What Daddies Are For

[confessorlove]

Title: What Daddies Are For
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Richard and Kahlan (mentioned)
Rating: PG
Summary: Richard's daughter gets a boo boo.
Author's Notes: Written for mykissbingo  Body: Knee. Not beta'd so all mistakes are my own. Also this is the sequel to Happy Birthday Kahlan but reading that first is not required.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

Richard was in his office buried beneath the mountain of paperwork that had seemed to accumulate while he had been away with Kahlan and the girls.  They had needed their little vacation but the work that had been waiting for him was making him groan.  Kahlan was stuck in a meeting with the council so he was using this time to focus.  It had been a challenge but he was finally starting to become engrossed in what he was reading.  He tore his eyes from the paper when the most beautiful sound filled his ears.  It was the sound of his daughter’s laughter coming from down the hall.

“Wait for me, Michaela!”  McKendra squealed as she chased her twin down the corridor.

“You can’t catch me.”  Michaela taunted in response.

Richard couldn’t help but smile at the exchange and the sound of their little feet thundering down the hallway.  No matter how many times he had told them not to run, they just wouldn’t listen.  Slowly he got to his feet and opened the door to his study, peering out just in time to see McKendra round the corner towards the garden.  He followed them, not wanting to miss this.  It was so much more enjoyable than his mountain of paperwork.  He hid in the shadows and trees in the entrance to the garden when he arrived, not wanting to interrupt his daughters as they chased each other around the garden in a lighthearted game of tag.

“You’re it.”  McKendra cried as her hand made contact with her twin’s shoulder.  Michaela’s expression quickly turning, her determination obvious; she was no longer the hunted, she was the hunter.

“I’m gonna get you, McKendra!”

“No you’re not!”

Richard watched in delight as his daughters played, part of him wanting to just watch them forever while part of him wished to run out into the garden and join their game.  He couldn’t decide which would be more precious so he just stood there in the shadows, watching his children play.  The girls chased each other all over the garden, around and around in circles, Richard thought for sure it would never end.  The endless game of back and forth, the girls switching roles every few minutes.

It was McKendra’s turn again, chasing her sister into the trees that surrounded the garden and out of Richard’s line of sight.  She was almost there, her hand just inches from her sister’s back when she tripped over a root, sending her hurling forward, and tumbling to the ground and taking Michaela with her.  Richard hadn’t been able to see his daughters but when he heard them tumbling to the ground he was running through the trees before he could blink.  That was when he heard Michaela start crying.  He found his daughters under an oak tree, sitting on the gravel and rocks beneath it.  McKendra didn’t appear to be hurt but Michaela was bleeding, her knees scraped from her tumble on the rocks.

Richard took in the scene around him then before they knew it he was kneeling next to Michaela. Pulling her into his arms and rocking her slightly.  His daughter curled up in his arms, burying her face in his chest as she cried.  “What happened?”  He asked McKendra, hoping his other daughter would know how Michaela ended up on the ground and bleeding.

McKendra looked at her sister with a sad look on her face before turning to her father.  “I tripped and we both fell down.”

Richard nodded his understanding, turning away from his injured child to speak with her sibling.  “Its okay, McKendra.  It was an accident.”  She nodded and Richard continued.  “Accidents happen and Michaela doesn’t blame you so don’t blame yourself.”

McKendra watched as Richard stood, scooping Michaela up with him and moving out of the trees, towards the entrance of the palace.  Her crying seemed to have subsided some but she was still clinging to her father for dear life, as if he was the only thing protecting her.  Richard carried Michaela to her bedroom, setting her down on the bed when he reached it.   “McKendra could you go get a cool, wet cloth please?  I need to clean your sister’s cut.”  She nodded, giving her sister one last look of apology before leaving to find what her father had asked for.

“Now,” he said turning his attention back to Michaela, “let me take a look.”  He lifted her skirt away from her knee, revealing the bloody gash.  It wasn’t big but it looked like it hurt and it definitely needed to be cleaned.  “You’re going to be fine, Princess.”  He said as he kissed his daughter’s temple.

“Mommy kisses it better.”

He shook his head, knowing that Kahlan would want to know about this but also not wanting to disturb her meeting with the council.  “Not right now, sweetheart.  Mommy is busy but I’m here.  Can I kiss it better?”

She just looked at him for a moment as if to judge if could kiss her knee better as good as Kahlan could.  Finally she nodded, bending her knee slightly so it lifted up closer to his lips.  She watched him closely, almost studying to see if he could actually do it.  The bleeding seemed to have stopped but it was still red and looked like it hurt.  Richard carefully placed his lips on his daughter’s knee, kissing away her hurt.  “How’s that?”

Michaela watched him kiss her knee, making sure he was doing it correctly before nodding. “Better.”

Richard smiled at his daughter, holding her close as the sound of little feet grew louder and louder around them, finally stopping when McKendra had returned to her father’s side with what he had asked for.  “Here Daddy.”  She said as she handed him the damp cloth and some bandages the servants had given her.

“Thank you sweetie.”

Richard took the cool cloth; gently cleaning his daughter’s wound.  She was a very good girl, the slight sting from the rub of the cloth on her knee didn’t bother her, she knew her daddy was just doing what he had to in order to make sure she healed.  Wiping the last of the blood and dirt away he smiled at Michaela, hoping his nursing skills would meet with her approval.  “All better?”

“Kiss.”

She lifted her knee again wanting him to once again kiss her pain away.  He just looked at her with a curious expression.  “I already kissed it.”

Michaela stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout at his comment.  Giving her father the puppy dog eyes she knew he couldn’t resist she responded.  “Mommy always kisses it twice.”

Richard just shook his head, smiling at the way his daughter had him wrapped around her finger before placing another gentle kiss to her injured knee.  Michaela smiled when Richard conceded and kisses her knee.  “All better?”  He said when he looked up into his daughter’s shinning eyes.

“Yes Daddy.”

“Good.”  He wrapped the bandage around her knee, taking extra care to make sure it was on securely knowing how his daughter liked to play.  “There you go sweetheart.  Good as new.”

She smiled at her father and kissed his cheek.  “Thank you Daddy.”

He smiled at that, giving his daughter a hug, cuddling her for a moment before reaching out and pulling her twin into the hug as well.  Everyone laughed as he tickled his girls, kissing them both on the head before finally speaking.  “That’s what Daddies are for.  Now you too play but please be careful.  I’m sure Mommy will be down to check on you in a little while.”

“Okay Daddy.”  They both said in unison. “We will.”

Richard couldn’t help but chuckle as he left their room to go finish his work, knowing that these precious moments alone with his daughters will be something he can treasure forever.  No matter how much work got in the way he would always have his family, and that is the important thing.