MUSIC: For the Love of a Daughter - Demi Lovato 

Jade above^

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Ryan's P.O.V:

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The drive home was slightly awkward. I tried to make small talk but it was hard; I had a sister I hadn't seen in years and a girl I was in love with next to me, what was I supposed to talk about?

When the silence became too much I put the radio on.

"Amelia, do you want to come back to mine?" I asked her and she looked at me, shocked.

"I don't know, I think my Dad wants me back." She answered and I nodded in understanding.

"Your Dad?" I asked, shocked. He spoke to me when I went to pick Amelia up, he told me not to break her heart and to keep making her happy. He told me he'd failed at it and that I couldn't. It was odd, but I went along with it. Amelia cleared her throat.

"Yeah, he, uh, he spoke to me today." She said but I saw her gaze turn to Jade who was in the backseat. I nodded. She didn't want to talk about it in front of Jade from the looks of things.

"Oh right, so i'll drop you at yours then?"

"Yeah if you don't mind." 

"Alright." I muttered and took a turn that lead me to Amelia's.

When we arrived in front of her house she got out of the car and I followed her.

"I'll be back in a minute." I told Jade and she nodded.

"Tell Amelia I said it was nice to meet her." Jade said and I nodded with a smile on my face.

"I will." I ran and caught up with Amelia on the walk to her front door. 

She didn't look at me when I caught up to her. She was speed walking and I grabbed her arm to slow her down.

"I'm sorry we had to cut the night short."

"It's fine, you saw your sister and that's great." Amelia said with a small smile. I nodded.

"Yeah it is, but I still feel bad for interrupting our night." I said and my eyebrows furrowed. Amelia put her hand on my shoulder and smiled at me reassuringly.

"Ryan,i'm sure we will have a chance to have another night like this, you might not get the chance with your sister again so go. Go and sort it out, go and let yourself be happy again." Amelia said.

"You make me happy though." I mumbled and she swallowed as she looked up at me.

"There's different types of happiness Ryan, the one your sister will give you is one I can't, so take the chance and go; before it's too late." Amelia said. She squeezed my arm lightly and started to walk back up the path. I stared at her back for a minute before I decided to take the chance.

I called her name and started to run up to her. She turned around just as I got there.

"Wha-"

I kissed her. I didn't let myself over-think it and I didn't let her over-think it either. I kissed her and after she realised what was happening she kissed me back. It was slow and quick but it was enough. I pulled away and she looked at me with wide eyes. I grinned at her and turned back around. I started the walk back to my car and after I took a few steps I looked over my shoulder and waved at her.

"I'll call you tomorrow." I shouted and I didn't give her a chance to reply as I got into my car. She stared at me as I turned the engine on, and she stared at me as I pulled away. It was only when I could barely see her that she turned and started the walk to her door. I couldn't stop the grin that was on my face. I had no idea why it was there but it was.

The kiss held a promise, it held a thank-you, it held love.

"That was smooth." Jade said from the back. She snapped me out of my thoughts and I smiled at her through the rear-view mirror.

"It was, wasn't it."

"Do you love her?" Jade asked me quietly and I nodded.

"Yeah, I do."

It still felt weird to say it, but I did nevertheless. I was proud to love Amelia, I knew it wasn't easy but I couldn't imagine not loving her. I was going to protect her, I was going to help her. I was going to make her mine.

But first, I had to make things right with my own family.

Jade and I rode in silence for the rest of the car ride. The radio played so quietly that we could barely hear it but we were both too immersed in our own thoughts to care. Once we reached my house I turned the engine off. Jade stared at the house for a while. I didn't get out of the car the whole time.

"So this is where you grew up?" She asked me. Her voice was thick with emotion and I nodded. I didn't think about how she would react to my Dad. She knew the story, she knew about the way he treated her and my Mum. I didn't think about her emotions towards him when I invited her.

"Yeah."

(PLAY SONG NOW)

"This is where I could have grown up." She muttered to herself but I heard her. I got out of the car and opened her door for her. She looked at me and I saw fear in her eyes.

"You'll be okay." I said and she shook her head.

"What if he doesn't want to see me?" She asked me and I sighed.

"Then we'll sort it out. You're his daughter Jade, whether he likes it or not." I said firmly and she sighed and got out of the car.

"Have...Have you got any other siblings?" She asked me quietly. She leant on my car as I shut the door and locked it. I blinked a few times and sighed. I didn't think about that either.

