Archive of Our Own ^beta

Phoenix heard a loud 'BANG!' which was followed by the sound of something breaking. What scared him more was hearing his daughter screaming her little lungs out. In pure horror, he instantly dropped what he was doing and went to go check on what happened. When he entered the room, he was shocked to see what he saw…

It was a normal Saturday for the Wright Family. Trucy had already finished her homework for the weekend and was extremely bored without anything to do. And when she is bored, she takes it upon herself to annoy her father and smother him with love. She left her room and entered the living room where her father currently was. He seemed to simply be watching the news, unaware of the other presence in the room.

The young magician took this opportunity to play a small prank on her father. She quickly grabbed her blanket from her room and hid herself under it. It was a cute blanket, which was a darkish blue in colour and covered in various sizes of yellow stars. She slowly started to approach her father and lay down beside him on the couch. It was quite obvious to Phoenix what was happening, but he decided to play along with his daughter's shenanigans. He shut off the TV and dedicated his attention to something far more important.

“Oh my! How did this blanket end up here beside me? I hope nothing will happen to me if I lift the blanket up to check what is underneath,” the beanie-wearing man was overexaggerating and smiling widely while he did it. He could definitely hear the giggles of the young girl coming from the blanket but chose to ignore it.

He slowly started to lift the blanket. In doing so, he fell perfectly into the magician's trap. She sprung up and jumped onto her father.

“BOO!”

“AHHH!” The man screamed as he fell backwards onto the couch. After the man's screaming had ended, he looked down to see his daughter cuddling up into his hoodie. He smiled widely and began patting her head softly.

“Haha! I got you good, Daddy! Did I spook you?” The little girl asked as she looked at him with beaming eyes full of happiness. Phoenix never got tired of those adorable eyes. Those eyes were able to captivate not only audiences but also capture people's hearts. He was so proud of his daughter and her accomplishments at such an early age.

“You definitely got me, my moonflower. Spooked me to death almost,” he ruffled the girl's hair, and she giggled happily at the fact that she was able to scare her dad. She lay on her father's chest and listened to his heartbeat as he ran his fingers through her hair and held her close. She really enjoyed the weekends because it meant she could spend time with her daddy.

Trucy was still feeling bored even with her father around and wished there was something fun they could do together to pass the time. She thought for a little while until she came up with a brilliant idea. Little star shapes started forming in her eyes, while she flung her head up to look at her father, who was falling asleep.

“Daddy!” She exclaimed, which woke up the drowsy ex-attorney.

“Huh! Oh, yes, baby girl? What's wrong?” He yawned while the little magician got off her father's chest and jumped up and down in glee on the wooden floor.

“Can we bake a cake together? You know, for Halloween! Pretty please with a cherry on top?” She announced excitedly and was instantly filled with so much energy.

Phoenix thought for a second and looked at the girl in confusion. “Halloween already passed, remember Trucy? You dressed up as a dragon to scare your teacher, and you went trick-or-treating with pearls and your aunt Maya.”

The little girl had forgotten that Halloween was over, and it was now November. “That is true, but still, it could be like a post-Halloween cake, to celebrate our first Halloween together!”

Phoenix considered that and was happy that Trucy remembered it was their first Halloween together as a family.

“Alright, my moonflower. You win, let's bake a cake!” He exclaimed as he picked the young magician up and swung her around in circles. She was giggling and smiling like there was no tomorrow. She really loved her new daddy and was happy that he adopted her. She does not think she would be as happy as she is now if she was put into an orphanage or adoption centre. The little girl is thankful the ex-attorney chose her.

He set his daughter down after a few more spins and went to check if they had the materials to bake a cake. Trucy followed behind her father like a small duckling following the mama duck. She watched the beanie-wearing man search through various cupboards and cabinets for cake materials. It did not seem to be looking very bright.

The man searched for a few more minutes before turning to his sweet girl, “Trucy, I am going to be honest with you and say that I do not really recall what is in a cake.”

“Daddy! Then what have you been searching this whole time,” She huffed and questioned the man in front of her.

“I… am not really sure. I was honestly trying to jog my memory if anything,” Phoenix said with a big grin as he nervously patted the back of his neck. The little girl was not impressed at all by this. But found it endearing that her daddy was at least trying to help.

“That’s okay, daddy-o! Mr. Hat and I will help jog your memory,” Trucy grinned before taking out Mr. Hat, who immediately spooked her father. He jumped backwards and had a terrified expression.

Trucy giggled at her father's reaction, “Daddy! You always get scared when I bring out Mr. Hat. You know if you keep doing that, you are going to hurt his feelings.”

The beanie-wearing man collected himself. He never truly got used to that.

“I apologize to the amazing, Mr. Hat and the even more amazing Trucy Wright. I didn't mean to offend,” He bows humbly, and this gets a laugh out of his daughter as well as an appreciative noise out of Mr. Hat, “I still do not understand where you store that little guy, baby girl”

“A magician never reveals her secrets!”

“I knew you were going to say that, but I still held out hope. Anyway, I am glad you two can accompany me in getting some cake supplies. We needed to go to the grocery store anyway, so this trip was well overdue,” He picked up the grocery list that was set on the dining table, “Put on your boots and jacket moonflower, we got some shopping to do.”

The little girl’s eyes lit up in excitement. She absolutely adored shopping day. Trucy knew that her daddy could be a big softie which meant that she could sometimes get treats out of him. There were times he would have to stop her from getting sweets because they were running low on money that month, but these days, he seems to indulge her more in treats.

She ran off with Mr. Hat to get ready while her father put his own shoes and scarf on. Her daddy had asked her if she wanted him to help her with getting dressed and such, but Trucy really enjoyed picking out her own outfits and putting on her clothes by herself. It made her feel mature and less dependent on her father. He always assured her that he did not mind helping her out if she wanted that, but she continued to refuse. She did not want to be a burden on him. But she would never tell her father that.

The weather these days was particularly chilly since December was only a month away. And one thing her father was strict about was keeping warm. But only when it came to her. He wore sandals in the freezing cold until she told him that he could not tell her to keep warm when he himself was not keeping warm. Her father could not fight this logic, so he also started dressing appropriately for the weather. He could never seem to win against the small child, she was way beyond her years.

Trucy came rushing back with her magician hat traded for a wool toque, cute glow-in-the-dark gloves, blue jacket and wicked ass light up heelys (they are shoes that have roller skates at the bottom of them, and while the skates are out, they light up and are bright) that most of her class was jealous of. Her Uncle Miles had gotten them for her on her birthday, and she wore them non-stop since. Trucy remembers when she first saw the gift, she was incredibly excited to see what her Uncle had gotten her, and she was not disappointed at all. When she saw what the gift was, she jumped around in utter excitement and happiness. She gave her Uncle Miles the biggest hug ever, and many ‘thank you’s’ were tossed around.

He was more than satisfied with himself knowing that the young magician was incredibly grateful for the present. He had simply told her to be happy and study hard in school, and he would continue bringing her nice gifts. Trucy immediately agreed to this silly little agreement between the two of them. In the background were other important individuals such as her Auntie Maya, cousin Pearl, Uncle Larry, Auntie Franziska, and her loving Father. It was the best birthday she had ever experienced, and she was so happy to celebrate it with her new and true family.

