A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates guys! I have too many thoughts going on in my head. I was debating this chapter for a long time I wasn't sure which way I wanted to go with it but I finally decided...sorry if its too cliche. I hope you enjoy it!
Emma leaned against the door frame to the kitchen clad in a white nightgown. She crossed her arms over her chest and cleared her throat to catch her husband's attention.
Will jumped in his seat, startled by the sudden noise and turned to Emma with a deer in the headlights look. She cocked an eyebrow at him and his mouth twisted up in a sheepish grin.
She sighed as she walked towards the table. "Will what are you doing?"
He gave her a clueless look. "I'm getting a little snack before bedtime Em."
Her eyebrows shot up and she walked a few steps more towards him. "Will, honey, there's no food on the table."
Will glanced down at the empty table and bit his lip. He sighed heavily and his shoulders visibly slumped as he rested one arm against the table. "Okay, you caught me."
"Will..." She dragged out his name in sing song and went to stand behind him slipping her arms around his neck and resting her head on top of his curls. "Honey, come to bed."
"I can't." Will muttered in response and rested his chin in his palm. Emma lifted her head and started to comb her fingers through his hair. "Will..." She whined quietly and he groaned lightly from the back of his throat. "Please..." She whispered into his ear.
Will's darkened eyes turned to lock onto hers. "You still got it woman." He growled lowly and she chuckled gripping onto his shoulder.
"Come on Will." She started for the doorway but at the failure to hear any noise turned around to face Will. He still sat where she had left him and stared at her with puppy dog eyes.
Emma sighed heavily and walked back over to him and scooted onto his lap, wrapping her arms lightly around his neck. "Will, you can't stay down here all night."
"I'll stay down here as long as I need to." Will answered, glancing at the doorway.
She lifted a hand to his face and rubbed her palm against his stubble. "She won't be happy with this Will."
Will looked away from the doorway and settled his eyes on his wife. She offered him a small smile. "She won't Will and you know it."
Will frowned and quietly leaned his head forward to rest on Emma's shoulder. "Why is this so hard?" He mumbled against the clothing of her nightgown.
Emma slipped her arms around him and rested her chin on top of his curls. She ran her fingernails up and down his back like she often did when her children needed comforting.
"Because you love her." Emma whispered into his hair. "She's your daughter Will. Your first born and your little girl but she's growing up and we need to let her do that. It's only her first date Will and she's fifteen its not like she's getting married."
Will groaned loudly against her. "Don't mention the 'M' word." He lifted his head to see Emma smiling sympathetically down at him. "How are you so calm about this?" He shook his head in utter confusion.
"Because I want this for her." Emma answered. "Will, when I was her age I wouldn't go near a boy. There were a few very rare occasions when I had a small crush on a boy but my condition would keep me far away from them. No boys liked me either except for one boy who I tried to date but on the first date he brushed against my hand and I completely flipped out. He never spoke to me again after that. Will I am so incredibly relieved that she is normal. That she can be around a boy without crying, that boys actually like her and want to go out with her."
Will sighed heavily. "But boys are so immature at her age, we both know that Em, we work with fifteen year old boys every day."
"Yes." Emma agreed with a small nod. "However, not all fifteen year old boys are jerks. Ian is a very nice boy Will, I see him every so often, he's very sweet, gets good grades, and he's on the baseball team. You met him when he picked her up Will, you saw how sweet he was."
"He's also very attractive...and a jock."
Emma gave him a look. "So..a man can't be attractive, well-fit and a nice guy?" Emma raised her eyebrow. "Because it seems to me I have one of those men right in front of me."
Will sighed but cracked a small smile. "Yes but Emma, I'm fifty years old. That's a big age difference."
"I met you when you were in your late twenties Will, we married when we were in our thirties and I have heard plenty of stories from your parents about how you were always the gentlemen when you were a teenager. You have been the same way all your life Will and perhaps Ian will be too." She pressed a light kiss to his forehead and ran her fingers through his curls. "Besides, even if he wasn't we can't keep her sheltered her entire life."
