Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Franklin's Realization

Franklin's POV

Back at the dorm, Marcy quietly followed me inside, her small frame barely making a sound as she moved. I set her bag down near the door and turned to her, keeping my tone soft. "Let's get you changed into something more comfortable before dinner, alright?"

She nodded, her movements slow but compliant. I opened her dresser, pulling out a sky-blue sweatshirt and a pair of black leggings. Handing them to her, I said, "These should feel better than your uniform. Go ahead and change."

She hesitated for a moment before taking the clothes and heading to the bathroom. As I waited, I leaned against the wall, my mind replaying what I'd learned in class earlier that day. Communication between caregivers and Littles was crucial—one of the foundations of building trust. Yet, I found myself struggling to connect with Marcy. She was guarded, quiet, and rarely shared what she was feeling. Still, I couldn't blame her. I hadn't exactly made things easy for her before now.

When she came back out, dressed in the casual outfit, I gave her a small smile. "Looks much better," I said, trying to keep the conversation light. "You ready for dinner?"

"Yes," she said softly, clutching the hem of her sweatshirt.

"Alright, let's go," I said, gesturing for her to follow me.

The walk to the dining hall was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Marcy stayed close to my side, her head down, though I noticed her glancing around occasionally. I guided her to a table in a quieter corner and pulled out a chair for her. "Sit tight," I said. "I'll grab us some food."

As I approached the counter, I thought about what she might want. Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables were my usual choice, but for Marcy, I opted for chicken nuggets. I'd noticed before how she liked to dip her nuggets into mashed potatoes—it was a small detail, but I hoped it showed her I was paying attention.

When I returned to the table, I placed her tray in front of her. "Chicken nuggets," I said with a small smile. "Figured you'd want something you could dip."

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, widening slightly with surprise. "Thank you," she murmured.

I sat across from her and started eating, watching as she hesitantly picked up a nugget and dipped it into the mashed potatoes. For a while, we ate in silence, but I decided to try breaking the ice. "So," I said casually, "about those tacos for the picnic. What toppings should we make for them?"

Marcy glanced up at me, her brow furrowing slightly as she thought. "Cheese," she said softly. "And lettuce. And corn. And... salsa?"

I nodded. "Cheese, lettuce, and salsa are a good start. What about something like sour cream? Or guacamole?"

She hesitated, her fingers playing with the edge of her plate. "Guacamole's okay... but not too much."

"Got it," I said with a small smile. "What about meat? Do you like ground beef, or should we try chicken tacos?"

"Both, so everyone can choose what they want." she said quickly, her voice gaining a bit more confidence.

"Both it is," I replied. "You're good at this. You're going to be a big help putting it all together."

Marcy gave a small nod, her lips curving into a tentative smile. That tiny gesture of trust felt like a victory, and I made a mental note to keep these conversations going.

Marcy gave a small nod, her lips curving into a tentative smile. That tiny gesture of trust felt like a victory, and I made a mental note to keep these conversations going.

Back at the dorm, I hung her bag by the door and glanced at her. "Alright, kiddo. Let's get you cleaned up before bed."

She nodded, trailing behind me to the bathroom without hesitation. I turned on the faucet in the tub, letting warm water flow as I added a splash of lavender-scented bubble bath. The calming scent quickly filled the room, soft and soothing. Marcy stood nearby, watching the bubbles rise with quiet curiosity.