"James! We are going to be late!" The children were already in the car, babbling excitedly as they waited for their fathers to get in. The school recital was that night, and none of them could stop talking about it. The twins were playing tin soldiers, something they were quite proud of. They had practiced marching around the living room for weeks and even asked James how to best hold their toy rifles so that it was accurate. And while Charley kept stating that he had the more important role, Harry argued vehemently that they were the same and Q was more apt to believe that.
Abby, however, refused to tell them anything. The school was providing the costumes and she had made James and Q promise not to attend any of the rehearsals so it would be a surprise, even making the twins swear themselves to secrecy about her role. "Flair for the dramatic, that one," Q had murmured to James, who smirked and nodded. To Abby's happiness, they made it to the night of the show with neither of her parents knowing what part she would be playing.
Q had rigged the CCTV in the school to record the entire production so he wouldn't have to hold a camera the entire time and could simply enjoy the play. As the lights went down, he and James laced their fingers together and watched their boys take the stage, marching in from either side in perfect synchronization. "They make cute soldiers," James smiled.
"Just like their Daddy." James rolled his eyes at Q's comment and went back to watching the show.
The play went on with no sign of their little girl. Between each scene, their soldiers would march across but there was no Abby to be found. It wasn't until the last twenty minutes that a dark haired, blue eyed girl with chubby cheeks waddled onto the stage, her costume making it difficult for her to walk properly.
Q gasped and James grinned as they took in the sight of their daughter, a head to toe star costume made entirely of shiny gold fabric. Neither of the boys had a speaking part, but it appeared that Abby would get to say something as she slowly made her way to the microphone.
"I am a star!" she announced, her voice carrying over the crowded auditorium. "I am important because I am pretty and people like to look at me." And that was it. Both of her fathers waited for a moment, wondering if there would be more, but she was already moving to the back of the stage to let someone else take center stage. They looked at each other and then laughed. Q laughed until he had tears streaming down his cheeks and James didn't look much better. Everyone else had laughed too, but James and Q were still going long after the rest of the audience had finished.
Afterward, they presented their three thespians – two adorable soldiers and a pretty star – with bouquets and kisses. "What did you think Daddy? Papa?" Abby asked, innocent eyes looking up at them. "I was the star!"
"Yes baby," James replied, kissing her head once more. "Yes, you were."