I own none of the characters from October Road nor do I own the song "He didn't have to be" By Brad Paisley
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My mama used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes
And then all of the sudden
Ah it seemed to strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope that I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
I met the girl who's now my wife about three years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted something more
Now here I stand surrounded by my family and friends
Crowded round the nursery window as they bring the baby in
And then all of the sudden
Ah it seemed to strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standing next to me
And I hope that I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Cause he didn't have to be
"Come on Latekka. Pull it together. Be a man and ask her." Eddie was giving himself a pep talk, as he walked into Sully's right after they opened. He has been trying to ask Janet out for weeks but he kept chickening out because he was terrified that she would say no. She was such and amazing, beautiful woman, too good for him so it wouldn't surprise him if she said no but he really wanted her to say yes. As soon as he saw her come behind the bar from the back, his heart skipped a beat and the butterflies in his stomach decided to take flight.
"Morning Latekka." Janet said brightly as Eddie made himself comfortable at the bar.
"Good morning Janet."
"So what'll it be? A cup of Sully's finest sludge?"
"Sounds good. Can I get it to go with..?"
"Cream and sugar. I know." As she passed by him to grab a cup he caught a whiff of her perfume and he savored the scent.
"God, how is it possible for someone to smell so damn good?" He thought to himself. He continued to watch/stare at her as she moved around the bar until she set his cup down in front of him.
"You okay Eddie?" She asked softly. "You look like you are about to puke."
"Huh? No. Yeah. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm sure." He attempted to hand his money to her but she wouldn't take it.
"It's on the house."
"Janet, take the money."
"Really Eddie, don't worry about it."
"You're going to get into trouble if you keep giving me free coffee every morning."
"What the boss doesn't know won't hurt him." She said. She flashed him a smile and returned to work.
Not wanting to seem too obvious he continued to sit at the bar and sip his coffee until Janet returned to him and asked if he needed anything else.
"No. I'm good." He managed to get out.
"Okay well, yell if you change your mind." As she started to walk away, Eddie called her back. "That was quick. What can I get you?"
"I uhhh, I was wondering…" He couldn't do it. "Never mind. I'll see you later." He abruptly stood and walked away, leaving Janet slightly confused. He got as far as the door when he turned around and returned to the bar. He was tired of being afraid. He wasn't leaving until he asked her out. "Hey Janet." Surprised when she heard his voice she walked over to the corner of the bar where he was standing.
"What's up Latekka? You are acting really weird."
"God, I'm so nervous." He mumbled. Janet opened her mouth to say something but Eddie continued to talk. He had to get it out. "Janet, would you like to go out with me tonight?" He said in one breath. He watched as his question registered on her face; first surprised, then confusion and finally happiness, or at least he hoped it was happiness.
"I'm sorry. I can't. I…"
"Hey it's fine. I have to get to work. I'll see you later Janet." Before he could be humiliated any further he hurried out of Sully's, ignoring the sound of his name being called. He rushed to his truck, so no one would see the humiliation in his handsome features. He started the truck and then he just sat there, staring out of the window. He couldn't believe that she said no. He thought that it would be a possibility but he still was in shock. He had wanted something more than a friendship for awhile now and he thought that she was the one; the one that he could be in a stable relationship with, the one he might marry and have children with, the one that he could grow old with and now it turned out that she was the one who wouldn't even go out with him and he needed to know why. If he knew, maybe he could change and then maybe she would go out with him. Shutting off the truck he climbed out and returned to Sully's. He caught her eye as soon as he walked in the door and he moved to a more private area of the bar. A couple minutes later she joined him.
"Look Eddie…"
"Janet I…" They both spoke at the same time.
"Go ahead." Janet told him. He looked so utterly devastated and her heart broke for him.
