After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

4

The next day Andi goes with Amber to see her parents. They are surprisingly supportive and happy for her. They aren't upset or angry at all. Amber is relieved. They'd had such a tough time ever since Amber had decided to find her birth mother. She never meant to hurt her mom, but it had. Susan Carson had always been afraid of losing the only child she'd ever been given. She worried that when her daughter met her birth mother they'd form a bond that only a real mother and daughter could share. Amber told her mom that she was her real mother, that Sara Beth was just the woman who accidentally got pregnant and had a baby she didn't want. Susan had been appeased by what her daughter told her. And they haven't spoken about Sara Beth again.

It was Amber's dad, James, who wanted Amber to seek out her birth mother. He thought it was important for everyone to know where they come from. He never worried about Amber. Not because he didn't care about and love her, but because he knew he'd raised his daughter right. She was smart, strong, independent and self reliant. He trusted her decisions and knew she would make the right choices for herself. He was especially happy for his little girl, he knew how much she loved music and how hard she always worked at writing new songs. He'd watched her on more than one occasion sit at her piano fussing over a song that she had to get perfect before she could go to bed. He always marveled at her dedication. And now it was all paying off for her and he was so excited.
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Joe sat in the band meeting barely paying attention, waiting for a text from Amber to tell him how it went with her parents. He was worried they'd disapprove of her going on tour and she'd change her mind.

"Joe? What do you think Joe?" Donnie asked waving his hand in front of Joe's face. Joe looked up, no clue what Donnie had asked him. "Sorry, what?"

Jordan stood up and went to grab more coffee, "Joe, where the hell have you been all night? We've got to get these things decided before the tour begins, next week. Get your head out of your ass man." He was pissed. "I'm giving up time with my kids to be here. The least you could do was be present."

"I said I'm sorry J. I'm just waiting on a text from Amber. She was finally going to tell her parents about the tour tonight."

Jordan shakes his head, "And that's another thing Joe. You need to stop fucking around with her. She's too young for you man. It's not going to end well and she's our opening act. If she bails on us when things go bad with you, then we'll be pretty much fucked trying to find another opening act on the road."

Joe stands up and faces Jordan, "What makes you so sure it'll end badly? Or at all? Maybe she's "the one"."

Jordan laughs, "Really Joe? You really think that little girl is "the one"? Get real. I mean you can't honestly be serious." Jordan looks to the other guys for some back up. But none of them say a word. "Danny, you've got two daughters, would you want them fucking around with someone sixteen years older than them?"

Danny shrugs, "I don't know, not at the ages they are now. But when they're twenty, that'll be up to them. I just have to make sure I raise them to know their own worth. So they'll know a good man from a bad one. If they meet someone who's good to them and treats them right I wouldn't deny them happiness. And we all know Joe's a good man. He wouldn't do anything to purposely hurt Amber. So why try to stop them from being happy just because we don't necessarily understand how they feel. Stay out of it J, let him live his life. Be happy for your brother."

Jordan glances down at his feet. He begins to feel guilty for being such an ass to Joe. Danny's right, Joe is a good man, he'd never do anything to hurt Amber. "I'm sorry Joe. I know you and I know you'd never hurt anyone if you can help it. Amber's lucky to have met you. And you do seem really happy lately."

Joe smiles from ear to ear, "Oh man, I am happy. I can't remember ever being this happy before. Amber makes being happy seem effortless. She's such an amazing woman. Jordan, you'll like her when you get to know her. You have a lot in common. The way she gets when she's working on her music. The way she talks about it. She gets this look in her eyes. Its inspiring. It reminds me how much I love writing my own songs. I was also thinking she could maybe sing with us on "Big Girl Now" and "Grown Man". She's got this amazing voice. And we need the female vocals to do those songs right."

"The girl does have pipes. I think that would be a good idea if the rest of you guys do. I wouldn't mind singing with her. Guys? What do you think?" Donnie looks at each of the other guys.

Danny and Jon both agree with Donnie. But Jordan isn't sure, "I haven't heard her sing, I can't really say one way or another. I trust you guys decision though. But I'd like to do a run-through with her before we make an official decision. Joe you think you can get her over here tonight? Evelyn isn't expecting me home until late tonight anyway, she knows how group meetings go. I'd rather get it done now rather than have another late night. You guys know how she gets."

"Yeah J, I'll give her a call and see what's going on with her and her parents. Give me just a second." Joe opens his phone and calls Amber's number. She answers on the second ring.

"Hey babe. How's it going with your family?"

"Hey Joe, it went really good. They were both so great about everything. Andi and I are just leaving now. You done with your meeting? You going to come over and let me ravage you?" Joe feels his dick twitch in his jeans. Just the thought of her ravaging him makes him ready for this meeting to be over.

"Not yet sweetheart, but damn you're making it hard for me to not leave right now. The guys wanted me to call you and see if you could come by here tonight. We have some tour stuff to discuss with you." Joe tells his dick to calm down for now.

"Yeah I can come by. Is it okay that Andi's with me?"

"Yeah of course, that's fine babe."

"Then I'll be there in ten minutes. I just hope I can keep my hands off you long enough to discuss whatever you guys need to discuss."

"Damn woman, you're fucking killing me. I'm going to walk back into the room with the rest of the guys with a hard on. You'll pay for that later."

"OH really? Am I going to get a spanking? How will you make me pay for it? I want details. You gonna make me get down on my knees? Make me beg for forgiveness? Make me call you sir?" Amber can't help herself, she starts laughing uncontrollably. Joe laughs with her. "Sorry Joe, I'm not very good at dirty talk."

Joe exhales, "That wasn't too bad love. I'm hard, so it definitely worked. I better get off the phone, I can't be walking around like this. See you when you get here. We're in the same conference room where you signed your contracts. Just come on up when you get here."