only fools (fall for you) 》Lip Gallagher/OC

Father Frank, Full of Grace Pt1

Daniela swore there were dozens of butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. She couldn't seem to stop her hands from fidgeting with whatever she could find. Jakob glanced over at her in annoyance. She was sketching again- or trying to. Finding a pen and some napkins in the glove box, she decided to use them to take her mind off of things. In reality, she was just scribbling nonsensical things and clicking her pen.

Click! Click! Clic-

"Dani, I swear. If you click that pen one more time," he warned gruffly. His sister's eyes snapped to his, clearly in a daze. Her mouth formed an O shape as she looked down at the pen in her hand and put it down in the cup holder.

"Sorry," she grimaced. "Just nervous I guess."

"You don't say," scoffed Jakob lightly. "You shouldn't be. It'll be fine. He'll be happy to see you."

Daniela switched her attention to looking out her window at the passing cars and road. She hummed slightly to herself- an old song her mom used to sing to her. It managed to calm her nerves. Her brother listened contently, smiling slightly. By the time they arrived at the prison, she felt almost ready to see her dad once again. They went through the usual process of going through security, signing in and receiving their Visitors badges.

Jakob rubbed his sister's shoulders in reassurance as they were led by a security guard into the meeting room. Daniela recognized the bland surroundings as she entered and made her way over to an empty stall.

She tucked a piece of brown hair behind her ear, ignoring the consistent tapping of her foot. Her attention snapped to her brother when she heard him clear his throat.

"Relax, yeah? It'll be fine." Daniela nodded in reply and twisted her head back towards the glass window. The tall, broad-shouldered figure of her father caught her eye. Lawrence's face filled with surprise for a brief second before quickly being replaced with a small smile.

The man let out a low grunt as he took the seat across from her and grabbed the nearby phone.

"Daniela," he greeted slowly. "I thought I wouldn't be seeing you again."

Daniela huffed a small laugh and shook her head. "You and me both. But recently, things have happened and I've thought- a lot- about what you did." Her clammy hand clutched the phone to her ear as her father listened, intrigued. She didn't miss the small glimmer of hope that showed in his green eyes. "And I decided, that I am ready to make amends."

Lawrence's face almost split down the middle from his grin. The man nodded and leaned his head forward slightly.

"You have no idea how much I've wanted to fix things between us. To explain everything I did. Why I was never there for you, even before I got locked up in here."

"You don't have to explain, Dad," disagreed Daniela with a shake of her head. "I know you did what you did for us. To provide and protect us. And while the image of seeing you actually killing someone is burned into my brain, I... I'm willing to try and move past it."

"I love you all so much, baby girl," said Lawrence adamantly. Daniela felt tears spring to her eyes at the sound of the term of endearment her father had often said to her. "You, your brother, your mother- you were everything to me. And there was no way in hell, that I was letting that Milkovich prick lay a hand on any of you. No matter what the price."

"I know, Dad," nodded the girl, feeling a lot better. "I realize that now. I'm just sorry it took me so long for me to do this."

"No," refused Lawrence with a deep frown. "You have no reason to apologize. Even before I was in here, I was a shit father. I know I was. I was never there for you when you needed me. Hell, I don't think I ever even read you a damn bedtime story."