Happy Father's Day everybody!

Now you may be wondering how are Jade and Tori gonna be celebrating the holiday? After some thinking I came up with what I hope is something that is both an eye opener and may actually make for a tender chapter of "family togetherness", so all in all enjoy!

Hey Dad;

Long time no read… I would have written "see" but that would imply you actually were involved in my life at some point and we both know that has never been the case, growing up I often wondered why that was? Now that I'm older… I know part of the reason… It was because of mom.

She was not around because she was taken away from us when I was a little kid and you were trying to give us a better life by working up the business ladder, newsflash, that ended up driving her away, she wanted you around to be both a husband and a father, how do I know this? Because it's what I wanted.

Mom may have died in an accident but her spirit lived on… At least that's what I think now, part of her was still around, I know this for one reason… I brought you too many memories of her and it was painful seeing me because I was a reminder of the fact that she was gone, I get it, believe me, I do, what do you think I think of when I see myself in the mirror every day?

But you know what? You should've eventually gotten over it, I needed a father growing up but you were away at work and when you were home, I only saw you in passing, it's a wonder I grew up the way I did.

All those birthdays, all those promises you made to me over the years that you would come to see me perform were nothing but empty words for you, weren't they? Since not once can I recall you being there for me when I needed your support, eventually I wised up and came to the conclusion that I couldn't count on you because being around me only served as a reminder that the woman we both loved was no longer around.

Of course, you just had to make between us a lot worse, didn't you? since according to you, being in the entertainment industry is stupid, guess what though? That only made me try harder to prove you wrong, you want proof? Go and watch "Killing Daddy" granted the title is hardly something that will catch your eye but it's a big deal for me since it was the first time I ever wrote a script for a TV movie, even more challenging I got to direct and star in it, how many people can say they done that?!"

That would hardly impress you wouldn't it? But guess what? I don't need your approval anymore because I know I'm never going to get it, you wanted me to be a little version of yourself in hopes to finally erase any thought of mom, didn't you?

Do you realize how messed up that is?

I'M NOT HER AND I'LL NEVER BE LIKE YOU! I'M MY OWN DAMN PERSON!"

I bet that if it wasn't for the money mom left me, I wouldn't even have gone to Hollywood Arts because I know you never payed for my education there, Grandma told me and she made sure you would never be able to touch that money.

That's another thing, because you never supported me, I had to look elsewhere to any sort of affection, self-worth and support and you know what? I didn't have to look far, though I didn't realize this at first.

You remember Tori? You should, seeing as you were invited to our wedding last year, believe me, that wasn't my idea but she insisted, Why? Because my wife had this child-like delusion that you would even show some happiness for me and would maybe even be the beginning of a long overdue father/daughter time, the first of many to come, That's Tori for you, always looking out for my happiness, needless to say, I married a woman with a heart of gold.

Which is more than I can say about you dad, so cold and distant but at the very least I know you weren't against me marrying her otherwise you would've said something at the ceremony or even when I came out to you when I was a teenager and I brought her home so you could meet her but even that failed to get a reaction out of you, all you did was give her a handshake, like she was one of your damn business partners.

Just like everything else, the tattoo's, the piercings, nothing I did was enough to get you to tell me anything other than the usual "Why can't you be normal?" Do you realize what that said to me? In your eyes, I was a freak and don't deny it! I can see it in your eyes… I wasn't the daughter you wanted; do you even love me? I don't even remember you telling me that and you know what's the worst part is?

I know I'll never get to hear you say it.

You're my dad and yet, I hardly know anything about you.

So, you know what? I'm not going to try anymore, why should I when you never tried to get to know me.

This will be the last time you'll get a card from me.

"Happy" Father's Day.

Jade.

"Hey baby." Tori greeted cheerfully, entering the living room. "How are you?"

Jade looked up from her laptop, briefly staring as her wife to give her a forced smile.

"I been better." She shrugged. "Guess I'm not feeling well."

"Are you coming down with something?" Tori asked worriedly. "Do you need anything?"

"No Vega, I'm fine." Jade said tiredly "I mean, I'm not sick… I guess I'm just… You know… Emotionally drained."

Tori stopped what she was doing and sat down next to her spouse, giving her a gently squeeze on her hand.

"Jade… You know you can always tell me what's bothering you."

"I know…" The Thespian said. "That's something I can always count on you Vega… You're always there for me."

"Because I love you." The Latina replied. "So, whenever you're ready, I'm here to listen." She finished by giving her wife a soft kiss on the lips before getting up, as she had a few things to do for the next day.

