a new beginning. ( complete)

chapter 12

piper.

today is sadies party, I've been texting neal the last two days while he's away and sadie has asked why he hasn't come to visit but I've told her he's working. I haven't brought up the party ever since he texted the first day asking for the address I don't want to get my hopes up that he will be here or sadies.

I don't have many friends but maddy said she'd definitely be here along with my parents and of course luna and her mom. my parents have also invited a few of their friends to show off their granddaughter , and the little girl from down the street that sadie is friends with is invited.

my mom luna and I get everything set up in the back yard while my dad starts the grill, sadie is napping.

I look everything over and I'm happy with it, it looks like princesses threw up in my parents back yard. we all have one a princess shirt and of course sadie bug gets to wear her favorite princess dress. we have a nail station a place to make your very own crown. my mom wraps her arms around me " I'm so proud of you piper ann"

I smile brightly " thank you mama but I couldn't do it with out you" she kissed my cheek.

I go to get sadie changed and she's bouncing off the walls as people start arriving.

sadie runs off to okay with her little friend beth, I find myself looking around the crowd of people for neal but simply shake my head I don't need my hopes up not today. I make my rounds thanking everyone for coming and one couple introduces me to their son, apparently he's taking over his dads business. he's an okay looking guy but seems like a snob with the way he speaks so I politely excuse myself and go find myself some punch where I find gabe.

" I see you escaped" he says laughing and I glare at him

" so where's lover boy?" he questions raising a brow

" he said he'd try to be here but he's out of town working" I say with a slight shrug as if it isn't bothering me.

he hugs me " well you'll be happy to know I got sadie play doh" he laughs as I push him away playfully " you jerk you know she gets that's in the carpet"

before he can respond sadie runs to us

" mama! gabe!" she bouncing around

" having fun sadie bug?" I ask and she nods happily

" gabe can I paint your fingers?" she ask sweetly that's what she calls painting nails.

he shakes his head " no thank you I'm a boy"

she pouts at him " but it's a princess party"

" sadie I am definitely not getting my nails painted" he replies

but she is no longer paying him any attention her eyes have wondered " daddy!" she screams and takes off I follow her with my eyes and I spot neal, blade and maddy talking with my dad. I can't help the smile that forms on my face as he bends down to hug her,his hair is down and he's looking handsome in a light blue polo shirt with his tight jeans he hands her a single sunflower and her eyes light up he then whispers something in her ear and she nods her little head and his eyes find mine. I watch as he excuses himself from my dad and he and sadie make their way to me hand in hand

he pulls another sunflower from his back pocket and hands it to me kissing my cheek

" sorry I'm a Little late" he says looking at me and sadie. sadie is just twirling her flower in her own world

" you made it that's all that matters" I kiss his cheek " get everything sorted?" I ask

and he smiles " no business this is a princess party don't you know" he says playfully making me laugh.

" ohh can I paint your fingers?? and you can make a crown!" sadie says grabbing his large hand with her small one.

" sadie bug he probably doesn't want to.." I start to say but he cuts me off

" most definitely princess"

she pulls him away and I just watch wide eyed as he sits his large body down next to her at her tiny table and she's showing him all the polish as he smiles back at her.

maddy and blade make their way over beside me and she pulls me in for a hug while blade is laughing " now this is something I never thought I'd see neal doing" he says while holding his stomach from laughing

maddy shoves his shoulder " and if we have a girl?" she questions and he looks scared as I laugh with Maddy " so are you guys?" I ask carefully since I know they have been trying and maddy squeals " yes just found out after we had lunch yesterday!" I wrap her up in a hug " congratulations!!"

neal

it's been the longest two days of my life. we still haven't found the guy but I'll deal with it later I can't miss peas party and I really just need piper in my arms. I haven't slept much but blade and I rush to the clubhouse and get cleaned up and I grab the gift along with a flower for my girls

when we arrive outside of a very nice house I take a deep breath and maddy pats my shoulder" you okay?" she looks at me worried

