Fate/ Dire Paradox (Jeanne Alter X Male Reader)

After Story - Chapter 5

I stare with an empty expression at my research, the entire room is littered with paper. Ones that I scrapped and ones that lead to dead ends. So much for my life's work bringing me exactly nowhere.

I am not exactly too happy about the outcome but it has been how long now since I started with this? I haven't even started scratching the surface yet the idiots stand behind me hoping that I find the root because who else is going to do it for them?

At least they pay well. Having me turn into a professor to help educate the kids in this place.

I shake my head as I toss my notes on the pile and turn around to leave my office. I don't care about it right now, I just want to get back home to those two. I have been busy long enough and actually spending some time with them over the weekend is the only thing on my mind.

Finally reaching home, I drop all my stuff in one of the rooms as I head to the living room where I can hear their voices. I hover in place for a moment as Jeanne is caught up in conversation with our daughter.

Though she spots me and instantly climbs off the couch to run towards me, "Dad!"

I grab her as she runs to me, "Hey, Lil," I press my forehead against hers, "Hope you haven't been causing mom too much trouble."

Jeanne then lifts herself from the couch, I offer my hand and pull her closer to me as she grabs my hand. Pulling her into a hug she giggles as she states.

"Not as much as you'd think, considering she is our daughter," she then wraps her arms around my waist as she presses her lips against my cheek, "Welcome home," she then looks back at Lilly with a smile.

"A little bit earlier than usual but I don't want you, girls, to stay up all night waiting just for me."

Lil then asks with a wide smile, "Mom said that you are going to watch movies with us and that Dad is going to make food and-"

"Of course, whatever you need Lil, though I thought you would have wanted to go to that amusement park you have been bugging me about?" I tilt my head.

Her eyes widen in realization as she is suddenly conflicted considering she has to choose between two things she desperately wants to do. Jeanne then purses her lips as she suggests.

"How about we watch the movies tonight and then we take you to the park, okay?"

She lights up in pure excitement, "Yes, please!" she then pushes away from me, I let her down as she walks towards our bookcase of movies as she pulls out her nominees for Lilly's best movie awards.

Jeanne then turns to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders she pulls me in closer for a warm hug, her lips brush against my ear as she whispers.

"Too bad, you went and made those promises now you don't get to have me for your first weekend off in forever."

The words send a shiver down my spine, she pulls away as I grab her wrist, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, we have plenty of time all weekend."

"Are we going to sleep here in the living room as we watch movies!?" she calls out as she still isn't satisfied after pulling six titles from our collection.

Jeanne arches her brow, "Looks like she already made that decision for us," she then steals a kiss as she drops down next to Lilly, "Are you sure you want to watch all of these? I mean they don't seem to be enough!"

I chuckle as I call out to them, "I will start working on dinner," I leave them to figure out what will be our choice of entertainment knowing full well that I didn't really have a choice, to begin with. Not to mention Jeanne tempting me like that means that the teasing won't really stop there.

Lil has been spending the nights sleeping with us so I knew that was out of the question.

I finish up with the food, realizing that the two of them has already made the table, and sat down waiting patiently for me to feed them. Jeanne can cook but the two of them insist on me being the one that does most of the cooking.

I won't lie but it fills me with childish happiness.

Lilly then stops me before I could dig in, "Stacey said you should say Grace before we eat," she then looks at me with pleading eyes, "Can we say Grace to?"

I look at Jeanne with a raised eyebrow, she looks almost horrified at the idea, "Sure," I then wink at Jeanne signaling that we should just humor her, nobody will come to smite her with a bolt of lightning.

Though I couldn't contain my laughter afterward. After enjoying our dinner I cleaned up as those two prepared our home cinema experience with the snacks that they have been stockpiling.

When I finally arrived, the first movie was already a good few minutes in.

"I saved a spot for you," Lil calls to me as she pats the empty pillow next to her.

"Thanks, sweety," I drop next to her as Jeanne blows me a kiss before turning her gaze back to the television.

***   ***   ***

It didn't last long, on our fourth movie she was fast asleep before we got past the intro scenes. Jeanne then lifts herself from her side and drops herself into my lap, resting her head on my chest as she listens to my heart.

"Tired?"

She nods slowly, "Unfortunately for you," she smiles widely but then disappears slightly, "I love our life... thanks for fighting for this, without you I would never have been able to experience... everything."

I kiss her on her head, "I can't take all the credit, you did keep me alive for most of it."

She chuckles weakly, "Stop making me laugh, I am tired. I am glad you are home early for a change," she coo's as she lifts her head to kiss me, "I didn't ask, how goes work? Any progress?"

I force a smile, "Not much."

"You will get there," she reassures me, "I know you will, I never once stopped believing that you had what it takes."

I then glance at Lil who was fast asleep, "You two are my priority, everything else comes afterward."

"We won't be going anywhere, we have plenty of time for ourselves as well. Even though you might not reach it now, you still have over thirty years before you can call yourself old."

I chuckle, "It doesn't seem so far anymore."

She nuzzles into my chest, her voice trailing off, "It's fine. I will be here with you, forever."

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep either. I lowered her into our makeshift bed as I head straight to her old spot, Lil will have a fit if we dared move away from her plans.