MARA JANE - TWO WEEKS LATER

I look in the mirror one more time. I really hope that Daddy and Papa like the dress. Aunt Hayley just left after helping me with my hair, taking Jacob with her. Both Daddy and Papa spent the last two weeks teaching me to dance - Papa: Eltarian style, slow formal and fancy and Daddy: Earth (well some of it anyway) style, faster, casual and fun. Daddy even found an old video of his parents doing something called 'swing' dancing. It was fun to watch, but it made him cry and I know I sure didn't help things when I mentioned how he looked more like Grandpa and Uncle David then his own daddy.

Recalling how Papa explained how Daddy's parents weren't actually his biological parents that night while Daddy was talking on the phone, and some of what adoption means, it didn't take long at all to realize just how badly I had probably hurt his feelings the night I insisted he couldn't be my father if we weren't genetically related. I know Papa said it wasn't my fault for not knowing, and that neither of them are upset with me for venting my anger and frustration, but I also know that as protective as Papa is of me and Jacob, he's just as much so with Daddy, especially when his feelings get hurt.

Still, Daddy assured me he was fine when he came up to say goodnight to me and Jacob, explaining how he just wished his parents could have had a chance to know me as he knew they would have loved me, and definitely would have loved to see me go to my first school dance, even if Papa was teaching me some rather 'old fashioned' dances.

Speaking of which, there was one dance that Papa taught me that's similar to a waltz from Earth. From what was said when they demonstrated it for me, it's the first time they've ever danced together. There was some laughing as they sorted themselves out, deciding who would lead and so on, but once they got going, they really seemed to enjoy it.

"Come on, princess!" Papa calls from downstairs, breaking my train of thought. I head out and downstairs. Partway down, I can see my fathers - Daddy's straightening Papa's tie and Papa is running his fingers through Daddy's hair. They both look so handsome! They trade smiles and turn toward me. Once they see me, though, they suck in their breaths and exchange looks. Papa says, "I told you, Thomas. We aren't dressed nearly nice enough to escort such a fine looking young lady."

Daddy nods. "But that's okay. After all, she's supposed to be the focus anyway, not us, mate." He turns and picks up a box off the hall table and holds it out to me. "Here, sweetheart. I got you something special for tonight."

I take the box and open it. "Oh, Daddy, it's beautiful! What is it?"

Gently, he takes it out of the box. "It's called a corsage, baby." He fastens it on my wrist. "There you go."

I sniff the flowers. How can he be so nice to me, so forgiving after the way I hurt him two weeks ago? I swallow hard and hug him. "Thank you, Daddy. I love it."

"You're welcome. Let's go and have some fun, okay?"

I nod and we head out to the car. It's not long before we're there and heading in. I check out all the other dads as we wait to hand over our tickets. None of them are as handsome as mine are and I kind of feel sorry for the other girls, though on the other hand I can't help but be slightly pleased as I know a few of the girls that have been obnoxious to me lately are clearly jealous. The father behind me says something to the father behind him that Daddy and Papa miss due to their own conversation, but that I catch all too clearly.

"Check out these faggots in front of me. They shouldn't even have kids."

His daughter says, "Stop it, Dad. Their daughter is one of my friends."

"I don't want you hanging around a kid with parents like that."

I turn my head just a little until I catch Megan's eye. She's clearly embarrassed at her father's attitude and is quick to mouth an apology to me, though that really does little to cool my anger at her dad. I make a snap decision, knowing that if either of my fathers find out I did it on purpose, I will be in deep trouble, however I will be damned if I will let anyone will talk bad about my family. I spin around to 'greet Megan'. "Megan!" As I turn, I quickly judge how far away her father is. I fling my arms wide, supposedly for a hug, as my fist clenches and my knuckles connect with (according to Papa) a very sensitive area for many males. He drops to his knees, gasping for air. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry!"

My fathers both spin around at my apology but my attention is on Megan. She gives me a slight smile that she hides quickly as she kneels beside her father. Papa and Daddy help him to his feet, asking if he's all right. He snarls at them, "You need to teach her to be more careful."

I try to look suitably dismayed, but it's really hard and I don't think I pull it off at the sharp look I get from Papa. Still I try to sound sincere when I apologize again. "I'm really sorry, sir. I was just so happy to see Megan that I didn't think."

