A/N: Sweet father daughter moment in this chapter!

The grass crunched under her feet as she walked towards the guys throwing the football around on the field. She could hear them laughing, and it made her feel a little better to hear that Will seemed happier than when she had seen him a few days earlier. She had taken some time to think everything over, wanting her head completely clear before she came back to Will. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him again by not being able to properly explain herself.

She came to a stop at the edge of the field, folding her arms over her stomach as a cool spring breeze whipped past her. One of the guys gestured in her direction, making Will turn around. She shot him a small smile, and her heart leapt hopefully when he turned fully towards her and started heading in her direction. The guys followed, heading towards the bags they had discarded not far from where JJ was now standing.

As Will got closer, JJ found herself struggling to read his expression. Even so, she took a chance, stepping forward and stretching up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips.

"Hey," she said softly as she pulled back, her hand coming to rest on his chest.

"Hey," Will replied quietly, his face still devoid of any obvious emotion.

JJ took a deep breath, giving him a small smile. "I'm… Will, I'm really sorry. I've been thinking about everything you said, and… I'm going to try harder"

Will let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"It's not all you, JJ… I should've just talked to you instead of starting an argument… I mean, I know this is all totally new for you. I should've just brought it up"

JJ shook her head, stretching up towards him again. "Maybe so… but that's not an excuse for me to make you feel the way I did. So I'm sorry. And I'm going to try harder"

Will cracked a little smile, looping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her temple. "I love you"

Leaning into his hold, JJ smiled, looking up towards him. "I love you too. I promise"

With the air clear, Will had happily come along to spend the night with JJ after she had finished her afternoon training session. After dinner and a movie, everyone was eagerly getting ready for bed.

"JJ and Will seem pretty serious," Michael said conversationally as he washed his hands under the tap in the bathroom. "I mean… you could see it coming from a mile off but I guess I just always expected that they would test the waters by casually dating first"

"Yeah I guess," Sandy said softly as she tugged her nightshirt over her head. Michael shut off the faucet, leaving the bathroom and coming back into the bedroom.

"They seem to be really in love," he mused with a smile.

Sandy looked up at him, pausing for just a moment before she spoke.

"Well… I mean, they've had sex"

Michael's jaw dropped.

"They've what?!"

"Keep your voice down!" Sandy hushed, moving over to her side of the bed. "You heard what I said"

"They have?" Michael asked incredulously. Sandy nodded. Michael gaped at her, before casting a curious look towards the bedroom door. "Since when?"

Sandy took a deep breath. "Valentine's Day"

"Should we really leave them alone in her room?"

"Michael, pull it together. They're not stupid enough to do that while we're in the same house. Not like when my mother caught us"

Michael snickered, pulling the covers back and sliding into the bed. Sandy followed suit, dimming her bedside lamp as she settled in beside him.

"So I guess… JJ's really an adult," Michael said softly.

Sandy smiled, reaching out to cover his hand. "She is. Beneath that quiet and shy exterior is a girl who's mature and responsible and can look after herself. She's grown up so much since the Olympics… it's uncanny"

"But she's not even five foot," Michael teased in a whisper. Sandy laughed.

"A tiny adult then"

"Hey sweetheart… is it alright if I come in?"

Michael's voice cut through the audio from her earphones as she sat watching Netflix the following afternoon. Pressing pause on her show, JJ removed the buds from her ears, looking up at her dad with a smile.

"Sure," she said sweetly, closing her laptop and pushing it aside as Michael came into the room. She pulled her legs up to her chest, locking her arms around her knees as he took a seat on the edge of her bed.

Michael took a deep breath, his face looking a little more serious as he lifted his gaze to JJ's.

"I… I was talking to your mom last night, not about anything important, and… well, she mentioned something about you and Will… and Valentine's Day?"

"Oh," JJ said softly, a pink blush creeping up her cheeks.

"I thought I would just leave it, because you probably would rather not talk to your old dad about those sorts of things," Michael said, a small smile gracing his face. "But I… JJ, I just want you to know that… as much as I hate to admit that you're growing up and you're not gonna stay my little beam queen forever… I just wanted you to know that I trust you, and I respect the decisions you make for yourself. I don't want you to feel like you have to pretend it's not happening, because… you're growing up and you're in a serious relationship, it's ok"

JJ managed a smile as Michael reached out and squeezed her hand.

"What I'm trying to say is… I know you'd probably rather talk to your mom about these things, but… if you ever need anything, and she's not around… don't be afraid to come to me, ok?"

Suddenly JJ had tears burning her eyes. She didn't know how she'd ever been so lucky to have the parents she had… but she was so grateful she did.

Without warning, she leapt forward, throwing her arms around her dad and burying her face in his shoulder.

"Hey… hey, don't cry," Michael chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her temple.

"I love you Dad," she said tearfully into his shoulder.

"I love you too peanut, so so much," Michael whispered, rubbing her back as she clutched onto him, just wanting to hold onto her childhood innocence for that little bit longer.