Hunter Hayes Imagines

#9: I Loved Her First (A Daddy Hayes Imagine)

June 2018

Hunter's POV:

Today was the day I had been dreading yet waiting for. I would be giving my daughter away. Harmony was now twenty four, and for almost five years now, Brandon, her fiancé has been the center of her world. It took me a while to accept that my little girl had grown up as fast as she did. Harmony has Cerebral palsy, and for years, I have always been the one to take care of her. I was the one who knew her little quirks, and the one who would massage the pain away from her legs when her muscles would tighten. Endless nights of holding her in my arms and rocking her to sleep because only the radiating warmth of my arms would soothe her. Her mother, Danielle passed away in a traumatic car accident about a year ago. Ever since then, nothing has been the same. I would give anything to make harmony's wish of having her Mother at her wedding come true, but sadly, I didn't have the power to do that. I ran upstairs and stood in the doorway of my daughters room. This was the last time I'd de able to watch her sleep, she looked so beautiful in her sleepy state. Just like her mother. Harmony and Dani share many traits, visual ones, physical ones, and emotional ones as well. Danielle would've been so happy to have known that Brandon would now become Harmony's husband. From the second he walked through our door for the first time, she had a feeling he'd be the one to accept our little girl into his own family. Me, on the hand, wasn't so sure. I guess the thought of a man stealing my only child's heart was a scare for me. Of course, as a father, giving away his baby girl was never easy, but over time, I began to warm up to Brandon, knowing how happy he made Harmony. I had finally accepted that my one and only little girl would be changing her last name, not just today, but for the rest of her life.

Flashback: December 1994

"Hunter, wake up." My wife said, nudging me in the side. I opened one eye and glared at the clock. One in the morning. "Mmmm?" I moaned, rolling on my side to face Danielle, still half asleep. "Hunter, she's coming. It's not a false alarm this time. My water just broke." She said, panicked. I immediately shot up and turned on the lamp. "Are you sure?" I asked, instantly wide awake. She breathed hard, "D-do I look l-l-like I'm kidding H-Hunter?" She asked through labored breaths. I shook my head. "Come on, we're going to the hospital." I said quickly before a scooping Danielle up in my arms and carrying her to car. I began driving as Dani let out a shriek of pain, caused by the start of yet another contraction. "It's ok baby, squeeze my hand." I told her, taking one hand off the steering wheel and holding it out. She looks at me before quickly taking my hand into her grasp and squeezing it tighter than I thought she ever could. "I'm scared...." She tells me through tears after the contraction ends. "I know, but I promise you, everything will be ok." I tell her reassuringly.

---

After long hours in the labor and delivery of the hospital, Harmony Grace Hayes has finally arrived. I sat beside Danielle's bed, holding our daughter securely in my arms. "I love you baby girl." I told Harmony as I grazed her cheek with my fingers. Danielle looked at me, and I made eye contact. "Even though she has cerebral palsy and will be in a wheelchair, she's still our precious little girl." She said softly. I nodded, and pressed my lips to hers in ultimate agreement.

December 1996

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." I sang to my now two year old daughter as she stared at her candle lit birthday cake with widened eyes. I knelt down beside her wheelchair. "Ready to blow out these candles?!" I asked her, excitement ringing through my tone. She looked at me, "Yes daddy!!" She replied happily. Danielle quickly got her camera ready. "One, two, three!!" Dani said through a smile. I helped my daughter blow out the candles as Dani snapped shot after shot, making sure to capture every moment. "Daddy!! I did it, I blew out my candles!!" Harmony squealed. "Great job pumpkin!!" I praised, picking her up and holding her in my arms. She giggled, "Can I eat it now?" She asked in hope. I laughed, "Sure my little Lovebug." I told her with a wink. "YAY!!!" She yelled. I watched as Danielle cut a small piece of cake. She placed it on a paper plate and handed it to me, along with a fork. "Yummyyyyy!" I said as I looked at Harmony. Her eyes lit up as a fed her small chunks of the cake. She smirked slightly and snuck her fingertip into the bright purple frosting, and then brushed it against my nose. "Now you're purple too daddy. Just like Barney!!" She said excitedly. Danielle and I laughed in unison. "Yes baby! Just like Barney!" I said through laughter.

---

"Goodnight my little birthday girl," I said before turning off the lamp, "Daddy loves you very much." "I love you too, Daddy." Harmony said through a yawn. I smiled and kissed her forehead. I walked outside the door, ready to close it. I peeked my head back in slightly to see Harmony drifting off into a deep sleep. I smiled and carefully shut the door, making my way to the master bedroom. "Hey beautiful." I said to Dani after closing the door behind me. She stood up and made her way towards me. "Hey handsome." I leaned against door and she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"She's growing up so fast." Dani said quietly. "I know. I wish we could just freeze time." I replied. But ready or not, our daughter was growing up, right before our eyes.

May 2010

"Hey daddy!" My sixteen year old daughter said when I walked inside, just coming home from the studio. "Hi there sweetheart!" I replied. "How was work?!" Harmony asked. "Good, same as usual!" I told her. She scooted in my lap. "I made a friend today Daddy." She said, looking in my eyes. "Did you? Who?" I questioned. "His name is Brandon, and he's really nice to me." And so it began, the world of boys. I had been dreading this for years, but Harmony was at the age now. "Well if he's nice to you, that's what matters baby." I said, kissing her forehead. "Hey daddy?" I looked down at her, "yes?" "You'll always be the number one man in my eyes." She said quietly. My heart swelled. I hoped that would always be true.

February 2017

"Mr. Hayes, I know this might be a shock to you, especially right after losing your wife," he swallowed hard, "but I would give anything in the world to marry your daughter." I looked into his eyes. "Brandon, what brought this on so suddenly?" I questioned Harmony's boyfriend. "I've actually had the ring for a long time, but you know, with everything that's happens recently, I've realized how short life can be." Brandon explained. I nodded. "My sweet girl loves you very much." I told him. "And I love her too Sir. More than she'll ever know." "Call me Hunter." I said with a smile. "Ok." He replied. "Do you promise to take care of her?" "I'd die for her." He said. "You're good for her Brandon. You've accepted her, for who she is. Cerebral Palsy and all." I said. "I wouldn't dream it any other way." It was then I knew that Danielle was right. Brandon was the one for our daughter. "Welcome to the family, Brandon."

End of Flashback

I watched as my newly married daughter held her husband tight as he moved her around the dance floor, almost as if Brandon were Harm's set of legs, swaying her gently back and fourth to the music. I've never seen my beautiful girl so happy. It was then I realized that I had set her free. I had full trust in Brandon. Even if her heart belongs to someone else now, I will always have the privilege of saying I loved her first...