Request: Yes / No This is based off of @haileygarciasunshineprompt list that I found here!
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Dad!Reggie Mantle x Fem!Mom!Reader
Word count: 799
Warnings: Child nightmare, but should be it!
Y/N: Your Name
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*Reggie’s POV*
I pulled into the driveway, the familiar sight of my home bringing a sense of relief after a long day. The moment I stepped inside, I was met with the sound of distressed crying echoing through the house. My brows furrowed as I shut the door behind me, immediately spotting Y/N in the living room. She was kneeling beside our son, Leo, who was curled up on the couch, his little face red and tear-streaked.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I asked, concern lacing my voice as I set down my bag and made my way over.
Y/N sighed, brushing our son’s dark hair from his damp forehead.
“I don’t know. He just started crying out of nowhere. I’ve tried everything, but he won’t calm down.”
I crouched down, reaching out to Leo, whose hiccupping sobs filled the room.
“Hey, hey, easy, buddy, easy.” I said softly, gently rubbing my son’s back.
“You’re alright, I got you.”
Leo sniffled, his little body still trembling, but he clung onto my shirt as I scooped him up into my arms, holding him close.
“What happened, champ?” I murmured, rocking him slightly. “Did you get hurt?”
Through broken sobs, he mumbled. “Had a bad dream… and then Mommy wasn’t here when I woke up.”
I could see Y/N’s heart breaking as we exchanged a look.
“Oh, sweetheart.” She said, cupping our Leo’s cheek.
“I was just in the kitchen, I didn’t go anywhere.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of Leo’s head.
“It’s okay, buddy. You’re safe. I promise.” I sat down with him still in my arms, letting him curl up against my chest, his small hands clutching onto my jacket.
“No more bad dreams, alright? Daddy’s home now. Nothing’s gonna get you.”
Little by little, our son’s breathing evened out, his tiny body relaxing against mine. Y/N reached out, running her fingers through his hair.
“How about we all cuddle on the couch and watch something fun? Maybe your favorite movie?” Leo gave a tiny nod, his grip on me loosening just a bit.
I smiled, rubbing his back soothingly. “That’s my guy. We’ll make those bad dreams disappear in no time.”
As we settled in with our son nestled safely between us, the fear from earlier slowly melted away. It was replaced by warmth, comfort, and love. The kind only a family could bring. I gently rocked Leo in my arms, feeling the rise and fall of his tiny chest as he calmed down. Y/N sat close, her hand still brushing through his dark hair, her eyes filled with concern.
“Leo, buddy…” I said softly, shifting him slightly so I could look into his teary eyes.
“Can you tell us what your nightmare was about?”
He hesitated, his little fingers twisting the fabric of my jacket. Y/N reached out, stroking his cheek reassuringly.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Mommy and Daddy are right here. We promise nothing bad is gonna happen.”
Leo sniffled, his voice small as he whispered. “I dreamed… I lost you and Mommy. I was all alone, and I couldn’t find you anywhere.” His bottom lip wobbled, fresh tears threatening to spill. My chest tightened. No wonder he was so shaken up.
“Oh, buddy…” I muttered, hugging him closer. “That sounds really scary. But listen to me, okay?” I pulled back just enough to cup his tiny face.
“That’s never gonna happen. Mommy and I will always be here for you, no matter what.”
Y/N nodded, placing a hand over Leo’s. “You’re never alone, baby. Even when you wake up and don’t see me right away, I’m always close by.”
Leo’s eyes darted between us, still unsure. “But what if you go away?”
I shook my head. “Not gonna happen, champ. You’re stuck with us forever.” I poked his little nose, finally earning the tiniest hint of a smile.
“Pinkie promise?”
He hesitated before lifting his small hand, wrapping his pinkie around mine.
“Pinki promise.” He whispered.
Y/N smiled, kissing the top of his head. “How about we put on your favorite movie now, huh? Something fun to chase away the bad dreams?”
Leo nodded again, finally relaxing fully against me, and Y/N grabbed the remote. As she flipped through the options, I gave our son another squeeze, grateful that whatever haunted him in his dreams was fading away.
