Stepping out of the elevator and onto Constance’s private floor, Hank’s thoughts were still a whirlwind of Doria, her pain, and the sudden, unexpected turn their connection had taken. He found himself mentally sifting through possibilities, options for her future, and one kept resurfacing with a quiet insistence: the seventh floor. It was originally intended as Lily’s own space, a future haven for this beloved little girl. But Lily was only six, a lifetime away from needing her own apartment. The idea solidified in his mind; he would discuss it with Constance.

  As he rounded the corner, he saw her sitting on the plush velvet sofa, bathed in the warm glow of the evening lamps. "Hank," she said, her face lighting up with a radiant smile that chased away any lingering shadows in the room. She rose gracefully and met him halfway, her arms reaching for him. Their lips met in a deep, lingering kiss, a silent greeting that spoke volumes of their connection, a familiar comfort that settled over him despite the weight of his thoughts.

  "Where's Lily?" he asked softly, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes, a genuine affection welling within him for her daughter.

  Constance smiled, a fond expression softening her features. "In the bath. Her babysitter is helping her," she replied, the normalcy of the moment a comforting anchor amidst the recent chaos.

  Hank returned her smile, but a note of seriousness entered his voice. "We need to talk," he said, his gaze earnest.

  Constance nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for his, her touch a familiar reassurance. She led him to the sofa, their fingers intertwined. He handed her the laptop bag. "I ordered the new laptop and will pick it up after we talk," he explained, wanting to address the more pressing matters first. She squeezed his hand and nodded her understanding.

  He took a deep breath, his gaze searching hers. "You remember that there are other women in my life, right?" he asked gently, wanting to ensure complete transparency.

  She nodded, her expression serene. "Yeah, Hank. And I'm okay with that," she answered, her acceptance a testament to the unusual nature of their bond.

  Hank's heart swelled with a love for her that was both fierce and tender. "Constance," he began, his voice filled with genuine emotion, "I love you. I mean, really love you, in a way I never thought possible. But… I love others too."

  She smiled, her eyes filled with an understanding that went beyond words, and leaned in to kiss him again, a soft, lingering press of her lips against his. "What are you saying, my love?" she asked, her voice a gentle invitation.

  Hank swallowed, a memory of Maerisa's words echoing in his mind… “you are special, my love, you are meant for many, and you will have many.” He wanted that. He craved that connection with multiple souls. "I'm saying… I want to marry you, Constance. But there are others I want to marry too. I want more than one wife. No secrets, no boundaries. All I ask is that you are mine alone, in your heart."

  A playful smirk touched her lips, a hint of her sharp wit shining through. "You can have other women, but I have to be yours alone?" she teased, her eyes sparkling.

  Hank returned her smirk, a knowing glint in his own eyes. "I know it sounds… unbalanced, perhaps even selfish. But it's your choice, Constance. Ultimately, it has to be what you truly desire."

  She leaned back against the sofa, her hand still firmly holding his, her gaze fixed on his face. A whirlwind of emotions danced within her… a fierce desire to claim him entirely, to be his sole focus, warred with a deeper understanding of the man he was, the connections he forged. Yet, beneath it all, a powerful yearning took root, a pull towards him that transcended conventional boundaries. To be his wife, to share her life with him, even in this unconventional way… her heart whispered that it was right, perhaps the only path to true happiness with him. She looked at him, her eyes searching his soul. "And Lily?" she asked, her concern for her daughter paramount.

  Hank's face softened, a wave of genuine affection washing over him. "I love her, Constance. Like she was my own. And if James goes to jail… hell, I would gladly adopt her, make her legally mine, without a second thought."

  Constance's eyes welled up, a single tear escaping and tracing a path down her cheek. Hank reached up and gently wiped it away with his thumb, his touch tender. "Don't be sad, my love," he whispered, his gaze filled with concern. "If you tell me that it should be you and only you that I have, I will change my way. I will."

  She leaned forward and kissed him again, a kiss filled with a depth of emotion that words couldn't capture. "No, Hank," she murmured against his lips. "If you change, you won't be you. And it's you I love, all of you." She kissed him again, a fierce, possessive kiss. "I accept, my love. I will be your wife, and the others… they will be too." A small, hopeful smile touched her lips. "And who knows, maybe there is a way in the future to make more than one marriage work… even legally."

  Hank smiled, a sense of profound peace settling over him. Somehow, deep down, he knew it wouldn't be a problem. There was an undeniable sense of destiny in Maerisa's words, a hint of something magical that transcended the ordinary. "About the others," Hank said softly, his gaze meeting hers.

  "Yeah?" she replied, her curiosity piqued.

  "The seventh floor," he said, the idea he had been contemplating finally taking voice.

  Her eyes widened slightly. "Lily's floor," she said, a question in her tone.

  Hank nodded. "There's a woman on her way here now from Miami. She's divorcing her husband… he was caught with a prostitute… and she wants to be with me."

  A knowing smirk spread across Constance's face, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "The woman from the hotel, your date the other night?" she asked, her tone playful.