“Ready to go, my moonflower?” Phoenix asked Trucy, who was tidying up her hat. She looked up at her father and started laughing at the sight of him with a silly Christmas scarf on.

“Daddy, that scarf is very silly!” She giggled as she continued to stare at the scarf. Her father blissfully sighed and had a big grin on his face.

“Your Aunt Maya got this for me, Trucy. Do you want me to tell her you called her gift silly?” He crossed his arms and looked away in disappointment. The little girl stopped laughing and looked nervous.

“No! It is not silly if Auntie Maya got it for you. I am sorry,” The little girl apologized as she looked down and played with her fingers shyly. Her father realized he had made a mistake. He kneeled in front of her and lifted her head with his thumb and pointer finger.

“Baby girl, I was just joking. I promise I won't tell her that. I am sorry. I should have been more clear about that being a joke,” Phoenix gave Trucy a soft smile, which she happily reciprocated.

One thing Trucy liked about her father was that he would apologize to her whenever he knew he was in the wrong. He taught her it was okay to be wrong and that as long as we can admit our mistakes and grow from them, then we can continue to grow as people. He was very different from her previous Dad, who was not the best. He made her feel like her feelings were not important or she was just fragile and not able to get when something was funny. Her Daddy now always made sure her feelings were taken into consideration and respected. She really appreciated that.

“It’s okay, Daddy. Thank you for apologizing. I love you,” She expressed before she hugged her father, who was still kneeling in front of her. Phoenix could feel tears building up in their eyes. The waterworks always did start whenever his little girl told him she loved him. He held her hold and kissed her forehead.

“I love you too, Trucy. Thank you for accepting my apology, sweetheart. Shall we go shopping now?” He asked her, and she enthusiastically nodded. He giggled softly before getting up and opening the front door. The pair went outside, where Phoenix locked the door and held his hand out for his daughter to take hold of, which she gladly did. Hand-in-hand, they began making their way to the grocery store, which was only 10 minutes away on foot. The two of them enjoyed the walks they had together. It was always quiet and peaceful this time of day.

The walks would sometimes be more than 10 minutes due to the amount of stopping that the pair did. They loved taking in the scenery and checking up on stray cats. Trucy had befriended most of the cats near their home and was called the cat whisperer by many of the residents around the area. The Wright family also enjoyed checking up on flowers that would grow near roads and such.

There were these two flowers that had been growing together for over 3 months, now and were almost fully done. One of the flowers was a smaller blue shade while the other was a bit larger but still the same blue shade, and it was shaped in a way that it looked as though it was bending over to shield the other one from any harm. Phoenix loved telling Trucy how those two flowers represented their family and how he would always protect her in every lifetime. Whether they were humans or plants, he would always be by her side to take care of her. She really loved these two flowers and how she was able to see herself and her loving father in them.

They continued their path towards the grocery store, and a 10-minute walk turned into more of a 20 to 25-minute walk, but it was all in good fun. They entered the store, and Trucy was prepared to make a dash towards the sweets and candies section before her father lifted her up into his arms.

“Oh no, you don’t little lady!” Phoenix giggled and applied many kisses to her forehead and cheeks.

“Daddy! Stop! Hahaha!” She grinned brightly and laughed, “Your beard stubble is itchy, Daddy!”

“Sorry about that, baby girl, but I cannot allow you to run off to the candy aisle. I need my second in command to help me find the cake materials and various other supplies. You think you can help me with that before you go off running?” He asked the girl, who was still scooped up into his arms.

The young magician thought for a bit before nodding her head in agreement, “Okay, Daddy! I will help you with the supplies. Can I choose what kind of cake we make?”

“Sure, my moonflower, you can choose the cake flavour and everything. But you have to promise to help me, alright?”

“Okay, daddy-o! I've got you covered. Don’t even worry about your pretty little head!” She grinned happily, and her father looked puzzled.

“My love … where did you learn that expression?” Phoenix raised an eyebrow at the little girl as he set her down. Trucy began not making eye contact with her father and started whistling. He continued to look at her as she started baking away to grab a cart for the two of them.

“Trucy Artemis Wright, was it your Uncle Larry who taught you that?”

She stopped in her tracks and looked up at him with puppy dog eyes. She was begging him not to question her more because she probably had made a promise to her Uncle or whoever it was to not tell Phoenix.

The beanie-wearing man sighed, “Alright, I am just going to assume it was your Uncle, and we can move on from this topic. Just refrain from saying things like that alright, Truce? I do not think it is good for my heart to hear my little girl saying that.”

“Okay, Daddy!” She said enthusiastically as she grabbed the cart. She had to drag it out by the side even though she was tall enough to reach the cart's handlebars, it was just difficult to put any strength behind the pulling.

“Do you need help, baby girl?” Phoenix asked, but before Trucy could reply, she was able to get the cart separated from the one in front of it.

“I got it, Daddy!” Trucy said, and Phoenix gave her a small round of applause. She happily responded with a bow and a big grin. Her father had asked her if she wanted to sit in the cart, but Trucy refused and said that she wanted to walk beside him and help him pick up the groceries. Phoenix did not argue with his daughter and was happy she found excitement in the store.

He had realized pretty early on that his daughter was way more independent than other children. There was an incident that happened at Trucy’s school where another child accused Trucy of hitting her and pulling on her hair.

When Phoenix came to pick up his daughter, he was ushered into a room where he saw an angry blonde woman, comforting what seemed to be her child who was crying, Trucy’s very anxious homeroom teacher, and Trucy. He was caught up in the situation by the homeroom teacher, and Phoenix could not believe what he was hearing. His daughter was in a physical alliteration with another child?! That sounded nothing like his little Trucy. Before he could ask his daughter about what had happened, the other child's mother spoke.

“How are you raising your delinquent daughter? She hurt my little Avery! You are so lucky that the teacher talked me out of suing you!” The blonde woman yelled at Phoenix harshly.

The child’s mother was quite cruel in the way she was ripping into the teacher, Phoenix, and Trucy herself. He ignored the child’s mother and instead looked over to his daughter who had been quiet this whole time. Her hat was off and being held in her hands.

“Trucy, darling, did you hit your classmate?” He questioned her softly. The young magician held her father's hand, and he held it close to him in return. She looked up at her father and had eyes full of tears. It seemed as though she had been holding back tears for quite a while now. He felt like several knives had just stabbed him in the heart. He hated seeing his sweet girl cry. He looked at the mother with eyes that wanted to burn the whole world around him.

Trucy tugged on her father's hand to get his attention. He turned back to his daughter after giving the blonde woman a mean stare and gave his daughter his undivided attention.

“I promise that I didn’t hit her,” She spoke softly in a breathy tone, tears dripping down her face. Phoenix frowned and wished he could quickly make this situation go away so that he could take Trucy home and cheer her up. He grabbed a tissue off the desk and helped his daughter blow her nose and wipe her tears.

