Steve parked his truck in his driveway and killed the engine, he was glad to be home. It had been a long couple of days. Steve glanced to the sleeping teen in the passenger seat and smiled. He was still finding it hard to believe that he was a Father, but he was happy. Happier than he had been in a long time.
Deciding to let her sleep for a couple more minutes, Steve grabbed an arm full of shopping bags. They were the clothes that he had bought Roni from the mall. He carried them into the house and up to his old bedroom, then he returned to the truck. When he got back to the truck, Roni was standing in front of it, looking around.
"Welcome home, Roni." Steve smiled.
"Nice looking house." She commented.
"Come on, we both need showers and bed." Steve said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Sounds like a plan."
Steve lead her inside and up the stairs.
"That's my room." He said, nodding towards one of the doors. "And this one here is your new room." They walked into the bedroom.
The only furnishings were a bed, two night stands, and a small dresser.
"There's a bathroom through that door." he nodded towards a door by the dresser. "There's clean towels in the bottom cabinet. Go ahead and take a shower, I'm heading towards my bathroom to take one."
Roni nodded, then went through the bags sitting in the floor looking for her new pajamas. Steve left the room. He returned to Roni's room twenty minutes later, to find her sound asleep on the bed.
Steve smiled and watched her sleep for several moments, then he gently kissed her forehead and whispered. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."
Steve went back to his own room and went to bed, falling asleep quickly.
Bluewaters99
Steve woke up and glanced at the clock on the nightstand, he had been asleep for about five hours. He climbed out of bed and quietly walked to Roni's room, finding her asleep. Steve was thinking about laying back down for another hour or two, but then he heard a car pull to a stop outside his house.
Steve quickly and quietly rushed downstairs and opened the door before the visitor could knock and wake up Roni, he was not surprised when the visitor turned out to be his sister and niece
"Uncle Steve!" Five-year-old Joan exclaimed, as she jumped into the man's arms.
"Hey there Sweetpea." Steve said, hugging her, then tossing her in the air and catching her. The little girl giggled. Then Steve placed her on his shoulders, and leaned forward to hug his sister.
"Aren't you going to invite us in?" Mary asked.
"Actually." Steve said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Why don't we walk around back and sat in the lanai for a minute? There is something very important I need to tell you."
Bluewaters99
Roni woke up and stretched, then she sensed that someone was in the room with her. She opened her eyes and saw a small pair of blue ones looking at her. The eyes belonged to a small blond haired girl wearing a pink sun dress.
"Hello." Roni said, slightly confused. She sat up and asked. "Who are you?"
"I'm Joanie." The little girl smiled. "Uncle Steve said I was your cousin."
"Where is Steve?" Roni asked, as she stood up.
"Downstairs with Mommy." Joanie said. Then she whispered. "Shhhh. I'm not 'posed to be in here."
"Then why are you?" A stern voice asked from the doorway. They turned to see Steve standing there. He was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed across his broad chest.
"Oh, good." Mary said, as she rushed past her brother and over to Roni. "You're awake." She wrapped the teen in a tight hug. "I am your Aunt Mary, it is soooooo great to meet you." She gushed.
Roni stiffened unsure of how to react.
"Easy, Mare." Steve chuckled. "Give her a chance to breath."
"I just can't believe Steve has a daughter." Mary said, as she released the teen and took a step back to look at her. "You look just like Steve, except you are way prettier."
"It's nice to meet you Ma'am." Roni said, causing Mary to frown.
"Never call me that, ever. The name it Aunt Mary, Aunt Mare, or Hey You. But not Ma'am."
"Come on, Hey You." Steve said, as he placed a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Let's let Roni get dressed." Then he looked at his daughter and said. "We're making grilled cheese sandwiches and fruit salad. It should all be ready when you get downstairs."
"Okay." Roni replied.
"And you young lady are in trouble." Steve said sternly, as he picked up the five-year-old and settled her on his hip. "You were to stay out of here and let Roni sleep."
"She didn't wake me up." Roni said quickly, not wanting the little girl to get into trouble. "She was being real quite."