  Hank nodded, the unspoken agreement of no secrets meaning everything would be laid bare between them.

  "You have to talk to Lily," Constance said, her voice firm but gentle, her hand resting reassuringly on Hank's arm. "Tell her everything, or at least as much as is appropriate for her age. Explain that you and I are together, that you will be a father figure in her life. And then… you need to explain that there will be other women in your life too. Finally, you need to ask her if she would be willing to let you use her floor."

  Hank nodded slowly, the weight of the conversation with Lily settling upon him. It was a delicate situation, navigating a child's understanding of such an unconventional arrangement. Just then, the soft patter of small footsteps echoed down the hallway. He looked up and saw Lily, her blonde hair slightly tousled, her eyes wide with curiosity. The moment she spotted him, her face broke into a radiant smile, and she launched herself towards him. "Hank!" she yelled, her small legs pumping as she ran and threw herself into his waiting arms.

  Hank laughed, a genuine, heartfelt sound, as he caught her and held her close. "Hi Pumpkin," he whispered, burying his face in her soft hair. She giggled, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. A young woman, perhaps nineteen or twenty, with a gentle face and warm, brown eyes that hinted at her Hispanic heritage, walked into the room. "Lily is clean, Miss Hanigan. I will be back tomorrow," she said, her voice carrying a touch of insecurity.

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  Constance stood up, her smile warm and reassuring. "Louisa, this is Hank," she said, then hesitated, glancing at Hank and then down at Lily, a playful uncertainty in her eyes. Hank nodded, taking the cue. "He is my… well," Constance continued, a soft blush rising on her cheeks, "he is my boyfriend."

  Lily, her head still nestled against Hank's chest, heard the word and looked up at him, her eyes wide with a joy that only a child's innocent heart could produce. "Really?" she asked, her voice filled with an unadulterated happiness that tugged at Hank's heartstrings.

  Hank smiled, his gaze tender. "Really," he confirmed, giving her a gentle squeeze. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Louisa," he said, turning his attention to the young woman. Louisa smiled shyly and bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Hank," she replied softly. "What time tomorrow, Miss Hanigan?" she asked. Constance smiled. "Ten AM will be perfect, Louisa. Thank you," she said. Louisa nodded again and hurried towards the elevator, a faint blush still coloring her cheeks.

  "You are Mom's boyfriend?" Lily asked, turning back to Hank, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Hank sat back down on the sofa, settling her comfortably on his lap. "Yeah," he said, his gaze meeting hers. "What do you think about that?"

  Her smile widened, reaching her bright eyes. She looked at her mother, a silent communication passing between them, then back at Hank. "I love it!" she exclaimed, her small body wiggling with delight. "Dad never plays with me. And when he works on his computer, I'm always told to be quiet." A fleeting shadow of sadness crossed her face, a stark reminder of the emotional neglect she had endured.

  "Your dad might be going away for a long time, Lily-bug," Hank said gently, choosing his words carefully. "He did something bad."

  Lily looked up at him, her brow furrowing with concern. "Will you go away too?" she asked, her small voice filled with a sudden fear of abandonment.

  Hank shook his head firmly, his arms tightening around her. "No, Lily. In a few days, I'm going to move in downstairs," he reassured her.

  "But if you and Mom are together," she said, her logical little mind working, "shouldn't you live here?"

  Hank smiled, admiring her innocent reasoning. "There's something else you should know, Pumpkin," he said, the moment to reveal the more complex truth had arrived. There would be more than just him and her mother. There would be other women who would care for her, love her in their own way, and perhaps, in time, even siblings. "Honey," Constance interjected softly, her gaze meeting Lily's, "Hank has more than just me as his girlfriend."

  Lily looked at her mother, her head tilting in innocent confusion. "More than you?" she asked, the concept seemingly foreign to her young mind.

  Constance nodded, her expression gentle. "At least two that I know of," she said, offering a simplified version of the truth.

  Hank smirked inwardly. According to Maerisa, there were fourteen sisters of the elves. Then there was Courtney, though her schooling came first. Doria was en-route from Miami. Tiffany's arrival and integration remained an unknown. And a hopeful part of him still yearned for Julie to reconnect, and even Michelle, despite her current path, still held a place in his heart. "There are a few more," he admitted, looking at Constance with a promise in his eyes. "I will tell you everything, my love," he added, and she nodded her understanding.

  "Honey," he said, turning his full attention back to Lily, his voice filled with warmth, "I wanted to ask you about the seventh floor. Do you think I could use it for a little while? Some of… some of my friends, they need a place to live."

  Lily looked at her mother, her decision clearly hinging on Constance's approval. "Mom, can he?" she asked, her eyes pleading.

  Constance chuckled softly, a wave of love and pride washing over her as she watched her daughter interact with Hank. "Sweetheart," she said gently, "it's your floor. So, you are the one who gets to make that decision."

