She was trying to avoid her dad, but was unavoidable, they had to talk. She had to stop him from trying to control who she talked to, but she didn't want to spoil the happiness that Soul's visit had proportioned her. She never in a million years had expected him to come back, to open up to her, to actually remember her. She had tried to be bitter over his lie because she had felt terrible the day before, but how could she stay mad at someone that told her she was a literal dream?

Her happiness was short-lived, however, because as soon as her dad cornered her and she saw the subtle glint of possessiveness in his eyes, she knew it wouldn't end well. "Papa, let me pass."

"Who is he, Maka?" He asked, still blocking her path. "And what does he want with you?"

"Papa, you have to stop this. I'm older now, I can make the choice to talk to whoever I want."

"He's going to take you away from me, he's going to take my little girl." He continued, frantic, like he hadn't heard her. "I can't let that happen."

Maka glared at him. It wasn't the first time that her dad had drove boys away from her. Every time she started to get close to someone, he would find out and the boy in question would never set foot on the diner again. "You can't! You can't drive everyone away from me!"

He smiled, but his eyes gave away his intention of keeping his plan. "Once someone's worthy, I will give them the chance."

She was tired, she was tired of always fighting with him, always the same matter, always the same incredibly stubborn behavior on his part. "You don't even get to know the boys I talk to! You don't even get to see if they are worthy or not! Why, Papa?"

"Because men are cheating bastards." It was out of his mouth before he could think it trough.

"Believe me Papa, I'm aware of that." She said, bitterly, eyes locked on his. "But not all men are like you."

He smiled, hiding away what he was really feeling. "Maka, dear-"

"Please Papa, don't." She interrupted him, arms crossed, looking away. "I put up with your ways, I say nothing when I see you leave every night. I have no business telling you what to do with your life, and all I'm asking in return is that you stop trying to control mine."

His smile had fell and he reached out to place a hand on her arm, staring at her helplessly when she moved away. "I'm just trying to protect you."

She scoffed, taking advantage of his vulnerable state to push him away, almost breaking when she saw how heartbroken he looked. But if she didn't do this now, she would never break away from his obsessive jealousy, and so, although it pained her to do so, she replied, voice cold. "I'm an adult now, I can protect myself. Besides, you were the one who drove Mama away, so the only man I need to be protected from is you." She breathed deeply, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "Soul didn't do anything wrong." And she walked away, feeling like the worst person in the world, wondering if she'd been too tough, remembering the heartbreak in her dad's eyes.

But she continued walking.

Spirit stared at Maka's retreating back, feeling broken and desperate, as the tears fell freely down his cheeks. He didn't want his customers to see him cry, he didn't want his little girl to see him cry, he didn't want her to feel guilty because he knew it was his fault. Lying always made things worse but he didn't know what else he could've said to his daughter, his way too young and way too precious daughter, except that her mother had left. And as she grew up, Maka had picked up on little things and decided that he was the reason she had left because he cheated on her. It was painful, Spirit had loved her so much that he was almost tempted to tell Maka the truth. But how could he, after so long?

So he climbed up the stairs, entering the house that she had once also called home, where they had promised to be together forever, to have a family, a lot of kids, maybe a pet. The place that had lost her smell long ago, but sometimes, Spirit swore, the light shined in a way that made it look like she was still there.

He walked towards their bedroom, that was now only his, defeated and feeling worse than he had felt in years. He resisted the urge to throw himself onto the bed and try to bury his face in her pillow, that hadn't been hers for years but that he still held close to him when the nights were too hard to get by. He instead walked towards his closet, rummaging the drawers until he found what he wanted, a picture of her. It was of the day he asked her to marry him, the day that Spirit thought was the best of his life. She was so beautiful, her hair tousled by the wind, her eyes closed as she laughed whole heartedly. He had long forgotten the sound of her laughter, but sometimes Maka laughed just like her and he felt his heart sink a little more in his chest because they were so similar that it pained him. That's why he felt the need to protect her, why he never wanted her to leave his side. Because he hadn't been able to protect her.

"I miss you. I miss you so much." He whispered, holding the picture like one would hold a talisman. He just wished he could see her again. "You should see Maka, she's all grown up. And she is just like you, down to the terrible temper and everything." He croaked a laugh, imagining how the two of them would actually clash a lot, from being so similar, so strong willed, so stubborn. "And now she has been speaking to this boy, I don't know how long this has been going on, but I think it's for real. She smiles so wide when he's talking to her." He sighs, looking at the picture, eyes gleaming with tears. "I'd give anything to have you back."

But he knows she will never be back.