Hika rushes towards Nicole and picks her up.

"Nicole. What did you just say?" He asks her with a shakey voice.

Nicole doesn't respond she just reaches her arms out for me with tears in her eyes.

I walk up to them and take her from Hika.

Glaring at him, I turn with her in my arms and head to the room.

I place her on my bed and kneel down in front of her.

She looks at me with a few tears now fallen.

"I wont leave you ok. Calm down, it's ok. I was just mad, but I'm not anymore. I'm sorry." I tell her in a whisper.

"You couldn't find your voice either? I thought you didn't have one."

Her voice trailed off as she started to cry and I yanked her into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry." I cooed.

"Your daddy saved me from a really bad man. He protected me, and now, I'll be here to protect you.

We shouldn't be scared anymore right? Let's be brave together." I tell her with my pinky out, waiting for her promise.

She links her tiny pinky in mine and give me a firm nod.

I wipe away her tears and kiss her forehead.

"Now lets go find something to eat cause I'm starving!"

****

For the next few days, I avoid and ignore Hika.

I'm still angry, not nearly as much, but still enough.

I promised Nicole we'd have a play date.

We both promised to be brave with our voices, and although she refuses to speak to others, she's brave with me.

 

Today's play date is burried treasure and pirates.

While Nicole was with her teachers, I took an empty tub and went through her room finding random thing to place inside as treasure. I then took the tub out back and placed it somewhere hidden.

When I went back inside I ran into Hika.

-Can I please have my art bin? - I signed. (Guess I wasn't brave today)

Hika sighs with frustration and leads me to a closet at the end of the hall.

I smile once I get the tub, but as soon as Hika notices, I frown again before walking away.

I set the tub on the coffee and rummage through it. Hika makes his way into the room and sits down on the couch.

Not giving him my attention I focus on my task. I need to make a treasure map.

I draw the a light version of the back yard and a few of the trees I remembered seeing while I was out there.

I put a big 'X' where I had place the tub.

Grabbing a different color I drew a dotted trail around the yard eventually leading to the 'X'.

"A map?" Hika breaks the silence.

I look up at him through my lashes.

Don't be angry, be brave. I tell myself.

"D-Do you have cardboard?" I whisper.

"Cardboard? I think I have a few in the recycling bin. I'll be right back."

Head to the bathroom and look for a cup or bowl of some sort to hold water for my paintbrushes.

Grabbing a small dish from the bathroom vanity I fill it with a little water and head back to the room.

Once Hika returns with a few boxes and lay them out and draw 2 different swords.

I look through my bin for a pair of scissors, but I see none.

Hika stands up and walks out of the room, coming back in quickly with a huge pair of scissors.

"Th-thank you." I whisper.

Cutting the cardboard was tougher than I thought. My arm started to get tired halfway through the first sword.

Hika reaches for the scissors and takes them and the cardboard to finish it for me.

When he's done cutting out the first one, I start painting it.

Grey for the metal and brown for the hilt.

Then I repeat for the opposite side and the second sword.

Once they're both done, I smile at the outcome. Nicole is going to love this.

****

Hika sits on the couch as I grab a pillowcase and tie it around my head. I take another one and set it aside for Nicole.

I hear her tiny feet stomping up the stair so I run for my sword and put my hands on my hips.

When she bust through the door I put on the best pirate accent I can.

"Arrr little matey. Arr ye ready ta find me burried treasure!?"

She lets out this high pitch squeal and jumps up and down. Hika let's out deep laugh.

"Now come on yonder and get yer gear on for me hunt" I pat the bed.

She hops up and sits on her knees. With a slight bounce of excitement I put the pillowcase on her head. One I secure her head gear I hand her her sword.

"I found this wee map here to lead us on arrr hunt." I pick up the mapped i drew that was now rolled into a scroll.

"Now if yer ready, give me an arr!"

She gives the cutest bust strongest kid sounding  'Arrr'  and it makes me bust up laughing.

That was the first time I'd laughed like that in years, and it felt great.

Maybe I needed her, and she needed me.

**

Hika follows both of us at a distance.

With our best pirate acting we'd trailed the map in the yard.

I hid behind a tree and looked through the scroll pretending it was a telescope.

"MATEY!" I yell at Nicole.  "Me thinks me spotted a ship!"

"Arrr!" She peeks behind me with the cutest growl.

I rolled on the grass and she follow suit. I crawled on the grass to the nearest tree and she did the same.

Hika was laughing in the distance the entire time.

"NICOLAS I SEE THE TREASURE!!" Nicole shouts. I look at her like I don't understand.

"I mean.. ARR MATEY I SEE OUR TREASURE!"

I smile widely. "SHOW ME MATEY!"

She rolls in the grass and tip-toes around a tree letting out a loud sqeak of excitment when she sees the tub.

I kneel beside her "Great job!" I commend her.

She lunges herself in my arms and hugs me so tight around my neck.

Hika stood a few feet away smiling at the both of us.

Nicole whispers something in my ear, that immediately breaks me into a full sob.

"I love you Nicolas, you're my bestfriend!"