What If

Not Real

Brian pulled the mini van into the driveway later that evening. He sat looking at the house and thought about everything that had just happened.

It wasn't perfect...and it really wasn't all that great...but it was still home to him and he felt better than he had since this whole crazy mess started.

Zacky was rusty. His time as a high school math teacher sharpened his mind but slowed his fingers. Matt's voice was still good but he couldn't hit all the notes as well as he had in the real world. Johnny's bass lines were slower than normal. But it didn't matter. To Brian it sounded like heaven, even with his dad on the drums.

Matt seemed impressed with the song lyrics and Brian tried to lead him in a way that might inspire some of the words he'd written. It was a long shot but in the end it started to work.

He was excited to tell Kate. He knew she'd be proud. She was always supportive and excited about the band. He had forgotten how encouraging she was...even when he wasn't so sure himself. His excitement dissipated slightly when he noticed her car not in the parking lot. She hadn't told him she was going anywhere?

Opening the front door, he noticed a teenage girl sitting on his couch filing her nails. She sat straight up at the sight of him. "Hey Mr. Haner," she said quickly as she stood.

"Uh..hello...." he replied looking around but seeing neither Kate, Kat or Jessie. 

"I'm glad your home. Jessie is waiting for you to tell her a bedtime story and Kat is in her room reading," the girl continued to pack up her stuff.

"Mrs. Haner?" he asked.

The girl stopped what she was doing to stare. "Didn't she tell you? She went to Baker Street pub with Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Seward."

Oh yeah," he lied "That's right. I remember now."

"Cool...well, I should be going...tell Mrs. Haner to give me a call next she needs me again," she replied with an awkward nod.

"Oh yeah, definitely," he repeated. "I will certainly do that. I will certainly tell Mrs Haner to give...." He trailed off.

"Alicia," she said slowly before tilting her head at him "Are you sure you're OK Mr Haner? Cause I can call 911..."

"No no no A-lee-sha," he annunciated each syllable as he walked her to the door "I'm just fine...Tired but just fine." He yawned for good measure. "I'd better get up there and read Jessie her story before I pass out," he continued as he opened the door and practically pushed her out. "Thanks for coming. We will call you." She opened her mouth to speak but he closed the door.

He moved to the living room to grab his cell and dialed Kate's number. After four rings, it went to her voicemail.

"Hi this is Kate Haner. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!"

Great...She wasn't answering. So much for being excited to see her. He took a deep breath before heading to Jessie's room to find the little girl sitting up in bed holding "Goodnight Moon" on her lap. Her face broke into a wide smile that mirrored his as she caught sight of him.

"Daddy!" She said lifting the book for him to take "I waiteded up for you."

"I can see that," he couldn't help but grin back at her as he took it from her small hands and sat on the bed. "But I'm sure it's passed your bedtime."

Her small hand reached for his and he felt his heart pound against his chest at the contact. It was almost like being in love but...How could he love a child that he just met?

He allowed himself to be led to sit next to her, his back to the headboard as she settled into the crook of his arm.

"Okay,"he said contentedly "Just one story..." She giggled as he opened the book and cleared his throat. Reading wasn't like singing but he still wanted to do a good job. "In the great green room, there was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of..."