Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Ethan

Ethan's POV

I stood in front of the classroom, guiding my students through a lesson on fractions, when my phone buzzed on the desk. It was The Sanctuary. My stomach dropped as I excused myself, my mind racing with worry.

I stepped out into the hallway, answering the call. "This is Ethan," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Ethan, we need you to come to The Sanctuary immediately," Ms. Crawley said, her tone clipped.

"What happened?" I asked, my heart racing.

"Ashlynn has been involved in an altercation with another Little," she replied. "You need to get here now."

The urgency in her voice sent a wave of dread crashing over me. "Is she okay?"

"We're managing the situation. Just get here as soon as you can," she said before hanging up.

I rushed back into the classroom, my heart pounding. "Class, I need to step out for a moment. Please study for the test later," I instructed, trying to mask the anxiety clawing at my insides. I asked the teacher next door to keep and ear out for my class and I headed out.

As I made my way to The Sanctuary, thoughts raced through my mind. I was filled with a mix of anxiety and guilt. Had I sent her back too soon? Would she be scared? My thoughts drifted back to the injuries detailed in her file, and I felt a knot tighten in my chest.

When I arrived, the atmosphere felt charged with tension. I was directed to the naughty room, and with each step, my heart raced faster. What had happened? Would Ashlynn be okay?

I pushed the door open, and the scene before me froze me in place. The Head Mistress stood with Lana talking, but my attention was immediately drawn to Ashlynn, who was nestled against Markie. I could tell Ashlynn was in little headspace, her expressions reflecting a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

"Daddy!" Ashlynn exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Daddy!"

The word hit me like a jolt, and for a brief moment, joy surged through me. She had called me Daddy. But that warmth was quickly overshadowed by the fear etched across her face. She looked scared, vulnerable, and small.

"Hey, precious girl," I said, my voice softening as I knelt down to her level. "Are you okay?"

Markie glanced up at me, his expression serious. "Marcy jumped on us!" he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I had to lean over Ashlynn to protect her."

My heart sank. "What do you mean jumped on you?"

"She was so mean, saying that it was Ashlynn's fault she got in trouble!" Markie continued, glancing at Ashlynn, who was still pressed against him. "I tried to keep her from hurting Ashlynn, but she was hitting and kicking us!"

I focused on Ashlynn, who was trembling slightly. "You're safe now, precious girl. I'm here," I reassured her, though my heart was racing.

"I was so scared, Daddy," Ashlynn whispered, her voice trembling.

It felt incredible to hear her call me that, but my joy was quickly fading as I noticed the bruises forming on both of them. "Let me see your arms," I instructed gently, reaching out to Markie first. He lifted his sleeves, revealing deepening bruising on his arms.

"Those look bad," I said, my protective instincts flaring. "What is wrong with that girl?"

"She just kept hitting us," Markie said, his voice was so small. "I didn't let her get Ashlynn, though!"

I turned my attention to Ashlynn, who was visibly shaken. "What about you, sweetheart?" I asked, kneeling closer to her.

"I... I'm okay," she stammered, but I could see the fear in her eyes. I reached out and gently lifted her sleeve, revealing smaller bruises forming on her delicate skin.

"Not okay enough," I muttered, my voice thick with emotion. "This can't keep happening. I should have kept you safe. I will keep you safe"

The Head Mistress stepped forward, her expression stern. "Ethan, we're handling it. We're investigating the incident, and Marcy is facing consequences."

"Consequences?" I echoed, anger bubbling within me. "I want to know more than that, this is the second incident. I will not tolerate a third!"

Lana placed a calming hand on my shoulder. "They're doing everything they can, Ethan. We'll ensure Ashlynn feels safe here."

Her tone was steady, but I could see the anger simmering just below the surface. Markie was her Little, and she had every right to be upset. I could feel the tension radiating from her, mirroring my own fury.

Turning back to Ashlynn, I knelt down and asked gently, "Can I pick you up, sweetheart?"

She hesitated for a moment, looking unsure, not wanting to let go of Markie, but then nodded. "Yes, Daddy."

A rush of warmth flooded through me at her words, but the protective instinct took over as I scooped her into my arms. She felt small and fragile against me, and I could feel her trembling slightly.

I looked at Lana, still holding Ashlynn close. "Do you and Markie want to head to the nurse with us?"

"Absolutely," she replied, her resolve firm. "Markie, come here Darling." she said, picking up her Little boy.

As we walked toward the door, the weight of the situation pressed heavily on my shoulders. I needed to get Ashlynn away from here, to a place where she could feel safe and secure again.

Just as we stepped out, the door swung open, and Franklin walked in with a crying Marcy behind him. The tension in the room intensified, and I felt my anger surge again as I met his gaze.

"Ethan," he said, his tone cautious. "I heard about the incident. I want to know what you will be doing to correct your little hellion."

"What do you mean?" I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Marcy told me all about how you little miscreant and her friend attacked her. She was simply defending herself against the two of them," Franklin explained, his expression one of pure arrogance.

Before I could respond, the Head Mistress stepped in, her face flushed with anger. "Franklin, that's not how this works. We're reviewing the camera footage from the play area. You can't just take Marcy's word for it."

Franklin opened his mouth to protest, but she continued, her tone cutting through the air. "Ethan, take Ashlynn and Markie to the nurse. I'll deal with Franklin and Marcy."

I took a breath, trying to rein in my frustration. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she said firmly. "You focus on getting them checked out. I'll handle this."

I glanced down at Ashlynn, who was still clinging to my side, her small body trembling slightly. I felt a surge of protectiveness and anger rise within me. "Come on, Ashlynn," I said gently, pressing her closer to my chest.

"Daddy," she murmured, her voice small, and for a moment, the warmth of that word calmed me, even as my anger simmered beneath the surface.

"Let's go, guys," I said to Lana, keeping my voice steady. We headed toward the nurse's office, Ashlynn nestled against me, trembling.

"Everything's going to be okay," I reassured her softly, even as the anger churned in my gut.

As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Marcy had crossed a line, and I would make sure she faced the consequences.

When we reached the nurse's office, I felt a mix of urgency and resolve. Ashlynn deserved to feel safe, and I was determined to protect her from anyone who threatened that.