Blue Christmas Without You

"Hey there princess." He hadn't seen his daughter in such a long time; he wasn't even sure how to approach her.

"Hi. So I hear congratulations are in order."

"You don't seem too happy about that," he observed as he took in her less than enthusiastic reaction to the news.

"Are you?"

"Brook, I love your mom and it may have taken us a really long time, but I think we finally got things right this time."

"If you're happy then I guess I should be happy too," she said with the slightest hint of hesitation that belied the unfortunate awkwardness that existed between her and her father.

"Sweetie, I know that things between us have been a little tough lately but you have to know that your mom and I love you more than anything. Maybe we haven't gone about things the right way but we only want what's best for you."

"Well it's not like I made things easy for you guys. I just didn't want to disappoint you but I've messed up so bad and made so many bad choices..."

"Honey, look at me," he said gently lifting her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. "It doesn't matter how many bad choices you make, we are always going to love you."

"I love you too Dad, even though I sometimes have an odd way of showing it," she giggled as the relief of having started to mend things with parents washed over her.

He chuckled right back. "You're a Quartermaine, odd is normal for us. So, um tell me about this Dante. What's going on between you two? He better not be a scoundrel like his father."

"Scoundrel? Watch it there dad you're starting to sound like great-grampa Edward."

"Brook..." he said giving her a warning look. He knew he had missed out on a lot of parenting with his daughter but he wasn't about to let her get hurt by getting involved with Sonny Corinthos' son. From what his mother had told him Dante was a playboy and a liar just like his father. Although, his mother wasn't exactly unbiased given her relationship with Lulu but it didn't hurt to be extra cautious.

"Relax, he's nothing like Sonny. He's my best friend."

"So you guys are just friends?"

"Um yeah..." she answered unconvincingly as she watched Dante playfully arguing with Olivia. For now they were just friends and she was grateful for that but that didn't stop her from wishing that someday they would be more.