*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much!
ROMAN's POINT OF VIEW:
Sky just turned 16 years old last week and we had a big birthday party for her of course she turned the Sweet 16 we had to go all out for her. She chose to have a Hawaiian themed party where all of her friends from school came, we shared a father daughter dance together and then she had her first dance with Gunner. It was hard to watch but the way he held my daughter as they danced melted my heart. It is clear to see that both of them truly like each other do I trust him with my daughter still not sure about that one but I do like how he treats her. Sky had a good party and enjoyed her time with her friends but the highlight of the evening was when I surprised her with her own car; the Escalade she's been asking for since she was 10 years old. She fell in love with it immediately. My kids deserve the best and they will always get the best from Rachel and me.
I crack my knuckles and crack my neck as the doorbell rings. "Dad," yells Sky from upstairs. "That's Gunner can you get that please?"
"My pleasure," I say as I make my way over to the door.
"Roman," says Rachel. "Behave yourself."
"I will," I say with a smile as I open the door and see Gunner standing on my porch holding a bouquet of colorful flowers and wearing a nice button down plaid shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. "She's not ready yet," I say as I invite him in.
"Hello, Coach," he says nervously. "These are for Sky."
"They're beautiful," I say, "while Sky is getting ready let's go talk in the living room okay?"
"Okay," he says and I can sense the fear and nervousness in his voice.
"Have a seat," I say as I take a seat in my recliner as Gunner nervously takes a seat on the couch. Rachel lingers near as Rainbow comes into the living room. "Hey, Rain," I say with a smile as she climbs up on my lap. She's going to be my partner in crime today.
"What's your name?" she asks.
"Gunner," he says with a smile. "What's your name?"
"Rain," she says.
"I like that name," he says.
"Thank-you," she says as she lays her head on my chest and puts her thumb into her mouth.
"So Gunner, what are your intentions with my daughter?"
"I just want to take her on a date, Sir; I will have her home by 10:30."
"What are you two going to do?"
"I was going to take her out to eat and then I was going to take her to play mini golf then I was going to bring her home."
"I see," I say as I eyeball him. "She is my baby still even if she is 16 years old. She is still my little girl and I love her and I will do whatever I need to do to protect her. Do not hurt her. Respect her and treat her the way she deserves."
"I plan to," he says with a smile. "Sky is special to me. I would never hurt her."
"That's good to know but if you ever do you're going to deal with me. You don't want to deal with me, Gunner. I think you're a good kid but we're dealing with MY daughter, MY baby here and if you do anything to hurt her I will hunt you down is that clear?"
"Y-Y-Yes, Sir," he says as I see the fear in his eyes.
"Relax," I say, "I don't want Sky to think I scared you but I do mean business don't cross me, Boy."
"I won't, Sir, I will treat Sky with the upmost respect. I will not hurt her. I like her a lot."
"I'm sure you do but make sure you're thinking about her with the right part of your body. I was a college football player once and I thought about sex all the time. I had sex with my girlfriend all the time and you know what happened?" I ask.
"What?"
"She got pregnant with Sky. I don't want anything like that happening to my daughter is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir," he says as Sky comes into the living room. Gunner turns and smiles at her. I turn to see what she's wearing. "You look beautiful," he says with a smile as he stands up. "You look very beautiful," he says as he walks over to her as she wears a pink and purple plaid shirt unbuttoned and tied up to her chest with a pink cami underneath and a pair of white shorts with her curly hair pulled up into a bun. She looks so grown up and I feel tears burn in my eyes. "These are for you," he says handing her the flowers.
"Thank-you," she says with a soft smile and love in her eyes. "They're beautiful."
"Like you," says Gunner; the boy is good I'll give him that.
"Dad, are you done scaring my date yet?" she asks me.
"Yes for now," I say as I give him a look, "Remember what I said, Gunner."
"I won't forget it, Sir," he says. "Thank-you for allowing me to take your daughter out. I will have her home by 10:30."
"Okay," I say with a smile. "Have fun you two but not too much fun."
"Dad," says Sky as her face turns a shade of pink as she walks over to the chair so I don't have to disturb Rain since she fell asleep on my lap. "I'll behave I promise. I love you. Thank-you for letting me go out with Gunner."
"You're welcome," I say as she gives me a small hug. "Have fun."
