"And so in conclusion, Steve here IS your father."
Steve smiled at them, "I would also like to add that this may be a little awkward for all of us at first but, there is no doubt in my mind how much I want to be part of your lives."
Amanda smiled and noticed her children had yet to say anything. She walked over to Danny and he stood up and took her hand in his.
"That wasn't the only thing I wanted to tell you."
Danny looked at his daughter, "this news concerns you too monkey," he smiled.
Amanda put a huge smile on her face due to the excitement of her announcement.
"Danny and I are engaged to be married!"
TWO DADS
The four children sat there in shock for a moment. Ainsley was the first to stand up and say something.
"OOoohhh Kay, soo just so I know I heard you correctly, this man that none of us met until today is our biological father; and this man, here is going to soon be our step-father. That is what you just told us, yes?"
"Yes Ainsley," answered Amanda, "and I am not appreciating your tone right now young lady."
"MOM, do you blame me? This morning Kash, Jago and I woke up with NO father at all and now at the end of the day we find out we have TWO dads. How are we supposed to react to that? We don't even know Danny and you tell us that you are going to marry him! He could be like evil step-daddy or something."
"I'm not going to be an evil step-dad," Danny interjected, "you can ask Gracie, I'm a good dad."
"No we can't! She wouldn't know!"
"And why is that?" Steve asked.
"Because the biological child is ALWAYS favored over the step-kids; it's in like EVERY story book ever written!" Ainsley exclaimed.
Kashel shot up from the couch, "Shit! Mom! Ainsley is right! Danny could be like some crazy maniac or something!"
"First of all Kash, you need to calm down! Danny is NOT a crazy maniac and WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!"
Kashel stepped really close to his mother and got right in her face.
"I will NOT calm down! How in the hell do you expect us to react when you just bring this guy here for the first fucking time and TELL us that you're going to marry him!"
Amanda and Danny were just on the verge of attempting to put the boy in his place when Steve beat them both to it. He grabbed Kashel by the scruff of his neck and held his wrists together behind his back.
"OW! Let me go! You have NO RIGHT!" Kashel attempted.
As upset as he was with the boy for emotionally assaulting his mother Steve couldn't help but chuckle. He shook his head and looked at Amanda.
"Right now I want you in your room while your mother and I discuss what your punishment is going to be," stated Steve firmly.
"You have no right!" Kashel snapped out!
"He has every right Kashel Jericho, every right!" Amanda confirmed then paused for a few moments to think, "Kash, go up to your room right now."
"Mom!"
"NOW Kashel or I will spank you out here in front of everyone!"
He huffed and tested her for only a moment before he realized just how serious she was. Even with his temper he knew better than to test his mother about keeping her word as he knew she would. Amanda watched her fifteen year old stomp up to his room like a five year old. She sighed heavily then turned to her daughter.
"Ainsley, I have a feeling that you are hesitant with Danny because of Jason; am I right?"
The fifteen year old wiped a few tears away that had already developed before her brother decided to throw in his opinion of the situation.
"Jason?" Danny asked, "Who is Jason? What happened?"
"He was a REALLY bad dude…really bad," Jago answered unexpectedly.
"Bad…Mandy, why haven't I heard this story? It feels like I'm learning more about you today than I have over the past three months we have been dating."
Amanda looked at Danny to acknowledge him but then put her focus back on her daughter.
"Ainsley baby, I promise you that Danny is nothing like Jason. I know I learned the hard way and I can never fully forgive myself for that; but, I have learned. Danny is a good man, a very good man. He would never ever hurt you. I have done my homework on him thoroughly."
"Homework!" Danny gasps, "What?"
"Danny please, I will explain everything shortly," Amanda pleaded and turned back to her daughter, "okay baby girl? Please believe me."
Ainsley looked at her mother then over at Danny then Steve and back at her mother.
"Okay," she smiled softly, "I believe you."
Amanda smiled at her, kissed the tip of her nose then looked over at her son.
"Jago, please take your sister and Gracie in the game room. I really need to talk to Danny and Steve alone."
Jago stood up, "Sure Mom; oh and for the record, I'm totally cool with having two dads."
"Thanks baby," Amanda smiled.
