A/N: Wow! Can you believe it? I'm finally updating! Here we go!

Choices

Chapter Forty-Four

My dad's mouth opened. Then he closed it, then opened again, as if he were trying to speak, but then clamped his mouth shut.

"Dad?" I said, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he finally said. "It's not like my family has decided that they're going to make me lose my sanity, by telling me a bunch of ridiculous stories."

Mom's eyes filled with tears and I realized that this was not the kind of reaction she had hoped to get.

"Dad, I promise you, it's true...I'm-I'm the American Dragon."

My dad looked at me angrily. "Look, I don't know what kind of trick you're playing on me, but I'd appreciate if you'd drop it. Dragons do not exist, magic isn't real, and my family isn't a big freak show!"

The words were out of his mouth before he had time to think. Seeing mom look at him hurtfully, and our serious expressions, he said doubtfully, "You're not serious...you can't be. I mean," he looked at us, voice breaking, "this isn't true. It isn't real."

"Dad," I said quietly. "We're sorry we kept it from you all these years...it's just...you know, you've always been kind of...freaked out, I guess, of anything you considered 'not normal'."

"Yeah," Haley said. "You're even scared of spiders. And guess what, Daddy? I'm a dragon too!"

Dad looked at us, hurt look clouding his features. "I can't believe you all," he muttered. "Putting our daughter up to this as well."

"No, son," Gramps said to Dad, speaking up for the first time, "they are telling the truth. I also am a dragon, although your wife isn't; it skipped her generation." Dad sat in subdued silence as Gramps told him of the Dark Dragon, the Huntsclan, and now Chang's rage against me, and how Rose and I must get to the Isle of Draco quickly for safety.

"Do you want proof?" I asked him when Gramps had finished.

"Jake-"began Mom, looking unsure about my intentions.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound off-hand, "seeing is believing." And with that, I morphed into dragon form.

My father looked at me in amazement, such a mixture of emotions I had never seen on anyone's face. He looked shocked, scared, utterly taken aback, surprised, and...angry? I morphed back into human form, and waited for my dad to speak...or faint...or yell...or scream...or do something.

But he did nothing. He sat there, emotions livid on his shocked face, and did nothing. Looking as if he were in a daze. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he spoke.

"You kept this from me all those years?" he addressed my mom in a hoarse whisper.

"Only for your own good," I stood up for her.

"My own good? Don't you think I might have wanted to know what my family was? What's really been going on with my son all these years? Do you think I like being left in the dark?" He got up and moved toward me. I flinched, thinking he was going to yell, but instead, he did the most unexpected thing.

He hugged me. Bringing me close to himself, he hugged and squeezed. Then he pulled away, hands on my shoulders, looking deep into my eyes. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to support you in your...dragon...work, all these years. But now I can." He then turned to my mother. "I am," he said, speaking slowly, as if afraid he might say the wrong thing, "not happy about not knowing, but I say, let's forget the past and from now on, I'll be the most supportive dad and husband I can be to my two..." he paused for a moment, then said, "...special...kids."

Haley ran up and threw her arms around him. Soon we were all engaged in a big group hug, save for Gramps, Fu, and Rose, who were looking at us, happiness evident in their faces. I for one was amazed it had turned out so well. After a few moments, I broke away from the group and stood by Rose, taking her hand.

This was the way things should be.

~Emachinescat ^..^