“Alright, Leo…” Y/N said with a smile. “Movie time. What’s it gonna be?”
Leo perked up slightly, rubbing his tired eyes. “Toy Story.”
I chuckled. “Classic choice, buddy.”
As the familiar opening music played, Leo snuggled up between us, safe and sound. Y/N and I shared a knowing look over his head. Tonight might’ve started rough, but as long as we were together, everything was alright.
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SUMMARY — Reggie used to be inseperable with his daughter, but as time passes his wife begins to notice they only seem to drift further and further apart.
WARNINGS — swearing, angst
NOTE — okay last day of reggie app week! it’s been such a pleasure to participate every single day and i would love to thank the organizers so much for putting this amazing event together. today was a free day so i took advantage of that to write this piece based on sarah mclachlan’s song when she loved me. happy reading!
You didn’t think you had ever seen him this peaceful. Just resting, soaking up her attention.
“She asleep?” you asked quietly, moving to sit down across from him on the armchair.
He nodded his head slowly, blue-green eyes not breaking their gaze.
“Remind me not to let you pick our next child’s name,” you joked, seeing if that might get his attention, it surely did.
“Hey, it’s a nice name!” he countered quietly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “My little princess Leia,”
“If I had known…” you shook your head.
“That’s on you for not watching Star Wars with me,” he chuckled. “But it’s a good name. Leia… it suits her,”
You nodded, standing up and coming to join him.
“Yeah it does,” you agreed. “She seems like she’s gonna be her dad’s girl,”
“You think?” he grinned, looking up at you. “I love her so much, it’s only been a week, but I-I just love her so much,”
“I know, honey,”
Reggie looked back down at his newborn daughter, hoping he could give her a happy home to grow up in. Leia deserved that. She deserved the entire galaxy and Reggie would serve his heart to her on a silver platter if it meant he could see her smile.
Right now she was the number one priority, the thing that mattered most.
“We should get to bed,” you noted, pressing a kiss to your husband’s head. “Can’t be even more tired when she wakes up in the middle of the night,”
Reggie nodded, slowly standing up and placing the small baby in the crib.
“Night princess,” he whispered. “Sleep tight,”
—
7 years later…
Reggie could hear the front door open and shut, followed by your gentle voice and the sound of sniffles.
He quickly stood up from his seat, running over to see what had happened.
“I promise it doesn’t matter baby,” you assured her. “You tried your best and that’s all your dad and I want you to do. I loved your project. It was perfect,”
“What’s the matter?” Reggie asked, bending down so he was at eye-level with you both.
Leia’s cheeks were tear-stained, and her lip quivered while she quietly cried, running into her dad’s arms for comfort.
“The teacher didn’t give her a good mark on her project,” you explained. “She spent a lot of time on it and was really proud, but I guess it didn’t hit the criteria properly,”
“She’s in the second grade?” Reggie frowned in confusion. “It can’t matter that much,”
“But it does papa,” Leia sniffed, looking up at him.
Reggie clicked his tongue and wiped away her tears with the heel of his palm. Her green eyes staring back up at him with so much hurt.
“Why don’t you tell me why princess,” he offered, picking her up and making his way to the couch while you grabbed her bag and unpacked her lunch in the kitchen.
“The other kids in my class made fun of me, they said my poster was stupid and I should have done a PowerPoint,” she sniffed, wiping away her tears.
“Okay princess, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret,” Reggie said in a low voice.
Leia leaned in closer, listening attentively.
“Other people don’t know you like I do, not even your teacher,” he said. “I’m your papa, and I know that my Leia is one of the smartest and dedicated kids in her class and she shouldn’t let what other people think of her get in the way,”
“But it still hurts,” she frowned.
“I know, and it’s gonna hurt for a little bit, but you know what we do? We go to the park, watch our favourite movies. We do things until it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Leia nodded and leaned her head against her dad’s shoulder, wiping her nose on her sleeve.
You walked into the living room, gently rubbing your daughter’s back as you sat next to the two.
