The next morning Maddy walked out of her room and into the kitchen. Her whole family was sitting at the table eating. Did I sleep late? She wondered. Glancing at the clock she realized that it was already 10 o'clock, usually she had been awake for hours by now. "Morning everyone." Maddy called out cheerfully.
"Morning sweetheart." Her mother said, "What is that you're playing with there?" Maddy hadn't realized she was playing with the necklace. "Oh don't play dumb Mom you know what it is." She replied playfully bumping hips with her mother as she got herself some coffee. "He told you he showed me? Jeez Mark, I wanted you to think I was surprised." Elisabeth said. Maddy walked back over to her mother, Zoe was standing by her now, and wrapped both of them in a side hug.
"Well he didn't show me. What is it?" Jim said wanting to know what was going on. His eldest daughter walked over and bent down a little so her dad could see the necklace, and lifted it a little for a better view. "It's a present from Mark. It's tags, it can hold pictures and music and everything." Maddy told him. "How did he manage getting you tags?" Jim asked. Zoe wanted to answer this question, "Me and Alicia convinced Commander Taylor." Zoe was very proud of herself for doing that. Just then, "Madelyn Shannon. What is that on your hand?" Jim asked fuming. She glanced down, noticing she grabbed the necklace with her left hand, she jerked her hand behind her back really fast. "Maddy answer me, now." "It's another present from Mark, Dad." Josh looked up now and was very into the conversation that was happening. "M-Maddy is that a.."Josh said.
"A what? Wait, an engagement ring? No Josh! " Maddy yelled almost spitting out her coffee. No one had noticed that Jim got up and was going to the door before Elisabeth was yelling at him. "Jim! Stop! Just because it's a ring doesn't mean he proposed. You bought me rings all the time when we were dating, and besides you know Mark would ask you for your permission first."
"That's just it Elisabeth!" Jim screamed. Elisabeth tilted her head confused, "What are you talking about?" "The other day, when I was in command, he talked to me about life and what he wanted. He said that one day he wanted to make Maddy his wife, so I kind of went off a bit and said she was too young and was only 16. But he said he knew and that he would wait and that was always his intention." Jim told her.
Maddy was taken aback a little. I can't believe he talked to my dad about marriage. "So what's the problem then, Jim?" Elisabeth asked not understanding why he was still so concerned about the ring. "What's wrong? My daughter's boyfriend told me he wanted to marry her and then two days later she has a ring! On her left hand, Elisabeth! Why aren't you worried?" "Jim, honey, it's just a promise ring. Like I said you gave me a lot of them while we were dating." Elisabeth said still trying to calm him down.
"Yeah, but that was me and you not Maddy and….that kid!" "That kid, Jim, is her boyfriend. And his name is Mark. It's no different than it was with us. The only difference is she's your daughter, if you've forgotten my father had this same reaction. And anyways, you love Mark, you just hate to admit it because he's with Maddy." She reminded her husband. "I do not! This is how I'm supposed to react Elisabeth, she is my daughter."
"Dad calm down. Please. It's just a promise ring, like Mom said," Maddy spoke up, "By the way Zo thanks for helping him pick it out." "No problem Mad. I had so much fun with him the other day." Zoe said smiling. "Zo! You helped him?" her father asked his youngest daughter. "Yes Daddy. I love Mark and I want him and Maddy to get married, so he can actually be my brother." Zoe said and he father about passed out. "Dad, Mark actually isn't that bad. He is pretty cool. He loves Maddy and treats her like a queen or like she's the only girl in the world, he would never let anything happen to her. And on the other hand he loves Mom and Zo and would do the same for them." Josh spoke up.
"Traitor! Josh, they are your little sisters and your mother. You're supposed to help me scare away any boys that get around them and help protect them." He yelled at his son. "Dad I am helping you protect them, but so is he! He isn't going to let anything happen to any of them. And I'm helping by realizing that he is good for Mad, Zoe, and this family. Have you ever seen Maddy so happy or even Zoe for that matter?" Josh said. Jim sighed realizing his son was right. "No but I just don't want to lose my little girl." He said looking at Maddy, who was getting up and walking over to him.
"Dad you aren't losing me. Me loving him doesn't mean I love you any less. There is enough room in my heart for both of you. You are my two favorite boys, the two men I can always count on to be there for me." She said reassuringly as she hugged her father. Josh cleared his throat, "And me Mad." "Yes and Josh, too." She laughed.
"Fine then. All Shannon's agree on Mark not being that bad. Guess I can't either." Jim said pulling his whole family into a hug. "Yes." They all said at the same time. Then there was a knock at the door. "Come in." Jim yelled at the door. In came Mark, pausing when he saw what was happening. "Umm I can come back later." He said. "No Mark come on in and join us in our little family group hug, since you are part of the family now." Maddy's father said. Mark couldn't believe what he just heard, but he walked over and joined in on the hug wrapping his arms around his girlfriend and Elisabeth.
Next chapter starts the time jump. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry for it being so short. REVIEW!