#c;rhee

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{thebookofsands}

Pietro made his way into Rhee’s room in a rush. He tried to be quiet since it was the middle of the night, but he was obviously distressed. There were thick tears in his bloodshot eyes, his jaw was clenching and unclenching, his hands doing the same. 

“ Rhee? Sweetheart? ” he whispered as he crawled into bed with her. While she was waking up, he slid his arms underneath her and pulled her into his lap, hugging her tight to him. “ Hi, angel... I am sorry for waking you, Papa just needed to see you - ” he croaked out, his voice revealing that he was on the verge of letting out a sob.

“ I needed to see you... “

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Rhee whined but didn't argue. "A song? And stroke my hair? I'm not sleepy." And yet she yawned again.

Pietro let out a slow sigh, pondering for a moment. “I will hum you something and play with your hair, but you have to promise to sleep. No more talking. And you have to shut your eyes.”

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Rhee whined. "One more story! A longer one! Pleeeeeeeaaaase!"

Pietro frowned a bit. He wanted to tell her another story of course, but he knew it wouldn’t stop after that. “ I am sorry, Rhee-Rhee, but it is very late and I have kept you up too much already. It is time for bed now. “

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"What qualifies as deserving it?" Rhee plops onto his lap and looks up worriedly.

Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her tight to him. “Just if he tries to hurt you in any way, love,” he replied softly before kissing her cheek. 

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"Oh Papa, please don't cry!" She laughed quietly, though she was tearing up as well. "Doda won't hurt Hakim either, right?" She knew Wanda was fiercely protective of her niece.

Pietro sighed as he allowed his metabolism to run rapid for a minute. Rhee seemed to slow until she was barely moving, time seemed to still. He allowed himself to compose. He never would have guessed that he would have this - this life, this family - it was so foreign to him. To think that only just a decade ago he was on the brink of death, homeless, alone aside from his sister, nothing to look forward to. Now he was living in suburbia in a big home with a loving husband and a daughter going to something as beautiful and ordinary as prom. He cried - only for a minute before he cleaned himself up and acted like nothing had happened as he let Rhee catch up to him.

He pulled his best smile. “Oh, not to worry little one. She would not hurt him... Unless he deserves it,” he winked.

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"You taught me all I know about love, Papa. You and Abba-leh. So don't sell yourself short." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

Pietro blushed as he looked down at the table and fidgeted with a napkin there, seemingly getting lost in the designs in the wood. His eyes were swiftly flooding with tears. “Rhee,” he sighed, rubbing his hand over his forehead. 

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"You're not old, Papa, even if you have grey hair," Rhee laughed though it hurt to think of her dads growing older. "And I hope so. I'm scared Abba-leh will chase him away. I want to be just as happy as you and Abba-leh are, and I know I'm still young, but I think Hakim and I could share that happiness."

Pietro stroked the back of her hand with his thumb and gave her a soft smile. “Your Abba-leh will do no such thing. He of all people knows what that is like. I will talk to him, yeah?” He leaned in and kissed her forehead before brushing the hair away from her face. “I do not know much about love, but do not be discouraged if anyone says you are too young for it. Love is ageless.”

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Rhee chuckled and kissed his cheek. "Papa, I will *always* be your little girl." She blushed a little as she thought about Hakim again. "But yes, I'm growing up." She bit her lip. "I don't think Abba-leh is going to be as exciting about all this as you are. It's why I told you first. So he doesn't do something rash, like- I don't even know."

Tears prickled in his eyes as soon as her lips found his cheek. “You are breaking your old man’s heart,” he chuckled weakly, shaking his head. He reached out and pat the back of her hand softly. “I am sure he will be excited on the inside. We are very proud of you and are very happy to see you do things that make you happy. He is just protective of you.”