"You have no idea what it took for me to ask you out. I was so nervous and worried that you would say no and you did, so I gotta know, is it me? Do you not like me? Am I that much of an asshole or is there someone else and I'm too late? If it's me I can change if you would just give me a chance." Eddie never thought that he would be practically begging a woman to go out with him, but here he was, begging but he didn't care. He wanted a relationship with Janet that much.
"It's not you Eddie. I like you just the way you are."
"Then there is someone else?" Janet nodded. "Oh." He was silent for a moment. "Who is it?"
"Ian."
"Ian?" Suddenly a huge smile crossed his face. "Ian." Ian was Janet's seven year old son.
"I tried to tell you before you rushed out of here that I probably couldn't get a sitter for tonight but I would like to go out with you so maybe we can go another time?" An idea suddenly popped in Eddie's head.
"Bring Ian with us."
"Eddie that's sweet but not necessary. We can just go another night."
"It took me weeks to get up the nerve to ask you out and now that you have said yes, I don't want to wait. You, Ian and I, we'll have fun. What do you say?" He gave her puppy dog eyes and she found herself agreeing. "I'll pick you guys up about five. What kind of food does Ian like?"
"He's seven Eddie."
"Right. Pizza it is. Make sure that you guys dress so you will be comfortable outside."
"What are we doing?"
"You'll have to wait and see." His eyes were sparkling with excitement. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you tonight." With a smile, he walked out of Sully's and it took everything he had not to skip to his truck.
"I'm ready mom." Inn shouted as he ran into the living room.
"Go put a pair of jeans on." Janet told him. "We are going to be outside and it's going to cool down and I don't want you to be cold."
"I don't wanna wear jeans."
"I don't care. Go change now or you can go to Grammy's." Janet bluffed.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm not sure. Eddie won't tell me but I'm sure that it will be fun. Now, go change."
"Yes ma'am." As soon as Ian walked away there was a knock on her door. Checking the peephole and verifying that is was Eddie she opened the door.
"Hey." He said with a toothless grin.
"Hey yourself. Come on in." Stepping to the side, she opened the door and he came in.
"You look pretty." He told her and she felt a blush rising on her cheeks. She wasn't dressed fancy, just jeans and a casual shirt. "But then again, you always look pretty."
"Thanks." Janet watched as he pulled his arm out from behind his back and he handed her a bouquet of wildflowers. "Eddie they are gorgeous."
"I wasn't sure what your favorite kind of flower is, so I hope that you like them."
"I do. Thank you so much." Janet took a step forward, stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "I'm going to go put these in water." Eddie just nodded. His heart went into overdrive the second her lips touched his cheek. He knew he had it bad.
While waiting for her to return, he wandered around her small living room and looked at all of the pictures that filled the room. There were lots of pictures of Ian and a few of the two of them but he never saw a picture of Ian and his father and he made a note to ask if he was involved in Ian's life.
"What are you doing?" Eddie spun around when he heard a small voice.
"Hey little E. I was just looking at the pictures that your mom has of you."
"My name is Ian, not little E."
"Sorry about that. I know your name is Ian. I just called you little E cause when I say your name it sounds like I'm saying E."
"I'm not little either." Great, the kid hates me. Eddie thought as Janet walked back into the living room.
"Don't be rude Ian. What do you say to Eddie?"
"Sorry Eddie." He mumbled.
"He wasn't being rude Janet. Ian here was just clarifying some things for me."
"Yeah, sure he was." Janet looked at Eddie and then Ian and smiled. "Well I feel a little out of place here since you both are wearing Red Sox tee-shirts." She joked. Ian has been going through a baseball stage for the two years and the majority of his clothes had the Boston Red Sox logo on them so she wasn't surprised to see him in one but she was surprised to see Eddie wearing one. If he wore a tee shirt he had a bigger, baggier shirt over it but not tonight. He just had the tee shirt on and he looked damn good. The tee shirt hugged his muscles nicely.
"Do you have a Sox tee-shirt?"
"What kind of question is that Latekka?"
"Then go put it on and you won't feel out of place." Both boys were smiling at her.
