After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

16

To say that things were uncomfortable on stage would be an understatement.  Amber's still a little upset with Jordan for what he did to Joe and for the statement about her having to have a paternity test done before meeting his sons.

During most shows Amber's been singing with all the guys during Grown Man and Big Girl Now. But tonight she completely ignores Jordan. And she shows Joe extra attention. This bothers Jordan, not her ignoring him, but the way she's blatantly all over Joe. He leaves it alone and keeps his mouth shut though.

Over the next week things begin to wear on Joe. He can't take the tension. He loves Amber, he truly does. But he sees Jordan withdrawing from him. He can tell Jordan isn't happy. He misses his best friend.  They used to be the ones laughing and joking backstage before and after shows. Now Jordan isn't talking to him, unless Joe says something first. And then its just short answers. Joe hates this. He knows something's got to give. They all can't keep going on like this.

Amber can tell there is something off with Joe. They've barely touched each other over the last week. So the day before her twenty first birthday she confronts Joe.

"Joe, what's going on with you? You've been acting really weird the last week. Did Jordan say something else to you?" Joe hates this. He doesn't want to have this conversation yet. And tomorrow is her birthday. He's been hoping things would go back to normal. "No Jordan hasn't said anything. But I can see how much this bothers him. And I'm starting to feel really guilty. He's one of my best friends and I shouldn't be sleeping with his daughter. It's wrong, Amber. And it's starting to bother me some too."

"Jesus Joe, really? Wow that's just great. So you want to break up?"

"I don't want to, but I think we should. Maybe see how things are once the tour is over. Rubbing it in his face just isn't right. I'm sorry Amber. I really am. I love you and it hurts to think about not being with you. But it also hurts me to see what I'm putting my best friend through."

Amber's hurt, but in a way she does understand. It makes her angry at Jordan though. Why can't he just let her be happy? She finds it hard to believe Jordan hasn't said anything else to Joe. What other explanation could there be? They love each other, they've been so happy. This had to be Jordan's doing.

Even though Amber's hurt, she does have her pride. She's too proud to beg him not to do this. And she refuses to let him see how much this is killing her. There's only a few more months left of the tour. She'll get through it and then go her own way. "It's okay Joe, I understand. We'll still be friends right?"

Joe's surprised she's taking it so well. It's breaking his heart, but she seems to be taking it pretty well. That's a relief. "You still want to be my friend? Good. I was scared you were going to hate me."

Feeling on the verge of those tears she didn't want him to see, she turns to go. When she gets to the door she stops and without looking back at him says, "Joe I could never hate you."

Andi can't believe what Amber's telling her. She'd spent an hour with Joe yesterday planning a surprise party for Amber's birthday. He hadn't mentioned this or even hinted that he was having any doubts about him and Amber. He was so excited about getting to do this for Amber's twenty first. He couldn't stop talking about what an amazing present he'd gotten her. When Amber finally stops crying long enough to pick herself up off the couch and crawl into her bunk, Andi goes to find Joe. She wants to find out what happened and if she needs to plan something else for Amber's birthday.

Andi has no luck finding Joe, but she does run into Jordan. "Have you seen that asshole Joe?" Jordan shakes his head, he wonders what Joe's done that's got Andi so fired up at him. "Haven't seen him. Is something wrong?"

Jordan thinks if looks could kill he'd be dead right now. Andi glares at him. "As if you don't already know. He did it for you. This is all your doing. I hope you're happy now. Tell Joe I'm looking for him to see if the plan is still on for Amber's surprise party tomorrow."

Jordan clearly looks confused. "Why wouldn't it be? What are you talking about? Joe did what for me?"

"You really don't know? He broke up with Amber because you were making him feel guilty. Now she's heartbroken. And she hates you. Mission accomplished. Good job." Andi turns on her heel and walks away. Jordan's dumbfounded. He's confused, why'd Joe broken up with Amber? He'd left them alone and hadn't said a word to either of them about their relationship. Of course he hadn't offered a word of encouragement either. Maybe not talking to Joe was just as bad. He really hadn't meant to make Joe feel guilty. He was just trying his best to come to terms with having a daughter. And with having that daughter be old enough to date one of his best friends. No he didn't like it, but he didn't want her to be heartbroken. He had to find Joe so he could make this right.

"Joe! Hey man can we talk?"

"Yeah J, what's up?"

Jordan immediately hugs Joe. This is his brother. His little brother. The kid he'd always felt so protective of when he first joined the group. Why wasn't he still trying to protect him? Why had he been so determined to make him feel guilty for dating Amber? He knows Joe and he knows Joe's heart. Joe would have never hurt Amber, if he hadn't been such an ass and stopped talking to him. "Joe, I'm so sorry. I just heard you broke up with Amber. You shouldn't have done that, not for me anyway."

"I didn't do it for you. I did it for me. I can't stand you not talking to me. And I get it man, she's your daughter. You may not have raised her or even known about her until recently, but that isn't the point. The point is she is your daughter and you have the right to your feelings. I don't want to be the reason you're feeling bad."

Jordan is honored Joe would do this for him. "Look Joe, tomorrow night we're going to Amber's birthday and making this right, okay?"