Imagine if... Dr. Park had an adopted kid/daughter exactly like him but a little bit softer.
Park!reader who has a terrifying and cautious brf.
Park!reader who's snappy on the clock but a sweetheart when going home.
Park!reader who doesn't hesitate to break the rules, as long as it isn't too illegal. Kinda. Slipping in a little extra meds for a sweet patient, a little less for a jerk, etcetera.
Park!reader who has donned the nickname "Orca", being way more intimidating than her father when it comes to her patients' health.
Park!reader who doesn't understand why she has no friends at work (outside maybe Mel, Emma, or Whitaker), and is promptly reminded.
"Why the long face, Orca?"
"Dana, am I scary?"
"Oh, absolutely. It's that pretty long face of yours. Terrifying-"
Park!reader who has perfect teeth but one of her canines are sharp and dig into the inside of her mouth.
Park!reader who'll say please and thank you, but will insult you in her OR or if you waste her time.
"How bad, Whitaker?"
"Uh, it's a-"
"They shattered their whole leg, basically. Jumped off a roof. Pretty stupid if you ask me-"
"I didn't ask, Og-boy. And I wasn't talking to you. When I need you, you'll know."
I'm back with more cuteness requested by dear @crazedauthor with an orca!reader and orca!Eclipse. Now, the two of you have children, and things are so peaceful after so much grief. A little scare happens when you wake alone, but Eclipse arrives quickly to make it better. Family shenanigans occur.
Content Warnings: Mentions of death and blood, and a reader with children.
———
On a crisp, pale morning, you open your eyes to a gentle new dawn. Awareness rushes you like a tide, but it does not drown you. The memory of the night before swishes against you, as soft as sea form, and you smile in your sleepy hazy.
You went to rest upon an ice shelf, carved into the side of a great wall towering pale blue over the Arctic sea, with your mate and children. In the arms of your love and cradling your two babies, one new, one a little grown, you drift into sweet, milky dreams.
After agonies of loss and isolation, you have found your pod again.
This very home was hollowed out by Eclipse’s hands. Tirelessly, he worked when you both learned you were expecting a child. You’ve never seen him in such excitement. His eyes shone like shards of ice in sunlight and he never slowed a moment until you begged him to come hold you and sleep a while.
Your eyelids flutter, crusted with sleep. Lounging in the bliss of the quiet, you appreciate the stillness for so rarely is all so peaceful. Once the baby came, there were tiny cries little hands grasping, and tiny flukes flipping. Eclipse held the babe in his clawed hands with a tenderness that stirred you with emotions. You fed your little one and whispered promises. Your little pod is safe. Your little pod is whole.
Then the second child came, and now an eager toddler was swimming quickly away around a bend of ice only to be snatched by Eclipse and cooed at in rumbling tones. The baby stayed in your arms when Eclipse wasn’t trying to hold both. Their wriggling bodies combatted his strength and gentleness, and you would laugh.
Sighing gently, you turn over, mindful of your dorsal fin against the frozen floor.
It’s quiet… Your mind returns to bloody seas and wicked nets tossed by human hands, then silence.
Your palms slide over the emptiness beside you. Bolting upright, your tail slaps against the floor in your alarm with a cool sting. You swivel your head. The dome blue of your home holds no refractions except for the barest light off of your body alone.
Your mate. Your babies. The youngest should be in your arms, mewling for milk. The eldest should have fussed long before the sun rose over the horizon for a playmate. Somewhere between, Eclipse should have kissed your shoulder and asked a question: what fish would you like for your morning meal?
You slept too long. Exhaustion should crawl at your edges and your patience should wear thin as your babies require ever-present attention. Horror crashes upon you. Adrenaline pumps through your veins as you thrust yourself off the ice shelf and into the icy waters below. Blubber and thick skin keep you safe from shock, but your heart swings against your rib cage and pounds against your sternum. Breathlessly, you intake air. You swim under the entrance and out into the vast expanse of the ocean.
Your pod. Where is your pod?
You cry out over the waves. A rawness invades your throat as Eclipse’s and your babies’ names drag at the vulnerable softness within you. Stinging arises at the corner of your eyes. Opening your arms, you dart back and forth over the entrance to your home. Do you set out to find them quickly or do you stay home should they return by themselves?
