It was a sheer sight to see. Her smile gleaming. Her skin glowing. Her eyes flickered with light. Her hand resting on my thigh playing absently with the fringe of my pants. My arm laid lazily over the back of our booth and I'd occasionally drip my hand down to play with loose strands of her hair. We would steal glances at each other and she'd bite that lip of hers before returning to a conversation with my fellow band mates, her Uncles, my brothers. I could only imagine what would go through their minds if they knew. If Juliet found out. Who am I kidding, she's been hiding the missing link for almost seventeen years now. I couldnt believe she would intentionally withhold this viable information from me and her daughter.

My thoughts traveled to my new found revelation and willingness to pursue this endless dream. The way she reacted when I told her Lyrik had her book but not before some boy returned it to our doorstep. She seemed not as upset as someone normally would. The only reason I knew it to be hers was the scrapes from her tearing the etching off so then she could have a unique style little black book. Although, she didnt want one until Lyrik was here. After getting off the phone with her I took said book from Lyrik and put it in its rightful place. I dont even remember why I was angry at her and called her a liar. Maybe it was because it just didnt make sense that it would randomly be within her room collecting dust. Then again, it was like my little girl to take something either. The oddity of calling her my little girl held no meaning to me. I couldnt think of her that way anymore. She was about to be seventeen. She no longer wanted dolls or toys instead clothes and books. Diaries to be more exact. Oh my, her diaries. That was a unreal plot twist in my life. The withholding of my mind and hers seemed more than just a coincidence. In fact that little black book proved it all.

When I went to put said book back there was a 'decoy' I could say. This one was blank while the one on my desk held dates, entries, and weird descriptions.

• November 13, 2016-Entry #'s 5 to 8; Talking in sleep.

It was very odd. I couldnt think of how it went together. I sat there puzzled looking at each page of her book until I finally just slammed it shut. In doing so, Lyriks' diaries fell off my desk. Huffing I slide back in my chair and bent down to retrieve them. The purple one was opened to a lovely dream my baby had of me saving her from some bully as we rode away on a white horse. She was twelve. Then I noticed the top caption. Each top right corner had the title Entry written on it. I froze at this simple realization. Nearly colliding with my desk I brought up my folder on my laptop titled 'Dream Entries' and clicked. I went into the search box and typed in 5th Entry. Sitting there waiting as that stupid blue circle swirled searching for my answer I read over my entry.

These dreams keep happening more frequently now. I dont know what I should do. Should I go talk to a therapist or just straight up castrate myself? I shouldnt. I couldnt be thinking about being in love with my daughter. I have my soul mate. Its only because she's going through puberty and becoming as beautiful as her mother. I have to keep telling myself this. I keep waking up gazing at her sleeping form. I have no clue how I got there or why. I dreamed I kissed those plump pink lips and she fit so perfectly. That alone, kissing her made me harder than an ox. I feel like Im in high school again. Maybe thats what this is, I'm just reliving my younger years. So here I am sucking on my inner cheek, pulling at my hair trying to grasp the mentality that my brain has lost. I just hope I didnt moan her name or talk in my sleep as our escapades on our own couch conjured within my mind.

There it was 'talk in my sleep'. It must have meant she did too. I ran through a couple of dates and entries that Juliet had written and found it to be quite shocking. It was like we were in sync with each other subconsciously. Awaiting the opportune moment to be able to be in sync awake. And boy, were we ever in sync. We both fought against it. Keeping it secret. Pretended.

After about an hour or so I decided I should go up and apologize when my eyes came across a different page. This one didnt have dates or entries. This one had a clipping from a old book. Year of the Crow it said at the top. As I continued to read it my mouth dropped and something deep inside me activated. I couldnt help but thank some God that we werent just sick minded or in fact losing our minds but we were fighting against the inevitable. The universe even. I needed to look into this more in the mean time until i could find some way to mention this to Lyrik. My baby. My Babydoll. My universe imprint.

"Daddy?" Laughing. "Daddy, why you smiling so big?" I shook from my daze. I was rubbing my thumbs over her knuckles as her hand was on my thigh under the table for seeing eyes and my eyes were locked staring at our hands together. I guess I was smiling a mile wide. "Should I call you Joker and tell everyone you've come to the dark side?" She joked laughing at my dispense. I did go to the dark side, but she was my Harley. Madness in love. "Sorry, was just thinking over how you'll be seventeen in just a couple of days. It just feels like your journey just started." Smiling at her I hoped she'd get the hidden message. With a gentle squeeze of my thigh I knew she did. "Aw, Daddy Andy is getting mushy." Ash-Bash cooed. I've grown accused to her nicknames for all of them. I have yet to learn mine.

