After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

10

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone Sara Beth. I'm sorry your dad did that to you." Jordan's heart breaks for her and for himself. He can't believe he's got a daughter. A twenty year old, beautiful, talented daughter. But most of all he can't believe a father could do what Sara Beth's father did to his own daughter. Jordan's only known that Amber is his for a few seconds and already he knows he'd protect her with his life if he had to. "What do you mean you called me twice to tell me? Who did you talk to?" Jordan feels himself getting very angry that someone on his "team" kept this news from him.

"I called you to tell you. I'm not really sure who I spoke to. It was a woman. I don't remember her telling me her name. I'm sorry I didn't try harder to tell you. I never should have stopped trying to reach you. I'm not sure it would have changed my decision. I was so young, I couldn't be kicked out of my own family. My Aunt offered to adopt her and to let me see her anytime I wanted. But my dad said no. He wanted there to be no sign of my mistake. Jordan when I say we never spoke of it again, I mean it. Not one word has been mentioned about me having ever had a baby, to this day."

Jordan feels so sad for Sara Beth. He knows that if his mom had known about Sara Beth and the baby they would have taken her in and loved them both. Even if his mom had been disappointed, she never would have done Jordan the way Sara's dad had done her. Hell he truly believes his mom would have even given Sara a home. Or just a place to have the baby. One thing he's certain about too, Amber would not have been put up for adoption. She would have been raised a Knight. Jordan doesn't think he would have been a father to her like he is now to his boys. But dammit he would have been in his daughter's life.

Suddenly it hits him like a ton of bricks, his daughter, he has a twenty year old daughter. And she's on tour with his band. His daughter. Holy shit...my daughter. He smiles as he thinks about his daughter. "Fuck, I have a daughter." He looks at Sara Beth and the biggest smile spreads across his face. Sara can't help but remember how much she always loved his beautiful smile. She'd wondered for years if their daughter had gotten his smile.

"Yes, you have a daughter. So what do you think your mom will say? Oh gosh what about your wife? Will you tell them before or after you tell Amber?" Jordan's smile turns into a frown. He hadn't thought about telling Amber. But he guesses he's going to have to talk to Amber first. What if she doesn't want anything to do with him being her father? What if she doesn't want anyone to know? "Sara Beth, do you think she'll be okay with me being her father? How do you think she'll react?" Jordan can't believe he's actually feeling nervous. He already knows Amber, it's not like they're strangers. Hell they've been writing a song together. For Joe. Joe.

"Oh my God, my daughter is dating Joe. What am I going to do about that?"

Sara Beth stares at Jordan for a second. Unsure of what she should say to him right now. She's not sure how to tell Jordan that he has no right to say anything about Amber and Joe dating. "Jordan, you can't do anything about her dating Joe. You don't have that right. Yes, biologically you are her father. But you are not her Dad. She has a Dad that raised her and who she loves very much. If you start your relationship with Amber by trying to break her and Joe up, you'll lose her before you even have the chance to have her."

Jordan feels a sting from her comments. He already lost her before having a chance of having her. His daughter was lost to him twenty years ago when he was never told about her. He doesn't want to be angry with Sara. He completely understands why she did what she did. And he believes that she did try to call him. But his choice was stolen from him. It kills him now not knowing what she'll feel about him. And the fact that she's dating his "brother" does bother him. "Sara, my son calls Joe, Uncle Joe. My 2nd son will call him Uncle Joe as well. But my daughter is sleeping with him. That feels so wrong to me. I don't like it, at all."

"Suck it up Jordan. She's grown and she's with Joe. Don't make the mistake of trying to come between them. I'm telling you, please for your own sake. Are you going to be okay telling Amber or would you like for me to be there?"

Without having to think about it Jordan tells Sara that he'll be fine telling her on his own. "But I'd like to know if you're okay with me telling her about us and how we met and ended up with her. I'd love for her to know we were each other's firsts. That's always meant so much to me. Don't tell my wife I said that though okay." They both laugh nervously.

Sara Beth blushes and smiles at him. "That's always meant so much to me too. And yes, please tell her everything about that week. And tell her she can call me with any questions she might have for me. And good luck Jordan. I think she'll be happy to find out you're her father. Maybe not at first, but give her time."

Jordan hugs Sara Beth and says goodbye. They do exchange numbers just in case. And then he's off to meet back up with the guys. He's got the flight to think about what he's going to say to Amber.