“You feeling a little better Leia?” you asked and she nodded. “Why don’t you and dad build a fort?” you suggested. “I can make some popcorn and we can all watch a movie together,”
“Really? On a school night?” she asked, her eyes brightening slightly.
“Just this once,” Reggie smiled and Leia’s mood seemed to be instantly lifted.
“You guys go to the video store and grab something,” you grinned. “I’m sure if you tell the owner I’m your mama he’ll give you a discount,”
“Really?” this time it was Reggie who was slightly skeptical and you only laughed.
“He’s my uncle,” you flicked his forehead. “Now go on you two,” you shooed them.
Leia got out of her dad’s lap and took his hand, leading him out the front door of your home.
Only Reggie would be able to do that. Make her feel better about something that was so complicated.
They loved each other on a different level. One you weren’t sure you would ever understand, but you were grateful they had.
—
3 years later…
“I’ve been waiting so long for this day,” Reggie grinned, excitedly sitting in his seat at the movie theatre.
“Is this really as good as papa says it is?” Leia asked looking over at you and you just shrugged your shoulders.
“Wouldn’t know, I haven’t watched it yet,” you admitted. “It better be, I let him name you after one of the characters,”
“You what?!” she exclaimed, looking at both her parents in surprise.
“You’ll love her!” Reggie insisted. “Just trust me, princess,”
“One day that’s gonna get me in trouble papa,” she joked and you couldn’t help, but laugh.
The theatre soon turned dark and the familiar well-known theme came blasted through the speakers along with the opening credits.
Reggie was right, a part of you hated that he was right, but you couldn’t be mad when you saw Leia’s face light up at the sight of her namesake on screen.
It must have felt empowering to be named after such a strong and amazing character. It made you a little happier you let Reggie pick her first name.
When the screen finally went dark and the lights turned back on, Leia was the first to stand up, looking back at both you and Reggie proudly proclaiming,
“That was friggin awesome! Can we watch the next one? Papa, do you have the next one?!”
“Careful with the language honey,” you chuckled at her enthusiasm and she gave you a quick apology.
“I think I’ve got them somewhere in the attic,” Reggie nodded, standing up and joining her. “Wait! I’ve got an idea,” he grinned. “Come with me,”
He took both your hands and dragged you out of the theatre, entering the mall and twisting and turning through the halls until he found the store he was looking for.
“Hot topic? Papa, come on isn’t that a little bit out of your style?”
Reggie gave her a look and she just laughed, following him into the store, straight to the jewelry section.
“Here this one, do you like it?” he asked, putting the millennium falcon pendant in her hand.
“I love it!” she grinned.
“Then it’s yours, come on, let’s go pay for it,” Reggie smiled before looking over at you. “I forgot my credit card-,”
“Don’t worry,” you chuckled lightly and pressed a kiss to his lips. “It can be an early Hanukkah present,”
“Mom it’s June,” Leia tried to stifle a laugh along with Reggie.
“You should have seen her a few months ago, she bought me a new flannel and said it was an early birthday present,”
“Just making sure my bases are covered,” you said, taking the necklace from your daughter and handing it to the cashier so they could scan it and hand it back to her.
Leia quickly tore away the cardboard casing and with Reggie’s help clipped it around her neck.
It became her most prized possession. She never took it off, always a token, a reminder of happy days. She was always her dad’s princess.
—
4 years later…
You and Reggie were both sitting on the couch, doing various things for work and whatnot when you heard the door click open and slam shut.
You both looked up from your laptops, seeing a quite frustrated Leia enter the living room, sitting right next to Reggie and tucking her face in between his shoulder and the couch.
“Everything alright there sweetie?” you asked gently.
“No,” you could hear her voice start to break.
“What happened,” you pressed further while Reggie put down his things and prompted his daughter to move, showing her face and leaning in closer to her dad while he wrapped an arm around her.
“Soriah broke up with me,” she said, choking back her tears, trying to hide her face in her hands while Reggie was quick to pull her closer and gently rub her back.