The ringing in your ears peaks and then stops under a familiar echo of your name. Twisting in the waters, far out beyond the wall of ice, is your mate. He bobs above the surface. Brilliant red frills frame his face as his eyes land upon you. In his arms, he cradles your children.
Almost collapsing under the surface, you inhale a tight breath. You force another one through, and another, deepening each inhale and exhale until the constriction around your chest eases.
The sight of your mate and babies keeps you afloat.
Eclipse carefully swims and closes the distance between you. The moment he nears, you open your arms for the youngest one. Maffei. Your darling daughter. Her face is round and plump, and what tiny frills adorn her are deep with deep red and orange hues. Her arms are thick with fat rolls. Her tiny fists unfurl, and a squall leaves her in demand for your arms around her.
The eldest, Fornax, excitedly calls for his parent. You answer with reassurance. You are here. You gaze over your child, your lovely son, the firstborn of your pod. He pushes away from his father quickly, showing off the cool tones of his flukes and fin-tips. Eclipse told you he looks so much like, but you see his strength in Fornax’s smile, in the way he swims after a fish though he’s too slow now to catch one.
Eclipse suggested the names you so dearly treasure now. He’s imagined for many years children, and the names he had prepared are perfect for the bundles now wriggling in your arm and swimming around you like a tiny whirlpool.
Now you both have a family.
“Maffei, Fornax,” you breathe and then hold Eclipse’s gaze. “Where were you?”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you, love.” He draws himself closer, resting an arm around your waist. You shift until your back rests against his chest. The familiar weight of his chin pressing lightly into your shoulder cools the rising panic within you. “I believed you would sleep longer. Don’t be afraid.”
For several moments, you collect yourself as Eclipse gathers you in his arms. He presses a kiss to the crook of your neck. Looking down at Maffei, she fits perfectly in your arms. She babbles lightly. Little coos rising and falling in musical notes lay a gentle hand over your heart.
Fornax splashes. The cool wave of water hits you gently, causing Maffei to squirm and pout her pink lips.
“Fornax,” Eclipse says in a firm but gentle voice, “Don’t splash your sister.”
“Sorry, papa.” Your son’s tail flicks. A slight sheepishness overtakes him as he drifts up to you and looks down at his little sister in your arms. “Sorry, Maffei.”
“Good boy,” you murmur and bow to press a kiss to his forehead.
He smiles with small, nubby teeth lining his gums before darting away with another ripple. The water crashes against each other. You keep Maffei shielded this time.
Eclipse rumbles a pleased sound. Looking back down at you, he presses his cheek against your head.
“Are you alright?” he asks in a low rasp.
“Yes.” You crook your finger and softly brush Maffei’s cheek. “I am now.”
“You looked so weary,” Eclipse continues softly. The vibrations in his chest touch your spine. “Last night, you were up so late with Maffei. I meant to return before you awoke. The little ones were so eager to spend energy. It is my duty as your mate and their father to take care of you all.”
He brushes the hair from your forehead softly. You lean deeper into his touch while watching Fornax explore a side of the ice shelf, touching and digging at loose bits of the frigid wall.
“They are very rambunctious,” you tease and turn back to grin at Eclipse. “Just like you.”
He laughs, deep and hearty. Maffei gives a small cry of complaint. You can smell the faint scent of milk on her. Eclipse coos sweetly.
“Little love, don’t fuss. We’re both here. It’s alright.” Eclipse tenderly strokes Maffei’s head. Seemingly content with the attention, she leans against your chest and settles. Her tiny tail is not yet developed enough for swimming on her own. She requires constant arms to hold her above the surface as her ability to hold her breath grows stronger and stronger.
You turn slowly back to Eclipse. Your heart has grown softer and fonder of your mate since watching him as a father. He is attentive and constant in his efforts to provide for their every need.
Gently, you press a kiss to Eclipse’s mouth. His eyes, twin flames of burning yellow and red, widen before he returns the gesture with equal fervor. He pushes gently and cradles your mouth with his before releasing you.
“You are a wonderful father,” you speak softly. “You are the most loving mate. And this,” you look at your children, “feels like home.”
Eclipse’s tail flicks underneath you as his body seems to tremble with emotion before he gently presses his forehead to yours.
“How so, my love? Tell me all,” he demands in a rumble.
You take a moment and fall back to days when you were in the shelter of your mother’s arms, and your aunts would sing lullabies to your younger cousins.