"I was being very quite, Uncle Steve." Joanie confirmed.
Steve winked at his daughter, letting her know that the little girl was not actually in trouble. Then him and Mary walked out of the room.
Steve carried his niece downstairs and into the kitchen, where he sat her on the counter and stood in front of her.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Steve." She said, poking her bottom lip out and giving him her best sad puppy eyes. "I just wanted to meet my new cousin."
Steve smiled and leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. "I know, Sweetpea. It's okay."
"She's nice." Joanie said.
"Yes she is." Steve agreed.
About that time, Roni entered the kitchen. She was wearing a pair of the jeans Steve had bought her and a new tee shirt.
"Just in time." Mary said, holding up a bowl of chopped fruit. "Time to eat."
Everyone sat at the table and started passing around the food, soon all four were eating.
"So, Roni." Mary said. "What grade are you in?"
"I don't know." Roni replied. "I have been homeschooled my whole life, and I don't really know which level I'm at. I mean, I think I'm smart for my age on some things, and not so much in others things."
"Don't worry about it." Mary said. "When Steve registers you into school, they'll give you a test to take. The test will determine which grade to place you in."
"You've never been to school?" Asked a wide eyed Joanie. "But school is so much fun. I'm in preschool, and I'll be in Kindergarten next year."
"Steve showed me the picture you grew of him." Mary said. "It is totally amazing. You are a marvelous artist."
"Thank you." Roni said.
"It was real pretty." Joanie said. "I like to draw too, but I'm not that good at it."
"It doesn't matter if you're good at art or not." Roni told the younger girl. "Art is about expressing yourself. Art is about letting your emotions guide your hand."
The little girl gave her a confused look.
"Art is about having fun." Roni tried again. "If you like art, then you should draw."
"Very well said." Mary said. "What other interests do you have, Roni"
"I'm really into physical exercise." Roni answered. "Running, swimming, mixed martial arts, among some things." She looked at Steve and added. "Uncle Philip had been teaching me, I was hoping you could continue with the lessons."
"That depends." Steve said, looking at his daughter. "Do you want to learn more because that was how you were raised and what you believe is expected of you. Or are you truly interested in learning more martial arts techniques because it is something you are interested in?"
"It's something I'm interested in." Roni replied. "I do not want to be a Navy Seal, or really any type of solider. But I am truly interested in learning more techniques."
"Then it will be my honor to teach you." Steve smiled.
"What other interests do you have?" Mary wanted to know. "What about boys? Did you leave a broken heart or two in Boston?"
"Mary." Steve nearly choked on the bite of sandwich in his mouth. "She's only fourteen."
"Exactly." Mary smirked, enjoying seeing Steve's reaction. It wasn't often that she got to see Steve this uncomfortable. "So how about it, Roni? Any special boy you were dating?"
"All of the boys I date are special." Roni replied, also finding Steve's reaction funny. The poor man was turning red and his mouth was hanging open.
"Young lady." Steve finally found his voice. "You are way too young to even think about dating."
"Some fourteen-year-olds are married." Mary said, enjoying herself. She nearly laughed when Steve's face went from red to very pale.
"Not my daughter!" Steve roared.
Roni laughed and said, "Relax, Dad." She shook her head in amusement. "I did not leave behind a boyfriend, I have never dated anyone."
"Good." Steve said, then he glared at his sister and his daughter. "Remember what they say about payback."
"What do they say, Uncle Steve?" Joanie asked. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she wanted in on the conversation.
"Nothing, Sweetpea." Steve said. "Eat your food."
The small family finished their lunch, talking and laughing. Roni really liked her new Aunt and cousin , and they really liked her.
As they were cleaning up after they ate, Steve said. "We're having a little get together in the morning. Lou is hosting a bar-b-que at his house, you can meet the rest of our ohona."
"It'll be fun." Mary said with a smile. "Everyone will be there."
Bluewaters99
Later that evening, right after Mary and Joanie had left, Steve and Roni were once again alone.
