Diane made her way down the stairs, Nevaeh held close in her arms.
"Let's go see if Daddy's done working yet. Maybe we'll go outside and play today. He's been helping your Uncle Mel all morning,he'll be so happy to see you." She missed her daughter's head lovingly.
As she entered the tavern, Diane smiled. The bar was nearly empty now, quiet, compared to the thundering laughter, shouts and loud scraping of the chairs that had reached them while they played in the room they shared with King.
Nevaeh rested against her mother,still frightened from the noises. Only the small group of regulars remained. The children gazed around the room curiously. Elizabeth delivered the last mug of ale and waved to them.
"Look, Aunt Elizabeth 's here." The giantess said waving back. "Uncle Mel's busy over there..let's see if we can find him. Where could Daddy be?' She asked playfully. Nevaeh lifted her head.
" maybe if we call him... Daddy, where are you? " the child's emerald eyes scanned the room. Diane chuckled softly. They approached the bar where the dragon sin stood, shouting to Ban who was currently in the kitchen.
"Try not to catch anything on fire this time!"
"That wouldn't have happened if King-"
"Don't even try to shove that responsibility on me,I wasn't even over there!" The fairy cried angrily. Nevaeh turned toward the voice.
"Did you hear that,sweetheart?" The giantess ask quietly. "Did you hear Daddy?" Nevaeh grinned. " should we tell him he has visitors?"
"Hey,Nevaeh," Meliodas greeted gently. "Are you being good for your mommy?" The child cooed in response.
"Your dad's going to so happy to see you,he's been stuck back there with Ban all day. You know how cranky that makes him." King appeared suddenly, a stack of dishes in his hands, grumbling to himself. Nevaeh reached out a tiny hand,making small grasping motions,she whimpered softly as he disappeared once more. Diane frowned,the girl's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry,baby. Daddy didn't hear you,that's all. He loves you so very much."
"Hey, don't cry,little one." Meliodas said, "we'll just have to go get him. Come on." He motioned for Diane to follow stopped in the doorway to the kitchen.
"Hey King,someone wants to see you,take a little break when you're done with those."
"Thanks, Captain."Diane said,taking a seat at a table.
'"it's not a big deal, it's not like we're busy. As long as we don't get a lot of customers,I can probably let him off early. "
"That would be great. It's such a beautiful day,I thought maybe King would feel like going out."
" I don't think you're gonna have much of a hard time convincing him to go. He's been working a lot lately. "
"Yeah, I feel bad, I feel like I don't tell him how much I appreciate everything he's done as much as I should. Since Nevaeh came into our lives,King hasn't had much time to himself."
"He knows. I don't think it really bothers him. He's more into family time than time for himself." Nevaeh cooed in her mother's arms.
"That's right,Baby. Tell Daddy to come play with us." The giantess encouraged. Again the child reached out,tears filling her eyes as she made small grabbing motions toward the kitchen.
"D-Da!" The tiny voice called, leaving Diane and Meliodas in shock.
"Captain, do you think she's -"
" Yeah, I think so. Hey King! " The dragon sin shouted.
"Coming,I'm almost -"
" Just leave it and come out here,it's Nevaeh,she-" the loud clatter of dishes caught the attention of the customers and Elizabeth. King appeared instantly.
"What's wrong with Nevaeh,is-"
"Da..da!" Nevaeh cried, her tiny arms outstretched. King floated slowly down to his knees in front of his family.
"See, Harlequin, I told you you're her favorite person." Diane beamed. "Her very first word was to call you."
" She's too young to recognize -"
"I don't know about that." Meliodas interrupted. "She's been reaching for you this whole time. I'm pretty sure she knows." Elizabeth moved closer to the group.
"Dada!" King raised his hand, allowing the girl to hold his fingers."
"Hello little princess." He said softly.
"Dada!" Diane handed Nevaeh to king. The fairy was stunned. The tavern was now silent. The fairy held her close,the tiny hand rested on King's cheek, Nevaeh's eyes met her father's.
"Dada." She said softly.
"Yes,my precious little princess, Daddy's right here." He said ,tears of joy forming in his own eyes. Diane joined her family, wrapping her arms around them.
"You okay?" She asked softly.
"Yeah. I just -I've never felt so much -After everything I've done,I don't deserve the joy you both give me each day. Of everyone in the world, I was given such a precious gift and every single day,you both fill my life with so much happiness. I never expected her to -I love you both so much."
" And we love you. You're a gift to us too. If I hadn't met that day, I never would've felt this love. "Diane said. Behind them, Elizabeth reached for the blond sin's hand. Meliodas took hold of her hand silently,they didn't need words.
Ban peered out from the kitchen,grinning.
Elaine would be so proud of you.He thought with a heavy sigh. She'd want this for you. You do deserve this.
After watch a moment, Ban returned to his work, he would have a lot of preparing to do. If he knew the captain as well as he thought,there would be a celebration later that night.