Daisy Penelope Bloom, a young American woman living in Liverpool, Britain, across from her best friend Melody Price. Mel's father, John Price, has been away on a year long mission. When he returns, he finds his daughter all grown up, and his daughte...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Melody yawns as she trudges into the kitchen, smiling at her father as he kisses her forehead. "Morning, songbird. Where's Daisy?"
Mel sighs softly as she rubs her tired eyes. "She's still sleeping... In the bathtub, with a bunch of blankets and pillows." John raises an eyebrow in concern. "It's the only place she feels safe right now. She had another nightmare last night."
His eyes darken with anger. "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch when I get my hands on him," he murmurs, his fists clenching.
"I'll help." She chuckles softly, her heart still aching for her best friend. "You should go check on her. I'm gonna start breakfast."
John nods, heading upstairs. He pauses outside the bathroom door, listening to Daisy's soft, uneven breathing. He hesitates before pushing it open gently. She's curled up in the tub, a look of peace on her face that's shattered by the dark bruises scattered across her skin. He moves quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Daisy, sweetheart, it's time to get up. Mel's making breakfast."
She stirs, her eyes fluttering open. They're red and swollen from crying. "Captain?" she whispers, her voice hoarse.
He nods, offering a small smile. "It's okay. You're safe, sweetheart." He helps her to her feet, keeping her wrapped in a warm blanket.
"Do I have to get up?" She yawns and leans against him for warmth. "I'm so tired."
He nods solemnly. "I know you are, but we can't let you sleep in the tub forever. Besides, Mel's cooking your favorite."
"What is my favorite?" She looks up at him with a sleepy, teasing smile.
He laughs softly. "Baked Ham and cheese croissants with a side of Greek yogurt and freshly cut fruit."
Daisy blinks in surprise before blushing. "You're on my good guy list, now." He chuckles and leads her downstairs to the kitchen where the smell of baking bread fills the air.
"Good morning, tub gremlin! Are you hungry?" Melody greets them with a forced cheerfulness, trying to lighten the mood. She sets a plate of steaming croissants and a bowl of fruit on the table.
Daisy manages a small smile and nods, taking a seat. "Aren't I always?"
John takes a seat opposite her, his eyes never leaving her face. He can see the shadows of fear and pain in her eyes, and it's all he can do not to storm out and hunt Alex down himself. Instead, he pours her a cup of tea, adding an extra spoonful of sugar just the way she likes it. "Eat up, Daisy. You need your strength today." His voice is firm, but the tenderness in his eyes betrays his concern.
"For what? I planned on crawling back into the tub," she snorts.
Melody gives her a stern look. "You're coming with me to the university. We're not letting that bastard ruin your life, okay? You're going to go to class, and you're going to keep going like nothing happened. And I'll be right there with you, every step of the way."
Daisy looks at her friend, feeling a surge of gratitude. "You guys don't have to do this. I can handle it on my own," she murmurs, picking at her food. "Plus, I don't think I have the brain capacity to sit through one of Mr Anderson's rambling lectures."
John's gaze flickers to his daughter before returning to Daisy. "You're not alone in this, Daisy. You're part of our family. And family sticks together. We take care of our own," he says it so matter-of-factly, as if it's the most natural thing in the world for her to be under his protection.
Daisy feels a warmth spread through her chest, a sensation she hasn't felt in a very long time. It's comforting, and for a brief moment, she allows herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.
"Could you... Could you change the locks to my house while I'm gone?" Daisy nervously stabs a grape with her fork before popping it in her mouth. "Alex still has a spare key..."
John's jaw tightens. "Already on it. I'll stop by and sort it out before I go to work. You're not going back there until he's behind bars, understand? I don't care if it's right across the street, I want you where I can see you."
Melody giggles as Daisy's blush darkens. "O-Okay."
After breakfast, Melody helps Daisy get ready for the day. They pick out an outfit that hides the bruises best, and Mel applies a touch of makeup to cover the worst of the marks.
John is waiting for them in the living room, his eyes scanning the street before they leave. "Let's go, you two. I've got an extra set of eyes watching the house, but it's best if we don't linger outside for too long." He opens the door, and the cool morning air hits them as they step outside.
Daisy's stomach turns as she looks across the street at her own house, now feeling like a prison she's escaped from. "Here, Captain." She takes two house keys from her key ring and holds it out to him. "The smaller one is for the backdoor, bigger is for the front. I already have a new set of locks on the kitchen table with the matching keys, but if it's not sturdy enough for you, I trust you to pick a better lock."
John takes the keys, his thumb brushing over her hand as he nods. "I'll make sure you're safe, Daisy. I promise."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
