A/N - I just got back from Frost Valley, and it was amazing. Beyond words. Though it was tiring and I had to hold my pee in for four hours, it was a very nice trip.
Soo, Chapter 4 is up and running! I sort of like how the beginning came out, though the ending could have been better. Anyway, I hope I can get more comfortable with this story by the end. I do hope you enjoy this chapter, and I hope you have a sparkling day~!
~Julianna

Fabian
Chapter 4: "The Daughter"
August 9th

"What'cha doin', Fabian?" Chloe, one of my younger sisters, asked me as I was sitting on the couch in my den.

"Nothing," I answered, turning my attention back to the image on my laptop screen. It showed my email, and I was about to start typing a message to Nina.

Today was Monday, and according to the clock on my laptop, it was 2:32 pm. If I wasn't famous, I would most likely be in college right now, studying, or something along those lines. My manager insisted that I be homeschooled, and by that point, I wasn't confident enough to deny his offer (The Confidence Lessons were new at that point), so now I was homeschooled by my manager, Aaron.

I have mixed feelings about Aaron. I like him a lot as my manager, but sometimes he makes me want to strangle him, then bring him back to life, just so I can kill him a different way. He honestly cares about me and wants the best for me, but he can be extremely annoying. Aaron thinks he knows everything, the answer to every problem my team faces and every person problem I encounter.

I didn't think I'd be telling him about my problem with my daughter just yet. Or never. Yeah, never sounds good.

With my attention back to my computer screen, I typed in Nina's email address and was preparing to type a message in the box when a small green light started flashing at the bottom of my screen. Nina was online.

I smiled, and clicked on her avatar, bringing me to a chatbox. I typed in Hey. but before I could see what she responded with, Chloe leaned over my shoulder and asked, "Who's Nina?"

I jumped when I heard her voice. I turned my head towards her so I could see her dark brown hair and charcoal-blue eyes, exactly like mine. We looked alike, obviously, because we were silbings. All five of us looks alike; well, except for Olivia, my youngest sister. Olivia has red hair and green eyes. We all swear that she isn't our father's baby and our mother had an affair with another man.

Oh, how ironic that is. "Chloe," I scolded the girl standing behind me, "how many times do I have to tell you not to breathe in my ear?"

"Sorry," she apologized, taking a few steps back. "So, who's Nina?"

"That's none of your business," I muttered bitterly, moving my laptop away from my sixteen-year-old sister's eyes. She snickered and caught my laptop before I closed it. "Sorry, big brother, but you're gong to tell me who Nina is, or I go to report you to mum. You know she doesn't appreciate you talking to strangers on the internet."

I rolled my eyes. "She's not a stranger, Chloe," I explained, "she's a friend."

"The only people I ever see you talking to are Jerome and Mick," she pressed, moving around to the front of the couch so I could see her face. "You're not very sociable, which is weird, considering you're famous. But putting your fame aside, you're going to explain to me who 'Nina' is, or I'll get Olivia, Rosie, and Isabelle involved too. And it won't be pretty, considering you're the middle child, Fabian."

Chloe might have been two years younger than me, but she always found a way to bring me down. I took a deep breath and was about to explain to her who Nina really was, but luckily, my phone rang.

Saved by the ringtone. I sighed with relief when I saw the caller ID: Mick. Chloe noticed too, and rolled her eyes as she left the room. I answered the phone on the third ring. "Thanks, Mick," I greeted him.

"Uh . . . you're welcome?" Mick said, with confusion in his voice. "Anyway, mate, how's everything going?"

"Fine," I answered. "Boring. Chloe just interrogated me about who Nina was, and -" I paused, craning my neck to look around the room to confirm that she wasn't listening in. "-I almost had to tell her that Nina was the mother of my child."

Mick laughed through the receiver. "Wow, your sisters are aunts! Emma's going to have four aunts and no uncles, mate. How does that feel?"

"I'm rolling my eyes, Mick. I hope you can feel that on the other end of the line."

"Yeah, whatever," he stated. "Look. You're going to have to tell your family sooner or later. You can't just leave the house every other day to see Nina and Emma without them questioning where you're going, and you can't just lie to them every time. You're a father, Fabian. You're going to have to take responsibility."

"I know," I answered him, my voice remaining low and quiet, as it had been since I had answered. "I have no idea how to tell my mum that she's a grandmother. I'm her only son. I'm only eighteen - I mean, I'll be nineteen in twelve days, but - how can I tell her that I'm a father at nineteen?"

"No idea," Mick replied, which I didn't take as helpful. I placed my computer back on my lap, and I saw that Nina had responded to my IM. She had said: Hi.

I typed up my response. How are you? I held my mobile phone between my shoulder and my head, and Mick continued, "So are there any concerts for your fangirls today?"

I saw the green light in the corner of the computer blink again and my eyes lit up, thinking it might be Nina, might my smile faded when I saw that it was Aaron who had messaged me. "Speak of the devil," I muttered, clicking on his profile and reading what he had sent me. The message read: Call me, Fabian. I think I may have booked you another concert!