“What happened princess I thought you two were doing good,”
“So did I,” she sniffed. “But she just came up and gave me some stupid-ass cliche bullshit a-and now I just don’t know what to do,”
“The first step is always food,” Reggie instructed, kissing her forehead, “(N/N)-,”
“Already on it,” you nodded. “Brownies and ice cream? It’ll take a bit to make but it’s worth it,”
Leia nodded and said,
“Thanks, mom,” before turning to Reggie,
“Well what’s step two then?” she asked, wiping away her tears. “It wouldn’t happen to be egging her house would it cause that would make me really happy,”
“Unfortunately not, although I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want to go there and give her a piece of my mind,”
“Oh God, please don’t,” you begged and he chuckled, shaking his head with a sigh.
“Step two is talking about it, getting things out in the open,” he explained. “So what are you feeling?”
“I feel like I want to egg her house,”
Reggie shook his head again and nudged her, prompting her to go a little deeper.
“I-I’m hurt,” she sighed. “I’m confused, I don’t know why she ended things and I’m angry…”
“Are you tired from being angry?” Reggie asked with a small smile, referring to when she would throw tantrums as a toddler and immediately take a nap afterwards.
“Shut up,” Leia nudged her dad and Reggie couldn’t help but laugh.
“Come on Reg,” you urged your husband, coming back into the living room. “Give it a rest. It’s her first break up,”
“Are they all going to suck?” Leia asked.
“Most of them will,” you nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear. “But sometimes you know it’s for the best and that’s okay,”
Leia nodded and sniffed once more before turning to her dad,
“I think I’m ready for step three,”
“Now I think you’re gonna like this one,” he grinned. “Star Wars?”
“Okay this is officially my favourite step,” she nodded and you and Reggie both laughed before turning on the TV and going to put in the DVD.
“What one do you wanna watch first?” he asked.
“Episode IV,” she yawned, grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch and curling up underneath it.
“That’s my girl,” Reggie smiled fondly, putting in the DVD before coming back to sit with you and Leia.
Maybe breakups wouldn’t be so bad now that she had those three steps.
—
3 years later…
It started as small things,
“I’m too tired dad,”
“I’m not really in the mood,”
“I have homework I need to finish,”
And then it came to
“Come on dad that’s so childish,”
When he asked if she wanted to go out for ice cream or talk a walk and feed the ducks by the park.
Whatever it was, Reggie had no idea what was happening. All of a sudden Leia went from his little princess to someone who barely even wanted to talk to him. Isolating herself in her room, only coming out when absolutely necessary.
You saw how your daughter slowly pushed away from him. Secluding herself. It was painful to watch, painful to see how Reggie didn’t know what to do to get his daughter back, to turn her into that little girl that wouldn’t leave his side.
And Leia, she couldn’t see it, but it affected her too. She was spending all her time with friends, coming back to the house late, it wasn’t something she used to do. It wasn’t something she was even used to doing and it was taking its toll on everyone.
“Hey, I’ve got practice,” Reggie noted, grabbing an apple from the fridge before looking at you and Leia.
You were preparing something for dinner while Leia tackled her homework. Your daughter gave no kind of response, but you looked up at Reggie and gave him a nod.
“Say hi to the guys for me,” you smiled, pressing a quick kiss to his lips when he came by you.
“I will,” he nodded, moving over to say goodbye to Leia. He pressed a kiss to her hair, but again, no response. “I-I’ll see you two later,”
Reggie grabbed his bass, slinging it over his shoulder before heading to the car and driving off to the studio.
When Reggie entered, Luke, Alex, and Bobby were already set up and ready to go.
“Hey sorry I’m late, traffic,” Reggie shrugged, tossing his notebook and bag off to the side.
“No problem, you ready?”
The bassist nodded and tuned his instrument, doing a quick scale before nodding at Luke to count them in for whatever song they were planning to do.
Practice went fine and about an hour in they went for a break. Reggie went inside to grab some water, but when he came back he was met with the boys crowding around his notebook.
“Hey what are you doing with that?” he asked, Luke grabbed the notebook and moved back as Reggie moved forward.
