Kansas stood at the edge of the field, icy eyes locked upon the windmill. He gazed at the beautiful, ancient structure for two reasons. He always loved looking at it, especially from a distance like this, when it spun easily with the shifting breeze. Today, though, there was also a special reason, and that was because he actually needed to be sure there was enough wind. It didn't take him long to smile, for it churned at a steady pace, reassuring him beyond the way his bangs flew about in front of his face. It really was a perfect day for what he and Cambria had planned. On top of the wind being sufficient, the sky was crystal clear, the air brisk but not freezing. Thoroughly excited, Kansas held the kite carefully against his chest, its string and spool resting in one hand, and ran across the field toward the windmill. He went as fast as he could, thrilled by the wind in his face, until he'd reached the middle of the field, with the windmill still a couple hundred feet away.

    He couldn't wait for his daughter to get there. He'd told her to meet him this early afternoon, that he had a surprise for her. What she didn't know was that he actually had two. He was proud of himself for having planned this for her; she deserved it after all she'd been through. But he hoped she'd enjoy it as much as he hoped she would. Pushing this concern out of his mind, Kansas got on his knees, one nail in his mouth as he examined the kite. He made sure the frame was in place and that the patches he'd sewn over what had been old holes were still holding. Everything was fine. Giddy, the boy sat cross-legged in front of the kite, hiding it so Cambria wouldn't see it when she approached. His worn knapsack hung around his shoulder, with her other surprise tucked sneakily inside one of its inner pockets. He sighed happily, resting his chin on his fist, and waited.

    Kansas was perhaps just as excited as Cambria was. He couldn't keep from tapping his fingers idly against his chin, a foot bouncing speedily as he squinted into the horizon for any sign of his daughter. Before long, he spotted her, a tall and lean child moving carefully across the field. He longed to make out the expression on her face, and when she was close enough for him to discern it he immediately felt a rush of happiness. His pale eyes lit up in the special way Cambria caused them to. He felt instantly wonderful, loving the excited sound of her voice as she called out to him. Kansas didn't have a favorite child. He loved all of them equally. But he felt he and Cambria had a special relationship, a strong bond and a deepened understanding of one another.

Hey, little sweetie! he returned brightly. Kansas grinned lopsidedly, thinking it cute that she was unsteady in her Optime form. He remembered very well his first few days of moving on two legs; it had felt very strange and very awkward. He wasn't making fun of her; he understood the caution with which you had to move in order to keep your balance. She was just precious. That was all.

    He remained seated, his tail draped over the kite, hoping she hadn't spotted it yet. Okay, here's... part... of the surprise. Grinning more broadly, the pale wolf reached behind him and pulled out the worn yet beautiful violet kite. Kansas stood up and held it out for her to touch or hold it if she wished. It's a kite. I've been waiting for a windy day for us to try to fly it..., he explained. I read about how to do it. Not... uh, not sure I really understand how to do it, but I'm sure we'll figure it out. His smile waned a little, but not completely. If you want.

    He was extraordinarily nervous to see her reaction, and he only realized this when her gaze upon the purple kite became skeptical. He felt his chest burn the slightest bit, and surreptitiously bit his lip as his pretty chocolate furred daughter examined it. Perhaps she would think his idea stupid. Maybe she wanted nothing to do with this colorful human object, something likely extremely oblique to her in nature. But after a few painful seconds, she reassured him that she wanted to try flying the kite, to which he grinned both with relief and renewed excitement. Great! he returned softly. All you do is run into the wind, and the kite flies into the air. Then you... kind of steer it using the string. You can make it do, um, tricks, and things. He paused, then shook his head. He was making it sound like some sort of creature. But I want to show you what else I got you, first.

    Kansas looked away from her, and reached into his bag. He rooted around until he found the inner compartment that held the gift. For a moment he fumbled, trying to enclose the entire object in his hand. His long fingers eventually wrapped around the little necklace, but he peaked inside his satchel to make sure it was completely hidden. Grinning, butterflies in his stomach because he wasn't sure if she'd like it, Kansas held his fist out to her, palm up. A few seconds passed, and then he opened his hand. The necklace lay there, a little tangled—but the charms glimmered pale in the sunlight. He knew how much his baby adored butterflies. And she was so much like a butterfly herself, with her unassuming, quiet nature. He'd thought the necklace would suit her. Hopefully she felt the same. D-do you like it?

    It was probably better that Cambria could not detect Kansas' uncertainty. He didn't like to think of his children realizing how sensitive he was; how worried and self-conscious he could be. He wanted them to view him as someone who could protect them, rather than as the pansy he was deep inside. Especially not Cambria. She was so delicate in his eyes, like a china doll. She needed to be handled carefully; reassured by his presence, not made to feel uncomfortable. It was not her job to make him happy... though in all honesty, she had a lot of leverage over him. He hadn't really let on how painful her ordeal with the cocaine had been for him—it just wasn't about him, and no one needed to know. In any case, she appeared excited enough about the kite, her smiling face all the reassurance he needed.

    Next came her reaction to the gift. He really thought it was beautiful, almost as beautiful as his little girl. But she, of course, far outshone it. Her happiness made his whole body feel warm, and his tail picked up a steady beat behind him. She was excited about it. She liked it. He couldn't have asked for a more perfect thanks. As she threw her little arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, Kansas lifted his his Cambi off the ground and held her tight for a moment. He wanted her to know he could hold her, if she ever needed him to. He set her down, beaming. You're so welcome, honey. I'm glad you like it. Here, turn around and I'll put it on you, he said, asking more than demanding. If she didn't want to wear it know, he'd understand, but he really wanted to see it on her. Afterward, they'd get to the kites.

