Due to intermittent internet fail over the last few days, this one is late to be posted. Had no access to my docs online for the last couple of evenings, so I haven't been able to work on anything truly productive. But hopefully that will change now and have some updates coming your way. :)


Penname: kyla713
Creative Original or Derivative Fiction: Original

Rating/Warning(s): T

Notes:

Disclaimer: All copyrighted, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Marshmallow

"Daddy!"

The excited squeal of our three-year-old filled the foyer as the headlights of his car illuminated the windows.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" she continued to chant, watching him come up the front walk and leapt into his arms as soon as he stepped through the door.

He'd only been gone for a week, which I was accustomed to after all our years together, but for Samantha, it may as well have been a year. Though he called every day to talk to her, she would still inquire several times a day if it was 'time for Daddy to come home'.

She'd had him wrapped from the moment we discovered we were having a little girl. Everything in our entire lives shifted in that moment to focus on the tiny baby girl I carried inside me. She was the embodiment of her father from day one, from the bright green eyes and bronze ringlets on her head, to facial expressions and mannerisms.

And she was his world.

"Hey there, Princess. I've missed you," he said, hugging her tightly and kissing her cheeks.

"Daddy, mow-shmewwows!" Samantha replied, placing her hands on his face.

"Baby, let Daddy get in the door first," I said firmly, then smiled as I looked up at my husband and slid my arm around his waist. "Welcome home."

Wrapping his free arm around me and pulling me against his side, he lowered his lips to mine. "Mmm, I missed you too."

"Daddy, you pwomised!" our daughter pouted with a huff, folding her little arms in front of her.

He looked at me and I shook my head, raising my hands. "You promised, Daddy."

He sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes. "Oh, I suppose. Since I promised," he groaned jokingly and that breathtaking smile of his broke through as he kissed her forehead. "Go get the bag, Sammy."

He set her down on the floor to send her down the hall for the bag of marshmallows we'd bought just this morning. Then he turned back to me, sweeping me into his arms, his lips lingering on mine a little longer this time. "Long day?"

I tightened my hold around his shoulders, enjoying the feel of him in my arms again for just a few moments before she returned. "Not so bad, she only asked for you twice today."

"I'll make it up to you, I swear," he replied quietly with a wicked grin on his face and I smacked his shoulder.

"We don't hit!" Samantha called out and I turned to look at her, with her hands on her hips and looking at me angrily. "Tell Daddy sowwy, Mommy!"

I bit my lip to restrain my laughter as I looked back to him, seeing him quickly losing the battle as well. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

He kissed me gently to hide his smirk and the accompanying snicker. "You're forgiven."

"Come on, Daddy, come on. We need a fire," Samantha whimpered, tugging on his pant leg.

"I'm not gonna get out of this," he chuckled against my lips and I shook my head, mouthing 'nope'. He stepped back from me, lifting her back into his arms. "Alright, munchkin, let's go."

I stood inside the sliding glass door, watching the two of them as he started the small fire in the pit, just large enough for them to roast marshmallows as he promised her. While they settled into their chair outside with the old, bulky comforter around them, I started cleaning up the kitchen from dinner and making some hot cocoa.

I shivered slightly when the cool, night air hit me as I slid open the back door and made my way out to them. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of our little girl, fast asleep and snuggled against her father's chest.

Setting the steaming mug on the table beside him, I crouched down on the other side to look at her and pull the blanket more firmly around her. "What is she ever going to do when she has to share this lap and her daddy?"

His hand lowered to run the backs of his fingers over the still flat expanse of my stomach, and then hooked them under my chin to raise my lips to his and we shared a smile. "Let's just keep it our little secret for now, and let her enjoy this while she can."