“Reg what is this?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, And when she was sad I was there to dry her tears, and when she was happy so was I. When she loved me,” Luke read from the book. “I-Is this about (Y/N)? Are you guys okay?”
“Guys it’s nothing what the hell!” Reggie snapped, jogging up to them and grabbing the book from their hands.
“Reg are you ok-,”
“I’m fine!” he yelled at them. “Just stop asking it’s none of your business,” his voice quieted.
The boys pursed their lips and nodded unsure of what to do next.
“Can we just pick it up from where we were at,” he asked and in response they made their way to their various instruments, continuing their practice.
When everything was over Alex and Luke had to head out pretty quickly but Bobby stayed behind a little, hoping to get a word in with Reggie.
“It’s about Leia isn't it,” he said finally once he was sure they were alone.
“What?” Reggie sighed from where he sat on the couch, looking over at Bobby.
“The song you wrote, the one in your book. It’s about her,”
Reggie could feel the lump start to grow in his throat as he moved his hands in front of his face trying to hide his emotions.
“She won’t even talk to me anymore,” he whispered. “Not even to say goodbye when I leave the house, what the hell am I doing wrong, Bobby?”
Bobby quickly came to his friend’s side, sitting next to him and laying a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Reggie you’re not doing anything wrong,” he tried to assure him.
“But how can you go from someone who spends so much time with you, who loves you to someone who doesn’t even acknowledge your existence. It feels like I’m being a bad parent to her and I can’t figure out how to do better,”
“Look Reg I’m dealing with a similar thing with Carrie,” he started. “She… She’s distant and yeah it hurts like hell cause sometimes I just want her to tell me what’s wrong, but they’re teenagers, they’re gonna push away before they come closer. I think all we can really do is remember that until it happens,”
Reggie nodded and ducked his head in his hands, shoulders shaking slightly with every soft sob that came from his mouth.
“Bobby, s-she’s my princess… I-I-I don’t know if I can do that,”
“I know,” Bobby sighed, continuing to offer his friend comfort. “I know,”
—
“You’re quiet tonight,” you said thoughtfully while climbing into bed, turning to your husband who was staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Hmm,” he looked over at you, “Sorry, what were you saying,”
“Nothing, you’re just quiet. Something on your mind?” you asked, raising a hand to move some hair out of his eyes.
He nodded his head, “Leia… I don’t know, does she talk to you about anything?”
“Sometimes, for help with school and telling me about plans with her friends,” you told him. “But not much aside from that… You miss spending time with her, don’t you?”
“Yeah I do,” he sighed and you curled in closer to him, pressing a kiss to his shoulder, hoping to offer any comfort you could.
“I understand, you two were always inseparable,” you chuckled lightly. “I remember our first week home you didn’t want to let her go. You slept in the armchair in her nursery with her wrapped up in a tiny little blanket,”
Reggie let out a breathy chuckle and gave you a soft smile.
“I remember that too,”
“She’s out baby, it’s only natural that when she drifts it would hurt. But that doesn’t mean she won’t come back. She’s just testing deeper waters,”
“So everyone keeps telling me,” Reggie nodded, wrapping an arm tightly around your frame and pressing a soft kiss to your temple. “But I’ve still got you,”
“That you do,” you agreed. Reaching over slightly to turn off his lamp and then close your eyes, both of you waiting for sleep to take over.
—
“Nice of you to make an appearance,” Reggie said, trying to bite back the tone in his voice when his daughter entered the house.
He was sitting in the kitchen, looking out past the countertops and to the front door where Leia was kicking off her shoes.
“Things ran late, I had to catch a later bus,” she said simply, without even an apology.
Reggie stood up, making his way over to the foyer.
“Did you forget what day it was today?” he asked.
“No,” she said plainly, stopping on the steps to turn around and look at him.
“So you just actively ignored the fact it was your mother’s birthday and spent time with your friends instead,” Reggie scowled, now he was upset.
“Why are you so mad, I gave mom her present this morning, I did what I had to,”
“It’s her birthday Leia!” he exclaimed. “It’s one day in a year that maybe you can take a sliver of your oh so precious time to spend with your family,”
“What the hell! Mom doesn’t even care, stop badgering me!”
