Roman was nervous about taking Joey to see his parents. He didn't know how his little girl was going to react to them and them her.
Thea walked into his room.
"Joey is ready to go if you are. She's excited", Thea smiled.
Roman looked up at her.
"Really?", he asked.
"Don't sound so surprised. If I told her about you, I told her about them. I just didn't really have good photos of them to show her.", Thea shrugged.
He chuckled.
"My parents weren't the photo taking type unless it was professional photos done", Roman replied.
"I know that too", Thea nodded.
Dean walked in next, holding Joey's hand.
"The kid and I are ready", Dean said.
Joey was smiling in a blush pink dress, white converse, and her hair was in pig tails, curling at the ends.
"She picked it out", Thea said.
"I wanted to look pretty for grandma and grandpa", Joey replied.
Roman smiled.
"And you do my little lady, absolutely beautiful", he replied, making his daughter smile bigger.
"You can do it", Thea said.
He nodded and stood.
"We'll race you to the truck", Dean said, lifting Joey into his arms and taking off down the hall.
Thea laughed softly.
"What are you going to do while we are out?", Roman asked.
Thea cleared her throat.
"Um, I have that date with the cop, Randy, remember", she replied.
"Right", he nodded.
"But, have fun with Joey and Dean", Thea said.
She really didn't want to talk to him about her date tonight.
"I would say have fun too, but I really don't want you too", he chuckled.
She chuckled too.
"I hope you remember our date too", he added.
"Haven't forgotten", she replied.
He kissed her cheek before leaving. Joey was buckled up in the back seat. Dean looked over at him.
"If they say one bad thing about Thea in front of Joey, we are gone.", Dean said.
Roman nodded.
"You'll have no complaints from me there.", Roman said.
Getting to his parents house, they made their way inside. Turns out they had invited his sisters and cousin.
He didn't know how Joey would react to so many unknown people.
"Mom just had to overdue it", Dean mumbled.
"Does that really surprise you", Roman said.
Dean shook his head no.
"Oh my goodness", their mom said, as she made her way over to them.
His sisters followed behind her. They looked over Joey's face as she hid a bit behind her dad's leg.
"Hi princess, I'm grandma", his mom said sweetly.
Joey looked up at him and he lifted her into his arms. She hid her little face in his neck.
"Of course she would tell her bad things about us", Summer mumbled.
"She actually didn't. One more rude comment and I'm taking my niece home", Dean spoke up.
Their mom gave Summer a look before smiling at Joey.
"Want to meet grandpa?", his mom asked.
Joey squeezed him tighter. He rubbed her back gently.
"Its okay sweetheart", he whispered.
Joey slowly lifted her head.
"This is your grandma, my mom. This is your aunt Summer and aunt Kayla. They are daddy's sisters", Roman introduced.
Joey smiled a bit.
"Would you like to meet your cousins, Joey? I can take you to the playroom to meet them", Kayla said, holding her arms out for his daughter to take.
Joey looked at him.
"Its okay babe", he smiled.
Joey went into his sister's arms. Dean followed behind Summer and Kayla. He had promised not to let that little girl out of his sight.
"Your dad would like to speak to you in his office before meeting Joey", his mom said.
Roman sighed.
"She's not a business deal. She's my child, an innocent child", Roman said.
"Would you just speak to him, and if you don't like what he has to say, then you can leave", his mom said.
He nodded and followed his mom. He sat across from his dad.
"So, I don't want to take more time away from your mom and me spending time with our granddaughter. We would like to work something out with you.", his dad said.
"What?", he asked.
"Like letting Joey come over a few days a week. Letting us pay for the best schools and programs for her. Education is no joke", his dad said.
Roman looked from his dad to his mom.
"And how many days are we talking?", Roman asked.
"Well, seeing as the best private school in town is close to our home, I would say five out of the six days and so you aren't so far from her, we would be glad to let you live in the guest house", his dad said.
Roman nodded.
"And Thea? You know, my child's mother", Roman asked.
His dad cleared his throat.
"Will get her on Joey's days off", his dad replied.
Roman chuckled.
"Two days? Thea will only get two days", Roman said.
"Son listen, that woman…", Roman cut him off.
"Do not disrespect the mother of my child. The woman who made sure Joey knew about you and never called you out of your names", Roman said.
His dad sighed.
"And the answer will be no. Its no now and in the future, so do not ask again. How dare you think I would take Joey away from Thea like that. I don't know her that well, but she is the mother I always wanted for my children", Roman said.
His dad nodded.
"Now, you either want to meet your granddaughter or you don't.", Roman added.
"I want to meet her", his dad said.
"Good, because she wants to meet you too", Roman said.
They made their way to the playroom. Joey was getting along great with her cousins and his sisters. Dean was watching from the porch.
Roman joined him as his parents bonded with Joey now.
"So, how many poor unfortunate souls do you owe them?", Dean asked.
Roman chuckled.
"None, thank god", Roman replied.
Dean waited for more.
"They thought I would agree to private school for Joey, making her stay here for five out of the seven days. Taking her from Thea", Roman said.
Dean shook his head.
"Thea is a great mother, and Joey is a smart little girl", Dean said.
Roman nodded.
"Its why I told them no. I'm sure its not going to be the last time they ask, but the answer will be the same no matter what", Roman said.
Dean nodded.
"And about Thea's date tonight, how do you feel?", Dean asked.
Roman groaned. Dean laughed.
"I see", Dean nodded.
"In the end I just want her to be happy", Roman said.
"We all do. She deserves it, but so do you", Dean replied.
Roman looked into the room and watched as Joey giggled at something his dad said to her. He smiled.
"They aren't bad parents either, they just want things a certain way and its not me.", Roman said.
Dean nodded.
"They are. They didn't have to take me in, but they did. They adopted me and gave me the best education and life a kid could ask for, but sometimes they are wrong", Dean said.
Roman smiled.
"Are you going to tell Thea about the offer your dad made you?", Dean asked.
"Of course.", Roman nodded.
"And what if they don't like me?", Thea asked.
"What's not to like? You're amazing", Roman replied, taking her hand and kissing it.
"I know, but…", he stopped her.
"Once they see how happy you make me, they are going to love you", he said.
"Do they know about Ric?", she asked softly.
He nodded.
"And?", she asked.
They weren't happy with his decision not to join Ric's firm, they were especially not happy when he said it was because of Thea.
"I just want them to like me.", she added.
"And they will", he smiled.
At least he hoped they did.