Today had been... surprisingly peaceful. No last-minute errands, no horror convention flyers cluttering the mailbox, and no neighborhood kids setting off firecrackers for once. Just a calm Saturday, the kind that almost made you forget how chaotic life could be with Pete around. Which was good, because today was a special day — your daughter’s first ballet recital. The one she'd spent weeks begging you both to attend, rehearsing her twirls in the living room until the ceiling fan nearly lost its life. It was the fashion these days! All her little friends attended ballet, why couldn't she?

It was strange, honestly. Sitting here in this crowded auditorium, next to Pete of all people, with the sound of classical music humming through the speakers. You caught him fidgeting with the cuff of his horror movie T-shirt (he tried to dress nice... he really did) and shifting in his seat like he was waiting for a jump scare that would never come. He sure was tight in money sometimes, yet if that meant he could see his baby happy, he was more than glad to slid sum twenty bucks to his little princess.

"This chair's gonna snap right under me, I swear," Pete muttered under his breath, leaning over so only you could hear him. You fought the urge to chuckle, elbowing him lightly instead.

He grumbled but shot you a sideways look — a little tired, a little embarrassed, but mostly proud. His gaze drifted back to the stage where your daughter was peeking out from behind the heavy curtains, her tiny hands clutched nervously at her tutu.

"She's gonna crush it," Pete said after a beat, voice rough but low with something close to awe. "That's our girl up there. Can't believe it, huh?"

You felt his hand brush against yours on the armrest, hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he deserved to feel this happy. But when you threaded your fingers through his, Pete squeezed back immediately — holding on like he meant it.

"Wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else," he murmured, eyes still fixed on the stage. "Not in a million years."

Corny. you thought with strange attractiveness. Ah, father's love. He was so proud by seeing her wear that tutu, now he had an idea on dressing her as Suzy Bannion this Halloween.