Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Ethan

Ethan's POV

The morning sun streamed through the windows as Ashlynn and I walked down the hall toward Mr. Delas's classroom. She was in a cheerful mood, skipping slightly as she held my hand, Sir Edington tucked under her other arm. The past few days had been a relief. After her time recovering, she'd finally seemed to settle back into her routine at the Sanctuary, making friends and enjoying her afternoons with Markie, Bryan, Anna—and, surprisingly, Marcy. Most days she was content in Little headspace.

I still felt a flicker of caution about Marcy, but Ashlynn seemed comfortable around her, and I trusted her instincts. She had a good heart, and if she felt safe enough to let Marcy in, I wouldn't question it.

When we entered the classroom, the usual buzz of chatter greeted us. Littles were already settling into their designated play area, and caregivers were preparing for the day's discussions. Ashlynn gave me a bright smile before darting off to the Littles' corner, where Markie was waving her over with an excited grin.

"Morning, Ethan," Mr. Delas said, greeting me with a nod as he stepped into the room. His calm, authoritative presence always set the tone for the class. "Ready for the weekend?"

"Definitely," I replied with a small chuckle. "But ready to get through today first."

He gave a knowing smile before addressing the room. "Alright, everyone, let's settle in."

The chatter quickly died down as everyone turned their attention to Mr. Delas. He scanned the room, his gaze steady and warm, before speaking.

"As you all know, the Sanctuary is not just a place for Littles to learn and play—it's also a community for our Caregivers and Littles to bond and grow. To foster that sense of community, we'll be hosting a Caregiver/Little picnic next Friday."

Excited whispers broke out among the Littles in the corner. The picnic was only held once a year. It was more of an all day event. For those who haven't yet found their preferred dynamic the day was treated like a Little adoption day, but for those of us already comfortable in our chosen dynamics it was a day to show who much we understood each other. I glanced over to see Ashlynn's eyes light up as she whispered something to Markie, their excitement evident.

Mr. Delas raised his hand slightly, signaling for quiet before continuing. "Now, this isn't just a casual event. It's an opportunity for each of you as Caregivers to show how well you understand your Little's preferences and needs. Each pair will be responsible for bringing a dish to share—something that reflects both of you. You'll need to consider what your Little enjoys eating, what represents your dynamic, and how to make it a collaborative effort."

I felt Ashlynn's gaze dart to me, her eyes wide with curiosity. I gave her a reassuring smile and a small nod, silently letting her know we'd talk about it later.

Mr. Delas continued, "This will be a graded assignment for the Caregivers, so take it seriously. I'll provide more details and some tips after today's lecture."

The Littles in the room were practically buzzing with excitement now, and I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. Ashlynn's joy was contagious, and seeing her so engaged after everything this past week warmed my heart.

I leaned back slightly in my seat, already starting to brainstorm ideas for the picnic. Whatever we brought, it needed to be perfect for Ashlynn—something that would make her smile and show her how much I cared.

The familiar hum of chatter and laughter echoed down the hall as I walked Ashlynn to her afternoon Sanctuary class. She had been in good spirits all morning, her recovery finally complete and her confidence growing stronger every day. It warmed me to see her smile.

As we neared the classroom, I noticed a figure standing near the entrance. My pace faltered when I recognized Franklin. He was handing Marcy's bag to Miss Harper, who greeted him with a polite nod before ushering Marcy inside. I frowned, my steps slowing. The last I'd heard, Marcy had been staying with the Head Mistress, and Franklin was supposed to be away for the week.

"Daddy?" Ashlynn asked softly, looking up at me with curiosity.

"It's alright, sweet girl," I reassured her, giving her hand a squeeze. "Go on inside, everything is fine. I'll see you in a few hours."

She hesitated briefly, then nodded and walked through the open door, where her friends were already calling her over to join them. Once she was inside, I turned my attention back to Franklin, who had just noticed me standing there. His expression tightened briefly before he straightened and began walking toward me.

I tensed instinctively, keeping my posture neutral but guarded. Franklin and I had existed in a state of uneasy coexistence ever since the incident with the girls. He wasn't outright antagonistic, but there was a sharpness to his demeanor that made him hard to trust.

"Ethan," Franklin said evenly as he approached, stopping a few feet away.

"Franklin," I replied, my voice cool. "I thought you were away for the week."

"I was," he said, his tone measured. "But I realized I hadn't made proper arrangements for Marcy. It wasn't fair to leave her without the care she needed, so I returned early to fix that."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "I thought the Head Mistress was handling things in your absence."

"She was," Franklin admitted, glancing briefly toward the Sanctuary doors. "But Marcy is my responsibility, and it wasn't right to leave her for someone else to manage." He shifted slightly, his gaze returning to mine. "I also wanted to speak with you."

I crossed my arms, studying him carefully. "About what?"

Franklin hesitated briefly, then sighed. "I know we haven't exactly gotten along in the past, and that's mostly my fault. I let my ego get in the way, and I've handled things poorly. But I'd like to start over."

"Start over?" I repeated, my tone skeptical.

"Yes," he said firmly. "For the sake of our Littles. Marcy and Ashlynn seem to get along well, and I don't want my mistakes to interfere with their friendship. They deserve better."

I glanced toward the classroom, where I could hear the muffled sound of Littles laughing and playing. Ashlynn's laughter stood out to me, clear and joyful.

"For their sake," I echoed, narrowing my eyes slightly. Franklin's expression remained steady, but I couldn't shake the sense that there was more beneath his words. Still, since Ashlynn and Marcy were getting along, it was worth at least considering his offer.

"I'm willing to try," I said finally, my tone cautious. "But if I see anything that makes me doubt your intentions—"

"You won't," Franklin interrupted, his voice firm but devoid of the usual arrogance. "I'm serious, Ethan. I just want what's best for Marcy. And for her to have friends like Ashlynn... that's important."

I nodded slowly, watching as he extended his hand. After a moment of hesitation, I took it, my grip firm. "We'll see," I said, letting the words hang between us as a quiet warning.

Franklin gave a curt nod, then turned and walked away, his posture rigid. I watched him go, unease still lingering in my chest. Maybe he meant what he said, or maybe he was up to something. Either way, I would keep my guard up—for Ashlynn's sake and mine.