When you slip back into consciousness the next day you can feel fingers curling around the end of your braid and a small hand patting a repetitive line down your face. Blinking away the sleep, you open your eyes and look up into Lex's face with a sleepy yawn. Her hand falls away from your face as you sit up on the bed and stretch your arms above your head.
"Where's your dad?" you question the small girl as you swing your legs over and place your feet on the floor.
"He got a phone call and told me to stay here with you," she answers as you walk into the bathroom, you let out a chuckle as she follows you and stands outside of the bathroom door.
"Penny, I gots a question..." she says as you let out a hum to let her know that you were, in fact, listening. "Who was that woman last night?" You freeze with your hands under the water, your eyes snapping up to connect with your reflection in the mirror as your blood runs cold.
"What woman?" you ask her after a few moments, deciding that playing stupid was the easiest way out of this conversation.
"The one you and Daddy were talking to outside last night," she says as you walk back into the bedroom while pulling your hair into a messy knot on the top of your head. "I looked out the window after you left because I heard Daddy yelling."
"Have you had breakfast?" You look down at her and curse silently when she nods. "How about we find you something to wear for today?" You ask, changing tactics as you reach out to take her hand and let her lead you to her bedroom. You walk over to her window in order to open the blinds and your eyes land on Luke who is sitting on the stone step of the front porch with his head in his left hand. Turning back to Lex and her closet you help her choose an outfit for the day before setting up a bath for her. You settle yourself outside of the door in case she needed help and you call out to her every so often to make sure that she was alright.
When she emerges from the bathroom fully clothed you chuckle at the sight of her hair as you pull out your blowdryer – when did that get here? - to gently dry and curl her hair around her shoulders. Guiding her to the living room you settler her in front of the television as you quickly slide into the shower and get dressed, leaving your hair in the mess that's located at the top of your head. When you enter the living room again Luke is sitting on the couch with his arms around Lex. You rub your fingers through his hair and lean down to press a kiss on the top of his head, feeling as he relaxes under your touch.
"Can we talk?" He asks as he looks up at you. Nodding you watch as he gets off of the couch and you let him lead you into the backyard and you both make sure that the door slides closed behind you.
"I've been on the phone with Robin for over an hour," he starts letting his hand slide down his face with a loud sigh. "She wants to meet Lex, today." You remain silent as you walk over and lean against the railing tugging on your shirt sleeves. "What do we do?"
You reach out to run your fingers down his arm, the contact letting him know that you're here and you smile softly at him. "I'll support you no matter what you choose, but I do suggest that you talk to Lex about it." He looks back at Lex, the small girl was currently leaning back against the couch and laughing at whatever program was playing through the set.
"You'll stay with me, right?" He looks back at you, his eyes sad but hopeful for your support. You nod your head as you lace your fingers in his and give his hand a gentle squeeze. You assure him that you're not going anywhere as you both walk back into the house. You watch as Luke turns off the television as you take a seat before Lex on the coffee table, waiting for Luke to settle himself beside you on the sturdy wood. He takes a deep breath and grips your hand in his before turning back to his daughter.
"Lex, we need to talk to you about something..." he begins, letting his words trail off when she jumps off of the couch and claps excitedly.
"You're getting married!" she shouts looking between the pair of you while you let out a laugh as you feel a heated blush creep up your cheeks. "Abuela owes me more money." You turn to Luke who you find is looking at you with a sheepish smile before you both turn back to the girl.
"No, sweetie, maybe one day, but, uh..." he says, pulling his hand from yours to begin scratching at the back of his neck and you look at him with a small nod, urging him forward. "We wanted to talk to you about your mother."
"What about her?" she asks as she looks between the both of you, settling herself back onto the couch with a sad look laced throughout her features.
"Well," he clears his throat and turns back to you with an agonizing look in his eyes. "She wants to meet you." You reach out to grasp his hand in yours trying to steady the trembling. Lex's eyes land on yours and you try so hard not to recognize the hurt in her eyes, but you do.
"But, I thought..." you watch as her face scrunches in frustration as she continues to look at you. Her face turning red with each moment she tries to hold in the tears. You release Luke's hand to reach out for her and she backs away from you, causing you to quickly pull your hands back as you look down in confusion. Trying to ignore the pain that radiated through you at her movements.
"You thought what, Lex?" you ask her softly as you watch her fold her arms over her stomach, sucking on her bottom lip to control her crying.
"Nothing, it's dumb." She whispers as she turns her head to look at Roxy. You stand up from the coffee table and settle yourself onto the couch near her. Reaching out you unfold her arms and clasp both of her hands between yours, trying again to provide comfort to the small child with little movements.
"Nothing you think is dumb, Lex, don't you ever forget that." Again, you try not to feel hurt when she pulls her hands from you and turns to look at Luke. She takes a deep breath and fixes her father with a glare you've never seen before.
"I thought Penny was going to be my mother," she whispers and you find that you can't stop the tears that form in your eyes at her statement. You let a sob escape from your lips as she turns back to you on the couch and wraps her arms around your neck, finally letting her tears fall as well. You don't say anything to the small child as she tells you over and over that she wants you to be her mother, instead, you rub soothing circles on her back while looking over her head at Luke.
When you compose yourself enough to speak you lift the child off of your chest and grasp her face between your hands, letting your thumbs brush the trail of tears from her cheeks with a wavering smile. You lean towards her and press your lips to her forehead with a slight tremble, pulling back you grip her chin in your fingers and hold her gaze. "I love you, Lexington Rose, and I will always be here for you." You tell the small child with a grin.
"Do you promise?" she asks, her voice smaller than you have ever heard it in the past two years.
"I pinky promise, Lex" you respond holding out your smallest finger to the child. "And let me tell you a secret, nothing is more sacred than a pinky promise."
A/N: Just a filler chapter.