The child’s mother was having none of this and could not believe that Phoenix would side with his own daughter. Wow, he is one evil man for having faith in his literal child. “That little devil is lying! My Avery told you that she did it! Why would my child ever lie? It is obvious she is deceitful and lying!”

He really was not enjoying the tone the blonde woman was taking with him. “If my daughter says that she did not hit your child. Then she did not hit her. I respect you for standing up for your child, but I do not think yelling will solve anything. Something else must have happened,” Phoenix stated while holding his ground.

Trucy’s homeroom teacher was a very shy lady who hated arguments of any kind. She was trying her best to de-escalate the situation, “How about we all take a deep breath and reassess the situation! I know we can say a lot of things we do not mean when we are upset, and I do not think we should say anything inappropriate in front of the children!” She nervously spoke, but the two protective parents were not backing down.

“I will not take a deep breath! My beautiful child was assaulted! It is obvious she must not have a mother figure in her life. If you are her only parent, then it's clear where she gets this aggression from!” She yelled, jumping out of her chair and pointing her pointer finger in Phoenix’s face.

Oh, she had just crossed a line, which she never had any right crossing. Phoenix wanted to swear, shout, scream, and do absolutely anything to tell this woman she could shove it where the sun didn't shine. But he composed himself and thought about how that would make his daughter look. He was already afraid of being an embarrassment to her. He could not do anything to jeopardize her reputation more.

He looked over at Trucy, who started crying again. It was still so new to her that her parents were both no longer present in her life. They might be out there in the world, but currently, she is very alone and lost. Seeing the small girl cry at the mention of not having a mother present crushed Phoenix’s soul. He had every reason to just pick his daughter up and walk out of the room. He did not need to take this abusive language from the woman, and he certainly did not need to let his daughter be a victim of it.

“Ma’am,” Phoenix spoke harshly, but it was still in a calm tone, trying not to seem aggressive like the blonde woman stated he was.

The mother flinched and looked confused as to why he was not yelling at her.

“Please do not talk about my family’s situation as though you know anything about us. I will not allow you to look down on me especially not my daughter. So, if you would not mind, could you please sit down so that we can discuss this like adults?” He politely asked with a smile that read ‘Do it now or I will ruin your life in an instance.’

She gulped loudly and sat down as the man had asked. Her child looked incredibly embarrassed over her mother’s actions and seemed eager to get home and forget about this whole instance.

A discussion ensued, and they were all able to communicate like adults to get to the bottom of what had happened. Turns out that the little girl accusing Trucy of hitting her was lying about the incident. It seemed a boy in the class was talking to Trucy, and Avery got jealous of this. She began fake crying to the homeroom teacher and began telling her that Trucy was the one to hit her which resulted in the teacher holding Trucy back in the classroom and putting her in an unfair time out.

Trucy tried her best to prove her innocence, and the boy who was talking to her also defended her, but the teacher did not listen to either of them. She did not allow Trucy to explain herself and simply believed the little girl who was crying.

The blonde woman apologized purposely to the Wright family and lectured her child as they walked off. Trucy’s teacher also apologized for the incident and in particular apologized to Trucy for not taking her side and getting all the facts before putting her in time out. She promised Trucy this would never happen again and to make up for her mistake she would give her extra recess time tomorrow.

Trucy gave her a big smile and accepted the apology. She seemed happy that the whole situation was over and done with. Phoenix was still not satisfied with how this whole situation played out and felt a lot of anger, but currently, the only thought occupying his brain was getting his little girl home and making sure she was feeling alright.

He held Trucy’s hand and was wearing her small backpack over the other occupied arm. They walked out of the school, and both looked utterly exhausted, like father, like a daughter as the saying goes.

Phoenix let out a big sigh of relief and looked down at his daughter who seemed very emotionless. She would usually tell the beanie-wearing man all about her day and all the activities she had done today, but currently, she did not particularly look in the talking kind of mood.

“Hey, Moonflower…” Phoenix began speaking to his daughter, “Would it be okay if I carried you home? I know you like walking beside me, but I would really appreciate taking you home in my arms. You can say no if you do not want me to. Do not feel pressured at all to accept.”

The small magician looked at him and nodded her head, “Yeah, I want you to carry me, Daddy.”

He gladly obliged and picked her up into his arms. He softly patted her back as she got comfortable with her head resting on the man’s shoulder and her arms wrapped around his neck. They began their journey home.

“Today was not a great day, was it? It must have been very scary,” Phoenix questioned Trucy, and she softly nodded to the question, “I am so sorry that happened to you, my moonflower. She had no right to accuse you of something like that. But I knew she was lying if that makes you feel any better. I know you would never do something like that.”

“You’re saying that because you’re my daddy…” She spoke softly into the man’s shoulder. Clearly still upset about the circumstances surrounding the situation.

He frowned as he continued to walk, “Even if I wasn’t your daddy, I would know that you did not hit her because you are the kindest and sweetest girl that ever existed. The most caring and warmhearted person. You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I can assure you that nothing could convince me otherwise. I love you so much, my angel.”

Phoenix continued slowly rubbing her back, trying to comfort her to the best of his abilities. He continued on the path to their house and saw that they were close to reaching their destination. He was about to open the door when he heard the young magician start sobbing into his shoulder. She tightened her grip around her father’s neck and cried loudly without any fear because she knew her father was there for her no matter what.

The beanie-wearing man was too stunned to move and simply held his daughter, allowing her to let out all her sadness and anger. How could this world be so cruel to the sweetest soul alive? She has not done anything to deserve this torment and uncertainty in her life. And, he knew he would make sure the rest of her days were only filled with good memories and feelings.

The rest of the night was spent cheering Trucy up and making the good memories which were promised. They watched all the Monster High movies and ranked them from best to worst. Trucy thought that ‘Monster High: Boo York, Boo York’ was the best one out of the movies, while Phoenix believed that ‘Monster High: 13 Wishes’ was the best. The two could not come to a common consensus, so the night ended with the two agreeing that ‘Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall In Love?’ was one hundred percent the second-best movie in the franchise.

But, continuing on their quest for cake materials and other assortment of items! Trucy found some eggs and milk, which were in the same aisle, and then went on to grab some flour and sugar. Phoenix had a general idea of what was in a cake and had looked up a simple recipe online to help with the shopping going smoothly. He had told Trucy if she wanted to add any sort of decorations on the cake she could happily do so, and the little girl took this as an invitation to go completely crazy with accessorizing.

They continued grabbing actual ingredients for the cake, but a good majority of the cart became for toppings and decorations. Phoenix couldn't help but laugh sweetly at his daughter's excitement. He could not believe how he was blessed with the silliest little girl.

He thought he should probably intervene because all of the things Trucy was grabbing would not all fit on one singular cake. “My moonflower, I think we need to put some of these back. I can’t imagine that all of them would be able to fit on the cake we are going to make.”

“That’s what you think, Daddy! I will find a way for all of them to shine brightly on the cake,” The magician enthusiastically announced.

Phoenix had a look of defeat on his face. It really was hard saying no to her even though he knew he needed to. Usually, he would indulge the girl, but they really could not afford all of these decorations.

