In the week since finding out that he was a father Brian had barely allowed the smile to slip from his face. He couldn't have been happier. Actually that was a lie. Three things would have made him happier. If he had known about her sooner; if they lived closer; and if the three of them could be a proper family together. Unfortunately though there was nothing he could do about two of those things. The distance between them however was something he could have some control over.

Obviously with Sarah being with Seth he couldn’t expect her to move back to Huntington, but there was nothing really stopping him from moving to Laguna. Of course it would be strange living so far away from his best friends and family, and it would mean a lot of traveling back and forth when the band were working on an album, but it also meant he would be closer to his daughter and he would be able to see her everyday when he wasn't on tour. Moving was something he was giving a lot of consideration too.

He had told all his friends and family about Jenni and they had all been happy for him, and showed him support, with his dad, step mom and his half-sister all eager to meet her.
Brian himself was just looking forward to his first official meeting with his daughter. When he would be introduced to her as her daddy. He had had to stop him self on a few occasions from buying things for her. He wanted nothing more than to spoil her, to make up for the time he'd lost, the birthdays, the Christmas'. But he knew he couldn't. He knew Sarah wouldn't want him doing that. Besides, he needed to wait to see how Jenni would react to him. Not even three years old yet, she probably wouldn't understand what was going on. It would take her some time to get used to the idea of him being around.

The sound of his ringtone brought him out of his thoughts, glancing at the screen, he smiled. This was the phone call he'd been waiting for all week.

*~*

Ending the call, Sarah placed the phone back on the table in front of her. She had been putting off that phone call for as long as she dared. She knew that as soon as she made that call to Brian she would have two more conversations she didn't really want to have. But she also knew that she couldn't hold off Brian any longer. He had waited long enough to be in Jenni's life, it wouldn't be fair to keep him waiting any longer. So she had called him to arrange for the to meet up and now she would have to explain to Jenni about the new man that would be in her life and then explain to Seth that Jenni's dad had tracked them down and would be spending some time with them.

She sat watching Jenni play with her play kitchen and tea set, watching as she fed her dolls bisgedi and decided that then was as good as time as any to talk to her. Getting up off the sofa, she went and sat down on the floor with her daughter. "Can I have some of that spaghetti too?" she asked opening her mouth.

"Here you in mamma." she said lifting the toy spoon to her lips. "It tasty mamma?"

"Mmm, delicious." Sarah said licking her lips.

"More?" Jenni asked offering the spoon again.

"No thank you sweetie, mommy's full." she replied.

"Otay mamma, want juice?" she replied offering a cup.

"Yes please." she replied with a laugh as she took the tiny cup. "Would you like to go to the park later? Maybe have a picnic?"

Her daughter's eyes widened with excitement and she began to bounce up and down where she sat.

"Yes please mommy." she squealed.

"We're going to meet someone there if that's okay?" she said nervously.

"Nanna Lucy?" she asked referring to Seth's mom.

"No sweetie, not today, we're gonna meet an old friend of mommy's, you meet him the other day at the doctors, do you remember Brian?" she explained. Jenni looked puzzled for a moment as the thought and the nodded.

"Yeah. Will he push me on the swings?" she asked. Sarah chuckled and nodded, "Yeah I'm sure he will. We've just gotta go see Seth first okay."

"Otay, I'll get my coat." she said jumping up.

"Wait. What do you need to do first?" she said stopping her from running off.

Her face screwed up in confusion as she thought for a moment. "Tidy up." she said with a smile as she sat back down and began putting her toys back into their box.


~*~

Holding her daughters hand tightly, Sarah made her way into the bar, checking with one of the waitresses that Seth was in his office before heading in that direction.

"Hey what brings my two favourite ladies down here this afternoon?" he asked cheerfully as they walked in to the office.

"We're going on a picnic." Jenni announced excitedly before Sarah could stop her.

"A picnic?" Seth asked raising a single eyebrow.

"Yep with Brian." Jenni said.

"Brian?" he asked turning to look at Sarah who nodded.

"Her dad has got in contact. We've arranged to meet up today." she said cautiously.

"Oh...oh okay. I thought you didn't even know who the father was?" he questioned.

"It was either one of two people. He tracked me down, we've been for tests and I've told him that he can see her. Starting today." she explained nervously.

"You've had tests done? So he's been here already?" although his voice was calm as he spoke Sarah could see the anger and upset in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Seth, I just didn't know how to tell you, how you'd take it. " she told him honestly. He smiled, his hand reaching over the desk for hers.

"Babe, I knew this might be something that would happen at some point. There was no need for you to feel like you couldn't tell me."

"So you're okay with this?" she asked.

