Valerie finally turned her head slightly, just enough for Demian to see the faint curve of a smile at the corner of her lips.
"Of course they recognize you," she said calmly. "You're their father. From the very beginning."
The words settled into Demian like something both warm and unfamiliar. A strange sensation stirred in his chest not the urge to possess, nor a spike of anxiety, but a pure, honest happiness that nearly startled him with its simplicity.
Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Valerie's neck. There was no haste, no demand just a single touch filled with meaning.
"Valerie," he said softly, his breath warm against her skin, "I feel much more alive now."
She lifted an eyebrow slightly, a hint of caution mixed with familiarity in her voice. "What do you mean?"