" uh yeah just haven't met her dad and I'm not sure what I look like showing up late you know, long hair tattoos" she laughs " oh I'm sure he's gonna have the talk but you'll live" I roll my eyes at her and we ring the doorbell. a tall older guys with dark brown hair covered in grey answers the door, must be dad. I stick my hand out

" neal yates and this is maddy and Kevin sorry we're late" he takes my hand gripping tightly then shakes maddy's and blades

" nice to finally meet you son, piper said she wasn't sure if you were coming I'm james"

I nod

" I told them I'd be here, just had to finish up some work"

he seems to accept this answer as he leads us to the back yard theres a crowd of people and pink and purple princess things everywhere I smile. and he pats my shoulder " she goes all out for birthdays" he chuckles

" I see that" in that moment my eyes find her and of course the bartender isn't far from her but pea sees me and yells for me and takes off my direction. I bend down and hug her little body, damn I've missed her. " happy birthday pea" I pull out a flower and she gets excited

" think we should bring mama one?" I whisper in her ear and she nods and takes my hand leading me to piper. pipers Bright smile and big eyes bring and even bigger smile to my face she looks so beautiful standing there hair thrown up and just a t-shirt and shorts. I pull out a flower kissing her on the cheek apologizing. to my surprise she doesn't seem mad but then pea asks go paint my fingers and make s crown and her excitement is contagious, as I sit down she's showing me all the colors she's going to use and pipers mom walks over smiling

" joys of being a girl dad just ask my husband" I laugh " anything to see them happy I'm learning"

she snaps a picture of pea painting my nails and wonders off.

she's almost finished while she's telling me about all her favorite princesses when pipers dad and the bartender walk up

" my wife told me you were getting a make over had to see it myself" he says laughing

" wouldn't in a million years let someone paint my nails" bartender says

her dad replies before I can

" perks of being a girl dad I've had it done a many of times and it hasn't stopped" he holds up his hands covered in polish like mine " being a girl granddad" we share a laugh

" never thought I would either but the smile is definitely worth it" I say

I notice the bartender roll his eyes, I'd give anything to teach this pretty boy a lesson

pea, james and I decorate a crown I place hers on her head as she smiles she giggles putting mine on

" alright sadie time for cake and presents" james says and she runs off excited. I spot sadie at the table and smile she's got her own decorated crown on now.

we watch as pea opens her gifts and blows out the candles. I'm lost watching the two of them piper shares sadies excitement equally with everything she opens. her dad pats my shoulder

" they are something aren't they?"

my eyes never leaving them

" pure beauty sir"

he nods

" take care of my girl. her heart has been through enough, she's just getting back to normal and thinking on her own again" I look at him with so many questions and be continues

" Ryan the ex, well he made her feel less than along with telling her who she could see and couldn't he would also bring her down about her looks and the clothing she would wear"

I nod my head

" I'm doing my best sir honestly. I enjoy her for who she is. I won't sit here and lie to you she's absolutely breathtaking first thing in the morning when he hair is an absolute mess and no make up"

he laughs

" just always have coffee or she's a monster"

we share a laugh as piper walks up

" dad I swear if you are telling him anything embarrassing I'll tell mom about the boat you are looking at" she says pointing a finger at him and his eyes wide " how do you even know that?" she laughs " jim tells me everything don't ya know" he rolls his eyes making her laugh again. I can't stop myself I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her close and she lets hers rest around my neck " man I missed you" I say and she giggles " I've missed you too. but I'm really enjoying this new look" I laugh

" yeah I'm sure I'm gonna have glitter in my hair for a year" she softly kisses my lips

" you have no idea how happy you've made her"

' I only hope she's as happy as I am babygirl"

we stand there wrapped in each other's arms forgetting about the rest of the world for the moment.

sadie runs up " can I eat cake?" she asks sweetly

" well pea there's one more gift but it's in my truck wanna walk with me?" I ask and she nods excitedly and take off

piper looks at me confused but follows behind us. her parents, addi, blade and maddy aren't far behind.

