We'll Make Do [TAG: Lincoln]

[BEATRIX KIDDO]

Even though they didn't live together Beatrix Kiddo and Lincoln Watts spent practically every second that they weren't at work with one another sometimes at her place but, more often than not, at his. It was bigger, roomier... Being an auror in the wizarding world must pay well! It wasn't a rare thing for Beatrix to already be in his apartment cooking when his shift ended because he had given her the key. Heck, sometimes she didn't leave from the morning before. It worked for them so they didn't really worry or fuss over what others thought. All that mattered is that they were finally together. Girlfriend and boyfriend. Was there anything better?

As it turned out, as a new couple they had already experienced a lot of the growing pains that other couples experienced through their very close friendship over two decades. Perhaps enviously they fell right into a seemingly constant honeymoon phase. Cute pet names, flirty affections, butt and waist pinches, little dinners for two, and other sickeningly sweet things. Poor oblivious Bea, not at all wising up to the fact that this was the calm before an inevitable storm.

Lincoln told Beatrix everything. At least she liked to think so. Before it had been *almost* everything with one teeny tiny little secret about being in love with her but she also hid (unsuccessfully) that she was in love with him too so she supposed that one was a wash. When she wasn't talking his ear off they were texting or facetiming. On this night however, while Beatrix slaved away on a delicious three course meal, she received a call. Lincoln sounded different somehow. Not his chipper self, stressed, sad, worried, exhausted. At first she was worried something had happened to him and it sort of had. Lincoln did tend to take on emotions harder than the average person. They both did. So when he shared what he had seen that day and who would be joining them then went about apologizing Beatrix was quick to soothe him even over a telephone line. It was fine. It was all fine. They would figure it out. They always did.

When Lincoln arrived back to his place he would find the place clean, food still on the table and very much cool. "Linky!" Despite the late night hour Beatrix was wide awake and rushed up to him to give him his usual big welcome home hug only to stop at the last moment and step back with a frown. A small blonde-haired girl, her face buried in his chest, clung to her boyfriend and instantly Bea's heart ached for her. "Is this her?" She asked in a hushed voice. Duh, Bea. Of course, it is. How many kids do you think he saves every day? Probably lots. Because Lincoln was a hero.

"Oh, Linky." She cooed, still making her voice quiet, and she edged into his side giving him a half hug as it was the part she could reach. "They couldn't find any other family?" She looked up at him, careful not to wake the sleeping child, she reached out and rubbed light circled on the small girl's pink sweater. The mama instinct was strong in this one. "Poor thing." It was then that her eyes caught glimpse of some dry blood stains on the fabric and her hand recoiled not out of disgust but because Beatrix wasn't used to such things. She had such a positive outlook on the world that its danger often eluded her scope. 

"I, um..." Make words, Kiddo. Make words. "I made up the couch with some pillows and a blanket." She offered, trying as usual to be helpful. If only she knew that the poor girl hadn't let go of Lincoln for going on six hours. "I made pulled pork, and potato salad, and coleslaw..." Did kids like those things? Probably not. "I used some of the leftover pasta and cheese from italian night to fudge up some mac and cheese. Maybe she'll eat that when she's ready?" When it came to kids Beatrix didn't mess around. She wanted to be a mom so badly she would spoil any child she was in contact with to the moon and back. "Are you hungry?" Lincoln was always hungry... except when he was sad but right now it was the only thing she could think of to help.

[Deleted]

The day started like any other. He came in with a pink drink. Starbucks. He loved muggle sweets, and that extended to beverages for him. He danced and waltzed through the corridors of his workplace as he normally did, offering greetings to those he cared for, and even those he did not. Everything was bliss. Beatrix Kiddo was his. Finally his. There was really not a lot that the world could have thrown at him at any given moment, that would make that feeling dissipate. Which of course, meant that the universe would cast the most lopsided curveball yet at the budding auror, in the hopes of knocking him down a peg or two.