"I'm her father Emma." Will's brow furrowed in a serious expression. "It's my job to protect her from harm."
"We have to raise her so she can live on her own, so she can protect herself." Emma responded. "We can't do that if you try to keep her your baby girl forever."
Will frowned heavily and turned his gaze to the ground. "She grew up too fast." Will chocked out in a near whisper.
Emma's forehead came to rest on Will's and she continued to rub his back gently. "I know." Emma whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"I'm not ready for this Emma." Will admitted in a weak voice after a few moments of silence. "I can't give her up."
"You're not going to give her up Will." Emma strived to reassure her husband. "You just have to share her now."
"I'm not too fond of sharing my baby girl with immature, sex-craving teenagers." Will grumbled and narrowed his eyes slightly. "What if he does something to her Emma? What if he pushes her beyond her comfort zone?"
"I think that we raised her with a lot of sense." Emma answered confidently. "You know our daughter Will, she's hesitant around people. She's not going to allow anyone to touch her in a way that she does not want to be touched."
Will shook his head slowly. "I'm still not very comfortable with this."
"No one parent is ever totally comfortable with their child growing up." Emma replied and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I'm not either. I'm worried about her too, I don't want her to get her heart broken but that is all a part of life and if it does happen we have to be there to comfort her."
Will clenched his jaw tightly and shook his head. "This Ian character better not hurt her or I might be forced to do something that would cost me my job."
Emma slapped his back and gave him a look. "Will." She scolded and he sighed.
"I'm not going to let him get away with hurting my baby Emma." He replied glancing up to meet her eyes.
"He didn't do anything, Will. Jen is probably having a wonderful time with Ian." Emma gave him a small smile. "Don't go pulling out a shotgun just because you think that he might hurt her."
Will rolled his eyes. "I'm not that dramatic."
"Because you don't have a shotgun." She shot him a pointed look. "Will, you waiting down here for her is just as bad."
Will's hardened face softened as realization spread across his face. He groaned lowly and let out a breath through pursed lips. "How did this happen, Em? I never wanted to be that kind of father."
"You're used to being Prince Charming Will, swooping in and saving your damsel in distress. It's time for Jen to find her own Prince Charming and if she finds some bad apples along the way you need to let her live her own mistakes." Emma explained.
Will bit his lip in thought for a few moments, staring off at the wall across from the table. Emma played with the curls at the nape of his neck while she waited for him to process the information.
A small smile tugged at his lip and his eyes lifted to meet hers. "I should really start to pay you for this." He chuckled. "You really are an amazing advice giver."
Emma grinned down at him and shifted her body so she was straddling his waist. Her hands rested on the base of neck and she lifted one eyebrow. "Tell you what, since you are my husband, I'll let you pay me in another way."
"Mmm I like the sound of that." Will smirked as Emma's lips came down onto his in a meaningful kiss.
Emma pulled away and slithered off of Will's lap, leaving him craving for more. Will stared at his wife from across the room and she gave him her best 'come hither' look.
The smirk grew on his face and he licked his lips. "Go upstairs. I'll be there in a minute."
Emma gave him a suspicious look but he smiled reassuringly at her.
"Alright." She agreed with a sigh. "But listen Schuester, if you're not up there in a minute I will come down to get you."
Will chuckled softly. "Is that a promise?"
Emma winked at him and then turned out of the room to head up to their bedroom. Will stared at the empty doorway until he heard Emma's footsteps disappear.
He rose from the chair, pushed it in and then went to get a glass of water. After he downed the glass and washed the glass he started for the doorway. He shut the light to kitchen, just leaving the hallway light on for when his daughter got home.
He reluctantly started for the staircase but just as he reached the stairwell he heard the front door opening. He furrowed his brow and backed away from the stairs, peeking around the corner to the front door.
His eldest daughter stood in the doorway, closing the door behind her and with her head bowed. He took a quick glance at the clock in the living room and realized that she was home an hour earlier than she told him.
He stepped into the hallway and observed Jen who failed to notice his presence. She walked slowly down the hallway, she didn't take off her coat or her shoes which Will knew that Jen knew that that was one of Emma's stricter rules that she always obeyed.
