||act one||

"i was going to tell you, kai. i just had to find the right moment."

"i believe you," was all kai spoke as he gently set the framed picture in his hands back on the side table. his gaze remained locked on the floor with thoughts of his young daughter swirling through his head. he was facing his biggest fear; fatherhood. what if he screwed it up? he was determined to break the cycle of abuse his father had began all those years ago, he made a promise to her the second he saw her picture, but that isn't to say he's never broken a promise to ones he loves before.

"her name is emerson parker forbes, she's three, almost four, and adores playing outside and exploring nature." cora quietly allowed her words to drift into the inviting air, telling kai about their daughter he had yet to meet. she allowed him his time to soak up all of the new information as she decided how to handle the situation correctly.

cora knew it was only fair kai met emerson, his daughter, but she was conflicted if this new version of kai would protect and love her, instead of hurt her.

kai nodded in acknowledgement of her comment, and walked back over to cora with shaky steps. worry radiated off of the gemini coven leader.

"i understand, uh, if you don't think i should meet her yet, cora. i respect your decision," kai spoke spoke hesitantly. he knew in his heart it was ultimately not his decision whether or not he should meet his little girl yet, though he desperately hoped deep within his heart that cora would allow him the chance.

"i think you should. she's gone too long without her father," cora spoke softly, a small smile creeping into her face. her decision had come to her easier than she thought it would, because as soon as she saw the look on kai's face, the reluctance look encased in hope, she knew. cora knew kai was dangerous, but she also knew he would never hurt their child.

"okay," kai spoke, taking a deep breathe in as preparation. any attempt to qualm his raging fears was failing, much to his eminent displeasure. once he saw his daughter, however, it would all be worth it. all of the pain he had endured for countless years would wash away and float into nothingness.

"caroline, you can come down now!" cora had suspected caroline had been waiting at the top of the stairs, letting emerson sleep instead of waking her up. no doubt she was listening in on their conversation, as well.

"do you want me to bring her with me?" caroline's distant and reluctant reply fluttered down the stairs. cora knew exactly who caroline was speaking of immediately.

"that's kinda the point, care," cora chuckled and walked over to the bottom of the stairs to receive her daughter. she noticed kai was pacing in the living room still and called him over, "you know you can come with me, right?"

"i, uh, yeah. i'll be there in a minute, cora," kai replied with uncertainty prevalent in his wavering voice. his flight or fight response was kicking in, but he knew he couldn't run away from his daughter now, or he might never have the chance to see her ever again, and that was an option he was less than willingly to entertain.

"okay, sure thing." cora knew kai to be rather impulsive, and this reluctant side of him surprised him greatly, though she knew the fact that he had a child was enough to make anyone hesitant. cora realized then, how much this truly would affect kai. family was something he was not familiar with, and he must have been terrified he would screw it all up. his own childhood was a touchy subject, and having a child of his own would most likely scare him out of his mind.

"actually, sis, can you wait one minute?" contradicting her earlier statement, she knew she had to speak to kai beforehand, to reassure him all would be well.

"okay!" caroline replied half heartedly, probably waking emerson up and changing her from her pajamas into something adorable. the clothes would be most likely something she had purchased for her little niece.

cora slowly approached kai, putting her hands on his broad shoulders, inviting him to meet her eyes with his own. his demeanor was calm, yet terrified underneath. it was very easy for cora to read his emotions, easier than he could read his own, as they had spent so much time together before his unfortunate and heartbreaking death.

"hey, look at me. she's going to love you, adore you actually. you'll do fine," cora spoke softly, resting her head on kai's shoulder as his arms wound around her torso, clinging to her. it was as if it was a natural instinct between the pair.

"how do you know that," kai's muffled reply came slowly as he played with the ends of cora's hair as a distraction from the current circumstances. kai was rarely one to question cora, but his fear had once again got the better of him.

"because she loves everything and everyone that i love, and i love you." cora's words seemingly caused kai to snap out of his trance, and he looked up to meet her light blue eyes once more.

when blue met blue, kai slowly leaned in and captured her lips within his own tenderly. her lips were soft and refreshing for kai, she felt like home. the pair softly kissed and enjoyed the company before breaking away into reality.

with his forehead to hers, kai looked into her blue eyes and with his whole heart confident in what he was about to say, whispered, "i love you, too."

the two stood in an idle quiet for a few more moments, and kai's nerves nerves calmed exponentially. uneasiness had been replace with excitement. kai was excited to meet the little girl he would get to call his daughter.

"what else is she like," kai whispered silently, attempting to gather up as much information as he possibly could about his daughter before their reunion would actually take place.