Danny and Steve also smiled and nodded at Jago for his approval. Jago smiled and nodded back. He took his sister's hand and Gracie's and walked them both back to the game room. Once the door was shut Amanda started to pace a bit.
"Okay Mandy, what is up with this Jason guy?" Danny asked, "What happened that would make you feel you need to do a thorough background check on me?"
She took a deep breath, "Okay, Jason was a guy I dated when the kids were twelve. We dated for about two months. He got along with the kids wonderfully and they each liked him just as much. Ainsley was sick one day and I kept her out of school. My office called and there was an emergency that needed my assistance. Jason had his own business so I asked him if he could stay with Ainsley for an hour or two while I ran to the office to fix what needed done. I never ever thought anything of it."
Amanda paced a bit more and tears began to form and cascade down her face.
"Please don't tell me that son of a bitch hurt her," exclaimed Steve.
She stopped pacing and looked at Steve, "if it wasn't for Kash, he would have," she paused for a few moments, "Jago went surfing right after school as he usually does. Kash did have baseball practice but decided to skip it as he too was coming down with a cold and not feeling well. He came home and heard Ainsley screaming. He ran into her room with his baseball bat. He found Jason just about….just about to enter inside her," she said wiping more tears away, "Kash hit him in the head with his bat, he hit him so hard that he died instantly. Both of them went through intense therapy for a year and a half after it happened. Majority of the time they are both very happy lucky go kids; but, as you witnessed today, Ainsley still tends to be a bit timid about my boyfriends and Kash has developed a very protective streak which comes out through anger."
Danny walked over to Amanda and hugged her and held her close to him.
"Baby, I am so sorry, so very sorry."
Steve walked over and laid a comforting hand on her back.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Danny. I honestly was avoiding that for as long as I could. It's part of my past that I can never escape from."
"But don't you think that is something that you really should have told me? I mean, look how it affected Ainsley and Kash. Now that I know what happened, I have a much better understanding of why Kash threw the tantrum that he did."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry."
Danny sighed, "okay, hey, you know what, it really is okay, I mean look, we're not even married yet and we are already going through the for better or worse part," he smiled charmingly.
"And that is why I love you soooo much," said Amanda followed with a sweet kiss on his lips.
"Okay, not to interrupt this little love fest here," said Steve, "but what are we going to do with Kash?"
"Well, I know what to do but I'm curious, what do you think we should do?"
"Me? Well, I've only been a dad for five minutes, I really don't…"
"It's okay," she smiled, "mmm think about how your father raised you. He is a really great dad right?"
"Was, yes."
"Was? Oh Steve I'm so sorry."
"Thank you, he was killed a year ago; but, I want to stay focused on Kash here so, what were you saying?"
"Okay, well, use your father for an example. What would he have done if you ever yelled at him the way Kash yelled at me?"
"Oh, easy, I would have been given a first class ticket over his lap; and then would have found it very challenging to sit for a day or so."
"Alright, so take that into account also with what you already know about how I punish my kids, annnnnnnd…"
"Alright, I get it, so your plan is to spank him?"
"Yes, do you think I shouldn't?"
"No, I think you should. Anything you need my help with?"
"No, not at the moment; but, I do think maybe you should be in there with us. I think if the kids have you around when they are being punished as well as have you in their everyday lives, well; it'll help with the bounding. It'll help them realize you and I are in agreement and hopefully not try and play us against one another down the road when you too start dishing out the punishments yourself."
Steve nodded his head in agreement then noticed Danny was standing there with a smile.
"What are you smirking at?" Steve asked with a touch of a scoff.
"Who me? Oh, I don't know, just the idea that you both think the kids won't even try to play you against one another. It's well, entertaining."
"What makes you an expert?" Steve asked.
"Umm maybe because I have a daughter and have to share custody with her mother. Maybe because even sweet little Gracie has tried it before. It's normal. I'm simply saying, your plan isn't all bad just don't be surprised when one or ALL of them try it at least once, that's all."
"Is it me?" Amanda asked, "Or am I getting a pretty good sense now as to how this parenting thing is going to work with the three of us."
"Oh, you mean with you and me coming up with a plan and Danny here finding some kind of fault in it?" Said Steve, "Yes, that sounds about right," he smirked.
