regency au } { of new mothers and confused daughters

[wildkingdom]

Malia: [and she darts into the room where they're having breakfast, bouncing on her heels a bit as she gets to the table] Good morning, Father.

Peter: [and he smiles, having showered and dressed before breakfast] Good Morning, Malia. I thought you'd like to have breakfast with me today.

Malia: I would. Thank you. [super pleased]

Peter: Well, come sit next to me. I have something we need to talk about while we eat. [and pulls out the chair for his little lady]

Malia: [goes and slides up into the seat, inching herself closer as she looks up at him] Is this about me getting a tutor, since Melissa is going to be a nurse for Patience now?

Peter: Well, a bit more than that. [goes to sit in the seat next to her, making her plate] You remember why your cousin was going to marry Lord Argent?

Malia: You said there was a treaty. You weren't happy about it.

Peter: No, I wasn't. I didn't want your cousin to be married off because of it. But it was something your Auntie Talia made, and we can't go against it.

Malia: And Laura is going to marry Daniel.

Peter: Daniel did something very bad yesterday. He's not going to marry her any longer.

Malia: [frowns] But you said you couldn't break the treaty.

Peter: We can't. But we can transfer the marriage to someone else. [he looked at his daughter]

Malia: [and she jumps to an unfortunate conclusion] Me?!

Peter: [chuckles] No, not you sweetheart. You're going to get to marry someone of your own choosing.

Malia: Then who?

Peter: [he licked his lips] It is going to be me. And Lady Kate will become your step-mother.

Malia: [her brow furrows in confusion] The Lady you are always arguing with?

Peter: [chuckles, leaning back to sip his coffee] That would be her, yes.

Malia: So are you going to argue with her all the time now?

Peter: Hopefully not all the time. I think I would lose my voice after a while.

Malia: But she's going to live with us.

Peter: She will have her own wing, and we will have ours, and we will see what the future brings. [he smiles at her] But you best get used to seeing me more often. When you lady cousin Laura marries, I will no longer be lord of the manor here, so we're still going to the summer castle. I will have nothing to do but spend time with you.

Malia: [grins] I like the sound of that.

Peter: And who knows, maybe marriage won't be so bad after all. I did love your mother, after all. It won't be the same, but at least we won't be alone anymore.

Malia: [who are you trying to convince, Peter, her or yourself?] Okay.

Peter: [totally both] And I may be able to convince young Liam to join us. I don't think Master Parrish will be at tourney for a while after today.

Malia: [brightens a bit] That would be nice. I missed him.

Peter: You two have become fast friends, and I think he could use a bit of tutoring as well. I'll talk with his Master and see if he would like to come with us.

Malia: [nods] Good.

Peter: [he thinks a moment] Do you want a mother again, Malia?

Malia: [she thinks on that for a long moment] I never had a mother in the first place.

Peter: You have always had a mother, sweetie. You just can't see her, but she's always here, watching over you like a guardian angel.

Malia: But .... not in the way you mean.

Peter: No. I don't know what kind of mother Kate will be, but I look at how much she loves Lady Allison... and I think you two will be good for each other.

Malia: [whatever you say. she'll just nod in agreement]

Peter: I may have to start learning to cook. Just so we don't starve.

Malia: [looks skeptical at this] Or hire a cook.

Peter: I will have you know I spent a great deal of time in the kitchen when I was younger. [mostly begging for extra food]

Malia: [still looks skeptical]

Peter: Okay, we'll hire a cook, if only because I don't know how to make you those cookies we both enjoy.

Malia: [grins up at him before nodding]

Peter: I spoil you too much. [he leaned over to kiss her cheek] But that's because I love you.

Malia: [she personally does not feel spoiled, but since she's the one being spoiled her judgement is suspect] I love you too.

Peter: Come on, let's finish up. We have a ceremony to get to.

Malia: [nods and digs into her breakfast so they can do just that]