After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

12

Joe's mouth opens wide. She closes the bathroom door like she didn't just drop this huge bombshell on him. Joe closes his mouth, then opens it again to say something. But he doesn't know what to say. He decides he must have heard her wrong. He gets up to join her when he hears the shower turn on.

When Joe opens the bathroom door he takes her in. Standing naked under the shower, water cascading down her beautiful body. Her head is back as she lets the water run through her hair, her eyes are closed. And he can't take his eyes off her. He can't believe how lucky he is to have found her. He's fallen hard for this gorgeous woman before him. But did she just say that Jordan, one of his oldest friends, is her father? That can't be true. Jordan would have told him at some point over the years that he had a child out there somewhere. Jordan's never mentioned getting a girl pregnant, when he was only seventeen.

"Amber did you really just say that Jordan, as in Jordan Knight, one of my oldest and dearest friends, is your dad?" Joe's standing under the water with her now. Her back is to him. So she can't see the look on his face. This isn't a good thing for he and Amber. Joe isn't sure he can date one of his best friends daughters.

"No Joe, I said Jordan is my biological father. My sperm donor. I have a Dad who raised me my whole life. Jordan just knocked up the woman who gave birth to me, then gave me to my real parents. Jordan was just the stupid, immature teen who wasn't smart enough to wear a condom so he got a sixteen year old girl he hardly knew pregnant. And then they didn't want said mistake they made so they were kind enough to give me to two responsible adults. He is not my dad." Amber turns around and looks at Joe. "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine with it. I'm happy to finally know where this insane need for music came from. I don't expect or want anything from Jordan. If he decides he wants anything from me, we'll see where that goes. I'd like very much to meet the brothers I share half my DNA with. But if that doesn't happen that's fine too. I love my life right now and I really just want it to stay the same."

Joe can't believe how nonchalant she's being about just finding out Jordan is her father. "You don't think this will change things between you and I?" She can hear the concern in his voice. "No, why would it Joe? What in the world does Jordan have to do with our relationship? I still love you, just like I did before I knew. Do you still love me like you did before you knew?"

Joe takes her face in his hands and places gentle kisses on her lips. "Yes, of course I do. Nothing could change that."

She kisses him once more before stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel. "Then please stop worrying about this. It's not a big deal babe."
                              
                                *

"It's not a big deal? Really? It's not a big deal? How can you even say that Jon? Dante calls him Uncle Joe. Eric will call him Uncle Joe. He's an uncle to my sons, but a LOVER to my daughter. That's wrong on so many levels. Jon, I know me. I'm not going to ever be okay with it. It'll drive me crazy, Joe fucking my daughter. God I wish I didn't know." Jordan sits down hard on Jon's couch on his bus. His head falls back against the couch and he covers his face with his hands.

Jon watches his younger brother for a second and he feels for him, he really does. But he thinks Jordan is blowing things way out of proportion. "Jordan, what do you wish you didn't know? That she's your daughter or that she's in love with Joe?" Jordan exhales loudly and twists his face up. "Dammit Jon why'd you have to say it like that? Of course I don't wish I didn't know about Amber being my daughter. But yeah I think it'd be easier if I didn't know she was sleeping with one of my best friends. One of my brothers."

"Well at least he's not your brother by blood. That you'd have a right to be upset about. Please don't push this Jordan. It's a bad idea." Jon pats his brother on the back. "So when do you plan on breaking the news to Evelyn? And Mom? Are you telling the rest of the guys? I think you should call a group meeting with Jared. Tell the guys yourself. Wait where's Amber? You think she'll tell Joe?"

                                *

"Wait, Jordan Knight's your birth father? For real?" Andi can't believe what her best friend is telling her. They've been fans of Joe and Jordan for so long, now she's dating one and the love child of the other. In what world does this even happen? "Well that explains your insane musical talent. You've got JK DNA running through those veins of yours. When did you find out this little tid bit of information?"

Amber sits there and laughs at her best friend's reaction. She definitely thinks Andi is more excited about it than she is. "Yesterday. He actually is the one who figured it out and then told me. Joe's freaking out a little I think. But it's all good. I mean this doesn't change anything. I'm still just me."

"I bet thats why they called a group meeting today. Jordan probably wants to tell Joe to keep his dick out of his daughter." Andi laughs when Amber throws a pillow at her. "Stop being gross. I really hope they don't talk about that. But seriously Andi, I don't want anything to change. I'm happy with Joe. He's amazing. And Jordan and I were finally getting to know each other while we worked on my song. I just want everything to stay like its been. Things have been so good."

Andi sits up suddenly and stops laughing. "Oh my God is it going to be awkward singing to Big Girl Now with your father?" Amber hadn't even thought about the two songs she'd been singing with the guys each night. Now she's a little freaked out about the whole father/daughter situation. "I've got to go talk to Jordan." Amber is up and off her bus before Andi can say anything.

Amber runs through the garage where all the busses are parked. She knows they were all going to be meeting in the big family room backstage. When she gets to the door she knocks once and then walks in. Everyone stops talking as soon as she walks in. But it looks like Jordan and Joe are in a pretty heated conversation. "Hey Amber, is everything alright?" Jared asks her. The other guys just kind of stare at her. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just need to talk to Jordan." Jordan looks at her, but he doesn't respond right away. Instead Jon jumps up and hugs her. "So I hear I've got this beautiful niece that I never knew about. I knew there was something I recognized in you the moment I heard you sing. You've definitely got the strong and talented Knight genes. Welcome to the family." He squeezes her tighter before letting her go. She feels a little more comfortable after he hugs her. Something about Jon comforts her, calms her.

Finally Jordan has something to say, "Jon, cut it out. She's got a family. We haven't even had a chance to discuss our expectations or desires for any kind of relationship. You're kind of jumping the gun. Amber do you need to talk right now or is it something that can wait until we finish our meeting?" He's short with her. She thinks he almost sounds annoyed. As Amber looks around the room she sees all eyes are on her, except for Joe's. His jaw is clenched, his hands are in fists, and he's pacing. "Joe? Babe, is everything okay?" She crosses the room to where he's standing. She puts her hand on his bicep and whispers in his ear. "Joe? Talk to me. What's gotten you so upset?" She moves her hand from his arm to his chest. "I love you Joe." He finally meets her eyes. His jaw relaxes and he unclenches his fists. He kisses her gently on the lips. "I love you too Amber. Thank you. Come on let's go, I could use a nap before the show. You know how us old guys need our naps. Isn't that right Jordan?"