"Your dad's coming tomorrow, right?"

"Yup and so is Trina!" Tori said. "We're all going to have a nice Father's Day brunch with him! Can't wait!"

"Was there ever a day when he wasn't around on Father's Day, Vega?"

"Nope." She replied. "Dad always made sure to spend the day with us, I mean if it wasn't for my sister and I, he couldn't even be able to celebrate the holiday in the first place!"

"What did you two did with you dad?" Jade asked.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious."

"Well, when I was little, my dad and I went fishing, I think he secretly always found a way for me to get a bigger fish, oh! When I was in elementary school, I made him a cake but I think he got sick from it since he kinda had to take a bucket with him to every room in the house for the rest of the day."

Jade snickered.

"Good thing we don't rely on your cooking skills to survive, Vega."

"Shut it!" Tori snapped. "Now, where was I? Ah, I remember this one time I spent my allowance for a year to buy him a new radio for his car since Trina broke it."

"So, wait… He went around for an entire year without a radio in his squad car?"

"It was a radio in the house, it had a big meaning for him since it was something my grandpa had and it's kind of a family heirloom." Tori corrected. "Dad never said a word but I could see it that he was at least touched that I bothered to buy him a new one since he figured that neither Holly or Trina or I for that matter would care enough to get it replaced but he was so pleasantly surprised that he took me for ice cream and we spent the rest of the day together, just the two of us and at night we look up at the stars, often making up names for them and see if we could see constellations."

"Sounds like you never had a dull moment with your old man." Jade said somewhat jealously, something Tori picked up on.

"Jade… Are you ok?"

The thespian didn't say a word, she simply moved her laptop so Tori could have a better view of the screen, the Latina read what her wife wrote, narrowing her eyes the only thing she could think of was…

"His loss!"

"What?"

"HIS LOSS!" Tori repeated, she held her wife in her arms. "That man doesn't deserve a daughter like you!"

"Come on Vega, you're just saying that."

"I'm not!" She snapped. "Jade, you're the strongest woman I know! You're funny, beautiful on the inside and outside, not to mention that you fought with tooth and nails to be where you are today! And if your dad can't see that then he's missing out on being a part of this family! So he can choke on his coldness! If your dad won't show you love, you know my dad will since he loves you like another daughter!"

"Vega, you always know what to say when I'm down in the dumps."

"That's because I love you."

They kissed afterwards.

"You know what?" Jade asked. "You're right, my dad is missing out, I tried to get him to be a part of my life but his actions speak louder than word, he had his chance."

The thespian pressed a button on her computer, she intended to delete the e-mail.

But unintentionally pressed something else.

Sent.

The Next Day.

Mr. Vega was welcomed with open arms into the house the moment he walked in.

"Hello Tori."

"Hey dad" The Latina greeted warmly, hugging her father. "Where's Trina? I thought she was coming with you."

"She forgot a pie she bought so she went back to get it." He explained. "Don't worry she'll be back in about half an hour to eat with us."

"Oh geez, I was worried she wouldn't make it." Jade said sarcastically.

"Ah Jade, always with a sunny disposition." The cop teased his daughter in law. "How you been? Treating my little girl, just right?"

"Come on dad." Tori said embarrassed. "Every time you come; you always have to her ask that, you know as well as I do that Jade treats me with love and respect."

"Well I just want to make sure." Mr. Vega said. "You may be a grown woman but you're still my daughter."

"Nice to know you have much faith in me Mr. Vega." Jade replied with a smirk, she was used to this game she played with her father in law, he is the only man who ever managed to scare her and because of that she had a great respect for him since no one else has ever managed to do that, plus the fact that he showed more affection towards her than her own father ever did also made Jade grow quite fond of the cop even if sometimes he did sent her a subtle threat her way.

Ding dong.

Everyone shared a confused look.

"There's no way, that could be Trina." Tori said. "She couldn't have gone to her house for the pie already.

"I'll go check." Jade shrugged. "Maybe it's that pizza I ordered."

"You ordered pizza for brunch?" Tori asked.

"Better than making a cake." Jade teased. "We wouldn't want to get sick, now would be?"

Tori's face tuned tomatoes red in embarrassment.

"JADE!"

Snickering all the way to the front door, Jade got the money out of her wallet, she opened the door, her attention however was on counting the money to pay for the pizza.