"I will," she says with a smile before she walks out of the living room with Gunner and just like that my little girl isn't a little girl anymore.
"Can't they just stay little like this?" I ask Rachel as she sits down on the arm of the chair as I place my hand on her thigh. "I miss them all being little."
"Life wouldn't be as much fun if they stayed little forever. Do you want me to take her?"
"No," I say, "let her sleep in my lap. They're only little once. Rach," I say.
"Yeah."
"I've been thinking."
"Okay," she says.
"I think I want another baby," I say.
"Another baby?" she asks. "I thought we were done after Rainbow?"
"I just want one more another boy hopefully but I'll be fine with another girl. What do you think?"
"I think you're crazy," she says with a smile. "I'd like another one too but I think our hands are entirely too full with Sky dating, Summer being Summer, Storm thinking he's Spiderman one day, Batman the next and Superman another day and Rainbow with all her individuality not to mention Briana running around wherever she is."
"Briana hasn't done anything to us and it's been a few weeks."
"Yeah yet," she says, "she's plotting something I can feel it. I just I don't like her being free in society."
"You think I like it?" I ask. "I hate it. I can't stand her. If she knows what's good for her she'll stay away from our family and not cause trouble. Don't be scared of her because if she as so much comes within 10 feet of any of you she's done. I'm not playing her Black Widow game anymore. I'm not going to let you and the kids live their lives in fear because of this psycho path. I will do whatever I need to do to protect us from her."
"I know you would," she says, "but it just makes me uneasy but back to the baby talk. I would love to have another baby but right now isn't the best time. I will give you one more if you promise me that after I can get my tubes tied so we don't have anymore."
"Deal," I say with a smile. "When do you want to start trying for that other baby?" I ask with a smile.
"In a couple months," she says with a smile. "I need to take the time to let it process that we're going to have another baby and figure out how to handle 5 kids instead of 4."
"Well, Sky is technically an adult so it would really only be 4."
"Summer counts for two," she says with a smile, "maybe two and a half."
"I worry about that one," I say. "I really worry about her. I worry about what Briana could do to her. What if Briana somehow still thinks that Summer is Ava and she tries something funny?"
"That would be devastating," says Rachel. "I'll never forget the day she kidnapped her from the hospital. I was so scared and worried about her."
"Me too," I say, "but we need to really keep Summer close to us as much as she may not like it she needs 24 hour surveillance and everything has to be monitored with her. If anyone is in real danger it's you and Summer."
"That's scary and you know Summer will never go for this."
"I don't care she's 8 years old we're her parents she's going to deal with it if she wants to be safe."
"True," she says with a smile as she leans down and kisses my lips softly. "I love you, Ro."
"I love you too, Rach," I say with a smile. "How about you give me another one?"
"Okay," she says as she kisses my lips softly again but with a little more passion this time. I still love Rachel the same as I always have. I love her more every day and surprisingly throughout our marriage we have not had many major issues. I hope we never do but I know not all marriages are perfect but I feel like ours is. Our life together has been amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. "Love you."
"Love you too," I say with a smile. "And don't worry, Baby, I won't let anyone hurt you or even come close to hurting you. If she wants to get crazy well I will get crazy right back."
"I'm sure you will," she says with a smile. "Don't you worry about her seeing you coaching your football team?"
"Yeah just a little bit but I'm not going to give it up. I love what I do and I love the money it brings in. I'm not giving it up at all. Nothing that I do or have going will be affected because of some crazy woman."
"Okay," she says.
"I'm serious why should we change our whole lives because of her? I'm not going to do it. I'll be extra cautious but I am NOT going to change our lives."
"And we shouldn't have to," she says with a smile.
Sky's POINT OF VIEW:
"So your dad is kind of intense," says Gunner as we're sitting at the table eating fries and veggie burgers. I am glad he's a vegetarian like me that actually makes me happy.
"I'm sorry about that," I say. "My dad is just going through some rough stuff right now and he's extra protective right now. He will get better."
"He is a scary guy. I mean he coaches me all the time but I saw a whole new side of him tonight."
"That's my dad don't let him scare you. He's actually a really big teddy bear. I mean he will protect the ones he loves if he needs to but he is really a teddy bear."
"I hope to see the softer side of him," he says with a smile as he takes my hand from across the table. "So enough about your dad, what kind of things do you like to do?"
