(Karsten)
Arata stayed with irrespective of my and others’ insistence that she should spend the nights at ho and rest.
We shifted to a room with two beds so she could peacefully sleep at night. Sotis she would just crawl into my bed and lie with gently.
Holding , ensuring I was there with her.
"You know how much I missed you?" I asked, rubbing my fingers over her shoulder.
"Uhh!" She whispered, pressing her face into my chest.
"Like a piece of my heart had been torn out and left a black hole in its wake. It wouldn’t fill, no matter what I did," I explained and she purred into my chest.
"I am not going anywhere now, Karsten. Prepare yourself to get used to my presence 24/7." Her fingers slowly crawled on my chest, feeling every rivulet, every muscle. The movent of her fingertips developed a soothing rhythm.
I stared down at her. "Told you I will win your father over." She didn’t need to know he still hated but just granted permission.
She patted my chest.
"You did well to earn his respect and trust. Don’t ever break it though. He will literally kill you." She didn’t even sugarcoat it for .
"I would never," I quickly added, making her chuckle.
We needed a place to stay. Since I never had plans of getting married or taking the position of Lord, I didn’t have a permanent residence in Sparia. Just my restaurant, where I usually stayed, or with Ma.
I knew Ma’s house was technically mine, but she and Grandma lived there, and I didn’t wish to force Arata to live with them.
"After my discharge, we will move to Sparia and just choose a place which you like, it will be temporary until I build a house for you." The knuckle of my pointer finger rested under her chin as I lifted her face up so she could watch .
Confusion ran circles on her face as she asked. "We won’t be living with your Mom?"
A surprise swept past my face. "Do you want to? I know my Ma can be a handful at tis, and I don’t want you to feel forced."
"A baby is a lot of responsibility, Karsten. We won’t be able to do it alone, especially early on." She breathed out, seeming flustered. "I have no clue about babies. At tis I freak out thinking about bringing this life into the world."
I knew what she ant. We hadn’t planned it, it was by pure accident that Arata beca pregnant.
I could understand her fears, her apprehensions, her panic. But she wasn’t alone anymore. I was going to be there for her, every step of the way.
"I know, my love. And I am here now, for you, for our baby. We will get a ho near Ma’s so she can easily stop by whenever you need her."
My words seed to have relaxed her slightly.
"We can make this work." She nodded her approval and then as if sothing suddenly popped into her mind. She quickly opened her cute mouth again.
"Karsten, you can’t smoke in front of for a while. It would be dangerous for the baby."
I reassuringly smiled at my girl. She didn’t know I had quit and hadn’t smoked since she was taken.
Taking her face I softly held it in my large hands. "I will never smoke again. I quit the day you were taken from . I know it bothered you."
Realisation made her lips hike up in a half-moon smile while relief flooded her eyes.
"Oh! I didn’t know but that’s the best decision you have taken. It bothered because you were poisoning your lungs. I want to see you healthy and live a long life beside ."
"We both will."
She placed her head down on my chest again, hugging as if her life depended on it.
"I love you so much." Her words ca out tender and full of emotion.
Softly I kissed her head, lting at her words. "I love you too."
There was a knock on the door and reluctantly she raised herself up before saying.
"Co in."
Zaylen walked inside carrying food boxes and a smile which scread nothing but cuteness.
"I hope you guys are hungry. I brought food and special soup for Karsten. Mom made it." He raised the lunchbox, showing it to .
I appreciatively nodded. "That’s very thoughtful of her."
Arata brought the table and placed the soup bowl on it so I could easily eat. I had been allowed a liquid diet. She handed the spoon.
Zaylen took his seat and Arata grabbed her box, opening it and peering inside to check the food.
"Your car is at the repair shop. Sorry how it got totalled, Alpha Blue deserves better." Zaylen shook his head with such disappointnt apparent on his face as if that had been the greatest tragedy in his life.
"Ignore him, he is obsessed with that car. And when I told him you have already bought it. He was euphoric," Arata boredly inford while picking up the crunchy chicken piece with chopsticks and plopping it into her mouth.
Zaylen clicked his tongue several tis at his sister. "It’s the best car in the world. It broke my heart seeing it in that condition. I wish you could understand how my heart feels seeing a car destroyed."
He dramatically shook his head. Arata narrowed her eyes at him and pointed with her chopsticks, her middle finger resting between them.
"See, obsessed."
"Zaylen is not wrong though. It is a pretty decent car and I love them too," I answered winking at Zaylen.
His reaction was priceless. "See, see. Karsten gets it. I knew we would get along."
Arata rolled her eyes at both of us and busied herself with eating, while Zaylen enthusiastically turned all his attention towards and thus began a long conversation revolving around cars and bikes.
Entertaining and pure, that’s what that kid was all about and I enjoyed speaking to him.
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