Disclaimer: I do not own the Clique
Note: This is a sequel type thing to "Who's Your Daddy?" I certainly hope that some of my previous readers will read and enjoy this!
"Dawson I'm so proud of you!" Dylan smiled as he modeled his cap and gown for her.
"Thanks mom." he rested his chin on her auburn curls.
"I can't believe its tomorrow!" she looked up at her miracle with weary green eyes.
Her life,
Her heart,
Her Dawsn.
"It's been a long time coming!" he admired his reflection as his mother gazed on lovingly.
There was a thoughtful pause before Dylan remembered.
"Oh sweetie, you have everything you need right?" she cooed in a nurturing tone.
"I do." Dawson peeked at the luggage that was stacked neatly on his bed.
When he turned his head a glint of silver caught Dylan's eye, and she smiled knowingly.
"Baby, look what mama got you!" Dylan handed her 3-year-old son a sleek Tiffany's box
He looked at the box suspiciously.
She opened the hinge and cushioned between the blue velvet were two matching silver chains bearing the initials 'DM'
"What is is mama?" Dawson's big green eyes grew inquisitive.
"These are two necklaces with our initials on it."
Dawson crinkled his nose. "Necklaces are for GIRLS!" he protested.
Dylan smiled sweetly.
"But this is a SPECIAL necklace...one that a boy can wear."
"Why?" his rounded mouth were emphasized by his chubby toddler cheeks.
"Because these necklaces mean that we will always love and take care of each other."
He arched an eyebrow but couldn't resist the allure of a shiny piece of jewelry.
Dylan clasped the necklace on his neck and the other on hers.
"I love you Dawson." she kissed his cheek.
"I love you too mommy." he wrapped his pudgy arms around her neck.
"Do you have your credit card and everything?" Dylan brushed some lint off of the sleek black gown.
"Yes." he smiled at his mother.
She couldn't deny that he was a mature well-balanced man.
Her eyes grew misty quite unprovoked.
Was this the same Dawson that she had carried?
Seventeen years of love,
Of care,
Of nurturing,
All leading up to this night.
She knew this wasn't good-bye forever.
And she loved him enough to accept that.
"Don't be upset mom." he pulled the cap off of his black curls and placed it on his bed.
"I just can't believe we've made it this far." she pulled her boy in for another hug.
"You're going to be alright mom, and so am I." he promised in such a way that it pulled on her heart terribly.
"I just wish I could've gotten you here in a better situation."
She truly meant that.
Dylan knew there was reason in not accepting Griffin's proposal years ago,
Bringing another person into their world would've created terrible complications.
Still, she did sometimes wish that Dawson had had a good father figure in his childhood,
Or even a normal home life.
"Mommy, do I have a daddy?" a seven-year-old sweetheart looked up at his mother with huge curious eyes.
"Why do you ask?" Dylan pulled her son onto the couch with her.
"Well...um...everybody else has one...do I?"
"Well honey, everybody HAS a daddy, but sometimes daddies don't always live with mommies and babies."
"Is he dead?" Dawson's eyes were giant and shining in seriousness and curiosity.
"No, daddy's alive, but he is living with another mommy."
"But why?" he tilted his head.
"Well your daddy fell in love with a girl and they decided to get engaged."
"What's engaged?"
"Engaged is when you promise that you will love someone and live with them forever."
"Oh..." he thought for a moment.
"Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Are WE engaged?"
Dylan smiled lovingly.
"I think we should be."
"Me too."
"Oh mom, you don't have to worry about that."
"Yes I do...I know this hasn't been the best way for a little boy to grow up..."
She stopped abruptly and glanced at her tall handsome son.
"But I guess you're a big man now."
Dawson smiled at his mother.
Even when she was repressing tears, he thought she was truly beautiful.
Her fair face wasn't aged, but she had acquired a few fine lines over the years.
It was always interesting to see the look on the mothers' faces when they saw how youthful Dylan was.
"Hi Miss Dawson's mommy." a young classmate waved at Dylan the first day after Thanksgiving vacation of first grade.