"Have a seat." Steve said, as he sat on the sofa and motioned for Roni to sit beside him. "We need to talk about the rules and stuff."
"Yes Sir." Rioni said. sitting down beside him.
"First with the major rules." Steve said. "No swearing, no smoking, no stealing, no hustling pool, and no back talk."
"Okay." Roni said.
"Also you will have a curfew and a bedtime, curfew is nine on school nights and ten on weekends. Bedtime is ten on school nights and midnight on weekends . You will have household chores to do and will clean up after yourself."
"The cleaning and chores are no problem." Roni replied. "But a curfew and bedtime? Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously." Steve replied.
Roni sighed, but nodded. She didn't like the idea, but she was willing to go along with it. She was the kid after all, Steve was the Dad. The one who made the rules.
"You will receive thirty dollars a week for allowance." Steve continued.
"I don't need an allowance." Roni protested. "It's only right that I do chores and stuff, I don't need payment for doing what's right."
"Are you going to object to everything I say?" Steve sighed.
"No Sir."
"You sure?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good, then you will get an allowance."
"Yes Sir." Roni smiled. "And thank you."
"I reserve the right to add additional rules as time goes by." Steve said. "I'm new at this Dad stuff so I know I left things out. Now if you have any problems with the rules or think I am being to strict, speak up and let me know. I may not change my mind, but I might. You will never get into any trouble if come to me and discuss any problems politely and calmly."
"I understand." Roni said.
"If you break the rules, then you will be punished." Steve explained. "The punishment will be determined by what you did wrong, and if it is a first offense or if you had done it before. I promise you that the punishment will never be determined by how mad I am.
Punishment will vary depending on the transgression. You may lose a privilege like the tv or other electronics, you may be grounded or given extra chores. Or you may be spanked. Depending on the crime, you may be punished more than one way.
I promise to always listen to your side of things before I punish you, I will never just assume you are guilty."
"Sound fair." Roni agreed.
There was a knock on the front door, then the door burst opened and Grace and Charlie rushed in. Danny came in behind them at a more sedate pace.
"Uncle Steve!" Charlie shouted, jumping into the man's lap and hugging him.
"Hey, Buddy." Steve laughed, as he hugged him back. "What are you doing here?"
"We wanted to meet your daughter." The five-year-old boy said with a smile.
Steve picked the small boy up, then dropped him onto the sofa beside him.
"Charlie." He said. "Meet Roni."
"Hi there." Roni smiled at the little boy.
"Hi." Charlie smiled back.
"I'm Grace." The fifteen-year-old said. "Did you move into Uncle Steve's old room?"
"Yeah." Roni replied.
"Good, come on." She reached down and grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. "We have got a ton to talk about."
Before Roni could protest, Grace let go of one of her hands, and started pulling her towards the stairs with the other.
"Wait for me!" Charlie exclaimed, as he jumped up and chased after the teens.
After they heard Roni's bedroom door shut, Danny plopped down on the sofa beside Steve.
"I know you probably didn't want company this early, but Grace was bursting to come see Roni." Danny said.
"I'm glad you're here." Steve said. "Roni could use a friend closer to her own age, I really hope her and Gracie hit it off."
"I'm sure they will." Danny said.
"Danno!" Charlie exclaimed, as he rushed down the stairs and over to the sofa. "Gracie and Roni locked me out!"
Danny smirked at Steve and said. "See, told you they'd get along." Then he smiled at his son and said. "The girls just want some time alone to talk. You can stay down here with us and we'll have a men's only party."
"Okay." Charlie smiled he liked the sound of a men's only party.
Bluewaters99
TBC…..
I will update as soon as I can. In the next chapter, Roni will meet the rest of her family. There will also be the spanking of teenagers by their Fathers in the next chapter. You have been warned.
I again want to thank everyone for the kind reviews, please keep them coming. The short little conversation about boys were for Leah Tatyana Nicole who mentioned wanting Roni to be interested in boys. It was just a little part of the story, but I do plan on giving her a boyfriend later in the series.