Chapter 4- The Love of a Daughter

Author's Note: DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ MY GUARDIAN DIARIES SERIES.

Hi, as promised here's chapter 4, set about 9 years after the final chapter of the Guardian Diaries and 10 years before JK's official epilogue. It's a very fluffy chapter, within the Eagles' house, with special reference to Gallardo and Nina's relationship. Also features Gallardo/Marcena and mentions Neville/Hannah.

Gallardo held her close to him. Hearing his six year old little girl say that broke his heart. He took a very deep breath and kissed her forehead; it was all he could do to stop himself from bawling.

Gallardo has a heart to heart with Nina and is filled with both pride and guilt.

Rated T for some minor suggestive themes and very faint angst.

3rd September 2013

"There is an enchanted and enclosed garden that is protected by strong magic. Once a year, an unfortunate is allowed the opportunity to find his way to the Fountain, to bathe in its water, and win fair fortune forever more!" Gallardo recited in his best narrator's voice.

Remus chuckled, maybe at his enjoyment of the story or maybe at his father's silly, deep and dramatic voice. Gallardo preferred to think it was the former, but the latter was also a little flattering.

They were in Remus' lamp lit bedroom, snuggled in his bed, Remus was in his pyjamas, while Gallardo had dressed down to his bare feet, trousers and t-shirt. Gallardo carried on reading, even when the soft snoozing confirmed that Remus had fallen asleep minutes earlier.

This one was Gallardo's favourite story from the Tales of Beedle the Bard, one of few great ones that spoke to you as a child and as one in the shell of an adult. There was this one and the one about the three brothers, also known as the Tale of the Deathly Hallows.

Gallardo found himself sighing. The story of the Hallows had carried on into his life when he was eighteen to nineteen. That was many years ago and now he was married and had two beautiful young children.

Remus Pablo Eagle-Sempatho, he thought. One day when they were old enough, Gallardo would sit his children down and tell them the story of the Second Wizarding War, of what they all faced, what they fought and sacrificed. He would tell Remus about his name sake, who he was, how he lived, despite his affliction and his treatment, and how he had died. Gallardo hoped that his son's life would be happier than his friend's, that Remus Eagle would never have to endure what Remus Lupin had to. It was stupid, but part of him wondered whether a name to honour a good man could also be a curse.

He shook that feeling away. The day for telling those stories would be years away- right now Remus was four, turning five in October, whereas Nina had turned six earlier this year in May- days after his own birthday. Gallardo swallowed as he wondered how he could bring himself to tell his children about those years without having to leave the room many times, when even discussions with his wife about this were painfully nostalgic and mostly non-verbal and by implication- she understood; there was no need for words, she too had lived through it. Gallardo was thankful that his kids were so young now.

Just then the door opened.

"I see he's falling asleep," Marcena whispered dreamily, as if she was trying to impersonate Luna Lovegood on a very early morning. Up until an hour ago, she had been wearing a dress, but had now dressed down to a pink t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. Despite the dressing down, she still looked gorgeous; his eyes dilated rapidly as he held her gaze.

Gallardo and Marcena had returned from a wedding, unfortunately they couldn't find a babysitter, so had brought the kids along. The bride and groom were good friends of the Eagles and Sempathos and had been accomodating, as many of their friends and guests also had kids. Luckily it was not a school night, as the term was yet to begin

"Like a log," Gallardo yawned.

Marcena wished he hadn't done had, as she broke into a contagious yawn. "Same can't be said for your daughter."

"What do you mean: my daughter?" Gallardo chuckled, getting up.

"I swear you're her favourite," Marcena said. "She listens to you!"

"Babe, I'm sure she loves us both in equal measure," he assured, grinning to himself.

"Whatever! She isn't going to sleep, she keeps asking all these countless questions, and I'm too tired to answer them or tell her off."

"So you want me to?" Gallardo asked cautiously.

Marcena gave him a teasing smile. "Yeah, if you could, that would be so nice. Aren't I lucky to have a great father for my kids?" She playfully nudged his arm with a fist.

"But I'm the fun parent, the good cop!" Gallardo protested. "You're the stern disciplinarian."

Despite being just over five foot tall, Marcena gave him the most terrifying of looks, any hint of her smile faded to nothing and her eyes burned into him.

"I'm kidding!" Gallardo explained quickly; luckily her smile returned.

"If our son wasn't sleeping right in front of us- watch it, mister, you came this close!" Marcena teased.

"All right, all right, after a long long day, my wife needs me to save her once again," he pretended to groan.

"You're really pushing it," she said, folding her arms and trying not to smile.

Gallardo walked out into the hall and walked over to the door that was ajar on the opposite side. The moment he entered, he was pounced on, but he was prepared enough to catch the little giggler and pin her on her bed and tickle her tiny knee caps.

"What's this I hear about you not going to sleep?" Gallardo said after the laughter had died down; he knew the afterglow of his grin took away any stern intention.

"I'm not sleepy!" Nina protested. She was dressed in her nighties but had started to bounce on her bed, forcing Gallardo to pull her down into a sitting position.