It was nearing the time for her tat appointment so we stood up to leave when the guys all brought a gift out to her. Her and I both were shocked. I had no knowledge of this at all. She squealed as the box was placed on the table. Star wrapping paper brightly decorated it. She loved her stars. I wouldnt be surprised if she got one tatted tonight. I'd love to trace it with my fingers or my tongue. I side smirked at my thought. I wasnt scared of these thoughts anymore. "Oh no. What did you guys gag gift me?" Her smile wasnt showing any sign of remorse. "Just open it and see." X replied tipping his beer at her. She closed her eyes and lifted the lid. She was probably holding her breath too. Over dramatic little one. My eyes bulged out of their sockets. She gasped as her fingers trailed over the fabric. It was a crimson medieval dress equipped with corset, stockings, coat and underskirt. I didnt understand why this was her gift. As if reading my mind Jock answered, "Its for your masquarade ball at the end of the month. We know how much you love those style dresses." X finished, "So we got you one ahead of time." Her eyes had tears on the brim of falling. "I dont even have a date yet." Her smile faltered just a bit. As a light bulb went off in my head. "You will." I told her confidently. 'Even if its me' I thought. "I love it you guys. Thank you." She went around giving hugs and kisses she even took the dress out of the box and twirled with it. She was just too cute sometimes.

She wouldnt tell me what she was going to get, she said 'I would have to wait and see'. She got it on her ribs just under her breast. Oh, she was teasing me purposely with that one. Before we got back home she was already claiming her addiction to them. 'Thats my girl' I smiled inwardly. Walking into the house seemed different. Usually it was separate to different locations but I couldnt fight the feeling of wanting to be close to her. She flopped on the couch and flipped through channels as I chuckled grabbing some provisions from the kitchen. I was currently fishing around in the cabinets for popcorn when someone cleared their throat behind me. There she stood in her own natural beauty leaning back on the wall head tilted slightly to one side. She casually walked over to me pushed me back a bit and jumped on the counter. I was confused and i knew it showed on my face. He ankles crossed as they lightly swung, her body leaned forward on her wrists. I still just stood there arms crossed over my chest. Then her eyes went down to the floor. I could see the light red tint to her skin rising. In a low voice I heard, "Can we make up our father- daughter night?" I could see the lip being bit, and the playful bashfulness in her eyes as she rose her head for my view. I couldnt help but think of how it last went. I was an asshole with the right intentions. "I love that idea." I grinned back at her. "Why dont you go and pick out a movie and..' She interrupted me. "No, can we re-do it?" she asked blushing. Her eyes flickered to my lips licking over her own then back to my eyes. The tension in that moment was thick. I didnt think it was possible to feel so vulnerable and yet so empowered at the same time. My hands ran up her thighs, her head tilted back. My lips trialed up her neck, her hands grabbed my shoulders. I stood between her legs, her mouth parted breathing. "Now thats something I believe we can do." Mouthing it at the corner of her mouth. The kiss wasnt as jam packed as it was the first time. We were just slowly savoring the moment. Smiling into our kisses I dont think this would ever get old, or be wrong.

Eventually I couldnt take the counter any longer so I picked her up, she wrapped her legs around my waist as we migrated to the couch. The same couch from my dream. I laid her down took my boots off and hovered over her our bodies like puzzle pieces. Perfectly placed. I gripped her hip and slide her down the couch so her knees were bent around me. Making out was never a favorite of mine but the sparks that flew through me as our tongues meshed together or our skin came into contact as our clothes were being lifted up just to get that little bit more I could do this with her until my heart com-busted. After, you know what I couldnt tell you how long, we'd sneak kisses here and there as we spooned on the couch. Her legs bent over my extended ones. Her butt right at my bulge I was trying in vain to hide. Of course I couldve just taken her and she would have willingly let me but I wanted to give the experience of everything leading up to it. I loved her innocence too much to just take her. We could feel each others heart beats beating as one. When she silently fell asleep I lifted her shirt to sneak a peek at her tat. "With every sin..." it read, my little tease til the end. I ran a knuckle over her cheek, "Its more than we could both ever scream', wrapping my arm around her middle I settled in next to her and for once willed the dream to come even if the dream was becoming reality.

Notes