Dear God (Avenged Sevenfold)

When hope begins to fade

Brian didn't waste any time trying to convince Natalie to stay out in California with him. They had spent a quiet night together at his house, mostly sitting in contented silence watching Bryleigh chase Pinkly around the living room, her squeals echoing off the walls. "So I have a surprise for you tomorrow...well, Bryleigh will probably enjoy it more but..." Brian chuckled as he watched her turn quickly and fall on her butt. Bryleigh looked over at both Natalie and Brian, her bottom lip sticking out in a pout before she began crying dramatically. Brian immediately got up off the couch, going to scoop her up. "Brian she's just playing you" Natalie laughed, watching Bryleigh tuck her face into Brian's neck and sobbing like no other pint sized drama queen she knew.

"Shh baby...I got you...you're okay" he whispered to her, rubbing her back while feeling his heart swell as she grabbed him with both hands, burrowing her little face against his neck. Brian plopped down on the couch next to Natalie, smiling victoriously when their daughter nestled further into him, sleep now taking hold of her quickly. "So tomorrow...you, me and our daughter are going to visit Disneyland" he stated with a smirk, feeling quite proud of himself for thinking of something that obviously made Natalie happy, judging from her smile anyways. "Oh Brian" she said softly "She's going to love that!" "That's the idea" he stated with a wink, enjoying the fact that her cheeks flushed pink.

DISNEYLAND

As soon as they walked through the gates to Downtown Disney, Natalie couldn't help but smile broadly. Everywhere she looked was Disney EVERYTHING and Bryleigh was quickly becoming animated in her stroller. Natalie took a moment to silently assess the vision before her as Brian bought tickets. Here stood this tattooed rock god in head to toe black with a black and pink stroller right next to him, his foot on the back wheel as if he was making sure it wouldn't roll away. Bryleigh sat like a princess in her white and purple sundress with matching sun bonnet, little sunglasses and white sandals...all items that Brian had purchased ahead of their visit. She had to admit for being new to the father game he had great taste in everything! Bryleigh's head was turning every which way, trying to take in everything around her, her little feet kicking happily. "Well we're set to go now" he stated, breaking her out of her daydreaming, her cheeks flushing brightly. "What's up?" he asked nonchalantly as he held his arm out, signaling that he wanted her to hold onto him as they walked. Natalie smiled as she slipped her hand around his forearm and fell in step with him, watching with happiness as her daughter squealed happily. "Where to first?" he asked as they slowly weaved through the crowd.

"Hmm...I don't know" Natalie laughed "She's kinda small to go on rides yet..." "Oh trust me, they got plenty of rides for her" he laughed, heading into a store that screamed Disney Princesses here! "Brian, this is a store...not a ride" she chided gently, she could see her words were lost on deaf ears as he quickly began showing Bryleigh various toys, articles of clothing and other various souvenirs. Natalie shook her head in amusement as he interacted with their daughter amid all the pinks, and frills and laces...not a care in the world did he have! Natalie wandered off while Brian was busy pushing the stroller through the maze of stuffed animals. She thought now would be a good time to call Ava but frowned when it went right to her voice mail, she had a good idea that she was at work but still, she usually picked up and talked for a few minutes. Sighing with disappointment she left her a message before hanging up and corralling Brian before he bought everything in the store.

It wasn't long before Natalie and Bryleigh both were caught up in the magic of Disney as they made their way around the park. Brian made sure she went on every ride that she was able to, sometimes twice before they finally decided to stop for a late lunch. Natalie took the time while Brian was ordering food to take Bryleigh into the bathroom and change her, relishing in the surprising coolness of the bathroom. "Are you having fun princess?" she asked her daughter as she went through the motions of changing her diaper. Bryleigh smiled and clapped her hands happily "Daddy fun! Daddy fun!" she crooned, show casing her six new teeth that had popped in a few months ago. Natalie smiled as she straightened out her daughter's dress and paused in her inner thoughts. Maybe she should move out here...sure she would miss Ava something terrible but how would Bryleigh handle going back to Florida and only seeing Brian a handful of times a year? How would she herself handle that? Whether Natalie was ready to admit it or not she felt a stirring in her heart for Brian, something she never felt with Sam and she didn't know if she should be afraid, intrigued or laugh. The entire situation was complicated either way and she wasn't sure which choice was the right one.

"Daddy!" Bryleigh screeched, her butt bouncing on Natalie's arm and shaking her from her internal monologue, her decision making would have to wait till some other time. For now, she walked back out to where Brian sat waiting, a smirk on his lips as he spotted them coming towards him a moment later. "There's my girls" he stated warmly, taking Bryleigh easily as she threw herself from Natalie's arms. Natalie paused and cocked her head at his statement...'his girls'? What did he mean by that? Was he already ahead of the game? "Nat what's wrong?" his voice once again broke her out of her wanderings as she gave him a smile. "Nothing. I was just thinking is all" she stated, sliding into the hard plastic seat next to Bryleigh's highchair.  By the time dinner rolled around they had gone through the park top to bottom, bought more toys and outfits than necessary and taken so many pictures that Natalie lost count but as she watched Brian walk back to the SUV with Bryleigh passed out cold on his shoulder she couldn't help but smile, today had been the best day she had had in such a long time and she knew that Bryleigh was completely content.

Natalie busied herself with folding up the stroller and stuffing bags into the back end of the SUV while Brian tucked their daughter into her seat. As soon as she closed the hatch though he was right there, his sunglasses pulled down over his eyes and that tell tale smirk in place. There was a silent stare down between the two of them before Brian cleared his throat and stepped closer, pulling Natalie in by her hips till they were inches apart. "Did you have fun today?" god his voice did something to her when it was low and husky like that! Natalie swallowed hard and smiled as she nodded her head. "I really did Brian...I can't tell you how much it meant to me, to Bryleigh. She won't know what to do with all that stuff though!"  Brian stood there with a smile on his face as he struggled to control himself from grabbing Natalie and kissing the air from her lungs right there in the middle of the parking lot. Her smile and laughter did something to him that no other woman had ever managed and he thought he was going insane from all of it. Instead, he reached into his pocket where the small box had been hiding all day and presented it to Natalie, enjoying the shocked look on her face. "I saw this and I thought of you and I just knew you had to have it."

Brian cracked open the lid to the jewelry box, relishing in the sharp intake of her breath as she saw the intricate diamond, hand crafted into the shape of a rose bud with gold leaves on either side. Brian slowly pulled the necklace from the box and slid it around her neck, kissing her very carefully on the lips as he clasped the hook before settling the pendant on her chest, right above her cleavage. "Jesus" he groaned out hoarsely, his eyes gravitating lower for just a split second before he forced himself to look her in the eye again. Had he overstepped his boundaries? Did he go too far? They stared at each other silently for a moment before Natalie stood on tip toe and kissed him, softly but completely, holding onto his arms for leverage. "Thank you Brian" she whispered against his lips, grinning as she watched his face cloud over with what she was sure was lust...if she only knew...

Sorry this one was boring, more of just a filler chapter but I'm working up to more fun and more drama so stay tuned!