I wake up slowly, like floating up from the bottom of a warm pool. For a moment, I forget where I am, and panic tries to grab me with cold fingers. Then I feel the steady rise and fall of breathing beneath my cheek, smell the familiar scent that means safety and love, and remember.
'Daddy.' The word makes me smile even before I open my eyes. 'I'm with Daddy, so everything is okay.'
I'm curled up against Arthur's side, my head on his chest where I can hear his heartbeat. His arm is wrapped around me, holding me close even in sleep, like he's protecting me from bad dreams. This is the first time I've ever slept next to another person, and it's the most wonderful feeling in the world.
'Is this what having a real family feels like?' I wonder, snuggling closer to Daddy's warmth. 'Always having someone who wants to keep you safe?'