"Fine." She looked at her son. "Be polite while I'm gone."
"Yes ma'am." Eddie marveled at what a good kid Ian was and how he respected his mother. He knew that Janet had been raising Ian on her own and so far she has done a hell of a job.
When Janet returned five minutes later, in a Boston Red Sox tee shirt they began their night. Janet's curiosity peaked when they drove out of town and as much as she begged, he wouldn't tell her where they were going. The only thing Janet could figure out was from the familiar direction they were driving, they were heading to Boston. Confusion set in when Eddie pulled into a small pizza joint, made them wait in the car and returned with a large pie. She wondered if he was planning on them eating dinner in his truck but five minutes later he pulled into a park. "I thought that we could have a picnic." He announced. "Is that okay?"
"I think that is a great idea? What about you Bear?"
"Can I play on the playground?" Ian asked.
"After you eat."
"Okay. A picnic is cool." They piled out of the truck, Eddie grabbed the pizza, a bag and cooler from the back of his truck and they made their way to a picnic table. He made Janet and Ian sit and relax while he took control. He pulled out plates and napkins from the bag and he gave them each a couple of slices. He then pulled out Coke, Pepsi, Root beer, Sprite and juice boxes from the cooler.
"I wasn't sure what you liked to drink, Coke or Pepsi so I brought them both and I didn't know if Ian was allowed to have pop so I brought juice if he wasn't. My mom said that some kids are allowed pop but as long as it has no caffeine so if that's the case I brought Sprite and Root beer cause I don't know what he likes." He explained.
"I'll take a Coke and I do allow Ian one pop a day without caffeine and he likes both so the Sprite or Root beer is fine." Janet was touched at the effort he was putting forth to make sure that both she and her son had everything they could want for this picnic. No one has ever done that for them before.
"Little E, what would you like?" Eddie asked him, hold a can of each in front of him.
"Root beer please." Eddie handed him the can. "Thank you." Eddie noticed that he didn't correct him on the nickname he had given him and he took that as a good sign. As they began to eat Eddie noticed that Janet was picking the pepperoni off of her plate and giving it to Ian.
"You don't like pepperoni?" He asked and she shook her head. "Oh Janet, I'm sorry. I just assumed that everyone liked pepperoni."
"It's no big deal. A lot of people assume the same thing. I'm used to picking it off and Ian loves getting extra pepperoni."
"I should have asked you what you like. God, I'm so sorry." Janet reached out and placed her hand on his arm.
"Relax, it's all good." She told him with a smile. "This has been the perfect evening." She pulled off a few more pepperoni and tossed them on his plate. "See now you get some extra."
"Can I go play now?" Ian spoke up. Checking his plate and finding it empty, Janet gave him permission to go play while Eddie and Janet finished their dinner in comfortable conversation.
After dinner they piled back in Eddie's truck and made their way to Boston, Ian and Janet still unaware of their destination. Janet could tell that Ian liked Eddie because he is normally a shy and timid kid but with Eddie he was outgoing and confident and Janet loved it. "Mom look, it's the stadium." Ian shouted suddenly.
"I see it Bear." Ian loved anything baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox. Janet saves up her money and takes him to at least one game a year, usually one with fireworks and they make a whole production out of it. They eat all of the stadium food, she buys him whatever souvenir that his heart desires and her boy is walking on cloud nine for at least a month afterwards. "There must be a game tonight. Traffic is crazy." She commented.
"There is a game mom. They are playing the Cleveland Indians at 7:30." Ian told her. Of course he would know that. He has their entire schedule memorized.
"Did you remember to DVR it?" She asked him and he nodded. "Good." Janet glanced over at Eddie and saw a huge grin across his face and it finally came together. "Tell me you didn't." She whispered, thankful that Ian was distracted by the hoards of people.
"I don't know what you are talking about." He answered as he pulled in to park.
"Why are we parking? Are we going to the game?" Ian piped up from the back.
"We sure are. How does that sound Little E?"
