Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares) Read online

  “All girls should be able to cook, clean, sew and take care of her man.” Honey rolled her eyes. “She’s dumb for saying that too. She also says that if a man loves a man or a woman loves a woman it’s wrong, but it’s not. Love can never be wrong, can it?”

  "Only for those too small minded to know the truth for what it is," Mikhail muttered. "While I agree that all girls should know the basics of cooking, cleaning and such, so should all boys as well. When they go out on their own they can take care of themselves. No man or woman should have to rely on another person unless they are injured or ill. Other than that, they should be able to do for themselves. As for love," he gave a lazy shrug, "The heart can only love who it loves, whether that is a person of the opposite gender or of the same one, it doesn't matter as long as they love and have respect for one another."

  “That’s what I said.” Honey’s eyes were wide and hand on her hips. “And Mrs. Lampkin told me that I simply didn’t know what I was talking about because I was the child of a horse, and obviously her loose morsels wore off on me.” She rolled her eyes, “First my mommy is not a horse, and when I said that to Mrs. Lampkin, she said that my mommy was ‘cause she got knocked out by two men.”

  Wincing at the terms she was using, even if they were wrong, he looked over to her. "No, your mother is no such thing love," he said softly. "She's a wonderful and amazing woman," he murmured rubbing a hand to his head. "When people say bad things about your mother or you; know that they are just words and hold no truth Honey."

  “Oh I know that. Sometimes it hurts mommy though. She cries when her father spits at us.” She shrugged. “Like I told mommy though; it is his loss, not ours. I think we are better off without him, and without people like them in our lives. I got my mommy and Aunt Penny and I have tons of friends, so that’s all that matters, right daddy?”

  "And you have me and Gareth as well poppet," he reminded her. "But yes, it is her father's loss, and rigid views in a country that he chose to come to that garners that great loss. This isn't his country, and while I fully respect his past and how he grew up, he came here. So his views and beliefs, while good to pass on to one's children to keep such things alive, shouldn't be forced on those raised in a more liberal country."

  “I dunno what you just said daddy except for the fact I got you, Gareth, and mommy, so that’s all that’s important in what you said, right?” Honey then wrapped her arms around Mikhail and hugged him tight. “I love you daddy.”

  Hugging her to his side Mikhail let out a breath, "We're here," he said quietly to her. "And it looks like the boys are relaxing instead of working." Bringing the truck to a stop he shook his head, "Good thing its lunch time or I'd have to get mean with them. Why don't you go and let them know we brought food and drinks," he suggested as he got out and turned to help her down.

  Honey got out of the truck, put her fingers in her mouth and whistled, loudly. “We got food and drinks if you lazy bumps on logs wanna eat!” She shouted proudly and looked to Mikhail with a big grin, “Did I do it right daddy?”

  Chuckling he nodded, "You did good poppet." Lifting her up in his arms he kissed her cheek, "You can hand out everything to the lads." Swinging her into the back next to Gareth he looked over, "Move it," he yelled, "We've got work to get done."

  “Yeah!” Honey hollered right back and giggled. “I think that I’m going to enjoy this a lot. I get to tell a bunch of big guys what to do.” She opened the cooler and began to pass out drinks and food. “Oh we didn’t bring any dessert. I don’t like that.” She said with a frown.

  "We brought the little oranges," Gareth reminded her softly. "and your cookie things too. Most of us don't like sweets like you do darling so it's not a big deal. Plus, with working in the hot sun, not eating sweets with sugars is a good thing. Keeps us moving instead of sleeping."

  “Oh, okay. As long as you are sure that it’s okay.” Honey grinned at Gareth and added, “Thank you for making it better daddy. See, you already know just what needs to be done. You are the best daddy in the world, you and daddy Mikhail both.”

  "We're trying sweetheart," he murmured brushing her hair back. "But we're bound to mess up from time to time. We're not perfect." Sitting back on the edge of the truck bed, he watched her passing the food and drinks out to the men who found a patch of shade to sit in to eat.

