Miss You More (A Joey McIntyre/Jordan Knight Fanfiction)

3

Joe can't help but notice that both James and Susan's cars are gone when he goes to pick up Joey. Fuck!

He feels like he's being set up. Being given no choice but to see and talk to Amber.

Joe honestly doesn't want to hate her. He just thinks it should be up to him when she's allowed back into his and his son's life. She got to decide when to leave and he had absolutely no say in it. It's only fair that he get to decide when she can come back. But no, instead she's getting to make all the decisions again and he's supposed to just "suck it up, buttercup" and let "bygones be bygones" Fuck that, he says to himself,  this is not her decision to make. She left us for two fucking years. I'll let her know when she's welcomed back in our lives. Joe's little pep talk makes him feel stronger, ready to face her and tell her how things are going to happen.

All of Joe's bravado diminishes when Joey opens the door wearing the biggest smile he's ever seen. He's holding onto Amber's hand. How can Joe yell at her when she's responsible for that beautiful smile. "Hey kid! How was Christmas with grandma and grandpa?" Joe asks as he picks up his son and kisses him. "We had fun Daddy. I made cookies with Mommy."

"You did? That's great son. Alright kid, go put up your toys and put on your shoes. It's time to go home." Joe puts Joey down and he runs into the other room. Joe turns to Amber. "Where's James and Susan?"

"They had to run a few errands. Why?"

"Amber, I made it clear with your parents that you could see Joey during their visits, but I didn't want to have to deal with you, yet."

Amber exhales, rather loudly. "Joe you're going to have to deal with me. I'm back for good. I bought a house yesterday. I'll start working again next week. I'm here and we have a child. You are going to have to deal with me."

Joe gives her a hard look. "You bought a house? How? What were you doing the last two years?"

"I signed a record deal yesterday and was given a small advance to help get me settled in. I'm here to stay Joseph. I'm really sorry if that's a problem for you. But please try to be okay with it. I want to make up for lost time. I want more time with my son. I'd like to discuss visitation. I'll have my own place and he'll have his own room at my place. Joe please let me have time with our son."

"Who did you sign a record deal with? I wasn't aware you still wanted to be a singer."

Amber turns her back and starts doing the dishes. Joe knows this means she's avoiding his question. "Who signed you Amber?"

"Jordan."

"Jordan?"

"And Donnie."

"Wait, so you're signed with our label? So fuck what I want. Fuck keeping your distance. Fuck giving me the choice of when I let you back in my life. Fuck me as long as you're happy and get what you want. Fuck Amber I asked for one thing, just one thing. Just a little time to get used to you being back. But no, I can't have that because it's not what you want. And you always get what you want. Well congratulations on the record deal. And you can have the weekend visits that were your parents. You can work that out with them." Joe turns to leave the room so he can take his son home. But he turns back to her, "Oh and Amber, this doesn't mean we're good. We, are no where near good. It's going to take a very long time before we're even close to good. If we're ever good again."

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"So Jordan, you and Donnie signed Amber to our label? Isn't that a decision we all should have been a part of? I mean did you not think about how I might feel about her being here? Or did you just not care?"

Jordan's a little taken aback by Joe's tone. "Hello to you too Joe. Donnie and I discussed it and decided we'd work with her. You don't have to be a part of it. It won't inconvenience you in the least."

"I'm not worried about being inconvenienced Jordan. I just don't want to be around her. She's my ex wife and she ran out on me and my son two years ago. I already have to share my son with her, I really don't want to share my work space with her. You should have talked to me before signing my ex wife to a record deal."

Jordan's getting pissed at Joe. He knows Amber hurt him. He knows Joe's been through hell because of her leaving him. But she's Jordan's daughter. And he'll do whatever he has to do to make her life a little easier. He's happy she's back and he wants her around. Maybe he's being selfish but at this moment he doesn't care, he wants his daughter here with him, working on music together. "Look Joe, I understand how you feel, but she's my daughter and my client. It doesn't concern you."

"Jesus Jordan how can you say it doesn't concern me? She abandoned me and our son. Just ran off with no word for two fucking years. Then shows back up here like nothing happened and you all just welcome her home with open arms. I'm sorry I can't just forgive and forget like you. Fuck that I won't even try."

"Joe, she's my daughter. I have to forgive and forget. I don't have a choice. You'll understand that when the kid gets older. It's an unconditional love for your child. I'm sorry she hurt you Joe. And I'm sorry I hurt you by not talking to you about this. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you and her don't run into each other. You need to know she's real sorry for running. But Joe honestly she can explain if you'd let her. I think if you heard her out you'd feel differently. Life's too short to hold onto the bad shit. And your son is watching you. He's seeing how you treat his momma. And he's learning from you. Why the hell do you think I've stayed with Evelyn so long? Put up with her treating me like crap? My boys. They're watching. So as far as they'll ever see, I treat their mom like a fucking Queen. And when they grow up hopefully that's how they'll treat their women."

Joe thinks about what Jordan's saying. It makes perfect sense. And he gets it, he'd do anything for the kid. He'd never be able to turn his back on him no matter what he did. And maybe Jordan's right, Joe needs to hear Amber out.