Gathering composure, I reminisced "My dad was a really calm and relaxed person. Quite serious sometimes. The totally opposite of my mother and me. There was only really two times that he got annoyed by something and even then, he still found the good in every situation."

Stone smiled at me, and I managed a smile back.

"He took me along to his work colleagues annual quiz night. I sat there and tried to answer as many questions as possible and when we won, I ran around the room and shouted boo-ya into my dad's boss' face." I laughed at the memory "My dad tried to act angry at me, but he found it really funny. I went every year with him after that."

His attention never withered once "What was the other time?"

"I was eight and it was Christmas. I had opened all of my presents which cost a lot of money, but I never looked twice at them." I let out a half-laugh, half cry "I was more interested in the cardboard boxes that they all had come in. I sat inside one of them and pretended that I was in some kind of space shuttle. My father tried to get me to play with my real presents. He pretended to cry about how I did not like my presents from him, so I was guilt tripped into leaving the boxes alone. I spent all Christmas Day with my new toys to make him less upset. He was lying because while I was distracted, he gathered the boxes and glued them together and painted it so it looked like a cockpit with a window looking out to a galaxy. It was one of the best presents and Christmases I had ever had."

He wiped more of my tears away as he admitted "Ella, I have met your father."

I looked up in surprise and then tilted my head in confusion "When?"

"It was only one time. I did not know who he was then." Stone explained "He betted on Litora Bello a lot. He was at the beach almost every night. He approached me once."

"Drunk?"

A small nod and then he continued "Your dad said I was his favourite fighter and that he always had his money on me."

"I have only seen you fight for thirty seconds but I think he was right to." I agreed.

Stone chuckled humourlessly "I do not think I would be his favourite choice of guy for his daughter."

He placed a finger under my chin and tilted it upwards more.

"I wish that I could have met him properly." He spoke "I would have convinced him to see me as the best option for you. I would have told him that you are always going to be safe and loved because I will make sure of it."