Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares) (7 page)

Honey moved easily from one man to another, wrapping her arms tightly around Gareth and burying her face against the crook of his neck. The move made Daisy’s heart clench and she knew that there were going to be some sleepless and tear filled nights ahead of them. Looking to Mikhail she said, “We will keep track of everything. Since Penny is off doing her physical therapy as well as checking in with her bosses at the airline, I will have a few days off with Honey and we will make sure to document everything, promise.” She smiled and added, “But you guys have this weekend, so make it count.”

Nodding Mik watched Gareth speaking softly to Honey for a moment before turning his gaze back to Daisy. "I'm sure we can keep her busy and occupied for the weekend. Not sure if she'll still be conscious when you come to pick her up," he smiled slightly. "She'll likely be worn out quite well and should sleep like the dead before school on Monday."

Daisy nodded and sighed. “All right kiddo, get over here and give me a hug.” When Honey walked her way Daisy wrapped her in her arms. “I love you Honey; to the moon and back again.”

“And I love you too mommy. You sure you are going to be okay all alone? You’ve not been alone since I was born.”

“I will be perfectly fine honey. I’ve picked up an extra shift tonight and tomorrow night so I will be well occupied. Be good for your dads as well as the plethora of adopted uncles that you seem to have gained.”

Honey grinned, “Maybe this time I can get Antonio to tell me what
mierda
means.”

Daisy closed her eyes, counted to ten and then took a deep breath. “No, you don’t need to be told what that means Honey.” She looked to Gareth and Mikhail and smiled. In Russian she spoke to them and said, “Make sure that they know that she picks up on everything and will pick a curse word out no matter what language.”

“Oh mommy, what did you say?” Honey asked with wide eyes.

Daisy smiled, “I just told your dads to watch over you.” Touching her daughters flaming red curls again she sighed. “I have to go sweetheart. Be good.’

“Always momma, always.”

Standing Mikhail followed Daisy to the door and replied in Russian to her, "We'll warn the others to watch their tongues around her but you are leaving a young and impressionable child with a bunch of soldiers you realize." Grinning at her look he shrugged, "I make only so many promises D, I don't know if that is one I can keep so I'll do what I can. Be grateful they swear in foreign tongues most days," he muttered before looking down at Honey and switching back to English. "Give your mom a kiss and walk her to the car," he murmured.

Honey walked over to her mother and looked up at her, “Are you sure you are going to be okay? You will be all alone.” The child bit her lower lip, uncertainty in her eyes.

“Yes Honey I will be fine. You will be safe here with your fathers. They would never, ever let anything happen to you.”

“I know, but.” Honey stiffened her spine and nodded, “I can do this.”

“I know you can baby.” Daisy gave Honey a big hug and then looked up to the men to explain, “She’s never stayed away from me like this before. She’s used to me working nights, but I’ve always been there to put her in bed and wake her for breakfast, so this is new to her. So just, well, if you need me, call?”

"If you want to stay Daisy you are more than welcome to," Gareth said as he walked up next to Mikhail. "It might make it easier on her to adjust to this in little increments. I know you don't have anything here for yourself, but I'm sure you can make do scavenging our wardrobes. As I recall you had a thing for Mik's shirts," he grinned at her.

Daisy smiled and shook her head, “If I recall I had a thing for both of your shirts.” Shaking her head she said, “I would, but I really can’t. I did pick up additional shifts and if I’m going to get any rest before I have to go in, I should leave.” She looked down at Honey and smiled. “You can call me anytime. You have your cell with you and, well I’m sure that the dads will let you call anytime as well. If you need to come home, you know that you can baby.” Leaning in she kissed her daughter's forehead and pulled back. Looking to Gareth and then Mik she said, “Please take care of her? She’s utterly priceless and completely irreplaceable. Enjoy your time with her and get to know her.”

"We will," Gareth said softly moving to put a hand on Honey's hair. "Come out early on Sunday if you can, we're going to have a big ol’ fire going and roast some meat and marshmallows around it, just like in the olden days. Well before marshmallows were around but then they didn't understand the goodness of the s'more."

“I think that I can manage that.” Daisy said to Gareth and smiled at him. God she loved that man, she loved both of them. Dear God those feelings hadn’t gone away, they had only gotten stronger if that was at all possible. Sighing she pasted a smile on her face and nodded, “I will see you guys Sunday.” Turning before she couldn’t; Daisy walked out and left her daughter, her entire world, with the two men that she loved more than life itself.

Lifting a hand Mikhail waved as she headed off down the drive. Looking to Honey he touched her cheek with light fingers. "You alright
sladkaya
?" he asked softly. "How about we go and get you changed into something you don't mind getting dirty in, and then either Gareth or I will give you the tour around the place on an ATV?"

“Can you both come with me?” Honey asked as she held onto Gareth and Mikhail’s hands tightly. “I would really like to be able to spend time with you both. Maybe I can ride with daddy Gareth to a certain point, and then with daddy Mikhail? I really would like that a lot, please?”

"Of course we can do that Honey," Gareth said with a grin. "Come on, let's go and get you into something that your mother won't have a conniption fit over it being dirty. Then we'll head out and see if we can corral some of the lads into doing real work for a few hours."

Honey grinned up at him and slid her hand into his and with an adoring look, “Okay, come on Daddy Gareth, let’s go and find me something to wear, but really my mommy wouldn’t be upset. She’s actually the coolest and best mom that anyone could ever have.”

