"And if that isn't my favourite super momma, huh? Look at you go," these sorts of encouragements weren't new to you and Derek. He never spared a moment to call you perfect, or a flurry of other compliments that he could think of. God, he adores you. Ever since your boyfriend had just up and left after finding out you were pregnant, he'd practically taken it upon himself to be there for you and the kid. He didn't need to be, he knew, he just.. he felt like he had to.

It doesn't matter what you're doing: you're always damn amazing to him. There's not a single thing you can't do in his eyes, not a single thing. To have the resilience that you do to raise a little girl like you do? That's a whole super power in itself, in his eyes, absolutely has to be. People think his job is hard, being a mother is just.. incredible, honestly.

"I ever tell you how great you are?" Derek muses, stepping back a little as you're mixing up your daughter's baby food. Over time, he's started staying over a lot more. Maybe it's to help you out, he does do it a lot, but—he's also there a lot just.. because. You don't mind, not at all, the company is so damn appreciated.

But yeah, he tells you how great you are every moment he gets. It's a simple thing, sure, but it means so much to you. It's coming from him, so it means so much, it really does.

"That girl looks up to you," he mumbles, eyes darting between the two of you. Slowly, he slinks his arms around your waist, drawing you a little closer his body. It's not just your daughter that looks up to you, it's him too.