Maka anxiously held the phone to her ear as it rang. She wasn't sure if she should do this, if it would take her back down a well-worn path of pain and anger. But she had to. She had to do this.
The other end stopped ringing as it was picked up, "Maka?"
She could hang up right now, before speaking, she could pretend she'd called by accident, she could-
She couldn't. It would be uncomfortable, but Maka's heart cried out for this resolution. But it didn't stop her voice from trembling, "P-Papa..."
"Is... is there something wrong? Can I help with anything?"
She gripped the phone with both hands, not acknowledging the new flood of tears, "Not really, I called to- I called so I could help something. Papa..."
"What is it, baby?"
"I forgive you."
She stayed on the line even as she heard the phone on the other end of the call drop to the floor. Spirit's voice shook like a leaf in the wind as he scrambled after the phone and picked it back up, "M-Maka? You d-don't mean-"
"I do, Papa. I forgive you. I love you."
She didn't have to see him to know that her father was crying as much as her, "I love you, too, baby girl. Do you... would you like to talk?"
"I- Yes... I'd like that. I've missed you, Papa."
"I've missed you, too, angel. How... how have things been?"
"M-maybe we should sit down. This is going to take a while..."
"I have all the time in the world for you, Maka."
"Well, it all began months ago..."