“I do not doubt your abilities, my dear, but I think we should minimize the decorations to maybe three or four. Simply so the cake will be edible and not all stuck to the decorations.”

The little girl could not fight with her father’s logic and sighed. Phoenix helped her pick her favourite toppings, and they went around the store putting the rest back. Trucy would say ‘goodbye’ to every decoration Phoenix put back, and it was killing him inside to put them in their rightful places. God, he wishes he was rich so he could buy his daughter everything she ever wanted.

All the ingredients were then required, as well as, normal groceries that needed to be picked up. Hooray! The Wrights shared a celebratory high five and went to check out the abundance of stuff in their cart.

Trucy was dead set on helping her father carry some of the bags. He had reassured her that he would be able to hold them by himself, but she was not backing down and taking no for an answer. She had the expression of an angry cat and it made Phoenix fight back a big grin. He gave in and allowed the young girl to hold 2 of the lighter bags containing the decorations and some smaller assortments of food.

She gave her father a big smile and started leading the way out of the store. “Follow me, Daddy!”

“Aye, Aye, Captain!” He replied and followed his daughter to the exit. Phoenix could hear some fellow shoppers ‘Awwing’ in the background and felt a little embarrassed, but he rather feels embarrassed than crush his daughter's imaginative mind.

They exited the store only to realize it had begun raining.

“Uh oh.”

“Uh oh is right, my moonflower…”

It was not raining heavily, but it was still coming down nonetheless. The pair were dressed warmly, so no reason to worry about catching a cold. However, Phoenix was worrying about the groceries getting drenched in the rain.

The last thing he wants is for today to go badly for Trucy. The girl in question stared at the rain and then turned to her father, “What are we going to do, Daddy?

Phoenix looked outwardly towards the rain and thought for a second. Nothing seemed to be coming to his mind. “I am… not really sure buttercup. I know you want to hold the groceries, my darling, but would it be okay if I held them while I carried them? I think if I am fast enough, we can get home without being drenched too badly.”

Trucy was sad at the thought of not being able to hold the groceries, but she knew it was for the best if her father carried them.

“Okay, Daddy! You can carry me!” She said enthusiastically. Phoenix wanted to make sure that she would be warm and cozy while he was running, so he opened his big puffy jacket and told Trucy to wrap her legs around his waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. Trucy laughed at this idea and told her father that they would look very silly in doing so. The beanie-wearing man had to agree with his daughter on this one, but it was the best solution he could think of given the circumstances.

She played along with her father’s idea, and when she gave her father the ‘aye-okay!’ he quickly zipped up his jacket and picked up the groceries that were neatly set aside while they were doing this.

“Is it cozy in my jacket, baby girl?” Phoenix looked down to see his adorable daughter's face squished in the jacket. She looked like a small kitten in a blanket. The magician nodded her head to let her father know she was doing fine.

Phoenix just wanted to stay there forever and hug her in a warm embrace, but he knew there was a cake that needed to be baked. Alas, he must sacrifice for the greater good of humanity.

“Onwards, Daddy!” The little girl exclaimed.

“Sir, yes, Sir!” Phoenix saluted Trucy as he had several bags around his arms and in his hands. Trucy cuddled into her father's chest before all the swift movements began to happen.

He began running home in the pouring rain. He occasionally checked up on Trucy to make sure she was doing alright and had small breaks because he was getting old, and it definitely did not help that he had joint problems.

Trucy was giggling and smiling the whole trip home. She felt so lucky to have a father like Phoenix Wright. Sadly, her happy thoughts and joyful laughter were interrupted by negative past memories.

She wonders if her other daddy would have done this with her…

“We are almost home, baby girl! I am so proud of you and kinda shocked at how calm you are about all of this. You’re an extraordinary kid, you know that, right?”

But, at that moment, she did not want to think of her other daddy because the man carrying her home in the pouring rain was all the family she needed. He is her real daddy, despite blood relations.

A grin started to appear on her face, “That’s because I am your daughter! Trucy Wright is my name, don’t wear it out!”

Phoenix chuckled and applied a soft kiss to Trucy’s forehead. “You are the sweetest kid alive. I am so grateful to have you in my life,” The pair shared a sweet moment before Phoenix realized they were almost home, “Only a few more minutes before we arrive at our house sweetheart, hold on tight!”

Trucy listened to her father and held onto him, it was weirdly sturdy in his jacket. She had no idea how he did it, but she deduced it to be either magic or daddy powers. Her father often told her that he had a sixth sense that let him know when she was eating cookies. But she thinks that's more due to her leaving crumbs. Note to Trucy: do not leave crumbs. That’s how he gets you!

They arrived home safely, but Phoenix was absolutely drenched in rain. It was definitely not the best feeling for the ex-attorney, but he would do anything for his daughter. He set the groceries on the kitchen countertop and unzipped his jacket to allow his daughter to get down after all that turbulence she must have felt on the run home. Phoenix set Trucy down and began shaking the water off himself like a dog.

“Daddy! You are getting the house all wet with your shaking!” The little girl laughed in amusement. Phoenix noticed the floor had small water droplets and smiled.

“You’re right, Truce. I should probably take a shower before we begin making that cake. It probably won't be fun to make one soaked in rainwater.”

“You got that right, Daddy! No fun in cake making if you are not comfortable. You can go shower, and I will put away some of the easy stuff like the apples and smaller stuff!” She reassured the man.

“Are you sure, my moonflower? You can relax for now while I am busy. I really do not mind putting away the groceries.” He explained, but the little girl shook her head. She was dead set on getting groceries put away since she was not able to carry the groceries home.

Phoenix let her win and allowed her to put away the smaller objects that she could carry. He told her not to pick up anything that was heavy or in a place she could reach. After she promised not to do anything of that nature, Phoenix walked off to bathe.

Trucy was zooming around the kitchen trying her best to alleviate any sort of stress for her father once he came back. It was as though she was bouncing off the ways with an adrenaline rush.

When Trucy was done, she stood back and admired her handiwork in amazement. Even with her small hands, she was able to accomplish so much! Her Daddy will be very pleased when he sees what she has done.

While Trucy was admiring her putting-away skills, she heard a familiar singing tune. She walked over to where she was hearing the sound and realized it was her father.

Phoenix would often sing in the shower, and it never failed to make the house feel more like a home. Trucy always tried to guess what song he was singing because it was quite loud, and the ways were pretty thin in the house.

They had a scoreboard in the main living room of the house which they kept a score of the songs Trucy guessed and did not guess. Every song she guessed would be one point for her, every song she did not get would be a point for Phoenix. They were currently at thirty-four for Trucy and twenty-nine for Phoenix. She had quite a lead and was not going to lose any time soon.

She had noticed that her father was singing ‘I’m Still Standing’ by Elton John. Her music taste had been heavily influenced by whatever her father enjoyed, but she really did not mind because it helped her get closer to a lot of her teachers and other grown-ups similar to her father.

