My Father, Peter Gene Hernandez

Chapter 59: 14 Years Later

14 Years Later

Hey, It's Angelina Michelle. In the past 14 years a lot has happened. 14 years ago I was dating a teenage boy named Dakota, 14 years later we are no longer dating. On my 16th Birthday my Dad told me the best news ever! We were moving to Hawaii. This meant I was going to be closer to Dakota. I started going to Public School and time flew by pretty fast. I went to prom with Dakota and it was the best night of my life. I ended up getting grounded because I was out all night but besides that, It was amazing. Dakota and I danced all night and after wards we went to the beach. We talked all night and we sat and watched the sun rise the next day. My Dad mad that I came home so late and that I was out all night. He didn't believe me when I told him I was at the beach until I emptied my heels out on the kitchen floor and there was a pile of sand in the middle of the floor. I missed California and all my cousins so I made my junior year my senior year. No I didn't drop out, I graduated early. I moved back to Cali for 2 and a half years and I got lonely. I was in a 12 bedroom mansion all by myself. I barely even stayed there. I slept at my Aunts and Uncles house's. Everyday I was in a different houses, my uncle showed me how to drive and I got my drivers licenses. After about a year and a half I tired of it. I wanted to go home again. I could tell I wore out my welcome in my uncle and Aunts homes. I decided I was going to stay with my Papa in Las Vegas for a year then move back to Hawaii. When I turned 20 I got a tattoo, I got the lyrics to "You are my Sunshine" Tattooed on my right rib cage. I went home that afternoon and showed my Dad. The conversation leading up to it went kind of like this. I walked in the house and my dad was in the kitchen as always. I walked in and said hello, then he look at me and he could tell that I wanted to tell him something. "What are you hiding from me?" I looked away and said "Kinda got a tattoo." "What do you mean you 'kinda got a tattoo'? Why didn't you tell me? Please tell me you went to a professional." "I'm sorry I didn't tell you and yes I did go to a professional." " Can I see it?" He seemed upset, maybe annoyed. I slowly lifted the side of my shirt and turned so he could read it. This was the first time I saw my dad cry. "Oh my, Dad please don't cry." He just smiled and looked at me. He took a deep breath and said, "Meme, Your grandmother, she used to sing that song all the time. She would sing it to all of us when we were little and then she would sing it to all of her grandkids when they were little." I was in tears, I didn't know that. When I was younger I would always sing it and I never knew why, I would just start singing it. Then my mom would send me to my room, now it makes sense, She didn't want to hear me because It reminded her of Meme and how she left a loving family behind. The whole time I lived with my mom she felt bad, she was felling guilty that she took me away from my dad and all of my family, My dad took some picture and sent them to my Aunts and Uncle and told them. After this I decided to go to college, I didn't know what I wanted to do so I decided I would go to college for music. I got a job and saved up some money so I could travel the States with Dakota. By now we were dating for about 5 years now. I decided that the day that I wasn't working and I wasn't going to classes I decided to learn how to surf. I got my cousins, Nyjah and Zyah and my Uncle Billy to teach me. After you start you can't stop. When the waves aren't right I would go Paddle Boarding. I had my Aunt Tiara teach me. I graduated College and Dakota and I traveled the USA. We visited 47 of the 50 states. We weren't planning on going to Alaska, We lived in Hawaii, and I wasn't ready to go back to New York. We went back home after about a year and for my 23rd birthday I got more tattoos. They were similar to my dads but the girl versions. On my ankle I got an anchor and on my right shoulder I got a bow. On my 24th birthday Dakota and I planned a dinner with the whole family. I told Dakota to invite his family and we can go to California for a couple days. That's exactly what we did. We went to my old house in California and we had a nice family dinner. We were all chatting and I was having an Amazing time with my cousins and Aunts. My Papa was there I was enjoying the fun times we were having. I was talking to all the girls when Dakota pulled me to the middle of the backyard. Everyone had the phone out recording, "Dakota? What's going on?" "You know I love you right?" "Of course." "I have to tell you something very important, so I know we've been dating for about 10 years now and I'm sorry but I don't think we should be dating anymore." "Very funny Dakota, Nice try." "No Angelina, I'm serious." "How could you, in front of all of our family" "But there is one thing I have to say." "What could you possibly say Dakota?" "The reason why I don't think we should be dating anymore is because I want to marry you." "Wait, What?" Dakota got down on one knee and pulled out a ring, "Angelina Michelle Brooklyn Hernandez, Will you marry me?" I was at a loss for words I just nodded. "Is that a yes?" I just smiled and nodded and just above a whisper I said, "Yes". He slid the ring on my finger and he kissed me. After 10 years he still gives me the butterflies. The girls immediately started planning the wedding. Someone got a picture of us and I put it on Instagram, I posted a picture of the ring and I captioned it, " And I said Yes." Instantly my Instagram and Twitter started blowing up.  E News had an article on my engagement within days. It was on the news and soon all the Hooligans knew. Every time I turned the TV on they would say "Remember little Angelina Michelle, Bruno Mars' Daughter, well she's now getting married." 2 years later on our 12th year anniversary we got married. It was a beautiful wedding and we've been married for almost 3 years now. Me and my Dad's Father-Daughter dance was very special, before his concert I thought I was never going to have a father, No one to walk me down the isle, No one to have a Father-Daughter Dance with. I love my Dad with all my heart and I'm so thankful that I found him. While I was getting ready to put my dress on when I remembered my dad gave me a letter when we moved to Hawaii. He told me not to open it until the day of my wedding. I sat and read it out loud while wait to put my dress on. The Letter said,