"It sounds so totally awesome. You're the best Eddie." Janet remained silent until Eddie parked his truck.
"You okay Janet?"
"Can I talk to you outside for a minute?" He nodded. Janet turned the radio up and she turned around to Ian. "Stay." She ordered and he nodded.
"What did I do wrong?" He asked when she joined him.
"Nothing Eddie. You've done nothing wrong."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Ian."
"Ian?"
"Because of this game my son is falling into adoration and worship mode where you are concerned. He's like me. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I don't want him to get hurt. I can't just think about me. Ian is and always will be my first priority."
"And he should be. I don't want to hurt him."
"I believe that and I don't think that you ever intentionally hurt Ian because if you did then I would have to straight kick your ass." She gave him a small smile and he grinned.
"So..?"
"What happens if and when you and I don't work out and you disappear out of my life and subsequently Ian's? He will be devastated and I can't do that to him. I know that this is our first date but first dates are the beginning of a beginning right?" He nodded again. "What if our beginning doesn't have a happily ever after? I can handle that but my son can't."
"Why are you thinking the worst possible outcome Janet?"
"Because it's happened before. Ian was only three and thankfully he doesn't remember but I do. I remember when the man that Ian had come to know and probably love walked out of his life when he walked out of mine how hard it was for both of us and I can still hear him asking why he didn't love us anymore. Because of that asshole, I am very apprehensive about bringing men into my life and I haven't since but you, you're different. He already knows you and when you offered to bring Ian with us tonight I thought it would be just a movie and that would be okay but this, the picnic, the game…"
"I want a relationship with you Janet, a serious relationship. My God, it took me weeks to get up the nerve to ask you out, something that has never happened before." He smiled at her and she couldn't help but return it. "Do you think that I have ever put this much effort into a first date? Hell no I didn't. It was usually a fly by the seat of my pants kinda thing. Randomly pick a restaurant, usually as I'm driving around and end the night with having sex. I don't want that with you." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he realized how bad they actually sounded. "I didn't mean it like that. I want to have sex with you, I really want that but we are just beginning. I want this relationship to be different then any relationship that I had ever had before and one of the first things is I want to work towards the privilege of sleeping with you. Do you understand?"
"I do." She whispered softly.
"We've been friends for a few years know Janet and I know how important Ian is to you. When I first figured out that I wanted something more than a friendship with you I knew that Ian is part of that and to me that is a bonus to all that is you. Not only do I want a relationship with you Janet but I want one with Ian as well." Janet felt tears fill her eyes but she determined not to cry.
"But what if…"
"What if we get started and then break up?" She nodded, afraid to speak. "I hope like hell that doesn't happen but if it does I am promising you right now, that I will not walk out of Ian's life. If it's okay with you I want to still be involved with Ian until someone else comes into your life that can take over. Every boy needs a father figure."
"This is only our first date. How do you know that you will want to continue that role if it doesn't work out between us?"
"I know because I can't imagine abandoning a child, even if he is not mine and I can't explain it Janet but I just know that it is going to work between us so honestly, I have nothing to worry about."
"Do you promise?"
"I promise." He saw that she was scared so he pulled her to his chest for a hug and when she lifted her face to his to say something he was unable to hold back. He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss. "Not exactly how I pictured our first kiss, outside in a parking lot with Ian watching out the window of the truck but I couldn't wait any longer."
"Please Eddie, don't hurt my boy."
"I would rather die." He said and Janet believed him. "We should get going. Ian looks like he is going to piss his pants if we don't get in that stadium."
"Thank you for this. He will never forget it." They reluctantly pulled apart and Janet went to get Ian while Eddie shut off his truck. As soon as he was outside she knelt down to his level. "Don't you dare ask Eddie for anything during this game. He has done enough by bringing us here and I don't want you suckering him into buying you a bunch of souvenirs. If I hear you so much as ask for a drink, you and I will come back out here and wait in the truck until it's over. If you're thirsty or hungry you ask me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Make sure you tell Eddie thank you for this wonderful evening too."