Her Uncle Miles loved listening to classical music and also a lot of anime openings, which she did not expect. Aunt Maya loved K-Pop and J-Pop a lot, she enjoyed the older generations, like Girl's generation and 2NE1. So, whenever either individual would visit she would be introduced to various genres of music, which she was incredibly grateful for because it showed her what music was out there, but most importantly made her feel closer to her family.

She missed when they would visit. It's been quite a while since her daddy was in the mood to have any visitors and felt the need to socialize. Trucy believes that she heard her daddy and her Uncle Miles get into an argument. It was late at night, so she could not recall clearly, but she heard some shouting coming from the landline phone. She hopes that her family will make up and live in unison once again.

Trucy sat outside in the living room humming the tune of ‘I’m Still Standing’ while she coloured in a colouring book that her Aunt Franziska had gotten her simply as a visitation present.

She loved her Auntie. She was so kind-hearted and caring towards her. She was kind of mean to her Daddy, but Aunt Maya says that it is out of love. Trucy found it odd however she thought it would be best not to question it.

Phoenix came out of his shower in comfortable clothes, and a towel hung around his neck to keep his wet hair from dripping onto the floor. Trucy had been living with Phoenix for little over a year now but never got used to her father’s natural hair, which happened to be long and wavy.

When she first discovered that he did the spikes on purpose, she was confused as to why he would go through the trouble. But, her father had explained that he felt way more confident in his spiky hair because it helped him stand out and not look so ‘normal’. Trucy took this explanation to heart and was happy that her father found happiness in his silly hairstyle.

She instantly got up and ran in front of her father. ‘I need to take this opportunity,’ her inner monologue said to her. She opened her arms and looked up at him with puppy dog eyes, “Daddy! Up!”

Phoenix quirked his head to the side and returned a confused expression to his daughter before he listened to the request and picked her up with his free arm. Trucy perfectly sat on her father's arm and moved closer to his chest to adjust herself properly because she was afraid of falling off accidentally. He applied a light kiss to her temple before he noticed what her motive was.

Trucy adored braiding hair. Whenever Auntie Maya and Pearly would come over, she would always braid their hair for them, and they would do the same for her. The house never felt not bright when the two of them were around. They kept her daddy on his feet and made sure to make themselves at home when they visited.

Auntie Maya would always ask to braid her father’s hair, but he always refused her, because he said she had ‘rough braider hands.’ This comment did not settle well with Trucy’s Aunt, and she began chasing Phoenix around the apartment while Trucy and Pearl followed along, giggling the whole time while watching their respective guardians act like children in a schoolyard.

So even though her Aunt could not succeed in braiding her father's hair, Trucy was an incredibly determined nine-year-old!

Phoenix continued to carry Trucy around as she did some quick chores such as doing a load of laundry, tidying up the house, putting away some of Trucy’s toys, etc. As he did all these small ‘quests’ as Trucy would like to call them, she continued to braid his hair into two very small braided pigtails.

“I am almost done, Daddy! But you have to stay still, okay? I need to get some ribbons and clips from my room!” She ran off before her father could get a word in or try to object. Phoenix smiled softly as he watched his daughter happily run off to get some accessories for him.

Phoenix watched with a mix of amusement and curiosity as his daughter darted away, her laughter echoing down the hallway. He couldn't help but chuckle softly, her boundless energy contagious even in the simplest of moments.

"Alright, my moonflower. I will be here, staying as still as a statue," he called out after her, knowing full well that any attempt to interject would be in vain. However, he did see a small thumb creep behind her room’s door in acknowledgement of what her father said.

He settled back, a bemused glint in his eyes, wondering what creative ideas were floating in his daughter’s bright mind.

As she vanished around the corner, he took a moment to admire the room they were in. The windows had now been closed, as well as the curtains, due to the rain. But usually, a bright light would beam into their home. Trucy liked calling it the ‘beacon’ or ‘bat signal’ because it always shone in one specific part of the house. It happened so often that Phoenix had to put a cover of sorts in the spot to prevent the house from potentially setting on fire.

Thinking back to his daughter, he couldn't help but grin at the thought of what she might conjure next. Each visit to her room was an adventure, a treasure trove of ribbons, clips, and an unpredictable assortment of items that only were accustomed to the little magician.

He wishes that times like these would never go away.

His train of thought was interrupted by his eager daughter skipping back into the room with her box of ribbons and other assortments of items.

As he waited, he heard the pitter-patter of her footsteps racing back towards him. The clinking of clips and rustling of ribbons preceded her arrival, a whirlwind of excitement bursting through the door.

“What colour do you want, Daddy?” Trucy asked the man who was caught off guard at how fast his child was.

“You got all of that prepared so fast, my dear. I really was not expecting you to be ready so quickly,” Phoenix looked at her with a puzzled expression, and it was met with his daughter’s excited laughter, “Hmm, colour you say? How about you surprise me, moonflower? I am giving you full creative liberties.”

Trucy's eyes lit up at the prospect of having free rein over her father's hair. "Yay! Okay, Daddy, close your eyes and no peeking, promise?" She gave the man an unwavering, stern look.

"Cross my heart, no peeking," Phoenix vowed, covering his eyes with his hands and grinning beneath them.

Giggling mischievously, Trucy set to work, her little fingers darting about, carefully selecting ribbons and clips with expert precision. She hummed a tune softly to herself, lost in the joy of her impromptu creative venture.

"Daddy, you're going to look super cool!" Trucy exclaimed a hint of excitement in her voice.

Phoenix couldn't help but chuckle. "I do not doubt that, moonflower. You always have a magical touch."

“It’s all in the magician's secrets!” After a few moments, she declared, "Okay, you can open your eyes now!"

Peering through his fingers, Phoenix slowly unveiled his eyes to behold the masterpiece his daughter had crafted. Lots of ribbons in all colours twisted and looped around Phoenix’s hair, like a big, happy party! As Trucy would like to describe it.

Some were striped, some had dots, all tangled together to make a super fun mix. And then, there were clips with stars and glitter – they sparkled and shined along the edges of his hair, making him look like a real superhero in a sparkly galaxy.

"Wow, Trucy, this is amazing!" Phoenix exclaimed, genuinely impressed by her creativity.

Trucy beamed with pride, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "You look like a superhero, Daddy!"

Phoenix chuckled, feeling a surge of warmth at his daughter, “I look like a superhero? For some reason, I do not believe you. What kind of superhero would have this kind of hairstyle?”

Trucy giggled at her father. "Well, you'd be Hairdo Man! Your superpower? Amazingly stylish hair that distracts villains and saves the day!" She jumped around in glee.

Phoenix laughed, shaking his head. "Hairdo Man, huh? I suppose every superhero needs a unique style. But how would Hairdo Man defeat his enemies?"

She thought for a moment. What would a superhero do with their hair? Trucy jumped into her imaginative narrative. "With the power of confidence! Your stylish hair would make the villains stop and stare, giving you the chance to outwit them with your quick thinking!"

Phoenix grinned at his daughter's creativity. "Confidence, huh? That's a powerful weapon indeed. It could also do me some good,” He realized how gloomy that sounded and quickly made the conversation bright once more, “Maybe Hairdo Man isn't so bad after all. Thank you, Trucy. I really feel like a true hero."

