Chapter 10: It's a Small World
5 years old
It was the middle of March, which meant that NYC was looking pretty dreary and felt even colder than it looked. Sure, spring would be coming soon, but not soon enough. Dan knew this time of year too well, being that he had been living in the city for 24 years now. That's why he had planned a vacation that the two of them would never forget. Dan could barely contain his excitement as they walked from the subway to Lily and Rufus' loft for the big reveal for Milo. It was raining pretty hard, but the two were just glad it wasn't snow.
"Daddy, where are we going?" Milo jumped in every puddle he could find on the sidewalks.
"We're going to Mimi and Papa's," Dan was giddy, but contained his excitement until they got into the lobby. They took the elevator up to the loft and when the door opened, Dan's face broke into a humongous smile. Milo's mouth dropped into an O and his eyes got wide as he looked around the open living room. There were some mouse shaped balloons and polka dots everywhere. He saw his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins all wearing mouse ears. He also saw Vanessa wearing some mouse ears, but not as happy as the rest of the crew, as she was holding her stomach with bits of pain on her face.
"Milo!" Dallas and Grace ran over and gave their cousin a big hug. They were five years old now, and they'd be starting kindergarten with Milo next year. Dan had decided to keep Milo back, because of where his birthday fell on the calendar, plus he'd have some friends at the big school.
"Mymy!" Emilee toddled her way over, as she was three now. Henry was on his mom's hip, a respective two years old now. She gave Milo a big hug, but Milo still couldn't figure out what was going on.
"Daddy, it isn't my birthday right?" Milo looked up at Dan puzzled.
"No, silly," Dan smiled, "There's a drawing on the table that I drew for you, go look at it," Milo took his boots and jacket off and handed it to Dan, before making his way to the coffee table. He picked up a nice stick figure drawing of him and his dad on an airplane flying toward a castle.
"Why are we flying to a castle?" Milo turned around to face his dad, still confused. Everyone was stifling their giggles, as Dan squatted down to Milo's height and took two pairs of mouse ears out of a box next to his feet.
"Milo, we're going Disney World!" Dan strapped his ears on.
"No way!" Milo ran and hugged his dad, while Dan hugged him back and put the ears on his son, "We're going to meet Mickey Mouse?!"
"Yes, Milo, we're going to meet Mickey Mouse!" Dan pumped his fist in the air.
"When are we leaving, Daddy?"
"We're going to leave tomorrow, but Daddy has some stuff to do before we leave, so you're going to sleep over with Mimi and Papa, okay?" Milo nodded at his dad, and Dan stood up. He waved goodbye to everyone, and Vanessa shuffled over to him. The two left in the elevator and rode in pure silence down to the lobby, both not wanting it to end.
Dan and Vanessa sat across from each other in a cozy nook of The Bean, both holding tightly to their coffee cups. The tension between them was beyond tight, and neither of them wanted to speak, but they both knew they needed to.
"Why?" Dan choked out, holding back tears.
"I was lonely, and you and I just never really had time to talk," Vanessa pleaded.
"There's better ways to handle loneliness than to cheat on your boyfriend," Dan shot her daggers, and saw the fear in her eyes. Normally, that fear would melt him and he'd give her a hug, but Vanessa had crossed the line for the last time.
"I didn't want to cheat on you, Dan! It just happened!" Vanessa started tearing up and holding her stomach again.
"Yeah, because sleeping with another man you work with is just an accident! You got back two weeks ago, and you think I wouldn't find out about your affair from your two year movie job?"" Dan slammed his hands on the table, causing Vanessa to jump, "Are you sick? You keep holding your stomach,"
"Dan-" Vanessa started, but Dan's facial expression revealed what he had figured out.
"Vanessa, you aren't pregnant. No. No way," Dan tried to hold back his anger and frustration.
"Dan, I'm sorry! We just needed to talk; this baby could be yours," Vanessa covered her mouth as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You're just now telling me this, the day before I'm supposed to be taking my baby on his first trip to Disney World. What is wrong with you?" Dan's face got red.
"I just couldn't work up the courage until now," Vanessa sunk into her seat, feeling beyond guilty.
"I'm going to leave now, to get ready for this vacation. You can either do a paternity test while I'm gone or we'll do one when I get back. As for now and probably forever, we're done," Dan stood up and put his jacket on, ready to brave the storm back to his apartment.
"Wait, Dan! You can't just leave me! This baby could be yours!" Vanessa stood up and grabbed his arm. Dan turned around and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Could, being the operative word," Dan pulled a few of his dark curly hairs out of his head and handing them to her, before tearing himself away. As he made his way outside, the rain started to downpour, and a blast from Gossip Girl dropped the biggest bomb in two years.
