"See you later Char!" I called as she made her way out the door. She waved at me as the door shut and I smiled, shaking my head. Now I can get the girl's surprise set up. Let's see, Keiko gets out from school at 3, I'll need to pick her up and Char won't be back till around 5. Maybe I can get Keiko to keep it a secret. I muttered, grabbing my car keys and wallet and making my way to the garage. I climbed into my Blue Lexus LF-LC and started the car. The car vibrated as the engine started and I tapped the accelerator. I grinned as a throaty growl roared from the car and I shifted the car into Drive and took off out of the garage.
I parked the car and stepped out, looking at my watch. 2:05pm stared back at me and I walked into the store. Let's see... I thought as I walked down the aisles of the store. I grabbed a few lavender scented candles. They were followed by a couple boxes of assorted chocolates. I paid for the items and was back in my car by 2:15pm. I started the car and headed for my next stop. I pulled up at the next store a few minutes later and walked in. I grabbed a hand basket and made my way through the supermarket. I put some chicken breasts in the basket, followed by a bag of sliced ham. I stopped and checked my planned recipe and grabbed a bag of sliced Swiss Cheese and some flour, paprika, butter, dry white wine, chicken bouillon granules, cornstarch and some heavy whipping cream. I also grabbed a couple bottles of sparkling grape juice. I paid for my items and loaded them into the back of my Lexus. I checked my watch as I sat down. 2:45pm. Time to go get Keiko. Thankfully, I got the shopping I needed to done.
3:00pm and I was sitting outside of Keiko's school. A teacher came up to my car and tapped on the window. I rolled it down.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Who are you here to pick up?" She asked. I noticed the two-way radio in her hand.
"Keiko Dunois. I'm her father." I said. The teacher nodded and said Keiko's name into the radio. I was waved around a corner and Keiko came out of the school. She looked around before I waved to get her attention. She smiled and climbed in the passenger side.
"Where's Mom? She usually picks me up." She asked, setting her school bag in the back seat.
"She got called in for work. I said I'd come get you since I was going to be out and about anyway." I replied, pulling away from the school and heading towards home. Keiko looked around the car, amazed. I grinned at her reaction and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. This activated a feature I had added to the car. A few seconds passed before L.A. Baby started playing through the speakers. She looked around the car, startled before I gestured to her phone in her pocket. She pulled it out and noticed that her phone's music was playing. I grinned. "Let's go have a look around L.A. What do you say?" I said, grinning when she nodded excitedly. I pressed down on the accelerator and we sped down the highway. The main drag of L.A. in the distance.
4:30pm my watch said as Keiko and I stepped into the apartment. I carried my purchases in and Keiko shut the door behind us.
"Hey, Keiko. Come here a second." I said as I set the bags on the counter and I heard her walk in as I found one of the boxes of chocolates. I turned and looked at her.
"Can you keep a secret?" I whispered secretly. She grinned conspiratorially and nodded. I smiled.
"Good, because I'm trying to surprise your mom tonight, but I need to get it ready first. Now I got this for you." I said, pulling out the box of chocolate. "As an incentive to keep quiet about our little secret. And I might need your help when she gets home from work." I finished, handing her the box. She grabbed it out of my hands and hugged me.
"It's our little secret, Dad." She said. I smiled at her.
"Thanks. Would you go set these around the apartment? I'll come light them in a minute." I said, handing her the bag with the candles. She nodded and walked out of the kitchen. I sighed. Now comes the fun part. I thought as I unpacked the rest of my purchases and hid the second box of chocolate in Char and I's room. I walked back into the kitchen and put the grape juice in the fridge to get cold and I started on the surprise dinner.
5:00PM
"I'm home!" I heard Char say as she walked through the door. I made sure the food was good before walking out of the kitchen. Char caught sight of me and sniffed the air.
"What smells so good?" She said, walking up to me. I stood between her and the kitchen as she stood on tip toe and kissed me. I kissed her and grabbed her before she could slip past me.
"A surprise." I said, getting a small pout from Char. She tried to get by me again and I spun her around to my front again. "That isn't ready yet." I added. I kissed her forehead and stepped back into the kitchen. She tried to follow and Keiko had the best timing.
"Mom. Can you help me with something?" She called from her room. Char huffed and turned towards Keiko's room. I sighed and checked everything. Everything was coming along good and I ducked my head out of the kitchen doorway. No Char in sight. I grabbed the lighter and ran into the dining room, lighting the candles Keiko had put in there. I checked again and ran into the living room, lighting those candles too. I darted back into the kitchen and looked at my watch. 5:25PM. I checked the food and it was ready, so I quickly set the table and brought the food out to the table. I made sure everything was ready before walking back to Keiko's room. I knocked, hearing the two girls giggling on the other side of the door. "Come in!" Keiko said. I opened the door.
"Dinner is ready, ladies. Char, would you come here?" I asked as Keiko ran past me towards the dining room. Char stopped next to me and I walked behind her and covered her eyes. She giggled and I kissed her head before we headed down the hall to the dining room. We walked into the room and Keiko was sitting at the table, patiently waiting. I sat Char in her seat and uncovered her eyes.
