6:50 A.M...
Jordan woke that morning, with that familiar aching feeling in his body from the previous day and night.
He had been working all day yesterday, so it's odd to see him all up and early.
He jumped out of bed and pulled on some sweats and plugged in his headphones and searched for his playlist and pressed play.
He had gone out of his apartment and began jogging around the blocks of his neighborhood, with headsets plucked in his ear listening to either music on his iPod or the radio.
This was the usual routine he did every weekend; he'd take a run to start his day.
Jordan ran around the neighborhood blocks with stares lingering throughout. He didn't mind though, the females would always do this, even at work so he grew to just deal with it.
"Good morning, Mrs. Wilkinson!" Jordan greeted as he passed by the elderly ladies house, seeing her water her garden in peace. She stared back and waved her wrinkled hands.
"Good morning dear!" She greeted back.
Jordan ran around the block two more times before returning back to his small two-bedroom apartment. He entered the house and grabbed his towel when his timer beeped on his watch. He grinned then immediately ran up to his room and pulled of his hoodie and jumped under his covers and shut his eyes.
A few minutes later, he heard a soft clanking sound with a sense of something or someone trying to twist the doorknob.
Then after a few seconds of trying, the door was unfurled and the cracking sound reached Jordan's ears. He then heard sounds of the soft thudding of feet running up to him.
He simpered a little as he felt his covers being pulled.
"Daddy, wake up!" The syrupy voice ringed in his ears. "Dad!"
Jordan didn't respond and the little voice groaned and he heard the child beginning to mount its way up the bed.
"Daddy," The petite girl, whispered into his ear.
He still didn't respond.
"It's time wake up dad! It's Saturday!" She chimed. "I know you're awake." She teased as she extended his ear. She maneuvered herself so she was on his back and against his face. She began playing around with his features with her miniature hands. She opened his eyes and Jordan didn't even flinch. She pouted as she began slapping his face lightly.
"Wake up!" She squeaked in his ear.
He didn't budge.
She lifted his heavy right arm and began making him slap himself. He moved so that he was facing the other side and causing her to fall on the bed. She groaned.
He pulled the pillow and clasped it his large arms and practically looked like a baby holding their teddy bear for dear life.
The lively little girl wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Dad, I'm sorry." She said sadly. Jordan frowned.
Why was his baby sad?
He would literally kill something if anything made her sad.
He waited for her to continue.
"I know you're sleeping. So I thought maybe I could tell you a story so you can dream good dreams." She murmured.
"There once a Prince named, Prince Jordan Parrish, he was getting really old!" The girl giggled. Jordan mentally rolled his eyes. "So he decided he wanted a princess so he went looking for her at a big, big, big tower! But then he met a dragon and then it said…"
"I'm going to eat you and let you burn in my stomach a live!" Jordan teasingly growled sinisterly and grabbed her playfully and began making growling noises and suckling on her neck which caused her to laugh uncontrollably.
"Daddy no!" She squealed and guffawed until she couldn't breathe. "I'm sorry! Sorry! Sowi!" She laughed.
Jordan stopped and stared down at his exquisite daughter. He enjoyed staring down at her, striking sparkling amber eyes in addition to caressing her fawn hair that sat in small ringlets behind her neck. Her pink lips were spread wide and her tiny pallid teeth.
He stroked her hair and moved a strand of hair from her forehead.
"Good morning, peanut." He whispered to her.
"Hi daddy," She replied happily. "I knew you weren't asleep!"
He chuckled. "How did you know?"
"Because you're my dad…" She replied as she began fiddling with the hem of his tank top.
That sentence literally just broke him.
After seven years of doing this thing, he still didn't get use to the fact of being called that, he still didn't couldn't explain how being the dad to this glorious little girl had such a huge affect on him.
"Yes I am…" He replied.
"And you were breathing heavily than any person who's asleep should have." She replied obliviously.
Jordan's grin fell.
He couldn't fathom how intellectually gifted she was for an average above-toddler girl.
"Penelope Scarlett Parrish…" Jordan whispered to himself.
She was part of his soul.
"Daddy, today's Saturday!" She squealed as she began jumping up.
"I know that Pen," Jordan stated as if it were obvious. Penelope frowned.
"You know what it means right?" She questioned.
Jordan nodded convincingly but in reality, he had no idea what it meant, as long as it meant something to her.
Penelope knew he was lying and just rolled her eyes.
"It's movie day dad!" She reminded him as she began jumping up down the bed. "It's movie day!"
Jordan realized what he forgot.
He promised his daughter the other day that they'd go to the movies today but he didn't pay too much attention because he was still lagged over his rough day at work.
He groaned and pulled the pillow over his face.
"Come on dad! Dance with me!" Penelope urged. "Jordan!"
Jordan rolled his eyes as he heard that.
He'd noticed one thing over the years watching Penny grow up, that she'd only call him by his name when she wanted something really badly.
He stared up at her.
"Do you really want to go today?" Parrish questioned.
Penny stopped jumping and fell onto the bed so she was facing him and had a slightly disappointed expression on her face and that literally broke him.
"B-but you promised?" She said as a matter-of-factly.
