A/N: So my multi-chapter muse came to visit, and I swear, this one WILL get finished unlike my other stories, because I know where I'm going with this one.
I don't like this first chapter very much; I was struck with a horrendous case of writer's block this weekend and I feel some of this is awkwardly written and rushed... I dunno, you all tell me what you think.
Though I must say, it was very distracting writing this, considering Mike's still 19, I'm going to assume he still looked like Zac. And the idea of Zac doing or saying some of the things in this fic was too adorable for words. ;)
I'll have the next chapter up as soon as possible. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own 17 Again.
Mike O'Donnell was the very picture of composure.
Of course, he was anything but calm. But he refused to let anyone else see that.
He sat slightly slumped in his seat, a pair of sunglasses hiding his emotionless eyes, hands in his pockets. Just your average 19-year-old boy...
"Daddy!"
Mike lowered his sunglasses and allowed a goofy smile to overtake his collected facade.
"There's my girl!" He kneeled down and held out his arms. His 3-year-old daughter Maggie ran into them and wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling the entire time. "Did you have fun at Grandma's?"
The little girl made a face. "I like Gramma, but her house is boring!" Mike laughed and hugged his little girl, lifting her onto his lap. "So... is my little sister here yet?"
"Maggie, I've told you before, it might be a boy," he reminded her. Maggie folded her arms.
"I think it will be a girl. And I'm gonna teach her how to play house and dolls. I can't wait!" Mike chuckled again and snuggled Maggie close to him.
He sighed, the anticipation starting to get to him. He couldn't believe he and Scarlett were going to have another baby. He leaned his head back and smiled again. He was going to have the complete, perfect family he'd always wanted in just a matter of time. Things couldn't get more wonderful than they were now...
Mike contently closed his eyes, hands resting on the back of his head, bouncing his daughter up and down on his knee. They stayed this way for several minutes until Maggie spoke up.
"What's mommy doing in there anyway? Is that where the stork's gonna bring the baby?"
Mike smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is. And he gets lost on the way sometimes, so we have to be patient."
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than an ear-piearcing shriek was heard from the other side of the door, causing both Mike and Maggie to jump.
"What was that?" the frightened toddler asked.
"That was, uh... Mommy's just so excited that the stork is coming that she, uh... is screaming in happiness..." he ended lamely. Maggie shook her head, not buying it.
"It sounds like she's hurting!"
"Why don't we head down to cafeteria and I'll buy you an ice cream, Mags?"
Maggie smiled, apparently forgetting about her mother's screams, and nodded vigorously. He sighed in relief and led his little girl down the hall.
---
Mike grinned from ear to ear as he held the tiny, newborn bundle in his arms. He felt every memory of the day Maggie was born come flooding back to his mind. He was certain that feeling would never come about again, and here it was, in the form of Alexander Michael O'Donnell.
Maggie stood on her toes, jumping up and down trying to get a better look.
"Let me see her! What's her name?" She clapped her hands in excitement as Mike kneeled down to her level.
"His name is Alex."
Maggie's smile slid straight off her face.
"His?" she folded her arms and pouted. "Give it back to the stork, tell him we want a girl."
Mike chuckled and stood back up. "Maggie, if we did that, we'd hurt the stork's feelings."
Maggie shook her head. "I don't care. He got it all wrong. I asked for a little sister. You can't dress up a boy or teach it to play Barbie with you."
Mike pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. Maggie had the uncanny ability of reminded him that he and Scarlett were still just kids themselves. Kids who simply didn't have the solution to every problem their daughter brought about.
"Mags, listen... I know you're disappointed, but Alex is family. And what do we say about family?"
Maggie frowned. "It's a 'proiridity'..."
"Priority," he corrected her. "And that means it comes first, remember?"
Maggie rolled her eyes and nodded. "Yes, Daddy. I guess I can still find something to teach him to do... Even if he is a boy..."
"That's my girl," Mike smiled and patted her head. Maggie gave a smile to match her father's and rushed off to the other side of the room to curl up with her mother. Mike smiled and looked down again at the little boy in his arms. He wasn't much more than a few hours old, but he could swear that he still looked just like him. He held the newborn close and whispered as he rocked him back and forth.
"I promise I'll be the perfect father..."
Scarlett sighed from the other side of the room, pretending she didn't hear, as she closed her eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep, knowing she and her babies would be taken care of for life.
A/N: Ah, hindsight is always 20/20 :) Will get the next chapter up as soon as possible.
