So, That's Your Dad? (Freddie Mercury)

Chapter Fifty Three: Christmas 1989

     December 24th, 1989

        I didn't expect to come home this late, but I did. I don't have problem with it since this is now my job. It still blows my mind that I am able to say I'm now a certified airman. The plane lands safely and I'm relieved to have made it home. I missed it here more than anything. Although I may have hated it just as much as LA, it was better than being on a base in Texas and not being able to leave. Everyone is exiting the plane one by one until it is my turn.

       I leave with nothing but another set of ABU's in a book bag because that is all I had to bring back. I stare down at the gold ring on my left hand and think about how I'll be able to wear my real ring again. I walk down the long hallway until I make it to where those who are boarding the next flight have already taken their seats. I scan my entire surroundings and my eyes immediately go wide when I see one of my favorite people on this entire earth.

       I run into Ben's arms and he luckily catches me in time. I hear him starting to cry and that makes me start to have tears forming in my eyes as a result. I didn't want to make him cry and I felt that it was my fault. My grip on him is very tight and I didn't even notice until he patted on my lower back practically begging for me to let go of him. I drop my feet to the ground and we stare at each other once again. 

       He scans me up and down as if I were a book. "Damn. You look so different. Since when was my sister buff?" He wondered and I hoped that he was joking. I still feel like I have not changed a bit.  Even the Sargent Major told me that I have improved physically from my first day to my last day at boot camp. I don't even believe her. "What are you talking about?" I chuckled in response. "You just look so different. This is a brand new you and I love it honestly." He complimented me and that made me smile. 

       "Thank you, Ben. I missed you." I tell him. "Tiffany I missed you more. I tried to write a letter to you and I'm even sure if you got it." He told me. I smirk because what I am about to tell him will certainly piss him off. "I did, I just didn't write back to you." I tell him. He gives me a playful punch. "You bitch." He says. I punch him in return and I caused him to move back just a little bit. Damn. I didn't think that I had that much impact on someone. "Ouch!" He exclaimed.  "Sorry. Are you ok?" I ask him because I am somewhat concerned. 

       "Yes, I'm fine. We should get going because dad is expecting everyone except you to show up tonight." Ben told me. Damn. I almost forgot. Maybe he might have forgotten about me too. I feel horrible forgetting to tell him that I was coming home. "You didn't tell him that I was coming back?" I asked. "No. I wanted it to be a surprise." Ben replied. We started walking towards the exit as I placed both of the straps of my book bag on my shoulders. 

       "Ben he's going to have a heart attack because of us." I worried. I'm still annoyed because this is not going as planned. He made the smart decision of parking right in front of the entrance. Which was good because I did not feel like walking. I take a seat on the passenger side and sigh. I'm finally back. I just have to sit through a forty-five minute drive to my father's house. I'm excited but yet nervous to see him again. Ben probably didn't tell him because he wanted to see his reaction. Ben starts the car and lightly steps on the gas. 

       "Who did you miss the most?" Ben just had to ask. I smiled. I hope that he is only joking. "Is that a real question?" I replied. "Yes. I really want to know." He insisted. "Rami." I tell him with a smile on my face. He appeared to be disgusted. But he wanted an answer, he got one. "What?! You didn't miss me?!" He was being over dramatic. "I didn't say that. Of course I miss you. I just missed Rami. Everyday that I wasn't wearing the ring, I was reminded that we were apart from one another." I tell him and sit back. "Ew. Love is so fucking weird, man. But don't worry, you'll see him in a few minutes." Ben replied. 

       I open the door to Garden Lodge and already I missed how warm it was. "Oh darling, that doesn't really look good. We should move it." I could hear my father and immediately that made me smile.  I walk down the hallway that seemed almost too long. But I have walked up and down it many other times. I make it there and Joe is the first one to notice me. "Bitch!" He yelled out and ran over to me. I embraced him immediately as we almost fell. "It's good to see you, Joe." I tell him. 

       I let go of him and then make eye contact when I see my father.  He smiles and I can tell that this is very overwhelming for him. He may finally see how I have changed in over the course of a few months. His grip was tighter on me than mine was on him. I unintentionally start to cry tears of joy when in his arms. 

     He then looked over and smiled at me. His smile was very warm and it almost hurt to see it. "How are you, Tiffany?" Was the first of probably many questions he will ask. "I'm good. How are you, dad?" I asked him. "Fine." He said, but he didn't sound like he was telling the truth. He observed me once again and he just almost looked in awe by me. "My goodness you have grown so much." He told me. 

       That wasn't the first time that someone has told me this in one day. "I have?" I asked him. His eyes go wide. "Of course, you look so different now. I was almost convinced that you weren't even my daughter." He joked. I chuckled at him saying this. We continue to have this conversation and he has so much to ask me about boot camp and how horrifying it was. Well it turns out that it wasn't actually scary at all and everything went at my exact pace. 

       The conversation ended when I was caught off guard by two arms wrapping around my waist. I screamed and turned around, realizing that it was just Rami. I smile as soon as I turn around and give him a peck on the lips. We embrace one another again and I feel so warm being in his arms. Now I feel that I am home once again. "I missed you, Rami." I whisper in his ear. "I missed you too. Damn, you look amazing." He complimented and then I kissed  him once again. 

       "Tiffany." The way that my father stated my name, allowed me to know that he was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I released Rami from my embrace and then we all stood in silence. 

       Hours passed by and those who decided to stay the night sure did stay. Joe was passed out on one couch which Rami was passed out on the other. Today was a long day for all of us, but I still can't manage to fall asleep. I continue to just flip through the pages of a book because the feeling was comforting to me. "You too? Can't sleep?" I hear a familiar voice. Though the voice was familiar, it still startled me due to the time. 3:07 am. 

     I turn to see my father and smile out of relief. He walks down the remaining few steps down and takes a seat right next to me, criss-crossing his legs. "Yeah." I finally replied to him. "Out of all the people in this room right now, you should probably be the one passed out." My dad commented. I glance at Joe and Rami while thinking about it. "You're right. But that's the definition of jet lagged. You wake up at times when you're not supposed to." I tell him. He giggles and nods agreeing with me. 

       "I'm glad that you're finally home. We all missed you. But I think Rami and I missed you the most." He said. It hurt me to hear him say that. "Well I missed you both as well." I replied. There is a moment of silence before my dad makes the choice to break it. "Well, it's officially Christmas day. Would you like to open my gift?" He asks me. "I would love to." I answered. He gives me a small box and it wasn't wrapped. I appreciate that because he would always make it a pain in the ass to unwrap gifts on purpose. He would use the tape that one would use to tape cardboard boxes. 

       I open it and I'm in awe by the real silver charm that is in the shape of a heart. "Dad, this is beautiful." I tell him then take the necklace out of the box. "Open it." He tells me. I had no clue that it was going to be a locket. I open the locket and I feel like crying when I see the picture. It was the largest picture in the house in LA. I think that it is my favorite picture that has ever been taken of me. I was three when it was taken and I was sitting on my father's lap. I'm sure that this was taken by Mick Rock. I wasn't feeling good that day and it clearly showed as I was frowning and my father had a straight face while looking straight at the camera. He looked so beautiful and so much younger. Even though I'm sure he was almost thirty. 

       That one song by Nat "King" Cole begins to play softly in the background. My favorite Christmas song of all time. It isn't Christmas until I hear that song. It makes me feel the most at home since I have heard it all my life. I hug my dad tightly. "Thank you, dad. I love you." I tell him. "I love you too. Merry Christmas." He replied.