YEAH!!! I actually got a chapter out when I said it would!!! I'm sooo proud of myself right now!! Hehehe. SO yeah, this is the chapter that I have been waiting for to happen. I was sooo excited to write this one!! Enjoy!!

Chapter 10

June 20st 10:23 P.M. Bolton House

"Catch me mommy!" Belle cheered as she ran into the bedroom. Troy and his father were outside playing basketball while I decided to give Belle a bath. Somehow she managed to get meatloaf on the back of her head. How kids that I'll never know. You'd think we would remember how we did things when we were that age! Oh well. "Mommy? Why you not catch Belle?"

I turned into the bedroom and smiled. Belle was standing in the middle of the room with her lower lip popped out. She's just soo adorable. "Because it's time to take a bath!" I cheered.

Belle shrieked and tried to run out of the room but I was able to sneak my arms around her and lift her up into the air. "No Bath, No bath!!" She protested with a few giggles.

I lowered her and blew raspberries on her stomach. She busted into more giggles and I laughed too. I carried her into the bathroom and shut the door behind me so she couldn't escape. "Muwahahahaha!! Belle can't get away now can you!" I tried to sound evil, but only caused her to laugh even more. I chuckled and started the bathtub.

"Mommy, where daddy at?" She asked innocently.

I turned and looked at her. What do I say? Should I tell her that Troy's her daddy? "Hunny…" I reached out for her and hugged her. "Daddy…"

"He play basketball with gampa right?" She smiled big.

I stared at her in shock. Was she referring to Big Blue as daddy? Did she figure it out? "What?" That's all I could manage to say.

"Does big blue know he my daddy? Gamma say that big blue not know he my daddy."

I smiled big and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Lucille had told her, and she accepted it. Actually, she made it a game for Belle. She made Belle think that Troy didn't know he was her daddy and she needed to tell him. Jeez she was such a genius! Now, Belle knew that Troy was her daddy and she could actually tell him happy Father's Day!! This would be a Father's Day to remember for the rest of his life!! "Uh, no baby. Big blue doesn't know that he's your daddy." She smiled and started to walk over to the door. "Umm, where are you going?"

She turned and gave me a confused look. "Me go tell big blue he my daddy!"

I jumped up and pulled Belle into my arms. "No! You can't tell Big blue till tomorrow. It's a surprise."

She smiled. Belle loved suprises, that much I knew. "Me like surprise!"

I held up my index finger and placed it over my mouth. "Shh, keep it a secret o.k.?'

She mimicked me and smiled. "Me keep secret mommy." She giggled again. Troy was going to love the Father's Day present that Belle was going to give him.

June 21st 7:08 A.M.

"Happy Father's Day Troy!" Gabriella's whisper filled my ears and I smiled. It was Father's Day. My very first official Father's Day, and I was going to get to spend it with Belle and Gabriella.

I opened my eyes and saw Gabriella standing next to the bed with a tray filled with breakfast food. It had eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, the works. I smiled big. "What's this?"

She smiled. "What? You never made your father breakfast on father's day?"

I sat up and let Gabriella set the tray in front of me. "No, we did, but wow. It's so weird, but so nice!" She leaned over and gave me a kiss. I didn't want the kiss to end, but the eggs just smelled so good. "I love it, thank you."

"You're welcome." Before eating I sat there for a second. Gabriella gave me an acted out questioning look. "Is something wrong?"

I gave her a look. "Where's Belle?" It's kind of essential to have your daughter wish you happy Father's Day.

"She's sleeping."

I chuckled and gave her another look. "Are you serious? Why didn't you wake her up?" I was truly confused. I did remember my mother waking me up so I could help make breakfast and wish my dad a happy Father's Day. Don't I get that as well. I was more excited to see Belle than anything else.

Gabriella still had a weird look on her face but I decided to ignore it. Belle was still at the front of my thoughts. "Well, she didn't get allot of sleep last night so I thought I would let her sleep a little longer so she would be awake longer today." She gave a too big of a smile.

Her explanation made sense, but I still couldn't help but suspect something. "Uh huh." She smiled big again and started to leave the room. "What? Where are you going?" Why was she leaving me?

She turned and smiled more. "I have to go clean the kitchen silly!" Before I could say anything else, she was out the door. Something was definitely up, especially because Brie doesn't say things like "silly". I'm sure I'll find out soon enough, but I can't help but be even more suspicious.

