Twenty One ✨

Nicole 💜

I woke up slowly, the room filled with a soft, golden glow from the early morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. For a moment, I lay still, feeling warm and safe, then I realized where I was—or, rather, who I was with.

My head was resting on Daddy’s chest, and his arm was wrapped protectively around me. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was so soothing. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, and as I glanced down, I noticed a little trail of drool had made its way from my lips to his shirt. My face turned crimson as I quickly wiped it away, trying not to wake him up.

But I didn’t pull away from him. I couldn’t. Being here, held so close and safe, was too comforting. As I lay there, memories of yesterday drifted back to me—the way Daddy’s mom had yelled at me, her harsh words echoing in my head like a bad dream.

She stopped me from greeting her, her face twisted in irritation. At first, I didn’t know what to do. I’d never seen anyone look at me like that. Her voice had been sharp, biting, as she went on about my outfit, my hair… things that had seemed perfectly fine just moments before. The memory made me shiver. I hadn’t known what I’d done wrong, only that I felt small, like I was shrinking under her gaze.

But then Daddy had come. I remembered his strong, comforting arms around me, the way he’d held me and told me everything was okay, that I didn’t have to worry. My tears had stopped as soon as I felt his presence, the way he stood up for me and sent her out of the house. He’d held me afterward, soothing me and making me feel safe again.

And later, after everything had settled, he’d promised we could watch Disney movies. We’d curled up together on the couch, him holding me close, making sure I knew I was loved. I felt a smile tugging at my lips as I remembered the way he’d gently brushed my hair back and whispered reassuring words, telling me that nothing anyone else said mattered, as long as I was happy.

I snuggled a little closer to him now, feeling that same sense of peace wash over me. His scent was warm, familiar, calming—something that instantly melted away all the tension from yesterday. I let out a soft sigh, my fingers tracing small circles on his shirt as I listened to the steady beat of his heart.

Suddenly, Daddy’s breathing changed slightly, and I felt his chest move under me as he stirred awake. His arm tightened around me for a moment, and then he slowly opened his eyes, blinking down at me with a soft smile.

“Good morning, princess,” he murmured, his voice still groggy from sleep.

“Good morning, Daddy,” I whispered back, feeling a little shy under his gentle gaze.

He chuckled, brushing a few strands of hair from my face. “Did you sleep well?”

I nodded, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face. “I did. You make me feel… safe.”

Daddy’s eyes softened, and he pulled me a little closer. “That’s all I want,” he said quietly. “For you to feel safe and happy.”

A comfortable silence settled between us for a moment, but I felt a little embarrassed as I remembered the drool from earlier. I fidgeted, my fingers playing with the edge of his shirt, and I mumbled, “Um, Daddy… I, uh… might have drooled a little on your shirt while I was sleeping.”

He chuckled, ruffling my hair playfully. “Oh, did you now?” he teased, but there was nothing but warmth in his voice. “Guess that means you were really relaxed.”

I blushed, hiding my face in his chest as I mumbled, “I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s alright, princess. Happens to everyone,” he reassured me, still smiling. “Besides, I’m just glad you got some good rest after yesterday.”

I nodded, feeling that warmth spread through me again as I thought about how he’d been there for me. He hadn’t hesitated to defend me, to tell his own mother to leave when she’d been so cruel. I lifted my head to look at him, my eyes shining with gratitude.

“Thank you, Daddy… for everything yesterday. I… I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t there.”

His face softened as he gazed at me, and he gently cupped my cheek, brushing his thumb over my skin. “You don’t have to thank me, love. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. No one gets to hurt my little girl.”

I felt a surge of emotion in my chest, a mix of relief and gratitude. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I love you, Daddy,” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper, but full of sincerity.

“I love you too, princess,” he replied, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, just holding each other, until my stomach let out a loud growl, breaking the moment. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment as I looked up at him, wide-eyed.

Daddy laughed, a deep, genuine laugh that made my embarrassment melt away. “Sounds like someone’s hungry,” he teased. “How about we go downstairs and see what Daisy has whipped up for breakfast?”

I nodded eagerly, my mouth already watering at the thought of warm pancakes or fresh fruit. He helped me up, holding my hand as we made our way down to the kitchen, where Daisy greeted us with a warm smile.

“Good morning, Nicole,Alex,” she said cheerfully, setting a plate of fresh pancakes on the table. “I made sure to put extra syrup on yours, Nicole,” she added with a wink.

