So this is probably the shortest chapter ever! I'm super sorry that it's cheesy and kind of boring/stupid.
"Am I in trouble?" Harper asked, fiddling in her chair.
Steve shook his head as both him and Claudia sat across from her "No, you're not in trouble. We just want to talk." Steve said, assuring his daughter.
Claudia crossed her leg as she cleared her throat, her and Steve looked at each other for a moment before turning back to Harper.
"We want to talk about you, and Leena." Claudia said with a small smile on her face.
Harper looked at her parents, still fiddling in her chair.
"How long have you been seeing Leena?" Claudia asked.
"Since as long as I can remember." Harper responded.
Steve nodded at his daughter "And you two talk a lot?"
Harper nodded "Yeah."
"What do you two talk about?" Claudia asked.
"We talk about the artifacts, and the warehouse. We talk about you and daddy and how I miss you when you're gone. She teached me to read, and sometimes she plays with me when Uncle Pete isn't around."
Steve and Claudia turned to each other, taking in what Harper was telling them before Claudia turned back to Harper "Is she in here with us now?" she asked.
Harper shook her head "No, she said she wanted to give us some space." She remarked.
The silence engulfed the living room as both Claudia and Steve went silent; their questions had pretty much been answered as they sat in their seats dumbfound.
Claudia nodded to herself "Alright, Harper, go play." She remarked.
Harper flew off the couch and ran upstairs to her bedroom, Steve and Claudia remained sitting for a moment as they heard the faint noise of Harper talking and laughing.
"Our daughter has an imaginary friend, who isn't really imaginary." Claudia said.
Steve smiled "Well, if we had to give her an imaginary friend, I guess I would give her Leena."
Claudia laughed "Oh, Jinksy." She said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"What? I mean Leena was always such a sweetheart, and patient…maybe that's what Harper needs." Steve remarked.
"…a sweetheart?" Claudia asked.
Steve shook his head with a smile "No, somebody with patience."
Claudia shrugged as she got up from her seat "Maybe. Well I'm going out, it'll be just you and Harp for awhile." She said before walking into the foyer.
Steve stood up from his seat "Where are you going?"
"Out. Going for a walk, get some air…have some Claudia time." She said, grabbing her jacket and walking out of the bed and breakfast.
Steve stood alone in the living room "Well what am I supposed to do?" he muttered to himself.
They built a blanket fort in the living room, the typical thing to do when Harper was bored, but this time it was Steve joining her and not Uncle Pete.
"Daddy?" Harper asked.
Steve smiled "Yeah, Harper."
"How come you and mommy sleep in separate bedrooms?" Harper asked.
Steve stopped in his tracks, trying to express an explanation appropriate enough for a three-year old.
"Uhm, well…your mom and I aren't really together." He said softly.
Harper looked at her father "What do you mean?" she asked.
Steve wracked his brain trying to explain it "…well, we are friends, and we love each other very much; but we don't love each other the way other mommies and daddies do."
Harper went doe eyed as Steve explained.
"Does that make sense?" he asked.
"You don't love mommy?" she asked.
Steve shook his head "No-no! I do…it's just a different type of love. She's my best friend."
Harper nodded, she went quiet for a moment which concerned Steve "Do you love me?" she asked.
Steve smiled, pulling Harper close to him in the blanket fort "Yes. I love you very much…"
"How much?" she asked with a smile.
"As much as there are as many stars in the sky." Steve told her.
Harper held onto her father "I love you too, daddy."
They embraced for a moment, Steve tearing-up as he took in the moment; this was his life now, she was his life; and in that moment he was so happy that she was there.
"I'm home." They heard from outside the blanket fort.
Harper smiled "Mommy!" she said, attempting to crawl out of the fort only to be greeted by Claudia climbing in.
"How are my two favorite people doing?" Claudia asked.
"Good." Harper remarked.
Claudia smiled, taking a spot next to Steve whose head was touching the top of the fort.
The three of them were crowded in the fort as Steve and Claudia stared each other down before Claudia gave him a hug; Steve hugged her back as he managed to get his arm back from Harper who was playing with his hand.
"I love you, Jinksy." Claudia muttered.
Steve smiled "I love you too, Claude." He muttered back to her.