“Babies were held close, and everyone offered a hand,” you recount gently the memories of your childhood, “No one went without.”
You gently tickle Maffei’s chin, and she grabs your finger with her fat little hand. She gives you a searing look. A soft laugh escapes from you. You apologize to her before she returns to settle against your bosom.
“My mother would have loved to hold our babies,” you whisper softly.
“Yes,” Eclipse rumbles low, “My mother would have been pleased to see our children, and she would approve of my mate.”
You flush softly at such a thought, then grow somber within it. Despite all the pain, you are both still here. Your family is beautiful and worth every moment of agony.
Fornax returns but stops short of splashing Maffei. He instead treads slightly to swim around Eclipse, and tug at his arm, begging for a playmate.
A wicked grin spread across Eclipse’s maw.
“My father would play with me often,” he begins, and you eye him suspiciously as he takes Fornax under the arms. “Like this.”
He lifts Fornax above the surface. His body is small and slipstream, and his tail drips heavily back to the sea as he giggles at a high-pitched sound. To your dismay, Eclipse tosses the child over the surface and back into the water with a heavy splash.
“Eclipse!” you shout, aghast.
Flicking up small waves, Eclipse darts for Fornax and scoops up your not-so-little baby, and he’s laughing. The boy demands relentlessly that Eclipse toss him once more. Thundering in joy, Eclipse obliges. Fornax sails through the air and back into the water with a furious splash.
“Eclipse,” your voice climbs shrilly. “Stop tossing my son around like a baby seal!”
“I would never allow harm to befall him,” Eclipse promises in a mischievous roll of his tongue.
“Again! Do it again, papa!” Fornax slaps the water with his hands and his tail cuts through the salty brine.
Then Maffei turns in your arms. Her little eyes fall on her brother and father playing roughly along the surface, and she chortles in a way that reminds you of Eclipse. Her tiny face ignites with delight.
Slowly, with all forces against you, you relax. Fornax beams brightly when he emerges from another tossing. Constantly, Eclipse is calculating, carefully adjusting the throwing of his son and watching him closely to ensure there is no harm done.
Perhaps he might feel your radiating judgment, for Eclipse turns back. He tucks Fornax underneath his arm and drags him back to you despite your son's protests and needing to be thrown once more over the waves.
He nears, a great grin splitting his maw. You are helpless in returning the gesture in the radiating heat of his joy. His arms surround you, and Fornax is caught in the embrace as well as Maffei.
Looking down softly over his pod, Eclipse surveys you quietly. Fornax wraps his arms around you in kind. He blows raspberries at his sister who giggles quietly. Their tiny tails squirm against your side, and you feel at peace.
“I will always protect our pod,” he declares, his eyes searing with his intent and truth.
Your heart swells in your chest. Pushing close, you kiss Eclipse sweetly, until the baby fusses and Fornax asks when he can be tossed again.
Little!Orca, just getting comfortable at home, finding the oddest spots to hide when wanting to be close to him, but not wanting to ask to he a bother.
This includes under his bed when he's in the connected bathroom, in a cupboard when he's cooking, under the table when he's sitting there on the phone, under the porch when he's on the porch, etcetera.
Little!Orca who calls him dad randomly, not sure if it should be a permanent thing.
Little!Orca who doesn't like when he can't pick her up from school. The kids on the bus are mean and she doesn't like unlocking the door to an empty house. It got so bad that she waited outside until he got home.
It was dark, then, making him pause and tense when he spots her asleep on the porch swing. Out in the open. Alone. He immediately carries her inside, waking her up to have a long conversation.
Little!Orca who's happy when he picks her up. She gets to curl up under his desk for the day, on her tablet or with her coloring books, munching on pop tarts.
She also gets really excited when he eats lunch with her, when he can.
Little!Orca who doesn't warm up to anyone in the OR, always staring as she internally panics.
Little!Orca who had the nickname "Pup" in the hospital, all the way until she graduated high school (early).
Pup who wanted nothing but to do things for her tired dad. She'd draw him stuff, and clean the dishes (leaving water all over the sink and floor), fold his clothes (mixing them up and putting them in the wrong drawers), and fixing him a snack.
When he comes home, everything is a neat but chaotic mess. In the middle of it: her, offering the plate with a shy smile. "Welcome home, dad. I got you pretzels, and cheese, and grapes." He wanted to be mad, he really did.
