I carry Ana to her room while Jay takes Carol to ours.
I lay Ana down. She pouts.
"Daddy, I sweep alone?"
"Yes, baby girl." I tuck her inside her warm fuzzy blanket and kiss her forehead. I pull up and she holds onto my arms.
"Daddy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Don't go." She tells me.
"I am right here. Okay?" I kiss her again. "Close your eyes princess. Go to sleep."
"Can I have Ems daddy?"
"Ana, don't. You know you are being punished. You won't get your stuffies back until tomorrow." I tell her a little sternly.
I kiss her. "Let go of daddies arms sweet thing."
"No daddy, no!"
"Annaaa... "
"No daddy! I scared alone."
"You have to be daddy's strong girl, alright?"
She let's of my arms reluctantly. Her hands are so small. She is so small.
"Daddy, don't switch off the lights..."
"Ana, you have to be scared of nothing. Daddies are there to protect you."
"But the mur..."
"Niana Grey! There is no murderer! Did Jay not tell you to not talk about it?"
"daddy pwease... " she looks like she is about to cry.
"You want to make daddy mad? You want to get a bedtime spanking, huh?"
She cowers.
"You will sleep alone, without Ems, with the lights off. You are being punished because you were a bad girl earlier. Is that clear to you?"
She nods, her eyes glossing over with tears.
"See what I got you?" I hand her Ems. She snatches it from me and hugs her tight.
"Thank you, daddy... " She tells me.
I smile at her.
"Don't go..."
"Shh... I am right here.... " She holds my two fingers in her hands, and gradually falls asleep.
I kiss her forehead and go back to my room. Grey is awake and Carol Is asleep.
"Why are you still awake?" I ask him.
"I had to spank Carol. A couple of smacks. She was acting up, saying that we are giving all our attention to Ana. She said we let her off the hook when she had to take her punishment."
"You know it's not the same. Ana did not do anything. Carol, she knows better than to hide stuff from us and showing off stunts in her swim suit today strangers? Really? "
"I understand. She doesn't. You should have let Ana be without Ems."
"What is the matter with you? What are you so fucking clipped about, since yesterday." I ask him.
He makes a face.
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