Matchmaker Mai! The "Setup"

It had been a week or so since Halloween and Mai was starting to question why she didn't have a mommy who didn't love her like Zoey and other people had.

Every time she would ask she would ask she would get different answers from each and everyone she asked.

Elliot and Wesley would both always say, "I don't know. Some mommy's just aren't meant to be to be mommy's and just aren't capable of it. But don't worry you've got the best daddy around, right?"

Zoey would just simple say, "I don't know. Sometimes people are just born mean."

The girls and the other guys would say, "I don't know, but maybe someday daddy will find a nice girl and you can have a new mommy." Mainly thinking about Zoey, but not saying her name directly.

Zoey's parents usually gave different answers; her dad saying nothing but "Hmpf," or something rude or mean.

Zoey's mother would try to be nicer and gentler saying something along the lines of, "unfortunately, not everyone can have a loving mother or father or even both. But you, however, little girl got a very loving daddy and an uncle who care very much about you. I wonder if your daddy had gotten to raise you from birth if you would have a different name."

Sometimes Zoey's mom could talk too much, even for little Mai. Even though she talked too much Mai always listened until the very end; she loved Grandma Suzie and Grandpa Adam so much.

It may have come out accidently, but Mai had called Suzie and Adam Grandma and Grandpa. Because of how she was treated, Elliot wasn't going to tell her she wasn't allowed to call them that. They treated her so well and they loved her like she was their own grandchild.

So everybody did their best to make sure Mai was happy with who she had and to try to have her forget the past, which was not easy; Mai wanted a mommy who loved her.

It was lunch time and Elliot and Wesley were trying to explain Thanksgiving, which was coming up in a few weeks, to Mai, who was just becoming confused.

"But we don't haf a big famwe, do we?" Mai asked confused taking a bit of turkey sandwich.

"Well no, just you, me and Wesley." Elliot said simply.

"But how can we haf a big feast if we don't haf a big famwe." Mai asked slight tears starting to fall.

"It's ok. We still have each other and we're all that we really need to be a family. Some families only have two people it their family, we have three people. And as weird as it may be we ARE family." Elliot said simply wiping her tears away.

"Ok." Mai said finishing her food and then went to play in her room.

After a few hours Mai could hear Zoey downstairs talking with Elliot and Wesley and soon she was running down the stairs, tripping on the last one.

"Daddy!" She screamed out crying, holding her knees.

"What happened?" Elliot, Wesley and Zoey called running to Mai who had scraped up, bloodied knees.

"I fwell down the stair!" Mai cried pointing to the last step as Wesley bandaged up her knees.

"Were you walking or running down the stairs?" Elliot asked.

"Running, but I hear Zoewe." Mai said calming down a little.

"Yes, she's here. But that's no reason to run down the stairs; I've told you this before." Elliot said standing her up.

"I'm sorry daddy." Mai said looking down.

"It's ok, but remember, never do it again, ok." Elliot said simply.

"Yes daddy. Did you come to play Zoewe?" Mai asked looking at Zoey with big bright eyes.

"Not today, I can't. I just came to talk to your daddy and Wesley. My parents want to know if you guys would like to come to Thanksgiving with us this year. They told me to ask and if I got the hint from my mom correct it's absolutely imperative that I get you to say yes. It's just going to be my parents, me, my grandparents, and maybe a few aunts and uncles and their kids. My one aunt and uncle have a daughter, I think around Mai's age. But it's really up to you. Well ok I take that back, it seems like it's up to my mother; she really wants you guys to come, especially Mai." Zoey said making sure they understood it was more her parents idea to ask, even though in reality Zoey asked her parents if it would be ok, which you know her mother jumped at the idea.

"Yeah, I guess, if it's ok with Wesley and Mai, I don't care." Elliot said looking at Wesley and Mai.

"Yeah, that's fine by me. It'll be a nice change from it just being Elliot and myself. I mean there's Mai now, but it's still pretty small. Not that that's wrong, family is family. Not only that, Mai's wants a big family with a big feast that makes since." Wesley said winking and walking away.

"What was that all about?" Zoey asked about the winking.

"I don't know. Well, anyways. Mai what do you think? Would you like to have Thanksgiving with Zoey's family?" Elliot asked looking into Mai's wide eyes.

"Really? A big famwe with a big feast?" Mai asked bouncing up and down.

"Yes, but you must be on your best behavior. This is Zoey's family, we'll be meeting a lot of Zoey's family. It's going to be a lot of people. Do you understand?" Elliot asked Mai picking her up.

"Yes daddy." Mai said in a suspicious tone, like she had something on her mind.

"Ok then, what's with that tone." Elliot asked curiously.

"What tone? Did I say something wrong daddy?" Mai asked innocently.

"No, I guess not…you just said it differently, like you're planning something." Elliot said looking directly in her eyes.

"No daddy. I'm not planning nothing." Mai said innocently, looking as cute and as innocent as possible.

"Well, ok then. Go up to your room and play." Elliot said putting Mai down and watched her walk up the stairs to her room.

"What was that all about?" Zoey asked confused.