Jordan sniggered and stroked her gentle, olive cheek with one finger.
"I did, didn't I?" He asked but it came out more of a statement. She nodded her face. "Okay! Get up!"
Her face immediately brightened up as her dad got out of bed and extended his arms. She jumped in them and felt so secure in them.
They entered the bathroom and Jordan set her on the floor. Jordan stared at his reflection in the mirror as Penelope stepped on the mini-pedestal so she was in view length with her dad.
They both took their 'His & Daughter' toothbrushes and their different toothpastes and began brushing their teeth. After brushing, and repeating, they rinsed their mouth and wiped their mouths.
After washing their faces, they left the bathroom hand in hand and walked over to the kitchen. Jordan set Penny on the island chair and went over to the pantry.
"What would you like for breakfast huh?" Jordan asked his daughter.
"The usual please!" She replied.
Jordan pulled out the Chocolate Cheerios and the Milk Carton. Jordan prepared the breakfast for them and by the time he was done, he set the two bowls on the counter and took a seat on the other island chair.
Penelope grinned widely and dug into the food. Jordan took notice of how eagerly she ate the food and just grinned as he stuffed some in his mouth.
After eating breakfast, they both took a quick bath and the pair got dressed up, Jordan in just a plain grey shirt and dark denim jeans and black Jordans (not a coincidence) whilst Penny wore a plaid ashen shirt with red jeans and a pair of white sneaks and a tartan hair band.
Jordan tied Penelope's hair into a small bun.
He'd gotten a hang of it over the years, if he had a flashback of his younger self, he wouldn't imagine ever tying a girl's hair.
After all that, Jordan cleared up the kitchen whilst Penny watched her favorite show.
"Ready, Penny?" He asked his daughter. Penny nodded.
She got up and switched the TV off and ran over to her dad. Jordan grabbed his car keys and they left the apartment.
… …
When they reached the local mall, Penny couldn't stop raving about how excited she was to see the movie she wanted to watch, Inside Out. Jordan was just smiling from ear to ear at how jubilant his daughter was in life and he wanted it to stay that way.
When they reached the cinema, they ordered some quick snacks. Jordan noticed a lot of stares at the pair, especially from woman. Even the mom's who were taking their own children out.
"How is he doing this all on his own?" One pregnant lady with her best friend said.
"Sweetheart, the question is how is he even single?" Her friend replied.
Jordan laughed and shook his head.
"I'd like the Inside combo please daddy?" Penny asked as she pointed to the variety of choices. Jordan smiled and planted a kiss on her head.
The girls behind them cooed.
"Oh my god, adorbs!" The blonde retorted. "I wish my man was as loving like that!"
After ordering their snacks and grabbing their tickets, they walked up to the Cine and entered, taking a seat at the back.
"Are you excited as I am daddy?" Pen asked.
"Of course I am peanut!" He stated. She grinned happily and rested her head on his arm as the movie came up.
Jordan smiled as he eats popcorn and enjoyed the movie with his daughter…
… …
As soon as the movie ended, they left the cinema room and began walking through the mall, recapping the movie about talking feelings.
"Don't you just love Joy?" She asked. Jordan nodded his head.
"I do, but I also felt bad for Sadness and who was the other one, Afraid?" Jordan questioned.
"Oh you mean Fear, yeah me too. He's funny though." She stated as she began hopping from the squared tiles with her hand interlocked tightly in her father's.
"I know that but-" A young woman, probably in her early 20s passed by them with the phone on her ear and her long red hair covering the side so you couldn't exactly see her. "I don't want to talk to him okay!"
Jordan frowned.
She must've been really pissed.
Jordan and Penelope left the mall and jumped into the car and drove off.
… …
Jordan and Penelope stopped by the park when they saw their favorite frozen yoghurt cart.
"I'll have cookie dough and vanilla please!" Penny said to the girl. Jordan smiled.
"Well aren't you just a cutie!" The dark brunette whispered. "So this is your little sister?"
Jordan chuckled as he stared down at the little girl.
"Nah, this is my little rascal!" Jordan stated as he rubbed her back.
The girl smiled and nodded.
"You're a little too young to be a dad." She said as she prepared the frozen yoghurt.
"I get that a lot." Jordan laughed.
"Oh my goodness, how rude of me! I didn't ask you what you wanted." The quirky brunette girl stated. Jordan smiled.
"Don't sweat it; I would be with a beauty like this around."
"Dad. You're embarrassing me." Penny blushed. Jordan rolled his eyes.
The froyo girl laughed.
"I'll just have chocolate chip ice-cream." He stated and the young lady handed them their ice-cream. Jordan paid for them.
"Thank you." Jordan said sweetly.
"No, thank you." The girl said flirtatiously and handed him a piece of paper and a spoon. Jordan smiled and took it.
He stared down at it as soon as they turned their backs to see digits written. He rolled his eyes.
The two took a seat on one of the tables and enjoyed their dessert. It was a sunny day and lots of people were playing under the sun.
After devouring her ice-cream, she asked to play in the park. Jordan watched her take swings. He smiled.
