A/N: This chapter is so fluffy you might get a cavity! But AngelaJordan fluffiness is always good (smiles).

Oh, the song "Here I Am" belongs to Marion Raven, not me.

And thanks LOTS and LOTS to my reviewers, especially Tereza8472, lifeONmars6277, anna42hmr, Bobcatgurly, echelongirl162, quardqueen22, and Eliza. I truly appreciate it! I take a lot of time when I write, it's great to know you enjoy the fruits of my labour (smiles again).

I don't own My So-Called Life... (tear), as much as I'd like to, I don't. So sad. Original characters belong to ME.

Chapter 3

"How did you know?" Angela asked, watching him with their daughter. He held Kelly so naturally. He supported her head, he whispered delicately in her ear. He stared at the baby in awe.

"I dunno…" Jordan answered, gently running a finger down Kelly's cheek. "She just… you know… looks like a Kelly." Tentatively, he lifted his daughter up and kissed her cheek. "Look, Angela…"

Angela had tears in her eyes. "Jordan… please…"

"I, uh, I just wanted to tell you that… you were the only person who ever like, expected me to become anything…" he handed Kelly back to her. "And… uh… I messed it up."

Was Jordan apologizing? The Jordan Catalano, that almost every girl in school wanted to sleep with, was apologizing to her?

"I wanted to say that… I'm sorry."

Sorry? He was saying sorry? He was! Good God, she never would have thought that Jordan Catalano would apologize, he seemed too bullheaded.

Angela could barely believe what she was hearing. It was a trick… it had to be a trick. Jordan Catalano hadn't come to apologize, he'd come to show how good a life he had without her, and how he only wanted to save face and move on.

"I'm not sure I believe you, Jordan…"

I'm not sure I believe you, Jordan.

Those words echoed through Kaelan's brain. Her plan had been working great, until she'd gone and said that! Geez, was she daft? Had childbirth melted her brain? Kaelan had certainly heard of 'Mommy Brain', but this was ridiculous! Couldn't she see that Jordan had just said the most intelligent thing to ever come out of his mouth? He was sorry.

She watched in horror as Jordan reached out to the woman he knew he had pushed away, in hopes that she would stop and listen.

It was no use. Angela carried the baby into the house and shut the door in Jordan's face.

Damn it!

Now Kaelan was going to have to go back, and try again.

And both Angela and Jordan were so damn stubborn! Neither of them were going to give in to the other, that was a well known fact.

And now Kaelan had to fix it.

Once she saw Angela go back into the house, she stationed herself on Angela's bed before Angela had made it up the stairs. When the door opened, Kaelan saw Angela jump and turn to put Kelly into her playpen.

"Why are you turning him away?"

"Because I don't believe him…" Angela answered. "I can't even, like, believe that something like that would come up."

"Angela," Kaelan drew out the last syllable, almost whining. "Jordan wants to be with you. He truly is sorry."

"When he shows me, then I'll believe him," Angela jingled the little hanging mobile to catch Kelly's attention.

"He adores that baby," Kaelan insisted. "He loves you; he just wants a second chance…"

"He has to show me…" Angela insisted again. "And until he does, he's not getting anything from me…"

"You have to write to her," Kaelan appeared next to Jordan as he lit a cigarette.

"I gotta what?" he mumbled around the cigarette is his mouth.

"You… have… to… write… to… her…" Kaelan slowly repeated. "I know how much trouble you've had with English, and how hard you've worked at it," she reasoned. "If you wrote to her, it'd show her how much she meant to you, and how hard you worked to get where you are."

"Where I am…" he laughed. "A teen dad who's baby's mom doesn't even want to, like, see him." He turned his head away and took a long drag on his cigarette.

"That's why I said write to her," Kaelan was getting frustrated. She disappeared not long after.

Jordan bumped his head off of Red's steering wheel.

"What's that?" Angela went to the door and picked up a piece of paper. She took it upstairs and sat on her bed. Unfolding it, she gasped as she read it.

Dear Angela,

Did I spell it right this time? I hope I did. I wrote this to show you that I'm really sorry, and I never meant to hurt you. You were the only person who thought I'd actually make something of myself, and I messed it up. Royally.

I want to make things right. Please…can we just talk?

Jordan.

Angela gasped. How could someone be so good to her? She'd been so horribly awkward and unaccepting she didn't even stop to see what he'd accomplished! When Kelly started crying because she needed a bath, Angela carried her to the bathroom and drew a lukewarm bath in the baby tub for her.

"Hello, Jordan…" Graham let him into the house. "Angela!" he called as Jordan wiped his feet.

"I'm upstairs!" she called back.

"Go on up, Jordan…" Graham liked the kid, he didn't seem dangerous.

Jordan gave a weak smile and went up the stairs. When he reached the top he turned and saw Angela bent over a baby bathtub, lightly squeezing a bubbly sponge.

"Who's my good girl?" she whispered as the water flowed like a steady stream on to the baby's tummy. He heard baby giggles and the water settled. "You are… Kelly's my good girl, yes she is." Angela squeezed the sponge again and gently let the water run over Kelly's head. "When Kelly finishes her bath, she's going to get a fresh diaper and a fresh sleeper and then she's going to have a nap…" she cooed. Jordan couldn't help but smile at the interaction between mother and daughter. He wanted to be a part of this, but how?

"I'll protect you, don't be scared…" He heard her voice. Angela sang? She had the most beautiful voice he'd ever heard. Something told him that Kelly liked to be sung to, especially in the bath. He got to see her smiling. His baby daughter was smiling. She had an ear for music, a lot like he did. She must've gotten it from him.

"No matter what, I will be there…" Jordan joined in, walking toward the bathroom.

"I'll be gentle, I'll be light…" Angela handed him the sponge and watched him run the sponge down the baby's arms.

"These are the words you whispered in the night…" Jordan leaned forward and kissed Kelly's forehead.

"Here I am…" they sang together and watched Kelly smile, lifting her arms up to splash at them. "Here I am…"

Angela turned her head to face him, her mouth agape as he set the sponge down on the counter. Careful not to endanger the baby, she lifted the three month old out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. As they walked toward the bedroom Angela shared with Kelly and set her on the change table, they walked in silence and worked to put Kelly into a fresh diaper and 'onesie'. Once she was back into her crib, Jordan took Angela's hand and whispered those three words she had waited so long to hear.

"I'm sorry, Angela…"

Kaelan smiled. She'd done her part so far, now it was up to Jordan and Angela to work it out.

She'd only intervene if necessary.

But somehow, judging by Angela's shocked expression and Jordan's arms wrapped around her; Kaelan didn't think she'd be needed.

Not yet, anyway.