Maybe it's All About Timing

Danielle Ch5-Part 1

Hades continued; his tone still amused. "Anyway, we need a tiny, itty bitty little favor from you. Do you see that crying creature over there? Well, that's your daughter. Congratulations, you're a papa! Who knew you had it in you, boy?" He gave his nephew a proud squeeze on the shoulder and smirked, his voice full of sarcasm. "Now, take a look at this bottle here," he said with a mocking smile as a glass bottle magically appeared in his hand. Its contents shone with a mesmerizing rose-colored liquid. "We need little Missy there to drink it. But you, Daniel, must be the one to feed it to her. After all, you are her father - can you believe it? How many people have the chance to come back from the dead, only to find out they are a father and can hold and feed their daughter for the first time, hmm? Not many! You are one of the lucky ones, Danny boy. Mind if I call you Danny? So, what do you say? How about feeding your daughter for the very first time?"

Daniel was rendered speechless by the unexpected revelation from his supposed uncle.

He's a father.

He was so shocked that he couldn't process a single word his uncle said afterward.

"I-

"You better believe it, bud," Hades said with a devilish smirk. "You and Cora's daughter did the hanky-panky and created a baby. That wailing little creature is your daughter. Believe it, Danny; it takes two to tango."

Blue rolled her eyes and scooped up the distressed baby girl, offering her to Daniel. He hesitated but eventually opened his arms to the whimpering infant, who was apparently his daughter. She was swaddled in a delicate amethyst baby blanket, and he observed the embroidered name: Danielle Allison. The moment her soft cheek touched his broad chest, her wails ceased. As soon as her doe-like hazel eyes, framed with lush lashes, locked with his own sapphire gaze, he knew that she was his—his and Regina's.

Unexpectedly.

Daniel couldn't quite fathom the source of the images sweeping through his mind, causing his eyes to gleam with a hypnotic golden hue, leaving him in a trance-like state. And then she appeared: Regina, breathtakingly beautiful and heavily pregnant with their child growing within her. He saw images of Regina fearlessly pushing through her labor pains to bring their daughter into this realm. He saw tears of happiness when their daughter first made contact with Regina's chest. He saw Regina cradling their fresh infant, gazing down at their perfect creation with love in her eyes, and whispering the words, "Thank you, Daniel."

Tears welled up in Daniel's eyes as he gazed down at his precious baby girl, whose features were the perfect blend of her mother's beauty. He felt an indescribable sense of infinite love surge through his body—a feeling he had never experienced before. She was nothing short of perfect. Though his chest may be devoid of a physically beating heart, at this moment, he felt as if his heart was alive once more, for he cradled his true heartbeat in the form of a precious little being, a part of both him and her mother, nestled securely in his loving arms. The tears that filled his eyes spilled and ran down his cheeks as he whispered softly, "No, thank you, Regina."

"What a sweet little reunion," Hades said sarcastically, his eyes filled with mockery. His nephew, however, paid him no attention and continued to marvel over his seed. 'Pathetic,' Hades thought as he walked up to Daniel and held the bottle up in front of his face. "I believe it's feeding time," he said in a sardonic tone. "She looks a bit hungry, don't you think, Danny? Give her this; time is ticking. Remember, this is a privilege - you are still dead. You don't have much time."

Daniel shifted his gaze from his daughter to Hades, sniffing back his tears as he protectively held his heartbeat close to his chest. He nervously asked, "W-why? W-what is it? W-will it harm her?"

Hades gasped in mock surprise, pressing a hand to his chest as he said in a sarcastic voice, "No, no, it won't harm her. What kind of uncle do you take me for? Hmm? If anything, it'll actually heal her."