Fatherhood

>>MJ?
>The small girl looks up from the keyboard
>Her face breaks into a wide smile
>"Hi, Daddy!"
>Your daughter stands up and walks toward you
>You can't believe that she's already up to your navel
>>Hey, sweetie. Did you have fun at daycare?
>"Yeah! Sayori says I'm a natch-ur-al at the piano!"
>As you hold the door for MJ, you smile and wave at your old friend
>She's reading to some of the younger kids, but returns the gesture
>>That's great. I can't wait to hear you play
>MJ climbs into backseat as you get situated up front
>>Seat belts?
>You hear a reassuring click, followed by the young girl's response
>"Seat belts!"
>You shift into reverse and pull out of Sayori's Sunshine Sittery
>Despite the name, she's carved out a little success in your neighborhood
>Following the familiar path home, MJ regales you with tales from her day at school
>That is, until you drive past your house
>"Daddy! Home's back there!"
>You watch the confusion cloud her face through the rear view mirror
>>Oh! You wanted to go home?
>>See...
>>I thought it'd be fun to go to the park...
>>But if you want to go home...
>Her face morphs from confusion to glee to panic in record time
>"Nooooooo! I want to go to the park!"
>>Are you sure? Parfait Girls is on
>"Yes! Park!"
>>Okay, if you say so
>You're not sure if it makes you a bad person to tease your own daughter like that
>But it's pretty fun
>When you arrive at the park, MJ can barely contain herself
>She's positively flying around the jungle gym
>You trail behind her
>It's a Wednesday afternoon, so you pretty much have the place to yourselves
>She insists you watch as she slides down the fireman's pole
>She recruits you to help push her on the swings
>You know she knows how to pump her legs by now, but you play along
>You restrain yourself from scolding her when she jumps off
>God knows you did worse when you were her age
>Following a particularly hair-raising experience on the merry-go-round, you can feel MJ slowing down
>>Hey, sweetie. You ready for dinner?
>She scrunches up her face thoughtfully
>"Mmmmmmnope! Ahaha~"
>>C'mon, don't you want to see Aunt Natsuki?
>MJ's face lights up at the thought of the diminutive restaraunteur
>Foregoing your car, the pair of you walk a few blocks to The Game Place
>You and MJ take your normal spots at the counter, gracefully dodging the other children racing from arcade cabinet to arcade cabinet
>Natsuki waves through the window when she sees you
>A waitress, dressed as what can only be described as a Magical Girl in an apron, delivers 2 milkshakes
>The usual
>MJ spends the next couple of minutes desperately sucking on her straw, drawing very little of the thick milkshake
>Eventually, you hear Natsuki's shout
>"I'm taking my break! Amy, you have the kitchen!"
>Your most fluorescent friend emerges, baring 2 burgers and 2 baskets of fries
>Natsuki sits down next to MJ, setting down the food in front of you
>>How's business?
>You look around at the packed restaurant
>"How do you think? With me running the show, it's nothing less than fantastic!"
>You roll your eyes at her bravado
>The success is going to her head, but she's earned it
>MJ stays relatively quiet, listening to the adults talk
>Natsuki helps herself to the younger girl's fries, dipping them in her milkshake
>After a few minutes, there's a terrible crash in the kitchen
>"Duty calls. Keep your daddy out of trouble, okay MJ?"
>MJ mimes a salute at Natsuki
>Flashing one last snaggletoothed grin, your friend returns to the kitchen
>The two of you finish your meal and, knowing that a bill isn't coming, you throw a $50 on the counter
>Finally, you return to your car
>MJ looks pretty tired
>You make your way back to the house
>As you get out of the car and open the front door, you turn to your daughter
>>Did you have fun today?
>"Yeah! Today was really fun! Thanks, Daddy."
>>I'm glad. You go get ready to take a bath, okay?
>Her lightly freckled face falls
>"Do I have to?"
>>Yes
>She goes to her room while you unload your pockets of the day's detritus
>You make your way up to the 2nd floor bathroom and turn on the water
>Warm, but not hot
>Eventually, MJ appears, wrapped in a Doc McStuffins towel
>She looks dejected, facing her porcelain foe
>You open the cabinet under the sink, producing a baseball sized purple sphere
>MJ audibly gasps in excitement as you throw the lavender scented bath bomb into the water
>Without hesitation, she throws aside her towel and hops into the bath
>MJ can basically handle herself by now, so you busy yourself reading the label of the bath bomb
>You smile at the logo of Yuri's company
>She still sends them to you for free, but now you can find them in stores nationwide
>After a relatively low-key splash fight, you help MJ dry off and put on her robe.
>You check your watch as she brushes her teeth
>Finally, she returns to her bedroom to put on her pajamas
>You're cutting it pretty close
>You fill up a glass of water and, hearing your daughter's shout, head upstairs
>After setting the water down on her bedside table, you tuck MJ in.
>>I love you, sweetie.
>"Mmm, I love you too, Daddy..."
>>Sleep tight, baby. Don't let the bedbugs bite.
>"...mmkay daddy. g'night..."
>As MJ drifts off to sleep, you switch off all of her lights, save the small nightlight in the corner
>You gently shut the door, heaving a sigh of relief at the easy bedtime.
>You head downstairs, take out the trash, do the dishes from breakfast, before slumping down in front of the TV
>Before the episode of Frasier ends, you hear a car pull into the driveway
>You hop to your feet and, hearing the jingling keys outside, open the front door.
>Monika's obviously jetlagged, her hair's a mess, and she's pulling a beaten up carry-on bag behind her
>She's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen
>You pull her into a tight hug
>When you finally let go, you can see the tears in her eyes
>"Oh, Anon. I missed you so much"
>>I missed you too
>"No more business trips"
>>I think I like the sound of that
>She giggles and, as if struck by something, looks around
>"Anon? Where's MJ?"
>>In bed. I did my best to tire her out today
>>I thought tonight might just be you and me...
>You smirk at her
>Monika smiles at you
>"I think I like the sound of that. Ahaha~"
>The two of you kiss deeply
>"..."
>You sigh
>>You want to check on her, don't you?
>"I'll be right back!"