Two Fathers [Waldor, Melanie]

Waldor was moving around the house trying to reorient himself to it's new size. He clicked his talons along the floors and listened to the sound echoing back to judge where everything was. He knew that Thumbelina would show him around but he still needed to map everything himself. It was an ingrained habit.

 Melanie came wiggling out from under the couch. "Hello Elder!" She bounced around his feet excitedly. "Are you living with us now?"

Oh...he had acquired a couch fairy, excellent. "I am, yes. Your mother offered and I am here enough that it seemed prudent to stay."

"What's that?" Melanie pointed to the satchel and bounced a bit. "Did you bring me a present?"

Ah...the bouncing made him nervous. "In a way....sit and I will show you but you must be very careful. It is fragile."

"Eh....?" Melanie squinted, but nodded and shuffled back over to the couch and pulled herself up excitedly and waited.

Waldor waited until she was seated then walked over. He crouched some and moved to open the satchel so she could see the egg inside. "Do you see?"

 "Is that for breakfast?" Because what else would eggs be used for? One has to remember that her and her brother came from flowers so... just an egg..

The look on his face was horrible and he fluffed in indignation. The owl had to take a long slow breath before he could answer gently. "...no little one. It will be an owl....like me."

Melanie went very quiet. After a few moments she looked up at him mildly distressed. ".... Are you replacing me because I'm not good?"

Waldor hissed softly and closed the satchel and returned it to his side before holding his arms out for Melanie. "I am not replacing you, child. You are my little huntress and you shall always be. The owlet that grows in this egg will be your family...once you have learned to hunt you may teach it as well. Would you not like that? A sibling who will tumble about with you and not cry as the others do?"

"...." Melanie crawled up into the offered arms. "It's my sibling... Are you gonna marry mom?"

Waldor pulled her close and kissed her hair. "Not...marry as such. My people do not marry but what we do is to find someone with whom we are...comfortable with. More comfortable and happy with them than any other we have met. I would not ask your mother to remarry so soon, I understand how much she cared for your father and I do not intend to take his place nor ask you to forget him. Rather...I would like to be your Elder as I am now. Part of your family, as this owlet will be."

"..." Melanie didn't really understand... That sounded like marriage.. but not? Weird. "So.. you're like a step dad? I get to have 2?"

"I...believe so? I am not familiar with the term. But yes...you can look at it as though you have two."

"..." She papped his face. "I'm still going to be your favorite right Elder?"

Waldor laughed and puffed air at her hand. "Yes child. I am most fond of you and doubt I will ever not be."

"Then I accept the owlet-thing as my minion and crime partner." Because she was still better.

A soft click at the door though signaled her mother returning home. Her time alone with Elder was over.