserted. She punctuated the declaration by holding my hand. "And we both love you very much, Lily-chan."

"Is it true, though?" Lily pressed on.

"First, why did daddy tell you?" she asked. "Do you love someone, Lily-chan?".

Lily looked outside the window again, shuffling her hands together. "…Yes. There's this boy in my class who's really nice to me. I want to buy him something for Christmas instead of me."

Takasaki smiled.

"Am I in trouble now mom?".

"Of course not," Takasaki reassured, ruffling Lily's hair. "You know, when I was around your age, I fell in love with a boy too."

"I knew it! I bet he was cute, too!" Lily exclaimed. "But you didn't pick him! Does that mean I still have to follow the Yukari Law?".

"I had to make that decision," Takasaki admitted. "Your daddy is a wonderful person. For someone to share my life with, he and I really helped each other achieve more than we thought possible. And he gave me you."

Takasaki pinched Lily's cheek again, and the latter winced at the gesture.

"He's smart, and kind. I felt so alone before I met him - someone like me, someone who lived through the same things I did. I don't regret it, and I wouldn't take it back for a second."

I smiled at the compliments. "I agree," I added, "and I could say the same things about your mother."

Takasaki knelt and rested a hand on Lily's shoulder. I figured I should join as well, and wrap mine around her other one.

"But I promise you, Lily-chan, you won't have to make the same decision."

Author's Note: It's done! Finally! Apologies for the delay, IRL got in the way, but I'm so happy I finally completed my first multichapter fic! It was quite a ride writing this whole thing personally, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

So in the manga bonus chapter 139.5 set in the future (don't worry, it doesn't have relationship spoilers), Takasaki says she grew up to be a "secretary". I just interpreted what that means with a lot of latitude. The contrast between our adolescent and adult selves, the compromises we make to one day attain what we won't compromise on.

Disclaimer in chapter 1.

Thanks for reading!