A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long, but I've been up to my eyeballs in schoolwork. I probably shouldn't be writing right now honestly because I have like two projects to do, but I can't resist. Especially not when you guys have gotten me to 30K reads!!!!!!! This makes me so excited for what the future holds for The Secret Singer. Please continue commenting and voting, they truly do make a difference and only take about a second. Thanks so much guys!!!

**Watch this music video before reading to get in the mood of the chapter; Song: Say Something By A Great Big World**

*** 30 votes and 30 comments for an early update lovelies!***

Stephanie's POV

I can count on one hand the amount of times I've seen my father cry. None of those times have ever been because of me, and yet at this moment, they are. It doesn't really compute that my father is here, even less that the tears silently running down his cheeks are because of me.

I hear Ms. Stanton telling everyone that they can go out to get refreshments in the courtyard outside, and everyone gets up from their seats and leaves the auditorium. In just a few minutes the auditorium is deserted and my father and I are completely alone. I'm not too sure how I feel about that yet.

"What are you doing here?" I finally ask, sick of waiting for him to say something. That's the thing with him, though. He never makes the first move. But I suppose him coming here can be considered a movement towards reconciliation.

He clears his throat, finally shaking out of his stupor once I speak. His eyes glance down at the floor, then go back to me and stay focused there. They're a mirror image of mine, and I strangely find some comfort in that. It makes me feel like he's not as much of a stranger as I think. After all, we can be as alienated as we like, but the blood flowing through my veins carries half of his genes.

"I-I just," he begins, then stops with a broken sigh. His tall form slumps into a nearby chair, and his hand wipes his face. I realize that if I look at him closely I can see bags under his eyes. The superhero I believed him to be when I was young is long gone. "Stephanie, I don't even know what to say. I'm not sure anything I say can begin to explain the turmoil that runs through me. I wake up in a cold sweat these days, fearing the nightmares that frequent me of you dying and leaving me truly alone. I didn't realize how much I've come to depend on seeing your face every morning until you left. It always feels like a piece of me is missing, and my heart can't bear any more pain. Then, I remember that when it comes down to it, I left you first."

He sighs and looks at me with clouded eyes as I sit down next to him.

"When your mother died, a piece of my soul was ripped out. The love we had was the kind people wish for, the kind you see in the movies. I never believed I would get any type of love, much less that kind, so you can imagine how I felt when I got your mother to agree to marry me." He chuckles softly. "I still remember telling her all the time how ironic it was that her name was Rose, because the first time I saw her that was the first thought that came to my mind. The long stem representing the lean body she had from ballet, and the bright red hair framing a delicate face. I'd never seen someone so beautiful in my life, and I almost swallowed my tongue. She looked at me that first day and said: are you going to throw up?"

He stops talking and throws his head back to let out a deep, rolling laugh. The sound is too jovial for the somber mood, and soon enough I'm chuckling too.

"That was the start of a beautiful relationship. We actually started off as best friends, until I finally grew the courage to ask her out and then, a year later, to ask her to marry me. For two years it was the two of us against the world, then we decided we wanted to have a child. It was such a wonderful experience to see her grow round and know that it was because she carried a child we'd made. Your birth, however, had many complications to the point that the doctors weren't sure you would be able to come out alive. Then, they were finally able to get you out with a risky C-section. You were like this little miracle with tiny limbs and fingers and a little tuft of rose gold on your head. I carried you in my arms as your mother slept, and I promised you and myself that I'd never let you down. That I'd always be your hero in times of need. I failed that promise, I failed you." His eyes water and a small tear leaks out. "Oh Stephanie, you have no idea how sorry I am for how I've ignored you, but I was so scared baby girl. After your mother died, I saw the world as this big ball of hurt that never ended, and I didn't know how to deal with that. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't reconcile with the man I was before, so I eventually stopped trying. I locked away my emotions so as not to get hurt again, and I shied away from all the people I could possibly love and lose like you, Carrie, and Stacy. In the end, I was just a coward. A coward who wanted love, but was too scared of what it could bring. Not anymore though. Now, I'm going to fight. I'm going to fight for you, my wife, and Stacy. All my girls will see I'm more than ready to show my love to you all. And remember Stephanie, I always get what I fight for."

I stare at him for a while after his speech, but his eyes don't waver. Using the tactics that, ironically, he taught me, I try and see whether or not he's really set on establishing our relationship again or if he's simply making empty promises. I can't deny the thrill it gives me when I see nothing but titanium strong resolve. I think I'm finally going to get my dad back.