Looks like Lonely Boy reclaims his original title, as D and V have broken up! But it seems there may be another hurdle in their breakup. Is baby Daddy Dan back again, or is this baby not biologically his…again? XOXO GG
Dan was in his self-destructive mode, where he hyper focuses on whatever he needs to do and blares some kind of music. He was currently packing for his weeklong vacation, and he had finished Milo's bag, so now he was onto his bag. "Fallout" by Marianas Trench was blaring loudly from his stereo, when he stopped throwing clothes from his bedroom to his living room, to see why the loft door was opening. Dan poked his head out to see Nate and Chuck strolling in, looking at the explosion of clothing in front of them.
"Let me guess, the girls set you up for this?" Dan walked out, scrunching his nose.
"Well, they just wanted us to check on you…" Nate explained lamely. Chuck walked further into the loft, and into Milo's room.
"Guys, I'm fine. I'm just packing for tomorrow,"
"Daniel, if you're really just packing, why did you break out the baby albums and Milo's old clothes?" Chuck brought out Dan's secret pile he had pulled out while packing. Dan's face dropped.
"Is that baby yours?" Nate asked, having read the blast.
"I don't know, at least not yet," Dan shrugged.
"Do you want another kid?" Chuck set the stuff on the kitchen island, and placed a hand on Dan's shoulder.
"Not right now! I'm so content with Milo's life, but the fact that she could have been pregnant with my kid, while she was carrying out this affair is just…disgusting," Dan dropped his head into his palms.
"Then you don't have to be involved in this baby's life, even if it turns out to be yours," Nate offered.
"But then I'd be doing what Georgina did to Milo, and I could never do that to a child," Dan pleaded.
"We'll figure this out when you return okay? As for now, get yourself packed up," Chuck shook Dan's and before leading Nate out and closing the door.
"Have a good night," Dan called out, before returning Milo's baby chronicles to the top shelf of his baby closet, choosing to wallow in the baby blues when he returned from the happiest place on Earth.
4am came too soon, as Dan grabbed all four of the duo's bags and double checked that every light was off and every appliance was unplugged, before locking the loft door behind him. He hailed a cab to JFK, where he was meeting Milo for their 5am flight. Milo was cranky, but that was easily fixed by the blueberry muffin and orange juice Dan brought him. They ate and drank in the terminal, Dan downing two black coffees before they boarded the plane. When they checked in and boarded the plane, Milo and Dan had their little row to themselves, where Milo took the window seat. He was really nervous about flying, but once in the air, he loved it. Milo managed to dose off into a nap, but Dan stayed awake so he could keep an eye on his son. The plane landed, and the duo were surprisingly perky, despite being overtired, and took the shuttle bus to Walt Disney World. As the signs and the castle grew bigger, Milo's eyes grew wider.
"Are we at Disney yet?" Milo was sitting up as high in his seat to try and see any bit of the most magical place on Earth.
"Almost, it looks like we're at the gate to get to our resort!" Dan pointed at the big yellow sign, welcoming them. They pulled up in front of the Art of Animation Resort, where they were greeted by lots of friendly Disney characters. Dan and Milo hopped off the bus and removed their luggage from the compartment underneath the shuttle. Dan, unbeknownst to Milo, flashed their Mickey ears toward the bellhop who was helping them unload, because they had their names embroidered on the back. The bellhop rolled the luggage cart ahead of the boys, whispering their names into the character's ears. Dan smiled and strapped his ears on, before handing Milo his set of ears. Milo held his dad's hand, trying to absorb everything he possibly could possibly absorb in one viewing.
"Hello, Milo! Let's get a photo!" Mickey Mouse bent down to address Milo.
"Dad, they know our names!" Milo turned around and looked at his dad with amazement. Dan chuckled before handing the bellhop his phone so he and Milo could get photos with Mickey and the crew. Dan looked at the photos after, while Milo was visiting with the crew, and Dan had never seen Milo more excited in a photo in his life.
"Ready to go?" Dan nodded toward the door.
"Do you have any paper? I want to get their signatures!" Milo was trying hard not to jump up and down with all the excitement in his body. Dan pulled his journalist notepad out of his back pocket, along with a ballpoint pen, and gave it to Milo. He could always buy a new pad when he got home.
After Milo got all his signatures, the two made their way up to their room. It was 5pm, so the two just ordered room service and stayed in, watching Milo's favorite Disney movie, which was Brother Bear. They were cowing down on mac and cheese when Dan got a phone call to his cell phone. Dan got up off of their shared queen sized bed, and sat in the bathroom with the door cracked open in case Milo needed anything.
"Hello?" Dan answered, confused about who would be calling him.
"I'm going to kill her, you know?" Jenny's voice rang through the phone. She had been unable to attend the brief going away party, due to having a huge project due for textiles class the next day.
"Leave Vanessa alone, she could be carrying your unborn niece or nephew," Dan sighed, reality hitting him in the face like a ton of bricks.