I glanced down at the food in front of me and smiled. I didn't even notice the card that was laid nicely next to my plate. I picked it up and smiled. The front had a whole bunch of different colored scribbled lines and a sloppy attempt at writing. "HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!" was scribbled across the top. I chuckled and opened the car. It was apparent that Gabriella had written the next part since it was in perfect cursive.

To the BEST Big Blue ever!!

Love, Mommy

and

b e l l e

I giggled at the attempt from Belle to spell her own name. I now understand why my dad always loved it when we made him homemade cards. They mean soo much more. This card will be the first of many that I will save for the rest of my life.

7:27 A.M.

"O.k., so he totally knows that something's up, but he doesn't have a clue what." I whispered as I entered the clean kitchen. Lucille turned around and smiled while holding a wide awake Belle.

"Mommy, can I see daddy now?" She asked sleepy. I smiled as she said daddy. It just fit.

I grabbed her from Lucille's arms and kissed her head. "Not yet baby. Soon, soon."

"What did he say?" Lucille asked, just as excited to surprise her son. I couldn't hold in the secret. I wanted it to be a surprise from me, but I needed an accomplice and Lucille seemed like the best candidate sense she broke the info to Belle in the first place.

"He was confused on why I hadn't woken up Belle, but I come up some lame excuse and walked away before he could say anything." I lifted my hand up for a high five. "He's going to love his Father's Day gift!"

Lucille gave me a high five and Belle did too. "Yeah! We surprise daddy!!" She giggled and so did Lucille and I.

"Yeah, we will surprise him good!"

8:49 A.M.

I was starting to grow impatient as Brie and I rested in my bed. She had showed up and decided to give in to my whining and laid down with me. "So, can you wake up Belle now?" I asked again.

She smiled up at me. "NO! Let her sleep so she can be awake for the rest of the day!"

I groaned. "But I want to see her!" I popped out my lower lip. "I miss her."

Brie giggled. "Well, you'll just have to wait."

I rolled my eyes. "Aren't you supposed to bow down to my every need today?" I chuckled to show I was partly kidding.

She giggled again. "That's only on your birthday. Belle is supposed to be your server today."

I gave Brie a look. "Well, where is she then?" I smiled showing I just might have won this battle.

She turned her head back to the t.v. that was set on the travel channel. "Sleeping."

I chuckled. "You are impossible woman."

She smiled back up at me. "You know it!" I shifted my position and started to get out of bed. Her grip tightened around me. "Where are you going?"

"To get Belle."

"NO!!" Faster than I could imagine, she was out of the bed and blocking my way out the door.

I smiled big knowing that there must be a surprise coming for me. "And why not?" I couldn't help but sound like a kid awaiting a big present on their birthday.

She smiled big. Brie never really was good at keeping a secret. "Because I said so. It's Father's Day which means you need to stay in bed with me all day."

I smiled. "Well, with as tempting as that sounds, I really, REALLY want to see Belle. It's not Father's Day till I see my baby girl."

I tried to sneak past her but she only held her arms out across the doorway and blocked my path. "No surrie." I smiled at the attempt of a challenge. Her eyes went wide and she turned her head out the door. "Lucille, Code Red, Code Red!!!" Brie squealed and I took the opportunity to rush out the door and head over to where Belle's room was. I busted open the door only to find an empty bed.

I turned around and stared disappointed at Brie. "I thought you said she was sleeping?"

She made her way over to me and gave me a big hug. "I know, I'm sorry for lying, but just know you're going to love your present."

I sighed and wrapped my arms around her. "As long as Belle's part of that present, I don't care how much I'll like it."

She looked up at me and smiled. "Trust me, you're going to LOVE this present."

Whatever the present was, I could care less at this moment. All I wanted right now was to see my baby girl. I must be the only father who's having his daughter hidden from him. This totally sucks, but if Brie says I'll get to see her, than I guess I can wait. Maybe. I may die before the present reaches me.

12:22 P.M.

"Brie, I'm really starting to get aggravated." It's already noon and I still haven't seen Belle. This was turning out to be a very long and unhappy day. Since I realized she was my daughter 16 days ago, she hasn't been out of my sight for this long during the day. Where could she possibly be and why did she need to be away from me for this long.

