Broken Descent (Bruno Mars)

The Perfect Fit

As soon as the New Year started, Bruno and the Hooligans began to rehearse new choreography and the setlist for the upcoming tour. Bernie came in the last week of January and the first few days of February for Charlotte's birthday. She watched Charlotte one day to let Bruno go to meetings with the label to iron out the final details of the next world tour beginning the following summer. It was the day before her birthday. Bruno came home as Bernie was just cleaning up dinner.

"Thanks Mom," he said, giving her a kiss. "Go relax. I'll finish the dishes."

Bernie shook her head. "Go get Charlotte ready for bed. Tomorrow's a big day and I want to show you something."

"Oh," Bruno said, confused. "Okay."

Charlotte greeted him before he entered the living room. She knew his footsteps. "Hi Daddy."

"Hey peanut. Ready for bed?"

She nodded and grabbed his hand. Bruno turned off the overhead light. The aquarium lit up the whole room, reflections of the water displaying on all four walls.

"Nighty night Nemo," she waved.

Bruno grinned very widely. After just a few minutes, Charlotte had fallen asleep. He rejoined his mom back in the kitchen. She was seated at the kitchen table with a bag.

"She's getting so big. I can't believe she's turning two."

"I know...here honey," she signaled toward the seat across from her. "Have a seat."

Bruno sat down, unable to take his eyes off the bag.

"I want to talk to you about what I got Charlotte for her birthday."

Bernie took a stack of books from the bag and scattered them in front of him. Bruno picked up the theme right away, just as Bernie began to explain.

"Bruno these are all about adoption, okay?"

"Mom..."

"Sweetie it's time you start explaining this to her."

"Mom she's two...how am I supposed to explain this to her?"

"That's what the books are for...to help you help her. You need to start before she starts to ask questions. You need to be prepared."

Bruno started whispering harshly, about to raise his voice. "And say what? Your real parents didn't want you? This is a really big deal...this is way too complicated for her right now."

"That's why you need to start now. You don't need to explain everything right away. She won't understand, but she needs to get familiar with the idea."

Bruno looked at one of the stories and flipped through it. It was even customized with her name. He started to nod as he read it. Another book disguised the story with a puppy instead. He smiled, knowing Charlotte would love it. He would read that one first.

"Thanks Mom. I'm sorry I kinda got mad. This is hard on me too."

"I know," she smiled. "You're never going to be done with these challenges, the two of you. These books are for you too. I know you're busy with the album and the tour right now, but don't forget to show her what's important, you know? She needs to understand where she came from. That's going to be a big part of her life, even if it's not a pretty story."

No one could have predicted how much Charlotte would love the book the next day. Bruno threw a party for her with their closest family and friends. Later that night, Bruno brought the stack of books into her room. He grabbed the one on top, the book about a dog who was adopted. It was the perfect way to start off, especially since Charlotte was very interested in animals.

"Doggy," she smiled, holding onto the book with both hands. Bruno sat on the rocking chair and she climbed into his lap.

Bruno began reading the book to her. She traced the outlines of the dog with her finger. He could already tell that she wasn't going to understand the story for a while, for at least a couple of months. When he got to the last page, she was still awake. She flipped through the pages as he rocked back and forth a few more times.

"Alright," he said gently, turning off the lamp beside them. "It's time for bed."

As usual, Charlotte didn't fight it, and climbed into her crib. Before Bruno could finish putting the gate up, Charlotte was already fast asleep, or so he thought.

"Daddy?" Charlotte said at his doorway not too long after. She was holding the book. "Again."

Bruno finished taking his shirt off and looked into her adoring green eyes. "Charlotte it's late. You really need to go to bed."

"Please?" She begged.

She was too hard to resist.

"Please Daddy?" She begged again.
Bruno smiled slightly and she jumped up and down. He laughed a little.

Feeling her body weighing against him and her elbow digging into his chest, he wouldn't want it any other way. Charlotte opened to the cover page of the book. As he read the title, Charlotte pulled on the book jacket. Bruno furrowed his eyebrows as it made a noise. A small picture fell out.

"Aww..." he said, looking at the picture of the two of them from weeks before. "Grandma must have put this in there."

Charlotte smiled, holding onto the picture for the whole night.

The main character of the story was a dog named Rex.

"He was adopted by a family of dogs. He didn't look like his brothers and sisters."

Bruno flipped to the next page. Charlotte held onto his arm.

"His new mommy and daddy loved him just as much as their other babies," Bruno said quietly, kissing Charlotte on the top of her head.

Bruno tried turning to the next page, but Charlotte kept her grip on the paper. She pointed to the male dog.

"Daddy..."

"Yep. That's the daddy."

Charlotte then pointed to the female dog. "Mommy."

"You're so smart."

Next, Charlotte traced her fingers along all the dogs. She leaned back into Bruno's chest again, not making a sound for the rest of the book. Even though he noticed she had fallen asleep, Bruno read it out loud anyway. After all, the story was for him too. He continued to think about the story until he drifted off to sleep. He gently set the book on the nightstand and turned off the light.

Charlotte shifted a bit when Bruno laid his head down on the pillow.

"I love you, peanut. Happy birthday."

Images from the story were stuck in his head. The new puppy didn't "match" his new family. He had golden fur and they had black fur. In the end, it didn't matter because he was loved just as much. He did fit in after all.

Any possible future children Bruno would have would surely look at least a little like him. Bruno ran his fingers through her blond, wavy hair. He held onto her hand. Biologically, she could never be "his," but it wouldn't mean a thing. He'd always be "Daddy," no matter what. She didn't have to "match." They fit perfectly into each other's lives.