"Wonderful," I muttered to myself. I loved performing concerts, but singing had been the last thing on my mind these last two days. Mick presumed over the phone that I had a concert, and I confirmed his suspicion. He laughed, said "Talk to you later," and hung up.

I responded to Aaron: Okay. Cool. Call you in a minute. and dialed his number. He picked up after the first ring.

"Fabian!" he began, and I silently groaned as I leaned back against the couch. I listened to him talk about the concert he booked me, where I was performing, and how many I was performing for. I knew I should've taken account of the information he was telling me, but after reading Nina's response of I'm fine. What about you? I started to type a response back.

Sisters are annoying, I started my reply. One of my sisters won't leave me alone. You'd think at sixteen she'd be more mature about who I'm talking to on the internet.

One of? was Nina's response.

Yeah. I have four sisters. -_-

"Fabian? Are you listening to me?" Aaron's voice brought me back to reality. I jumped a little out of my seat, but my reply to him came quick.

"Yeah, I'm listening." After Nina's message of Well, that sucks came up on screen, I couldn't respond because Aaron asked me another question.

"Than what did I just tell you?"

"Um . . ."

"Exactly," Aaron said, but he didn't sound annoyed. In fact, he almost sounded amused. "Just come to the the Theater of Nassau in one hour, and then we'll discuss who you were talking to on the internet."

I didn't even have time to protest that I wasn't talking to anybody before he hung up. I rolled my eyes at my phone and threw it down onto the couch, and proceeded to reply to Nina's message.

Tell me about it. How's Emma? I heard footsteps from the other hall, but ignored it as Nina's message came back only a few seconds later.

She's fine. I told her about you. She wants to meet you.

My eyes widened as I processed her words. Can I? I've never seen my daughter before. Ever. But beware because I might freak out and pass out because I don't think the fact that I'm a dad has fully sunk in yet.

Sure. Are you free today?

The footsteps were growing louder, and I could feel a shadow looming over me, but yet again, I ignored it and responded. I'm free after six. Does six pm sound good?

Great, Nina replied, and the green light signaling she was online went dead. Nina had logged off.

"God, I wish I had her phone number," I muttered bitterly. If I had her phone number, talking to Nina would be much easier.

I was about to close my laptop when a very familiar voice said, "You're a dad?"

I turned around, and I saw Chloe standing behind me.

xXx

It took a bit of explaining and a lot of persuading to convince Chloe not to tell anyone else that I was a father. She was intent on telling mum, dad, and the rest of our sisters, Rosie, Olivia, and Isabelle, but with a pleading look spread across my face, Chloe agreed not to tell.

Now, there were seven people involved in my secret: Jerome, Mick, Alfie, Chloe, Nina, Evelyn (Nina's grandmother) and myself. I didn't know if anyone else on Nina's side knew her secret, but let's leave it at seven people that knew the famous Fabian Rutter had a child name Emma.

Normally, I don't like my four sisters coming with me to my concerts, but it was potent that Chloe came with me to this one. She liked spilling secrets, but this was one secret she had to keep. Riding in the limo were myself, Chloe, and Aaron.

After we arrived at the Theater, my stylists prepared me, my vocalists practiced with me, and Aaron gave me another "Confidence Lesson", much to my embarrassment. After all the backstage madness, I stepped out onto the stage to face a coliseum filled with people.

I loved the feeling when I came out with my guitar and saw all of the real, living, breathing people who took time out of their day to come see me in concert. It filled my heart with joy, and that was where I gained the real confidence to perform, not the cheesy "Confidence Lesson" that Aaron gave me.

The screaming girls. The bright lights of the stage. The music from the band. The sound of my own voice.

It was amazing. My voice came out loud and proud, reverberating through the whole theater. The cheering of the crowd was the loudest sound of the whole afternoon. My guitar strummed, and my heart swelled.

I was Fabian Rutter, the famous singer and musician. I was known around the world. People knew my music and liked it. Plenty of strangers knew my voice, as the theater had filled up only ten minutes ago. I was famous.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be so famous with Nina when I showed up forty minutes late. I said hello to some of my fans and took pictures with them, but when one of them asked me why I sounded rushed, I took off into the car after that.

Aaron was driving. "Where are we going, again?"

"To Picton," I answered, remembering where Nina lives. Aaron groaned, but honestly, it doesn't take that long to drive from Woolton, where I live, to Picton. Chloe was being driven home by my mum, so she was gone. When we arrived on Nina's street, I opened the car door, but Aaron stopped me by asking, "Where are you going, exactly?"

"To a friend's house," I recited, as I had practiced my dialogue in the car before.

Aaron nodded his head, looking confused and probably thinking something along the lines of, Jerome and Mick don't live in Picton, but he drove away, leaving me in front of Nina's house.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and walked up the front door. Alfie wasn't here to knock on the door for me, so I quietly rapped on the door with my knuckles.

And I waited. But I wasn't waiting long, because Nina's grandmother opened the door with a smile plastered on her wrinkled face. "Ah, Fabian!" she beamed. "It's nice to see you again."

"You too, Ms. Martin," I greeted, smiling at her. I thought Evelyn was a nice lady, but I still wasn't sure what happened to Nina's parents. "Where's Nina? She invited me over today."