Will felt his heart sink at the sight of his obviously distraught daughter. Emma had managed to convince him, if only for a minute, that Jen would be okay on her date but all of that worry had come back and along with it, anger.
"Jen?" Will called out into the silence. Jen gasped and she visibly jumped, her head flew up and she placed her hand over her heart. "Dad," She whispered, "You scared me."
Will felt his heart breaking at the sight of her eyes obviously red rimmed and glossy. He took a few steps closer and Jen tensed and wiped at her eyes, averting her gaze from her father.
"What are you doing up?" She asked.
"I came to get a glass of water." He explained and hitched a thumb over his shoulder. "What are you doing home? Did someone drop you off? I didn't hear a car."
Jen bit her lip and she shook her head slowly. "No I-I um, I walked." She finished in a quiet voice.
Will's eyes widened. "You walked?" He cried and she flinched and then nodded quietly.
He turned his attention to the window where it had been dark outside for over two hours. He narrowed his eyes and suddenly wanted to find that kid and show him exactly why it was a bad idea to leave a fifteen year old girl alone to walk home in the dark.
He was pulled out of his angry thoughts by a small whimper. Will turned his gaze towards Jen who was still trying to avoid his eyes. His face softened and he tried to calm himself down.
"I'm sorry Daddy." She whimpered. Will frowned heavily and he quickly hurried over to her, taking the petite redhead into his arms.
Jen wrapped her arms around him tightly and buried her face into his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay baby, you have nothing to be sorry about."
"I should have called you or Mom for a ride." Jen mumbled into his shirt. "But I was just so-so embarrassed."
Without a word, Will slowly led her into the living room, never loosening his grip on her. He lowered both of them to the couch and Jen cuddled up to his chest.
"What happened Jen?" Will inquired as he continued to stroke her hair.
"I feel so stupid." She whispered and stared ahead at the stainless white carpet. "He never even liked me."
Will felt the anger growing in him but he beat back the protective father in him and remembered Emma's words, 'I don't want her to get her heart broken but that is all a part of life and if it does happen we have to be there to comfort her.'
"Did he do anything inappropriate to you?" Will asked trying to keep his voice even.
Jen shook her head rapidly. "No, no, it was nothing like that it was just..." She sighed. "He used me Dad."
Her eyes watered and she let a few tears slip down her cheeks and land on Will's shirt. "He said that I was a nice girl but he didn't have any interest in me." She whimpered.
Will's heart rate picked up with every passing word and he wanted nothing more than to have a word with the boy who had broken the heart of his girl. His daughter was so much more than just "a nice girl" and she did not deserve to be treated in such a horrible way.
"He took me out to a movie and that was great." Jen's soft voice continued. "He was very sweet and gentlemanly he didn't try to hold my hand or anything but afterwards when we went to Breadsticks he kept getting distracted. I saw him looking at his ex-girlfriend who was sitting a few tables away from us. Not even a half an hour after we were there they started to argue with each other right in front of me and he said to her that I meant nothing to him, right in front of me Dad, and then they walked out hand in hand." She sniffled and pressed herself further into Will. "Everyone was staring at me Dad and I just wanted to get out of there that's why I didn't call you."
"Oh sweetie." Will whispered and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm so sorry you did not deserve that."
"I should have known." Jen muttered bitterly. "No boy would ever like me for me."
Will frowned and shifted so he could place his fingers under her chin and he tapped her chin to get her to look at him. "Hey, don't you talk like that, you understand? Any boy would be lucky to have you."
"I'm ignored in school Dad. My only friends are the ones I've had since Kindergarten. Ian was the first boy to ever express interest in me and he was just using me." Jen shook her head slowly and a few more tears escaped her eyes.
"Well then he's a jerk." Will snapped lightly. "This has nothing to do with you Jen, alright? It has all to do with him. He can't see what a beautiful, smart, wonderful young woman he just let go."
Jen shrugged, unconvinced and glanced down at her lap.