"Obviously" he growls.

Papa beckons to me and I move over to him, putting an innocent look on as Daddy apologizes again. We move up to catch up to the line as Papa says quietly, "You know better than that, young lady. You almost got caught."

He knows! Wait - he knows and doesn't seem to be mad about it! "Sorry, Papa."

"No, you're not, but I don't blame you. I heard what he said and so did Daddy. Just remember you cannot just lash out whenever someone says something you don't like."

"Do I at least get points for not using my power?"

Smirking just a bit, he shakes his head. "I suppose, but if Daddy asks I gave you a stern lecture as he's still not pleased with me teaching you to hit a male in that area."

"Deal."

Daddy joins us, looking at us suspiciously. "Everything all right?"

"Handled, Thomas. Nothing to worry about."

"Good." There's an interesting look in his eyes. "I told him that I'd give his wife a call about the girls getting together soon."

I can't help it. "What did he say?"

"Not too much. Apparently, he's more comfortable being rude behind someone's back than to their face." I'm not too surprised when Papa snickers at that, especially since Daddy said it just loud enough for Megan's dad to hear it. "Now, let's forget about this little incident and go have some fun."

As it turns out, we're seated with Megan and her dad and two other families, one of which has two dads too. The adults handled their own introductions. The other girl, Diana, with two dads explained to me that one was her father and one was her stepfather. They apparently got along quite well - or at least well enough for them to both be able to share this night with her. Diana, says, "Really, it's thanks to your dad that I get to bring them both."

Her fathers turn their attention to Daddy. "So you're the one I heard about" one of them says. "Thank you. I tried everything I could think of to get them to change their minds when this was first suggested and they wanted to limit the girls to one parent each. What exactly did you do?"

Daddy shrugs. "Just pointed out that, with divorce and remarriage and alternate lifestyles, the traditional family model isn't as common as it once was and their rule was leaving out a lot of people. Since this is supposed to be about the girls and significant people in their lives, they weren't going to be sending the message that they wanted by excluding us."

Papa speaks up. "He makes it sound so easy and simple, but I can't tell you how many phone calls he made and how much time he spent getting it done."

"It wasn't that big of a deal, mate. I had to do something since it upset Mara Jane so much. Besides, if it hadn't worked out, I was going to go with your idea."

"What was that?" One of the other fathers at the table asks. They have all been listening closely and curiously.

Papa looks confused. "My idea? You said I wasn't allowed to conquer and enslave the planet just because I couldn't get my way, whether it regarded very subpar Bourbon – that again I state was not even near the correct age that they claimed – or school officials upsetting our children."

Daddy looks amused, but shakes his head calmly, playing off Papa's statement as a joke, much like I've seen him do in the past when he says things that Daddy claims would reveal just a bit too much about who he used to be. "Not that idea, and as I told you so many times before, enslaving planets is a bad example to set for the children. The idea I was referring to in this case was what you said when I got off of one of the phone calls. You were so irritated that I was having to fight so hard to get this changed, you said that if I couldn't get things changed soon, you were just going to recreate the event yourself somewhere else and the girls could bring anybody they damn well pleased."

"Oh that." Papa waves this away. "Not that I wouldn't do it, but because of your efforts it turned out to be unnecessary." The other adults exchange approving looks and I don't think I could be prouder of my fathers than I am right now.

A few hours later, I realize that I was wrong. Papa and Daddy took turns dancing with me - music type permitting. Thanks to their lessons, we looked great. One slow song, though, I refused to dance, instead insisting that they dance together. The other parents at the table backed me up and, although they didn't go to the dance floor, they finally agreed and danced next to the table.

I can't stop the yawn as we get out of the car at home. "Tired, angel?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, Papa. Thank you - both of you."

We get in the house and Daddy says, "Give me your corsage, honey and I'll put it up for tonight. If you want to, Hayley can help you preserve it so that you can keep it forever."

I nod, slip it off my wrist and hand it to him. I give them both a kiss and tell them good night. I finally get up stairs and in my room. I'm too tired to even put my dress in the hamper, but I manage to lay it over the desk chair before I pull on my pajamas and climb into bed. I go over the wonderful night in my head, not wanting to forget a moment, but I know I'm going to fall asleep before I'm done.