"Dad, I'm 19. I should be able to wear what I want." Michelle argued looking up at him.
"No daughter of mine is gonna wear that on stage at a bar. Not happening. What was wrong with the outfit you and your mom got last week?" Roger asked looking over at her.
"Oh my God, high school flashback." Charlie said putting her hands on her head.
"Dad, why are you being like that?" she yelled running up to her room.
"Because I'm not having the drunken jerks who hang out there drooling over my little girl. Forget it Michelle." he yelled as she slammed her door. "Why is she being so difficult?" he yelled looking at Charlie running his fingers through his short hair before plopping on the couch.
"Roger, she's not a little girl anymore. In 2 years she's gonna be old enough to drink and then what? Are you gonna go out with her and her friends to protect her? You can't. You just have to believe that we raised her good enough to take care of herself." Charlie said sitting next to him on the couch.
"Charlie, she's my daughter. You can't expect me to just stop wanting to protect her just because she turned 18." he said looking over at her.
"I don't expect that Roger. But we have to let her grow up. We'll be at the club to make sure no one hurts her, just give her this one night. Please. Singing with you is very important to her." Charlie said taking his hand in hers.
"Charlie, she's my daughter. I love her more than anything in the world and singing with her is very important to me too. I don't want anything to ruin tonight." he told her as he turned to face her.
"I know Baby, it's just, she's not 13 anymore. She's a grown woman." Charlie said as he got up.
"I know she's a grown woman. I can see that. It doesn't mean I have to like it. I mean Charlie, I never thought I'd have a daughter and then she came into our lives and I don't remember my life without her, you know? Or you for that matter. I just want to do everything I can to protect you. Both of you." he said looking up at Michelle's bedroom door.
"Roger, I know this hasn't been easy on you. Living with 2 women. I mean, you start dating me, which back then was hard enough since we butted heads so damn much and then Michelle moves in and you have a teenager to deal with." Charlie said getting up to go to him.
"Charlie, I'm not saying that. Baby, you and Michelle are my life and I wouldn't want it any other way. I'm just saying, she's my little girl. The only thing that hasn't been easy on me is watching her grow up. I wish she could have stayed 13 forever, you know. She idolized me back then, remember. I mean, I could do no wrong in her eyes. Now, she's 19, in college and about to perform in an adult club right along side me." he said looking down at her.
"Roger, she still idolizes you you know. She worships the ground you walk on. Why do you think she wanted to perform with you?" she said holding his arm.
"It should be the proudest moment of my life, but I'm scared." he told her quietly as she looked up at him.
"Why are you scared?" she asked confused.
"I'm scared that once she gets under those lights, she's gonna be taken over by them the way I was." he told her as tears came to his eyes.
"Dad, I'm gonna be fine you know." Michelle said coming down the stairs.
"Babygirl, I just don't want you to make the mistakes I made. I mean, I know how it could be. You're young and feel like you're on top of the world. Like nothing could hurt you. But there are a lot of things that could hurt you. I'm living proof of that." he said looking up at her.
"I know, but dad, you guys raised me better than that. I have never done drugs and I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to let you guys down." Michelle said standing on the steps as Roger walked over to her.
"Michelle, you listen to me because I'm not gonna tell you this again, OK? I love you more than anything in this world. You could never let me down. When you walked into our lives, the only thing I ever wanted to do is make you proud to be my daughter." he said hugging her as she cried with him.
"I am daddy. You're the best dad a girl could ever have. You're smart, talented, funny and you protect me." she said hugging him tight. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. If it means that much to you, I'll wear what me and mom got last week." she said as he looked down at her.
"No, it's OK Babygirl. You're a grown woman now. I have to get used to it." he said kissing her head.
"Thanks dad. I love you." she said smiling up at him.
"I love you too." he said smiling back at her.
"Guys, we have to get ready for the club. I hear there's a father daughter group on tonight and they're really good." Charlie said smiling as she wiped her eyes.
"OK Mom, sorry we made you cry." Michelle said as she and Roger went to her.
"I'm so proud of both of you. You guys know that, right?" she asked smiling up at them.
"Thanks Baby." Roger said putting his arms around her and kissing her head.
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"Are you ready Babygirl?" Roger asked smiling at Michelle as she chugged her water down.
"Yeah, I'm just really nervous. How do you do this all the time and not freak out?" she asked looking up at him.
"You'll be great, don't worry about it." he siad kissing her head as Charlie stood in front of the microphone at the center of the stage.
"Thanks dad." she said smiling up at him.
"And now, I am especially proud to introduce Wine & Vision featuring Roger and Michelle Davis." Charlie said introducing them as the crowd exploded and Roger and Michelle took the stage.
"Thank you. As you all know, tonight is a very special night for me. I'm performing with my little girl for the first time, so let's get on with the music." Roger announced smilng at Michelle. They began to play and Charlie beamed with pride watching her husband and their daughter perform. For two people who were not related by blood, Roger and Michelle couldn't be more alike. It was hard to believe that 8 years ago she was alone building her career. Now she was a wife and mother. Roger and Michelle were her life.
"Don't they look great up there together?" Collins asked putting his arms around Charlie.
"They really do, don't they?" Charlie said smiling up at him as he kissed her head.
"What were the odds of Michelle being a musician like Roger?" he asked smiling down at her.
"Pretty good since she worships him." she said laughing as they finished their first song.
"She could do worse." Collins said as the crowd exploded.
"You got that right." she said as Roger winked at her.
"This song is for my beloved." Roger said as he played the opening riff of Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) by Motley Crue and everyone laughed.
"I'm gonna kill him." she said laughing as Mark stood next to her filming.
"Yeah well, it is the first song he ever sung for you." he laughed as Roger and Michelle sung the song for her.
"The night that changed my life forever." she said rocking to the song.
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"Daddy that was the most amazing experience ever." Michelle said jumping into Roger's arms.
"I am so proud of you Babygirl." he told her kissing her head as Charlie approached them.
"Oh my God, that was incredible. I am so proud of you two. And I can't believe you did that song." she said smiling up at Roger.
"It was the song that got you so pissed off at me, I had to kiss you." he said leaning down to kiss her.
"It was actually my idea mom." Michelle said smiling at them.
"You are definitely your father's daughter." Charlie said hugging Michelle and kissing her head.
"I take that as a compliment." Michelle said smiling at them.
"Hey shorty, you did great. A chip off the old block." Mark said laughing as he hugged her.
"Thanks Uncle Mark." Michelle said hugging him back.
"We are so proud of you sweetie." Maureen said hugging her next.
"Thanks Aunt Maureen. I was so nervous." she said smiling at her.
"You didn't look it at all Baby." Joanne said hugging her next.
"Thanks. Dad, I can't wait to do that again. That was amazing." she said smiling up at Roger, who had his arms wrapped around Charlie.
"Name a time and place and I'm there Babygirl." he said smilng at her.
"Come on, let me buy you a coke." Collins said putting his arms around her.
"Thanks Uncle Collins." she said smilng up at him as they all walked towards the bar.