“Yeah well, right now I care!” Reggie fired back. “Do you ever stop to think what I’ve been thinking the past few months, no years Leia! You’re different! You don’t want to spend time with me anymore! You’re so caught up in your dumb little friend group your grades are slipping don’t you think I’ve noticed that?!”
“Well maybe if you stopped treating me like a flipping child I’d want to spend time with you!”
“Leia you are a child! You’re only seventeen and you think you know everything the world has to offer! You don’t! Wake up and smell the damn coffee! You haven’t even been alive for two decades!”
Leia slammed her fist on the railing where she stood, looking down at her father with complete anger and frustration.
“You don’t know me! You don’t know anything about me!”
“Leia stop being overdramatic! I keep tiptoeing around you because I want to give you space well fuck that! You just don’t care! You don’t care about me, your mother, your school-”
“Stop it! Stop it!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. “I hate you! Okay is that what you wanna hear? I hate you so much! Now would you just leave me alone,” she hit the railing again and spun around running to her room while Reggie hit his fist on the wall before taking a deep breath and making his way to the kitchen, pouring himself a small portion of a stiff drink.
He leaned against the island, pinching the bridge of his nose, cursing himself for letting the situation get out of hand like that.
He was thankful you weren't home, otherwise, the guilt would have been unbearable.
His head turned to the clock a while later and when he saw the time, it had been at least an hour since whatever that yelling match was. He decided it would be best to go upstairs and apologize.
With a deep breath, he knocked on Leia’s door, not really expecting her to open it.
“Leia… princess, I’m sorry,” Reggie sighed. “I-I don’t know what got into me, I didn't mean the things I said and I… I just want you to know I love you. Your mom and I-we…. We both love you,”
There wasn’t an answer from the other side, although it did seem eerily quiet.
Leia might have thought her dad didn’t know her well, but Reggie knew when she was upset she liked to doodle, draw things, or just do something with her hands, but Reggie heard no pencil scratching, crayons and markers clattering.
He turned the knob to the door and pushed open the door, his eyes immediately falling on the open window directly in front of him.
His heart stopped and sunk to the pit of his stomach while his hands quickly came to cover his mouth as he gasped.
No, no, no this can’t be happening.
Without much thought Reggie ran downstairs, grabbing his keys and phone, getting into the car, not even sure if he locked the door behind him.
He quickly dialled your phone number, trying not to break and stress you out more than necessary.
“Reggie? What’s up?” you asked. “I know it’s late and I should be home-,”
“That’s not it,” he swallowed thickly. “I-I got into a fight with Leia and she ran away,”
“She what,” your voice fell into a whisper and Reggie’s voice broke.
“She-I-I don’t even remember how it all happened and I was going upstairs to apologize and the window in her room was open and she wasn’t there,”
“Reggie where are you?” you asked, confused by the whole situation. “Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. I’m just out in the car right now. I’m going to stop by her friend’s places to see if she’s there,” he explained.
“O-Okay, I’m coming home,” you said. “Be careful out there alright it’s late,”
“I will,” he nodded slowly. “And (N/N),”
“Yeah babe,” you sniffed.
“I’m so sorry,” he apologized.
You sighed, massaging your temples.
“It’s not your fault Reg, just… just bring back out baby okay?”
“I love you,”
“I love you too,” you nodded and he hung up the phone, taking a deep breath and continuing his search.
—
“Yes, her name is Leia Peters, she’s around 5’6, um dark brown hair, green eyes,”
Reggie looked at you while you spoke to the police officer on the phone.
“R-Reggie what was she wearing when you last saw her?” you asked quietly.
“A Pink Floyd shirt, black jeans and my leather jacket,” he whispered and you repeated it over the phone.
“Yeah, she’s got a-a piercing, on her nose, it’s a stud,” you added. “Okay thank you, officer, goodbye,”
You hung up the phone and looked over to Reggie, leaning his back against the wall. Slowly, he slipped down, until his knees were pressed to his chest and heavy sobs wracked his body.