"I don't know, but I think she's got something working in her little mind. She may only be three, but I swear she's smarter then we give her credit for." Elliot said bewildered.

"Well, she is your daughter after all. What can you expect? She could turn out just as smart as you." Wesley said coming out of the kitchen.

"But even if she isn't as smart as me I'd still love her. I'll be happy as long as she's happy…and as long as she graduates high school. However, she turns out I'll love her no matter what…even if she were to turn out like her, but I won't let that happen…not without a fight anyways." Elliot said simply, looking up the stairs.

"Right, we'll all try to help you with that. Any who I'm going to take off now. I told them I'd be back soon to help them with something that mom wanted done. Bye." Zoey waved walking out the door.

"Bye." Elliot and Wesley called as Elliot went down to the lab and Wesley went upstairs.

Upstairs:

"So, Ms. Mia, what are you up to? Don't think I didn't notice that suspicious look on your face. You're planning something; you have that same look on your face that your daddy gets when he has something brewing in his mind. So what's going on in that little head of yours?" Wesley asked sitting on Mai's bed.

"…I'm gonna get a new mommy…" Mai said slowly.

"Ohh really? And who do you plan on getting for that?" Wesley asked curiously.

"…Zoewe… See? Here are da plans." Mai said coloring on some paper and showing Wesley, which to him looked just like scribbles, but to her they looked like actual plans.

"Oh…good idea. Let me know if you need any help." Wesley said getting up off the bed.

"Ump…Uncle Wesley?" Mai asked quietly.

"Yes, what is it?" Wesley asked looking at the young girl.

"Can you make lunch for daddy and Zoewe later?" Mai asked looking at him.

"Yeah, I can do that. When?" Wesley asked.

"…Umm…Saturday?" Mai asked quietly.

"That's good for me." Wesley said simply exiting her room.

Saturday:

So days went by and it was finally almost lunch time on Saturday and Zoey was just arriving at the café for a lunch date that Mai asked for.

Three days ago:

"Hanson residence, how may I help you?"Adam asked as he picked up the phone.

"Is Zoewe home?" Mai asked in a small voice.

"Yes, just a second." Adam said getting Zoey.

"Thank you." Mai said waiting.

"Hello? Mai is that you? Is everything ok?" Zoey asked concerned.

"Are you busy Saturday?" Mai asked quickly.

"No, why?" Zoey asked surprised by the quick question.

"Can you come have lunch with, me, daddy and Uncle Wesley Saturday?" Mai asked quickly.

"Umm I guess so. I think that'd be fine. Is everything ok?" Zoey said and then asked again.

"Ok, thank you. No, everything is good. See you then. Bye-bye." Mai said hanging up the phone leaving Zoey confused.

"She said yes. Now I have to ask daddy." Mai said as Wesley helped her down.

"Ok, well you go ask him then." Wesley said as she ran up the stairs to Elliot's room.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Mai called knocking on Elliot's door.

"What is it Mai? I thought you spending time with Uncle Wesley." Elliot said bending down to Mai's height.

"Zoewe's coming over Saturday for lunch. Do you want to join me, her and Uncle Wesley?" Mai asked looking at her daddy.

"Umm I guess. What time is it?" Elliot asked.

"Noon…" Mai said smiling.

"Ok. I guess it's a date." Elliot said looking at the little girl bounce up and down.

"Yes it is." Mai said bouncing up and down before going back downstairs to Wesley.

"Daddy said yes!" Mai cried jumping into Wesley's arms.

Present Time:

"So what's going on here?" Zoey asked as Elliot came downstairs to a table for two with a candle in the middle of it.

"I don't know. What is going on here?" Elliot asked as Mai struggled to pull out chairs for Elliot and Zoey.

"Your table is waiting." Mai said as they went to sit down.

"What about you?" Elliot asked as Wesley came out.

"I eating with Uncle." Mai said as Wesley brought out drinks.

"Thank you…I think." Elliot said as Mai disappeared and came back with a big plate of pasta for the two of them.

"Your food is served." Mai said setting it down on the table as best she could without dropping it off the floor.

"Enjoy." Wesley said as he picked Mai up and took her to the kitchen to watch.

"So…what do you think this is all about?" Zoey asked as they started to eat the pasta.

"I haven't the slightest idea." Elliot said.

So for about half an hour Elliot and Zoey laughed and had fun talking about whatever when Wesley brought out dessert.

About ten minutes later Mai came out.

"Yes, what is it baby?" Elliot asked as Mai stood there swaying back and forth.

"Are you in love yet?" Mai asked something that made both Elliot and Zoey cough and sputter.

"What was that?" Elliot shot out right away while Zoey turned red.

"Are you in love?" Mai asked again.

"Mai, what is this all about? I think Zoey and I are just friends." Elliot said once everything calmed down.

"Aww…now I'll never have a nice mommy who will love me like other mommy's." Mai cried as she walked away up the stairs to her room.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know she was planning this." Elliot said looking over at Wesley.

"I was just helping her; she really wanted this to work out." Wesley said walking into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry." Zoey said simply.

"No, it's not you. I'll be back; I have to go talk to her." Elliot said ascending the stairs.

"Ok." Was all Zoey said as she sat down at a table.