It was 5 PM. Lincoln was almost ready to wrap it up. Go home to where his doting partner would surely be waiting. Likely with delicious food in tow! He was carefully postulating a piece of evidence when there was a knock at his office door, which was then opened hastily. It was Allen. His face was pale. He was sweating. He looked disheveled. Not enough to dissuade Lincoln from his usual affable ways, however. “Geez dude. I can’t tell if you looked like you’ve seen a ghost, or if I’m looking at one. What’s going on?” Link motioned to the chair in front of his desk, which Allen took quickly. Lincoln’s concern was growing. “Dude.. come on.. spill.” Allen was fidgeting. Fidgeting like… Krys Robin?



“Lincoln..I..” He looked nauseous.

“Hey man, you’re scaring me..” The truth.



Allen leaped up from the chair. His usual cool demeanor gone. He was nervous and skittish.



“We found a girl.”

“'Found' a girl? Merlin, Allen. Alive?”

“Yes. Come. I can't handle this on my own Lincoln.”

“Say no more. Let’s roll.”



They strode down the now quiet corridors, most people ducking out early for the weekend. Not Allen. Never Allen. And he was lucky Lincoln was still around as well. They didn’t speak. Lincoln didn’t feel it was his place to joke, poke, or prod. Whatever Allen wanted him to see, they would be there soon.



A door opened to a smaller office. There was a woman, kneeling a few feet away from a small, blonde-haired little girl. She was asking her questions. Questions that she wasn’t answering. Lincoln didn’t even know if she knew how to speak, based solely on her inability to even register anybody’s existence in the room. There was blood on her clothing. And not just a little bit. She looked lost. Scared. Broken. Lincoln recognized it. He had seen this before. He slowly turned to look at Allen. Allen had the thousand-yard stare. Looking at everything and nothing at all. He slowly turned back to the woman throwing questions into the abyss, before she surrendered and approached the two men.



“Lincoln. Nice to see you.”

“Louisa. I wish it was under better circumstances. What the hell happened here?”

“It’s not great.” The woman turned back to the child, frowning, and turned back to Lincoln, voice now hushed. “Homicide. One man dead. Her name is Emmy. We have reason to believe she may have seen the whole thing. Allen was the main retriever on the case. She’s a clam. I don’t think I’ve so much as seen her blink.” Lincoln looked devastated. He looked at Allen once more. “So.. why is she here? With us three?” Allen sighed deeply, adjusting his surprisingly unkempt look, to no avail. “She needs to be temporarily housed. With an emergency foster. There’s a logistical backlog o-” Lincoln scoffed. “A backlog? Of kids? Are you serious? They need to figure it out.” He had never heard something so ridiculous in his entire life. Kids weren’t objects. Allen looked at his shoes. They were brown that day. And scuffed. “I agree with you Lincoln. It is quite ridiculous. However, that doesn’t change the fact. I can’t take her to my place. Not with Krys. She’s not ready to see this kind of thing again yet. So..” For perhaps the first time in his life, he looked up to his little brother. Pleading with his eyes. “The current motion is for you to take her to your place. Specifically, with Bea if possible. We’ll keep that part off the record but.. give her stability. Ease her pain. She’s in a bad way, Lincoln.” Lincoln sighed deeply, looking at the little girl from across the room. “Has anyone tried.. I dunno, not pestering her with reliving the events that just upended her entire life?” He didn’t wait for an answer.



Lincoln walked over to the girl and sat crisscrossed on the floor in front of her. The girl hadn’t moved from when he entered. If he didn’t know any better, he would think that she was the homicide victim of the case. He looked up at her and smiled. Not one that pulled at the eyes though. He was hurt too from all of this. “Hey there Emmy. I heard a really funny joke the other day, and no one gets it. I think you might, you look smart so here goes -” He cleared his throat, preparing as though he was kicking off a set. “-how do we know that the ocean is friendly?” He waited a moment. She blinked. Thought. “It waves!” He cackled to himself, eyes closing at his own joke. Terrible as it was. When he opened them, she was looking at him straight on. The corners of her mouth no longer pulled downwards so tautly. “And for my next trick.. I hope you like butterflies Emmy.” He waved his wand, and out come dozens of butterflies of all shapes and sizes. She stared at them all. She was entranced. After a few minutes, they dissipated into mist. “Say, I have lots more tricks like that. And really yummy food at home! If you come with m-” She clung to him, face buried in his chest. It was so sudden, he was still nearly knocked over by her almost negligible weight. He blinked, looking over at Allen and Louisa, before wrapping his arms around her slowly. He could feel her ragged breathing through the fabric of his shirt. “Hey, hey.. it’ll be okay. It’ll be okay.” He picked her up, walking past both colleagues present. “I’ll talk to you later. I have to get her home.”