  Lily looked back at Hank, her gaze earnest and trusting. A small, hesitant question escaped her lips, a whisper filled with a longing for connection. "Can I call you… Dad?"

  Hank's heart swelled. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, his voice thick with emotion. "If you want to, yes, Pumpkin. You can."

  Her small arms tightened around his neck, her hug fierce and filled with a profound sense of belonging. "Yes," she whispered into his ear, her voice trembling slightly. "Yes, you can use it. Just… never leave me."

  Hank held her close, his heart overflowing with love for this sweet, innocent child who had so readily accepted him. "Never, Lily-bug," he whispered, “Never pumpkin,” his promise echoing in the quiet room. Constance watched them, a tear glistening in her eye. Lily's happiness was the most precious thing in the world to her, and in Hank, she saw a source of joy and stability her daughter desperately needed. Her own heart swelled with a love for Hank that encompassed not just passion, but a deep gratitude for the happiness he brought into their lives.

  Over the next hour, nestled on the comfortable sofa between Constance and Lily, Hank carefully painted a picture of the other women in his life. He spoke in simple, honest terms, omitting the more intimate details but ensuring Lily understood the essence of his connections. "Doria is on her way now," he explained, his arm draped affectionately around Constance's shoulders. "She's leaving her old life behind and will need a place to stay. Your seventh floor would be a huge help."

  Lily nodded thoughtfully, her brow furrowed in concentration. "There are three bedrooms on my floor," she stated, her young mind already considering the logistics. Hank smiled, a warmth spreading through him at her immediate acceptance.

  "And this Courtney girl?" Lily asked, her curiosity piqued. Hank's smile softened, a fond memory of Courtney flashing through his mind… the nervous excitement in her eyes, the feel of her small hand in his, the way her body had trembled in his arms during her first time. "She is still in school," he explained, "college in Miami. She has a couple of years left before she graduates, but she plans to move here afterwards. In the meantime, she'll come to visit as often as she can during her breaks."

  Lily's eyes sparkled with interest. "Is she pretty?" she asked, a typical girlish curiosity. Hank chuckled, deciding that showing her would be better than just describing. He pulled out his phone, swiping through his gallery. "I can show you if you like," he offered. Lily nodded eagerly, leaning closer. Constance moved even closer, snuggling against his side, her legs tangling comfortably with his under the soft throw blanket. He leaned over and kissed her deeply, and Lily giggled, a sweet, innocent sound. "You'll see lots of that, Pumpkin," Hank said, ruffling her hair affectionately. Lily just beamed.

  Hank found the action shot of Courtney from the volleyball tournament. He held out the phone, and Lily's eyes widened in genuine admiration. "Wow," she whispered, her gaze fixed on the image of Courtney leaping high above the net, her arm powerfully extended to spike the ball. "She is strong too!" Courtney's toned muscles were clearly defined in the photograph, a testament to her athleticism. Hank smiled proudly. "Yeah, she is incredibly strong and talented," he confirmed. He swiped to the left, bringing up a candid shot of Julie, her long, fiery red hair cascading down her back as she laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "This is Julie. I'm not entirely sure yet, but she might reach out too." Constance leaned closer, tracing a finger along the vibrant red strands on the screen. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Julie Umbridge," she murmured, a hint of recognition in her voice.

  Hank looked at her, surprised. "You know her?" he asked. Constance smiled, a shadow of something akin to sadness flickering in her eyes. "She was an intern here for about a year, a couple of years ago. But something… something made her quit rather abruptly." Hank frowned, a familiar suspicion dawning in his mind. He saw the knowing look in Constance's eyes, and a shared, unspoken understanding passed between them… James's predatory behavior had likely played a role. Constance sighed softly, a silent acknowledgment of the unpleasant memory.

  "She has a little sister," Hank said, steering the conversation back to safer territory. Constance's smile returned, warmer this time. "Nell," she said, her voice gentle. Hank nodded. "She's a cosplayer. I took her picture at the convention." He found the vibrant shot of Nell dressed as Spider-Woman, her pose dynamic, her costume meticulously detailed. Lily gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh, that looks so fun! Mom, can I dress up to get my picture taken too?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement. Hank chuckled. "As many times as you want, Pumpkin," he promised. "I took this picture," he added proudly, showing her the detail and clarity of the shot. Lily was clearly in awe.

  Finally, Hank pulled up the group photo of the Miami volleyball team. He zoomed in on Doria's striking figure, her confident stance and intelligent gaze evident even in the smaller image. "And this is Doria," he said, pointing to her on the screen. "She's the one I told you was on her way from Miami." Lily studied the picture intently. "She is pretty," she declared, a matter-of-fact observation. Hank smiled. "Yeah, she is," he agreed. Then, he pulled Lily into a tight hug, showering her with kisses. "But you," he whispered, nuzzling her neck, "you are my only Pumpkin." Lily squealed with delight, her laughter filling the room as she hugged him back fiercely, her small body wriggling with affection. Hank wanted her to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she held a special, irreplaceable place in his heart.