Paul was no less shocked than his elder daughter, though as a man he found himself able to spare just one instant to be thankful for Celeste's presence of mind; had she reacted differently, Paul very well could have been joining his youngest daughter in tears.  A split-second was all the focus he spared that thought, however.  Quickly his paternal instincts came to the fore, reluctantly pushing aside his libido.  Guilt flashed up in him, guilt like he hadn't felt in long months for the way in which he and Celeste found comfort and pleasure and love in one another.  He'd convinced himself that Celeste wasn't being hurt by his actions, and he knew with iron-like certainty that he was unharmed by them.  But now his other daughter, his little girl Carlie had been exposed to what they'd kept secret, and somehow it had struck at her heart.  No doubt she was feeling confusion, and shame at her father for crossing so sacred and fundamental a line.  Even her words, wailed in the pain she felt, suggested this.<em>"No Daddy! Why!? Why are you doing this!? WHY!?"</em>How could he ever explain it to her?  For love.  For solace.  For something he could share, some way he could connect again.<br/><br/>As Paul stood, he pushed his straining, slick harness back into his trousers, and restored the zip that Celeste had lowered with her teeth just minutes ago.  The expression he wore was serious and concerned, and he shook his head.  "No, baby, let me.  I'm the father, after all.  This is my responsibility.  You just wait here, and try not to worry about anything, alright, Celeste?" he reassured his older daughter, before deciding to pull his shirt out from his trousers.  The looseness of the tails would do much to hide the hard-on that Carlie had seemed to find so traumatising.<br/><br/>"Carlie, baby," he called out to his younger daughter as he started to head outside, to the hall where he'd heard the thump, and her cries.  "Come on, honey, it's okay.  You don't need to cry, I'm sorry, baby."  Slowly he approached her, and leaned down, coming to a kneeling position beside his crying little girl.  He folded her in his arms, and kissed the top of her head softly.  "Shhh, it's okay Carlie.  It's alright.  I'm sorry that you saw that.  You must be very upset and confused right now, and I never wanted you to feel that way.  I love you, darling."