Title: Prima Ballerina Assoluta
Fandom: Star Trek AOS
Rating: G
Length: 566
Content Notes: family fluff

Summary: Hikaru enrolls Demora in a local dance program and enjoys all the perks of raising a five-year-old ballerina.

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"No, Daddy, like this," Demora said, pointing her little foot, toes curled to barely tap against the floor.

Hikaru watched, small smile sparkling in his eyes, as his daughter danced.

There'd been a flyer on the community bulletin some months back, an advertisement for lessons, ages two through six. Hikaru had shown it to Ben, who'd raised his eyebrows and shrugged. "You think she'd be interested?" he asked, mug of coffee cooling between his hands. "She's always been more of a… rough and tumble type."

Hikaru had tapped his PADD, expression thoughtful. "Might be good for her. Get her out of the house, let her meet children her own age."

Ben took a careful sip of his coffee and nodded.

It had meant a shopping trip, of course, and Ben had left Hikaru to navigate those waters on his own. Demora had been less than enthusiastic until she'd tried on her first tutu, a fluffy thing made of pink tulle and white satin, sequins and sparkles scattered in a blinding display. Demora had gasped, delighted, when she saw herself in the mirror, twirled once, then twice, until she was dizzy and giggling. After that it was easy to fill their cart with slippers and stockings, ribbons and leotards. Hikaru boggled at the price but he handed his credit chip to the cashier, who smiled politely and deducted the funds from his account.

Demora wore her tutu all the way home.

It had taken two lessons before Demora declared herself a ballerina-in-training. Another lesson and she was choreographing her own shows, with nightly performances in the living room. Her short legs bent awkwardly and her feet fumbled and tripped over themselves and her elbows bumped against the furniture, toppling books and vases and once Hikaru's glass of wine. But at the end of each dance Ben would clap enthusiastically and Hikaru whistled and grinned, and Demora bowed her head, curtsying just as the dance instructor taught her.

Demora sighed, watching Hikaru's mangled attempts to mimic her. "You have to flex your foot, Daddy," she said. "Flex."

"I don't think I can flex quite the way you can," Hikaru said, and Demora fell to her knees, crawling towards him, tutu sweeping the ground. She grasped his foot in her hands, guiding his heel and his toes, showing him how to arch and point.

"Like that," she said. She looked up at him, blowing long bangs from her eyes. "See?"

"I see," Hikaru said, and he glanced up, catching Ben's eye. Ben's lips twitched and Hikaru winked.

Demora patted his ankle. "You have big feet," she said.

"Thanks," Hikaru answered, holding out a hand. She took it and he pulled her up. "And thank you for the lesson. I learned a lot."

Demora blinked, bewildered. "That was just the first step," she said. She shook her head and petted his hand consolingly. "You have a long way to go yet."

Ben made a coughing sound from across the room and hid his face behind a PADD.

"Come on," Demora said, pulling away. She returned to her mark and held her arms aloft, creating a graceful circle before her belly. "If we're lucky I'll be able to teach you step two before lunch."

Hikaru smirked and lifted his arms as well. "Then let's hope luck is on our side today." Demora wrinkled her nose at him and began her lesson.

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End.