Always be, your little girl(Denmark)

[Greenland]

[Denmark]

You don't need direction, you know which way to go
And I don't want to hold you back, I just want to watch you grow

[/i]
_______________[/center]

Mathias sat in the meeting in his drab, uncomfortable, and uptight business suit, reserved especially for these occasions. He wasn't really listening to whatever his bosses were saying. He was merely fidgeting in his seat, fiddling with his pen, drawing smiley faces and hearts and little dogs on the margins of the important paperwork and documents that was set before him. Meetings were boring, mundane, and nothing ever gets done, which is why he always wonders what use these meetings are for.

He only attended these meetings for one thing, though he could be excused from them if he wanted. He got to see his daughter afterwards, then spend a whole week or so with her. For him, the thought of seeing Kartharina made his heart soar, and gave him the strength and endurance he needed to be able to sit quietly and patiently through these formalities.

And sure enough, right after the meeting was done, Mathias made a mad dash for the door before his boss or anyone else in that room could even react. Not that they would anyway, they were too used to him just running out like that, even before the main speaker had formally dismissed them. And they knew, too, that he had a daughter to see, which is why no one dared stop him.

Running to the car specifically reserved to bring him wherever he wants, he almost yanked the door open as he dove into the back seat, not even needing to tell the chauffeur where he wanted to go. He knew his routine every time they came here. Mathias then removed his coat and his tie, unbuttoned his first two buttons, and rolled up his sleeves. He never did like looking formal in front of his precious daughter.

When they stopped in front of the house, there was absolutely no hesitation. Mathias pushed the car door open and ran to the front door, not even bothering to knock or ring the doorbell. He knew she would be waiting.

And there she was, as radiant as the sunshine and as beautiful and adorable as when he last saw her. He was relieved nothing has changed; he has been away for too long and too often, that he often had the fear of going back to a grown-up Kartharina, someone he couldn't hold or baby anymore.

Giving out a mighty, relieved laugh, Mathias ran to his daughter, nodding gratefully to the attendant. He stooped down to give her a kiss on the forehead, before picking her up in his arms. "How have you been, precious? Daddy missed you so much!" She's twelve. She shouldn't be picked up like a little girl and babied, but he couldn't help it. She was precious to him, more precious than all the riches of the world. After all, he considered his family to be the most important to him in this world.

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You're the one who taught me you don't have to look behind

[/b]
Oh yes, sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine[/i][/center][/blockquote]

[Greenland]

[/b] Her words sounded almost as if she was around four or five, though she only tended to talk like this when she was around her father because she never wanted to stop being his little girl.

She wriggled in his arms, breaking free some before she grabbed his hand. "I want to show you something Papa." She started to lead him up the stairs, she would have dragged him if she was strong enough to, but she only stood just above her father's waist at this current time in her life. She moved in a hurried pace.

She lead him down a hallway, passing multiple doors before she stopped at one and opened it. Inside this room were multiple canvases, some with paintings and drawings finished or in the process of being finished, others were blank, waiting to be worked on.

Letting go of her father's hand, Kartharina moved over to the easel where one of the canvases was covered with a sheet. She glanced back at her father before she pulled the sheet off. On the canvas was a picture of her family. She stood in front of her Papa, who stood beside Momma and Uncle Icey stood beside Momma with his puffin. Once the picture had been unveiled, Kartharina turned to face her father, staring at her feet to wait to see what he thought of it.[/ul]

[Denmark]

In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
______________________

Suddenly finding himself being led down multiple rooms and hallways, Mathias sensed that his daughter wanted to hurry up. And hurry up he did, allowing her to drag and lead him, making sure to take extra care not to stumble over his own feet. He tended to do that on certain occasions, though stumbling over his daughter wasn't exactly an inviting idea, so he tried his best to look at where his feet landed and looked forward to where he was going at the same time.

"Where are we going, dearest?" He couldn't help but ask as he was led down what seemed like an endless hallway. He was curious, as she never usually hurried like this. But his question was soon answered as Kartharina led him into a room full of canvases, then let go of his hand to reveal a picture of their family.

His precious family. The one thing more important to him than anything else in this world. To him, that picture was the most perfect thing in this world. Speechless and dumbfounded, he drew near to her and the canvas as he reached towards it, carefully touching the picture.

"This… this is…" He couldn't form anything coherent in his mind for a while as he stared at the picture, at the likeness of all of them. He felt like something was caught in his throat. Yes, he is that touched.

"It's beautiful, my dearest…" Mathias managed to whisper as he bent down on his knees and hugged his daughter tight, burying his face in her golden hair that was so much like his. He wanted to stay like this forever, to baby her, hug her to him, sing lullabies or read to her as she sleeps. But as all daughters do, they grow up. They all grow up, and go away, and now that his dearest has been given home rule… It will just be a matter of time before he comes back one day not to a little girl, but to a woman he will barely recognize.

How he wished he could bring back the old days, where all of them were happy together, like in that perfect picture that she had painted. But there was no turning time back.

______________________
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me

[Greenland]

[/b] She smiled brightly at him, trying to get him to smile back at her. She slipped out of his arms and twirled some. "I did that picture for you daddy, so you can take it home and always have something to remember me by." She turned to look at the picture again, glancing down at her feet some.

"The next time, can I come and visit you? I want to see your home again as well as see Mama and Uncle Icey." She was keeping herself from bouncing on the balls of her feet since, according to her tutors, that was not something a young woman should be doing. But in her eyes, especially around her father, she was still his little girl and no matter how old she got, she would always see herself that way.

She suddenly moved forward and grabbed his hand, giggling. "What do you want to do today Papa? I can show you how big the puppies have gotten? Or we can go sledding."[/ul]

[Denmark]

Gonna paint a sign, so you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
______________________

Mathias managed to hide his sadness and longing again behind a smile, though barely, as his daughter wiggled out of his grasp and twirled. He was truly happy to be spending time with her like this, but it wasn't the same as when she was still living with him. And it hasn't been the same ever since everyone moved out.

He doubted it would ever be the same again, though, unless he could bring back time.

He chose to ignore the first question, but he smiled brightly when she asked if she could visit him. The mere fact that his precious daughter would still want to visit him made him the happiest man alive.

"Of course you can visit me, dearest. You know you're welcome there anytime!" He answered cheerfully, his face filled with happiness, the old smile back on his face. He was a little bit surprised though, when she grabbed his hand, but quickly bounced back when asked what he wanted to do.

"We can do both, princess! After all, I've got all the time in the world for you." He bent down to plant a kiss on top of his sweet daughter's head, and allowed her to drag him to wherever.

When it came to his daughter, he always has time. It didn't matter if he had to go to a meeting, or if the world was going to end in two minutes, he would always have time. Always, no exceptions. She was precious to him, after all, and if it meant being together with her even for a second more, he'll gladly give up anything.

______________________
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you