When the children got home slightly later, the house was already put back in order. Ford requested as much healthy, wholesome, nutritional food as possible, as the expected stress was sure to wreak havoc on his delicate system. He also showered before eating, despite having showered before work that morning. Kym sensed that he was trying to cleanse himself in more than one way, and didn't comment on it.

But ever inquisitive and amazingly articulate Ana was just as perceptive as her father, and twice as blunt as he ever was. She pointed out as soon as she noticed it, "Daddy, how come you showered again early? Most the time you shower in the morning and at night. And you're home from work early too. Are you okay? Are you sick? Your hand looks hurt. Did you hurt your hand, Daddy?"

"Ana, settle down please-" Kym started to try to reign the girl back, for the sake of her husband, who apparently just noticed the red and purplish color the hand he had struck his father with had turned around the knuckles. But he quickly waved his hand, to signal it was fine.

"It's fine, daughter." Ford reassured her. "I was just a little careless at work today. It will be healed up in no time."

But Ana pouted insistently. "Let me put a bandage on it and kiss it better!"

Bringing over the Ford Family's extensive First Aid kit, she began to carefully clean and dress her father's hand, wiping it with antiseptic cloths before sticking a bandage over the darker purple bruises. Ford let her do so in silence, without mentioning that bandages don't really do much for bruises, as he normally might. It was the thought that counted, and Ana did so love any excuse to stick a bandage on something. For her they were like stickers, and indeed the one she picked out for him was from a Lulukoko-themed box. There were monkeys with banana-bandages, green parrots with orange mangoes, and red and blue crabs with coconuts. She gave him a crab and coconut one.

"There you go, Daddy!" She exclaimed proudly once she was done, examining her handiwork by turning his hand over a few times. Once satisfied, she finished by very gingerly placing a kiss into his palm. Only then did she return his hand to him, with a triumphant and expectant smile. "All better~?"

A little out of it without quite realizing it yet, Ford simply nodded to her inquiry at first, until his wife suddenly nudged him, to 'snap him out of it', and began to exclaim, much more visibly impressed, "What a wonderful job, honey! How sweet of you to take care of your Papa!"

He sat up a little straighter at that, more alert now. "Thank you, Anastasia. And yes, I'm feeling better already..."

He was lying a bit, but the child didn't make note of it. Instead she bounced on her feet and slapped him on the knees for extra attention. "Hey, Daddy! Daddy! Guess what? Today, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up! I told her I wanted to be a doctor someday, just like you, Daddy!"

Ford finally fully woke up when he heard that. Blinking down at his little girl, he felt something welling up in his chest and throat. He suddenly remembered... The first time he'd told his parents he wanted to be a doctor...

They put him down... Told him how hard it would be. How much money it would cost and how they couldn't afford it. They told him it would just be a waste of time...

Thank the Gods he hadn't listened...

Reaching out with his uninjured hand, he gently stroked her cheek. "Work hard in school, and I know you can do it, Ana. I'm so proud of you..."

She grinned at him, grabbing his hand and pressing it hard to her face and jaw, nuzzling it. "Hee! And guess what, Daddy! I asked Freddy what he wanted to be when he grew up, too! He said he wanted to take care of the cows like Mama! So I think he either wants to be a farmer, or maybe an animal doctor!"

Ford felt his lip quirk up, but restrained the chuckle on the back of his breath. "An animal doctor is called a veterinarian, dear. And I think that's wonderful. You both have such noble aspirations. Someday I know you'll make them happen. Do your best and I'll support you."

She nodded, satisfied with his response for the time being, and went on to ask her mother if she could help with dinner. While they busied themselves in the kitchen, Ford sat silently at the table, watching Freddy play with blocks in the living room nearby. He was making a pen with the blocks and putting toy farm animals inside of it. He was a much more quiet child than Ana, who was very social. She tended to take most of her father's attention while Freddy would burrow himself into his mother's skirt in the background.

Having not much else to do when he would normally be at the clinic working, Ford felt compelled to go to his son, and sat down next to him, watching him play as the girls made supper. "Ana says you told her you wanted to be a farmer like your Mother..." He commented idly, not expecting a response right away.

Normally the boy would stay quiet at least a little longer, and then respond hesitantly after a bit more prodding. But he suddenly spoke up out of the blue, picking up a cow figurine from the pen and showing it to his father. "I like the cows most! Some days the chickens are nice but some days they're mean and peck you. The cows are always nice. The cows know when you're sad. 'N' when you're sad, the cows rub their heads on you! Like this!"

The boy proceeded to demonstrate for his father, bending down and over on all fours like a cow, and butting, burrowing and nuzzling his head against his father's arm. Ford watched him, a little stiffly at first. But then his heart swelled up with feelings, and after being unsure what to do with them for only a second or two, he bent down and kissed the boy on the top of his head... Despite seeing that he clearly already needed another bath since the once he had that morning. The boy simply loved playing with dirt and plants and bugs, always bringing home something... Fascinating, to say the least.

But his urge to express his fatherly love was, just this once, greater than his germ-phobia, and he scooped up and laid kisses all over the giggling boy's face.