She gave me a sympathetic smile. "I know, I'm sorry."

I took another deep breath and sighed loudly. This has been going on for too long. I sat at the table and looked out the window. My dad was outside playing some basketball so I decided to go out and play. Maybe playing some basketball with him will take my mind off of the fact that I haven't seen my own daughter all day. I swear, when I see her I won't put her down for anything, not even to pee!

I stood back up and headed outside. "Hey dad."

He looked up at me and smiled. "Hey, how's your first Father's Day going?" He bounced the ball in my direction. I caught it and shot a perfect 3 pointer.

"Ah, not so good."

He looked at me confused. "Why's that?"

He passed me the ball again and I shot another perfect 3 pointer. "Well, I haven't seen Belle all day and Brie won't tell me where she is." I sighed.

My dad bounced the ball and went up for a short lay-up. "I'm sure it's for a good reason."

I gave a fake smile. "Yeah. She did say something about the fact that will love my present. Personally, I don't care what the present is, I just want to see my daughter."

My dad chuckled and bounced the ball over at me again. I shot it up but the ball hit that backboard just to the right of the hoop. "You know, it's still weird hearing you say that. I mean, two days ago I was just a husband and a father, now I'm a husband, father, and grandfather." He chuckled again. "It's a lot of info to take in in one day!"

I smiled. "Yeah. She's great though isn't she?!"

He smiled at me. "The the quietest little girl I've ever seen." He made his way over to me and placed an arm around my shoulders. "You know, it's a proud day in a father's life when he see's his own son become a father. Right now, I couldn't be prouder of you. I mean, You have the perfect girlfriend, your dream job and a beautiful baby girl that loves you too death." He smiled absently in an unkown direction. "When you were born, words couldn't describe how I felt. I was proud yes, happy yes, scared shitless, of course! But seeing you grow up and become your own person, that's the best part of this job. As a matter of fact, being a father isn't a job, it's a gift."

He turned to stand in front of me and placed his hands on my shoulders. "She's only this age once, so cherish every moment. She'll grow up and get defiant, just like every kid, but don't worry. As long as you love her and show her that you love her, she'll come back. You did."

I smiled. "Well, I never really left. We were always best buds!"

He chuckled. "Sure we were cool, but do you remember how you and your mother would bicker when you were in middle school?"

I nodded my head understanding what he was talking about. My mom and I would bicker about stupid stuff like weather my clothes were folded properly and weather I had put my bike away in its proper place in the garage.

"You see." He bounced the ball and shot a free throw. "You should just be patient. Obviously Gabriella has something up her sleeve and wants it to be the best surprise ever!"

I gave him a look. "You know what's going on don't you!"

"Ah, yep! I coaxed it out of her, which she's dead set on making sure is kept a secret from you so don't even try to coax it out of her." He chuckled.

I groaned. "It's like everybody knows but me!" He smiled big. "Are you kidding me?! Everybody does know but me!"

He laughed. "I'll just say this, you will LOVE this gift!"

I groaned again, something I seem to be doing a lot of lately. "I better." I mumbled. He laughed and bounced the ball over at me. I positioned myself on the three point line again. "If I make this, I'll love my gift. If I miss, I'll hate it."

He laughed again. "I don't think this is a good idea, but go ahead."

I lined up my feet and aimed. The ball released from my fingers perfectly and I watched the ball slowly makes its way over to the net. It seemed as if time was in slow motion. Finally, the ball made it to the net and flew through perfectly.

My dad caught the ball and smiled at me. "A swoosh means this will be a pretty good present. I even bet it will be the best Father's Day present in the history of Father's Day presents!" I smiled. Maybe there was hope.

"BIG BLUE!!!"

I whipped my head around and saw my girl running at me. I smiled big and kneeled down so I could pick her up. She jumped into my arms and I spun her around. "LITTLE BLUE!! I cheered. It was about flippin' time. I can't explain the feelings that were surging through me at this very moment. I haven't seen her all day, because she was kept from me, and now, she was safe in my arms. It's the best feeling ever, especially when she's chanting your name, well, nickname.