"I will."
"You two ready?"
"Oh yeah." Ian exclaimed happily. Janet sent him a look and Ian threw his arms around Eddie's leg. "Thank you so much Eddie for bringing me and mom to the game." Eddie fluffed his dark curly hair.
"No problem kiddo. It's my pleasure." Ian pulled away from Eddie's legs, took one of his hands so Eddie held out his free hand for Janet and the three of them walked into the stadium.
The three of them, especially Ian had the time of their lives at the game. Eddie sat in between the two of them and he held Janet's hand the entire time except when he was clapping. When they first walked into the stadium he stopped and bought them all drinks and hotdogs, because according to him, you can't go to a baseball game without a stadium dog. When Eddie asked Ian if he wanted a hot dog, Ian looked terrified because he was afraid that if he said yes then his mom would march him right out to the truck. A look of relief passed over his face when Janet nodded. After a trip to the bathroom the boys both returned with giant foam fingers.
"I didn't ask." Ian said as soon as he saw his mother's face.
"Neither did I." Eddie asked. "I just bought it and gave it to him."
"You're spoiling him."
"What the hell did you do? Threaten him?" She nodded. "Why?"
"Because I know my child and if I didn't threaten him he would have asked for everything, you would have bought it and then when he came back to reality I would end up being the bad guy when I say no and besides, you have already done too much."
"Not nearly enough and believe me, it's been my pleasure." Janet smiled and laid her head on his shoulder.
During the seventh inning, the sun had gone down and Janet left her coat in the truck so without thinking twice Eddie gave Janet his coat. It didn't surprise Janet that Ian stayed awake for the entire game and ten minutes after he was in his seat he was sound asleep. When they got back to Janet's apartment Eddie carried him inside and put him in bed and then Janet changed him into his pajama's, kissed his head and went to the living room to join Eddie.
"Would you like a beer?"
"I would love a beer." Smiling, Janet went into the kitchen grabbed two beers, returned and handed Eddie his. He patted the seat next to him and she joined him. "Damn, this tastes good. I always have a beer or two at the games but I didn't want to risk driving home with Ian in the car."
"You are very thoughtful, giving up beer for the sake of my son." Eddie set his beer down and slowly moved closer to Janet.
"This was the best first date of my life."
"Mine to." He was now so close to her that their thighs were touching.
"I hope that this is the last first date that I will ever go on." He was inching his face towards hers.
"That would be nice." He was so close she could feel his breath on her face.
"I really want to kiss you right now."
"I really want you kiss me right now." In an instant Eddie's lips were on Janet's and this time, it wasn't just a quick gentle kiss. This was a kiss full of passion that left them both breathless and when they got their breath back they did it again, and again, and again for at least an hour. Neither of them had ever felt anything like what they were feeling before.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." He said with a grin as she settled against his chest. His fingers immediately began running his fingers through her dark, soft curls. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Where is Ian's dad?" Janet figured that was what he was going to ask.
"Who the hell knows and frankly, I don't really care."
"What's the story with you two?"
"His name is Alex. We met when I lived in Boston. I knew going into the relationship that he didn't want children and at that point in my life because I was so obsessed with my job, I was okay with that and honestly, I wasn't counting on anything long term with him. We used condoms most of the time and if we didn't then he relied on the old "pull out and pray method." Well obviously he didn't pull out quick enough or pray hard enough because I got pregnant. He offered me money for an abortion and I refused so before Ian was even born he signed over his parental rights. He has never even met Ian."
"Does he help you out financially at all?"
"Nope. When he signed away his parental rights he signed away any financial responsibility towards Ian which is fine by me. I don't want his money when he doesn't want his own son."
"So you have been raising Ian all by yourself?"
