He didn't have time

by Bella Gracelyn Prentiss

Emma gives birth to her's and Neal's daughter three years after she gives her baby boy up for adoption. When her daughter is three months old, she walks out on Neal and her daughter. Neal has to raise his and Emma's daughter on his own. Will he ever find a woman that he loves again? Will he ever find a woman who loves his daughter and wants to help him raise her? PS I own nothing

2. Chapter 2

When a single dad goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My daddy used to wonder if he'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run

Neal never dated anyone really seriously because every time he would tell them that he had a daughter, they immediately got turned off and would tell him that they simply didn't have anything in common with him and that their life goals were different. That's the main reason Neal never introduced his daughter to someone he would go on a date with. He didn't want her to get hurt.

Although Kaitlynn loves her daddy and is glad that she has him, she wishes she had a mommy too. Her daddy told her how her mommy left when she was only three months old and that makes her sad, because mommies are supposed to love and care for their babies. It makes Kaitlynn wonder how the woman who gave birth to her could just leave her like she didn't matter. Or like she wasn't important.

Neal wishes his daughter had a mother because all little girls need their mothers, but he knows that Kaitlynn has him and for now that is enough. Although he fears that one day, he'll wake up and realize his little girl is becoming a woman and he doesn't know how to explain the changes that are happening to his daughter's body.

I met the woman I call my mom when I was five years old
She took my dad out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard her pop the question and prayed that he'd say yes

Kaitlynn is five years old when she meets Amelia Shepherd, who comes to the house because she is going out on a date with Neal.

Amelia arrives at Neal's house at five-thirty and knocks on the door.

Neal is still getting ready, so Kaitlynn walks to the door and asks, "Who is it?"

"It's Amelia. Your dad is expecting me." Amelia says through the door

"Daddy! It's someone named Amelia." Kaitlynn yelled

"Okay baby." Neal yelled back "You can open the door and let her in."

Kaitlynn opened the door and smiled at Amelia, "Hi, my daddy said you can come in. He's still getting ready." Then she introduced, "I'm Kaitlynn."

"Nice to meet you, Kaitlynn." Amelia replied

Neal ran downstairs, "Hey Amy, sorry we have to wait a few minutes. The babysitter is running a little late."

"You know I'm okay if we take Kaitlynn with us." Amelia told Neal "We're just going to the movies. Plus I'm sure there's a movie that Kaitlynn would like to see."

"Are you sure?" Neal asked in disbelief. None of his dates ever wanted to even meet his daughter, let alone bring her along on their date.

Amelia nodded, "Yes I'm sure."

Kaitlynn smiled and then hugged Amelia, "Thank you." Then she turned and looked at Neal, "Daddy, can we see the game plan?"

Neal looked at Amelia, who nodded then he looked back at his daughter, "Of course, baby."

A few months later, Neal came back from a date with Amelia and Kaitlynn wanted both her daddy and Amelia to tuck her into bed.

"Goodnight baby. Love you." Neal said as he tucked his daughter into bed.

Amelia stroked the little girl's head, "Goodnight sweet girl. Love you."

"Night-night daddy. Love you." Kaitlynn replied "Night-night Amy. Love you."

Then Kaitlynn closed her eyes and started to drift off to sleep, but when she heard Amelia and her daddy talking, she woke up but kept her eyes closed.

Meanwhile, Amelia pulled a box out of her pocket and opened it, "Neal Cassidy, I love you and I love Kaitlynn. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Kaitlynn. I want to be a mother to Kaitlynn. Will you marry me?"

Neal looked shocked while Kaitlynn crossed her fingers and mumbled to herself, "Please say yes, daddy."

After a minute, Neal smiled and nodded, "Yes. Yes Amy. I'll marry you." Then Neal and Amelia hugged excitedly and kissed.

Kaitlynn was smiling from ear to ear. She got a little over excited and yelled, "Yes! I'm going to have a mommy!"

Amelia and Neal looked at Kaitlynn and shook their heads smiling.

"I thought you were asleep, little goose." Amelia stated

Kaitlynn shook her head and then asked, " Amy, when you and daddy get married can I call you mommy?"

Amelia nodded, "Of course. You can call me mommy whenever you feel comfortable."

Kaitlynn smiled, "Okay. I love you, mommy."

"I love you too, little goose." Amelia replied

Neal smiled as he watched and listened to the conversation between his fiance and his daughter.

And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family

At the wedding, when the priest asked, "Do you Neal Cassidy take Amelia Shepherd to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." Neal replied

"And do you Amelia Shepherd take Neal Cassidy to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The priest asked

Amelia nodded, "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest stated "You may now kiss the bride."

Neal and Amelia kissed passionately while Kaitlynn, who is the flower girl smiled happily. She was so glad that she would now have a mommy to love her unconditionally.

Then Amelia turned to Kaitlynn and picked the little girl up, "Oh my little goose, I feel so lucky to be in yours and your daddy's lives."

"No mommy, daddy and I are the lucky ones." Kaitlynn replied "You found daddy and he picked you to be my mommy, because he knew you'd love me the best."

Amelia smiled and laughed slightly, "Are you sure you're five?"

"Yes mommy, I'm sure. I'm just smart for my age." Kaitlynn stated

"That you are, my little goose, that you are." Amelia told the little girl