Chapter 310

Chapter 310
By the time Damian stepped out of the shower, the water swirling down the drain was still faintly tinted with the smell of gunpowder and old dust. He dried his face slowly, staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
His eyes looked different—lighter but heavier all at once.
The ghost that stalked his family was gone.
But the weight of what he did… and what he almost lost… sat in his chest.
He put on a black T-shirt, ran a hand through his damp hair, and finally stepped out of his room.
The house was quiet at first—too quiet.
Until he heard tiny footsteps… then a gasp.
“Daddy’s home!” Luna shrieked before she even saw him, her little voice echoing through the corridor.
A second later, she burst around the corner like a small tornado, her hair bouncing as she ran straight into his legs.
Reid was right behind her, slipping on his socks as he sprinted, yelling, “DAD! DAD! YOU’RE BACK!”
Damian let out a choked laugh, bending down to scoop both children into his arms. They wrapped around him instantly—little limbs clinging, faces buried into his neck like they were afraid he’d disappear again.
“I missed you,” Luna said softly, her voice muffled.
“You were gone forever,” Reid added dramatically.
Damian kissed the tops of their heads.
“Not forever,” he whispered. “Never that.”
He stood, still carrying both of them like it was nothing, and walked into the living room.
Mira and Serene were there, watching with warm, relieved smiles.
And next to them… Sia.
She stood up slowly from the couch, hands twisting nervously, her small shoulders rising and falling with shallow breaths. Her eyes—those frightened, beautiful eyes—searched his face like she was trying to decode something new.
Damian gently set Reid and Luna down.
They immediately began chattering loudly:
“Dad, did you get the bad guys?”
“Did you beat them up?”
“Can I help next time?”
“Dad! Dad! Dad!”
Damian gave a soft warning growl—half amused, half exhausted.
“Give me a minute to breathe, little wolves.”
They giggled and ran off to show him their drawings, leaving the room buzzing with their noise.
Sia remained still.
She looked at Damian like he was something fragile—something she was scared to break, scared to reach for, scared to lose.
“Come here, sweetheart,” Serene whispered, nudging her gently.
Sia swallowed hard and walked toward Damian with small steps, like approaching a lion she wasn’t sure would hug her or roar.
Damian knelt down instantly so he wouldn’t tower over her.
The moment he did, Sia’s eyes filled with tears, her chin trembling as if she’d been holding something inside for a long time.
“Mr. Damian?” she whispered.
His breath caught.
She never called him that.
Never said his name.
Always “sir” or nothing at all.
“Yes, my angel?” he said softly.
Sia hesitated… and then the words stumbled out in a shaky whisper:
“C-Can I… call you… dad?”
The room went silent.
Mira covered her mouth.
Serene’s eyes instantly welled up.
Even Reid and Luna stopped talking, glancing up with big curious eyes.
Damian froze.
His vision blurred.
His heart stuttered painfully—like someone squeezed it with both hands.
“Sia…” he whispered, voice cracking.
He reached up slowly, touching her cheek with the gentlest hand he had.
“You… want to call me dad?” he repeated, disbelief thick in his tone. “You want me… as your father?”
Sia nodded quickly, tears slipping down her face.
“Y-Yes. Because… you protect me. And you… you don’t shout. And you make me feel safe. And… and…”
Her voice broke.
“I never had a real dad. And I know you are my real father...Can I… can I have you?”
Damian’s breath shuddered out of him.
A warm tear rolled down his cheek.
Then another.
He pulled Sia into him, hugging her so tightly yet so carefully—as if she was something sacred.
“Yes,” he whispered into her hair, voice thick with emotion. “Yes, baby. You can call me dad. I would be honored. I would be so honored.”
Sia sobbed into his chest, clinging to him like she finally found her place in the world.
Reid sniffled loudly.
Luna wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
Then they ran in and hugged both of them, practically tackling Damian to the ground.
“WE HAVE A NEW SISTER!” Reid yelled.
“She can sit with me at breakfast!” Luna squealed.
“And play with my toys!”
“NO! MY TOYS!”
“Noisy children,” Mira muttered lovingly.
Damian let out a broken laugh, holding all three kids as they piled over him.
Sia lifted her head, cheeks wet, eyes glowing softly.
“Dad?” she whispered again—testing the word.
Damian closed his eyes, holding her closer.
“Yes, my little girl,” he whispered back. “I’m right here.”
And for the first time in a long, long time…
Sia felt like she had a family.