As night came, light from the town's square pierced through the black sky. Lilyville was abuzz with life as the townspeople celebrated Daisy's return by eating and dancing to the most joyful music. Daisy was in the heart of it, happy as she sat with Belle and Aisha, consuming Mary’s apple pie.

Carter sat from afar, watching them giggle and have a friendly chat. He wanted to ask Daisy to dance, but he reasoned it would be better to give her alone time. Carter was more than willing to spare a night or two without her. He did have her almost totally to himself for over a year. And he knew all too well the hardship of having violence keep you apart from your family.

So, instead, he opted to indulge in the midwestern food Daisy would always long for on dinner dates. But as he took a bite of Kansas barbecue and macaroni from his plate, he noticed some little girls staring at him. He playfully winked his eye at them, and the girls blushed bright red as they ran away like the wind! However, as Mary saw this, she hurried to Daisy, concerned.

"Sweetie, that boy over there!” Mary pointed at Carter. “Is he a friend of yours from the city? If so, I have a few words for him!"

"Oh, this is perfect! Come with me, Ma!"

Daisy took her mother’s hand, bringing her to Carter. As he saw them coming, a look of terror swept his face, and he immediately stopped eating, standing at attention like he was meeting his superior officer. But as they reached him, Daisy wrapped herself around Carter's arm, to Mary's shock!

"Ma, may I introduce you to Carter Buchanan Barnes, my boyfriend! We met after I left town. I mentioned him a bunch of times in our letters!"

Carter extended his arm to Mary for a handshake, trembling in fear."It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma'am! R- Daisy said nothing but good things!"

"I see. Sweetie, may I talk to you for a little bit?"

Mary swiftly dragged Daisy back to Aisha and Belle. And as they arrived, she started nursing a migraine, rubbing her temples.

Mary took a deep breath."Sweetie, I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know how I feel about this Carter boy!"

"Ma, he's a good man! I explained everything you need to know in our letters. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do. But I trust your sister, too. And she has her own opinions on the boy!"

Daisy looked at Belle with a glare."What type of opinions?"

As Belle saw Daisy, she let out a nervous laugh. But Mary turned Daisy's gaze back on her, and she looked her in the eye with concern.

"She said the boy was with many different girls before you. And you stayed silent when he joked about having a new one every week!"

"Ma, I love him, and he loves me! He’s a good man, I promise!"

Daisy initiated a pinky promise, and Mary looked at her in shock. But as she took a deep breath, she accepted. As they finished, Daisy hugged Mary, running back to Carter. They swiftly joined the rest of the townspeople, dancing the night away. And as Mary looked at them, she yielded a small smile, seeing Daisy happy.

Hours later, the light and music subsided, the party was over, and the townspeople retired for the night. In the aftermath of the celebration, Aisha hugged Daisy with a desperate grasp. And as Daisy reciprocated, she started crying.

"Oh god, I hope I don't wake up tomorrow and learn this was all a dream," Aisha said.

"Rest assured, my friend, this is real. See you in the morning!"

"Thanks! But do you mind saying a prayer for me? I'll need it to apologize to my daddy!"

Daisy nodded yes to Aisha's question, and as Aisha took one more swift hug, she started to leave. But before she could, Mary hugged and kissed Aisha on the forehead goodbye.

Later, Daisy entered her old home with her family.

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"So this is where you grew up!"

"Yeah, and it looks the same as when we left. Pa's chair is even in the same spot!"

"Thank you, sweetie!” Mary turned her gaze to Carter, pointing down a hall to the right. “Now, boy, you can get settled in our guest room. It’s the first room to the left down the hall!"

"Oh, thanks, ma'am! But I prefer to bunk with Daisy!"

"What? Where did you get such an obscene idea? You are not even-"

Suddenly, the gears of Mary’s mind yielded an uncomfortable realization! She grew an expression overflowing with fury and directed it at Daisy. And as Daisy and Belle saw her, abject terror swept their faces!

"Did you have sex before marriage?" Mary shouted.

Daisy saw the fury on her mother's face and dropped to her knees as tears flowed down her eyes.

"Yes, Ma, I did! I didn't think it would be a problem because we love each other as much as you and Pa did! Belle and I-"

"You and Belle!" Mary interrupted.