*****

Sitting in the courtyard with my father is something I didn't imagine happening until a decade or so went by. Sitting with him giving an intimidating stare, usually reserved for a witness in the courtroom, to Collin was something I thought was straight up impossible.

Yet here I am on this sunny afternoon watching as my boyfriend sweats bullets at my father's silent glare. Amy's brothers try to get him into the conversation, and when that fails they try to get Mike into it too. Out of respect for the man who'd raised me when he wouldn't, my father speaks; however, that fierce stare stays on poor Collin the entire time. I can see Amy in the corner of my eye sitting on Noah's lap biting her fingernails while looking between Collin and my father like it's a tennis match. Noah tries to comfort her, but she isn't placated until he dangles a triple chocolate cupcake in front of her. She immediately grabs it and seems to get over her past nerves for me when the chocolatey goodness hits her taste buds.

Traitor.

I focus back on Collin in time to see him take a deep breath for courage, and then begin to speak.

"Mr. Coleman, I can't tell you how nice it is to finally meet you," he says. Father's eyes flicker in suprise for a moment, and maybe just a little of respect, then turn back to their normal crystalline blue that conceals all emotions.

"Well, I can't say I blame my daughter for not introducing us before. I wasn't the most open person, nor someone whom you particularly wanted to get to know. I plan to change all of that now," he tells Collin. "Now, why don't you tell me how you and my Steph became a couple?"

His lips turn up into a smile, and Collin exhales with relief. Soon enough they're laughing together like old friends, and my throat begins closing up at the beauty of it. I didn't think I'd get this opportunity with my dad. I thought he'd never make an effort to reconcile, but he's here. He's here and he's doing his best to fit back into my life. Suddenly, I remember how sad Carrie looked when she came to the Jameson house, and I realize something else needs to be done.

"Daddy?" I ask. He stops his conversation with Collin and looks at me with surprise in his eyes at the name I haven't called him since I was eight.

"Yeah?"

"What are you going to do to make up with Carrie? Because let me tell you, that woman deserves all the flowers in California to make up for how you've treated her. I talked to her dad. I saw the heartbreak in her eyes. She loves you so much, and if you want to keep her, you better start showing her what she means to you before it's too late."

He looks at me with suspiciously shiny eyes and clears his throat.

"I know sweetie, and I promise you I will do everything I can, spend every dollar I have if need be, to show her I really do love her." He tells me. He grabs my hands and squeezes them gently. "I didn't think I'd find love after your mother, but Carrie made me feel something all those years ago and still does today. The difference is that now I know that it's love. It's the bright feeling that blossoms in my chest when I see her in the morning even though she thinks she looks bad. It's the stop of my heart when I see her crying or in pain. I was scared she'd leave me if I opened up to her completely, but I'm not anymore. I'm going to fight for my wife."

I smile at him with pride. He really is changing for good.

We spend the rest of the evening catching up, until it's finally time to leave the school. I hug my dad tight, scared that this is just a dream and I'd wake up any second. But he stays strong and solid in my arms, and peace settles in me.

He goes home to make arrangements for a court meeting tomorrow with Carrie's ex-husband, and I take a slow walk around the town with Collin until we get back to the Jameson's house. I don't want this night to end and I don't want the fluttering butterflies filled with joy in my stomach to leave. So I hold my boyfriend close and walk slowly as we walk back to the house after a silent lap. He looks down at me as we finally reach the door and smiles softly.

"Are you happy, Bambi?" He asks, cupping my face in his rough hands under the twinkle of the street lights. I smile brightly.

"Yeah, I am," I answer softly. "Probably happier than I've been in a very long time."

He smiles back and we lean in to kiss, but we're interrupted by the sound of creaking metal. I look at Collin in confusion and he shrugs, just as mystified as me. I tug his hand toward the steadily increasing sound of wood and metal clanking and creaking together coming from the back of the house. There's a little shed there where Mike keeps supplies to work the yard, but I don't think a burglar will be very interested in garden shears.

We tiptoe to the door of it, and I signal to Collin, whose hand stays on the doorknob, that on three we would barge in. Once I hit three, Collin swings it open and I swipe at the light switch really quickly. Now, I had many ideas of what I'd find there, but seeing Andrew and Serena making out wasn't on that list.

The caught couple have identical deer caught in headlights expressions, and I begin to laugh my butt off when I see Andrew is shirtless and Serena is well on her way there. Serena blushes bright red and adjust her shirt, but Andrew shakes off the embarrassment and crosses his huge arms over his ridiculously toned chest.

