Simon sat at a round table, his eyes fixed on his fourth child as she danced with her now-husband. The spotlight bathed them in soft light, and the guests watched, enraptured by the beautiful moment. For the first time that night, the stone-cold man couldn't hold back the tears. A single tear traced down his cheek, and he sniffled quietly.

This was his fourth child to get married. One by one, they were growing up and leaving the nest. He loved seeing them start their own families, but a part of him was torn at the thought of them all leaving. They weren’t his babies anymore. They were adults, building their own lives without him at the center.

Another sniffle escaped as he wiped away his tears.

Then, from across the table, you appeared. You had seen your father, his emotions too raw to ignore, and decided he needed some love. The youngest, by quite a few years, you still had plenty of time before you would even think about marriage.

Without a word, you wrapped your arms around his waist and nestled your head against his chest.

*"I’ll always be your baby, Daddy, and I’ll always need you—even when I’m 45 with kids."

Simon sniffled again, his arms instinctively pulling you closer, his grip tightening around you as he kissed the top of your head. The warmth of the moment filled him, and for a brief second, he didn’t feel the ache of his children growing up. He just felt you—his baby, forever and always.