After All (A Jordan Knight/Joe McIntyre Fanfiction)

21

Six months later...

Amber's fixing her dad's lunch when she hears a knock on the door. Susan comes into the kitchen, "Amber, someone's at the door to see you. Let me finish your dad's lunch." Susan's voice is shaky, she almost sounds nervous or scared. "Who is it Momma?"

Susan takes over fixing James' lunch, "It's Jordan Knight. Don't keep him standing outside our door by himself. Go see what he wants. I'll take care of your dad."

What's he doing here? What could this man possibly want? These questions run through her mind as she goes to the door. She takes a deep breath and opens the door. "Jordan? What are you doing here?" She feels bad for the annoyance even she can hear in her voice. "I'm sorry. Hello, Jordan. How have you been?" She smiles at him, which causes him to smile. He lets out a breath, "Hi Amber. I'm good, just wanted to see you, see how you were doing. I also have a proposition for you." Just as Amber was going to ask what his proposition was the door opens behind her.

"Daddy, what are you doing up? You need to be resting. You had a hard morning." Amber goes to James, but he never takes his eyes off Jordan. "Baby girl, I had to get up, so I could invite your father into my home. I'd like to get to know him. Jordan, will you please come in? Would you like anything to drink?"

Jordan looks from Amber to James. "James, I'd like that too. And no on the drink, I'm good." Amber pulls her dad aside, speaking softly to him, but making sure Jordan can hear her. "Daddy, you don't need to do this. He's not my Father, you are." James looks at his daughter, he can see the turmoil inside her. "Amber, I'm your daddy, and I'll always be your daddy. But Jordan is your father. You share his blood and his DNA. He's part of who you are. I'd like to get to know the man my daughter got that amazing talent from. And you should want to get to know him too."

"Daddy, I don't need any dad but you." Tears fill her eyes. James cups his daughter's face and in a soothing voice he says, "Oh my sweet baby girl. You can never have too many people to love you. And I want you to have as many loved ones as you can. I want you to get to know Jordan. Honey, you doing so is not a betrayal to me. You having a relationship with Jordan won't diminish our relationship. I'll always be your Dad. But you can let him be your father. Its up to you of course. Now let's stop talking about our guest like he's not standing right there. Jordan please forgive our rudeness."

James and Jordan talk like they're two old friends who haven't seen each other in years. Suddenly something Joe said to her cones to her mind. "Sorry to interrupt, but I need to ask Jordan a question." Jordan turns to her. "Did you really not know?" Jordan's confused by her question. "Know what Amber?"

"Joe told me that you didn't know about me, until the tour. He said you weren't given any choice about me. Is that really true?" Jordan tries to keep eye contact with her, but he's honestly ashamed that he had no idea he had a daughter for twenty years. Yes he was young when she was conceived, but that's no excuse in his mind. He should have made sure to keep in touch with Sara Beth himself, after all they'd shared something very special with each other. "Honestly Amber I never spoke to Sara Beth after that week in 88. I had given her a number she could reach me at, and she had called to tell me she was pregnant, but I never got the message. She spoke to Maurice's secretary, I think, and I'm guessing he made the choice not to tell me. And when Sara called back a second time they told her she was going to ruin my career and my life if myself or anyone else found out about you. So she made the decision to give you to James and Susan. And I'm glad she chose them, they've done an amazing job raising you. But if I had known about the pregnancy, my family and I would have raised and loved you. Everything happens for a reason though right? And I believe we've been given a second chance to get to know each other Amber. To be family."

"I have a family Jordan." She was about to say more, but James interrupts her. "You can never have too much family. The more people that you have to love you, the better your life will be sweetheart. Jordan, as far as I'm concerned, you're part of our family now. You're welcome in our home anytime. We share a child, she's not my blood, but I loved her the moment I found out we were getting her, she wasn't even born yet. She's your blood and you weren't given the opportunity to raise her, but I can bet my life that you loved her the moment you found out she was your daughter. Am I right?" Jordan nods. "So see, we share a child, that makes us family. Amber stop being so stubborn, get to know your father. Its what I want, so you don't have to feel guilty for it."

Amber smiles at her dad, "Okay daddy."

When Jordan hears her say this his heart swells with love. "Amber I want you to meet your half brothers and my wife. Will you have dinner with us tonight?"

"Yes, I'd love that. Is that the proposition you had for me?"

"No. I'm planning a few small solo shows when the tour is over and I wanted you to come with me. Maybe sing some with me and on your own? It'll give us the chance to get to know each other. Just the two of us, on the road." Jordan's nervous again, what if she says no? What if she really isn't interested in getting to know him? He just wants to be in her life. He thinks these solo shows will give them the time they need to get close. Amber thinks the same thing. She had wanted to get to know Jordan before he told Joe to break up with her. Now that it was clearly over with Joe and her (they hadn't spoken in six months, not since he spent the night with her and left without a word before she woke the next morning) there was nothing standing in the way of she and Jordan forming a relationship. "I'd love to Jordan. That really sounds amazing. I've missed being on stage."

"You could come back on tour with us. We're back in the states now." Amber guesses that Joe hasn't said anything about her. The clean break must not have been as hard on Joe as it had on her. "I don't think that would be such a good idea." Realization crosses his face. "So you and Joe aren't.....um...ya know, anymore?"

"No. I haven't seen or heard from him in six months. He came by to see me when dad was still in the hospital. But nothing since then. How's he doing?"

"Good I guess. We don't really talk much. He keeps to himself before and after the shows. Every show is perfect, but I think he resents me. Hell I know he resents me. Which he should, I was so wrong. He'd probably hate me if he didn't love me like a brother."

Amber can't help but feel a little happy. Knowing Joe is still upset over Jordan's part in their breakup means he still cares about her.