After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

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Amber's mind is a jumbled mess. Everything's happened so quickly. She and Joe just reunited and now they're engaged? Whoa!!

Amber pauses at Jordan's door, she needs to talk to him. Her heart is telling her she wants to tell him first. She lightly knocks on his door, quiet enough not to wake him but loud enough that he'd hear it if he's already awake. She waits a few seconds, she thinks she hears movement behind his door, but he doesn't answer. She figures he must still be sleeping, so she heads down to her cabin.

Amber's thankful Andi isn't in the room. She wants to tell Jordan her news first and she knew if Andi was here she'd spill to her. Amber tries to take a quick shower but the warm water feels so good she ends up taking way longer than she meant to.

Joe starts to wonder what's taking Amber so long. She said twenty minutes and it's almost been an hour. He wishes she'd hurry, he's starving. He decides to just head down to her cabin. Unfortunately for Joe he sees something he really wishes he hadn't. He curses under his breath as he sees Andi coming out of Jordan's room, she's still dressed in her sexy Wonder Woman suit. Joe hears Andi say 'I promise, it's our dirty little secret' before she leans forward to kiss him. As Andi walks away, having not seen Joe, Jordan's eyes meet Joe's. All Joe can do is shake his head and say, "Really Jordan?"

Jordan at least looks good and ashamed. "Joe, man I can explain." Joe stops in front of Jordan, "Jordan you will never be able to explain this away. You fucked up man. How do you think Amber is going to feel about this?" Joe's so pissed at Jordan. He wants to punch him. He can't stand the thought of Amber being hurt. "Jordan you better get your shit together."

"Fuck Joe, I know I fucked up. The last thing I want to do is hurt my daughter. Please don't tell her. I'll figure out how to tell her. But I don't want to ruin her time on the cruise. I'll tell her when we get home." Joe just gives him a look that says exactly how he feels about him right now and walks away.

Joe can hear Amber and Andi talking when he gets to the door. He hears Andi talking about the guy she spent the night with and he has to hope Andi won't tell Amber it was Jordan. Joe knocks and Amber immediately opens the door, "so you just met some guy last night and spent the night with him? I mean I didn't realize there were very many single guys on the cruise." Andi laughs, "Oh there are a few. And let me tell you, I hit the jackpot with this one. He did things to me that I never would have imagined possible. And girl you know I have a good imagination. I can't wait to see him again, I've got a few tricks I want to perform on him. Amber this man has me dickwhipped after just one night. Oh hey Joey Joe, how was your night? I sure hope you took care of my girls needs like my new beau did mine. She sure needed a good, hard dicking after the year she's had."

Joe fights the urge to tell Andi to shut the fuck up. Instead he laughs it off. "Oh Andi, trust me my girl will always be well taken care of. In every way. So don't you worry about Amber's needs. You ready for some food babe?" He reaches for her hand, she takes it and he pulls her against his side once they're out in the hall.

Amber abruptly stops when they get to Jordan's door. "Joe, let's tell Pops. I want him to be the first to know our good news. I had the hardest time hiding this gorgeous ring from Andi, and it's only going to get harder to hide. I have to tell him first, I don't want any secrets between me and him." Hearing this hurts Joe, he knows there will be at least one secret between them, for a little while anyway. The look in her beautiful dark chocolate eyes tells him he doesn't really have a choice in the matter. She wants to tell him, now. "Okay babe whatever you want. I'm just here to make you happy." The smile on her face is totally worth having to see Jordan again this morning. Amber excitedly knocks on his door. To Joe's surprise he opens the door and is already showered and dressed. Joe guesses Jordan wasn't feeling too sleepy after getting caught with his daughter's best friend. Jordan looks worried when he sees Amber and Joe at his door.

"Morning Pops, Joe and I need to talk to you. You got a minute?" Jordan glances over Amber's head at Joe and Joe shakes his head letting him know it's not what he thinks. Jordan smiles down at his daughter, "I'll always have time for you baby girl. What's up?" He moves aside and motions for them to come in. Amber sits on the edge of the bed and Jordan sits next to her. Joe stands next to her, holding her hand. "Well Pops, I'm not really sure how to even say this so I'm just going to say it. Joe asked me to marry him and I said yes." Jordan looks up at Joe, surprised by their news. But when he looks back at Amber and sees the smile on her face, he can't keep himself from smiling. "Well if you're happy then I'm happy. Seeing you smile like that definitely makes me happy. So congratulations, to both of you." Amber wraps her arms around Jordan's neck, so happy that he's okay with her marrying Joe. They've come such a long way since finding out who each other was. Having his approval has become more important to her than she ever thought it would be. She sheds a single tear as she whispers in his ear, "Thanks Dad. I love you." She quickly gets up and pulls Joe to the door. "We're headed to breakfast, we'll talk more later? Maybe plan a little father/daughter time?"

"Of course sweetheart, I'd never turn down alone time with my only daughter. So anything you want to do, we'll do. You two enjoy your breakfast. I love you Amber. Joe, congratulations. I'm happy for you." Jordan hugs Joe. It takes him a second or two but Joe does finally returns the hug.

As soon as the door closes Jordan sits down on his bed and drops his head into his hands and cries. Hearing her call him Dad broke his heart. He hates himself for being so weak. It's not like he wants to cheat on his wife. But she doesn't really love him anymore, he's known this for a long time now. But she'll never admit it, nor will she ever let him go. Evelyn isn't the kind of woman who'd ever let anyone know she, no that they failed. She'd rather pretend things are good and just turn a blind eye to his entanglements. She doesn't even get mad at him when she hears about his indiscretions. She only cares that her boys are protected. But Jordan needs more. He needs to feel needed. He needs to feel wanted. Desired. Loved even.

Last night, that's exactly how Andi made him feel. Maybe not loved, but definitely wanted, and more desired than he's felt in a long while. He didn't mean to let it go past flirting. But damn he's only human. And Andi was relentless, she wasn't taking no for an answer. She made it very clear how badly she wanted him. She kept whispering in his ear all night the things she wanted to do to him, with him, and just for him. She wasn't lying either. Every dirty whisper in his ear, became reality in his bed. And God help him, he wants her again.