"My Beautiful Daughter,
          I gave you the strictest of strict instructions not to open this letter until the day of you wedding. So either you're getting Married or you disobeyed my instructions opened it anyway.
         Today you're getting married and I'll miss you terribly. The 14 years that I missed, I missed out on a lot. Your first steps, your first words, your first day of school, your first day of middle school, and your first school dance. All a long time ago I know, but I'm think of the moments I didn't miss. Your first concert, your first breakup, you first true love, and lastly your first trip to Disneyland. By the way, Who are you marrying today? Is it your first true love Dakota, I really like him, But if it's someone else I'm sure he's perfect too.
         As of the time I'm writing this I have not been married. So I don't know what it's like. But from what your Aunts and Uncles have told me here's some advice.
        Allow yourself to get a little lost. By this I mean, get caught up in it do things you wouldn't normally do- let it be an adventure. But not so lost that you can't find your way. If you do, I'll be there to guide you. So dive in head first, allow yourself to get scraped up, be open to new things. And above all be brave which I know you are. I think you might be the bravest of all of us Hernandez's. We each give you the best piece of us, because you're our dearest munchkin'. Jaime's given you her determination, Tahiti's given you her drive, Presley's given you her goofiness, and Tiara has given you her courage. Eric has given you his three c's, Confidence, compassion, and creativity, and I have given you life so I'm awesome. No but really, I've given you love something you will always have from all of us. Meme will be watching you walk down the isle today on your big day and Papa will be sitting next to me. We all have given you one important thing, our dreams.
        So dream away, Angelina Michelle, and know that no matter what, no matter where we are on this world, we will all be by your side, always.

Love always and forever,

Your old man, Bruno Mars."

That was the sweetest thing ever. I read it out loud once more and there was not a dry eye in the room. The wedding was over and I was now Angelina Michelle Brooklyn Hernandez-Chapman. For our Honeymoon we decided to go to Puerto Rico, one of the place we didn't stop when we were traveling. The limo ride to my dads house to change out of my dress and into comfy clothes. The ride hit me hard, I'm no longer the little timid girl from New York City. I'm A strong married women who's ready  to take on the world with the man of my dreams. I did start to get emotional. I completed 4 of my important goals in life. I found my Dad,met my Idol, had a father daughter dance and I'm marrying the man of my dreams. It's crazy how one night, one concert, and one person could change your life forever. 

This is the end, I would like to thank all of my readers. I love all of you guys so much thank you for getting me this far. I will now be editing this. I started writing in the 8th grade and I'm now half way done with my 9th grade year. It so crazy how much this has grown. I would have never thought that this would get so far.  If you have any other Ideas please let me know. I have been think about a part 2 just to see how everyone is doing but I'm not 100% sure yet. It's weird I feel like I've become emotionally attached to writing and updating this. I'm kinda getting emotional about all of this. Writing this and this fan based has showed me a whole different aspect of life and I'm so grateful for that. I love all of you and I hope this story helps some of you who are scared to write that it's okay because this fan based is so positive yet Unorthodox that we will encourage you and still read you story even if it was the best. I hope you all really enjoyed this. I wish I could thank each and everyone of you individually but I can't so I guess this will have to do.