Bea was understanding on the call. Of course, she would be. She was the greatest human being to ever grace the planet. There was no second-guessing, or questioning of what was to come. When he walked through the door, Bea was quick to greet him. Though understandably, she was hesitant. Perhaps nervous even. He shook his head at her first question. “I guess not. She needed emergency foster stat. Allen couldn’t do it with Krys.. too close to home, I guess. So we were next up.” Well, he was next up. But it might as well have been the both of them, always. He looked at the couch. Done up. She was so considerate. Always. He walked over to the couch, freshly made, and sat gingerly, both to not disturb the child in his arms, and to not mess up he hard work Bea had put in. “That sounds delicious love. I’ll be sure to grab a plate. Later.” A white lie. He was nauseous. “As for her..” He turned his head, looking down at the small child. “I don’t know if she’ll eat tonight. But in a little bit, could you make up some of that mac and cheese? Just in case. I’ll stay up in case she gets up in the middle of the night. She’ll need to know where the bathroom is, and some food and water.” He sighed. He was having trouble reconciling what was even happening. How she was here in this moment. He looked up at his life partner. He was smiling. He patted the spot next to him for her to take a seat. “She hiccuped into my chest earlier. It was pretty funny.” He giggled silently, but his demeanor quickly took a somber turn. He was hushed. “We have her for a week, Bea. We need to be there for her. In every way.” He lowered his cheek to the top of the girl's head. “For now.. we’re all she’s got. I guess..” He looked at Bea, smiling weakly. “This will be a good test run if anything. Right?” He couldn’t wait to have kids of his own. If he could help it, Bea would’ve been pregnant yesterday. But they would wait. Longer than they expected.

[BEATRIX KIDDO]

She had been scared to breathe when her father had shoved her into the closet moments before the scary men burst into their small home. He had urged her to be quiet. She had protested with a frightened "Daddy" but he made her swear she would. There was something about the sound of his voice, the fear in his eyes... She had never seen him like that before and it sucked the air and words right out of her. He closed the door and turned around just as the front door was kicked down. There were shouts, screams, threats, pleads, then a curse (sectumsempra)... She had to bite down on her bottom lip so hard to keep a squeal from coming out. Both tiny hands pushed against her mouth forcing herself to swallow it all down. She felt sick. Quiet... but then footsteps. She held her breath then when one strange came dangerously close to the door, paused, then after what felt like forever, walked away. They left then and no sooner then the door had closed she rushed out of hiding to kneel by her father's side.

He laid in a pool of blood, shaking, stammering, struggling to breathe. Frantic tiny hands tried to push onto his cuts like she had seen on tv but it didn't work. The warm crimson liquid just pooled all over her hands. She was panicked. They needed help but how? Blue eyes darting over her dying father only focusing when his hand found the side of her face. He couldn't speak. She couldn't either. She had promised. He mouthed that he loved her and she nodded her head. She knew that. She knew it more than anything else in the world. And then he was gone. Now she was here...

Sitting on the floor of the auror office wearing her stained pink sweater and cute purple skirt with striped stockings, hugging her legs to her thin frame. Everything and everyone was scary. This place was scary. The man who had found her (Allen) seemed nice enough but every time he looked at her his face seemed to pale like he might be sick. That didn't really help things so she didn't want a whole lot to do with him either. He did seem to be intelligent though and when he summized that she didn't want to, or couldn't speak, he got her a tiny portable whiteboard and a blue marker. She liked blue. Not as much as black, purple, and pink mind you but it was still a pretty color. Her favorite shoes, other than her ballet slippers, were grey rainboots with light periwinkle polka dots. She wore them even when it wasn't raining. Not now though. Right now she didn't have any shoes.

