A/N: This was just a sweet little idea that I had on these two, since I think they're the damned cutest parent/child relationship in ALL of the Final Fantasy series.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII Characters and Places belong to Square Enix.
The first time he had held her, he had sworn to himself that he would protect her from any harm that came her way.
So from pushing away rocks in her path to leading her across the street to bandaging her knee when she fell, he did everything to keep to that promise. And then the attack on their little mining town happened, and he was torn away from her for so long afterwards.
When he finally got her back, he swore to himself to protect her from those who would wish harm on her.
So he bombed their towers and he foiled their plans and tried to destroy their purpose. And then their general who had been dead for years returned and called upon a great calamity, causing the world to panic and causing him to leave her behind with the mother while he travelled with them to save the Planet.
When he finally returned to her, he swore that he would never leave her behind again.
So he took on odd jobs and earned money, trying his best to live in this dying world with its stigma and its rotten core. He took on mining oil and he made a profit, getting a soft-metal arm instead of a grafted gun; getting a purpose in life. He had to leave her with friends, but he called her day after day, keeping in touch, telling her 'Daddy's here'.
When he came back for her, he swore that he would raise her right.
So he put her in the best schools and made sure she was clothed and fed and happy as could be. He played with her until she became too old for playing; scared off the boyfriends he knew were just using her to meet her famous guardian; watched her grow from an affectionate child to a loving teenager to a beautiful adult.
And then one day she came up to him and said, 'Daddy, when you walk me down the aisle, will you make sure not to cry?'
And Barret Wallace simply sniffed and muttered a gruff, 'I'll try'.