Mary directed her fury at Belle. As she saw her, Belle followed her sister's lead. The girls quickly got on their knees before Mary.

"We're sorry! We're sorry! We're sorry!" Belle and Daisy said in unison.

Mary nursed a migraine, pinching her forehead."How many times?"

As they heard their mother, shame washed across the sisters' faces. But as an answer, Daisy raised four fingers and Belle two.

"You need to understand this right now! Even if god wanted you two to have these boys, your impatience disrespected him!” Mary released a mountain of stress in a deep sigh for her wayward daughters. “But pray about it tonight, and I’ll forgive you, fair?"

"Yes, ma'am, thank you," Daisy said.

Daisy and Belle got off their knees, but as they did, Mary hugged them both goodnight before leaving the room.

"Good night, sissy. I have a prayer to do!"

As Belle left the room, Carter hurried to Daisy.

"Red, I would like to apologize!"

"Thanks, but I knew the rules, and I broke them!” Daisy took a deep breath. “Carter-"

"Don't worry! We don't need to sleep together tonight. But do me a favor and show me your phone. I want to call my mom and sister," Carter interrupted.

Daisy smiled as she heard Carter and quickly grabbed his hand, guiding him toward the phone.

A few days later, on a sunny morning, Carter stood outside with Belle and Aisha as he chopped wood. He put a big block of wood on a tree stump and slashed it with such speed the girls only saw the glare from the axe blade as it fell apart into neatly cut pieces, covering their faces with shock.

"Pretty boy, you're almost too good with blades," Belle said

"Thanks, sister! I have to say it's been great coming here. I might build a place for Daisy and me after the war!"

"Speaking of which, how's that coming? With you here and all!"

"Did Daisy say anything?"

Belle nodded no to Carter's question.

"Well, to keep a long story short, I have to go somewhere called Planet Aqua in about two days. I'll meet Lieutenant Clive Rogers and another general to help bolster defense!"

"In two days? And I was getting used to having a man around the house again. But anyhow, good luck, Barnes!"

"And don't worry, we'll take good care of Daisy this time. After everything, nothing else matters, not even-"

Without warning, Aisha spotted someone walking up to them, and much like Daisy with Carter, it was like the mythical love at first sight. Samuel was all her desires in a black business suit. Her heart pounded like a drum as she saw him, a handsome young man with short blond hair, blue eyes, a muscular body, and Caucasian.

"Good morning, Miss David! Is your mother ready to talk business?"

"Sorry, we meant to tell you earlier, but the deal is off!"

"What but-"

Samuel looked around and spotted Carter. As he saw him, he started sweating a storm, anxious.

"C-carter Barnes, what's a war hero like you doing here? There isn't going to be trouble, is there?"

"Don't wet yourself, friend! I'm just enjoying some time off with my girl!"

"That's good to hear! Goodbye, Miss David!"

Samuel started to leave, but he quickly spotted Aisha. Her grace stopped him cold, and he stared at her, enamored with every detail of her body. As if Aisha was the first beautiful woman Samuel had ever seen!

"Hello, my name is Samuel! I don't think I've had the pleasure!"

"The name is Aisha Robinson!"

"I-I have to go. It was a pleasure!"

Samuel continued leaving, but as he did, Aisha looked down, getting a good view of his butt. And with an obscene sense of pleasure, she grew a smile, admiring it.

“Cute! Chief, have you been holding out on me?”

“Please, he's just a guy from a real estate company. Ma promised to sell Pa’s old land. Besides, corporate suits aren’t my type!”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot convicts are!”

Belle grew an angry expression, huffing like a wild beast.”Desmond and I aren't together anymore, but I won’t stand here and have you badmouth him! He paid his debt to society, so layoff!"

Daisy stepped out of the house. "Guys, Ma and I have breakfast ready!"

As they heard, Belle and Aisha hurried to the house. Belle snarled at Aisha again like a wild beast as they left. But Aisha started laughing, seeing Belle lose her temper!

Carter dragged Daisy away from the others."You haven't told them yet that you're Damara, have you?"

"No, but I was planning on it tonight! How bad do you think they're going to take it?"

"I don't know! But I'm with you for the worst!"

Daisy kissed Carter."Thank god! Now, come on, I made your favorite strawberry pancakes with bacon!"