Chapter 13
Ever since C.C. had accepted Niles' proposal, C.C.'s mansion – or rather, their mansion – had been enfolded in an atmosphere of happiness, love and jubilation. The news was wonderful, and it was thoroughly celebrated by family and friends alike. There was a wedding in sight, and everyone wanted to participate in the happy occasion. But they weren't in a rush – the holidays and Amelia's seventh birthday had come first, and only then had they started planning the wedding.
Needless to say, Fran Sheffield had practically forced the engaged couple to accept her help in the planning of the wedding. They had to admit having both a hired wedding planner and a former one helping them had its pros, but sometimes the brunette could get a little overexcited when it came to weddings.
Amelia was also eager to help, so after the holidays and her birthday had passed, the girl had focused her energies in helping with the preparations Thus, it was no surprise that the little child, who was currently sat on Fran's lap, was discussing her ideas for the wedding with Fran as she drew how she'd like her own dress to be. Meanwhile, Maxwell, C.C. and Niles were all sat at the table, having coffee and pretending to chat. In reality, they were overhearing the conversation between Fran and Amelia – the latter had a lot of implausible but adorable ideas – like wanting a thousand doves to be released as her Mommy and Niles walked out of the church.
"And what are you drawing now?" Fran asked, stroking the girl's long, hazel hair. It cascaded down her back in ringlets.
"Mommy's wedding dress, see?" she pointed at a strapless, white gown she was sketching. "We are going dress shopping tomorrow and maybe we can find something similar to my drawings!"
"That is very nice, Mia," Fran said, hugging the girl as her eyes wandered over the page. "And you drew Niles's tux, too!"
"Yes! I drew Mommy and Daddy's clothes," the girl absentmindedly replied as she kept drawing with a firm and steady hand.
Fran stopped, her eyes widening. Maxwell's head snapped up from where he was watching Eve sort through crayons. Niles' mouth fell open. C.C. choked on her coffee.
And then everything in the room sped up. Fran looked up at her husband, who nodded, and after Fran had given Mia a kiss on her head and settled her down on the sofa, they quickly gathered their children and finished their coffees (doing so in such a way as to not make their exit look hurried), before thanking their hosts and setting off on their way, suggesting that, next time, everyone should come over to the Sheffield mansion instead.
And the couple was left alone with Mia.
Mia, who had called Niles her daddy.
C.C. didn't know how it was possible. She'd never called Niles that in front of her – she'd never said it aloud. He knew Niles wanted to be with her and to help her look after Amelia, but that didn't necessarily mean he wanted the title of "father". It might make him uncomfortable. He might think he was being forced into a role that he didn't ask for, or even want to take...
It hurt to think that he might not want to be a family like that, especially after having just overcome the fears caused by their last fight, but it was his decision. She knew he wanted them and that he loved Amelia, but being actually called the girl's father was quite a big step. One that she didn't know if he wanted (or if he was ready) to take.
And she couldn't tell what he was thinking, perhaps for the first time in her life. He was staring at Amelia.
She reached out, tentatively, and rested a hand on his shoulder, "I never called you that in front of her, I swea-"
Her words were cut off by his own hand reaching up to take hers.
C.C. swallowed. Her mind was racing a hundred miles per second, producing images of what would surely happen next.
He'd tell her he didn't want her excuses. He'd tell her this was too much for him. He'd tell her he needed some space and everything they had been working for, would come crashing down. And Amelia... Amelia would have lost the man she clearly felt was her father.
She didn't want to think about it, and a few tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
"Niles, I swear, I-"
He squeezed her hand once again and turned to look at her; his eyes widened a little when he realised she was on the verge of tears.
"Relax," he cupped her cheek with her hand and brushed away the free falling droplets. "I know you didn't," he moved his chair closer to hers and he hugged her. "May I speak with Amelia? Straightforwardly?"
C.C. gulped once again. She had no idea what he was going to tell her, but she owed this to him. She knew he would be kind and loving with her daughter – he had always been – but she couldn't help the fear.
"Alright," she whispered against her better judgment. "Talk to her."
Niles gave her a soft smile and got to his feet. He wandered over towards where the child sat and took her in his arms. The child giggled and threw her arms around his neck.
"Amelia, can we talk for a moment?" Niles said, setting her down in his lap.
"Sure, Niles!" she said with a smile, although the tone in her voice suggested she was nervous.
"Good," he clutched her hand in his. "Amelia, did you just call me Daddy?"
The girl's brow furrowed and she remained silent for a few moments, a thoughtful look on her face. It was almost as though she was thinking back about what she'd said in the past few minutes, and suddenly, her smile fled from her face and she looked away. He knew it had just dawned on her what she'd done, and he understood her discomfort. So he didn't pressure her into answering him, but he did tighten his grip on her hand.
"Yes," Amelia eventually choked out, her voice sounding just as scared as her mother's. "I did."
Niles nodded. "Okay... so you did call me your Daddy?"
