The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Adoption is always an option, Jackson," Ella says, a bit too casual, quietly cutting another piece of cheese from the block. "If you don't think you're up for being a father. We could have her placed with a very nice family -"

A rough snarl breaks from Jackson's throat and Marigold goes still, turning towards her father in surprise. He works hard to reign himself in, passing the little girl a bit of comfort down their bond, letting her know that the snarl was not for her - never for her.

Marigold hesitates for a second but then turns back to the apples, continuing to eat.noveldrama

"Good answer," Ella says, flicking her eyes up to Jackson and smirking at him.

"Was that a joke?" he growls.

"No," Ella says with a happy sigh, putting the knife down and taking a sharp little bite of her cheese. "But it was a way to get you to realize that even if this is a surprise, and you may not have thought you wanted it before, that you want it now."

Ella nods towards Marigold, who Jackson can tell is listening, even if she keeps her eyes on her food.

"That's your daughter, yes?" Ella asks, pride already ringing in her voice.

"Yes, she's mine," Jackson says, his voice deep and serious.

"And...no one else's?" Ella's eyes flick up to Jackson's and he knows immediately what she means. He shakes his head, because Tasha...she's gone. He presses away, for a moment, the mental image of Marigold alone in the house with her mother's body...

Because it's just too horrible to imagine.

"Marigold is mine," Jackson murmurs, running a hand over the little girl's hair, cupping the sweet curve of the back of her head.

"Wonderful," Ella says, giving him a sweet, loving smile so deep that her eyes crinkle up at the corners. "Then you're going to have to learn how to become a dad."

Jackson sighs, long and slow, as he realizes that she's right.

But he nods once, accepting the challenge.

Then he sighs, dropping his head a little and closing his eyes. "Is this going to kill Ariel?"

"Oh, don't you worry about Ariel," Ella says, waving a hand to casually dismiss the point. "Ariel loves kids!"

"Mom," Rafe murmurs, laughing a bit

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as Mark comes over with a big pot of macaroni and cheese, setting it on the table before going to get some bowls and forks. "I mean think this is a bigger deal than Ariel just liking kids -" en

"Oh, our Ari is a very flexible person, Rafe. Honestly, I don't think that's a major concern."

Rafe and Jackson glance at each other, dubious, as Marigold gasps and drops her apple from her hand, her nose lifting as her eyes move right for the pot, an eager little whine sounding in her throat.

"Do you want to try this, Goldie!?” Ella asks, laughing and reaching for the wooden spoon as Mark comes back with the bowls and grins, sitting down with them.

Marigold's eyes dart away from the pot for a moment and land on Ella. A little frown takes her mouth as she points to her chest with her thumb. "Marigold." Jackson's teeth clench and his eyes slam shut as he hears, for the first time, the sound of his daughter's tiny, adorable, perfect little voice.

Well, first time if you don't count all the wailing at the start. Which he supposes he doesn't.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ella says, laughing. Jackson opens his eyes to see her beaming at his little girl, leaning close. "Would you like to try this, Marigold?"

Marigold nods once, solid, and Ella spoons out a small portion in a little white bowl, blowing on it before placing it in front of the little girl.

Marigold reaches for it with her fingers but Jackson's hand flashes out, covering hers. "It's very hot, é Marigold," he murmurs, reaching for a smatt spoon with a little cartoon duckdrawn on the handle. "Use this."

He hands it to her and Marigold takes the spoon, looking at it dubiously. But then she sighs, and clumsily begins to scoop up the noodles, blowing on them before bringing them to her mouth.

"Holy crap, Jacks," Rafe says. Jackson turns to see Rafe grinning at him. "That was...already very dad-like."

"She was going to burn her hand," Jacks murmurs, frowning and gesturing towards it.