Imagine if... Park despises and snaps at Dennis so much is because he's salty that he's managed to take his baby girl away.
Park who despises when Dennis goes home to help Amy, even when Orca gives him permission to every time. (She's even met Amy, loving her and her baby very much.)
Park who stares him down when he's over (yes, Orca still lives at home), treating them like teenagers.
"Make sure you leave the door open."
"Yes sir." / "Okay, dad."
"And the light on. I don't want any low lighting in here."
"Yes, sir." / "Okay, dad."
"And don't-"
"Dad, get out!"
Park who will make dinner and makes a fuss when Orca makes Dennis's plate and not the other way around. (He makes hers, sometimes, depending on how tired the other is. Sometimes they just make their own plates, too.)
Park who frowns softly when he hears the two arguing about something from time to time. He doesn't like the kid, but he doesn't like seeing either of them fighting or unhappy.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes, sir."
"... it'll be fine. She likes you... too much, in my opinion."
"Thanks."
Park who has to pick Dennis up one time for their shifts. He gives him a hard time, of course.
"When are you getting a car?"
"Uh, not anytime soon. I'm saving up for something for when I pay off my student loans."
"And what is that?"
"... uh, wha- what is it?"
"Did I stutter?"
"No, but... I don't think you'll like the answer-"
Park who is secretly proud of Dennis when he watches him pin down a rowdy patient when the man threatened to buck at Orca. He never admits it, though.
Park who sometimes hates the man deeply. Pup was his first. He watched her grow, become more confident and sure with herself, he watched her worst and best moments, he was the one she turned to for everything.
But now she had Dennis. And while he was proud at how she was treated, it still hurt a bit. More than a bit (especially when he catched them talking about the future under their breaths. He's trying to prepare for when she leaves). But, he's learning to live with it.
Imagine if... Orca demanded Dennis to catch a rat in the OR.
"Whitaker, I need you. Now." She demanded, not caring if he was in the middle of talking to Ogilvie. He pauses, eyes darting to the newbie before darting back towards her. "Uh, bab-" "Now, Dennis. I'm serious."
Her face hardens, but not with something stern. It was in panic. "Okay, uh- with what?" "There's a rat trapped in my OR and I have surgery in 20 minutes. I need to room sterile and I'm not going in there with a stupid rat-" "Okay, okay,"
He tried to reassure, hands on her arms. "Let's just, calm down-" "I don't need to calm down. I need the rat out of my OR. Now." She bares her teeth, Ogilvie pursing him lips and squirming away at the sight.
Dennis just nods, trying not to smile. "Okay, okay. I'll get it, okay?" He takes off his stethoscope, turning to Ogilvie. "Can you cover for me? 10 minutes tops." Ogilvie just nods, avoiding Orca's challenging glare.
They take the elevator, Orca grimacing at the memory of the putrid thing. "It's huge." "That's okay, baby. I'll get it." He reassures, placing a hand on her lower back. "Does Dr. Park know?" She huffs. "Yes. He refused to get it."
She crosses her arms. "Said that he was too busy... he did offer, though, when he saw me panicking genuinely. But- he's fine. He's got his residents." She rocks side to side, tongue poking at her sharp canine. He nods slowly.
The doors open, and she guides him to the locked door. "If you don't catch it, you're dead to me until my next shift." "Great. No pressure." His lips twitching upward as he nodded sarcastically, nervous.
She unlocks the door, handing him an old patient gown they were gonna throw away. He takes a deep breath, before rushing in the room and slamming the doors behind him. It barely takes him 5 minutes, or 3.
He comes out with the rat, wrapped in the now bloody gown. He's grimacing, but not at the blood or death part. "Ugh, it was big." He grumbles, rushing away to discard of the rat corpse while the room was sterilized.
When he came back, hands cleaned and empty. She takes a deep breath, rubbing at her face. "I need a shower after that." She grunts. He smiles a bit, but was still concerned about her. "I'm good to go back downstairs?"
He asks softly, hands carefully on her waist. "I don't have to- I'm sure Robby and Dana will understand." "I'm fine, Dennis." She nodded slowly. "... I'll be fine. Dad will be there- plus, I have surgery still." He sighs, but nods.
Park's the type of dad to watch you hurt yourself, pause to see if you're really hurt (or if it's just your feelings), and go from there.
