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You laid on the blanketed area, watching with a smile as Napoleon carefully taught fencing to your little daughter. She had been insisting for a few days and he had finally given in.
While watching, you had the idea and started making a flower crown for each of them.
Sometimes you wondered if it was okay for her to learn. It wasn’t much of a feminine skill. Personally, you didn’t mind, of course, but questioned if it would affect her ability to socialize when she grew up.
No. It wouldn’t. Or you would make sure it didn’t. Let your little girl be who she wanted to be. Besides, she was too young for anyone to know if she wouldn’t change her mind. And then there were other things that would make her different from other people, things beyond your control. Things you wished you were better prepared to deal with.
For now, though, you just enjoyed the scene before you.
You always knew Napoleon was good with children as he taught a group in the city. None quite this young, though. And your daughter looked so focused and determined, but she was having fun. Whenever she did something wrong, she just giggled as Napoleon gently corrected her, then she went to try again.
You loved seeing father and daughter bonding.
You noticed her movements slowing down. Napoleon also noticed, but instead of calling the training out, he simply didn’t dodge the girl’s next attack, falling dramatically to the ground as the tip of the toy sword touched him.
Your daughter giggled and waits for him to get up, but when he didn’t, she dropped the sword and walked up to him, pulling at his arm.
“Come on, papa, you’re not dead.” Her initial laugh turned into a surprised yelp as Napoleon pulled her into his arms instead, and again into laughter as he tickled her. “Papa. Not fair.”
He laughed too, hugged the still laughing girl and picked her up. Still laughing, they returned to you.
“Mama!" the girl squirmed in her father’s arms, and Napoleon set her down so she could run to you. “Did you watch me?”
“Of course I did, little princess.” You kissed her forehead as she hugged you and settled one of the flower crowns over her head. “You will grow very strong, like your father.” You placed the bigger crown on Napoleon’s head while giving him a chaste kiss that made your daughter giggle and snuggle against you, hiding her face.
“Like her mother too.” Napoleon kissed you back. “Beautiful, strong, smart, and hardworking. Like you already are and more each day, right, princesse?” She didn’t answer, only looked up, seeming very pensive. “What is the problem?”
“Papa... can I still be a princess if I know how to fight?”
Napoleon laughed, but when the girl frowned, he tried to stop and patted her head.
“Of course you can. You will always be our little princess. Who said you can’t?”
“The princesses in the stories don’t know how. Only princes and knights fight.”
It was an interesting observation for her age. Children were so surprising sometimes.
“I think it’s about time we change that, then. Princesses should be able to defend themselves and the things they love.”
“Your father is right. Every girl is a princess, no matter what they’re like or what they do. And you’ll always be ours.” You both hugged her, and she laughed. “Besides, I know a story about a princess that knows how to fight and is very strong.”
“Yay! Story time!”
Napoleon sat by your side and the girl settled on her father’s lap, staring at you with these big jade eyes.
Story time was always fun for your family, although Napoleon was usually the one who insisted on reading for your daughter.
Was it right for you to tell a story from your time, though? But you did. Just between your family, it was fine, right?
Before the story even ended, your daughter was already asleep. You and Napoleon exchanged a look and a smile.
“Ready to go back, nunuche?”
“Seems like you really tired her.” You chuckled and stood up, starting to gather the things from the picnic.
Although he was already carrying your daughter, Napoleon insisted on carrying your things but, when you resisted, he let you do it and you two laughed about the situation.
Back home, Napoleon picked the flower crown from your daughter’s head and tucked her in bed.
While he did that, you hung both your crown and your daughter’s on the hooks in the wall. It was almost a tradition at this point, to make these crowns whenever the field was blooming and hang them until they dried.
“One more peaceful day.” Napoleon commented, hanging his own crown next to the others. “Thank you for being a part of this.” He kissed you.
“Save this for later.” You pretend yo complain, both of you smiling at each other. “But I should be the one thanking you. I never expected such a peaceful life, and you’re the one who makes me this happy.”
“That’s my line, nunuche.” Napoleon ruffled your hair and kissed your cheek this time. “I never knew I wanted a life like this, let alone that I would have it. Thank you.”
You two shared another kiss, longer and deeper and, this time, you didn’t even pretend to protest.
“And I’ll make you even happier.” You told him when you broke apart, reaching into the picnic basket you had left in a corner, to pick out a smaller flower crown you’d made while your husband and daughter were training.
Napoleon looked at you with confusion for a moment, then surprise and finally the smile you were expecting to see before he drew you into a hug. By the way he whispered your name, he sounded like he was about to cry.
You two stood there in each other’s arms for a while before Napoleon pulled away enough to look at you and, while still holding you in one arm, caressed your face with the other hand.
“You are the best thing that happened in my life, and that you are willing to grow this family with me is the best gift I could have. Thank you, mon amour.”
Chuckling, you leaned in to kiss him this time.
“You’re welcome, my prince.”
You knew that normal, peaceful life was exactly what made Napoleon happy, and you would make sure that happiness would continue to grow while you could, knowing he would do the same for you and both would make your growing family happy together, because that’s part of being a family, taking care of each other.
“How would you like to celebrate the occasion?” Napoleon asked, parting from you only to hang the new flower crown next to the other ones.
“I was thinking of a family trip tomorrow.” You approached and hugged him from behind, snuggling into his back. “But for today, why don’t you surprise me?”