[Releasing this chapter on 16th because it took 16 years for Xaessia to hug her father. Damn I'm a genius.]
The courtyard was filled with the scent of warm grass and flowers.
Richer stepped out slowly, Phaser walking beside him, both silent for a moment. It felt like stepping into a dream. To Richer, it was something he had been chasing for years but never truly believed he'd reach. Under a tree that stood in the center of the courtyard, were four figures.
Xaessia stood closest to the fountain, but visibly trembling as her eyes lifted and caught sight of him. Even from where he stood, Richer could see the way her lips parted in disbelief.
Next to her, little September sat cross-legged on the stone edge, playing with a plush toy shaped like a miniature horse. Verdamona leaned casually against the tree trunk. Princess Radellei stood beside her in her lab uniform.
No one said a word at first.
Xaessia blinked once and suddenly her composure cracked. She stepped forward hesitantly, voice shaking as she spoke.
"Dad?"
Her voice sounded so small. Richer stopped a few feet away from her. He smiled gently at his daughter.
"Hey, Xaessia. You really have grown."
"Are you-" she started, then choked on her own words. She took a shaky breath and tried again. "Are you alright?"
"I am."
"Are you really alright? I mean... can I-can I touch you?"
Richer felt his heart clench at that question. He knew why she asked it. For years, Xaessia, with her natural Xana signature, had been told since she was little that she could never hug her father and that one touch might kill him.
He smiled through the tears welling in his eyes.
"Yes. You can. I'm really cured."
Xaessia broke.
A sharp, sobbing laugh escaped her lips before she ran forward. She slammed into his chest with her arms wrapping around him tight as if afraid he would disappear. The force nearly took him off balance but he steadied himself. His arms closed around her instinctively.
For the first time in over two decades, he held his daughter without fear.
Xaessia buried her face in his shoulder, her sobs breaking against his chest.
"You're cured. You're actually cured! I-Dad, I'm sorry-"
Richer smiled, though tears were streaming freely down his face now. He ran a hand through her hair, something he never did for a very long time.
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Xaessia."
She shook her head furiously, still clutching him.
"Yes there is! I... everything I ever did, all the research, all the tests you did... I made you suffer so much! You should have hated me-"
"Xaessia, you saved me. You and your brother both. You gave me more years than fate ever planned for me. There's nothing I could ever hate about that."
Her tears soaked his shirt. Her fingers dug into his back like she was trying to make up for all the lost years in one single embrace.
To Richer, it was the second time he'd ever held her in his arms. The first time, she'd been six. He had promised back then that he'd live long enough to see her smile freely again. And now, here she was, grown, strong, crying, and holding him like the world had stopped spinning. Richer closed his eyes. The warmth of her touch seeped through his chest and for the first time, he didn't feel pain there.
"Dad, you really did it."
He chuckled softly, resting his chin atop her head.
"No, sweetheart. We did."
The sound of tiny footsteps echoed, and a soft, bright voice piped up behind them.
"Daddy!"
Richer turned just in time to see September running toward him, her little plush toy still in one hand, her eyes wide with joy. She practically threw herself into his side, hugging his leg tight before trying to squeeze in between him and Xaessia.
"Daddy's cured! Daddy's all better!"
Xaessia laughed through her tears, pulling her little sister into the hug. Richer knelt down slowly, wrapping both his daughters in his arms. Xaessia's shoulders shook as she cried quietly, while September's giggles filled the air like soft music.
"I told you he'd get better," September said proudly, looking up at Xaessia. "I told you Daddy's too strong to die."
Xaessia laughed again and nodded.
"You did, Seppy. You really did."
From a short distance away, Verdamona smiled faintly, leaning against the tree. Princess Radellei, however, had both her hands over her mouth, tears streaming freely down her face. She tried to turn slightly away, wiping them with the back of her wrist, but Phaser noticed.
"Hey, why are you crying? You're supposed to be the composed one here."
Radellei sniffled, trying to glare at him but failing miserably.
"It's... it's emotional, okay? Don't- don't tease me."
"I'm not teasing. Just surprised. I didn't think royalty cried over random family reunions."
She shot him a look between embarrassment and defiance.
"Oh, shut up, Phaser."
He grinned. "That's what I thought."
Verdamona chuckled quietly beside them.
"You're lucky she didn't kick you."
"I'd survive. Dad taught me how to handle stubborn women. He's practically married to one."
Radellei rolled her eyes but smiled faintly, brushing another tear away as she looked back at Richer and his daughters.
"It's just... beautiful, that's all. He fought so long for this."
Back by the fountain, Xaessia finally pulled back just enough to look at her father. Her eyes were red, her cheeks wet, but her smile was brighter than he'd ever seen.
"I missed you, Dad."
"I never left, my dear. You just couldn't touch me. Now you can make up for all those years, can't you?"
She laughed through her tears, wiping her face quickly.
"You'll regret saying that when I never let go again."
"I'll risk it."
September laughed, tugging at his sleeve.
"Daddy, can we eat cake now? It's your birthday too!"
Richer blinked. He had almost forgotten. He laughed, still teary-eyed.
"You're right. My birthday. I suppose I do deserve a little cake."
Richer stood slowly, pulling both of his daughters up with him. Before he could ask them how to celebrate their birthday...
"Richer?"