Pup is the type of kid to cry from something as little as a splinter. (Will also freak out if you even suggest on yanking it out.)
Pup will 100% draw Park scowling and be like, "Daddy's so nice. Look at him and his sharp teeth and big body that's bigger than his head-"
Park takes more weekends off for Pup all the way until her middle school graduation.
Park, who scares off all of her crushes... then gets mad when she gets her first "boyfriend" anyway (it wasn't serious, she was in the 2nd grade. The most the boy did was share his snacks and played with her all the time). Tries to scare him off. Scowls when it doesn't work.
Pup who asks him bone questions. A lot.
"Why're bones white? Do they taste like chalk? Can people have bendy bones? Are bones cartilage? What's cartilage? Why does milk help bones? Do they get thirsty?"
"... honey, it's 6 in the morning-"
"Okay! :D"
"..."
"Are you gonna answer my questions-?"
Pup who finally starts calling him dad constantly after he comforts her from a storm.
She's curled up on her chest, wrapped in a blanket, as he stared at the rainy window. "Mr. Park?" She gets a short hum in return. When she doesn't answer, he finally looks down.
Her cheek squished to his chest, hands gripping at her blanket and his shirt, eyes fluttering closed. "I like you as my daddy." She mumbles. "'m gonna call you that from now on." He could do nothing but gulp and smile.
Imagine if... Orca likes to bite when she's having a bad day. (This is horrible.)
Orca was stuck with a parent who thought that they could set their child's bone themselves. Orca also has to "babysit" the other residents, who jump at Shark's yells and snaps, getting teary-eyed way too easily. Which was fair.
Then, she was called down for... something. She couldn't remember what, and she didn't care. She huffs as her little pod follows her into the already crowded room. "Don't!" She snaps as one of the residents.
They went to press on the mauled leg of the patient, making her glare darkly. The resident jerks his hand back, nodding quickly. Robby straightens at her booming voice. "This, is Dr. Orca. Another Park, but, Orca is easier."
He introduced her, her paying no attention to his words as she eyes the injury while circling the table. "Less confusing as well." "How?" She asks shortly, Garcia answering. "Dog training gone wrong. Stepped into a fight, got mauled bad."
"Hm. Poor dog." She mumbles absent-mindedly. The resident who she snapped at earlier blinks. "I'd argue that the patient got the brute end of it." She pauses, eyeing the resident from over her glasses. She didn't say anything, just stared.
The resident squirms, her little pod snickering and giggling. "I hear another squeak or giggle, I'll ship you off to Park." She warns, as if it's a threat. She was way scarier than he was right now. But still, they shut up.
Then they get to work. Medical jargin, silent looks, sighs that would make the most seasoned resident squirm. Robby found it amusing. "Did you eat today?" "Why?" He raises his hands at her scowl. "Just wondering... just wondering,"
"I have a granola bar in my pocket," Whitaker offers, making her hum shortly. "Give it." He blinks, a bit amused. "Now?" "Yes, now, Whitaker. If you can't tell, my hands are occupied being in a man's leg."
The resident blinks as Dennis takes off his gloves to pull out the bar. They turn to Robby. "Is- is that allowed?" Robby just shrugs, watching. Dennis holds the bar up to her lips, snorting as her teeth chomp down quickly.
The resident jumps at the practical lunge, blinking when no one else even flinches. It was impressive: clean bite, no crumbs. She then takes her hands out of the leg, hands bloody. "I'll page Park." Is all she said, taking off her gloves.
"What, uh... what's the diagnosis?" The resident asks, getting stared at. "... basically? Operation. The whole thing's shattered and gnawed, but still there. He'll be fine... eventually." She then turns to Whitaker, snatching the bar.
"What? No thank you, hm?" She just grins sharply at his low voice, guiding her chattering pod out. The room is silent as they prep the patient for surgery. The resident squirms. "... is it bad that I found her teeth hot-?" Dennis grins.
"Nope. I do." The resident gapes as he walks off casually, mouth opening and closing. Robby just pats their back. "You'll get used to it." Later on, as she was ready to go him, Dennis corners her with a soft grin. "You feelin' better?"
She hums, teeth snapping as he goes to cup her chin. He instinctively flinches back, laughs, and cups her chin. "Don't bite me, sugar. That's not nice." She huffs. "I don't care about being nice. I'm ready to go home."
