I stumbled, exhausted, into the kitchen. A place had been set at the bar with a note saying that dinner was in the fridge. I smiled as I peeked in and saw my favorite. It would have been better hot, but the extra hours I put in at the office today were well worth the effort and the exhaustion. I had had a late lunch, and my hunger had yet to catch up to me, despite the late hour. I walked into the den, choosing to acknowledge the kindness that had been done and to thank the perpetrators.

The television flashed with colorful light as children's cartoons danced on the screen. The light cast a faint glow on the toys scattered on the floor in front of the screen. I bent over to pick up the scattered playthings and toss them into the toy bucket that sat next to the wall sized monitor that served as a television.

"Hey, You." My lover stirred from her slumber and shifted beneath the weight of the small child. "You saw dinner?"

"Yes." I walked over to her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Thank you."

She smiled sleepily as she laid the little girl that had fallen asleep on her lap to the couch. She closed the book spread across her chest and placed it on the end table. The tiny, white haired girl curled into a tight ball, but did not awaken. We both let out a sigh of relief as she remained asleep. My lover stood and stretched her slight form before placing her hands on my shoulders.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, remember?" Her hands slid over my chest and loosened my tie. Her gaze was expectant, demanding as she chewed on her bottom lip.

"Right." I had forgotten. I bent down to her as she stood on her tip toes and kissed the tip of her nose. She pressed her lips against mine hungrily. Time together had been rare since Kisara had been born. I pulled her against me, lifting her up slightly from the ground. I needed a moment to recover once I put her back down. She pulled away from my embrace and I felt a cold, emptiness where she had been.

"I'm going to take a shower." She walked up the stair, tossing a hungry look over her shoulder.

"I'll get her to bed," I said as I scooped up the sleeping four-year-old.

"Don't take too long." She smiled in invitation before she hurried up the staircase.

I placed our daughter in her little bed and pulled the cover over her small form. She was nearly Mokuba's age when our father died, but she looked so much more delicate than he had.

Her weakness was a lie, however. She was a dragon, fierce and determined. There was no doubt in my mind that she had inherited the spirit of my guardian angel, the woman for whom she had been named. She was supposed to be named Sakura or Emisu, after one of our late mothers, but that plan changed as soon as she entered this world with blazing blue eyes and hair so pale she looked bald. Her mother had made the decision on her own to honor the guardian spirit with the child's life.

I brushed her white hair, still marveling at the fact that I had produced this perfect little human, that I was responsible for making sure she turned out well. Even after four years, I still had moments when I could not believe that I was a father. It was never something that I had wanted. Frankly, I had been terrified. But I would not run from my responsibility, even if her conception had not exactly been planned. She was the beautiful jewel of my life, and I would do anything for her or her mother.

I could hear the shower in the master suite shut off as my lover finished.

I kissed our little girl quickly and closed the door softly behind me.

My lover giggled as I slipped my hands around her tiny waist and nibbled at her neck.

"Seto!" She turned in my arms and met me with a passionate kiss. It had been too long since she had kissed me with such ferocity. I lifted her naked body and she wrapped her legs around my waist. The journey to the bed was short and she squealed as I deposited her onto it. I pulled my tie off completely as she unbuttoned my shirt, all the while drawing me on top of her.

"I love you." My lips brushed against hers in a whisper kiss. I could feel the grin spread across her face beneath my lips.

"I love you, too."

She bit my lower lip in the way that drove me wild. I don't think I could have stopped the slight growl that escaped my throat even if I had wanted to. Before long, my clothing littered the floor near the bed and our hands were re-exploring familiar territory.

"Daddy?" A small voice whimpered outside the locked door.

I buried my head against my lover's neck.

"Fuck," I whispered.

"Apparently not tonight…" my lover traced circles along my spine teasingly. "Want me to…?"

"No. I'll do it." I kissed her fully on the mouth, returning the nip she gave my lower lip before crawling off of the bed to pull on some pants.

"What is it, my little dragon?" I crouched down to look into her brilliant, tear-filled eyes.

"Scared, Daddy." She threw her skinny arms around my neck. I pulled her close to comfort her.

"Oh? What scared you?"

"The shadows."

"Oh. I know shadows can be big and scary, but they aren't as bad as they seem." I lifted her up and carried her back to her room. She trembled against my chest. Her tears, shed now that she felt safe, were hot against my shoulder.

"Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?" I laid her down in her bed again. She gripped my hand tightly and nodded. Her blue eyes were wide with fear.

"Stay, Daddy."

I crawled into the narrow bed with her and she cuddled close. Before long, she had passed out once more.

After extracting myself from the death grip Kisara had on my finger, I returned to my bed and lover once more. The meal cooling in the refrigerator flitted through my tired mine, but I was too exhausted to eat it at the moment. My lover lay curled up on one side, the blanket pulled over and tucked all around her like a cocoon or nest. I laid down next to her and wrapped my arm around what looked like it could be her waist.

"Wake me up before you get out of bed tomorrow."

I settled next to her, relishing her presence as I finally surrendered to exhaustion.

AN: So a little different perspective here. Anyone who actually has children will have likely experienced this...