One Shot Series 3

Justin's (Maybe Not So) Little Girl

"Do you have everything, Sam?"

"Yeah I think so," she responded, looking up at him. His little girl was going off to university. He couldn't believe it.

"I love you," he said after he pulled her into a hug.

"I love you too Dad," she replied.

"You'll call if you need anything?"

She laughed, "Dad! We haven't even left yet."

"I know, but you're my baby," he said gently, making her blush and look down. He kissed her head and held onto her for as long as he could, before his little girl was out on her own.

* * *

"Georgia! Preston! Michael! Come say goodbye to your sister!" Demi yelled up the stairs. The three kids quickly came down the stairs, and walked into the foyer where Samantha was waiting by the front door. They all said goodbye and gave Samantha hugs and kisses.

"Is Dad outside?" Demi asked her after they were done.

"Yeah. He's getting everything into the car," Samantha replied.

"Well. We better get going then, huh?"

* * *

"You'll call right? If you need anything?"

"Of course."

"We're about an hour away if you need us."

"I know Dad," Samantha sighed.

"I just want my little girl to be safe."

"I know," she repeated. Demi, Samantha and Justin all took the one hour drive up to where her new school was. Justin would never admit it, but he was a mess the night before. Crying into Demi's shoulder, he told stories of when she was so small she fit into his hand. And how she couldn't sleep without her daddy there. And now, she knew, he was about to begin again.

"I love you, princess," he whispered, pulling Samantha into a tight hug and kissing her forehead.

"Love you too," she mumbled back into his chest. They pulled away, Samantha turned around to allow Demi to wrap her arms around her frame.

"I love you, sweetheart."

"Love you, Mom."

Demi couldn't help but let the tears she'd been holding back all morning go. She was leaving. Not forever - at least she hoped - but she wasn't going to be there when she woke up. Demi wouldn't have to make the trek up the stairs every morning to make sure she was ready for school. She would have to make one less cup of tea and set one less placemat on the table than she had been doing for the last 18 years.

"Oh, please don't cry. I don't wanna start," Justin said, making all of them let out wet laughs.

"Okay. We should go. Your siblings can't be left alone this long," Demi said, releasing her daughter from her grip.

"It's a good thing they aren't the ones leaving," Justin joked, referring to the rowdy, teen twin boys and the quiet, nearly teen, girl at home. Justin took Demi's hand and started leading her out of the door, pausing to leave a kiss on his daughter's cheek.

"Bye!" they both called, before Justin wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his embrace. She was never far away from home, and now she was. Demi knew she would make it, after all, she is Justin's daughter.