James Potter and Regulus Black had been navigating the intricate dance of parenthood with their three-year-old daughter, Y/N, for quite some time. Recently, however, they encountered a new challenge: Y/N had become particularly attached to Regulus, making it difficult for him to leave her alone with James when he had to go to work.
One crisp autumn morning, the challenge reared its head more prominently than ever. Regulus was preparing to leave for the Ministry of Magic, where he worked as an Unspeakable. Y/N clung to his leg, her small face scrunched up in distress.
“Don’t go, Papa!” she cried, her voice trembling. “Stay with me.”
Regulus crouched down, gently prying her fingers from his trousers and scooping her up into his arms. He kissed her forehead, trying to soothe her. “I know, sweetheart, but I have to go to work. I’ll be back before you know it. Daddy will be here with you all day, and you two will have lots of fun.”
James, standing nearby, offered a supportive smile. “That’s right, love. We can play with your new toys, maybe even bake some cookies.”
But Y/N wasn’t convinced. She buried her face in Regulus’s shoulder, her little hands clutching his robes. “I want Papa.”
Regulus exchanged a worried glance with James. They had noticed this increasing attachment over the past few weeks, and it was clear that Y/N’s separation anxiety was growing. Regulus gently shifted Y/N so he could look into her eyes.
“I promise, I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said softly. “How about you make a picture for me while I’m gone? I’d love to see what you create when I get home.”
Y/N sniffled but seemed to consider the idea. James stepped closer and gently took her from Regulus’s arms. “We’ll make the best picture ever, won’t we, Y/N?”
She nodded reluctantly, still clutching one of Regulus’s fingers as he tried to hand her over. Regulus kissed her cheek one last time before standing up, giving James a look that conveyed both gratitude and concern.
“I’ll see you both tonight,” he said, his voice a mix of reassurance and resolve.
As Regulus Disapparated with a crack, Y/N burst into tears, her little body shaking with sobs. James held her close, whispering soothing words and rubbing her back. “It’s okay, love. Papa will be back soon. Let’s find something fun to do together, okay?”
Gradually, her sobs subsided, though she continued to hiccup and sniffle. James carried her to the living room and settled her on the couch with her favorite blanket. “How about we start that picture for Papa?”
Y/N nodded slowly, her eyes still glistening with tears. James fetched some paper and crayons, sitting down beside her. They spent the next hour drawing colorful shapes and silly creatures. James kept up a steady stream of chatter, trying to keep her distracted.
As the day went on, James tried various activities to keep Y/N entertained. They baked cookies, read her favorite stories, and even built a fort out of blankets and pillows. Slowly, Y/N’s mood began to improve, though she still asked about Regulus periodically.
By late afternoon, they were snuggled together on the couch, watching Y/N’s favorite cartoon. James could feel her starting to relax, her small body nestled against his.
“See, love? We’re having a good day, aren’t we?” he said, kissing the top of her head.
Y/N nodded sleepily, her eyes half-closed. “But I miss Papa.”
“I know, sweetheart. He misses you too,” James replied gently. “But he’ll be home soon, and he’ll be so proud of how brave you were today.”
When Regulus finally returned home that evening, Y/N was already waiting by the door, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him. She ran to him, and he scooped her up, holding her close.
“Papa!” she exclaimed, her earlier distress forgotten in the joy of his return.
Regulus hugged her tightly, his eyes meeting James’s over her shoulder. “I missed you too, sweetheart.”
James joined them, wrapping an arm around both Regulus and Y/N. “We had a good day, didn’t we, Y/N? And look at this amazing picture we made for you, Papa.”
Y/N proudly held up the crayon drawing, and Regulus’s face lit up with a smile. “It’s wonderful, darling. Thank you.”
That night, as they tucked Y/N into bed, she fell asleep with a contented smile on her face, both of her fathers by her side. James and Regulus exchanged a look of relief and understanding.
“We’ll get through this,” James whispered as they stood by her bed, watching her sleep. “Together.”
Regulus nodded, reaching out to take James’s hand. “Together.”