With every question that Louisa asked Emmy hid her face deeper into her knees not wanting to even look. Maybe if she closed her eyes tightly enough this would all go away and she would be back home with her father. Nope. Still here. She heard the door open again and tried to shut her eyes tightly once more. No. Still didn't work. Feeling someone approach she tried to curl into herself and failed. It was her name that eventually had her peeking out at the source. For the first time that day... a smile. A kind smile. She wanted to hide again but thought better of it because she wanted to hear the joke mainly because she highly doubted that it was funny.

At the punchline the right corner of her mouth pulled ever so slightly into a smile - not because the joke was funny but because it was silly. But as soon as it came it was wiped right away. Still, she didn't look away from him. Butterflies? She lifted her head from her legs because butterflies, puppies, cats, and unicorns were her favorite thing but before she could open her mouth Lincoln cast a spell that had dozens of multicolored butterflies flapping around. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp watching with such intrigue as the magical insects fluttered about the room. This was the coolest thing ever. One fluttered down to her knee perching there. She looked at it, it looked back at her, a tiny finger reached out to 'pet' it but then it disappeared along with the others. She could only see Lincoln. He was kind. He seemed very nice. He made butterflies for gosh sakes and those were the nicest things on the planet. Safe. He was safe. Before he could finish his sentence she threw himself on him in a hug, arms wrapping tightly around him not allowing herself to be pried off and that's where she stayed for the next few hours until they arrived at his home.

Anyone else would have thought she was sleeping but really her head rested on his shoulder, eyes that had seen so much wide open, thumb in her mouth (even though she was too old for that sort of thing) in a daze of sorts. Exhausted from crying, tired from all she had been through, overstimulated but unable to allow herself to go to sleep out of worry of what she might see. Beatrix and Lincolns' voices didn't even register, nor did it that they were in a new location. She was just still.

"Oh. Poor Allen..." Beatrix frowned. She didn't know all of the details but she knew how Allen had found the data analyst when she wasn't much older than this girl's age. It was clear it had messed him up then and still weighed on him now. Of course he wouldn't be able to do this a second time. Krys definitely wouldn't - and Beatrix didn't wish that for her (she still hadn't gotten the memo that she wasn't Krys' favorite person in the world). "You did the right thing, Linky." She couldn't help but encourage him, rubbing his back much like she had with Emmy's moments earlier as she sat beside him. "Ok. Later. But you do need to eat. I can't let you go to sleep on an empty stomach." And upset. It broke her heart to see the love of her life anything other than a-ok.

"Of course." Beatrix nodded. She could heat up mac and cheese no problem. It was just about the easiest thing in the world. It was then that she got a better look of the little one's face. Beatrix frowned concernedly then looked to her partner. "Linky... She's not asleep. Not really." Bea lowered her voice. "Her eyes are open." This poor child. Beatrix reached out to rub the little girl's back. "Poor thing." Beatrix adored children. She wanted a family more than anything. To see a child ripped from theirs broke her heart to its core. Her gaze matched Lincoln's giving him a reassuring closed mouth smile that he seemed to need after the day that he had. "We're going to take good care of her. Don't worry, Linky." She took a moment to watch him with the little girl, how he held her, how he looked so adorable... Gosh, she wanted kids with this man yesterday. So she could see this treat all of the time. 

"She likes you." Beatrix offered, reaching out to smooth out some of Emmy's blonde hair before then doing the same to Lincoln's out of habit. "You're so good with her." Unable to help herself she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Maybe we can try and change her clothes to... something she might be more comfortable in?" Beatrix searched the room as if looking for something then looked down at herself. "She could wear my sweater?" Probably better than the outfit she was wearing that was stained with her dad's blood.

It was then that Bea's eyes caught glimpse of Emmy's dangling hand clutching a tiny whiteboard. She gently pried it from the little girl's fingers and held it in both of her hands in her lap. The scribbling on it sucked the air right out from her and one hand lifted to cover her mouth, tears welling up. "Oh... Linky..." She turned it a bit so he could see the scribbling: I WANT MY DADDY.

