Daddy Daughter Day (Janus/Marie)

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((This story will be published in parts. ...with pictures because I love these two <3))

Marie sat in the shade of the aqueducts off on her own with a good book. It was one of her favorite hobbies really. This time around she had just sunk her teeth into “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn”. She had found it on her less-than-legal sneak into the Academia library after hours with Kyle Hydee. She’d been so nervous about it, but it had ended up being rather fun. Broom jousting, the nine. Though she was afraid to tell Chris about it for fear that he would gain a disliking for Kyle for it, or be angry with her for breaking the rules. Not that the two of them hadn’t twisted the rules a bit here and there, but that was another story. She hummed to herself as she turned the page of the slightly thick book that smelled old and wonderful. Except for the tweeting of birds, she was completely unaware of the world around her, wrapped in her novel.

First meetings were hard. Well, they were at least when the one being met was your daughter… who had not seen your face since she was three… and was now eighteen and probably had no recollection of that time. It was enough to make a usually quite unshakeable god, well, a bit nervous. He’d watched over her plenty as she grew up, of course. She was his only child. He’d never really been one to have children, so over the years… well, it just didn’t happen often. So when she had been young, without her mother knowing it, he had visited her several times, sometimes seen when she was little, not when she was older. Truth was, he was… scared? Of what though? A little girl? Sort of. He was a proud father. But what if she wasn’t a proud daughter? He knew his ichor in her veins had given her no end of trouble. Every demigod dealt with ADHD and dyslexia. Not every demigod dealt with bipolar disorder and split personality disorder. Not from so tender an age as four. She’d been dealt a hard hand, and it was his doing. But he was here now to make it up to her. For a moment longer, he watched her from the sidelines, one face this time. Less intimidating that way, though he knew that of any demigod, as his child, she would have the unique gift of not having to pick a face to look at. She was born to see both sides of the picture all the time. A weakness and a strength. He stepped into the sunshine and cleared his throat. “Marie Winters?”
(little Marie for your viewing pleasure)

Marie looked up from her book and her mouth went slack for a moment before she caught it. She knew that face. But from where? Like from a dream. She tucked her book under her arm as she stood up. “Sorry, um, you are?”

Janus watched her carefully, trying to gage her reaction. Was it good? Or bad? He took a deep breath. For a moment, the Mist lifted to unveil his dual faces, both looking at her. Both faces spoke in unison. “I’m your father.”

Marie stopped short. Her father? Janus? But it was true, she recognized the two faces from the temple’s little bust anywhere. He was easily the most recognizable god, in her opinion, at least when he wasn’t hiding it. Speaking of which, why was he hiding it? She wondered as she noticed the Mist filter back down, giving him one forward-facing face again. She smoothed her skirt and walked straight up to him, point blank, and stared up at him like she was trying to sort a puzzle. Her father. “You’re late,” she said finally. Then, as if unable to hide the joke any longer, she broke into a smile and hugged him.

Janus wasn’t sure what to expect, but a hug was not it. He froze in place. “I-…ah… don’t believe I’m the hugging type.” He heard a muffled “shh” from Marie and decided it was best not to argue again. His right side preferred her be a little more respectful, his left applauded her. But all the same, his whole being was glad to see her. Even though, he was glad when she pulled away and smiled at him, bringing a smile to his face as well. So far, so good. “Yes, well, um, sorry for interrupting… your reading.”

Marie’s eyes went wide. “You’re not leaving are you?” she said and continued before he could get a word in edgewise. “Because I don’t care if you’re nervous, I want to spend time with my dad. Besides, you owe it to me. It’s been, like, a really long time. If ever. We can just consider it a birthday present.”

Janus raised an eyebrow. “Your birthday’s in May…”

Marie’s face lit up with a smile. “Aw, you remember! Well then,” she clapped her hands determinedly, which was a little hard with the book under her arm. “We can spend one hour together for every birthday you missed. That would be… pretty much a whole day.” She put on her best smile, really hoping he bought the idea.

Janus couldn’t help but chuckle. Well, one of the versions of his plans – he often made so many (more to choose from that way) – did involve actually hanging out with her for an extended period of time. So why not? It could be fun, after all. He smiled. “Alright then. You pick our first adventure.”

Marie tapped her chin. So much they could do. The city had so much to offer. Maybe she could show him around, though he probably knew the place already since he’d been alive so long. Still, a personal tour of all the best parts sounded like a good idea. She smiled, decided. “How about coffee first? Get to know each other.”

Janus smirked. “I’ll do you one better. Coffee in London.”

It’s was Marie’s turn yet again to be surprised. “Really? We could do that?”

Janus pulled a key from his pocket and held it up. “I have a door that leads anywhere. Of course we can.” He offered his hand to her.