You bent down next to him, pulling his shaking frame into your arms, shedding a few tears of your own.
“She’s gonna be okay,” you kept whispering. “She’s gonna come home and she’s gonna be fine,”
Reggie clutched onto you while you continued to whisper words of comfort, happy things that were bound to happen when your daughter came back home.
You remembered the last time Reggie had acted like this when Leia fell at the park, unable to move and you thought she had been paralyzed. But this was so much worse, you didn’t know what to do, what to say. Nothing you did helped calm his nerves or slow his breathing, but to be fair you were in the same boat. So scared and helpless for your daughter.
You weren’t sure when you had fallen asleep on the floor with Reggie, your body taken over by exhaustion from working and searching all over town for your daughter. But by the time you woke up, it was nearly dark and Reggie was nowhere to be found.
Standing up abruptly, you called out for him, searching every room until you found him in Leia’s bedroom. His eyes were red as he stared at her empty desk, covered in school notes and sketches.
“I don’t think I remember the last time I’ve been in here,” he whispered, his voice raspy. “It’s so different. Leia, she’s so different.” Reggie gently touched the filled sketchbook and shook his head. “She’s right, I don’t know her. She has every right to hate me.”
“Reggie, stop it,” you shook your head. “Don’t say that, if you say that then-then…” you covered your mouth and held your stomach.
Reggie quickly stepped over to you, wrapping his arms around you.
“(N/N) I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean to upset you,” he whispered, “It’s just-I-... This feels like it’s my fault, a-and if I get it wrong with one kid I...I don’t want it to happen with another,” his hand rested on your stomach.
“It’s not, It’s no one’s fault… she’s just, she’s going through something, a-and I’m fine, the baby’s gonna be fine,”
Reggie nodded and didn’t respond, only because of the quiet click of the door, followed by it being shut.
You and Reggie let go of each other, quickly running down the stairs, seeing the teen standing on the doorstep. One of her hands was clutching the pendant of her necklace and the other was wiping her eyes.
Reggie didn’t move forward, worried one wrong move would cause her to run away again.
He wouldn’t let that happen.
—
Earlier that night…
Leia knocked on the door, harder than she would have, waiting for someone to answer.
When the door opened, Alex looked confusedly at the teen.
“Leia?”
“Can I stay here? With you, I-I can’t go home, y-you can't tell my parents,”
“Leia, what’s going on?” Alex opened the door wider, letting her come in.
“D-Dad and I had a fight and-and I just can’t be there right now,”
“Sure, here, um do you need anything? Do you want to talk?” he asked, watching her sit down carefully on the couch.
“I just don’t understand him,” she said angrily, hitting her fists against her legs.
“Leia your dad… he-he does things in a certain way because of how he grew up,” Alex attempted to explain.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “He was fine growing up,”
“He was, but your grandparents fought a lot and worked a lot. They loved him, but it felt as if they weren’t there when he needed them. He’s the type of person who’s become protective because he wants to make sure you don’t feel neglected or-or alone,”
Leia bit her lip, shaking her head,
“Oma and Opa fought?” she frowned.
“Ya-Ya, they’re divorced, of course they fought,” he nodded.
She held her forehead in her hands, looking down at the coffee table.
“I still can’t go back… not yet we’ll just yell at each other again,” she whispered.
“Leia honey,” Alex said softly. “Your parents are that way because they love you, not because they’re trying to get back at you for something you did or because they’re disappointed,”
He took Leia’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze.
“My parents, they thought I was a different person after I came out, i-it takes its toll. Don’t throw away what you have with your dad just because you’re drifting apart.”
Leia wiped her tears on the sleeve of her leather-no, her dad’s leather jacket that she took.
“Can you take me home,” she sniffed. “Please,”
“Of course Ya-Ya,” Alex nodded, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a tight hug. “We love you okay? All of us,”
—
Leia waited for only a second longer before she lunged into his arms, gripping onto him tighter than ever before.
“I-I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, “I’m so sorry papa, I didn’t mean it,”
“Shh it’s okay,” Reggie assured, his shaking hands gently running through her dark hair.
