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

12

"Oh God baby I thought I'd never see you again. I thought I'd really lost you forever."

Amber can't believe what she's hearing him say. "What? Joe I don't understand."

"I've been so stupid Amber. I've wasted so much time being angry with you. I could have lost you today. And then I'd never get to say all the things I should have said the day you walked back into my life. We're a family Amber, you're my wife and the mother of my son."

Amber cuts him off at the mention of their son. "Joey. Where's Joey? You have to go find our son Joe. He wasn't hurt, but they took him from me. Joe please go find our baby boy."

"Okay. I'll be right back." He turns to go, but turns back, "I love you Amber."

"I love you too Joe."

Joe feels relieved as he goes in search of his son, having finally told Amber how he truly feels about her, and hearing her say she loves him too.

It doesn't take Joe very long to find little Joey. He's with a group of kids who's parents were all taken to the hospital for their injuries. The staff who are working diligently to reunite the children with family are all currently being charmed by his son's smile and beautiful baby blues.

"Daddy! There's Daddy." The ladies with Joey all turn to see who this precious boy is calling to. "Hey kid." The women fawning over Joey all recognize Joe. And then see the resemblance between father and son. "I hope he's been good for you all." Joe reaches for his son, "I'd like to take him to see his momma now. She's quite worried about him."

One of the women, who's name tag says, Nicki, speaks first, "Oh yes Mr. McIntyre he's been such a wonderful little boy. He's very entertaining. Loves singing, I can see why now. Like father, like son."

Holding his son close to him now and kissing his little head, Joe smiles at Nicki. "Thank you for taking such good care of him. I'll never be able to show you how grateful I am." Tears burn his eyes as he takes his son and heads back  to Amber.

For the first time in a very long time Joe feels hopeful. He looks at his son's precious face and thinks how nice it'll be to be a family. "Ya know kid, I think things might finally be looking up for us." Thoughts of family dinners, picnics at the park, going to the beach, even possibly going on this next tour together as a family run through his mind. He can't keep the huge smile off his face.

The smile fades quickly when Joe walks back into the ER where Amber is. She's no longer alone. Bradley is sitting next to her now, holding her hand up to his lips. Joe's hope fades along with his smile. He'd forgotten all about Bradley. "Damnit kid, Daddy might be too late."

"You found him. Oh bring him to me Joe. I need to hold my boy." Joe gives Joey to Amber. "Thank you for being here Joe. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here for me today."

"Amber where the hell else would I've been today? I was so worried. I'm just happy you're both okay." Joe sees Bradley looking back and forth between Amber and himself. "Well I better get going. Don't want too many people crowding up the ER. Call me later Amber?"

"Wait. Don't go Joe. We still need to have that talk. Bradley would you mind giving me and Joe a little time? We need to talk still. I'll call you when I'm released and get home." Bradley looks defeated, he obviously doesn't want to leave her at the hospital, but it's what she wants. "Okay babe. I'll see you later then. Joe take care of my girl you hear me?" Bradley leans down and kisses her on the lips before he leaves her with Joe.

"You didn't have to do that. We could have talked later." Joe now knows whatever she wants to talk to him about is really serious. Why else would she still want to have this talk today, after everything that's happened."

"No Joe, I have to do this now. And I'm just going to cut right to the chase. Bradley asked me to marry him. But I just couldn't give him an answer until I talked to you."

Joe's heart sinks, he is too late. He's lost his chance. He curses himself for being so stubborn. For not telling her sooner how he feels about her. "Amber you don't need my permission or my blessing. I just want you to be happy."

Amber wants him to shout how much he loves her and how he can't live without her. All she needs is one reason from Joe and she'll say no to Bradley. "So it's perfectly fine with you if I marry someone else? You have no objections? No reason why I shouldn't?"

Joe thinks really hard before he answers her, should he tell her every reason she shouldn't marry Bradley? Joe thinks To hell with it and is just about to tell her exactly why she shouldn't marry Bradley when the doctor comes over. "Mrs. McIntyre, I looked at your scans, you just need some stitches, doesn't look like any permanent damage has been done. So once we get you stitched up we can send you home with your husband here."

"Oh he's not my husband. This is my ex husband, the father of my son. He ran the marathon, that's why he's here with us. But that's great news, let's get those stitches so I can get out of here." The doctor shakes Joe's hand and says he'll send someone over to stitch her up.

"Joe what were you about to say?"

"I'd be here even if I hadn't ran today. Look Amber you want complete honestly? I love you. I never stopped loving you. I don't want you to marry someone else.  Hell I don't want you seeing anyone else. Not being with you is driving me crazy. I want you back, I've always wanted you back. I was hurt, but I never stopped wanting you. I want you, me and the kid to be a family. I've never wanted anything more. Oh and by the way, I am your husband. We never got divorced."

Amber's shocked to hear him say these things. She had no idea. She really thought he hated her. Before she can say anything another doctor comes over to do her stitches. Joe takes Joey from her after he's asked to go wait in the waiting area. "We'll come get you when she's ready to go."