Smiling, Marie took his hand as he opened the door in the air and stepped through right behind him.

what was playing in the background the whole time

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Marie looked around at the unusual sights and sounds of downtown London. “Wow…” It smelled like traffic. She made a slight face, which was gone in an instant. She was spending time with her dad, in a city she’d never been to before. It was like a grand adventure. She smiled up at him. She didn’t care if people thought he was crazy. To a certain extent, she was too. So to be honest, she was proud of him, proud to be his daughter. He was an important god, the god of decisions. Decisions were a part of every single day, for every single person. Then something occurred to her. She looked around. “Wait, where’s my book?”

Janus smiled at her question. “Nothing to fear. I left it on your bed.”

Marie frowned. “How? I had it only a second ago…”

Janus looked to her. “It’s hard to explain. I told you I had a door to anywhere, yes?” She nodded. “Well, it doesn’t always have to be strictly one place. So I opened a door that would lead us here and leave your book back there. I figured you wouldn’t want to carry it around all day.”

Marie laughed, not really because it was funny, but it was just so… unusual that it struck her as slightly funny. Which earned her an odd look from Janus. “Sorry, sorry. Wasn’t laughing at you, I swear. It’s just… so… cool! I mean, I’ve always looked up to you, but this is just proving I was right to!” She smiled brightly at him and for a moment, he looked somewhere between confused and pleased, which only made her smile more. Was he… shy? It was sort of humbling to learn that her father, a big strong god, was nervous about this, because honestly, she was a little bit too. She bit her lip slightly as she looked at him, pondering. Finally, she came to her decision after a moment of silence and took the chance. “You know… someone once told me it’s okay to be afraid. Fear is like… a superpower. You pay closer attention, you move faster, you jump higher, than ever before when you’re afraid.”

Janus frowned as he looked at her, about to inform her that he was not, indeed afraid – even if he sort of was… had to keep his reputation up somehow. When he realized something… A faint smile came to his face. “I told you that. When you were little. I visited you at night when you had a nightmare… but you were asleep though…”

Marie grinned at him. “Exactly. And I suppose I should tell you, I’ve always been a light sleeper.”

Janus had to smile. Then he’d had an impact on her, even when he hadn’t thought he had. It was a good feeling. Like, he imagined, when a child draws you a picture or makes you a card. Something just to show that you mean something to them. He pulled his suit jacket a little closer about him and walked a little lighter, not so nervous anymore. “So then, coffee in London. I know just the place.” Because honestly, he had tried many of them over the years. It was the hazards of so many options and, well, being an indecisive god. Complicated, that. Actually, his right side had one favorite and his left another, which made things all the worse, but he figured Marie would appreciate more to choose from on the menu and right’s favorite offered that…plus pastries. His left side chimed in to say that more choices for an equally indecisive demigod would be a hazard, so he paused a moment.

Marie looked to him when he stopped walking, even if it was just for an instant. “Everything okay?” There was something peculiar written on Janus’ face that, a moment later came to her, because it had been a look she had often given herself in the mirror when trying to decide what to wear to hang out with Chris, or something like that: nagging indecision. She stifled a laugh. “The first one you thought of. Let’s go to that one.”

Janus gave her a smile that showed that she had indeed basically read his mind. Or was it minds? Hmm. That was a question. Probably plural, yes. “Well then, right this way.”

As they walked, Marie reflected in silence for a few minutes. “Speaking of which,” she started, even though there really was nothing to have brought this to mind to begin with, “Chris told me you talked with him a few days ago. Well?” She fixed him with an inquisitive look.

Janus didn’t meet her glance, but instead paid careful attention to where they were going. “Naturally, I don’t think anyone is good enough for you, but that is my job as a father to think that. However, I suppose if it has to be someone… he is respectful and well-intentioned from what I can tell. Has a good head about his shoulders and seems eager to take good care of you. That and your children will be quite attractive.”

Everything was going fine until that last bit. Her jaw dropped and she smacked him on the arm, blushing brilliant red. “Dad!!”

Janus raised an eyebrow at her a moment. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong? He mentioned wishing to marry you and one can only assume what comes after that. That at least hasn’t changed much over the centuries. That is what you want, isn’t it?” They got to the coffee shop and he opened the door for her.

Still blushing, she fidgeted with her light sweater as she went in and he followed, quickly at her side again. “Well, I mean, we’ve talked about getting married, sure, but beyond that we really haven’t talked about it. I guess I would like a family, but I want him to want one too. I’m not going to force hi-…” She let go of sweater and planted an accusatory glare on him. “But I am not discussing this in the middle of a coffee shop with my father! I want to talk about it with Chris first.”

Janus blinked. “Right, of course…”

Marie went back to fidgeting with her sweater and didn’t look at him. “But, um, assuming we do get married… will you… you know, be there? At the ceremony?” She glanced up at him.

This time Janus smiled slightly and put his arm around her shoulders, which was about as close to a hug as he ever went. “Why, of course. Someone has to walk you down the aisle and I’m not about to allow it to be anyone other than me.” This brought a warm smile to Marie’s face. “Now, about that coffee?”

Just
Some
Cute Pictures

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I'll try to continue this sometime soon, but first, some pictures because I really love these two!!!!