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The door opened with a quiet and slow movement like the one who was about to step in was shy or even unsure about that. It was a little child who appeared at the door, a girl who had brown skin and curly, brown hair. Her golden eyes made a striking contrast with them, especially as this gaze shone up while she watched the man who was lying sick, covered in blankets on the bed.
The little girl sneaked to the bed like she didn't even want to get noticed. There was a book in her hand which was full of child tales.
As she stopped at the bed, the sick man opened his eyes. A pair of golden eyes, similar to the girl's gaze, looked at the kid.
The little girl smiled and gently took one of the man's fingers like she was holding his hand.
"Do you still feel cold, Daddy Milverron?" She asked and excitedly waited for the answer.
The man smiled back at her and held back his cough.
"Not anymore, Charlotte. Your other father made sure of it. He always takes good care of me when I am sick - but he is overprotective even when I am not." He added with a little chuckle.
The girl named Charlotte sat down on the bedside with a bright face.
"I am happy that you feel better." She said and put down the book on the man's chest. "Can you read me a bedtime story then? Daddy Ruskin told me to go to the bed, but I can't sleep without a bedtime story." She crossed her arms vehemently.
"Of course." The man was about to sit up in the bed to read the asked tale when a voice which came from the door stopped him.
"Charlotte. I told you to let Daddy Milverton rest. He is sick."
It was a man who walked into the room. He had brown hair and brown skin which made it clear that he was the girl's other father, the one who gave birth to her once. As he was an Omega, it was possible. He felt honored that he could carry the forbidden fruit, the evil successor of Charles Augustus Milverton and he took great part in the parenting. His voice was more serious due to not keeping an eye on the girl who was able to disturb his employer while he was resting. But now, he was determined to make his mistake right.
"Come, Charlotte." He took the girl's hand when he reached the bed. "Let's leave Daddy Milverton so he can sleep."
"He said that he doesn't feel cold anymore." Charlotte complained and pointed at the lying man. "And he agreed to read me a bedtime story."
"It's not that your father feels cold. It's that he caught it." The man tried to explain it to their daughter. "He is still sick. But you don't need to worry, he will heal soon. I will do everything for it - but you can also help Daddy Milverton heal. You just need to let him rest." He added and he gently tried to drag the girl away from the bed.
"Won't he heal sooner if he just lets the cold go?" Charlotte asked inquisitively and turned to her father. "Daddy Milverton, you don't need to keep the cold."
"I'm afraid that this doesn't work like that." The answer, along with a little laugh, came.
"Come, Charlotte. Let him sleep." Daddy Ruskin still attempted to take Charlotte out of the room. "I will read you a bedtime story in your own room."
"Can't you do it here, Ruskin?" The wish left Milverton's mouth quietly. "I am bored."
Ruskin let out a sigh. Then he took up the book and let Charlotte sit back onto the bed.
"Fine. I will read a bedtime story, for both of you." He replied obediently and began to browse through the book to find a tale. Meanwhile, Charlotte took her father's white finger into her hand again. Milverton closed his eyes and listened to the tale with a faint smile as his secretary started it.
Ruskin chose to read the story about the bear who found a lot of strawberries. He knew well that it was both Mr. Milverton and Charlotte's favourite tale. It didn't take a long time for him to finish as no one cut into his speech. When he looked up from the book, he understood why.
Charlotte laid her head down on Mr. Milverton's chest and fell asleep listening to his heartbeat. His employer was also sleeping and his breathing sounded more clear than it was before. Ruskin closed the book and watched the sight for a while. He reached out to gently pamper the curls - the silver and the brown ones while his heart was bursting from the love he felt for his family. The love of his life and their daughter. He lived to make them happy.
As carefully as he could, he took Charlotte into his arms to bring her back to her own room. Before that, he gave a kiss to the pale forehead.
"Good night, Mr. Milverton." He whispered and held their daughter tenderly in his embrace, he left the room and closed the door behind himself.