Father's Daughter

3.04

CHAPTER FOUR

Lyra woke with the soft light of dawn streaming through her window, filling the room with a gentle warmth. The morning on Jovian was like nothing she had ever experienced—the golden sun casting its ethereal light over the lush, alien landscape, making the colors more vivid, more alive. She dressed quickly, excitement tugging at her as she left her room, stepping out to the garden where her father was already tending to the delicate flowers and fantastical plants that grew in riotous colors around the house.

The sun had barely risen over the rolling hills and lush green valleys surrounding Scathan's home. Mist clung to the earth, giving everything a soft, dreamlike quality as Lyra and Scathan strolled through the garden, admiring the morning light that turned the dew-covered flowers into a shimmering field of stars. Lyra could smell the faint scent of something sweet and floral on the breeze, mingling with the freshness of the morning.

"Good morning, Dad," she called, breathing in the crisp morning air.

Scathan looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Morning, Lyra. Beautiful day, isn't it?"

She nodded, taking in the vibrant landscape, and joined him, her heart light as they began their morning stroll through the garden. She was about to comment on one of the flowers, a glowing blossom with a soft, humming energy, when a soft sound pierced the quiet.

They both froze. It was faint but unmistakable—the sound of a baby's cry.

"Do you hear that?" she asked, her gaze narrowing as she turned to face the direction of the sound.

Scathan frowned, clearly curious as well. "Yes... it almost sounds like..."

"Crying," Lyra finished for him, an odd sense of urgency prickling up her spine.

They exchanged a glance before quickening their pace, following the soft cries that seemed to come from just beyond the garden, near the front steps of Scathan's house. As they rounded the corner, Lyra's heart skipped a beat. Two small bundles lay on the stone steps, each one swaddled tightly in blankets. As Lyra stepped closer, her breath caught.

Two baby girls—one with hair as dark as midnight, her forehead adorned with a tiny red gem, and the other with fair blond hair, her wide eyes a striking, almost mystical shade of purple—lay nestled together. Their cries softened as Lyra and Scathan approached, their tiny bodies shifting, each baby clutching the edge of her blanket.

"Oh, my stars..." Lyra's voice was barely a whisper. She knelt, gazing at them in astonishment and wonder. They were small, helpless, and heartbreakingly beautiful.

Scathan dropped down beside her, his expression as bewildered as hers. "Where did they come from?" His voice was soft, as if speaking too loudly might disturb the miracle before them.

Lyra didn't answer, her heart swelling with a fierce, protective warmth she hadn't expected. Gently, she reached forward and lifted one of the bundles into her arms. The baby with the inky black hair stopped crying the moment she felt Lyra's arms around her, tiny fingers curling around a lock of Lyra's hair.

Lyra looked over at her father, her expression full of wonder. "Dad... they're so beautiful."  Her heart ached, the realization settling in that these tiny lives had been abandoned, left to fate at the steps of a stranger's home.

Scathan watched her, his expression thoughtful as he took in the sight of his daughter cradling the babies with a tenderness that filled his heart with pride. But when Lyra glanced up at him, determination blazing in her gaze, he saw something more.

"Dad," she said, her voice steady and clear. "I want to raise them."

Scathan raised his eyebrows, taken aback. "Lyra, that's... Are you sure? Raising children is a great responsibility. You'd be giving up a lot of your own life, your own plans."

Lyra's eyes softened, her arms instinctively tightening around the babies as she looked down at their tiny faces. "I know it's a huge responsibility," she murmured, smiling as the blond-haired baby blinked up at her, the purple of her eyes catching the light like gems. "But they need someone to love them, someone to be there for them. And... I think I need them too."

Scathan studied her face for a long moment. Finally, a soft smile broke through his usual stern expression. "You have a kind heart, Lyra. If this is what you want... then these girls will have a wonderful life with you. I'll help however I can."

Lyra's face lit up, her eyes shining with gratitude and joy as she looked down at the babies. They had already captured her heart, and she couldn't imagine leaving them to an uncertain fate. "Thank you, Dad," she whispered, cradling the babies closer. She could already picture it—their laughter filling the house, the joy of watching them grow, guiding them through the world. She hadn't known she was missing something until now.  She looked down at the baby in her arms, her heart overflowing with love and hope. This tiny life in her hands, fragile and trusting, was now part of her world.

The baby in Scathan's arms cooed softly, her violet eyes watching Lyra with an unblinking intensity. Lyra felt the weight of her responsibility settle over her, mingling with her excitement. She brushed a gentle hand over the dark-haired baby's head, whispering softly to her. "I think I'll call you... Inkeri," she murmured, the name feeling right in her mouth, like a melody she had known all her life.

"And you..." she turned her gaze to the fair-haired baby with the striking violet eyes, her voice filled with warmth. "You'll be Estelle. Estelle Stark."

Scathan looked at her, pride shining in his eyes. "Inkeri and Estelle. Beautiful names for beautiful girls."

Lyra cradled Inkeri closer, unable to stop the tears that welled in her eyes. Her heart felt full, as if it had expanded to encompass not only her own dreams and hopes but now the futures of these two tiny lives she held dear. She imagined introducing them to Tony, the way he'd raise an eyebrow at the news, his shock melting into an indulgent smile as he finally met them. "I wonder what my dad will say," she mused aloud, laughter mingling with her tears.

Scathan chuckled, his deep voice carrying a rare hint of amusement. "Knowing him from what you told me. I'd imagine Tony Stark will have quite a few things to say."

Lyra could picture it vividly—Tony's dramatic exclamation, his playful grumbles about being a "grandpa" already, and the endless questions he'd throw her way. But she knew that, in the end, he'd love them fiercely, just as he'd loved her.

For the rest of the morning, she and Scathan stayed close to the babies, watching their little features, their tiny movements, every blink, and every yawn a marvel. They took turns cradling them, watching as they drifted into peaceful sleep, trusting and secure.

The beauty of the Jovian landscape sprawled behind them, lush and alive, a perfect backdrop for this new chapter in Lyra's life. With Scathan's help, she had found a part of herself she hadn't known was missing, and now, with Inkeri and Estelle in her arms, she had gained even more.

As the morning sun rose higher, casting a warm light over them, Lyra looked at her father, her heart full. She had found a new purpose, a new kind of love. She was no longer just a Stark, just a protector. Now, she was a mother too, and she was ready to give these girls all the love in the universe.