"Um. Dad has a girlfriend, well, they've been engaged for years, so they're basically married. Her name's Cindy. I never really liked her but recently i've started to realise that she isn't that bad. She's kind of annoying but she's alright. She-"

"That's not what I asked Ryan." Jade interpreted and I gulped.

"She's pregnant." I mumbled and her eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"How far along is she?"

"Not very far. She doesn't know the sex or anything yet but her family are here for a few days to celebrate. Nan and Aunt Jenny are there too." I said and she nodded. She stared at the house again but then nodded to herself and took a few steps forward.

"Okay. I'm ready." She said and I nodded at her. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it when we reached the front door. I opened it and lead her in. Everyone was in the front room. She froze outside of the door. We had the view of everyone but no one could see us.

"It will be okay Jade, I promise." I whispered and she nodded. I pulled her through the doorway but no one noticed us. I cleared my throat and everyone turned to us. I kept Jade's hand in mine and when my Dad looked at us he looked confused. I knew he knew she looked familiar but I didn't know if he would realise who she was.

"Dad, can we talk to you for a minute please?" I asked and he nodded. He stood up and looked at Cindy before he continued towards us. Cindy looked at me in confusion. I smiled at her. "And you Cindy." I said and she jumped up and walked towards us. I took them into the kitchen and shut the door behind us. Jade's hand was shaking but I refused to let it go until it stopped.

"Ryan?" Dad asked me once I had shut the door. His eyes kept flicking to Jade and she noticed.

"Dad, this is Jade." I said and he froze.

"Hey...Dad." Jade tested and my Dad swallowed.

"Hi, Jade. I'm Cindy, your...Step-mum." Cindy introduced and held her hand out for Jade to take. She did. My Dad simply stared at her in shock. I nudged him and he seemed to snap out of whatever thoughts he was in.

"Nice to meet you Cindy." Jade said as they shook hands.

"Jade..." My Dad started and she looked to him. She was still shaking but it wasn't as much now Cindy had introduced herself.

"Yes?" She asked quietly.

"How...How are you?" My Dad asked her. He looked stressed and shaky too.

"I'm. I'm alright."

"What, what brought you down here?" Dad asked and she swallowed. A small smile played on her lips.

"I had a gig tonight." She said proudly.

"Like a singing gig?" Cindy asked and Jade nodded.

"Yeah, it wasn't the most serious one i've had but it paid well." 

"That's amazing." My Dad said and Jade's eyes moved to look at him. She looked happy that he was talking to her.

"Yeah, I guess it is." She said. Her hand stopped shaking and I let go of it. Jade and my Dad continued to talk and I moved to Cindy's side.

"Should we leave them be?" I asked her in a whisper. She had a smile on her face and she nodded.

"Yeah, I think that would be a good idea." She said. She ran her hand on my Dad's shoulder as she left and I nodded at Jade in encouragement as I opened the door. She smiled at me as she continued to answer my Dad's questions. I let Cindy through and shut the door behind us.

"How are you feeling about seeing her again?" Cindy asked me quietly. I swallowed.

"Good. It feels good, nice, especially since it's been so long." I mumbled and Cindy placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm glad you brought her here Ryan. Your Dad...He needs this." She said and I looked at her. She looked like she understood the situation I was in.

"I didn't know if he would want to see her. Bearing in mind how he's acted about her before." I mumbled and she sighed.

"I know, but he's realised that it was wrong.He's been wondering about her for years. You know he didn't just kick your Mum out because she was pregnant Ryan. That's what he let you believe but it isn't right. Their relationship was falling apart and finding out she was pregnant was a turning point for him. He had enough and kicked her out. That was a wrong move but he's realised that. I know he stopped you from seeing her for a while but he had his reasons." Cindy explained and I found myself thinking that I never gave her credit. She could have helped me understand a lot more if i'd of just let her in.

"But why?" I asked her in a whisper. Her hand squeezed my shoulder.

"Your Mum was sick Ryan. It got really bad and he didn't want you to get hurt if she couldn't look after you properly whilst you were with her. I think he knew that she made you happy and he didn't want the image you had created of her to be ruined. He doesn't hate Jade, Ryan. And he doesn't hate you either. He never did and never will." Cindy finished. She squeezed my shoulder once more before she started to move towards the living room door.

"Cindy?" I called and she turned around to face me. I smiled at her.

"Thank you." I said and she smiled at me.

"You're welcome." She said. She continued her walk to the living room and just as she went to turn the handle on the door I called her name again.

"Yes?"

"I don't hate him either. Or you." I mumbled but I knew she caught it by the giant smile that crossed her face.

Maybe, just maybe, things were going to get better.