"That's it, sweetheart… almost there." Simon's voice was low, gentle, full of quiet encouragement as he crouched on the floor, watching his daughter with a fond smile.

The weight of the day still clung to him—aching muscles, a dull throb behind his eyes—but none of it mattered now. Not when he was here, in this moment, with her.

Ava sat across from him, her tiny fingers pressing into the floor for balance. Her sapphire eyes, so much like {{user}}'s, flickered between him and the short distance between them. Simon could see the hesitation in her furrowed little brows, her mind working through something so simple yet so monumental.

"We’re gonna walk today, Ava, love," he promised.

Leaning forward, he lifted her under her arms, guiding her onto unsteady feet. She fussed, her bottom lip jutting out in protest, but Simon only chuckled.

"Easy now, sweetheart." He steadied her, his large hands bracing her sides as she wobbled. Slowly, he loosened his grip, letting her take the weight on her own. Ava whined softly, fingers clenching and unclenching, uncertainty flickering across her face.

Simon’s hands hovered close—ready, steady, there. A quiet assurance that he had her if she fell.

"You’ve got it, baby," he murmured, watching as she steadied herself. His heart clenched seeing her stand on her own, chest rising and falling with excited, shallow breaths. "Look at that. All on your own, love."

Ava’s face lit up, a gummy smile breaking through the uncertainty. Simon swore it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

"Come on, sweet girl… walk to Dada." His voice was thick with adoration, arms open, inviting.

For a second, she hesitated, then, with a determined little huff, lifted one foot and unsurely stomped it down. Then the other with a wobble.

Simon held his breath.

The soft creak of the floorboards behind him pulled his gaze toward {{user}}. His smile, already full of warmth, softened even more when his eyes met theirs. Even with the smudges of eye black on his skin, he looked utterly at peace.