"You know, little brat, if you had a crush on me and wanted to see me in all my bare-chested glory, all you had to do was ask." He says with a smirk. Serena gasps and slaps him hard on the arm, but he doesn't even wince. Stupid football playing jerk.

I narrow my eyes at him, about to retaliate, when I realize that there are better ways to get back at him. You see, Anna has a rule that all her children need to have any significant others meet her and have a talk with her before dating them. Andrew here has not only broken the rule, but he's also made out with her on the grounds. Anna will be furious with him, and any punishment she comes up with will be ten times worse than what I could up with.

So I give Andrew a big Cheshire cat grin and saunter into the house with Collin.

"What are you doing?" Collin asks just as we get to Anna who's sitting on the couch with Jenny catching up. I wink at him and turn to Anna with a serious face.

"Anna, I'm afraid there's something you should know," I say gravely. She looks at me with caution.

"Please tell me you didn't let Amy near the kitchen," she pleads. Amy glares at her from her spot on the loveseat with Noah.

"I'm not that bad!"

"Yes you are," Anna and I both say at the same time. She huffs and Anna turns back to me expectantly just as Andrew comes walking in. He notices immediately what I'm doing and tries to stop me so I quicken my response.

"Andrew's dating Serena and hasn't told anybody and they were making out in the shed!"

A hush falls over the room and everyone stops to look at the talked about couple who both look totally uncomfortable. Then, out of nowhere, everyone starts cracking up.

"Nice bro, real classy." Hayden says from the arched entrance with a smirk. Andrew flips him off.

"Andrew, don't you do that in my house young man!" Anna yells out. She goes over and twists his ear. "First you don't introduce Serena as your girlfriend, and now your doing profanity? Are you trying to test my patience?"

"No Ma," he answers, freeing himself from her grip on his ear. Anna stands with her hands on her hips shaking her head, then points a finger at Mike who's still cracking up on the floor.

"You! He gets this from you!" She yells at him. He begins choking on his laughter and Andrew has to slap him on the back. Once he's back to normal he just keeps on laughing, and soon enough the whole room is too.

"Alright alright," Anna speaks out. "Andrew you are to stay in this house all day tomorrow, and you may get Serena to visit you, but no going out. And don't think I don't know about you sneaking out through your sister's balcony!"

Andrew groans and I mentally rub my hands together with glee. Payback is just so sweet.

****

Unknown POV

I pace around my new office waiting for Stan to get back. I sent him to get me a report on how things are progressing, and I hope to God it's going well, because for the first time in years I'm actually nervous. Even seeing my son come out of my wife didn't get me this nervous.

Though I may have fainted, but that's beside the point.

My fingers run through my hair for the umpteenth time, when my phone suddenly rings. I grab it eagerly hoping for a good distraction.

"Yes, hello?" I ask.

"Hello love, how are you?" The saccharine female voice says into the phone. I curse loudly.

This is definitely not the distraction I wanted.

"What do you want, Amelia?" I ask, tired of her crap and wanting to get to the point so I can hang up.

"So it's Amelia now? Because last time I checked, I was your mother." She says sarcastically. I scoff.

"Please, a certificate saying you've gained rights to me doesn't make you my mother. Especially not you. God knew exactly what he was doing when he made you infertile, because he knew someone like you shouldn't ever get children."

"How dare you!" She yells out. " I raised you! Richard and I poured all our resources into raising you, and what do we get? A bratty child who can't admit his lineage. It doesn't matter who you came from, you are my son."

"Stealing someone's kid doesn't make you their mother," I tell her, immediately hanging up.

My chest heaves with suppressed rage like it always is after a long conversation with her. I grip my hair from both sides and take deep breaths in the way Eva taught me to do when she was my personal "psychologist". I smile thinking of her and baby Reece, and it slows my heartbeat down slowly. A sigh rattles my chest at all I've lost and all I have to get back.

I can do it though. I will do it. Failure is not an option.

At that moment Stan finally walks in with a bright smile, and I stand up with a questioning gaze.

"Don't worry. I've told everyone about the ball, especially Collin, and everything is going perfectly to prepare for it. All of L.A.'s top elites have R.S.V.P.ed, and now it's just a matter of waiting for that day to come. Go home, get some rest, spend some time with your son, and come back tomorrow refreshed."

I exhale, relieved, and gather my things to leave once he leaves too. Soon, I remind myself. Soon, everything will come to light and my life will be restored.

*****

A/N: What'd you think? Any guesses on the future?

Any requests for characters you'd like to see more of?

Next is the dutiful debutante fair, get ready for an explosion of music and dance videos! Woop woop!

Slán! (Goodbye in irish gaelic)