"And we're getting there. Just let me finish one more chart, okay?" His hands then go to cup her jaw, placing a gentle peck to her lips. "Then we'll order take-out, or watch a movie. Anything you want." She hums. "Even bite you?" He chuckles.
Imagine... kid/little!Orca and Park's conversation when he found her on the porch.
Note: It's short because I got a brain fart near the end. Sorry guys. :/
"Pup... pup, wake up." She squints as she does so, stretching out her little body with a yawn. A stern call of her name makes her look up. She goes to grin, happy to see Brendon, before it drops at his worried frown. "... hi."
He takes a deep breath, trying to keep his voice leveled, not wanting to scare her. "... hi. What were you doing outside? How long have you been out there, hm?" He cups her face, eyes darting around her body.
He finds nothing but dry slob on her cheek and ruffled clothes that smelled like outside. She doesn't answer, thinking it's a rhetorical question. But when he goes to stare at her, she shrinks in realization.
"Since I got off the bus," She mumbles, small hands fiddling with her shirt. He checks the time with a frown. It's 6:15 now, the bus drops her off at around 3:30. She's been outside for nearly 3 hours. Alone. And nobody knew.
He drags his hands down his face. "Sweetheart, you can't do that. What if something bad happened to you while you were sleeping? Hm? A stray dog-" A stray man, is what he wanted to say. He didn't. She was too precious.
"What if it started to rain? Why didn't you just go inside and wait for me there, honey?" His voice was hardened like usual, so he wouldn't break down or yell like he wanted. Her little shoulders shrug as she avoids his gaze.
He sighs, calling her name. "I need you to tell me, Pup, so I can fix it. Remember what I said when you first got here?" She thinks. He said a lot when she first got here. Her first... good, foster home. In a while.
Yes, she was barely in kindergarten, but still. She tended to suck up anything he said like a sponge. Seeing her concentrated face, he sighs. He had to remind himself to be patient with her, to turn off whatever mask he had up at work.
"I'll be here. But I can't read your tiny little mind." He reminded as he gently pinched at her chin, shaking her head side to side. "Oh." She nodded in remembrance. "Okay." He stood with a grunt (that he refused to admit he had).
"How about you tell me while we eat." It wasn't a suggestion, but it was soft enough to make her nod anyway. "Okay." "Go do your homework for a bit." He watches her rush off, before cursing lowly to himself.
He tugs at his neat hair, before grumpily making his way to the kitchen. Something simple, light enough where she could still go to bed on time but still filling. Chicken nuggets and veggies. A responsible dad meal.
"Dinner!" He called out. Slowly but surely, her little footsteps approach. She peeks her head around the corner, watching him for a while before climbing up into her regular seat. Dinner was quiet, a little awkward, too.
Neither of them knew how to start what they wanted to say. Both of them stared at the table and their plates, silent. But, eventually, he straightens and clears his throat. "Pup." She looks up at him, feet kicking nervously.
He decided to ignore, not to take it personally... because at that very moment, it felt personal. Because he was supposed to be her dad. And he was. But, she looked scared. He didn't like it. "... why were you outside?"
He asked more softly than his previous attempt, leaning down some to catch her eye. "Is it the house? Did something happen on the bus today?" He asks, getting tiny shakes of her head. Which did help him whatsoever.
Before he could pry any further, her small voice stops him. "I like feeling you... but you're not here when I am." He stares. Really stares... like, hard. Then, a churn of guilt lingered in his stomach.
He scoots closer, his bigger hand grabbing hers. She didn't mind. "Okay." That's the best he could come up with, before he forced himself to continue. "I understand... I do. But I want you to be safe. You, on the porch like that? That isn't safe, honey. Okay?" She nodded.
"I'll try to be home more, or around. But you have to promise me that you stay safe. We made those rules for a reason, right?" She nodded again, her eyes avoiding his face. "... pup, look at me." She does, reluctantly, shrinking a bit.
He simply squeezes her hand. "... you always tell me what's on your mind. Don't ever be afraid to tell me or ask me anything. Okay?" He prompts gently, making sure his eyes never left hers. He wanted her to know that he meant it.
That he missed her throughout the day like she missed him. Yeah, those weren't her exact words... but that's what it felt like. So he was gonna run with it. "... okay." She nodded again. This time, her lips twitch upwards. He does the same.