"Now Harry..." his mother took him by the hand gently "that's not Dawson's mommy...that's his" she looked up at Dylan inquisitively "big sister?"
"Oh no, I'm Dylan Marvil...Dawson's mother." she graciously extended her hand.
"Oh..." the woman was taken aback looking at this girl who looked like she should still be in college.
"I had Dawson young." she smiled genuinely as she read the woman's face.
"Mom...?" Dawson looked at the mirror as to not have to face her directly.
"Yes sweetheart?"
"Is Griffin coming tomorrow?"
There was a pause.
"I don't know...and you should call him dad."
"Why?" Dawson's eyes hardened.
"Mommy, Missus wants to talk to you..." Dawson pointed at the principal.
"Ok..." Dylan started over.
"I swear I didn't do it..." he urgently whispered in her ear.
She couldn't help cracking a smirk.
"Please come in..." Principal Saunders offered Dylan a chair on the opposite side of her desk.
Dawson was sent off to the afterschool room for a few minutes.
"Is there a problem with Dawson Mrs. Saunders?" Dylan composed herself.
"Not quite a problem...but every June we like the first-graders to put on a little show for Father's Day, and Dawson's been acting very volatile towards the whole situation...I was actually hoping to speak with his father about this..."
"Dawson does not have a father." Dylan reminded the principal.
"I see...but I am afraid to tell you that he cannot be exempt from this performance...we cannot give any special treatment..."
"I realize that..." Dylan grew angry underneath the surface but tried her best to remain calm. "And I will be sure to speak to Dawson about this."
Later that day Dylan pulled her son on her lap for a little heart-to-heart.
"Dawson, is it true that you haven't been acting nicely at school?"
"NO!" he flailed his arms in the air.
"Sweetie, I hear that there's been some problems with a performance at school."
Dawson's eyes filled with fat tears.
"I told'em that I didn't have a daddy and they were being all mean to me..."
"Don't cry..." she rocked him gently. "It doesn't matter if you have one or not...I still love you enough for a mommy AND a daddy..."
She kissed him on the cheek.
"And it's the two of us, together forever, okay?"
"Ok..."
"Now are you going to be a good boy for your teacher?"
"No!" he crossed his arms and smiled deviously.
"Please...for me? I promise when it's all done we'll do something really special."
"Like what?"
"How about the circus?"
"Okay..." a tiny smile crept of his face.
"Honey, you know I know it was difficult with him, but you do owe him some respect."
"I don't owe him anything. He never gave anything to me...or even to you."
"He gave me you Dawson." Dylan whispered as she pecked his cheek. "And I can never hate him because of that."
"Mom you know I messed up your life."
"Never." she was as serious as she could be. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me."
"I hope he doesn't come...I'll throw him out."
"No you won't."
"He probably doesn't even know I'm graduating."
"Of course he does, I promise that Griffin never meant to hurt you."
"Derrick was more my father then he could ever hope to be."
Dylan cracked a smile at the word Derrick.
"Yes, well Derrick was always the passionate type."
"Happy birthday kid!" Derrick ruffled Dawson's hair like he always did as he entered the 12th birthday party.
"Thanks Derrington" Dawson smirked for knowing his nickname.
"Do you feel like a man yet?" he deepened his voice like a fool.
"Derrick I have a serious question for you..."
"Shoot."
Dawson looked straight at Derrington's stupid expression.
"Derrick are you my father?"
"No." he shook his head "those black curls came from another."
"Stop with the biblical shit...then why do you hand around here so much like a guilty puppy?"
"Well I'm your godfather...the BEST you'll find."
"Are you high?"
"Maybe."
"I always wondered why he didn't marry Kristen." Dawson sat on his bed thoughtfully.
"Wouldn't that be cute? Your godmother and father under one roof?" Dylan smiled childishly at this thought.
"I guess so..."
"In all honesty I think that if she had ever agreed, they'd be married to this day."
"Why didn't you marry him?"
"Because I have the man in my life...now take that robe off so I can hang it up for tomorrow."