moving to begin cleaning up their now completed game, scott shook his head, âi think thatâs something you clearly inherited from me.â he wiggled an eyebrow, âexhibit a,â scott gestured vaguely to the table in front of them, and to cassie herself.
âi play to win, dad,â he repeated, mocking good-naturedly, âsure, letâs call it that.â
scott reached for the catan box, leaning away for a moment as cassieâs comments grew more heartfelt. he froze, mid reach before coming back up with the box and a sincere smile that only continued to grow as he reached for one of cassieâs hands, âi missed you too, peanut.â he let the moment play out, filled with temptation to pull his daughter into a hug right then and there, but he had time for hugs whenever now.
time to make up for lost time.
âiâm glad iâm back too â because now youâre never getting rid of me,â he teased.
âBecause clearly it wasnât the ability to be humble.â Cassie threw right back at her father, the banter coming naturally as she glanced down at the game sprawled out across the table, all the while trying to hide her smug grin as she started to help him back up the board pieces.
As her fatherâs hand fell on top of her own, she took a moment to take a deep breath and focus on the feeling as she closed her eyes for a moment and nodded quickly. He was here, in person, actually playing a game of Catan with her. It still felt like a dream sometimes, the entire process of their reunion going by like a whirlwind. And while she wanted to just jump back to where they left off, it was more difficult than she imagined.Â
He missed so much. Her first car, prom, her subsequent first boyfriend and first break-up, high school graduation... But he was here. No longer trapped in the Quantum Realm, but here.Â
She wanted to learn more about the place that her father had spent five years of her life, even though it had only been five minutes of his own. But she decided that conversation was better to save for another day. Right now she just wanted to enjoy spending time with her dad.
âI hope not. Youâve gotta see me walk at least one stage.â The comment was meant to be lighthearted, but her smile fell shortly after she said it as she swallowed and shoved the rest of the cards into the box.