49 Starting a Family I

"Wait," I call before pulling out a coin to toss to her.

"Oh thank you! Divines bless your kind heart!" She exclaims happily, her previous fear gone to the wind as she's about to leave.

"Do you mind if I ask your name, and why you're begging?" I ask kneeling down to be eye to eye with her.

"That's okay, Mister, my name is Lucia!" Lucia exclaims happily before her expression turns for the worse as she continues, "It's... It's what Brenuin said I should do. He's the only one that's been nice to me since... Since mama..." She pauses as she tries to fight back her tears. "Since she died."

"I'm sorry for your loss, little one. Do you have any other family? Where are you staying?" I ask patting her shoulder.

"I have an Aunt and Uncle, but after they took over Mama's farm and then kicked me out. Saying I wasn't good for anything. I help at the Inn and they let me sleep on the floor when it gets cold." Lucia says.

I feel a deep pit of anger rising from my stomach as I have to fight it back to keep my calm face so as to not scare the girl. I make a mental note to find her farm and take it over from those greedy relatives of her's. It's then I feel a whisper in the back of my head once more.

(Take her in...)

It's that same voice I felt when it told me to fight Vilkas with honor when entering the Companions.

'Why?' I ask internally, but the voice remains silent.

'I don't even have a bed for her to lie in and who are you? Was this your body?' I question the voice.

(Find... A... Way...) I hear as the voice goes faint once more.

*Sigh*

I exhale while Lucia stares at me with her eyes wide, "Lucia?" I say looking into her eyes.

"Yes, Mister?" Lucia replies tilting her head.

"I could adopt you, if you want?" I say closely watching her reaction.

"Y-you mean it?!" Lucia exclaims happily, before asking hopefully, "Do you have a home for us to stay in?"

"Yes and no, I own the watch tower south of here and I'm currently fixing it up. You can stay there if that's okay with you? I can at least promise you a bed and warm food until we get a proper house to call our own. How does that sound?" I ask with a smile.

"That sounds perfect! Papa!" Lucia exclaims excitedly before leaping into my arms for a big hug, before pausing to look up and ask uncertainly, "It's okay to call you Papa, right?"

"Of course it is, little one. My name is Silvantus Malborne. And from today on, you'll be Lucia Malborne." I say with a huge tusky smile as I ruffle her hair and hoist her onto my shoulders as she giggles.

"First, let's get you a proper meal." I say as I carry her on my shoulders out of town and to the tower that is still under construction. I see Lokir lounging on a chair with Crimson before he notices me. And the shock from seeing me walk up with a kid on my shoulders causes him to tumble out of his chair and rudely awakening Crimson who yawns before growling at Lokir and waddling over to me.

Lucia stares enraptured by Crimson as I set her down and she goes to slowly creeps up on the cub before grabbing them and cuddling them ferociously. As Crimson whines, I believe they finally understand how Stump felt when Crimson had him pinned.

"Sweetie, their name is Crimson, and be sure to be gentle with them, don't want them getting angry and nipping you." I chastise Lucia who nods obediently before changing the Vulcan-Cuddle grip to a pleasant scratch behind the ears that southed the traumatized Crimson.

"What the fuckin' hell happened Boss?! I thought you only had some errands to run?!" Lokir shouts after collecting himself and standing up.

"Hey, language! My kid's here!" I say, glaring at him.

"Kid?!" Lokir, M'rissi, Kasia, and Sofia shout in shock as the girls came over after hearing the initial commotion.

"Yup! Everyone, meet Lucia Malborne. My daughter." I say slowly pulling Lucia forward who looks at the girls in awe.

"So pretty! Are you my new Mama?" Lucia exclaims in intrigue before hugging M'rissi and looking at her with adorably innocent eyes as she unknowingly throws me under a bus.

I panic, unsure how they'll react to this bombshell of a question, causing me to visibly sweat as I await the girls' reply and I see Lokir smile as he steps back to watch the show.

"Awe! Aren't you just the cutest young one! I just want to eat you up." M'rissi smiles before leaning down and kissing Lucia all over her face as she hugs Lucia.

"So soft too," Lucia giggles happily, before Sofia speaks up indignantly.

"And what am I? Chopped liver? Aren't I a possible mommy candidate? Would you call me mommy, Silvy?" Sofia asks turning to me with a pout making me unconsciously gulp.

While Kasia seems to be lost and would blush furiously mumbling under her breath about being too young to be a mother.

"You would be a pretty Mama, too Miss. And you look just as cool as Papa in your armor!" Lucia compliments while turning to Sofia.

"Awe, aren't you an observant little urchin, I am pretty impressive. Keep praising me." Sofia laughs haughtily making me roll my eyes.

"Alright, Lucia, this is your Uncle Lokir." I say lifting Lucia up from M'rissi's embrace and turning towards Lokir who freezes in his boots not expecting to be an actual part of my family.

"Hello Lucia, um… Are you hungry? I have some soup on." Lokir offers, unsure as to what to do.

"I'd love some, Uncle!" Lucia exclaims hopping down from my shoulder before picking up Crimson and running after Lokir who heads towards a campfire that the Khajiit caravan had set up with a large pot of soup hanging from a spit above it.

Everything seems right and peaceful… Until I have a strange sense of someone staring daggers at me… And I turn around to see the girls glaring at me… Well, shit... I'm screwed…