"You will be if you carry on and you won't feel well when you wake up," Gallardo reasoned.

"Mama says it's not a school night," Nina said.

"Mama also says that's no excuse for being awake past eleven o'clock," Gallardo pointed out. "Come on, in to bed." He picked her up and placed her under the covers, before being unable to stop himself from kissing her on the head.

"Daddy?" Nina asked.

"Yes, lass?" Gallardo acknowledged, sensing what was coming.

"Is it a school night for you?"

"No, I have tomorrow off," he answered. Both his kids had inherited his olive complexion, but their mother's brown hair while his own was black. Remus was a bit more reserved, whereas Nina was a little more bubbly and outgoing, she was also very inquisitive and he imagined she could be very feisty- something that never ceased to melt his heart.

"Daddy, do boys cry?" Nina asked suddenly.

Gallardo chuckled softly. "Lass, all children cry, and that's normal."

"Do big men cry?" she probed.

Gallardo laughed internally. "I suppose so, but they don't really like showing it. Why do you ask?"

"I saw Aunty Hannah's daddy crying today, by the bathroom," she admitted.

"OK, did he see you?" Gallardo asked, silently recalling Duncan Abbott disappearing for a while.

"I don't think so, he went inside the bathroom," Nina said. "Did anything sad happen?"

Gallardo sighed. "No, not today at least. Many years ago, before you were born, Aunty Hannah lost her mum..." He grappled with himself on how much he should tell her.

"How?"

"Some bad people killed her." He thought it best to tell her the truth. "Although Hannah also had her brothers, Jason and David, Mr Abbott only had one daughter. All good fathers are very protective of their daughters and Mr Abbott was even more so because his wife had been killed.

"But today, he gave over her protection to Neville. Even though Mr Abbott is happy that Hannah is going to start a life with a good man and she will always be his daughter, part of him feels very sad that he has to let her go.

"It's like Monkey, do you remember Monkey?"

Nina nodded slowly. "I miss Monkey."

"I know you do lass," he whispered, cuddling her tight. Monkey was a little stray white kitten Nina had found on the way from school about a year ago. At first, she was deeply malnourished and Nina had taken pity on her and taken her in. They had nourished her and played with her; the way she used to climb on furniture earned her name.

However, it later turned out that her litter of seven brothers and sisters had been abandoned months ago and were in a rescue home. After talking it through, Nina agreed that the best thing for Monkey was to let her go so she could be with the rest of the litter- after all Nina wouldn't like it if someone took her away from her family. Gallardo understood what she was going through more than she realised, because he too had been in a similar situation with himself and Simba. Except Simba's story had a much more tragic ending- but that was another story for another time.

"But the thing is she's safe and healthy and surrounded by her family," Gallardo explained. "Part of you feels sad that you had to let her go, but happy that she's happy, right?"

"I think so," Nina agreed.

"That's why Mr Abbott was a little sad today."

Nina thought for a moment. "I don't think I'll ever get married."

Gallardo gave a smalle chuckle. "OK, why so, lass?"

"I don't want to make you sad."

Gallardo held her close to him. Hearing his six year old little girl say that broke his heart. He took a very deep breath and kissed her forehead; it was all he could do to stop himself from bawling.

He vividly remembered the day many years ago.

"Sit!" Marcena beckoned towards the stool, before brandishing the pan full of creamy pasta bake and lasagna.

"Someone's been keeping busy," Gallardo remarked, sitting down and scooping a piece of hot pasta bake that melted in his mouth. "Good stuff!"

"Wait till you try this!" Marcena fetched a plate full of seasoned khubz bread, with basil, oregano, baked raisins and red onions decorating the dome like structure.

"Marcena, are we having company?" he laughed, after trying a bite. He loved keeping fit, but also loved food, and food was going to be the bane of his fitness one day, he knew it was better to quit while he was ahead on this one.

"No," Marcena replied sheepishly, like a child trying to hide something and failing.

"This is too much to have for dinner! It's nice but we can't have this in one sitting," he reasoned.

"I think it should be just about enough- for the three of us," Marcena grinned. "But you're right we should save some for later this week."

"We'll have to eat it really slowly, savour it, you know," Gallardo agreed, taking another bite. "Wait, hang on, what did you say?" He chuckled nervously, seeing her mischievous grin widen. "Did you say...?"

"You heard," Marcena smirked.

"Are you... are you serious?"

She slowly nodded.

Gallardo gave her a huge grin for a moment before rushing on his feet to lift Marcena up and spin her around, the look of shock and amusement ripe on her face. He then placed her on an empty space on the worktop, as he held her hand to his mouth.

"Wait, are you sure?"

"Yes!" Marcena giggled, as Gallardo leaned in to kiss her belly.

"Are you OK?" he asked, touching her face and looking at her as if she was made of glass.

"I'm six weeks pregnant, not bed ridden with illness," Marcena whispered, keeping her husband's hand fastened on her cheek. "Are you happy?"

Gallardo nodded, before exhaling. "I love you, you hear me? Both of you!" he promised.

"I know, and I love you too," the brunette began to blink away the tears.

"I'm always going to be there for both of you!"