  “I know daddy, but just remember that when I get older okay? I’m not going to be perfect daddy. I’m going to make mistakes to.” Taking a seat beside him she leaned into Gareth and added, “Especially when I’m older and I wanna date boys.” She wrinkled her nose. “A lot older.” Looking up she shaded her eyes and added, “But now you and daddy Mikhail have to make up to mommy the mistake of leaving her. She needs to know she’s loved you know.”

  "We know sweetpea," he said wrapping an arm around her. "She is loved, very much and we never meant to hurt her. We were on leave from the military and only given forty-eight hours. We never expected to meet her. Never expected to do anything in that time but sleep and maybe sleep some more. She was a surprise to us both and a most pleasant one at that. We know we have much to make up for but we never once meant to hurt her."

  “She wants to forgive you. She needs to. She’s never been able to be mad at me for very long, and she said it was ‘cause I got your eyes, so I know she won’t be able to be mad at you long. And she still loves you both. I know she does. She’s got another diary she keeps, but I didn’t think that I should bring that one. Only the one that gave you the past about me daddy instead of her feelings that she still has for you and daddy Mikhail.”

  "Probably best. She was pretty pissed that Mik had that one," Gareth chuckled softly. "I can't imagine what she would have been like had we had the juicy version." Pressing a kiss to her forehead he grabbed a hat and dropped it onto her head, "Go and make sure the guys all have another bottle of water and remind them they have ten minutes before they have to get back to work."

  Honey nodded, “What are you going to put out here daddy?” She asked again, giving the men another couple of minutes rest in her own little way. “I think that we need a pool. It’s really hot here in Texas, and a pool would be really nice. Bobby Michaels has a pool but he says that girls aren’t allowed and it’s such a long drive to the water park that I don’t get to go too much. So what do you think daddy? A pool?”

  "No idea but it's too far from the house to be a pool so you'll have to ask Mikhail what the plans are. I know right now we're clearing out all the old and dead trees so they can't hurt us if there is ever a fire. Beyond that, talk to Mik," Gareth told her with a grin.

  “I will.” Honey said with a sage nod. “I think that I might be able to talk daddy Mikhail into putting in a pool if I promise to help keep it clean and stuff. Maybe we could do salt water like they do at the water park. It’s supposed to be better for the environment and it doesn’t stink like crazy either.”

  Chuckling Gareth shrugged, "You can try darling but remember daddy Mik is very stubborn and stuck in his ways. You may have to make many promises before he lets you talk him into putting in a pool," he told her.

  “Oh don’t worry daddy Gareth.” Honey patted his arm lovingly. “I hope I can do it. If not,” She shrugged, “I will ask mommy to buy me an inflatable pool to put in out here. I would at our house but it’s not big enough, and then other people that I don’t really like would want to come; and that would just be plain ole icky, don’t you think?”

  "I'm sure it would be, but mention that to daddy Mik," he whispered to her. "Mention that if you had one at your mom's house all the neighborhood boys would be in it; whereas out here, no neighboring boys," he smiled. "I'll bet he puts one in pretty quick; maybe not to use this year, but definitely by next year."

  “Why?” Honey grinned at Victor and winked. She was giving the men an extra long break and knew it. “Why would daddy Mikhail put one in.... ooohh.” Her eyes went wide. “I get it now.” She wrinkled her nose, “But I don’t like boys, not yet anyway. I lo
ve you and my other daddy and my uncles but boys, not so much. They are all icky and grody and stuff, and they have weird smells and are gross. But if it will get us a pool, I will make sure that daddy Mik knows that part.”

  "Trust me sweet, it will get you a pool so fast your little red head will spin," Gareth assured her with a chuckle. "Go and bug him about it now before he gets the guys working. He's checked his watch again and he's kind of a tyrant about this," he murmured. Helping her down from the bed of the truck he urged her on, "Keep him distracted for a couple more minutes and let them relax."