"Dan, are you seriously okay? I'm just worried because you're so far away," Jenny pried at her brother's heart.
"I'm fine, I just need her to send in that paternity test as soon as possible, but she might be putting it off to try and persuade me to come back," Dan put his face in one of his hands.
"Are you going to?"
"I'm not going to let her hurt me again. I've got so much more in my life to fill any void she may be leaving," Dan threw out with vengeance
"Ooh Dan! I believe you now! Tell Milo I love him and miss him, bye bro," Jenny laughed before hanging up. Dan laughed at his sister's antics. He walked out of the bathroom to see the credits of Brother Bear, and a tired looking young boy, even though Dan saw him as a baby.
"Daddy?" Milo peered over at his dad.
"Yes?" Dan sat down on the edge of the bed, setting a hand on Milo's back.
"Can we have some cuddle time before bed?"
"Absolutely! Go brush your teeth," Dan gently pushed on Milo's back. Milo slid off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes. Dan shut his phone off so no one could disturb his vacation for the time being. Milo returned and the two slid under the covers, trying hard to sleep, even though they were both excited for the activities that would commence the next day.
The next morning, the duo was up bright and early to enjoy wonderful breakfast at the Crystal Palace, where the group from the Hundred Acre Woods greeted them. Milo was in awe the entire time, and Dan took as many photos as he could on his digital camera. Dan had to catch Milo's attention many times, just to get Milo to eat his Mickey shaped pancakes and yogurt. Thankfully, Dan had sent in Milo's allergy note before they arrived in Florida, so anytime they swiped their meal cards, it would notify the kitchen to be extra cautious.
"Milo, the sooner you eat your pancakes, the sooner we get on some rides!" Dan brought Milo's attention back to his breakfast. Today, they were spending time in the Magic Kingdom, but they had tickets for all the other parks, one for each day they were in Disney, plus a Typhoon Lagoon pass for whatever day they wanted to use it on. Milo and Dan finished their breakfast, and they made their way out onto Main Street, USA.
"Where do you want to go first?" Dan asked, squatting down with the map of attractions, so that Milo could pick. Dan was letting Milo make all of the decisions; this vacation was more for Milo than it was for Dan, but he was smiling through all the pain his heart was feeling.
"Can we ride the Dumbo ride?" Milo asked, surprised that his dad was going to let him pick all of the rides.
"Sure. And let's make sure we ride the Mad Hatter before lunch, okay?" Dan smirked at his son.
"Sounds like a plan!" Milo started running toward the Dumbo ride.
"Whoa there, bear! You have to stay with me!" Dan jogged to catch up with Milo before taking his hand. They both ran, filled with glee at what their day had for them. They got in line for the Dumbo ride, and checked in with their Magipasses. When it was finally their turn, they hopped in an elephant with a blue blanket, and soon, they were "flying" through the sky. Milo looked around at the entire park, in shock at how much he could see from up high. Dan snapped more pictures, of course, loving every moment he had with his son.
After riding almost every ride in the park, Milo had one more place he wanted to take his dad. Milo grabbed Dan's hand, and dragged him toward Cinderella's Castle as fast as he could. Dan finally had to stop Milo so he could have a cast member take their photo outside the castle. After they were done taking photos, Milo dragged Dan into the castle, where there was a long line of other parents and children to see all the Disney princesses.
"Did you want to visit the princesses before we left?" Dan cocked his head at Milo.
"No, I wanted you to visit them," Milo smiled at him.
"Well why's that?" Dan looked even more confused.
"Well, I know you and Vanessa aren't really boyfriend girlfriend anymore, so I wanted to find you a new girl," Milo explained.
"Milo, you don't have to do that. Yes, Vanessa and I aren't going to be seeing each other anymore, but I don't need another girl right away," Dan replied, remembering he hadn't turned his phone on in over 24 hours, "Let's go get some dinner okay?"
Dan turned his phone on, as he led a sad Milo away from the castle. He had a few missed calls and at least ten texts, but he saw one from Vanessa. He stopped in his place as his heart dropped, scared to read it. He opened it, but only after closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Vanessa: Took as Pat test. Not yours. Have a good life.
Dan cheered loudly, as many people around him looked at him funny. He put his phone in his pocket and picked Milo up in a huge hug.
"You know what, Milo? I'd love to meet Rapunzel," Dan put Milo back down. Milo's facial expression grew wide, as the two of them headed back toward the castle, with an orange sunset melting behind it.
A/N: I have the best readers, I swear! Please keep the reviews coming, they're the best pick me up during work! Speaking of work, my boss scheduled me to work all seven days this week, on top of going to school, so I may not be putting a chapter up this week. I really want to, but we'll see how much I get written this week. Please keep reading and reviewing! Love you bunches-CK