All Grown Up

[littleprincessj]

Title: All Grown Up

Author: Jessie

Author’s Note: Just a quick piece of fluff I stirred up last night. Please send feedback to sweetest_sin21002@yahoo.com Thanks!

Summary: Jessica and Nick are married and their only daughter is going to her first prom.

Disclaimer: Not mine, only Sammi and Luke are mine.


ALL GROWN UP

* * *

“Nicholas sit down” I watch with amusement and just a bit of exasperation as he paces around the living room.

“We should put a stop to this. It’s not too late” he says turning towards me. I’m not surprised to hear this because I’ve been hearing variations of it for the last fifteen minutes.

I cross my arms “We’re not going to put a stop to it” I repeat, it’s the same answer I’ve given him each time.

“Why not?” He challenges, “She’s too young. It’s our job to protect her you know?”

I roll my eyes “First” I say “She’s sixteen, that’s older than a lot of girls start dating…..”

“Don’t use that word” He interrupts, “I don’t like it, let’s just not refer to it as a date alright?”

“Baby” I sigh “You’re being ridiculous, of course it’s a date”

“I just don’t like this Jessica, I mean, anything could happen”

“It’s a prom” I say, “At a school not three blocks away, you’re overreacting”

“I don’t like the idea of her going out with an older guy either”

I really have to shake my head at this “He’s seventeen Nick, that’s not much of an age gap”

He snorts “Yeah but you don’t know seventeen year old boy’s like I do, Jessica. There’s always only one thing on their minds”

Now it’s my turn to snort “Really Nicholas, how is that different from men of any age?”

“Exactly!” He says, as if I’m some witness he’s cross examining, and I’ve just given him the answer that will win him the case “She shouldn’t go out with any men”

I raise my eyebrow “Ever?”

“That works for me” He says with a shrug.

I have to bite my lip to prevent myself from laughing, because he is really cute when he gets in his protective father mode. “I think that’s a little unrealistic. Besides” I add before he can interrupt “You’ve never had any problem with Little Nicholas dating. In fact if I remember the night of his prom correctly, you slapped him on the back and gave him some stupid statement like ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do’” I roll my eyes again.

He looks offended “That wasn’t a stupid statement that was father/son advise. That was a bonding moment” He points a finger at me “And you just cheapened it”

“Uh-huh, whatever” He glares at me and I stop myself from laughing again. “So what piece of father/daughter wisdom are you going to bestow on Sammi?”

“Don’t go”

I walk over and wrap my arms around his waist, after a second I feel his around me “You really are a ridiculous man sometimes you know that?”

I can feel the sigh echoing through his body “It’s just all happening so fast baby. She’s my little girl she’s not supposed to be dating yet, she’s supposed to be playing with dolls”

I think of our tomboy daughter and this time I do laugh “Nicholas when did you ever see Sammi playing with dolls?”

“Well climbing trees then, chasing the cat. I don’t care what it is as long as it doesn’t include boys”

I tilt my head up and place a kiss on his chin “It had to happen sooner or later”

“Nothing wrong with later” he mutters.

I tighten my arms around him and give him a brief squeeze before stepping back. “She’s a responsible, well adjusted teenager Nick, we’ve done a good job raising her but we can’t keep her locked up forever.”

“It’s not her I’m worried about baby, it’s him.” He starts pacing again “Maybe I should have had Drew and the guys run a make on him. See if anything popped” He starts to walk over to the phone.

“Nicholas Scott stop right there” I say, in my most commanding tone.

He whirls around, all innocence “What?”

“First” I say “If you call Drew, Lea will kill me”

“Why?” He asks.

“Because apparently they finally have the house to themselves and she has a big night planned”

“For what?” He asks. I raise my eyebrows. “Oh” He says and shudders “Well thanks for that image, that’s all I needed”

I bight my lip again “Second” I continue “You are not running a make on Luke”

“Just a quick one” he says, “Just to be sure”

I sigh “Baby you’ve known him since he was ten. He lives right across the street, don’t you think you’d know if he’d been in any sort of trouble?”

“What’s your point?”

I’m prevented from replying by a noise on the stairwell, I turn to Nick “She’s coming down” I point my finger at him “You behave” He gives me an innocent look and we both turn towards the staircase.

Sammi and I spent days shopping for this dress, and looking at her in it now, I know it was the right choice, the soft blue fabric, that drapes over one shoulder, and gathers at the waist to fall into a straight skirt, suits her body shape perfectly. I’m unaccustomed to seeing my daughter in a dress and makeup, she looks so grown up and I find myself more affected than I thought I would be.

I find myself with all the worries that Nick’s just spent the last twenty minutes talking about. But I bite them back because I still remember what it was like to be invited to my first prom.