[Deleted]

Poor Allen indeed. Link had a soft spot for Krys admittedly. What she went through was hell. There was no other way to frame it. And she landed on her feet, and by Link’s standards did exceedingly well for herself. But he also understood the fragile nature of her being. There was never any doubt. Lincoln would do what he needed. Not just for Allen and Krys but for Emmy too. “Poor Allen indeed. He’s doing alright I think. He was a little out of it, admittedly. I’ll give him a ring later when.. If, little Emmy falls asleep.” His eyes worked over to the little girl still in his grasp. Still unmoving. “Thank you, Bea. It feels like the right thing. She has.. I mean she has..” He shook his head to indicate ‘no one’. ‘Nothing’. Bea’s hand now on his back was the reassurance he had needed to make everything not feel so alien and wild. In every storm, Beatrix Kiddo was his lighthouse. And he would be lost without her. Yet here she was in this trying time. A beacon of light, sweeping across the horizon. Guiding him home, and ever onward until he should find himself setting sail once more.

He smiled at his lighthouse. “I know. I will. I will.” No promises. Eating was the least of his concerns. At least that’s what it felt like. It’s a good thing Bea had enough care for the both of them. He wasn’t even sure he could sleep that night, so that wouldn’t really be of too much concern. He had to make sure Emmy was okay. Allen keyed him in on trauma such as this. The mind in that state is clay. Moldable, and raw. Proper care would be needed. Consistency. As much as he could possibly give. Link had never cared for a child before. Of course, he had wanted them - preferably many of them with his ideal wife-to-be! The situation before them served as a solid test run, but that’s not what it was for of course.

His eyes caught Bea’s, before turning back to the young girl. He couldn’t really see her eyes at that angle. It wasn’t surprising that she was asleep. She likely might as well have been. “It’s okay.. she’ll be okay. She’s been doing really good. I think.. she’s probably stronger than both of us combined Bea!” He smiled, a small smile, trying his best with his ragtag family. He patted her back as lightly as he would handle a butterfly. The fragility worried him.

“I know we will, love.” That aspect, he was concerned the least about. Bea would treat the child as her own, he knew that. Link would do the same. She would get story times, brand new clothes, and get to play at playgrounds if she wanted.. for the next week, the world would be hers thanks to Link and Bea. As it should be. As it must be.

He nodded at her comment. “Much like you I assume, she tolerates my antics to a great extent.” He chuckled silently at himself. If he didn’t laugh, he’d cry. “I don’t know it just.. feels right. It feels instinctual. I don’t have to really think about any of it.” He felt Bea’s lips on his cheek, prompting another small smile. He sighed, patting her on the back again. “That’s a great idea Momma Kiddo.” Anything is better than what she had on. “It’d be a dress but.. We can go clothes shopping tomorrow. And we can get whatever this little princess wants.” He rocked her lightly. He meant it. Whatever. If she asked for the damn store, he’d seek out the owner.

At the calling of his pet name, he looked at the object Bea had presented to him. Reading it almost made him physically recoil. He flexed his jaw tightly, tight closing in on each other. It was the most heartbreaking thing he’d ever seen. All that magic ability, and no way to fix what had transpired. His voice was hushed now. He leaned his head over so that Emmy could hear him clearly. “Wanna hear a story? One time… we were looking for a very pretty unicorn. The prettiest unicorn of all. Cause we wanted to feed it and pet it! Well.. after very many days, we found it! It was eating some grass in a field. I got really close cause I was really sneaky. I was finally gonna pet the prettiest unicorn! I came up from behind and right when I got there… she farted on me!” He might a raspberry sound, giggling as he did it. “Well, I guess she must’ve spooked herself 'cause she ran off. One day, we’ll find that unicorn Emmy. And we’ll let you pet her. Hopefully, she won’t fart on you.” The story never happened. Not a single tidbit was true. But Merlin he hoped she would at least enjoy it. “The woman who is here with us… her name is Bea. And she is a very nice lady. Nicer than me even. I think you’ll like her. I know I do.” He turned to Bea, eyebrows raised. “Whatever you want to do for her clothes, let me know Bea. We should get her cleaned up.” He rose again with her, ready to start being an interim father.