"Well, she may be the coolest mom ever but let's not try her patience with us," Gareth told her leading her towards the house. "We will get you into some clothes that if they get ruined she won't use a bunch of nasty words with Mik and I."

“Okay. I don’t want mom upset with you two.” Honey said with a nod. “So I will let you pick my clothes, and then we will go and look over the place that’s going to be my home; at least on the weekends, right?”

"Absolutely," Gareth grinned picking her up and swinging her up the stairs. "Let's see what you packed for clothes and then we can decide what might be suitable. Did you bring a hat or sunscreen?" he asked her as they moved to where her bag was.

Shutting the door Mikhail followed after them and sat on the stairs to watch as they began to go through Honey's bag of clothing.

“Yep, the hat is in the bottom and the sunscreen is in the side pocket. Mom doesn’t let me go anywhere without it. Says that if I forget it even once I will get all sizzled and fried, and that’s actually painful. Betty Humbolt had to miss two whole days of school because of her sunburn. It was terrible because she’s a good friend of mine and I missed her a whole lot.”

Mikhail snorted, "It's the pale skin of the Welshman in you Honey," he said. "We have to slather up Gareth too but he can tan a little bit. He's actually not too pale," he commented pointing over at the large redhead.

Honey grinned and nodded, “No he’s not. He’s not that pale but I am. My mommy has taken such good care of me that I’ve never once burnt, never once done anything other than get just a little pink and then mom wigged out totally and completely.”

"Yes, I can imagine," he told her softly with a grin. "Your mother has had some interesting reactions in the little time we've been around her. But we will ensure that you don't have to worry about that even if we need to bubble wrap you."

Honey laughed and looked up at Mikhail, “Mommy and Aunt Penny are both protective of me; and me of them. They are my family you know.” She said with a shrug. “And Aunt Penny is the one that found you for me, so you should thank her. Now we just have to figure out how to make mom see that she still loves you and wants to be with you; and then we can be a family.” The girl blurted after putting sunscreen in her hands and closing her eyes to rub it all over her face.

Sharing a look with Mikhail, Gareth frowned slightly, "Your aunt Penny helped you to find us?" he asked quietly. At her little nod he looked to Mik again, "Now how in the world did she do that?"

"Considering how deep our identities are hidden, which was deep while we served and even deeper after we got out," Mikhail shook his head. "She shouldn't have been able to if she was a civilian; which means she works for either the military or an agency. Cops wouldn't have the resources to get around that sort of security."

"We'll get Anton on it, see what he can dig up on her, and see if we can't figure out who might be pulling her strings," Gareth murmured reaching out to wipe a blob of sunscreen off Honey's nose. "You're supposed to rub it in darling. Not leave great big goobers of it all over your skin."

“That’s why I gots you. Mommy usually makes sure that it’s all rubbed in but since she’s not here, that’s your job.” The girl said and gave her father a big grin. “And my Aunt Penny found you ‘cause she’s the best. She knows a lot of people you know.” She said with a nod. “And they like her, not as much as I love her, but they like her and they helped her to find you for me.” Honey said with a shrug.

"Really?" Mikhail asked and sighed, "Well then we'll have to thank those people and Penny at some point," he said quietly. Pushing off the stairs he looked into her bag, "Better put on jeans and a long sleeved shirt Honey, we'll be out in the brush for part of the day and not all of it wants to get cleared out."

Honey giggled as she said, “You could get mom to come and tend them. They would all die. She says she has a black thumb, and can kill anything that has to be planted in soil. Said that’s why she did so good with me, ‘cause I was planted in her belly.”

"And one day your daddy Gareth is going to discuss just how that came to be," Mikhail said with an evil grin on his face.

"I actually think daddy Mik should have that discussion," Gareth said with a smug look.

"Uh-uh," he shook his head and handed the clothing to Honey, "Go and change poppet," he pointed to the downstairs bathroom. "while daddy G and I clear up a few things out here."

“Okay but you are supposed to fight with your words, not your fists. That’s what mom told me. Aunt Penny too, but they also wanted me to be able to take care of myself if I ever needed it. Aunt Pen taught mom and I some neato tricks that we can do. I might show you one day. She said that its something called Jew-Get-Sun or something like that.” Honey shrugged and walked off with her clothes, humming as she all but skipped along.

Both men stared after her in confusion for a time before looking at one another. "Why am I getting stuck talk about sex with Honey?" Gareth asked on a growl.

"Because you are very clearly her biological father, and that task should always fall onto the father; unless of course Daisy has the chat with her and gets you out of it. But you will still need to have the talk with her about what dirty, filthy minded beings boys are and what the one and only thing they want is," Mik said with a grin clearly enjoying himself.

"That is seriously not fair," Gareth muttered running a hand through his hair.

"Welcome to fatherhood…guy that couldn't keep his little swimmers under control," Mik muttered to him.

“I heard that.” Honey called to them from the hall with laughter. “And my mom’s already had the sex talk with me.” She giggled once more. “Boys. So silly.” She said to the large man that came down the hall towards her. “Uncle Victor!” Honey shouted at the large man and raced towards him. Sliding her hand into his she grinned up at him. “I’m going out with the dads today. They are going to show me around. Do you wanna come too?”

"I'll be out there. I just came in to get some more water munchkin," he said grabbing her hands and swinging her around. "Want to help me fill up a cooler so we can all stay hydrated?"