"Oh ha ha," Danny retorted, "Okay, well you two do what you need to do with that young man upstairs; I, on the other hand will be in the game room working my charm and gaining the trust of your other two."
"Actually, umm Mandy, I think I want his job. I'll trade with Danny. You know you two are getting married and all soooo he should be the one…."
"Steve," Amanda interrupted, "I'm the one with the hardest job here right now; but, if you are really that uncomfortable, its okay, I don't want to force you to do anything you are not ready to do."
He sighed, "Well, I already got myself involved when I pulled him away from you so, I'm in, let's go."
5-0
On the way to Kashel's room Amanda stopped in her room and picked up her hairbrush. A few doors down she knocked on her son's door.
"Come in," said Kashel timidly.
She and Steve walked in. Kashel's eyes widened.
"Mom, why is Steve here?"
"He's here as your father. Granted, it's not exactly how I pictured it but you did bring it upon yourself young man."
"I'm sorry but come on, please, can't I just be grounded?"
"You're already grounded for two weeks with your brother remember?"
"Ugh! Yeah, thanks to daddy dearest here!" Kashel snapped.
Steve wanted to say something but figured as he just arrived in the boy's life that day he would let it go.
"Kash, knock it off," Amanda demanded, "You and Jago brought that upon yourselves. You have no one to blame tonight for any of your punishments but for yourself. You know better!"
Kashel simply scoffed.
"Okay then, perhaps a good spanking is certainly what you need to get your attitude in order," said Amanda.
"Noooo, I'm sorry, okay, please Mom."
Amanda sat down on her son's bed, "get over my lap Kash, let's not drag this out."
Kashel paced for a moment, looked at Steve and saw the serious look on his face. He had his arms folded across his chest which enhanced his huge biceps. Kashel found him a bit intimidating looking; but, discovered a vibe of trust and concern illuminating off of his new found father. He sighed then walked over to his mother. He unsnapped his jeans without having to be told, pulled them down and placed his self over his mother's lap.
5-0
Close to an hour later Amanda, Steve and Kashel entered the game room. Kashel sported red puffy eyes from heavy crying; but, other than that appeared to be in good spirits. They found Danny with both girls in his arms, Grace on one side and Ainsley on the other. Ainsley had fallen asleep while Jago was zoned in on the video game which kept Grace Content in watching him.
"Hey," said Danny softly with a smile.
Amanda smiled at him and sat next to him and her daughter; Steve sat across from them while Kashel sat next to his brother, favoring his hip and leg to sit. Moments later Steve received a text from his girlfriend Catherine. He read it then stood up.
"I need to head out; but, what are all of you doing tomorrow?"
"Umm, Ainsley has a modeling shoot in the morning but after that no plans," Amanda answered.
"Same here," said Danny, no plans or were you just talking to Mandy?"
Steve smirked, "No, I was including you as well," he paused, "okay, then how about tomorrow night all of you come over to my place for dinner? I want to get to know everyone better annnd my mother would kill me if she wasn't able to meet her grandchildren as soon as possible."
"Sounds great," Amanda answered.
Danny agreed.
"Okay, then I'll see all of you tomorrow."
Steve kissed Ainsley on top of her head then walked over to the other side where the boys were.
"Kash, Jago, I guess I'll see you tomorrow; but, here is my card with all of my contact information. If either of you ever just want to talk or anything, don't hesitate. Oh, and share the info with your sister too please."
Jago paused the game and took the card, "Okay Steve, thanks."
Steve wanted to hug the boys but didn't want to make either of them uncomfortable.
"Alright then, see you tomorrow," he smiled softly then headed out.
"Steve wait," Kashel called out.
He stopped and turned around to find Kashel standing next to him.
"Yeah, what's up?"
Steve barley got his question out when Kashel had his arms wrapped around his waist. It was a very welcomed surprise. Steve hugged the boy back happily. Then just like that Kashel let go, threw Steve a smile then went back to sit with his brother. Steve smiled from ear to ear as he watched one of his boys walk back to the couch. He glanced over and noticed he had an audience. Amanda was also smiling widely and Danny gave him a nod as if to say good job.
He smiled back at them then glanced over to Danny's little girl.
"Night Uncle Steve," said Grace.
"Night sweetheart, see you tomorrow."