TITLE: "I'll Take Boarding School for $200 Alex" (7/7)
RATING: A
CHARACTERS: Toby and the gang
SUMMARY: Piper and Toby go head to head
POV: Toby
TIMEFRAME: Continuation from In the Hands of a Stranger
***thirteen***
"Okay, now that we have that part worked out there is another topic that Daddy would like to talk to you about alright?"
"Alright."
"It's about the baby."
"I fought so."
"There are some things that I think we forgot to tell you about the baby."
"Like what?"
"Well that this baby isn't going to change the way that I feel about you or the way that CJ feels about you."
"But this baby is her baby and I isn't."
"Oh but you are Piper, you are. CJ loves you so much. Just like me. And even though she's not your real mommy she loves you just like you were her own baby."
"Really?"
"Really. When CJ and I got married she adopted you."
"What's abobbded?"
I laughed at her innocence. "Adopted, means that CJ thought you were so special that she wanted to make sure you would always be in her life. So she went to court and she told the judge how much she loved you and how much she wanted to be your mommy."
"All by herself. Wasn't she scared?"
"Well Daddy went with her. But no she wasn't scared. And even though you won't understand this now, you will someday. CJ did this on her own free will. She asked me if she could be your mommy and if it was okay to adopt you. Do you remember when she asked you if it was okay to be your mommy?"
"Yes. She cried."
"Yes she did. She cried because you made her very happy. And now, you belong to both CJ and me, forever. No matter what happens she will be your mommy forever just like I will be your daddy forever."
Piper grew sad. "But mommies die."
I wasn't prepared for that one. I bit my lip and scratched at my chin. How do I do this one correctly without doing any damage? "Not all mommies do Piper."
"But my mommy did and your mommy did."
"Sweetie, sometimes people get sick and even though the Doctors do everything they can, it isn't always enough and they die. That's what happened to your mommy. She didn't want to leave you, that is important for you to remember."
"Did your mommy want to stay with you too?" Talking about my mother was very draining for me emotionally because I missed her everyday of my life. I knew how Piper felt even if she didn't know herself.
Crying I answered her. "Yes Piper. My mommy wanted to stay with me too. But she couldn't. And I know that she is with me right now. She's up in heaven and she's smiling and probably speaking very loud in Yiddish: Geratn yingl. Men hobn a schein tochter. Iascher-kolach! Sol sein mit mazl!"
"What does THAT mean?"
"It's supposed to mean if I said it right, Good boy! You have a pretty daughter. Well done! Good luck!"
"You heard her say all that?"
"You don't know your grandmother. But throughout your years you will learn all about her and my father. We have plenty of time for that. But even though she's gone, I won't ever forget her, just like you won't ever forget your mommy either. And I know it's hard having two mommies-"
"It's not hard Daddy. You did well picking me a new mommy."
"Why thank you Piper. I did my best." I laughed and touched her soft face. I was seeing more of me in her everyday. Poor kid.
"Now, going back to the baby. I am going to love this baby Piper and so is mommy. But not more than we both love you. We have a lot of love for you both and anymore if we have them. And you will love this baby too. You might not think so at first but you will."
"Is you sure?"
"Yes I am positive. You know I didn't like Uncle David when he was born and both of your aunts weren't too thrilled with me either. Infact they still aren't come to think of it."
"Will the baby like me?"
"Oh I think so. Why wouldn't he or she? You're going to be the big sister and that is a very big role."
"It IS?"
"Definitely. Being a big sister is a lot of work. The baby when it grows up will always want to play with you, and he or she will follow you around a lot. And trust me that will start out as fun but will later become annoying. And that's alright."
"Wow! What else?"
"Well you'll get to stay up later, and you'll get to do more things and from this day on everything you eventually do will be a first in our family. That's very cool. Like go to school, meet friends, drive a car, get a job-"
"Get married too?" She interrupted.
"Slow down Piper you're only three. Besides, I haven't had the chance to evaluate the males in Washington yet. If I don't find one suitable you can just forget about dating." Piper scrunched her face up totally confused.
"But I want to get married like you and mommy."
"That's not something for you to worry about. That's something for daddy, and Uncles Sam and Josh to worry about. Trust me, it won't be until we're all long gone."
"Where is you going?" I laughed at my little girl.
"Nowhere sweetie. So, do you think you can give mommy and I a chance with the baby."
"Yeah I fink so. But Daddy, will it touch my toys?"
"I can pretty much guarantee the baby will touch your toys. But that will be your job to make sure they are put away so that the baby can't get them."
"You is right. This is a big job."
"How about a hug for your old man?" Piper jumped into my arms and squeezed me really tight. It was then that I was confident that I had her love and that she knew she had mine.
"I love you Piper," I whispered into her ear as I kissed her.
She whispered back, "I loves you too Daddy forever and ever."
***fourteen***
I was holding Piper in my arms, lost in our world together when she called out for mommy. "Mommy's at work Piper. Would you like us to go back and get her?"
"No cause she's right there."
I followed Piper's finger to where she was pointing and CJ was indeed here. "Hi," I said softly. I was surprised at seeing her here.
