After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

15

Jordan can't wait until tomorrow, he has to talk to Amber tonight. He goes to her bus and it's Andi that answers when he knocks. "Hey Andi. How's it going? Is Amber here?"

"Well hello Jordan. I'm great, except for my best friend being heartbroken by the man she just found out is her father. She hurts, then I hurt. And no she's not here. She's with Joe."

Jordan looks at the girl standing in front of him, arms crossed defiantly over her chest. She's giving him the dirtiest look he's seen in a long, long time. "I'm going to make it up to her I promise. Good night Andi."

Jordan hesitantly knocks on Joe's bus door. It takes a few minutes but Joe finally opens the door. Joe's surprised to see Jordan. He nervously looks over his shoulder to see where Amber is. "What do you want Jordan? Now isn't the best time."

"Listen Joe, I'm here to apologize. To both of you. Can I please come in?" Joe looks over his shoulder again knowing that now Amber is standing in the living area. She nods to him and sits down on the couch. Joe opens the door and lets Jordan in. Jordan takes a seat across from Amber in a chair and Joe sits next to her. She scoots closer to Joe and takes his hand, showing a united front.

"Amber I wanted to apologize to you. I never should have said anything to Joe about breaking things off with you. I had no right. I can't help feeling the way I feel, but I'll keep it to myself  from now on. I'm just not sure you understand."

Amber interrupts him, "Not sure I understand what?"

"I'm not sure you understand how I feel as a father, to see my daughter, one dating a friend of mine or two dating someone so much older than her. As a parent, I'd think you needed to be with someone your own age. Someone who's at the same place in life as you are. I worry you and Joe don't share the same goals for the future. Like maybe marriage and kids. But on the other hand I know the man Joe is. I know he's a good man who will treat you the way you should be treated. I just want you to be happy Amber. And I'm sorry for causing you to be otherwise. And Joe I'm sorry I asked you to do that. Its definitely not my place. I hope you'll forgive me."

Joe lets go of Amber's hand and reaches for Jordan's. They shake hands and Joe tells him, "There's nothing to forgive brother."

Amber isn't as forgiving as Joe though. "Why do you care so much now Jordan? I mean why not twenty years ago? When you knocked up Sara Beth, you were able to just walk away and let her give me away.  Why didn't you care about me then? I mean you could have taken me if she didn't want me. I understand why she gave me up, because of her family. But you, you come from a really good family who would have rallied around you and helped raise me. But instead you just turned your back and gave me up. It just doesn't make sense." When Joe looks back at Jordan he can see her words have hurt him. He's got tears in his eyes threatening to fall at any second. The tears fall as he starts explaining his side of the story.

"Amber, I never knew about you. I found out the day I talked to Sara at her house. She never told me. She says she tried to call but no one ever told me that either. And you better believe if I had known, you would have been raised a Knight for sure. I was young, but my family would have made it work. I never would have given you up. Never." Jordan's voice is low, but steady. Joe knows Jordan is being truthful, that comes from having known him for over  twenty years. He also knows if Jordan had found out something so monumental as getting a girl pregnant at seventeen, all the guys would have known about it. They had always been each other's confidants back then. They were all each other had on the road. His heart goes out to his friend, his brother. "I'm sorry to hear that J."

Amber wants to believe him, she really does. But she's just not sure she wants to believe Sara would give away his child without telling him. Not that Sara told her a different story. Not that it even matters, Jordan was still wrong. She has to make sure he understands they have boundaries.

"Jordan I'm sorry Sara didn't tell you. But I have to believe everything happens for a reason. I love my parents more than anything. They've been amazing parents, I couldn't imagine any better. No offense. But I'm not closed off to having a relationship with you too. As long as you can respect my boundaries. I'd like to meet your family as well and my brothers. I've always been an only child, so having brothers might be nice. I just need to take things slow."

"My mom will be happy to hear that. I told her about you tonight. She's confused and a little upset. But she wants to meet you. I also told my wife about you. Honestly she wasn't as, excited. She'll come around though."

"Does it really matter if she doesn't come around? I mean it's not like I'm asking her to be my mom or anything. I don't have to have a relationship with her to have one with you and my half brothers." Joe almost laughs, he's able to stifle it before its a full fledged laugh. It's heard by both Amber and Jordan. They look at him and he apologizes. Jordan gives Joe a shut the hell up look. "Evelyn controls who the boys are and aren't around. She made the decision to keep them out of the public eye. I think she'll be fine with you once we do a paternity test. Not that I have any doubts, she just isn't very trusting."

Amber looks at the time and ends the conversation with Jordan to go get ready for the show. She's definitely hot a lot to think about.