"Deputy Parrish, look at you spending your weekends in the Park." Jordan heard someone retort as they came closer.
He looked up to see his colleague. He laughed.
"Jenna." He chuckled and she just smiled, taking a seat. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm just making sure that the park is safe. No kids falling from trees, no out of control Frisbee chases and go-fetch, you know the usual." Jenna replied.
Jordan laughed.
"How was your day huh?" Jenna asked him nonchalantly.
"Oh nothing much, just went to a movie with Penny," He said.
Jenna grinned.
"Oh, one of those 'father/daughter bonding' ventures huh?" Jenna pointed out. He nodded.
"Yeah, I guess so." He said poignant tone, fiddling with his cup of ice-cream. Jenna noticed his change of expression.
"Wanna talk about it?" She asked.
"What?" He asked in complete confusion.
"Dude, I've known you for over five years. What's going on?" The tough-tongued woman said.
Jenna, a mid to early thirties woman, with light chestnut hair with flaxen highlights, pale skin and violet eyes, a colleague of Jordan respectively has been friends with him even before they worked at the Sheriff's station.
"It's nothing." He stated as he took a swig of his melting ice-cream. Jenna sighed.
"Look. I know you think about her, everyday." Jenna began. Jordan glared at her. "I know you still feel it; you still feel her…but. It's been seven years Parrish!"
Jordan didn't reply.
"Maybe the pain you're feeling is that if you head out into…that world then she wouldn't be happy but you're wrong." She pointed out. Jordan stared out in the horizon because if he looked at her he'd probably break down.
"She would've wanted you and Penelope to be happy." Jenna stated. "Maybe the missing puzzle is what you think?"
"What do you mean?" Jordan asked staring back at her. She shrugged.
"Maybe you're pushing things away but still have an ache because you need someone." She stated as she turned back to Penny who was running around with the new friends she'd made. "You can't do this alone."
"I think I can handle being a single dad." Jordan stated with a soft chuckle.
"I mean you can't live alone." She said to him. "You're going to need someone to be with the moment Penny leaves the house."
"That will not gonna happen anytime soon." He told her.
Jenna sighed.
"But it will happen one day!" She emphasized.
Jordan released an exasperated sigh.
"Jen…"
"Look I'm sorry but it's going to happen eventually. You're an amazing dad but it's the reality. She'll grow up and need a female person to look up to. I mean, girls are high maintenance." She guffawed. Jordan laughed. "She'll have her first period and you won't emotionally be there for her, she'll have her first heartbreak and she'll need a real friend for that."
"But she looks up to you." He said.
Jenna grinned and her cheeks reddened.
"But that's not the same. I'm like her crazy aunt." Jenna said.
Jordan smiled.
It was still hard. The pain was still fresh. The sorrows of watching the love of your life slowly drift away to her eternal rest.
People say it would get easier, that things would slowly shift to mean state. But Jordan refused to believe it. Even though things have been okay, but yet something was missing…an achingly missing puzzle…
The doctors said the complications were inconclusive and that they did the best they could. Jordan repudiated the fact that she wouldn't make it.
The Hemorrhage, the problems with the placenta, the pre-eclampsia, the unrecognized sepsis that nobody noticed was there.
You know the five stages of grief that everyone goes through. 1. Denial and Isolation . Well it's been seven heart-wrenching years without Mia and it was still hard to accept that. It was hard to accept the fact that Mia wouldn't have the chance to watch her daughter grow, watch Jordan doing okay all on his own but never great because she wasn't around.
Penelope reminded him of her so much, she was carefree yet kept to herself but had the most kindest heart you'd ever come across with, the smile that just illuminated the room.
He missed her…
There will be a day where Penelope will have questions, and he wasn't quite ready to answer them. He'd rather just enjoy her childhood while it last.
"Well at least we have each other." Jordan mentioned and extended his hand for a fist bump. Jenna sniggered and gave in.
"Jenna!" Penny ran up to them and into her arms. Jenna giggled.
"Hey hotstuff, I hear you dragged this ole bum to the movies today."
"Yeah, I loved it but Jordan hated it." Penny teased him. He laughed in return.
"Oh really…?" Jenna winked at him. "Well why don't we lock him up in a cell huh?"
"Nope. He'll still hate it." She replied to Jenna who just laughed and they conversed together.
Jordan was just smiling at them, but his mind was somewhere else.
Could he really find love again?
And a motherly figure that she could look up to. But that wouldn't happen anytime soon…
A day later, he would've regretted thinking that…
.. …
ANNOUNCEMENT: Hello Readers, I'm pleased to announce that my Marrish story "Scream for Me" has been nominated for the "Fanatic Fanfic Awards" and I'd like to thank all of those who nominated it as an All-Time Favorite story. I love you guys! See it on .
A/N: Hey guys again! I hope you all are enjoying this story so far! Next chapter will focus on Lydia but what did you think of this chapter? Parrish as a dad is adorably, hot amiright? And isn't Penelope a cutie?
I'm in an RP for TW and we're looking for a Scott, Lydia, Malia, Stiles and Isaac so please follow TVDAndTWRPG for more info.
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