As Phoenix felt the little magician’s embrace, warmth surged through him. Not even this cold rainy day could ruin the mood.

He held her tightly, feeling an overwhelming rush of gratitude for the incredible blessing she was in his life. She was all he could ever ask for. He did not care if he got married in the future or the friends he would make in time, he only needed his daughter, and he would be happy.

At that moment, a flood of thoughts and emotions washed over him, and in the quiet recesses of his mind, he reflected on the profound significance of fatherhood.

He pondered the countless times she had lifted his spirits with her unwavering belief in him, how she'd cheered him on through the toughest trials. She was his pillar of strength, a constant reminder of the importance of love, compassion, and unwavering support.
"You're always my hero, Daddy, no matter what hairstyle you have!" Trucy's words echoed in his mind, and he couldn't help but smile. Even the simplest words she said brought happiness into his life. “I would love you even if you were bald!”

The pair shared a good laugh together and Trucy’s comment. Wow, her love really does know no bounds.

“Thank you, my Darling,” he applied a soft kiss to her forehead, “I love you so much. Now, how about we get to the main objective of today?”

Her eyes lit up in excitement, “Yay! Cake time, hooray! What should we do first, Daddy?”

He looked around and noticed that Trucy had put a good majority of the groceries away. "Wow, baby girl, you did a lot while I was in the shower. Thank you so much, I appreciate it." His pride in her independence and responsibility was very clear through his words. The little girl nodded her head and reassured her father that really was not much, and she was happy to help out however she could.

"First things first," he said, catching her excitement, "we should first wash our hands. Not good to cook without being sanitary first.”

“Aye, Aye, Captian!” Trucy stared toward the direction of the sink and forgot she was too small to reach it, “Uhh, Daddy, could you please help me wash my hands?”

Phoenix looked over at the sink and had forgotten how small his daughter was compared to the structural interior of the house. “Oh yeah, of course, my moonflower.”

He picked her up set her on the tabletop, and applied soap to her hands while she washed her hands under the water. He brought over a towel and helped her dry her hands off before setting her back down on the floor.

“Next, we should gather all the ingredients and the recipe. Then we can start mixing the batter for the cake. How about you pick out your favourite mixing bowl while I grab the flour, sugar, eggs, and other material?"

“I can do that! Let me go grab the stool quickly,” She saluted her father before running off to grab the stool that was in the washroom. Her father called off to her and told her not to run too fast or she would get hurt. He can never be sure if the words he shouts out to her are ever heard, however.

He enjoyed involving her in the process, knowing that cooking together was not just about making a cake but creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Trucy came running back with the stool and placed it near the bowl cabinet. “Daddy, I think we missed a step!”

Phoenix, who had already begun collecting the material that had been put away, turned around to look at his daughter. He looked perplexed, what could they have possibly forgotten?

“We forgot to wear our matching aprons that we bought last month!”

Oh.

Oh right.

Phoenix was mentally punching himself in the head for forgetting such a meaningful and important step. “I totally forgot about that, my moonflower. Thank you so much for reminding me. I will grab them from the cupboard. In the meantime, could you go pick out the mixing bowl?”

She nodded and did as her father asked, using her small stool to reach some of the higher places.

Phoenix began to look in the cupboard he last remembered placing the aprons and was relieved that they were where he last put them. They were silly matching blue aprons that read ‘Grill Sergeant ’ and the other one read ‘Grill Cadet.’

The moment Trucy laid her eyes on the aprons, Phoenix knew it was all over. She was filled with so much happiness when Phoenix caved and bought them.

With a mixture of relief and a hint of amusement, Phoenix watched as Trucy's eyes sparkled with delight. He couldn't help but chuckle as she eagerly grabbed the "Grill Cadet" apron, her excitement contagious. She had set down the mixing bowls.

"Alright, Cadet Trucy," Phoenix teased, tying on his "Grill Sergeant" apron, "Time to show me your amazing baking skills! We will create the best post-halloween cake that ever graced this earth!" They both chuckled in unison, enjoying the moment together.

Phoenix tended to the oven, fine-tuning the temperature, as Trucy dashed to retrieve the baking pans. Her determination to contribute had her adamant about tackling the dry ingredients. Phoenix carefully measured them, consolidating them all into a waiting bowl for Trucy to command.

With her stool at the ready, Trucy enthusiastically stirred the mixture, but her stirring resulted in an accidental cough, dispersing a cloud of flour onto her face. Grinning sheepishly, she watched as Phoenix, amused, gently cleared it away with the hem of his apron.

"Thanks, Daddy-O!" Trucy chirped, diving back into her mixing frenzy. Meanwhile, Phoenix meticulously prepared the butter and sugar, following the recipe's directives.

Consulting the recipe, Phoenix noted that they needed eggs. Thankfully the two had picked them up on their grocery trip. He retrieved the carton and placed it on their countertop where they were doing the work, poised to crack them into the waiting mixture. However, just as he positioned himself to begin, the ringing of the phone echoed through the room.

Their attention diverted, both Phoenix and Trucy glanced toward the source of the interruption. "Hmm, wonder who that could be calling at this hour. I'll go check it out, Trucy. You can start blending the butter and sugar while I'm away if you would like or just take five."

"Sure thing, Daddy! Hurry back!" Trucy responded with a bright smile, waving him off as he made his way toward the ringing of the home phone.

Phoenix walked over to the phone and picked it up before stating, “Wright Residence, how may I help you?”

“Hey, Nick! It’s me, Larry! Dude, it’s been so long. How’re you doing!”

Oh.

Of course, it had to be him on this beautiful night. Phoenix really did jinx himself, huh?

Phoenix sighed inwardly, recognizing the voice immediately. "Larry," he muttered under his breath before going back to a polite tone. "Hey, good to hear from you. I’ve been good. I hope you have as well. But hey, listen, we're in the middle of something here. Can I call you back?"

But Larry, ever oblivious to social cues, barreled on excitedly. "No way, man, I really need to ask about that thing that happened in college. Because I think I met the girl who I went on a date with over nine years ago. Like, Nick, dude, you won't believe the story I've got! Remember that time back in college—"

"Larry, really, it's not a good time—"

But Larry was on a roll. "So, there I was, chasing after this dog, and then remember you got all wet because of that sprinkler in the—"

Phoenix sighed as he continued to listen to the chaotic man's story. Oh, boy, this was going to be a very long conversation. He hopes Trucy won’t mind if he mentions that it was her Uncle Larry calling.
"Okay, picture this, Nick! It was this epic house party, right? And I'd been eyeing this girl for weeks, you know, the one from your art class. You know, those times when I would wait outside your classes to take you to lunch?”

“I recall it was more of me taking you to lunch, considering I paid for over half of those lunches that you supposedly were taking me to,” Phoenix said as he quirked his eyebrow upwards.

“Semantics, my dearest Nick, semantics. Anyways! So, I finally mustered the courage to ask her out. But just when I'm about to make my move, chaos strikes! This guy, let's call him something stupid like uhhh 'Steven,' barges in, dressed in a giant cheeseburger costume, waving around ketchup and mustard bottles!”