  “I’m trying.” Honey said and then skipped off to where Mikhail was standing. Slipping her little hand into his she smiled. “Hi daddy Mikhail. I would like a pool. Can we get a pool please? I was thinking of having mommy put one at our house, but then all the boys would want to come over and there are an awful lot of them. They like seeing my mommy in her bathing suit and me too.” She said with an eye roll. “But if we had one here then mommy would have to spend more time here, and we would be able to keep boys away and stuff, right?”

  Frowning at her words he shot a look to the truck and sighed, "You've been discussing this with Gareth haven't you?" he asked. Crouching down so he was able to look in her eyes he tipped his head. "Do you really want a pool just to give you a reason to be here, and not have the boys look at you at your mom's place? Or are you just looking for a reason to have a pool?"

  “I want a pool because this is gonna be my home Daddy. I want this to be my forever home when you and daddy Gareth are able to make it up to my mommy and get her to marry you. I wanna live here forever, and I want a pool at my forever house. I deserve one, don’t I daddy?”

  "You realize this is emotional blackmail right?" he asked her but sighed. "Alright, I'll look into putting one in," he muttered at the big eyed look he got full of innocence. "Does your mother know you are pulling out all the stops on this visit with us?" Not that he blamed the kid. He wanted Honey and Daisy to move into the too large house with them; to become their family and be with them for all of the rest of their days. He needed to know they were both safe, and the farmhouse was going to be the safest place on the planet soon enough.

  “Nope. She doesn’t know but I’m gonna do it to her too. I want a family daddy, and I will do whatever I have to in order to get that family. I want my mommy being happy again, and I want to see my daddies more than the weekends. I want every day. So if this is what I have to do.” She shrugged, “Then I’m doing it daddy.”

  Sighing, he looked at her little hand in his and nodded, "I hear you kid," he murmured. "I've missed your mom a lot all these years. I probably shouldn't admit this but I was planning on looking her up as soon as I could. I just got out of the service. Free and clear; but I was planning to go looking for her pretty quick and then you showed up on my doorstep."

  Honey shrugged, “I have a way of sneaking in unexpected like.” She looked up adoringly at her father once more and said, “I’m glad you said that daddy, but I think mom needs to hear it too. She still loves you but you have to remind her of that fact. Mom needs you, and you really need her.”

  "Yeah," he murmured quietly. "Although she seems to be doing just fine without either me or Gareth in her life. She's raised you without us, and she's raised a rather amazing little girl at that. We may just be in her way," he whispered stroking his thumb to her much smaller fingers.

  “That’s where you are wrong daddy.” Honey whispered, “She cries. Every single night I hear her crying in her sleep. Well, when she’s home that is. During the daytime I hear her crying as well. She’s sad daddy. Really, really sad. Sometimes I hear her calling out your name, and I’ve read her other diary daddy and believe me, she misses you and needs you.”

  Looking into her eyes that were so very Gareth he smiled, "I'm sorry Honey, no child should have to look after a parent like you are doing." Pulling her close he gave her a hug, "I'll see if Gareth can't get your mom to smile more," the other man was much better at it than he was. And Honey was their biological child after all. While Mik didn't plan on just stepping aside he'd let them figure it out and go from there.

  Honey shook her head, “No daddy, you don’t understand. She needs you. She cries out your name daddy. You look at me like I’m not yours, but I am. My momma told me so. I am both yours and daddy Gareths baby. If you don’t like that, well that’s just too bad cause you have me anyway.”

  "You are mine of the heart; but I can't have kids Honey, and I'm fine with that. I never lied to your mother on that score. I will never have any of my own blood, but you are so much more than that to me poppet." Stroking her hair he pressed a kiss to her cheek, "Never think anything other than that. I do adore you as my own, but you are all Gareth's in looks and personality. Which, I'm fine with as well because you are much prettier than he could ever hope to be."

