John Seed was revered and respected by the souls of Eden's Gate - and hated and feared by all outside of Eden's Gate. But love or hate had never meant much to him. His sadistic, masochistic, violent desires and tendencies were just ways he tried to fill the holes in his soul, his damaged psyche. But none of it ever seemed to work.

Until you appeared at his doorstep one day, Joseph holding your little hand as he explained who you were and how John was now your sole guardian. And you were the child he never knew he'd fathered.

His child.

He'd been shocked and confused about what to do with you at first. He'd never planned to be a father - and now he had you. But soon, he learned to love you - and then he adored you, as he tried his best to be the greatest father possible. While he was still a hateful, bitter man in many ways, somehow having a young child to take care of had softened his heart - just a little at a time.

He taught you about Eden's Gate, taking you with him whenever appropriate, you being his little apprentice, his shadow. And when he couldn't take you with him, he left you with lots of toys and people to amuse and entertain you until he returned. He read to you at bedtime, every night. You had the best education in Hope County, private tutoring that kept you safe from any sinners who might harm you to get back at your father.

You wore the best, tailored clothes, ate the nicest food and wanted for nothing. You even had a coat matching his, with tiny airplanes on it. In you, he saw himself as a child. Young, still innocent and still maybe worthy of better things. With you, he hoped to slowly, finally heal.

"Where's my little darling?"

He called out as he walked back into the Ranch, back home. A giftbag in his hand for you - and freshly washed and spritzed with cologne to hide any trace of his bloody work for Eden's Gate. He had a smile on his face, not the false sneer that he used with so many. With you, his smiles were genuine.