After a moment, Amelia shook her head yes.
"Was it by accident?"
The girl nodded affirmatively again.
"And tell me…" he took a deep, calming breath and gently tipped Amelia's chin upwards so she'd look at him. "Would you like to call me Daddy? All the time?"
She stopped to consider, but ended up shaking her head. "I don't want to just call you Daddy... I want you to be my Daddy."
And Niles felt his heart swell in his chest.
He'd thought that he'd be able to get the chance to really be a father figure to Amelia. He was going to be – he was marrying her mother, after all. But he had also thought that, maybe, where they were right now was where it was going to end.
He thought he'd do all the things he could for her, but maybe never be able to cross the boundary. A stepfather, and that only. A very loving and good stepfather, he'd hope, but still...nothing more than that.
He thought he'd watch the little girl in his lap grow, continuing to call him "Niles" as years went past, and without even meaning to, letting him know that he wasn't related to her. He wasn't her father. Even though he so desperately wanted to be.
But she wanted it, too. She wanted him to be her father! And he couldn't help the tears in his eyes at her confession. She truly was the sweetest little girl alive, and he counted himself lucky that she wanted him in her life.
But there was C.C. to consider, too. She'd seemed panicked when Mia had first said those words that were still blissfully swimming around in his head. Maybe she had been hoping that being a stepfather would be enough for him? They hadn't exactly discussed how he would fit in when it came to Amelia...
He looked up, towards where she was studying them intently, and asked, "And what does your Mommy say?"
"Yeah, Mommy!" Mia piped up excitedly, spinning to face C.C.. "Can Niles be my Daddy? He's marrying you so he can, can't he?"
"I don't know, sweetie," the blonde choked out, failing to hide her tears. If they were from stress or joy, she couldn't tell. "That is not my decision to make – it's yours and Niles'."
C.C. swallowed a lump in her throat as she got to her feet and moved to the armchair before the sofa. He plopped herself down onto it as she wiped away a few tears.
She didn't know how Niles felt about it, but what she did know, was that he was asking for her opinion on the matter. She had to make him understand that there was nothing more she desired than him to be Amelia's father, but he wasn't forced to take that place if he didn't want to.
She had always wanted to give her daughter a father, and she had hoped that a stepfather would be enough for her, but if Niles wanted to take that role, then she'd be the happiest woman in the world. There was no man better suited than Niles to father Amelia, but it all lay upon him.
"I'd be honoured and thankful to call you the father of my child. You've always treated her as your own, but it's your choice, not mine. Whatever option you decide, it will be okay for me," C.C. said, smiling.
Niles (who was crying, too) felt relieved. She was willing to let him step in and call Amelia his own! She was willing to let him be part of their family as more than just her future husband and Amelia's stepfather.
She was willing to share with him the honour of being Amelia's parent. And, he knew, Amelia was the most precious thing in C.C.'s life. It had been just the two of them for years, so her willingness to let him be her father was humbling.
But, as she had said, it was his and Amelia's decision to make. C.C. had already given her permission, so now it was a matter of talking things out with Amelia. He looked down at the girl, who had just laid her head on his shoulder. He hugged her even tighter.
"So, now that your Mommy said yes, do you want me to be your Daddy?"
"Yes," the girl replied instantly. "I want you to be my Daddy. Can you be my Daddy? And can I be your daughter?"
He felt more tears rolling down his cheeks, and he nodded against her hair, "Of course you can be my daughter, sweetheart. I'd like nothing better than to be your Daddy."
Amelia pulled away sharply, looking up at him in the purest delight he'd ever seen, "You mean it?!"
He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her cheek. Her eyes – his eyes, he thought, even if they weren't given to her by him – were shining, and he thought the girl might start crying too.
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it," he barely managed to get out. "What kind of Daddy would I be if I said something like that and didn't mean it?"
Amelia's face slowly spread back into a beaming smile, and she threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. Niles wrapped his arms around her back, and held her close.
"I love you...Daddy," Mia mumbled against the fabric of his shirt.
Niles smiled into her hair, "I love you too, sweetheart."
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see C.C. watching, and he gently unwound one of his arms from...their...daughter, to open up an invitation for her to join them. C.C. got to her feet, edged round the coffee table that separated the armchair from the sofa and sat down next to her fiancé and their daughter.
Their Amelia.
She allowed Niles to wrap his free arm around her while she held him and Amelia with her own. The feeling of peace and love was enfolding them like a blanket, and none of them wished to move from the space they were occupying right then.
They were a family. They had finally found each other and had begun a new chapter together.
C.C. couldn't believe just how lucky she was.
"I love you both so much," she choked out, more tears rolling down her cheeks. She craned her neck forward and kissed Amelia's cheek before pecking Niles' lips.
"And we love you," Niles replied before glancing down at Amelia. "And we, your parents, especially love you, Little One."
This was a new beginning.
A new beginning that would take them on an adventure they were eager to experience.
And adventure that was meant to be transited together.