Keep Me Close

The Three Muskateers

Lily POV
"Is your father coming to get us?" Noel asked me. Father was running late, he was never late. Ever. It just wasn't something he would do.
"Yes. I don't know where he is" i said. Noel and I were sitting on a bench outside of the school, meanwhile Ramin was running about chasing a squirrel around the school yard. Typical boy.
We sat in silence trying to hear any sign of a carriage in the distance, then I heard a scream down the road and the hooves of horses hitting the ground. On the road emerged a carriage with two black as night horses running along. The driver had a black cape flowing behind him. It was my Father,
"Father!" I screamed. He turned into the schools drive. I had no idea that he could drive a carriage. I swear the man could do anything. I seemed to learn something new about him everyday.
"Woah, woah!" My Fathers voice boomed as he pulled back the reins of the horses slowing them down. He climbed down the carriage and approached us. I could tell Noel grew anxious at his approach, I had forewarned my father about this. He understood.
"Hello ladies" he said kneeling down in front of us. I smiled at him, "Mademoiselle Noel I presume" he said looking at her. She timidly nodded. He then softly grasped her hand, placing a soft kiss on it. She blushed at his action. He certainly was a gentleman, he was so gentle and kind sometimes.
"Hi Mr Y" Ramin said climbing down from the tree near us,
"Ramin my boy, I'm not Mr Y today, I am simply Mr Destler. Lily's father" he said placing his hand on my shoulder.
"Yes sir"
"What on earth are you doing in that tree?" Father said looking puzzled.
"There was a squirrel that I had been chasing, and the coward ran up the tree" Ramin said glaring back at the tree. Father smirked at him,
"Certainly a coward then" Father agreed. "Now then, we must go. I have quite the evening planned" he said clapping his hands together, his leather gloves he wore making a smacking noise. Ramin ran towards the carriage and climbed up into the seat. Noel followed, I hung back a moment with Father. I hugged his torso and he returned the action,
"Thank you Father" I whispered into his ear.
"Anything for you my love" he said and gave me a soft kiss. He took my hand and lead me to the carriage joining my friends. He took his position and we set off to our adventure.

Erik POV
I had an impression to make. I'm not the man they say I am. Yes, I was once a monster. I had done many terrible things in my life, but that was in my past. I had vowed to be the best man I could be, yes for myself but more importantly for my daughter.
As I drove children chatted in the carriage about the events at school this past week. Noel had told Ramin and Lily about the song she planned on dancing to in the talent showcase. A dancer...  I shall bring them my the theater and introduce her to Meg. I thought to myself. Then Ramin began to talk about how his father had shown him how to restring his banjo the other night. Lily sat there rather silent, observing her friends chat away. She had adopted my habit of being more quiet and observant in the passed few months.
We arrived to the stables where the horses and carriages were kept,
"Papa!" I heard Ramin yell from the back,
"Ramin what on earth are you doing?" His father yelled, shocked seeing his son in the back of my carriage. I came to a stop,
"Mr Y, I'm sorry if-" I waved my hand to silence him.
"Nonsense. There is no need for apologies Dante he is a fine young man." Dante's expression seemed to change at the compliment,
"Thank you sir. I do try" he said.
"There is no need for 'sir' my good man. Please call me Erik" I said. I had never told many my first name, however these circumstances we different. He was the father of my daughter's friend. I saw him as my equal, a father doing the best he can.
"Papa, Mr Destler is taking us around the park" Ramin said excitedly. Dante looked at me puzzled.
"Well come here, I have some money for you" he said pulling out his wallet from his pants.
"No, no thats not necessary" I said. I knew how hard my employees worked for their money. I wasn't going to allow him to spend it.
"No I insist" he said trying to hand Ramin the money again.
"Mr Karimloo, I would be offended if you gave him the money" I said.
"Very well." he tucked the bills back into his pocket.
"Now then, I believe the children and I have an full evening planned. We must be off" I said turning around on my heel. The children climbed out of the carriage and began following me. We walked out of the barn into the busy street,
"Behave yourself Ramin!" Dante called from the barn.
"Yes Papa!" He yelled back.
I decided to take them to the midway to do some rides. Lily dragged them to the roller coaster first. Ramin went right along with her, but Noel was hesitant at first but eventually agreed after Lily had convinced her. I watched the three of them amused. I wish I had grown up this way. I had never had friends like this, or any for that matter. I envied my daughter in a way, but it made me want to give her everything I never had and even more. They rode the roller coast four more times after this before losing interest and moving to the next thing. Ramin dragged them to the carousel, they had all chosen a horse and the ride began. While they had been enjoying the ride, I looked around in amazement.
I created this. There were families walking around looking happy, children laughing, parents watching them with a look of endearment in their eyes. 20 years ago, not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being the creator of all this joy. This was my doing.

"Father!" I heard my daughter yell. I whirled around to see my daughter and her friends making faces at me, sticking their tongues out at me, and filling their rosy cheeks with air. This warmed my heart, she was happy. Despite all the pain of losing her mother, she still was filled with joy. They came around again, this time Ramin was laying down on the back of his horse, his hands folded behind his head, Noel and Lily now on the same horse. The next time they came around I decided to give a go at this whole funny faces thing, i stuck my tongue out at her. They all erupted in laughter seeing the sight of me.
They had done almost every ride in the park, after the bumper cars they ran over to me breathless.
"Father, may we go to the theater? Noel wants to see it" Noel gave me a kind smile, with pleading eyes.
"Of course my dears" I said. They all ran ahead. It was difficult to keep up with three ten year olds, I could barely keep up with one somedays. I hated to admit it, but i was beginning to show my age. I wasn't as spry as i used to be. Just the other day I noticed a few gray hairs beginning to sprout. I wasn't amused by this. I never knew my exact age, but I would've guessed i was around forty to forty-five. I would never be able to admit this out loud however....