My eyes lit up at the sight, and I beamed up at her. “Thank you, Daisy!”

As we sat down to eat, Daddy poured a little syrup over my pancakes, making sure everything was perfect. I picked up a fork and took a big bite, savoring the sweetness and warmth of the pancake. “Mmm, these are amazing!”

Daddy chuckled, watching me with that fond look he always had when he was especially happy. “Glad you’re enjoying them, princess.”

I grinned up at him, my cheeks still stuffed with pancake. For the first time since yesterday, I felt completely at ease, my heart full of happiness as we shared breakfast together. He’d made everything better just by being there, and I knew that, as long as Daddy was with me, everything would be okay.

After breakfast, daddy told me that we were going to the water park. The moment he told me, my heart leapt with excitement and I went to pack all that I would need for the day, my swimsuit, floaties, beach hat and other stuffs.

Once we had everything packed up, we left in daddy's car. I couldn't stop grinning, too excited as I glanced at daddy every now and then as he drove. "What kinds of ride are there, daddy?" I asked too excited.

He chuckled, glancing at me with a small grin on his face also. "Every rides, baby girl. They have every rides, the small ones, the big twisty ones and a small lake to laze around if you like."

I clapped my hands, giggling. "That sounds so amazing, I want to try everything daddy."

When we finally arrived, the sound of people laughing, the smell of chlorine, and the sight of those towering water slides had my heart racing with excitement. Alex took my hand as we made our way in, and I squeezed it, feeling like a kid again.

As soon as I was in my swimsuit, I was ready to go, showing off my water wings with a proud grin. “Look, Alex! I’m all set!”

He chuckled and squeezed my hand. “You look adorable. Are you ready for some fun?”

“Absolutely!” I said, practically dragging him toward the nearest slide. It was a smaller one to start, with gentle curves, and I hopped on eagerly. I went down laughing, splashing into the pool at the bottom and grinning up at Alex as he followed behind.

“That was so fun! Let’s try the next one!” I exclaimed, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward a bigger slide.

As the day went on, we tried slide after slide, each one more thrilling than the last. He cheered me on every time, and whenever I felt a bit nervous, he’d give me a reassuring smile and hold my hand. At one point, we came across a massive slide that twisted and turned so high up it seemed to touch the clouds. I froze, staring up at it with wide eyes.

“Um, daddy …” I mumbled, gripping his hand a little tighter. “That one’s really high. What if I… fall?”

Daddy turned to me, a gentle smile on his face as he cupped my shoulder. “You won’t fall, I promise. I’ll be with you the whole time, okay?”

Taking a deep breath, I nodded slowly. “Alright. But… you’ll hold my hand the entire way?”

“Of course,” he said, squeezing my hand. Together, we walked up to the top, and having him beside me made me feel brave. As we shot down together, my fear quickly turned to excitement, and I found myself laughing and screaming all the way down, feeling so alive and free.

“That was amazing!” I shouted once we splashed down at the bottom, my heart still racing. “Can we go again?”

He laughed, brushing a wet strand of hair from my face. “Maybe later. Let’s check out some of the other rides first.”

Throughout the day, I felt myself slipping more and more into a happy, carefree place. I let myself relax, laughing at every twist and turn, feeling safe and free with daddy by my side. Whenever I got a bit scared, he was right there, holding my hand or pulling me into a hug.

As the sun started to set, Daddy took my hand and led me to a quiet spot where we could watch the colors shift in the sky. The view was breathtaking, with shades of pink, orange, and purple painting the sky in a way that felt almost magical. I leaned against his shoulder, content and grateful.

“Thank you, daddy,” I whispered, looking up at him. “Today was perfect.”

He looked down at me, his eyes full of warmth and affection. “I’m glad you had fun. Seeing you happy makes it all worth it.”

The sky around us deepened into richer colors as the sun dipped lower. He brushed his fingers gently along my cheek, and I felt my cheeks flush as I gazed into his eyes, my heart fluttering.

Slowly, he leaned in, pressing his lips to mine, and I closed my eyes, letting myself melt into the kiss. His touch was gentle yet passionate, and each kiss felt like it was deepening the connection we shared. The warmth of his embrace, the soft glow of the setting sun, and the intimacy of the moment left me feeling cherished and loved beyond words.

After our magical day at the water park, daddy and I drove home, the car filled with laughter, chats and music