"Ok, I got thirty bucks for the two pepperoni pizzas and the sodas and an extra ten for your tip…"

"Jadelyn?"

The thespian stopped what she was doing, looking up to see none other than her father standing right in front of her, to say she was surprised was an understatement, but soon that surprised turned to anger, she got out of the house and closed the door behind her.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Language!" Mr. West said. "I raised you better than that!"

"You raised me?!" Jade laughed sarcastically. "That's crap and you know it! I practically raised myself because you weren't around!"

"That's…. true." Mr. West said regrettably. "Jadelyn, I know you and I never seen eye to eye… I know I disappointed you many times while you were growing up when I should've tried to been around more, if I could go back and change it, I would."

"Well you can't!" Jade snapped. "You can't change the past and even if you could, I know better! Your words have no real meaning, they're just empty apologies! And I'm sick of them! I'm sick of you telling me one thing and them doing another!"

"I don't expect you to believe me." Her dad said. "After all, I haven't done anything to gain that trust from you, but if you would even have it in your heart to hear me out, I just want to say that I'm sorry, I'm sorry I wasn't the father you wanted or needed, I'm sorry I didn't support you when you needed my support or that I didn't show you that I loved you, because in all honesty, I do love you, you're my daughter after all, I just never knew how to express it because believe it or not, I was where you are Jadelyn."

"You're kidding."

"On the contrary." He said. "Your grandfather never showed any kind of affection when I was growing up, he was a cold and distant man, always giving out orders but never actually telling me if I was doing a good job, he wanted me to follow in his footsteps, he wanted me to go into the military like he did but I wanted to help people, not cause them harm so instead I went to law school, which he considered stupid because in his mind you can't fight enemies with words but I didn't want to fight, words were meant to be used to come up with a solution and prevent fighting."

"Grandpa was kind of a jerk." Jade acknowledged. "I remember telling me once that I should've been born a boy, because maybe then he could've had the chance to actually have a kid with balls in the family."

"I never knew that." Mr. West said surprised. "When did he tell you this?"

"I don't know." Jade shrugged. "I think it was around the time I first took an interest in writing, probably when I was seven or eight, looking back on it, grandpa never even treated you like a son, did he?"

"He often played favorites with my brother and it drove me nuts." He said. "I made a promise to myself I would treat my kids better than my dad treated me… Figures I would break even that promise."

Jade crossed her arms.

"Which brings me to my previous question, what are you doing here?"

"I received your e-mail."

"E-mail?" She parroted. "What E-mail?"

"The one you sent yesterday." He clarified. "You said plenty, everything you wished I had said and done while you were growing up."

Jade's eyes widened, she thought she deleted that e-mail after all.

"Guess I should pay more attention to the screen than my wife's lips next time I delete something to make sure I actually delete it!"

"So, Jadelyn, I know this is long overdue and it probably means very little to you now but I want to let you know that… I'm proud of you."

"Wait what?" Jade gasped. "You're what now of me?"

"I'm proud of you." Her father said. "Of the woman you have become and I know that if your mom was alive, she would be as proud as I am."

"Um well… Thanks… Dad."

"It hardly makes up for years of neglect but I want to think it's a start, that is… If you give me the chance to be the father you deserved for a long time."

Jade gave it some thought, this was what she always wished for while growing up, her father's love and attention, part of her wanted to take it and never let go while the other half was reluctant to even believe him, in the end she opened the door.

"Dad, Tori and her old man are inside, we're about to have brunch… You're… You're welcome to join us.

"You mean it Jadelyn?"

"Yeah… Just doesn't expect a warm reception from my wife, she doesn't exactly like you."

"As long as I get to spend today with you, I'll managed." He said, afterwards, giving her an awkward hug, something that caught Jade off-guard but eventually returned in kind.

"Happy Father's Day, dad."

And… That's a wrap!

Tell me what you guys thought of this one, I know in the previous chapter I explored Jade's relationship with her mom, I decided to explore her relationship with her dad here and give a possible explanation as to why he was so cold and distant and try to find a way for them to start fixing their strained relationship.

I originally considered the idea of focusing this chapter on Tori and her dad but eventually changed it to focus on Jade and her dad as I felt that because there isn't any negative issues with Tori and Mr. Vega that there wasn't much to work with so I simply wrote them as giving Jade the love and affection she always wanted but never had when she was growing up.

All in all, what do you guts think of this one? Good? Bad? In Between? As always constructive criticism is appreciated.

See you all on July 4th.

Invader Johnny Signing Off.