The Spaniard had meant every word of that. Months later, young Nina came, although a little premature, but she was a healthy and happy baby.

He had never heard Marcena swear and curse as much as she did during that labour, and he had to admit that he was terrified and haunted by her words- intellectually he knew this could happen, but to experience his wife scream as every egg shell smashed with barely a touch shook him. Although after the delivery, Marcena melted to her usual self and begged him to hold his daughter- he then knew it was all worth it.

Gallardo Eagle had wept at that moment. Nina, in his eyes, was the most perfect and beautiful baby girl ever.

"I want to say this to you, lass, as your Dad. So long as there is life in my body, I will always adore you, protect you and look after you," he had vowed through his tears. "I may embarrass you at times with my jokes, annoy you or push you, but I promise you: you will be loved... so loved."

Gallardo knew that some men decide that they are never going to have a girl because of what might happen with boys and those dreaded teenage years, as if their sperm will suddenly salute when they get that order and follow it to the letter. But Gallardo wasn't one of those men. He, along with his wife, was going to raise his daughter right from day one and teach her what she needed to know.

He still dreaded the teenage years to come, but was so proud and heartbroken at how thoughtful his six year old Nina was trying to be, which wracked him with guilt.

He kissed forehead again before looking into her eyes.. "Look at me, Nina, no matter how old you get, wherever you go or however many children you have- you will always be my little girl."

Nina giggled shyly.

"I want you to live your life, see the world, learn what you want, even have your own family, if that's what you want. You can do anything you set your mind to because you're smart and bright, and my little girl, you hear me?"

"OK, I'll think about it," she said, grinning.

"Good girl." He touched her chin lovingly, before yawning. "Now, will you try and get some sleep?"

Nina gave a sleepy nod and yawned, before snuggling on his chest as if it were a mattress.

Gallardo chuckled softly and held her. Within minutes, she was softly snoring away into his chest that was resonating his heart beat. He pulled her into her space on the bed and covered his sleeping princess with the blanket. He then journeyed back to his own bedroom.

Marcena was already asleep in their bed, so Gallardo tried to be as quiet as possible as he crept into the space next to her, after taking off his trousers.

"Did you get her to sleep?" Marcena murmured sleepily.

"She's sound asleep. Like a log," he replied. "Hey, can I tell you something?" he whispered softly in her ear and stroking her shoulder.

"Go on," Marcena beckoned, turning over to face her husband.

He told her exactly what had happened and what was said. Marcena listened intently throughout.

"Bless her," she said finally.

"She's only six, but I'm so proud of how perceptive she is," Gallardo admitted. "She'll get really far in life."

"Well she is her mother's daughter," Marcena grinned. She suddenly yelped softly as Gallardo's fingers trickled over her knee and her belly.

"Now she's your daughter, is she?" he challenged, embracing her tightly. "Is she?"

"Fine! Our daughter, then."

"That's better," Gallardo whispered before giving her a slow kiss. "Seriously though, you need to keep it down, otherwise we'll have to give them the talk."

"Gallardo!" Marcena gasped, playfully slapping him; if the lights were on he would have seen her turn bright red. "You are a male version of a minx, you pretend to be all proper and saintly, but I know you!"

"I know, but you love it, don't you?" he teased.

"Of course I do!" she confessed, pecking his cheek after turning even more red.

"They'll be all grown up soon, you know?" Marcena acknowledged, after a moment.

"I know, we're going to have to tell them about the War, about Remus' name sakes. Probably before their Hogwarts letter arrives. Speaking of which, we can't let them go to Hogwarts."

"I know right, in fact, I think we should pull them out of school and have them home educated, where they will never leave our sight!" Marcena giggled.

"Maybe we should use a Charm to preserve them as they are now so they'll never grow old!" Gallardo offered, prompting both of them to snicker like a pair of school children with an inside joke. The laughter cleared and a sigh followed, like the sound of a plane landing after a wonderful adventure in the skies.

"Do you think our parents felt this when we would go away every year?" Gallardo pondered. "I can only imagine how Mama felt when I went on the quest to destroy the Horcruxes, knowing that I may not come back."

Marcena sniffed. "I know, what we're feeling is nothing, but it's just that I'm really going to miss them." She wiped her eyes and gave a grim chuckle. "Look at us, worrying about our kids leaving us in a few years time, we sound like an old married couple!"

"You're right," Gallardo admitted, lying on his back but keeping hold of her hand, feeling her engagement and wedding bands, before smiling within. "Let's make the most of what we have now, and when they fly away, we'll find a way to deal with it, together."

"I know. Together, mi cariño."

Author's Note: Thank you for reading, please leave a comment. What did you think of Gallardo's promise? What do you think will be his potentially major flaw as a parent?

I've always wondered how hard it must be to send your kids away to boarding school, where you have to trust their guidance and pastoral support over to the staff and their friends.

Any ideas which Houses you think these two should be sorted in to? By the way, the story that Gallardo was reading to Remus at the start was The Fountain of Fair Fortune, which features in Beedle the Bard's collection. Seriously, check it out, it's amazing!