[BEATRIX KIDDO]

"That's a good idea." She encouraged her partner gently, giving his free hand a reassuring squeeze. Lincoln's big heart was one of the many reasons that Beatrix loved him with hers. He was always putting others before himself (in her eyes). It was sweet of him to think of checking in on Allen and how he was doing due to what unpleasant memories this my drudge up. "Maybe I can make some butterscotch cookies tonight and you can swing by his place tomorrow to check in?" Allen, from her recollection, loved her homemade butterscotch cookies (or any cookies that she made for that matter) so it seemed like a safe bet and a surefire way to turn his day around.

"No if, Linky. She's tired. She has to be after what she's been through. What you've both been through. We'll get her cleaned up and you sorted then to bed with both of you." She gave his cheek another quick kiss as her hand ran up and down his arm soothingly though she was being sweet she was also being a little selfish needing to feel supported and close to him in this heavy moment. "A proper meal too of course." She offered with a little smile, despite the heaviness of the moment her smile was bright and hopeful. 

"Of course she'll be okay, Link. She has you." In her mind no truer words had been spoken. With Lincoln as one's guardian how could anything go wrong? "Maybe tomorrow we can pick up some storybooks, some outfits, oh some kid-friendly snacks organic of course, and oh yes! My old dollhouse is in storage. She might like that." She stopped herself. She was getting too far ahead and even she knew it. She forced herself to swallow down her excited smile. Now was not a time to be happy especially when someone else, multiple someones, were hurting so much.

As Lincoln patted Emmy's back the little girl noticeably shifted and held onto him more tightly, though the rest of her body relaxed. All of her energy almost gone she was glued to his front and didn't want to let go out of fear that if she did he would leave her just like everybody else. Though at his gentle, quiet voice she finally lifted her head turning it to look at him with exhausted, haunted eyes. She hung on his every word and when he mentioned farting there was a noticeable glint in her eye of suspicion like she didn't believe him. Like she was onto his games. Even so she sighed, relaxing in his hold, overall trusting him otherwise. She was putty in his grasp even more so evident when her little fingers of her right hand began to subconsciously tangle in his hair playing with the strands, her other hand by her mouth thumb inserted sucking on it like a baby.  

Beatrix caught the little girl's gaze at Lincoln's intro and gave a little wave accompanied by a smile. "Hi Emmy. I'm Beatrix like Linky said but you can call me Beatrix, or Bea, or even Kiddo if you like.. or nothing at all is fine too." Emmy didn't react but that didn't deter the brunette. "Is it ok if we get you cleaned up?" She began to reach for Emmy who, nervously, recoiled and hid her face in Lincoln's shoulder. Beatrix, picking up on the social cues, stopped reaching and with concern looked to Lincoln. "Could you bring her to the kitchen please?" Her hand reached out to lightly trail her fingers down the little girl's back. "Linky's going to stay with you the whole time, ok?" No response. Well, at least she wasn't crying.

Reaching out she took Lincoln's free hand leading him to the kitchen where she sat him down on the counter. "Can you try and turn her around?" She asked innocently. When Lincoln would try Emmy would cry out and claw to him, holding on for dear life, simply not allowing him to tear her away. Beatrix, having wet a wash cloth, frowned a bit more out of worry and pity than anything. "It's ok, Linky. We'll do our best." That's all they could do wasn't it? As Lincoln held her Beatrix rolled up the girl's sleeves gently wiping her arms of any dirt or blood before offering Lincoln the damp wash cloth. "Can you try and get her face?" In the meantime Bea pulled her sweater up over her head standing there in a navy blue tank top and busied herself with prepping it for the little girl.

[Deleted]

Lincoln smiled at his future wife. She was so loving. To everyone and everything. He couldn’t wait to solidify it all. To make her his forever. In every way. “That sounds lovely Bea. You absolutely should do that. And uh.. you should make some extra. I’m sure this little one would love a taste.” He shook her lightly, peering at her. If there was an easy way into someones heart, it was typically food. He would have to check in on Allen as well. And Krys for that matter. Krys was usually a tough cookie to deal with (no pun intended) and he respected Allen for how he navigated that relationship.