  “But it bothers you doesn’t it daddy?” Honey asked softly, seeing far too much, far more than she should see. “I’m sorry daddy. I’m sorry that you can’t give mom kids from you but it doesn’t change how much she loves you and that’s the truth. You just gotta let her love you and love her back. That’s what my momma needs.”

  "Maybe does bother me a little," he murmured with a sigh. "But what is done is done and at the time I was glad that I couldn't leave anyone pregnant and alone. In my former line of work, my life expectancy was fairly low. Chances of not returning from a mission were higher than the rate of heart attacks in all the public of America; which is scary high." Rubbing his hand to her back Mikhail looked at her, "I'll always love your mom poppet, but she's still mad at us. I understand fully, but it wasn't our fault and I wish it could have turned out so differently than it did. We lost too much time with her I think for her to ever fully forgive us."

  “She loves flowers daddy. I think that if you maybe sent her flowers. Or we could plant some roses around the porch for her. I think she would like to tend them. That way she wouldn’t have to always fuss over me as much as she does. I love her but she does seem to fuss a lot.”

  "It's her job as a mother Honey," he said and looked beyond her. "Just because I'm chatting with the kid doesn't mean I'm not noticing the lack of work out of you buggers. Get back to work or you're walking home tonight, the lot of you," Mik growled at them. Shaking his head he looked to Honey, "We'll go online later and see if we can't find some flowers that will survive here for her to look after, alright?"

  “Oh come on daddy let them have a couple more minutes?” She asked with wide open eyes and a small quiver of her lip. “And yes, online shopping would be good. They would be able to tell us what would be best, especially if we go to Amanda Douglas’s website. She lives in Sweetwater too and has a small flower shop there. She’s really, really nice and her and mom are pretty good friends. I love her just like I love Aunt Penny. So giving her business would be good so that she doesn’t ever have to move away, right?”

  “True enough,” he said watching her and shook his head at her. “Are you trying to get them more time than they’ve already had sitting on their butts?” He didn’t actually have to ask the question, he knew she was. Pulling her close he kissed her nose, “They’ve sat around long enough and we have a lot to do today poppet. So get them up and moving,” Mik told her softly.

  “Are you sure daddy?” At his nod she gave a heavy sigh and patted his cheek. “All right daddy Mik, since you said so.” Turning around she faced the men and shouted, “All right you lazy bones, get off your fannies and get your bums back to work.”

  Chuckling softly Mik got up and nodded, “Keep them in line, but stay out of the way of anyone swinging something alright? We’re a long way from a doctor out here poppet,” he reminded her gently stroking a hand over her hair.

  “Don’t worry, I will stay safe.” She nodded and climbed up on the back of the truck bed again. Pulling out a thick blanket, she folded it neatly and then grabbed a pink polka dot umbrella from the bed and stuck it in one of the holes in the back of the bed. Settling
under the shade she grinned and pulled out her phone so that she could begin to play games.

  Rolling his eyes at that Gareth tossed his shirt into the truck and grabbed a bottle of water. “I have a feeling we’re all going to be living under the rule of Honey around here,” he murmured as he got closer to Mikhail.

  “We already are Gareth, we already are,” he said tossing his shirt into the truck as well. Moving up next to her he looked at her, “If you get too hot sitting here, take a little walk around in the shade alright? But don’t go too far and watch your step.”

  Honey patted her father’s cheek and grinned, “Don’t worry daddy, I’m good. I have a fan too. It’s battery powered. Mom made sure that I packed a little of everything. Besides, I’m used to the heat, I’ve lived here all my life and momma says that I’m like a snake, always in the sun and loving it.”

  “Yes but you have Gareth’s horrid complexion which means while you may love the sun; but the sun will try to cook you Honey. So you just keep safe and yell if you need something, alright?” Dropping a kiss to her cheek he headed for the fire break they were still working on.

  “Hey daddy!” Honey yelled. When Mikhail looked back at her she smiled, “I love you too.” She told the man and then dropped her gaze back to her phone and The Simpsons - Tapped Out game she was playing.