"Honey, look at me." Will prompted gently and Jen slowly turned her gaze upwards, a pitiful look on her pretty face.
"Ethan or whatever his name was does not deserve you. You don't want to waste your heart on guys like that. One day you are going to find a guy that will treat you right and who will love you for you are. It might be when you're fifteen, it might when you're thirty two but there is someone out there who is your perfect match. You'll think he'll be the perfect man in the world and he'll think you're the most wonderful woman in the world. You're going to be the light in somebody's life someday. You know how I know that?"
Jen shook her head quietly and Will pushed a strand of her hair behind her ears. When his eldest gave him that look, that vulnerable puppy dog look he couldn't help but notice how much she looked like her mother.
"Because you're one of the brightest lights in mine."
Jen's eyes glistened and slowly a smile spread on her lips. Her lips quivered for a few seconds and then she threw her arms around Will's neck. "I don't care what you or anybody else says, no one will ever be as perfect as you." She whispered into his ear.
Will smiled and pressed a gentle, loving kiss to the side of her face. "I love you baby girl."
Jen tightened her grip around his neck and whispered back, "I love you too Daddy."
Out of the corner of his eye Will saw a flash of red in the doorway and saw another pretty redhead sticking her head into the doorway. Her brown eyes widened at being caught and she disappeared behind the wall.
"Someone's waiting for you." Will whispered into Jen's ear and Jen pulled away from him, furrowing her brow.
He motioned towards the door and Jen looked over her shoulder and Kate peeked her head out again. Jen's face visibly brightened at seeing her there and she quickly turned back to Will. She leaned over to peck Will's cheek softly and embrace him once more. "Thank you Daddy." She whispered and then took off towards the doorway.
The two sisters embraced tightly in the doorway and then Kate took her older sister by the hand and she dragged her down the hallway. Will heard the patter of their feet up the stairs and then the closing of their door.
Will let out a breath, closed his eyes and rested back against the couch. He wasn't sure how long he was sitting there in the silence consumed by his thoughts before the seat next to him sunk.
He opened his eyes and turned his head meeting the sympathetic glance of his wife. He smiled a sad smile and sighed shifting so he could rest his head on her shoulder.
"See?" She prompted as she slipped an arm around him and rubbed her fingers along his arm. "You can handle it."
Will huffed quietly. "I want to rip his stupid head off."
Emma smiled weakly. "He isn't worth the effort Will."
Will pursed his lips. "Well how about I hold him down and you can spray him in the eyes with some lysol?"
Emma slapped his arm but laughed quietly. "Will!"
"Or you could put him in my spanish class next year and I'll fail him on purpose." Will offered.
"Or..." Emma laughed, "You could ignore it."
Will shook his head. "Not a chance. I can't just forget that some stupid kid broke my daughter's heart and made her walk home in the dark by herself."
He felt Emma shudder beneath him and he felt relieved that he was not the only one that was disturbed by that thought.
"He's just a stupid boy Will." Emma said after a moment. "He's not the first one there is and he won't be the last either. You already gave our daughter the advice that I would have given her and you should follow it yourself."
Will lifted his head to give her a confused look. "I'm married to my perfect match. I don't have to worry about that."
Emma smiled warmly and rested her palm on the side of her face. "Not what I meant. You told her not to waste her heart on guys like that, you shouldn't waste your heart on it either. Sitting here planning his demise is just the same as her crying over him. The sooner you forget about it, the sooner she will too. Let her know you're there for her always without dwelling on the past."
Will blinked in thought for a few moments and then he hastily leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss. Emma blinked in surprise for a second but then surrendered to his kiss.
As soon as he pulled away she smiled up at him, "What was that for?"
He smirked down at her. "Payment remember? And you worked overtime tonight so I think you should be paid double."
Before Emma could say anything Will tackled to the couch and slammed his lips down onto hers. Emma smiled into the kiss and brought her hands to rest on the back of his head and brought him down closer to him and deepened the kiss.
All worries, doubts, and murderous thoughts were gone for the night as the couple got lost in each other.