"well, emerson is extremely loyal. she loves all of her aunts and uncles to the ends of the earth. emmy is also extremely inquisitive, especially for a three and a half year old." came cora's confident reply. she loved her daughter immensely, and was undeniably proud of the little girl she was growing up to be right before her very eyes.

"she sounds amazing, and a lot like you were when you were a kid if i can remember when you told me about your childhood," kai chuckled softly, intertwining their hands as he soaked up the newfound information about emerson.

"she is, so why don't you go and meet her?" cora questioned the man standing beside her, an encouraging smile creeping onto her face. he smiled in response.

kai took a deep breath before replying with a simple, "okay."

cora guided kai by their intertwined hands up the steps, stopping outside emerson's room. caroline gave her a thumbs up as she walked downstairs to get home to her own children. she mentioned emerson was content coloring inside her room before taking her leave.

cora rubbed kai's hand in her own in comfort, as she could feel the nervous energy radiating off of him in waves. kai hung back in the doorway as cora opened it straight away to greet her daughter coloring.

"hey emmy," cora cooed as she gathered emerson in her arms and pressed a kiss on her forehead, "your drawing is beautiful, baby girl."

"thanks momma!" emerson's laugh was resilient as she thanked her mother and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

the simple laugh emitted from his daughter's mouth made every single second of agony spent in the prison world absolutely and undeniably worth it. the numerous times he tried to end his own life, stemming from the lonely days he spent by himself, they all became worth it as they lead up to this moment. never again would he be left without any, he now had something to fight for. the void in his heart left by his parents was filled by cora's love but completed by his beautiful child.

as kai warily glanced at his daughter for the first time, his blue eyes soon became surrounded by tears. she was absolutely adorable and it was true, his blue eyes resembled hers in every way imaginable. she had cora's light brown hair color and kai's crystal blue eyes. it was undeniably a brilliant mix of the two lovers. his heart ached at the sight, for all of the years of her life he had already been absent for, but also warmed at the realization he would now be there for her through her life.

"momma, who's this?" emerson's attention had been redirected to the man standing in the doorway,  barely in sight. her dark eyebrows furrowed in curiosity as she wiggled out of her mother's warm embrace. after a moment of serious thinking, the little girl's eyes watered slightly and her mouth broke out into a wide smile, "daddy!" she jumped from her mother's arms and raced over to the man who had crouched down to her size to envelop her into his strong arms.

"hi baby girl," kai spoke, gathering his little girl in his arms. tears floated down both faces, as cora cried as well at the mere sight of it, as they held each other close. "i love you, so so much." kai's mouth had rarely uttered such true words. with his daughter in his arms, he felt as it all would be alright. kai knew he would be able to find his long and desperately sought after redemption.

"i wove you, too!" emerson's tears had slowed into small hiccups as she wrapped her arms around her father's neck. the little girl rested her head upon her father's chest delicately as she soaked up the moment she had been waiting for.

kai rubbed comforting circles up and down the little girl's back and kissed the top of her head. the smile on both of their faces and the remnant of tears on their cheeks said it all.

"i saw you! in my dweam!" emerson pulled away after a tender moment, still holding her father's hand. her tone emulated excitement and the tears in her eyes were long gone.

"you did." kai's voice was soft and simple. he knew she had a dream, but he had not known of her, thus he had no intention of contacting her. however, the gemini coven was known for things as such, and for once, he was grateful for them.

"uh huh!" emerson cheerly added. her smile was so wide and her crystal blue eyes shone brightly in the sunlight creeping in through the windows. "but now you're here for weal!"

"i am, and i'm not going anywhere,emmy," kai told the girl. a small smile had made its way onto his face as he watched his daughter contently. their reunion had been all he had hoped for and more.

"never leave me, pwease," emerson requested and her small voice wavered. her eyes grew wet once more, and kai could sense that tears were about to flow from them.

"hey, hey, hey, em," kai started gently in an attempt to cease her crying. the sound of his daughter's tears was already something that caused his heart to ache, so he put all his efforts into calming her down, "i will never leave you again, emmy."

"pwomise?" emerson's remaining tears were eradicated from her face by a gentle swipe of kai's hand and she wrapped her arms around him once more and squeezed, desperate for her father's comfort.

"i promise, little one." he offered his pinkie to the girl to seal his vow in a pinkie promise, which lead to giggles erupting from emerson's mouth. he found himself not surprised as laughter escaped from his, as well.

cora watched on as her family once again became one. a radiant smile was placed on her visage as she watched on in glee. she knew many struggles were to come, but cora forbes also knew that kai would stop at nothing to protect their daughter.

a/n:

anyways uh i teared up??