"No not all by myself. I moved back home because I'm not stupid and I knew that I was going to need help and my family has been amazing. With my schedule at the bar I am able to get Ian off to school and then go to work. The bus drops him off at my parent's house and they watch him until I get off of work and if they can't do it then my sister helps out. My family has been amazing."
"What did you do in Boston?"
"I have a degree in art history and I worked at the art museum. I loved it."
"Do you want to go back?"
"Not now. Knights Ridge is the best place to raise Ian and his stability and happiness is all that matters to me. Maybe one day, I'll go back but for now I'm content working at Sully's serving up beer and the money isn't so bad."
"If you could would you change anything?"
"Not a damn thing. I love Ian so much it makes my heart hurt and if it didn't happen like it did then I wouldn't have him and I can't imagine my life without him in it."
"You are undeniably the most amazing woman that I have ever met."
"No. There are other single mother's out there who have it a lot worse than I do."
"That's true but I don't know them. Janet, to me you are amazing." He lifted her face to his and he kissed her again.
Over the next nine months Eddie and Janet's relationship progressed wonderfully as did Ian and Eddie's relationship. At least once a week, sometimes twice Eddie and Janet would go out alone and some nights Janet's parents or sister kept Ian overnight so they could make love without the fear of interruption. When they weren't out on their dates Eddie was hanging out at Janet's apartment or taking them both out. Ian adored Eddie and the feeling was mutual on Eddie's behalf. If for some reason Eddie wasn't able to tuck him in at night, Ian wouldn't go to sleep unless he could talk to him on the phone. The biggest surprise to Janet was the fact that Eddie's family, his parents, his brother and sister accepted her and more importantly Ian with open arms and hearts. Eddie took his girlfriend and her son over to his family's house on Christmas and they had gifts for both of them to open. Eddie's family was wonderful to her and Ian and she knew that they truly loved her son and that's what mattered most to her.
"We need to get up and dressed." Janet mumbled as Eddie placed kisses up her naked body.
"I don't wanna." He replied into her breast.
"I wish we could stay like this for the rest of the night but Ian will be home from scouts soon and I really don't want him walking in on us." Janet pushed him off and climbed out of her bed. Since Ian started boy scouts, Eddie and Janet had used their time alone to make love since they didn't get to do it that often. "And I haven't even started dinner yet and I know that you are starving."
"Damn right I am. I always work up an appetite when we make love."
"Hurry up and get dressed." She quickly kissed him and left him to get dressed.
Ten minutes later Eddie was walking out of her room and Ian was walking in the apartment. "Hi Bear. How was scouts?" Janet asked.
"Fine." Ian mumbled quietly.
"Just fine?"
"Yeah mom. Just fine."
"Hey little E. What goes on?" Eddie greeted.
"Nothing." Ian placed some papers on the table. "I'm going to my room."
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Janet asked him.
"No."
"Okay then. I'll call you when dinner is ready." Ian nodded and went to his room. Janet went and picked up the papers that he set down and she knew immediately why he was upset. She handed it to Eddie to read and he sighed. "You know, I get that they do this damn camping trip every year, but do they have to call it "A father/son camping trip." What about the kids like Ian, whose dad's aren't in their lives? How do they think it makes them feel?" Janet was furious because her baby was hurting.
"Janet can I take him?"
"What?"
"If it's okay with Ian I would like to take him."
"Oh Eddie, he would love that." She hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much."
"You don't have to thank me. I want to do this. I'm going to go talk to him." Eddie walked over to Ian's room and knocked on the door.
"Go away." Ian called
"Please little E, can I come in?"
"Fine." Eddie walked into Ian's room and sat next to him on the bed.
"So, father son camping trip huh?" Ian nodded. "Do you want to go?"
"I can't because my dad didn't want me."
"Why do you think that?"
"The night of the baseball game I got up to pee and I heard mom telling you that my dad never wanted me." Ian said softly and Eddie saw tears falling down his cheeks.
"That may be true Ian but he has no idea what an amazing kid you are and what he is missing by not being your dad and it's not so bad with just your mom is it?" Ian shook his head.