    Cambria reminded him so much of himself as a puppy. It was as endearing as it was frightening; if they really were as alike as he suspected, then his little girl lacked confidence in herself—just as he had as a child. He figured that such a thing wasn't too uncommon, and nor was it something to worry too much about. Because Kansas would fix it. He wanted to make her feel valued, and beautiful, and special. All the things that were true about her, and that she needed to believe. He had read that young women who had good relationships with their fathers were stronger in their adult lives than those who didn't, in their relationships and in themselves. He wanted this for Cambria more than anything. And he worried about it more with her than with Amata, because his other daughter was definitely surer of herself than was Cam.

    The necklace had fallen into his hands several days ago, but he'd wanted to await this special day to give it to her. That way, she could wear it shifted, and take it on and off whenever she wished with ease. Kansas waited for her to sit and turn around, smiling all the while. He unclasped the chain, draped it around her slim neck, and closed the clasp. His excitement rose; he held the kite in his hands and walked around to face her, studying the necklace. Beautiful! he told her, still grinning. He hoped she knew just how beautiful she was. Maybe she would look down at the necklace and remember that she had parents who believed in her, both he and Savina. Here; you take the spool... he offered a hand to help her to her feet. ... And run backward, with the wind at your back. I'll release the kite, and it.... should... fly.

    He worried that Cambria was as insecure as she was because of what had happened to her as a young child. Would she have turned out differently if she'd never stumbled upon Naniko's drugs? That was inevitable. And could he have stopped that from happening, somehow? The questions still plagued him, and probably would until the day he died. Perhaps he felt a deeper obligation to her because he may have "allowed" what had happened to Cambria to happen. All the better that it was her; he felt the two of them understood each other better than in most father-daughter relationships.

    And Kansas knew she wasn't a weak, helpless thing. He saw intelligence in her eyes, and heard it in her words. A weaker child may not have been able to pull out of such a hole as the one caused by exposure to such a terrible drug, at such a young age. Skeptical a creature as he was, the man had a feeling that his daughter would be just fine in the end. She'd be able to use all the strength inside her to pull past whatever obstacles came her way. He just needed to be sure he was there to help her. You're welcome, he responded to her thanks, softly and with a smile. She had the spool in her hands, and he watched her run backward with remarkable ease. He marveled at this (reiteration that she was extremely smart) as he released the kite. It spun in the wind as it spiraled upward, but Cam would need to hold on if it was to stay. 'Kay, you can stop, sweetie. Just hold on to it. Kansas ran to her side, standing beside her to guide her, ready to bounce back to the kite if it fell and they needed to try again.

    Kansas didn't want to bring up what had happened to Cambria because he had been able to figure the truth already. She wanted to leave it as far behind her as possible, he suspected. That didn't mean he didn't want her to talk about it. He wished she would. But he knew that if she felt the desire to bring it up, she would, and he would undoubtedly try his best likewise to help her from there. He did know that it did no good to pry without welcome. That was one of his own pet peeves, though he was sure it was true for most. All he could do was make it possible for Cambria to be happy; he honestly felt he'd do anything for that.

    The girl stopped when he told her to. He saw her face tilt into the sun to watch the dancing kite, and his heart soared. She looked so perfectly content in that moment, and she shone brighter than the sun. He was glad that the kite did not fail them, but rather darted about serenely in the wind several yards above them. Kansas ran to the chocolate-furred girl, resting a hand on her shoulder when he reached her and simply watching the kite with her for a few seconds. He looked at her and grinned boyishly, taking the taut string as she held the spool and pulling it slightly to the left and down. The kite did a nice little circular swoop before continuing its solitary tango in the sky. That's one trick, I suppose, be said with a small laugh. He gestured at the string, so that she would try some things herself if she wished. His eyes found the lilac kite, so much more beautiful and alive in the sky than it had seemed before his daughter had made it fly.

    He knew there was always the possibility that Cambria would fall into a drug habit again. Oh, but what if she longed for it again? After she'd gotten into the cocaine, and when she was suffering from such horrid withdrawals, the young father had almost wished to give her more to make her pain stop. But he'd never, ever do that to her. Or else today she probably would not be standing next to him, so carelessly flying this kite he'd brought her. He was so grateful that Cam had not become resentful toward himself and her mother for not giving her more powder when her body had thought it needed it. That she'd been too young to think this far into the course of a possible addiction.



    He watched her take the spool and string, making the kite do a pretty swoop in the sky. Awesome, he said softly. Here's one more thing; he said, gently taking the spool in his hands. The kite leveled out and stalled in the sky. Kansas moved his hands with his words so Cambria could get a grasp on what to do if she wanted to try this trick. Tug on the string to make it turn flat on its, uh, "belly," then walk forward and... pull the string a little more, The kite had flipped upside down, and as he walked forward a few feet and pulled on the slack string, it spun around belly-up like spinning top. The pale man turned and jogged back to Cambria, offering her the spool again. Just play around with it. I'll watch. He grinned and folded his arms across his chest, calm eyes never leaving his bright little girl. The sun shone through her chocolate fur, and she positively glowed. It was the most wonderful thing he'd ever looked at.