"YEAH!!! I finally see Big Blue!!" She giggled again. I stopped spinning and I held her out a little so I could look right at her. My smile widened, if that's possible, at what she was wearing. She was wearing a red basketball jersey that said Wildcats on it. She started to wiggle in my arms so I un willingly set her down. She smiled up at me and spun around. I chuckled. "Me number 14 too…"

"Be carefull Belle!" Brie called from the balcony.

I turned my head and looked at her confused. Belle giggled and I turned my head to look back at her. Her index finger was up to her lips as if signaling to keep a secret. I whipped my head back at Brie and saw she was doing the same thing. "Aww, come on!! No more secrets, PLEASE!!!"

Belle giggled and I picked her back up. "Big Blue like this secret!" She giggled and I smiled. It just felt so nice to have her in my arms again.

I looked back down at her jersey and smiled again. "So, you play basketball too?"

She cheered again and I laughed. "Play basketball, play basketball!!"

My dad bounced the ball over and I chuckled. "WAIT!!" I turned my look to my mom who was smiling big. "Let him open one of his presents now!"

Brie, my dad and mom all looked at each other and turned back to me and smiled. "Troy, this is a present for both you and Belle, come on."

"YEAH!! Presents!!" Belle cheered. I laughed.

"YEAH!!" I laughed and we headed into the living room. To my surprise, there was a giant box, sadly wrapped I will add, right in the middle of the room. I made my way over to the box and immediately Belle was trying to destroy the wrapping around It. I chuckled and started to help a little. "What do you think it is Belle?"

"Hoop! Hoop!" She cheered and I laughed. Sure enough, when we finished ripping off all the paper, they had gotten Belle a small basketball hoop so both me and her could play in the backyard. "Yeah!!!" She giggled.

I smiled big and looked over at Brie. She was smiling. "Thank you babe."

Her smile widened. "Don't thank me, thank your daughter. It was all her idea."

I looked over at Belle who was nodding her head at me. "Yep, me's want to play with…"

"Belle…" Brie said again and Belle giggled.

I turned my head to Brie and sighed. "Is this all because of the surprise?"

"Yep!" Brie turned and started to head out of the living room when I saw it. She was wearing my college basketball uniform. Number 14 and everything.

"Wait! Is that my college uniform?"

She turned around and smiled big at me. "Yes, yes it is." She nodded her head at Belle. "Belle has your high school jersey, I have your college jersey and your mom has your NBA jersey!"

"And I have something else." I turned my head to look at my dad. Now, if I was a girl, I would probably be crying, but I'm a tough NBA player so there were only tears in my eyes. My dad was wearing the first jersey I ever wore. It was from back in the 2nd grade. We were the East elementary Warriors and I was, even then, number 14. The reason for me picking the number 14 was because that was the age my dad said he was when he learned how to play basketball. I wanted to make him proud so I wore his number. When I had gotten home from school that day, I ran right up to him and told him I had made the team and why I had chosen the number 14.

I walked over to my dad, with Belle still in my arms, and gave him a big man hug. "Thanks soo much guys. This really means allot to me." I pulled away and smiled at my dad.

"No, thank you for keeping the same number all these years."

"Why big blue sad?" Belle asked.

I smiled at her. "I'm not sad little blue, I'm happy."

She smiled. "Just like at my birthday party!"

The memories of that night filled my head and I smiled again. That had to probably be the best night of my entire life! It was the night I found Brie and found out I had a little miracle. I smiled. "Yes baby, just like your birthday party." I felt Brie's arms snake around my body from behind me. I smiled even bigger, something I'm now doing a lot of. "I love you girls soo much."

Belle wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and nuzzled her head in the crook of my neck. She's my whole world and I love her so much.

"I love you too Daddy."

I closed my eyes and let those words sink in. She loves me. It felt so good to…

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!!

My eyes shot open and I held Belle out in front of me. She giggled. I could feel Brie's arms tighten around me. I looked Belle right in her beautiful blue eyes and I choked back a tear.

"Wha-what did you say?" Please let it be true. Please let her have just called me daddy. I could feel the tears that have been threatening to surface, surface and start to run down my cheeks.

She giggled at me. "I love you too daddy!" She pulled herself back to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I turned in Brie's arms and just stared at her. "Mommy and Gamma said that you didn't know yous was my daddy so I tell you. You not Big Blue, you daddy and me loves daddy! More than even ice cream!" She giggled again.