Despite the predicament, there was just something about this woman that Lincoln couldn’t quite get over. Her motherly instinct. Her caring instinct. He always wanted kids with Bea, because he loved her, and it just made sense. But what he was experiencing then.. he knew that he needed to have kids with her. Because they would be the most beloved human beings in existence. And he wanted to grant them that gift of unconditional motherly love with a person that was perfect. “You’re right Bea.” He turned to his mini Koala again. “We’re going to need to sleep sometime Emmy bear.” He absorbed her kiss. It gave him life. “Right. We’ll eat. Don’t you worry.”

He rested his head on gently on the small child sighing deeply. “I know. But still.” He looked between Bea and Emmy, and shared a hopeful glance at Bea. “I actually think that sounds great Bea. All of it.” He hushed his voice further. “Whatever you have to help, we could use it. Don’t be shy. I don’t knowhow this plays out, so the more tools we have for the job, the better, right?” This time he reached out and touched her arm, stroking it in the same manner she had touched his. How was it that this was all so alien for them but also so.. natural? As thought they had done this a million times before.

His story brought Emmy’s attention to him. Grateful for it, he acknowledged that any attention directed at anything in the immediate vicinity would be a victory. That meant she wasn’t thinking about.. it. “And for reference, little one.. The fart smelled like candy corn.” He lightly rested his head back on hers, turned towards Bea more clearly. He watched as Bea introduced herself to the small girl, unsure as to how it would go. His curiosity was answered almost immediately when Emmy shifted suddenly, further into his embrace. He looked up at Bea, a weak smile in tow. He hoped Bea wouldn’t take it personally. He nodded and rose, never faltering in holding the little blonde.

As Bea guided him to the kitchen, he suddenly te fatigue of the day weigh on him in full. It had been so long since he had been this emotionally drained. If he wasn’t holding Emmy, he swore he could fall over and sleep right then and there. But this wasn’t the time for that. This was about making sacrifices. That’s what good fathers do. His eyes widened. Where did that come from? Was it weird? All things considered, perhaps not. It was likely a reaction how his father had treated he and his siblings. No sacrifices made, ever. If anything, they were the sacrificial lambs. Even though this little girl would be with them for a week, she would feel the love that Bea and Lincoln could provide. As transactional as it might be for everyone. She deserved that at least. Perhaps they all did.

He gently tried to pry her from him, only for her to demonstrate that she absolutely did NOT want that to happen. He surrendered quickly, allowing her to resume her original position. “Hey, hey.. It’s okay. Emmy. It’s okay.” He swayed gently, voice breathy and comforting. “We’re gonna get you all cleaned up. That’s all. You’re gonna be squeaky clean and then we’re off to dreamland.” He took the washcloth from Bea, and turned his head to look at Emmy once more. “I’m going to wipe your face now, okay? It’ll be okay Emmy. I am not going anywhere. I will be right here.” With that, he took a look at Bea before turning his attention back towards the little one. He lightly dabbed the washcloth on the problem areas, bracing himself instinctively against any adverse reactions she would have in doing so. “There we go.. gettin’ all clean.. Isn’t that nice?”

He looked over at Bea. “There’s no way she sleeps anywhere but with me tonight. Just as she is now. You know that right?” He was frowning. He had hoped she would pick up on it, but he decided to speak plainly. “Like.. we should all lay down together. Me, you, and Emmy. She just.. I have a feeling she would be content on her own.” Don’t say it, don’t say it… “It’ll be like..” Don’t you say it.. “A little family sleepover.” Dammit.

[BEATRIX KIDDO]

As Lincoln gently jostled her, Emmy peeked out from his shoulder for the first time. Her thumb still suck in her mouth as she sucked on it for comfort. Food? She wasn't really hungry. She actually didn't think she would ever eat again, not without her dad, but she was also a very polite little girl from the circles that she spent a lot of her time so, even with the trauma of what had happened a few hours earlier, she gave a little nod to Lincoln's offer before once again hiding in his shoulder and wrapping her free arm around his neck continuing to hold on like he was a tree in the middle of a tsunami that had taken up all of her land. He was all that she had left.

