Disclaimer-- I don't own the characters and the song reference here comes from the adorable song Stealing Cinderella by Chuck Wicks
As she tried to clean up the kitchen, Stella found herself pausing every few seconds to wring the paper towel in her hands and worry. After about the tenth time she went over the same spot she gave up, choosing instead to sit at the table and think.
"Stell, are you okay?" Don asked as he came into the room.
She nodded. "I'm fine."
"Okay, I would take your word for it, but I'm inclined to wonder what that paper towel ever did to piss you off," he told her.
Stella looked down to find that she'd torn the thing into little tiny pieces and laughed. "So maybe I'm not completely fine."
He took a seat next to her and took her hand. "You worried?"
"How could I not be? My daughter calls me and tells me that she really needs to talk to me because something big has happened, how do I not worry? For all we know…"
"Stell, we both know what it's probably going to be about."
She shook her head. "And if it is what we're expecting? I'm supposed to not worry about my twenty year old getting engaged?"
"You think I'm not worried?" he asked. "I'm terrified that's exactly what's going on and I'm losing the last vestiges of my control over what she does."
"She's a grown up now," she said quietly.
Don reached over to brush a hand over her cheek. "Exactly. As much as we hate to think about it she really is a grown up now, and evidently with her and Finn the fifth time is the charm."
Stella frowned. "What do you mean fifth? I know they've been sort of off and on but I swear it hasn't been more than three."
"It's five," he told her. "See she dated him for a pretty decent amount of time after that first date, but then they broke up and she went out with that kid who wore nothing but black."
"Ian," she provided.
He smiled. "That's the one. And then for a while she dated that hockey player who talked like he'd been checked one too many times."
Stella laughed. "He really was bad."
"Yes, yes he was," he said, his tone mock serious. "Then she and Finn got back together for a couple of months before they broke up the second time, and that was when she was seeing the kid who wanted to be on Broadway and spent his entire life in voice lessons."
"Oh yeah, and then it was Finn for the third time. Then that really sweet guy who worked at a nursing home on the weekends who ended up moving to Florida," she mused.
Don held up four fingers and wiggled them at her. "So Finn's back in the picture for try number four."
"Then there was the jackass that Sophie punched in the face after he told her if they got married she'd have to stay home in the kitchen after the kids were born." She reached over and put his last finger up. "Enter Finn for run number five which has been going strong for a year."
He stood with a sigh, gathering the remnants of paper towel that littered the table and walking into the kitchen to toss them. "They're already living together Stell." He still wasn't happy about that. It wasn't like he didn't know that his daughter was a grown woman, but her moving in with her boyfriend made it damn near impossible to ignore the fact that she most likely had a healthy sex life. "I'm sure they're coming over so he can ask our blessing and she can show us the ring."
"I know," she said, sounding frustrated. "But the minute she called my thought process went apocalyptic. I'll be relieved when it turns out to be a proposal."
"Speak for yourself," he muttered to himself.
Sensing his distress she got up to join him in the kitchen, wrapping her arms around his waist. "It's hard, imagining that our little girl could be getting married soon."
"Incredibly hard," he conceded. "But she always seems to come back to Finn, and in my book that means that he must be the one for her. Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."
She laughed. "No, it doesn't mean that either of us has to be happy about it."
"Life always keeps moving," he said, closing his eyes and pulling her tight against him.
"Yes it does." For a moment she closed her eyes as well and they just stood there together. So many years later she was still content to just breathe him in, and there were still times when she just needed her to hold him. All she could hope was that her daughter had found the same sort of love.
The door opened and shut quietly and Sophie's voice rang out. "Mom, Dad?"
"In here sweetie," Stella called. She pulled back and pressed a kiss to his heart before moving to greet her daughter.
Sophia came gliding in as if she were floating on air, and that was all Stella needed to know that her little girl was getting married. "Mama look," she squealed, holding her hand out.
"It's beautiful honey," she told her honestly. "Look Don."
He shook his head. "I'm a man so a diamond is just a diamond, but if you tell me it's beautiful I'll just nod and smile."
"Oh Daddy," she laughed.
Finn spoke up for the first time. "I know we did this a bit backwards, but Sophie found the ring in my pocket when she was shaking a pair of pants at me and threatening life and limb if I didn't quit leaving dirty clothes on the floor," he told them with a grin. "It wasn't exactly how I planned on asking her, but either way I hope that you'll give us your blessing."
"Of course," Stella told them, squeezing her daughter's hand gently. "If this is what the two of you want and you're both happy, that's all that matters to us."
Sophie looked over at her father nervously. "Daddy?"
For a moment he just looked at her. Though she was standing there in front of him looking so grown up in her stylish jeans and jacket with her hair cascading over her shoulders and a diamond glinting on her finger he could still see her in his minds eye, resting on his hip as he and Stella got married. "I'm really not sure what to say here. This is one of the moments that a father dreads; but I'm with your mother Sophie. All I care is that you're healthy and happy."
"I am Daddy," she said quietly.
"Then take my blessing, then run away with it before I stop to think," he told her.
They all burst into laughter and Don caught his daughter as she launched herself into this arms. From over Sophie's shoulder Finn caught his eyes, and for a moment the two men just looked at each other. After a moment Don nodded, and when Finn nodded as well it was clear that the younger man understood the elder's feelings.
Finn knew that he would become the man in Sophia's life. They would become husband and wife, and he would do his very best to make her happy. But no matter what happened, she would always be her father's daughter, she would always be his little girl. It was like that country song. Finn was prince charming and Sophie was the princess; but no matter how well Don and Finn got along, no matter how close they became, Finn would always be the guy responsible for stealing Cinderella.