" okay gotta close your eyes real tight" I say and she does

I hop in the back of the truck and get the princess bike out.

" okay open"

" you got it you got it!" she's jumping so Happy and I'm amazed by her excitement

piper.

I have no idea when he had the time to even find this bike and I really didn't think he'd get it.

I watch as neal carefully pushes her from behind and she's just giggling. my heart feels like it may explode watching the two of them.

as I'm looking on my dad throws his arm around my shoulder " I think I might like this one" is all he says before kissing my cheek.

we all watch as he helps her along the driveway and cheer her on.

finally we eat cake and hit dogs and people start leaving, I'm exhausted it's been a busy few days. as I start taking things down I not from the corner of my eye that neal has started to help.

" you don't have to do that" I holler over to him but he just sends me a wink. damn I love when he does that.

just a few friends are left helping clean up while sadie is showing addie all her new things.

neal.

I'm helping everyone clean up trying to figure out the best way to ask piper if I can stay the night. I know she doesn't want to confuse pea but I really need her in my arms tonight, trying to sleep with out her has been a challenge I never thought I'd have I'm brought from my thoughts as gabe walks up beside me " well I see you have sadie calling you dad" he says sounds irritated

" I never told her to do that" I simply reply I really don't want to get into it with this prick. but of course he doesn't know when to shut up

" it's pretty messed up I've been waiting around for her to be ready to date for two years now and out of no where you come in"

I nod my head and stop what I'm doing to turn and look at him

" as far as I know piper wasn't in a relationship when her and I started talking"

he scuffs " maybe not a relationship but I'm a damn better fit for her than you are I mean look at yourself" he says looking me up and down. it's taking all I have in me not to punch him in the face

" I'm sure you have a lot going for you and you may not look like me but I can tell you I love her"

I say trying to get away from the conversation

" I don't care what you think you feel you need to think about her and the way this relationship looks on her she needs someone she can depend on by her side" he says as he starts to come closer I ball my fist up before I can respond her dad steps between us

" okay Gabe I think that's enough" he says.

" seriously? how are you going to sit back while she ruins her life again?!" he basically shouts and now everyone is looking at us including piper

" as far as I can see she's made a very good choice as to who she's getting involved with so let's not start speaking about things you have no knowledge of kid" her dad says and I watch his body tense up

" dude is in a biker gang. I really don't think.." her dad cuts him off

" like I said don't speak on things you have no knowledge of" as he rolls of one of his sleeves to show him a tattoo. my eyes go wide this man is or used to be apart of the very same club I now run

gabe throws down whatever is in his hands and walks away her dad turns to me and just nods his head. everyone goes back to what they were doing before.

I'm throwing away the last thing when piper wraps her small arms around from behind

" hey handsome thank you for everything" I turn and hold her " any time babygirl"

she blushes and looks like she has something to say " what is it?" I question

" I um I'm on my period but i was wondering if maybe you'd still like to stay the night? I mean if not that's fine also I know you just got back and probably want to sleep in your own bed" I watch her amused as she babbles on

" I was hoping you'd ask babygirl" I kiss her cheek " I've been dying to sleep with you in my arms" she blushes " I'm sorry that you know we can't do things and.." I kiss her lips softly

" babygirl calm down our relationship isn't only about those things. is it amazing hell yeah but I really want to fall asleep with you in my arm and wake up with you there. I haven't slept much in the last couple days"

she smiles and nods

once we get to her house and I unload sadies things while she gives her a bath. I sit in on story time and I get a hug and a kiss before she crawls in bed " happy birthday pea" I say softly and I hear I whisper of " love you daddy" making me want to drop to my knees.

we each shower separately then crawl into bed pull her body into mine and inhale her beautiful scent before I kiss her softly " when did you have time to get sadie a bike?" she questions and I chuckle " I have my ways I told her I was getting it so I got it" she smiles at me " thank you for caring about her" she whispers " always babygirl" she kisses me softly " night gorgeous"

" night neal" we share one last kiss before I'm falling fast asleep with her arms wrapped around my body.