"For sure." Beatrix nodded in agreement with her partner, her eyes moving from him to the little person he was holding. "I know that everyone gets pretty excited about chocolate chip or sugar cookies but my butterscotch cookies are pretty good too." She told the little girl, her voice soft and gentle so not to scare her. Heck, she didn't want to startle Lincoln either. "According to Linky here they're practically world famous. He brings them in once a month to work. Antoine Burke practically insists, isn't that right Linky?" Gosh she was trying. Beatrix had this unrelenting instinct to want to be liked by everyone so that she could dote on them in return. Right now this little girl wouldn't even look at her. "Did you meet Mister Burke today? He's very nice to me even though I can't do things like cast spells, or fly, or-" She reached out to rub the girl's back only to have her jerk her shoulder away squeezing Lincoln tightly as if trying to disappear into him. Beatrix frowned. She knew she shouldn't take it personally but... Well... Keep trying!

"We'll get you a change of clothes to sleep in and then you're be nice and comfy." She offered. Emmy meanwhile looked up at Lincoln not saying a word, just looking into his eyes so exhausted and lost. It tore Beatrix to bits not just because of how the child looked but because of how Lincoln looked back at her. Poor things. They were both exhausted. The less 'fights' tonight the better so Beatrix would do her best to make things easy. "Maybe instead of the couch Emmy can sleep on the bed. Would you like that Emmy? Linky can stay with you." As much as it pained her even for a child (she wanted to be with Lincoln every second of every day dangit!) she knew it was the right thing to do would result in a shorter night for them all. Her hand went to Lincoln's arm giving it a squeeze to prevent him from getting worked up and arguing. "I can sleep on the couch." Beatrix smiled at him softly. "It's ok, Linky." Another soft kiss on his cheek sealed the deal. Emmy didn't seem opposed as she gave a shy little nod not to Beatrix but to the man holding her. 

In the kitchen he tried to sit her down, but Emmy of course did not let that stand. She clung to him with every ounce of might she could muster. She was super glued. And so, in his arms she stayed tiny body relaxing some when Lincoln cooed and swayed with her. He was good at this she noted. Not her daddy, he probably wasn't anyone's daddy, but he was doing a good job. As he gently wiped her face she looked at him, gaze never once breaking away, tiny fingers moved to play with the hair on the back of his head.

"A sleepover. Isn't that nice Emmy?" Beatrix smiled, trying to be encouraging and smooth things over. Taking it upon herself to pull out a chair for Lincoln she patted the seat waiting for him to sit with the small child, kneeling down before the two of them. "You know, Emmy... Linky can't clean you up properly like this. He doesn't have to put you down, I don't think he wants to, but I think it would be easier if you could turn around. Just for a little bit, ok sweetheart?" She didn't budge. "Just for a little bit. I promise he will not let you go. I happen to know him super well and Linky keeps his promises. When I want to be held he doesn't let go once." There it was, a soft smile and one that was convincing enough for Emmy's practical chokehold to loosen as they turned her around.

There Emmy sat in Lincoln's lap, sucking her thumb, resting her head against his chest as her other hand's tiny fingers clutched at his sleeve so he couldn't leave her. Beatrix took a warm washcloth and began to dab spots that Lincoln had missed before, with help from him, changing Emmy's clothes. There the dirty and bloody ones were folded on the table and Beatrix's sweater was now on the little girl well past her knees. "All done. That wasn't so bad was it?" Beatrix told both of them gently. Her eyes wandered to the bloody clothes: a sight that made her sick. She did her best to cover it. "I think we'll just put these over here for now." She quickly picked them up and moved it into an empty drawer so none of them would have to look at the items at least for this evening. Their hearts couldn't take it.

Turning back to the duo she approached with a plate with mac and cheese as well as some pulled pork with no bun. "So... want to give it a try?" She set the plate before them before bringing a second plate to join it (this one had pulled pork with a bun for Lincoln). "It's not hot anymore but I don't think that matters."

Emmy's eyes moved from Beatrix, to the plate, to Lincoln. This happened several times before she reached out with her right hand avoiding the silverware and picking up a cheesy noodle. Her stomach rumbled. But... wait. She turned and looked up at Lincoln holding up the noodle to his mouth. You first.

TAG: @lincoln