You deserve more than I've given

As Satira shook her head Mojito felt his heart sink, but he would not break down, not here. He would wait, would hear her out and when she asked him to leave would with dignity and with the last lesson he could impart to her, that she was worthy of others respecting her wishes. She rose to her paws and Mojito followed her with his gaze the whole time, his chest tightening as he realized how close she was, that she was right there and he couldn't reach out to her, because he thought she did not want him to.

But as Satira started to speak Mojito found himself frozen. He wanted to shake his head, to say that he did love Asla, was frustrated with her sure but he would always love her. But they didn't love each other in the same way, and that wasn't wrong but it meant they would have always fallen apart in the end. He knew that now, he'd been the one to break up with her but in the end, it always would have happened, he had only barely managed to keep himself civil around Naiche even while knowing that he didn't have her heart the way she had his. But Satira kept talking and his unspoken words died on his tongue. His jaw clenching and his mind whirling.

He'd done this, he'd done this to his own daughter. All the identity issues he'd struggled with as a child, which he'd wanted to shield his daughter from... He'd done that to her. That cut deep, and if not for the shock that had rooted him to the spot he probably would have broken down then. Her paw brushing on his was the spark he needed, without thinking, without even really registering the thought that crossed his mind Mojito was on his paws, stepping forwards, toes dangerously close to the borderline and then he was flinging a foreleg out to try and scoop his daughter in towards him, to pull her into the biggest bear hug he could manage.

"You are the best thing to ever happen to me." He said it with so much conviction, so much force it was practically a growl. "I have loved you from the moment I first saw you, and I have never stopped loving you. Never stopped wanting to be the best I could be for you." That was so deep a truth it hurt to tear it from himself, to give it voice. He wanted to be a better man not for himself, but for the girl who'd stolen his heart from the first time he'd seen her squirming at her mother's side, seen her tiny little floppy ears, and had realized, he was a father. "I cannot know what life will hold in store but I will never regret you! Will never regret chosing you!"

He sought her gaze again, to find those eyes that were just like his, his gaze full of all of his love, all of his desire to protect, and hold, and help her. The emotion was so powerful it made his eyes water, though he did not fight it the tears did not break free yet. "You saved me."

"Speech!"

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