Prince Charming
By: Ber
A/N: Standard disclaimers apply. Slightly sappy.
There are few things in my life that really matter to me. My wife, my child and my friends are very dangerous territory to enter upon uninvited. As I looked at the young man who had just brought a light into my daughter's eyes, I was shocked to find the easy acceptance I felt for him.
"He's a good kid Carlos," Ron said standing beside me. I looked at Rachel's husband and Julie's dad realizing that this change was just as painful, if not more so for him than it was for me. I nodded. He was right. Joe was a good kid, very smart, and highly commended by teachers, coaches and several others I had looked to for opinions on the eighteen year old.
"You did well with her," I said. His eyes widened at the compliment.
"All I did was love them both. You'll do just as well in a couple of months." He still looked slightly stunned. I nodded my thanks.
"Steph, I really can't believe how great you look at seven months. I was as big as a house by then." Rachel was telling my babe as they rejoined us. I almost smiled. Rachel was half the size Steph currently was at full term, but it was nice of her to pretend otherwise. I certainly wasn't going to correct it.
"I feel as big as a house but for once the scale is disagreeing with my opinion," Steph answered laughing. I slid my arm around her waist. What she hadn't said was that baby Manoso disliked sugar and fat, so her diet had changed drastically, helping the size factor. I really liked her off sugar, even if I didn't get much sleep.
We all quieted as we watched Julie walk off the platform after accepting her diploma. She walked right into his arms. I reached under my jacket and pulled out the envelope I had brought with me. There was a reason I preferred my cargos, but today wasn't a cargo day, so I had to find a new pocket. Both Rachel's and Steph's eyes widened sightly at the movement, Ron and I both shook our heads to ease them.
When the couple finally reached us, I held the envelope out to Joe.
"Take a look at this son and call me by the end of the week." I said before pulling my baby into my arms and holding tight. I never saw Tank and Lester step up behind the boy, but I caught the words.
"Ain't she something son?" Tank asked from behind him.
"Yes, she's quite a woman." He responded. My head snapped up and my body tensed. Julie tilted her head up to look at me, and my Babe stepped closer trying to soothe me.
"It's ok, Batman. He's not stealing your Cinderella. He's just giving her another castle to live in."Steph whispered before stepping up and kissing my cheek. I looked down at Julie.
"To me, ,you will always be playing Cinderella, riding your first bike, bouncing on the beds, looking for a pillow fights. I love you." I said before turning her loose to hug her mom. I finally reached out for the first time in two years and shook Joe's hand. My babe was right. He wasn't stealing my Cinderella, he was playing her Prince Charming.