For some odd reason, this story was ringing a bell to Phoenix.

“And before you know it, the party turns into this hilarious food fight. I'm dodging flying condiments left and right, trying to find the girl. Meanwhile, you're off somewhere, doing who knows what, probably making out with some man."

Phoenix choked on air and furrowed his eyebrows, “I wish I had never told you I was bisexual. You’re the worst, you know that?”

Larry laughed over the phone, and Phoenix could sense the big grin Larry must have on his face right now, “You love meee, don’t lie to yourself.”

The man with dozens of accessories in his hair sighed and allowed Larry to continue his story.

"So, there I am, covered in ketchup, mustard splattered everywhere, and amid this mess, she turns up. And get this, Nick, she's wearing a penguin costume! Don’t you remember that for that Halloween I was dressed as one of those inflatable dinosaurs? We end up bonding over our ridiculous outfits and spend the rest of the night laughing and trying to clean up the chaos together."

Phoenix can't help but chuckle at the sheer absurdity of the story. He shakes his head, amazed at how Larry always seems to find himself in the most bizarre situations.

“So yeah! I just met her again last week at my new job, and we are going out tomorrow, thought I’d tell you because you know, I kind of miss talking to you and wanted an excuse to call.”

Phoenix's soft expression turned into a sad one quickly. He had been neglecting to reach out to his friends, and this call with Larry did not bum him out as he was expecting. “I apologize for not reaching out more often Larry, life has been really hard and balancing anything is super difficult for me.”

“Hey, man! No worries at all, I don’t hold it against you whatsoever. I also want to say sorry for not calling more often. But, yeah, Nick, don’t feel bad at all. I am just glad you’re alive, haha!”

The man felt incredibly grateful to have such a good network of friends. He was glad there was no bad blood or malice behind Larry’s words.

Phoenix began to respond, "Yup, I am alive. Thanks again for reaching out to me Larry. I—"

CRASH!

The sudden noise followed by his daughter screaming had interrupted Phoenix mid-sentence. Fear started to creep onto his face, and he felt intense anxiety fill his body. He glanced sharply toward the kitchen, hearing the sound of something breaking against the tiled floor.

"Sorry, Larry, something just happened! I'll call you back, sorry!" Phoenix hastily excused himself and hung up the phone.

As Phoenix rushes into the kitchen, he finds Trucy standing there, wide-eyed and teary, staring at the egg carton that had fallen down onto the floor. A good majority of the eggs had gone down with the carton, and they were splattered all over the floor, and the little magician was visibly shaken.

"Trucy, are you okay? What happened?" Phoenix asks, his heart racing with worry. He runs over to her side and begins searching all over her for any sort of indications or signs of injury.

"I-I'm sorry, Daddy. You were taking a while, and I got impatient, and I already had finished mixing all the stuff together, and I just wanted to help you out and make the process faster, and I didn’t mean to ruin tonight and-and-an—" Trucy stammers, her voice trembling, as well as tears which ran down her face.

Phoenix looked at the mess that was all over the floor, his heart sinking as he saw how devastated Trucy appeared. His daughter, usually so full of joy, now stood before him, shattered and afraid. Her apology echoed in his ears, each word piercing his soul.

Before Phoenix could say anything, Trucy said one of the most gut-wrenching things he could ever hear, “Please don’t leave me, Daddy, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be a bad girl, I promise it was an accident. P-p-please don’t be angry at me,” She cried out to her father.

The weight of her words hit him harder than anything he’s ever faced in his life or will face in his lifetime. He wanted to reassure her, to hold her close and tell her it was okay, but the ache in his heart immobilized him. The pain in her eyes was unbearable.

"Please don't leave me, Daddy," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to ruin everything. Please, I'll do anything to make it right."

"Trucy," he began, his voice choked with emotion, but the words caught in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to say anything that might worsen her anguish. His silence felt like abandonment, amplifying the desperation in her gaze.

"Please don't be angry at me," she sobbed, her voice a fragile whisper. "I just wanted to help. I'll try harder, I promise."

What would make a small child react this way to just some meaningless eggs? He understood being apologetic, but it broke his heart that his daughter thought he would abandon her simply for breaking some eggs that are easily replaceable.

What has made her react this way?

Phoenix wanted to erase the hurt from her expression, to reassure her that everything would be alright, but the weight of her distress was suffocating. He knelt beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace, trying to convey with his touch what his words couldn't.

"I love you, Trucy. I love you so much," he murmured, holding her close as tears silently fell from his own eyes. But even in the warmth of their embrace, the heaviness of her plea lingered, casting a shadow over their shattered moment.

Trucy hugged her father back tightly and cried into his shoulder. She felt like the worst daughter alive. She has ruined their night and possibly ruined the cake as well.

Moments of her original father flashed in her mind. She remembers once spilling milk accidentally when she was four and it resulted in her being lectured and yelled at.

Trucy was terrified of letting people down, but it's worse when it's someone as important as her parental guardian. She didn’t want to lose more important people in her life, she was so tired of being abandoned. The young girl hoped for a stable household, and she finally got that in Phoenix Wright, but if she loses him as well, she will be utterly miserable.

Phoenix gently stroked Trucy's hair, feeling her sobs against his shoulder. He pulled back slightly to look into her teary eyes, his own filled with a mixture of concern and tenderness. He held her small hands in his and spoke.

“My moonflower, before we talk could you take some deep breaths for me?”

Trucy, who was still crying at this point, nodded her head and looked at her father with teary eyes. They began breathing in and out with each other, and it helped calm them both down.

"Trucy, sweetheart, accidents happen," he said, his voice soft and soothing. "You didn't ruin anything, and I am not going to leave you anytime soon. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, and I would be lost without you."

He wiped away her tears gently, his touch warm and comforting. Trucy’s poor little eyes were now red, and she felt exhausted. She cuddled into her father's warmth and sniffed due to all the crying she did.

"I know you're afraid of letting people down, but trust me, nothing you do could ever make me love you any less. You're not alone in this. We're a team, and we'll figure it out together, okay?"

He held her face in his hands, trying to convey all the love and reassurance he could muster. "I'm here for you, no matter what. We'll clean up the mess, and the cake will be just fine. See look, a few eggs didn’t crack, we will just use those for the cake,” He pointed towards the uncracked eggs, and Trucy felt a little relief.

“But what matters most to me is that you're safe and with me. I won't leave you, Trucy. I promise. We can buy new eggs tomorrow, no biggie and no big dealio, my beautiful daughter."

As Trucy gradually calmed, her breaths steadying against the rhythm of Phoenix's words, she felt the weight on her chest lift. She looked up at him, her eyes still shimmering with tears but reflecting a glimmer of hope.

"Really, Daddy?" Her voice was barely a whisper, wavering with emotion.

"Really," he affirmed, a tender smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here, through the spilled milk and the ruined cakes, through the biggest messes and the smallest accidents. I never want for you to feel scared or alone, as long as I am around my darling Trucy, I will protect you.”