Upstairs:

"Mai, can I come in please?" Elliot asked as he knocked on her door.

"…I guess…" Mai said slowly, quietly.

"Mai…Zoey and I are just friends." Elliot said simply

"But you love her, daddy…Uncle Wesley says it all the time…and so do you when you sleep." Mai said making Elliot turn red.

"Well, that may be true, but Zoey, doesn't feel the same way. As for a mommy, I've told you before, not everybody has one. Not everybody has a daddy. And some people don't have either. I don't have either anymore; I only had Wesley for the longest time. But now I have not only him, but I have you as well." Elliot said looking at Mai who had tears starting to form.

"What happen to your mommy and daddy?" Mai asked quietly.

"They died in an accident a long time ago." Elliot said sadly looking into her eyes.

"That's why/when you met my mommy? And I'm a misake?" Mai asked tears pouring out of her eyes.

"That's one of the reasons I met your mother a few years ago, but that's not when I met her. I met her years after my parents passed away. As for you, no you're not a mistake. You certainly weren't planned, but you are NOT a mistake." Elliot said making himself perfectly clear to Mai, who by now was bawling her eyes out.

"Ok daddy. You promise I no misake?" Mai asked crying into his chest.

"I promise. I love you, my little princess, more than words can describe." Elliot said hugging her close.

"I-I-I lo-love yo-you too da-dad-daddy." Mai sobbed into his chest.

They sat like that for about fifteen minutes before Mai cried herself to sleep in his arms.

After another few minutes Elliot got up and put her into her bed before going back downstairs.

Once downstairs he was greeted by Zoey almost instantly.

"Is she ok?" Zoey asked right away.

"Yeah, she'll be ok; she cried herself to sleep." Elliot said leaning against a wall.

"Yeah…I kind of heard. My ears popped out for a little bit, and there's a vent nearby…I heard mostly everything that was said…Elliot, is it true? How you feel about me that is?" Zoey asked looking directly into his eyes.

"Zoey, I'm sorry, but yes, it's true. I do love you; I have since the first day I met you. I'm sorry because I can't help the way I fee…" Elliot started, but was cut off by surprise when Zoey kissed him.

"What was that?" Elliot asked shocked.

"I love you too Elliot. Not for as long as you've loved me, but a little while now. I guess, maybe a year or so now. It's just I'd been with Mark and I didn't know how to break it off with him. He was my first love after all. But I started to fall out of love with him when we came home from England. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Zoey said with some tears coming.

"Am I dreaming? Did I hear you right? Because if I did, you have no clue how long I've been waiting to hear those words come from you." Elliot said putting his hands on her shoulders.

"You're not dreaming, I meant it; I love you." Zoey said as Elliot leaned down and kissed her.

"Wow…it's about damn time." Wesley said walking in on them…more or less to make sure the coast was clear.

"Yeah, well no thanks to you." Elliot said looking at his best friend.

"Me? Oh no, no, no. This was all Mai's idea, I just helped. Which by the way, I think Mai will be happy about this." Wesley said pointing to the stairs, where there stood a sleepy Mai.

"Daddy? What's gowing on?" Mai asked rubbing her eyes.

"Well, do you think we should tell her?" Elliot asked walking over to Mai picking her up.

"I don't know. Do you think she's ready?" Zoey asked as Mai perked up a little.

"Tell me what?" Mai asked quickly.

"Well…daddy and Zoey…are going to start to date." Elliot said confusing Mai.

"What's date mean?" Mai asked.

"Umm…it's what most people do before they get married and become mommy's and daddy's" Elliot said as Mai's eyes widened.

"Zoey's going to be my new mommy?" Mai asked excited.

"I don't know. We'll have to see what happens." Elliot said simply.

"Don't you want to be my new mommy?" Mai asked Zoey.

"Maybe someday. Your daddy and I need to date awhile before I decide on that one. But possibly someday in the future." Zoey said simply, but she didn't think she'd get the response from Mai that she got.

"Yay!" Mai cried jumping out of Elliot's arms and into Zoey's giving her the biggest hug she could, making Elliot and Wesley chuckle.

At that point Zoey's came rushing in with a video camera and giant smiles on their faces.

"Mom, dad! What on earth are doing here and with a video camera none the less?" Zoey asked shocked.

"We just had a feeling, especially when Mai called a few days ago! We just had to get it all on camera. Our little girl's date with a real man!" Suzie squealed with delight.

"Yeah, he's defiantly a real man. Sure as hell not a boy like that other guy. Sure as hell better than that other guy as well. I never liked him from the beginning." Adam said simply looking at Mai.

"And you like Elliot?" Zoey asked shocked.

"Well hell yeah. He's a great guy who's not a deadbeat dad and is very responsible and doesn't try to rush things or push things on you." Adam said simply.

"Uh-huh…" Was all Zoey said as Mai clung to her.

Soon Mai was reaching for Elliot who took her easily and she leaned her head on his shoulder and soon fell asleep causing Suzie to whip out the video camera with all the oohs and aws.

So there you go

Tell me what you thought

Sorry it's been so long

Try to update sooner,

SarT55