"Of course I am. Do you want me to come with you?" he asked, Sarah shook her head hesitantly,

"No it's okay. I think it's best if we do this on our own, to start off with at least." she added quickly. "It's going to be a lot for Jenni to take in as it is."

"Good point. Just don't hide anything from me again okay?" he replied standing up and walking around the desk to her. "I love you."

"I love you too." she replied with a smile as he leaned down to press his lips hers.

"And me a kiss." Jenni announced puckering her lips to him. He chuckled and kissed her before she turned and kissed her mom too.

"We better go, Brian will be waiting." she said with a smile as she stood with Jenni resting on her hip.

"I'll see you both when I get home. Have a nice time." he told them as they made to leave.

"We will." Jenni cheered as they left the office.

Having no idea what part of the park they were meeting in, Brian waited at the main entrance and sent Sarah a message telling her where he was. He sat on the hood of his car, sunglasses covering his brown eyes as he watched every car that drove by. He smiled as he saw a now familiar silver Audi pull up and park, and watched as Sarah got out and got Jenni out of the rear before getting something out of the trunk. As the came closer he noticed that it was a picnic hamper and his heart swelled at the thought of having a picnic in the park with his daughter.

"Hey." Sarah announced as they got closer, Brian slipping off the hood. "We thought we'd have a picnic."

"Sounds perfect" he replied as they made their way to the park gates.

"Do you like cookies?" Jenni asked suddenly looking up at Brian.

"Of course I like cookies. Who doesn't like cookies?" Brian replied happily.

"Seth doesn't." Jenni said with a pout and a shake of her head.

Brian bit his tongue wanting to give a cutting reply, "He doesn't? Why?" he asked with a smirk.

"They got too much sugar." she replied simply. Brian glanced up at Sarah an eye brow raised over the brim of his sunglasses. She shrugged simply, a weak smile on her lips.

"I think this is as good a place as any to have a picnic." she said as they walked over the grass a little to where one of the large trees would give them some shade.

Sarah handed Brian the plaid blanket and he lay it out on the grass before helping unpack the simple picnic.

As they began to eat their food, Sarah glanced over at Brian who was watching Jenni intently.

"Jenni?" Sarah asked suddenly causing the toddler to turn around.

"Yes mommy." she replied.

"Remember how I said that Brian was an old friend of mine?" she paused as her daughter looked thoughtful for a moment and nodded. "Well he's actually someone very special to you. Brian's your daddy."

Both Brian and Sarah watched as Jenni absorbed the information for a moment before nodding her head. "Okay."

Brian sighed as she returned her attention back to her plate of food.

"She's two Bri." Sarah said quietly reaching over to place her hand on his. "She doesn't really understand. Don't take it personally."

"I know. At least she's not screaming at me, or scared of me or something." he replied with a half smile.

"Mummy?" Jenni said suddenly causing Sarah to pull her hand away from Brian's. "I call Brian Daddy?"

Brian's face lit up at her words, as did Sarah's. "I think he'll like that."

"I'd like that a lot." Brian said with a beaming smile.

"Go on the swings now?" she asked looking up at Sarah who nodded. "Daddy push me?" she asked turning to face Brian who also nodded.

"Wait." Sarah called as Jenni jumped up ready to run off towards the swings. "What have you got to do first?"

Jenni glanced down at the picnic blanket and dropped down to her knees. "Tidy up." she muttered.

Once everything was packed away again, they made their way over to the playground, Brian insisting on carrying the hamper and with Jenni walking between him and Sarah, a firm grip on both their hands. Sarah took a seat on one of the benches, watching as Jenni screamed for Brian to push her higher through laughter. She laughed as Brian sat on the small roundabout seat, his tattooed arms wrapped securely around her tiny body as he spun them around. Then with a saddened smile she called to them that it was time to go, Brian stopping Jenni from sulking by lifting her up onto his broad shoulders.

"Mommy, daddy come back morrow?" she asked as they neared the park gates.

"He can't tomorrow babe, but soon okay, I promise." Sarah replied with a smile.

“When?” she asked.

“Soon.” Sarah replied sternly. “Your daddy and me have to talk about it.” she added before turning to Brian. “I want us to work out a proper routine for you coming to see her, so that she doesn’t get confused.”

“Of course, call me whenever you can and we’ll sort something out.” Brian replied before lowering Jenni from his shoulders and holding her in his arms. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back to see you soon okay?”

“Otay daddy.” She replied with a smile before wrapping her small arms around his neck and hugging him. Sarah smiled, wiping the tear that slipped down her cheek as she watched Brian hold his daughter, seeing her kiss his cheek lightly as she pulled away.

“Come on Princess.” Sarah said as Brian set her down on the ground. “I’ll speak to you soon.” she said to Brian who nodded before making his way back to his car and they made their way to Sarah’s.

Notes

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