Trucy sniffled and smiled at her father. There was an overwhelming sense of relief that rushed throughout her body, and she couldn’t help but feel a lot of gratitude towards her father. His words, filled with such genuine care and unwavering support, resonated deeply within her.

She'd feel an immense sense of security and comfort, knowing that she had someone as steadfast and loving as Phoenix by her side. His reassurance would ease her worries and fears, creating a sense of safety and belonging that she may have longed for in her life.

"Daddy," Trucy said softly, her voice carrying the weight of gratitude and warmth. "Thank you. For everything. Knowing that you're here, standing by me with so much support... it's everything I could've ever hoped for. I love you so much Daddy," The little girl stated as she applied a gentle kiss to her dad’s cheek.

Her father returned her gesture with a big grin and pulled her back into a warm embrace. He picked her up into his arms and swung around in circles, being careful not to slip on any of the egg excesses. “I love you too baby girl!”

Trucy chuckled as her dad spun her around, enjoying the lighthearted moment despite the mess they had made. "Careful, Dad, don't turn this into an egg-traordinary disaster!" she teased, laughing along with him. She is definitely saving this joke for some of her later performances.

Phoenix grinned, setting her down gently. "You crack me up, Trucy," he replied with a playful wink. They shared a moment where they just snapped finger guns at each other like silly goofs.

Later, they tackled the aftermath of their baking adventure, turning the cleanup into a game of sorts. "Looks like we're whisking away the evidence," Trucy quipped, holding up the spatula to be dramatic.

Phoenix chuckled, shaking his head. "At least we're getting a good workout in the process," he remarked, wiping a streak of yolk from the countertop.

Despite the mess, their shared laughter and teamwork made the task feel more like a fun bonding experience than a chore. Soon enough, they were back on track, mixing ingredients and chatting as they resumed their cake-making mission.

Phoenix had called Larry back and explained the situation that had occurred. Larry, incredibly empathetic towards the single father, made sure he didn’t feel bad for hanging up the phone and once again promised to call more often.

Before Phoenix hung up the phone, Larry had asked to talk to Trucy quickly. Phoenix handed the phone to his daughter, and the two began chatting up a storm about anything and everything. Trucy truly adored her uncles and aunts, and her family in general.

Larry stayed on the phone for the majority of the cake-making process. He would add commentary when needed and would make jokes whenever needed.

Larry's best joke and Trucy’s favourite of the night was, "How does a lawyer eat their cake? They object to anyone else having a slice!" This caused the pair to go into hysterics while Phoenix let out a defeated sigh.

Maybe Larry was funnier than him…

Nah, he would never admit that. Especially not in front of the man in question and his daughter.

They put the cake into the oven, and around this time Larry had to leave because it was getting late. He wished the Wright’s a goodnight and told them to take care. They said the same back, and the two respective parties continued on with their nights.

"He's something else, isn't he?" Phoenix said with a smile, adjusting the oven temperature for the cake.

Trucy giggled. "Definitely a character. But I think we've got our own unique brand of humour, right, Daddy!"

Phoenix nodded, a twinkle in his eye. "Absolutely. Besides, Larry's jokes might be a bit over the top sometimes. I wouldn't trade our witty banter for anything."

They shared a brief moment of camaraderie, appreciating the bond they shared, before focusing back on the task at hand. As the cake baked, filling the kitchen with a delicious aroma, father and daughter continued to exchange light-hearted jokes and stories, relishing in each other's company.

Despite Larry's departure, the exciting atmosphere lingered, and the Wrights enjoyed the rest of their evening, eagerly anticipating the sweet outcome of their baking efforts.

As the timer chimed, signalling the cake was ready, Trucy and Phoenix exchanged eager looks. With oven mitts on, Phoenix carefully pulled out the freshly baked cake and placed it on the countertop for them to be able to take in the true beauty of the cake.

"Daddy, it looks perfect!" Trucy beamed, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Phoenix grinned proudly. "It truly is a work of art, just like its incredible baker," he replied, playing with Trucy's hair affectionately. He took off the oven mitts and patted her head. The magician smiled at him and got the plates and utensils ready.

They let the cake cool while cleaning up the last of the kitchen mess. Finally, with the cake sitting beautifully on the counter, they admired their handiwork.

"Shall we?" Phoenix gestured toward the cake.

Trucy nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Let’s dig in, Daddy-O."

With a shared laugh, Phoenix cut into the cake and placed a slice on two separate plates. The first one he cut was a bigger slice, and he gave that to Trucy. He did not have a particularly sweet tooth, but he was aware that his daughter did. They both took a big bite of the cake and were met with an incredible sensation.

"Delicious," Phoenix declared, savouring the flavour.

Trucy nodded in agreement, a content smile on her face. "Best cake-baking duo ever!"

Their evening ended with terrific cake and pure excitement, the simple joy of spending time together leaving them with hearts full of happiness. As they cleaned up once more and prepared for the night, their bond felt stronger, built not just on the success of a cake but on the moments shared, the jokes exchanged, and the love that always filled their home.

In the quiet of the evening, with the kitchen tidied and the cake enjoyed, Phoenix and Trucy shared one last look, a silent understanding passing between them. They were aware it was way past their bedtime, and they were utterly exhausted because of the chaotic day that they had.

Trucy let out a big yawn and stretched her arms. She turned her attention to her father; he was also dozing off.

“Daddy! Don’t fall asleep. I won’t be able to carry you to your bed if you do,” Trucy told her father. He nodded in reply before picking his daughter up and giving her a big kiss on her cheek.

“Hehe!” The little girl giggled. Her father’s stubble was always a hit or miss when it came to kisses, but this time around, it felt quite nice.

He walked to the little girl’s room and set her down on her bed. As Phoenix gently lowered Trucy onto her bed, she wriggled under the covers, settling in comfortably. She gazed up at him, her eyes filled with warmth and mischief.

"Dad, you know you're the best at goodnight kisses," she said with a mischievous grin.

Phoenix chuckled softly, brushing a hand through her hair. "You're just saying that because of the stubble, aren't you?"

Trucy grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "It's like a secret tickle attack!"

Leaning in, Phoenix planted another kiss on her forehead this time, which only brought out more laughter from Trucy.

"Goodnight, my little magician," he said, tucking the blankets around her and fixing her pillow. He brought over some of his daughter's favourite stuffed animals, which included a possum with a wizard hat and a frog with a tiny teacup in his hands.

"Goodnight, Daddy," Trucy replied, her voice already laced with the drowsiness of sleep. Today had been exceptionally chaotic for the little girl. Thankfully, it had a good ending and was all over now.

Phoenix stood by her bedside for a moment, watching her drift off, feeling grateful for having the life that he did. He might regret a lot of his actions and still have a lot of self-hatred and imposter syndrome to work through, but he was sure about one thing and that was his love for his daughter. Nothing could take away the happiness he felt when she was around. Trucy... happy, smiling Trucy... she will forever be my light. With a soft smile, he quietly exited the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

In the dim hallway, he stopped, gazing back at Trucy's room with a happy feeling inside. Quietly, he said, "I love you," in a hush, then went to his own room, knowing that their love and these special times together were like real-life magic in their lives.