Winter's Daughter

Chapter 6

James looked at the little girl sadly.

"Mom and Dad aren't coming back?" She looked at the soldier, trying to control her emotions and stay strong in front of one of her commanding officers.

James nodded and hugged her. "It's going to be okay though."

Victoria hugged the soldier tightly as she suppressed her tears. To think that she'd believed a lie for four years. She didn't know how she'd recover from this. She let out a small sob knowing that she'd never be the same.

"Hey, hey, its okay. Everything will be okay. I'm recovering from something myself. We'll work through this together. How does that sound?"

Victoria sniffed and nodded, hugging him tightly. "I wish Jason didn't have me call you 'Soldier' all the time. I wish I could call you something different."

James smiled at her gently and held her close. He hadn't felt this way with anyone else but his little sister Rebecca. She was always there for him when he needed her. He didn't know why he felt the need to watch over this girl. To protect her from anything that could harm her.

He loved her.

James' mind registered her statement and he beamed slightly. "You can call me anything you'd like."

Victoria's hopes soared when she heard him say that. "Since we are always spending time together and you're always teaching me new things, does that, in a way, make you a father figure?"

James took her question into great consideration. Was he really ready for this? He pondered all of the time he had spent with her. He trained her, but that was Jason's order.

Jason was dead.

"Yeah, I guess it does." He nodded.

"My last name used to be Roberts. If you're my father figure now, does that mean my last name will change?"

James shook his head and slid off the edge of the bed, going to his feet.

"What is your last name anyway?"

James had to think for a moment before answering.

"Barnes."

"I like your name better. Can that be my last name?" Victoria asked,smiling brightly.

"I think Victoria Barnes has a good ring to it." James smiled

"So does this mean you're my father?"

The soldier laughed lightly.

"Yeah. It does."