"You're the closest thing that I have ever had to a dad."
"And you, Little E are the closest thing that I have to a son which is why I want to take you on the camping trip."
"Really, you want to take me on the camping trip?"
"I do so what do you say? Can we go camping?"
"Oh yeah. That would be so awesome."
And it was so awesome. Both Ian and Eddie had the time of their lives. Eddie taught Ian how to put up a tent, start a great campfire and how to make the best and gooiest s'mores ever. They hiked through the woods together, looking for what Ian needed to earn his badges. They went fishing, swimming, canoeing, and the caught frogs in the streams. This camping trip was everything that Ian had ever dreamed of and it was all because of Eddie.
"Hey Ian, can I talk to you about something important?" Eddie asked their last night once they settled in their sleeping bags for the night.
"Sure."
"I love your mom very much."
"I know. You tell her all of the time. She's love you too."
"I love her so much that I want to ask her to marry me."
"Okay."
"Before I can do that though I need to make sure that it's okay with you. I want you to give me your permission.'
"Why?"
"Because you are the most important person in your mom's life and I know that she won't agree to marry me if you're not okay with it."
"Yeah you can ask her."
"Do you think that she'll say yes?"
"She'll say yes." Ian said confidently.
"There is something else that I want to talk to you about." Ian was silent so Eddie assumed that he could continue. "If your mom says yes and after we get married I would like to adopt you. I want to be your dad."
"You want to be my dad?"
"I do. I love you Ian, like a father loves a son. I don't ever want another camping trip to come around and you feel like you can't go because you don't have a dad. I want to teach about girls and man things. Will you let me be your dad?"
"What if you and mom have more kids?"
"What if we do? It won't change anything between you and me. I love you Ian, so much and that is never going to change."
"I want you to be my dad." Eddie pulled Ian into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"I want that too, more than you'll ever know." Eddie kissed his head. "Let's get some sleep. We've got to get up early." Both boys settled in for the night and he was almost asleep when he heard Ian.
"Eddie?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I call you dad?" Eddie smiled in the darkness.
"I would like that but do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Don't start until I ask your mom to marry me. I don't want to ruin the surprise."
"What about if she's not around?"
"I guess that will work."
"Good night. I love you dad." Tears filled Eddie's eyes when Ian spoke those simple words.
"I love you too son." Eddie answered in a choked voice.
Eddie and Janet were married a year later and six months after that Ian Daniel Meadows officially became Ian Daniel Latekka. Three days after their first wedding anniversary, Eddie, Janet and Ian welcomed a pair of identical twin girls, Carlie and Sadie Latekka and never once did Ian ever feel that his father loved his biological girls more or differently then him. In fact, Ian and Eddie had a very close relationship and they needed to be close because their home was ruled by the three girls. Sure, Ian and Eddie had their fights like any father and son have but their bond remained strong over the years. Eddie gave Ian "the talk" and when he was older he gave him the "other talk" and showed him how to correctly put on a condom so there wouldn't be any accidents and when Ian got a serious girlfriend Eddie taught him the difference between sex and making love and gave his son a few tips to help him out. Over the years, the two go into so real knock down, drag out fights that could last for days because both of the Latekka men could be very stubborn but they always ended up making up. As Ian grew up Eddie was there supporting and teaching him. Eddie taught him how to play football and supported him when he chose to pursue baseball instead. They went on camping trips and fishing trips together and they couldn't count the number of baseball games that they attended and they both cherished all the time that they spent together.
When Ian met the woman that was the one, she had a daughter whose father was MIA he knew what he had or wanted to do. He grew up with a father who didn't have to be. Eddie stepped in when a seven year old boy needed a dad and filled those shoes and now it's time for Ian to pay it forward, to be a dad to a precious little girl that he doesn't have to be.
I had so much fun writing this one and I could have written so much more. I hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Thanks for your awesome feedback on the last song.