"Hello Toby," CJ gave me a slight smile and then focused on Piper. "Hello there baby girl."
Piper let me go and ran over to CJ, who welcomed her into her arms and laid a dozen kisses on Piper. I stood up and walked over to them both. Clearing my throat before I asked, "How did you find us?"
CJ looked at me over Piper's head which was still laying against her shoulder. "I'm in this family too you know Toby."
"CJ I know that."
"Do you?"
I kicked a few pebbles with my left foot before I looked at my wife again. "Yes CJ, I do."
"Then why would you hide out here and then become shocked when I find you?"
"We weren't hiding out."
"Yes we was Daddy." Of all the times my little girl thought it wise to help me. I could feel CJ's eyes digging into me as she waited for an explanation.
"I mean yes we were hiding out, but not from you. I just wanted to go somewhere and talk to Piper alone. I didn't think-"
"What you mean is you didn't think about me, isn't that what you mean to say Toby?"
"Piper, can you go and play on the swings so that Mommy and Daddy can have a grown up talk?"
"Is you in trouble Daddy?"
"Something like that sweetie. It has nothing to do with you though okay. Daddy messed up."
Piper motioned for me to bend down which I did. She leaned in and whispered into my ear, "Make sure you gives her eyes contact. She gets angry if you doesn't look at her when she's mad talking to you." She stood back and smiled at me and I smiled back.
"I will keep that in mind, thank you."
"Your welcome," she sang out as she ran into the middle of the playground.
I jumped right back into the conversation but continued to watch Piper as she climbed the slide. "Have you told Piper that she's still going to be important to you once the baby arrives?"
CJ got defensive. "Don't you dare turn this into something about me Toby. Don't make me the wicked step-mother I-"
"You're not the step-mother CJ and this isn't about you."
CJ didn't respond. She crossed her arms against her chest and eyed me, not sure of what to say was my guess.
"You are her mother CJ, not some temporary step-mother who's feelings and opinions don't matter and you know better. But I realized something today (pause) well I realized it once Abbey pointed it out for me but I still realized it."
"And what's that?" CJ's tone was back to normal, almost more softening.
"That as much as you and I both love Piper we haven't told her."
"Toby, we tell her all the time."
"I know. But we didn't do it right. We didn't tell her how much she means to us and will ALWAYS mean to us. She's scared CJ."
"Scared? About what? About us not loving her?" CJ was close to tears and I quickly tried to explain what I meant.
"No no no. CJ, she's been plucked from one parent to another and she's afraid that you and I are going to love this baby more than we do her. And that once this baby comes, you and I are not going to want her either."
Tears streamed down CJ's face. "But I do love her Toby."
I pulled CJ into my arms and patted her hair while she cried on my shoulder. "Oh baby, I know that and so does Piper."
"No she doesn't. You just said she doesn't."
"That's why I brought her here. So I could talk to her and tell her how much she is loved by us and that no matter what we will never stop. Baby or no baby she's ours forever."
"Did she understand you?"
"Yes, I believe she did. You're right though she is just a child and I guess I took that for granted. There are things that she needed explained a bit better and I am confident that I did that. Should she choose to sue us down the road for screwing her up, well then I guess I might have been wrong."
CJ smiled and withdrew from me. She wiped away her tears and tried not to laugh. "This is hard Toby. We should never have had this baby so soon."
"Hey, don't talk like that. This baby was conceived out of love and will grow up loved. It wouldn't have mattered if the baby was now or in ten years time. Piper was insecure and that, that is my fault and my fault alone."
"It's nobody's fault Toby."
"Yes it is. I am her father and YOU are her mother. I should have taken into consideration what this child has gone through in such a short period. Instead I was too quick to get angry at her and-"
"You're a good father Toby and you have had a major change in your life too. You went to a movie to control your anger with the President and came home a Dad. That's a big adjustment. And showing your difficulties is what makes you human."
"I bet Bartlet never had a difficult time adjusting with his children."
"Toby, Bartlet was there from day one. You weren't given that opportunity but you have done an exceptional job since becoming a dad. You have shown a different side of you to everybody and trust me they are all impressed."
"I'm not out to impress people CJ. The only one that matters right now is Piper."
"Piper adores you Toby."
"I know that, atleast I know that now."
"Daddy!" Piper called out for me. She repeated it once more.
"Toby, your daughter is calling for you," CJ pointed out.
"You mean OUR daughter," CJ smiled at me again and I smiled back. She touched my cheek with her hand and I closed my eyes for a quick second. Her touch always felt good. I held my hand out for CJ and she accepted it and we walked a few steps towards the playground.
"What?" I yelled back to Piper.
"I wants to go on the swings but I needs to be pushed high."
"Alright I'm coming."
"Not by you. I wants mommy to do it."
CJ released my hand and glowing with pride made her way to Piper and helped her onto the swing and began pushing her while they struck up a mother-daughter conversation.
I stood back with pleasure and it was then that I discovered something else. For the first time I wasn't intimidated that Piper had chosen CJ over me. I actually felt gratification at the idea of it. And it was then that I knew, we were going to make it, because we the Ziegler's, were a family.
