Striker plays his guitar for Jake.
As long as you play from the heart, I'll always be with you.
- Love, Jane.
Striker ran his fingers over the carved letters on the side of his guitar. The guitar that Jane had gifted him for his birthday. Striker tentatively caressed the guitar's strings. His heart skipped a beat at the familiar sound. He tuned the strings more out of habit than any intention to play, though.
He hasn't played a single tune ever since she passed. He couldn't bring himself to. It was a reminder that he'd never serenade his Jane ever again, she would never hear him as he sang the songs he'd make just for her.
A curious gurgle made him look down. Jake had abandoned his colorful blocks and crawled to his feet, eyes fixed on him.
"What are ya lookin' at, kiddo?" Striker asked curiously.
Jake just kept staring with wide eyes. He let out a giggle as his father made a second tune test with the strings. Intrigued, Striker played a small melody. This time, the impling clapped his little hands happily.
"Oh, you like this? It's called a guitar and it makes this sound." Striker drummed the strings again, smiling at his son's happy gurgles. "Yer momma gave it to daddy as a birthday present. I used to play it for ya when ya were inside her tummy."
Then it hit him. Jake recognized the sound because of the times he'd play the guitar for him when he was still inside the womb. The little one continued to gurgle and coo happily, almost as if asking his father to keep playing. Striker smiled.
"Alright, then. Any petition?" he got no reply other than a sneeze, but he already knew what song he'd play for his son.
I love you too much
To live without you loving me back
I love you too much
Hell is my witness and this is a fact
I know I belong
When I sing this song
There's love above love and it's ours
'Cause I love you too much
His eyes stung with tears as he sang. He could do nothing as they trickled down his cheeks. This was the song he had performed to Jane when he proposed. It became their song ever since. He'd sing it for her whenever she was feeling down and he sang it when he showed her the house to remind her of how much he loved her.
I live for your touch
I whisper your name night after night
I love you too much
There's only one feeling and I know is right
I know I belong
When I sing this song
There's love above love and it's ours
'Cause I love you too much
But he kept singing for his little boy. Jake was staring at the guitar in awe, laughing and clapping his little hands at the music. He didn't understand the lyrics or their meaning, but he liked the sound daddy made.
Heaven knows your name I've been praying
To have you come here by my side
Without you, a part of me is missing
Just to make you my own, I will fight
Striker decided to play a bit and carefully wrapped his tail around Jake's waist to lift him off the ground, then cradled him in the long appendage to gently rock him side to side as if he were in his crib.
I love you too much
I love you too much
Hell is my witness and this is a fact
You live in my soul
Your heart is my goal
There's love above love and it's mine 'cause I love you
There's love above love and it's yours cause I love you
There's love above love and it's ours if you love me
As much
As the song came to an end, Jake let out a yawn and snuggled into his father's tail. Striker placed the guitar aside to cradle his baby in his arms, allowing him to fall asleep with the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Maybe he did have someone to play for after all.