More tears started to stream down my face as I held her closer to me. My daughter just called me daddy. She finally realized I was daddy. She laid her head back in the crook of my neck and gave a small sigh. I rested my head in her hair and I took a shaky breath. "I love you too baby girl. More than life itself." I closed my eyes and sighed. "God, I love you soo much."

1:04 P.M.

I can't explain the feelings that were going through me at this exact moment as I watched Troy hold onto Belle. It was as if he held her any softer she would disappear forever. She had just called him daddy; that was his surprise and by the looks of it, he definitely loved his Father's Day present. His eyes remained closed as he rocked side to side with her. It's a powerful thing; watching a father embrace his daughter. He does love her, and she loves him. I can't help but feel a little guilty. If I hadn't ran off on him, he could have had many more of these moments by now.

Belle pulled back in his arms and smiled at him. It's funny watching her right now. It's as if she knows exactly what's going on. She is a pretty smart 4 year old. "Let's play basketball daddy!"

I watched as Troy swallowed hard and smiled at Belle. "Absolutely baby girl." She giggled again and Troy set her down. She ran over to the big box and started an attempt at ripping the box open. He quickly followed her and helped her open the giant box.

I felt Lucille stand behind me and handed me the video camera she had been holding the whole time. "This will be a memory you'll be happy you have on tape."

I turned and smiled up at her. She gave a sympathetic smile and placed the camera in my hands. I turned back to Troy and Belle and smiled. "We would be able to remember this day just as clear without it, but thank you." I smiled as Troy quickly ripped apart the box. "He'll want to watch this tape over and over."

Lucille chuckled and walked back over to her husband. Troy glanced up at me and stood up. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Happy Father's Day, Troy."

He kissed my cheek and sighed. "You were right." He pulled away and looked over at Belle again. "I loved my surprise."

I gave him one more hug before following him over to Belle and helped them finish taking apart the poor box.

2:00 P.M.

I took a position behind her and helped her hold up the ball. "O.k., now shoot the ball."

She tilted her head back and smiled up at me. "Just like daddy does?"

I smiled down at her. "Just like daddy does." I can definitely get used to this.

"O tay." I chuckled as I watched her study the extremely short basketball hoop. She bit her lip and finally shot the ball in the air. The ball soared through the air before rolling around the rim and falling through the net.

"Yes!" I cheered and picked her up, spinning around. She giggled. "You made your first basket!" She continued to giggle as I set her down. I turned and looked at the source of her giggles. Brie was standing just to the side, video camera in hand. I knelt down next to Belle and waved at the camera. "Say hi mommy!"

"Hi mommy! Me play basketball with daddy!" She giggled and I gave her kiss on her cheek. It's as if every time she refers to me as daddy I'll live an extra 30 years. It's the best feeling in the world to be called daddy. "Gamma M, Gamma B! I made first basket!!"

I looked over towards the patio and saw both mine and Brie's mom's sitting at the picnic table talking. To keep track of which grandma Belle was talking about, we named my mom Grandma B, for Bolton, and Brie's mom Grandma M, for Montez. I thought it was pretty clever. I turned my gaze back to Brie and smiled. "Come on mommy! You play basketball with us!"

She giggled at my new found vocabulary and turned off the camera, setting it down in the grass. "Otay daddy!" I chuckled and she made her way over to Belle and I. I bounced the ball at her and she caught it. She looked over at the big kid basketball hoop and grinned. She aimed up and let the ball slide through her fingers perfectly. The ball bounced off the backboard and fell perfectly through the net. I chuckled. We were the perfect basketball family. And now that I was officially Belle's Daddy, we were the best family ever! Nothing, I mean nothing, can tear us apart.

SOOOOOOO, what you think???!!! I'm not sure what to think of this chapter so PLEASE REVIEW!! And let me know!! I promise drama will be coming. Some of it will start in the next chapter!

Now, my college program ends next week, so I will be kind of busy packing up my stuff and working like crazy, unless I can find people to cover my shifts!! LOL so ya. I'm currently working on I wish I Could Love You and High School's Past so yeah. I Wish I Could Love You Chapter 18 should be out, maybe by tonight, so yeah.

PLEASE!!!! REVIEW!!!! I highly appreciate them so yeah. Thanks a bunch!!! SuzzieD!!