They were soon after called for dinner, and Ford dug into the hearty pistou soup that his thoughtful wife had made him after his trying day. He kissed both her cheek and his daughter's before sitting down to eat, thanking them both for the meal, which was filling and more delicious than in any restaurant. He hoped dearly that he died before his beloved, because he dreaded the thought of ever having to miss her. Especially her beautiful soul and lovely face, but also her scrumptious and nutritious cuisine. He got a little misty eyed thinking about it as he ate, and remembering his evil father's wicked words...

'THEY'LL ALL LEAVE YOU SOMEDAY!'

"Daddy?"

Ford blinked. A single tear fell into his soup. "H-Huh? Ah, yes, Ana, dear...?" He quickly wiped the other eye with his napkin and composed himself. "What is it?"

Wiser than her years suggested, the child rerouted what she was going to say after a short pause, "...Do you like the soup?"

Ford quickly ate a few bites for her to see, then nodded to her inquiry. "It's delightful, my sweet child. Thank you."

The rest of the meal went by in silence, and the children went to bed without any fuss, since mother and father seemed especially tired that night and turned all the lights off early. Even still, as Ford laid in bed resting, he found himself unable to really sleep. Two hours went by, and he did nothing by lay on his back in the darkness, quiet and alone...

Until he heard a whimper from down the hall. Then there was some shifting, and some scurrying. A moment later, Ana had come to her parent's bedroom, and sidled up next to her father's bedside. "Daddy...? I had a bad dream..."

It had been a while since Ana slept in their bed. She moved to her own bedroom when Freddy was born. Every once in a while, though, she would come to them like this. Usually when she had a bad dream. Which Ford would normally assume was distressing for her but not really all that big a deal. Tonight, however... Tonight he was a bit unnerved by it...

Lifting up the covers, he reached down and pulled the girl into the bed with him. She then crawled over his body and into the space in the middle between him and his wife. She didn't say anything for a few minutes, so Ford assumed she had gone back to sleep. But then she began to whisper to him in the dark.

"Daddy... In my dream there was a dark shadow monster following you. It kept making you sad. You got sadder and sadder, and nothing nobody could do would help make you happy again. Not even me, or Freddy, or Mama. And then the shadow covered you and made you disappear..."

Her voice cracked. She began to sniffle and then weep. Ford's heart stung something fierce and his throat went tight, but he reached out to her and began to stroke her hair, trying his best to stay calm for her. "Well... That's how you know it was just a dream, Ana... Because there's nothing in the world that makes me happier than you and Freddy and your mother, and there's no way I would let anyone or anything take me away from you. Ever..."

Kym suddenly shifted on her side of the bed. She was apparently awake now, too. Turning around into her opposite side, she cuddled up next to her crying daughter. "Oh, Ana... Please don't be sad, and don't be scared. Did you know, that there's a power that the shadows and monsters can never beat? And you can even use it no matter where you are, even in your dreams? Do you know what it is, Ana?"

The girl shook her head. Her mother bent over and kissed her brow. "All you have to do is tell Daddy you love him every day. Then the darkness will never be able to even get close to him..."

"I love you, Daddy!" Ana immediately exclaimed, her voice cracking, about to cry again. "If any bad guy ever tries to get you, I'll kick their butt!"

"Language, little one." Ford chided her, but with a smile on his face. "Besides, I don't really want that... Ana, I want you to grow up helping people, never hurting them. It proves you're stronger and smarter than the bad guys when you can manage to do the right thing without resorting to violence like they do... Besides that, as your father, I'm the one who should be kicking butt to protect you."

Ana giggled at that, apparently seeing the absurdity of it right away.

Ford went on despite her lack of confidence in his fighting prowess... Which only proved she really was a smart girl anyways. "I want you to help and love as many people as you can, Ana. Because then I'll know there's no shortage of people to love and help you, too..."

She nodded, and then yawned. A few minutes later she was sleeping again. Kym, however, was not. "Ford..."

"Mm?"

Reaching in the darkness, she felt from his shoulder, down his arm, until she found his hand, which she took within hers. Then she whispered to him in the dark, "Just a reminder, my love - The townsfolk in Westown will be very concerned about you tomorrow. You're probably going to get a lot of attention from people worried about you. I wouldn't be surprised if news spread fast and some of the other town's residents come to check on you, too. I'm sure it will annoy you to have so much attention focused on you, and over something so embarrassing, but be nice to everyone. They just want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm the doctor. I'm supposed to be the one doing check-ups and making sure they're okay..." He replied, a little grumpily. But then he sighed, accepting of it. "But I promise I will be nice. Thank you for the reminder, dear..." He knew she only did it to help him avoid accidentally hurting someone's feelings, and he appreciated her looking out for him, even if it made him feel silly at times...

"Of course, dear. Good night now..."

He was about to tell her 'goodnight' as well... But then he spoke up once again, his voice thick with emotion. "Dear... I already know you'd never leave me, but... Would you please tell me you'll never leave me...?"

"I will never, ever leave you, Ford." She replied right away, and very seriously. "Even after we've long disappeared from this world... I'll still be with you."

He smiled in the darkness, and squeezed her hand. "I suppose eternity will have to do... At least until I figure out how to achieve immortality."

"...Ford, you are way too similar to 'Faust' for me to not take that seriously. No selling your soul to the devil for knowledge and power, either!"

He chuckled. She knew him too well. "Yes, dear."

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