That was nearly twenty years ago, and she did say yes. I remember carrying the ring on a pillow at the wedding. I remember the sheer happiness on Mom's face. It didn't take me long to adjust to Chandler, and by Christmas, he was Dad. My very first Christmas present from him was adoption papers, signed by him and Mom. I was officially Daniel Matthew Bing.
Of course, with the name came the torments; but it only took one solid punch to Mike Jenkins' face to shut them all up. Mom wasn't too happy, but I think Dad was prouder than he let on.
Through the years, Dad became my best friend; the one I went to for advice, the one who let me know when I was wrong, and praised me when I was right. When I was thirteen, a man named Richard showed up at our door, and I had never seen Dad so angry. I think if Mom hadn't been there, Richard would have been in a lot of trouble. At thirteen, I was a black belt and Daddy's boy; so if Dad was angry at this man, so was I. It wasn't until after Mom told the man to leave and never come back that I learned who he really was.
The day I graduated, I looked out over the crowd, finally focusing in on Mom and Dad's proud smiles. Next to them were my twin sisters that had come about a year and a half after the wedding, and my little brother who came two years after them.
"Daniel Bing," the principal called out, and I held my head high as I walked across the stage. Aaron whooped from the front row as I accepted my diploma, and cameras flashed as I descended the steps to return to my seat. Mom had two cameras (one for Uncle Ross and Rachel, who couldn't be there), Joey and Phoebe had brought one, and Grandma's. Mom's old group of friends had all come to the wedding, and they had all reconciled by the time the Hannah and Tyra were born.
I am pulled from my thoughts as I am clapped on the back; and my eyes refocus as I look through the glass into the nursery.
"Congratulations, son, she's beautiful." I smile as Dad drapes an arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah, she looks like Nicole," Tyra joked. Hannah wiped her tears of joy away and lightly hit her twin on the shoulder.
"Tyra Jane!" Dad scolded, though I could tell he was happy someone had said it. I just laughed it off, knowing she didn't mean it. TJ always took after Dad, laughing and joking all the time, while Hannah was more like Mom.
"Girls, why don't we leave the new dad alone with his daughter?" came Mom's voice from behind us. We turned as Hannah crossed her arms.
"But I didn't get to hold her yet! You did!"
"I'm Grandma, I have privileges. Oh God!" Mom yelled as realization came over her. "I'm a grandmother!" Hannah and TJ took her aside, leaving me and Dad staring at my little girl.
"I'm really proud of you," Dad said finally. "You've turned into a fine young man." I looked at him, and for the first time I realized I was eye to eye with him. No longer was I the boy looking up, but a man.
"A young man is just a reflection of his father," I told him, my eyes twinkling in mirth. He had said that to me several years ago, when I asked why Uncle Ross was so weird. He had been joking then, but at this moment, I had never been more serious. We hugged briefly before he pulled back.
"I'll leave you to bond with your daughter. You'll make a fine father." As he walked away, I watched him go.
Yeah, as long as I'm half the dad you didn't have to be.
So, what do you think? I love Brad Paisley, and this fic is based off of his song "He Didn't Have to Be." If you like country music (even if you don't) I recommend this song. B-E-A-utiful. Caio.
Rickman's Girl