"Tonight's meal is Chicken Cordon Bleu II served over a rice pilaf, a favorite in France. It is served with a side of broccoli." I said, walking into the kitchen and grabbed the sparkling grape juice and a few wine glasses. I set the glasses down and poured out the grape juice. Char was grinning and Keiko seemed to like it. "Char, how'd I do?" I asked, sitting down. She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully before swallowing.
"Very well done!" She said, taking another bite. I looked at Keiko.
"You heard the lady, dig in!" I said, taking a bite myself. Keiko giggled and took a bite herself. The entire meal was silent as we enjoyed the meal.
Later, in the living room...
"Where'd your father go?" I heard Char say as I grabbed my next surprise in one of the back rooms and walked back out. Char heard me walk in and saw what I was carrying. She squealed and clapped. Keiko gave Char a look of, 'did you really just make that sound?' before turning to look at me as I sat on the ottoman in the center of the room. I strummed the guitar and adjusted the strings a bit before taking a breath and I began to sing.
And I feel,
All the faint morning light,
Filled with hope 'cause you're here in my life,
And we've gone,
From the edge of our souls,
Made it back to a place we call home.
You, see me through,
I was alone in the dark and the fear was my truth.
Yeah, all the things that you are,
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart,
And know that you are everything,
Let your heart sing and tonight, we light up the stars,
All that you are.
I feel wrong,
I'm so human and flawed,
I break down even though I'm still strong,
And time, will make fools of us all,
Builds us up, and then laughs when we fall.
You, pull me through,
When I'm alone in the dark and the fear was my truth.
Yeah, all the things that you are,
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart,
And know that you are everything,
Let your heart sing and tonight, we light up the stars,
All that you are.
You're the sound of redemption,
The faith that I've lost,
The answers I'm seeking no matter the cost,
You opened the window,
Now I can see,
And you taught me forgiveness by giving your love back to me.
Yeah, all the things that you are,
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart,
And know that you are everything,
Let your heart sing and tonight, we light up the stars,
All that you are.
Yeah, all the things that you are,
Beautifully broken, alive in my heart,
And know that you are everything,
Let your heart sing and tonight,
Let your heart sing and tonight, we light up the stars,
All that you are.
Oh I feel,
All the faint morning light,
Filled with hope 'cause you're here in my life.
I finished and looked up to see a tearful Char just before I was enveloped in her arms. I wrapped her in my arms. Keiko put her phone away after saving the video she had taken of me while I was singing.
"I missed you, so much." Char whispered into my neck.
"I missed the two of you so much. Not a day passed without the two of you on my mind." I replied in a whisper. I felt Keiko join us and I drew her into the hug. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long." I whispered.
A few hours later...
Keiko had been shooed to bed by Char and we were heading that way as well. She stepped into the room and took my breath away. The moonlight streaming into the room seemed to hug her and she shone. This wasn't the first time she took my breath away. And it won't be the last either, I'm sure. I thought. I sat on the edge of the bed, looking out of the glass door leading to the patio. I grabbed my phone and flipped through a few things before finding what I was looking for. I put my phone in my pocket as she stepped out of the bathroom, clad in my shirt she had taken years ago.
"Still got my shirt I see." I said, gesturing to the Marines logo across her chest. She smiled and nodded. I stood and pressed play on my phone. 'Satellite by Nickelback' began to play, filling the room with music.
"Dance with me, Char." I said, holding out a hand. She took it, a blush on her face. We wrapped each other in our arms and swayed around the room as the music played.
I know it's late but something's on my mind
It couldn't wait, there's never any time
'Cause life slips by without a warning
And I'm tired of ignoring all the space that's between you and me
Let's lock the door behind us,
They won't find us
Make the whole world wait
While we
Dance around this bedroom
Like we've only got tonight
Not about to let you go
Until the morning light.
You can be my whole world
If I can be your satellite.
Let's dance around this bedroom
Like tonight's our only night
Dance around this room,
I'll be your satellite
I'll be your satellite.
Do you recall how long it must have been?
Since any room held only you and me?
And every song that sings about it
Says that we can't live without it
Now I know just what that really means.
Let's lock the door behind us,
They won't find us
Make the whole world wait
While we
Dance around the moon,
You and I every night
Dance around this room,
I'll be your satellite
I can't believe the days turn into years
I hate to see the moments disappear
But tonight the sand is stopping
Take the hour glass and drop it
So we can stay inside this atmosphere
Dance around this room
I'll be your satellite,
I'll be your satellite.
Dance around the moon,
You and I every night
Dance around this room,
I'll be your satellite
Let's dance around this bedroom,
I'll be your satellite
I'll be your satellite
I'll be your satellite
I'll be your satellite
We locked eyes and kissed, reaffirming our love as I laid us on the bed. We barely separated as I covered us with the blankets and we fell asleep, tangled up in each other and smiles on our faces. Tomorrow, I started work at the US IS Academy.
Hi everyone! Okay for starters, I don't own anything in this story, except for my OC's Zeke and Keiko. The songs are 'All that you are by Goo Goo Dolls' and 'Satellite by Nickelback.'Second, first one to tell me the chapter when Char got the shirt gets a shoutout!