"I love to watch football, I love to listen to classical music and I love to play the piano and the cello. What about you?"
"Play football," he says, "but I also listen to classical music and I love to work on cars."
"Who's your favorite composer?"
"Mozart," he says with a smile. "Who's yours?"
"Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven. I can't just pick one I like a lot of them."
"Me too but I really like Mozart's work. I could listen to Mozart all day."
"I'm surprised you're into classical music?"
"Why?" he asks as his blue eyes sparkle.
"I don't know I just don't see you as the classical music type of guy but I'm impressed."
"There's a lot you have to get to know about me. I may play football but I'm not all about it. I like science, I love math and I love classical music."
"Me too," I say with a smile. "So you don't plan to go to the NFL after college?"
"Not really," he says, "my dad wanted me to play college football and I know he would love for me to go to the NFL but that's not what I want to do. I want to be a CEO. I want to get my foot in the door somewhere you know what I mean? What do you want to do?"
"I want to be a doctor. I want to be able to cure cancer but I also want to do sports management like owning a sports team preferably a football team like the 49ers."
"You're a 49ers fan?" he asks.
"Till the day I die," I say with a smile. "What about you?"
"49ers too," he says. "I am from San Francisco I have to stay true to my hometown."
"So why did you come to Georgia Tech and not go to UCLA? I know you're smart enough to get into UCLA."
"Because I wanted to come to Georgia. Your dad is an amazing coach; he's one of the best. He has a good team. I wanted to play for him because he has a good team and I like the school but I really wanted to play for your dad."
"That's awesome, I would have chosen UCLA if I had the chance. I mean I can but I really want to go to Georgia Tech but I don't think they offer anything in the medical field so I really don't know what I want to do. I really like the idea of owning a sports team though. My dad would be so proud."
"I bet. You two are close aren't you?"
"Yeah," I say. "Things started out a little roughly between us and it was just us two for a while so we are really close."
"That's admirable. I'm really close to my dad too. I think it's good to have a close relationship with your parents. Family is important."
"I agree," I say with a smile.
Mine and Gunner's dinner goes well as we continue to talk to each other and get to know each other better. I could talk to him all day and all night. He is such an amazing guy and we have so much in common. The more I talk to him the more I like him. Mini-golf isn't so bad either as we talk and as the cool air hits us he keeps me warm as we continue to play and talk. Before we know it's time for me to go home. I wish this night didn't have to end but I don't' want to screw up on my first date night. He drives me back home as he holds my hand with one hand and he steers with the other hand. He glances over at me numerous times and each time I feel his blue eyes on me my stomach fills with butterflies. He pulls into our driveway and parks the car. I see the front porch light on as we get out of the car. He walks me up to the front door as we walk hand in hand with our fingers inter locked. "I had fun tonight," he says with a soft smile.
"Me too," I say smiling back at him as our eyes meet.
"We should do it again," he says.
"Yeah we should," I say in agreement. "I would like that."
"Me too," he says with a smile. "Is it okay if I kiss you or is your dad going to shoot me or something."
I let out a small chuckle and say, "that's okay." I smile at him and he smiles back at me. In an instance our lips are drawn together and I am experiencing my first real kiss. He brings his hands to my cheeks cupping my face as we share a passionate kiss; one that I don't want to end. I am left breathless as he breaks the kiss. "Just one more," I say with a smile.
"All right," he says as he leans in and kisses my lips again softly and passionately. "I should really get going, Sky," he says with a smile. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," I say softly as I watch him walk to his car before I walk inside. "I'm home," I say with a smile.
"How was it?" asks my mom as she meets me at the door.
"It was great we're going out again. I like him; really like him," I say, "he kissed me."
"Sky," she says with a smile. "I'm glad you had a good time but when your dad asks you may want to leave out that bit of detail."
"I will," I say with a smile. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight, Sky, I love you."
"I love you too," I say with a smile as I give her a hug before I go upstairs to my room and fall onto my bed playing the events of the night over and over again in my head.
*A/N: what did you think of Roman's talk with Gunner? What about RAchel's and Roman's decision to have another baby is it the wrong time? Do you think that Rachel and Roman have eerie feelings about Briana? What did you think of SKy's first date? Please review and thank-you for reading.