Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cast or crew of DC, nor do I own the show. This is purely fictional and for entertainment purposes. However, I do own the original characters.
A/N: Thanks to all of you that have read my story, reviewed, and who are following this story.
McKenzie watched from the table as Jake chased his daughter around the park. She felt guilty for leaving and making Jake miss out on most of his daughter's life. He wasn't there to see her first steps or her first words.
"Daddy's going to get you!"
He scooped her up and she squealed in delight. McKenzie's phone went off and she looked down at the screen. It was her boyfriend, Zach.
She ignored the call and made a note to herself that she would call him later. Jake brought Aubree over to the picnic table.
"Mommy, hungry." Aubree said as Jake sat her on top of the table.
"You want something to eat?" She asked her daughter.
The little girl just nodded. She really did look like Jake, down to the dark hair and the hazel eyes.
"What does she like to eat?" Jake asked eagerly.
"Just about anything, but she loves McDonald's."
"Well let's go." Jake said standing up and picking his daughter.
"We'll take mine." McKenzie said as Jake gave her a look. "Her car seat's already in the back."
He chuckled. McKenzie strapped her in and got into the driver's seat while Jake quickly buckled up.
"What?" She asked with a giggle.
"You always were a crappy driver."
"Haha." She said sarcastically. "This is an automatic, Jake."
"Doesn't matter." He mumbled.
She smiled though, remembering a few years ago when he let her drive his car for the first time. It was a standard and she didn't know how to drive it. So, he decided to teach her. Well let's just say she needed up hitting a curb and bending his rims.
"I'm going to go take her to the bathroom." McKenzie told him when they walked into the fast food restaurant.
"Ok, I'll order." He said. "Happy Meal?"
"Yeah, a hamburger."
"What do you want?"
"Just a Mocha frappe."
"Are you sure?" He asked getting his wallet out of his back pocket. "I'm buying."
"Yeah, thanks."
She took Aubree into the bathroom and they came out minutes later after washing our hands.
"Happy Meal!" Aubree said getting exciting when she seen the box.
Jake chuckled. He was already sitting down with the food and had Aubree a high chair to sit at the end of the table. McKenzie sat her in it and sat across for him. She opened her daughter's Happy Meal box and unwrapped her burger and sat her French fries on the paper and cut her hamburger up into pieces.
"How have you been, Jake?" McKenzie asked as they watched their daughter eat.
"Just making it." He sighed. "It's been a rough year, even the fishing was horrible."
"I know."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Aubree and I watch the show every Tuesday night." She told him with a smile.
"If you hate me so much, why watch the show?"
It took McKenzie off guard.
"Jake, I don't hate you. I might have been pissed off at you but I never hated you." She told him. "Believe it or not. You're my child's father."
"I want to make up for the time I've lost with her." He said looking over at his daughter.
She was in her own little world looking out the windows at the people and cars.
"Well as long as we're here, you can see her when you like."
"My family wants to see her too."
"Well they can see her when they like."
After Aubree finished her food, they drove back to the park to let Jake pick up his car. He was going to follow her back to her dad's house.
Jake spent a couple of hours with his daughter before he left. He promised to be back tomorrow, so they could go visit his mom and brother. He was now going to stick to his promise about being a good father, like he promised his dad.
McKenzie finally called her boyfriend, Zach back after he left the 2nd voicemail.
"Hey, babe…I've been calling you all day."
"Hey, I'm sorry. Today was a little hectic."
"I wish I was there to help." He said with a sigh. "Unfortunately I won't be able to take time off to come to your dad's birthday."
"Well that sucks." I said bummed.
She talked with him for a while and hung up. She walked into the livingroom and seen her daughter out on the couch. She smiled, kissed her head and wrapped her up with the throw from the couch.
Her brother came in from outside to get a beer.
"Want one?" He asked.
"Sure."
He opened the top and handed it to her.
"Thank you." She said taking a sip.
"Is your boyfriend flying out?" He asked opening his beer.
"No, he said he couldn't take time off to make it to the party."
"Are you going to invite Jake to dad's party?"
"Yeah, I'm going to ask him tomorrow." She told him. "When he comes to pick us up tomorrow to go see his mom and Josh."
"I haven't seen you smile like this in a long time." He observed. "Does it have anything to do with someone?"
"No." She giggled. "I'm just happy for Jake and Aubree. They had a good time today."
"What are you going to do when you go back to Colorado?"
"Now that's the problem, Matt." She said laying her head down on the counter. "I don't know."
"I think you might have a problem, baby sis."
"Tell me about it." She said raising her head. "It's the story of my life."
He nodded.