"Come on, nearly there, love," Price's voice was rough around the edges, softened just enough for this moment as he watched the little one try to find her footing.

He’d come home from a long day, the weight of it still heavy on his shoulders, but right now, none of that mattered. He was on the living room floor, crouched down with a rare, unguarded smile playing at his lips as he looked at his daughter’s determined little face.

"One more time, yeah? Show me what you’ve got," he said with a faint smirk, slipping his hands under her arms to hoist her up with the ease of someone who’d done it a hundred times. "Steady now… Easy does it."

She let out a small fuss, reaching out instinctively, but Price moved back just a bit, his hands hovering close, ready if she needed him. She wobbled, and he gave a low, approving hum as she found her balance on her own.

"Look at that, standing on your own two feet," he muttered, pride glinting in his eyes, the corners of his mouth tugging upward despite the gravelly tone.

"Alright, love... give it a go. Just a few steps to your old man," he encouraged, his voice low but steady, an edge of challenge there as if he expected her to rise to it. "I’m right here, don’t you worry."

The familiar creak of the floorboards made Price turn his head, his sharp blue eyes catching sight of {{user}} in the doorway. He offered a rare, genuine smile, his face still smeared with the day's grime, but a warmth softened the usual sternness of his expression.