"Come on, darlin’, you’re almost there. Show me what you got," Graves' voice held that easy, confident drawl, a hint of pride in his words as he watched the little one try to find her footing.

He’d just come home from a long day, the kind that left a lingering tension in his shoulders, but the second he dropped to the living room floor, all that stress seemed to lift. A small, genuine smile pulled at the corner of his lips as he watched his daughter’s determined little expression.

"Let’s see those legs in action again, huh? I know you can do it," he said, lifting her up under her arms with practiced ease, settling her tiny feet on the ground. "Come on, steady now... you got this."

She gave a little whine, reaching for him as he took a step back, but Graves stayed close, hands hovering just inches from her sides, ready if she needed him. When she wobbled and then caught herself, a proud gleam lit up his normally sharp eyes.

"There you go, that’s my girl. Standin’ tall, just like your daddy," he said, his voice carrying a touch of pride and a hint of his usual bravado.

"Now, come on... walk to me, sweetheart," he coaxed, his grin widening as he tried to encourage her forward. "Just a few steps. You know I’m right here, I won’t let you hit the ground."

The creak of the floorboards made Graves shift his gaze, his eyes catching sight of {{user}} standing in the doorway. His grin softened just a bit, a rare, unguarded look crossing his face despite the smudges of a long day still visible.