The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Marigold studies me for a long moment and I feel Jackson step close, feel him settle down on the ground behind me. The little girl flicks her eyes to him and then back to me.

"Ariel,” she whispers, and my name said in her tiny voice makes my heart seize. I smile at her – a big, rich smile – even as tears slip out of the corners of my eyes. I wipe them hastily away, not wanting her to think that I'm sad.

"Yup, that's right," I say, laughing a little and shifting my eyes to my mom - who, of course, is also crying.

Marigold shifts her eyes to Jackson, a clear question on her face as she tries to figure out what his name is. She knows the rest of us by name, after all, except him. His name - the name of the most important person in the room to her right now. The person with whom she has a bond, whom she already knows to be attached to her.

"Um," Jackson says, working hard to keep his voice casual and steady. "I guess you can just call me...dad. If that's okay with you."

Marigold stares at him for a long moment and then nods once, turning her eyes back to the book in mom's hands, clearly wanting more of that.

But mom, I laugh to see, is crying too hard now to continue reading. She laughs along with me - we all do - as she sets the book down in Marigold's lap and wipes at her cheeks with her palms.

"They're all messy, Marigold," Rafe says on a sigh, laughing and picking up the book as the little girl turns to him. "Here, let me continue this, though I'm not going to be as good at the voices as she was."

We all curl up then, quite quiet and cozy, and listen as Rafe reads the story. Jesse comes down from the bed to stretch out next to me and Mark comes in too, bringing a bunch of child clothes - where on earth did he get those? - and continuing to fold them as he listens.

I lean back against Jack and keep my eyes fastened on the little girl.

Jackson's little girl.

Who eats cookie after cookie as about half an hour passes, her eyes fastened steadily on the page as my brother reads to her.

And I smile, just slightly, because...

I mean, because I think it's all going to be okay.

With this team at our backs? It's all going to be okay.

Rafe reads until Marigold's eyes start to droop, until she slumps down against the pillows, her breathing slow and deep.

"All right," mom says, making Rafe pause as she pulls the blankets up around Marigold's chin. "Why don't you big boys clear out of here and give Jackson a chance to tuck his little girl in."

Mark and Jesse grumble - honestly, the story was very good - but get to their

feet. Mark ducks into the closet quickly to put away all of Marigold's freshly folded clothes.

"Hey," Jesse whispers, bendingnoveldrama

down to put a hand on my shoulder.

I look up at him in surprise as he tilts

his head towards the door. "Why don't you come out with us for a second. Let me buy you a drink."

I just stare at him in shock at this request, making him laugh.

"Come on, Princess," Jesse says, straightening and grinning at me. "You look like you could use one."

I laugh a little, glancing at Jackson. "Do you mind?"

Jacks just stares at me for a second. "Should I mind?"

I laugh and shake my head, getting to my feet as my mom smiles softly at me and Rafe gets up too, tucking the little story book beneath Marigold's tiny mattress so she can find it tomorrow.

"You go, Ariel," mom says with a little laugh, looking down at the little girl who works hard to keep her eyes open, wanting to see everything that's going on. "Jackson and I can handle it in here."

"Can we?" Jackson asks, looking at my mom with a great deal of fear on his face.

I laugh and get to my feet, pressing a kiss to his cheek as I do. "It's just tucking her in, Jacks," I say softly. "No trouble at all."

"What's tucking in?" he whispers, looking at me and then mom, baffled.

I laugh and take Jesse's proffered arm as mom grins at Jackson and begins to explain. Then, Mark and Rafe following behind, the four of us head out the door and into the living room.

Rafe, Jesse and I head for the bar car in the corner, but Mark hesitates, looking towards the door.

"You don't want a drink, Markie?" Jesse asks, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "And get the full debriefing about Ariel's actual emotions on the subject of Jackson's love child?"