Fathers

A/N: Written for Father's Day. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: Maggie

Maggie was chopping carrots, an effort to make meals healthier for Ella. The little girl walked up to the counter, standing across from her. "Maggie, can I ask you a question? But please, don't be mad at me."

Maggie smiled, briefly looked up from her task. "Why would I be mad? What is it?"

"Who's the guy that sometimes pick you up and drop you off? Is he your boyfriend?"

The agent credited her training for not letting the knife slip from her hand. She would've ended up with a nasty cut if she did. She placed down the knife and reached for the kitchen towel to wipe her hand. She turned to Ella. "What? No, he's my partner at work. His name is OA. I forgot I haven't introduced him."

Ella looked up and touched her cheek with her forefinger, her expression when remembering something. "I think mom might have mentioned him." She smiled at Maggie. "I remembered because his name sounds cool."

Maggie softly laughed. "Yeah, he is pretty cool."

That curiosity convinced her to let Ella meet OA.

"Is OA coming?" Ella's voice broke through her reverie. They were sitting in the sofa after they had a late breakfast. The little girl was working on her homework.

"I could ask him if he's free. You want him to come over?"

"Yeah, he could help me with the monkey bars," she quipped, the mischievous glint in her eyes hinted to her teasing Maggie about her height.

"Hey, I could help you with the monkey bars," she retorted, tickling the little girl. Their laughter was interrupted with the knock on the door.

Maggie furrowed her brows, wondering who could the visitor be. She wasn't exactly expecting anyone. She got up and looked into the peephole. "Mom! Dad!" She opened the door with a look of shock on her face.

"You shouldn't be so surprised, Mags. Your mom said she told you that we would visit soon," her dad said as he entered.

She accepted the hug from her father. "Well, yeah, but I didn't think it would be so soon."

Her mother hugged her next. "We all want to make sure you're alright and also to meet..." she turned to look at Ella, "... this sweet little girl."

Maggie walked over to the shy child. "Ella, these are my parents."

"Hello." Her soft voice was almost whispering.

Maggie's dad responded with a wave. "Hello, kid."

The matriarch approached Ella. "What are you working on?" Maggie's mom enjoyed teaching her grandkids. Maggie stood up to make room for her mom to sit beside the little girl.

While her mom helped Ella, the father and daughter got the chance to talk. "You guys didn't have to come."

"There's been a major change in your life, Mags. Of course, we'd want to be there for you." Her dad draped an arm over Maggie's shoulders. "Although you're a hotshot federal agent now, always remember, you're still my little girl." He hugged her tighter.

Maggie chuckled. "Dad, I'm an adult now. You know you can trust me."

"Of course, I trust your judgment." He paused, crossing his arms. "But then I can still remember you running after that French guy."

"Dad!"

Her dad's hearty laugh reverberated throughout the apartment.

After a delicious lunch cooked by her mom, Maggie remembered her early conversation to Ella. She took her phone and typed a quick message to her partner. She then turned to her parents. "I promised Ella that we'd go to the park. Want to join us?"

"Of course," said Maggie's mom, already hugging the little girl.

When they got to the park, Ella immediately went to the swing set accompanied by Maggie's mother.

Maggie and her dad sat on a nearby bench. "So, how are you doing it? Balancing career and taking care of Ella?"

"Take it one day at a time, I guess." Maggie shrugged. "The team has been very supportive, giving me time-off to adjust and figure things out."

"Maggie!"

She turned towards the voice of her partner. "You made it!"

Before he could even respond, OA felt little arms hugging him. "OA!"

He hugged her back. "How's the little princess?" Ella giggled. OA turned to his partner. "By the way, mom had me bring some falafel and chicken kebab." He handed the food containers to Maggie and her mom who also came over. The agent didn't understand her mom's wink to her after OA said that.

Ella insisted on going to the monkey bars and OA followed. Maggie's mom got the picnic mat that she packed and asked her husband and daughter to lay it over the grass.

While doing this, the patriarch said, "Seriously, Mags, taking on this responsibility is not easy and not everyone would do it. Then again, you always had a big heart and you'd want to help. That's why me and your mom, we're proud of you."

Maggie, not really used to hearing her dad speak like that, was filled with emotion. "Thanks, dad."

"At least, you have someone helping you through all of these changes." Her dad nodded to where OA was having a laugh with Ella.

Looking intently at her partner, she whispered, "Yeah."

When it was time to go, OA offered to drop off her parents so Maggie and Ella could go straight home. "It's alright. The hotel's on the way to my apartment. No big deal."

She smiled to her partner. "Okay, thanks." Maggie hugged her parents and got into her vehicle with Ella. She waved them goodbye, knowing that she'll see them tomorrow.

Notes:

Continues to Birthdays - Chapter 2

Reviews are appreciated! Thanks for reading!