"Yes, I think she's in the common room. Go right ahead."

I thanked her, and walked slowly down the hallway to the living room. As I neared the white-carpeted room, I heard Nina's voice, and a small smile spread across my lips. I walked over to the doorway and said, "Nina."

She turned around, but she didn't return my smile. She walked uncomfortably towards me, and when she pushed herself off of the carpet, I caught the first sight of my daughter.

She looked exactly like she did in the photograph. Emma's short, light-brown hair cropped at her neck; she had inherited that trait from her mom. Her eyes, on the other hand, had come from me. They weren't Nina's color, which was pale-green; they were blue. They weren't the same blue as the ocean or the sky, though; they were more of cement-road blue, like a charcoal color.

When I saw her, the confirmation was evident. She had my eyes, Nina's hair, and her smile as well. When I had met Nina three years ago at that coffee shop, the thing that had made me fall for her was her smile. It was so beautiful and genuine, curious and exuberant. The smile that had made me want more until I was lying naked on top of Nina's body.

Emma was definitely my daughter.

I addressed Nina, who was now standing in front of me. "Hey," I said awkwardly, and she returned the word. "So, um, I'm here to meet Emma."

"Right," Nina murmured. I didn't understand her look of hurt as she walked back into the living room, grabbing Emma's small hand and leading it towards me.

"Who's this?" Emma asked, in her voice that almost sounded exactly like her mother's. It was the first time I had heard my daughter's voice. This was the first time I was seeing my daughter in person. It was the first time I was touching my daughter, holding her. I had missed the first two years of my daughter's life, and that's something that would make me feel guilty for the rest of my life.

"That's your daddy, Emma," Nina explained, giving her a little push towards me, who was towering over her on the wooden floorboards.

"Daddy?" Emma asked, and Nina nodded, tears forming in her eyes. I didn't understand why she was crying, but she turned away and sat down on the brown couch, watching me in front of my daughter.

"Yeah . . ." I whispered, crouching so I was down to Emma's level. "Yeah, Emma, I'm your dad." The words sunk in. It was only two days after I had received the photograph, and I still couldn't process the sentence Fabian is a father. It was unreal to me.

"I'm your daddy, Emma," I continued, as Emma walked over to me on steady feet. "I'm your father. I missed two years of my daughter's life, and you didn't know who your dad was for two years, but I'm here now. I'm your daddy."

"Daddy!" Emma exclaimed, and she fell into my arms. I was too shocked to register what was happening for a moment, so I looked to Nina for help. Still sitting on the brown couch, she released the smile I fell in love with, and I knew everything was going to be okay.

I placed my hand on the back of Emma's neck, pulling her closer to me. I was feeling my daughter for the first time, but I didn't know what to feel. I was only nineteen, and I was hugging my two-year-old daughter that I had made when I was sixteen. I didn't know if I should regret that I had made her, or if I should feel happy.

"I'm your father," I whispered again, hugging her tighter. "And I'm here to stay. I promise."

"Promise is a scary word, Fabian," Nina spoke up, from where she was sitting only a few meters away. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

I picked Emma up in my arms, but instead of defending myself against Nina's statement, I asked, "Is it okay if I hold her?"

Nina giggled and rolled her eyes. "Fabian, she's your daughter too. Of course it's okay if you hold her."

Emma rested her head on my shoulder, and the rush of unsorted emotions came rushing back. I pushed them away and addressed Nina's statement about promises. "I am going to be here. I was a teenager when we met, Nina. I'm almost nineteen now, and I can take care of myself. I promised I'd stay with both of you, and that's what I'm going to do. I promise."

"You're famous, Fabian," Nina protested. This wasn't at all like the Nina I met three years ago. "You could go away on tour or something, leaving us again. And - and there are crazy people out there. A guy with a gun could come around and shoot you or a fan could come and kidnap you or-"

"A fan's not going to kidnap me," I chuckled, bouncing up Emma a bit higher, as she was falling down my side. "I can promise that much."

Nina sighed, leaning back against the couch. "What's it like?" she began. "Being famous. What's it like? Having girls follow you around every corner? People wanting your autograph? Performing in front of crowds?"

"It's terrifying," I admitted. Nina, at least, knew that much, from when we met in the coffee shop. I wasn't that open towards her, but she kept frying me, trying to get me to open up. "I don't think I'll ever get used to it. I still love writing songs and performing, and I always will. I'll always pee my pants at the sight of a crowd."

Nina released her smile again, but for no reason at all. "What's the smile for?" I asked innocently, and her answer surprised me in the best way possible.

"Fabian Rutter, you're still the guy I met in the coffee shop three years ago. You're still the guy I fell in love with, even though I didn't even know your name."

A/N - I have this idea that I'm going to end each chapter of this story with dialogue, because each of the last three chapters have ended in dialogue.
I've only been away for two and a half days, but I missed writing so much that I'm going to try to write all day tomorrow, because chapter 31 of Don't Be Afraid isn't yet finished, so . . . chapter 5 is in Nina's POV, so look forward to that.
Review?