Sammi finishes walking down the stairs and Nick steps forward, I can’t really see his face because I’m standing slightly behind him to the side, but I do see him swallow. For a second I’m frightened he’ll say something to ruin the moment, because he has a habit of doing that. But instead he holds out a hand to Sammi and when she grasps it he says “You look beautiful, sweetie”

I feel tears welling up in my eyes, but Sammi gives him a big grin and leans in for a light hug “Thanks, daddy” she says, and I can’t help myself, suddenly I’m remembering the first time she took a step, or said a word. Her first day of school, and tears start flowing down my cheeks.

She leans back from her father, still holding his hand and looks over at me “Mom, why are you crying?” If I didn’t know better I’d swear she was laughing at me.

“I’m not crying” I say dabbing my eyes with my sleeve. It’s a ridiculous thing to say because I am so obviously crying, but when your daughter’s standing there laughing at you, it’s seems like the right reply.

Nick and Sammi share an amused look “What?” I ask defensively

“Mom, you always cry” Sammi says. “And then you always deny that you’re crying”

“I do not” I say out of reflex

“Would you like me to get out the photo albums?” She asks “It’s all there, first day of school, my band recitals, Little Nick’s prom, his graduation, there you are with red eyes”

“Little league games” Nick adds “Learning to ride a bike, I think she may even have cried when you lost your first tooth”

I glare at him. “Well if you’ve finished having fun at my expense, I want to take some pictures” I walk into the kitchen to fetch the camera using the opportunity to dry my eyes some more.

“Luke’s not here yet” Sammi says, “Shouldn’t we wait for him?”

“He’ll be here in a minute” I reply walking back into the room “But I want to get a couple of you on your own first anyway”

“Speaking of Luke” Nick says taking the camera away from me -- It’s a long standing joke in our family that I take bad pictures -- “I want you home by 10.30”

“Dad!” Sammi cries “You’re kidding, right?”

He shakes his head “No” I kick him in the shin “Oww!” He says glaring at me. I glare back. “Alright fine” He grumbles “Midnight” I raise my eyebrow “12.30 and that’s final”

Sammi smiles again “Thanks Daddy” I have to stop myself from smiling as I notice he’s back to being Daddy again, Sammi’s always known exactly what buttons to push where Nick’s concerned. Then she looks at me “Thanks Mom”

Nick’s only taken a couple of photo’s when the doorbell rings, I take a step forward but Nick stops me “It’s alright” He says “I’ll get it”

I give him a measuring look “Baby, be nice”

He’s all innocence again, a look I have to say years of living together has taught me not to trust “I don’t know what you mean” He says, as he walks over to open the door.

“Luke” He says, as he opens it, and while his tones not exactly welcoming it could be a lot worse, I guess. “Come on in”

“Thanks Mr Lachey” Luke replies, and I can tell he’s nervous. He walks into the living room and stops when he sees Sammi “Wow” He says, “You look great…. Uh, I mean beautiful”

She smiles herself, and even thought she looks composed I can tell she’s nervous too. “Thanks”

He walks over to her, extending the clear plastic container he’d been holding. “I brought this for you” He fumbles with the opening, then pulls out a beautiful white orchid. I know I’m going to start crying again any second.

Sammi looks down at it “It’s beautiful” she carefully takes it out of the container and holds it up for him, “Would you pin it on for me?”

He looks down at the little pin on the back “Uhh…”

I step forward, as much to take pity on Luke, as to give myself something to concentrate on in a desperate attempt to stop the flow of tears. “I’ll do it”

Luke gives me a grateful smile “Thanks Mrs. Lachey”

I smile back at him, even though mine’s a little shaky, because I’ve always liked Luke.

After the bouquets pinned on Nick takes some more photos. Luke looks at his watch “We’d better get going”

“I want her home by 12.30” Nick says.

Luke frowns “12.30” I watch as Sammi kicks him in the shin, much the same way I did to Nick earlier. I don’t know if I’m thrilled or terrified that they seem to be mimicking us. “Uhh, 12.30’s fine sir”

Nick nods and we both watch as they walk to the door. It barely closes before the phone rings. Nick walks over to answer it.

“Hi Lea” I hear him say “What are you doing calling, I thought you had a big night planned?”

I don’t know what her reply is but I hear him laugh, they talk for a minute and then he says “Yeah hang on a sec, I’ll get her for you” He holds out the phone towards me “It’s Lea”

I nod and take the receiver from him “Hey, what’s up?” I ask

“I was calling to wish my God daughter well tonight but apparently I’m a couple of minutes too late”

“Yeah” I sigh “She just left”

“I bet she looked beautiful in the dress” I nod even though she cant see me “Casey was asking me today if we could go shopping for her prom dress, she nearly scared Drew to death” She laughs at the memory, and I laugh along with her because I know she’s trying to distract me.

“Well she is only twelve, so I can imagine Drew wouldn’t have taken it too well”

“That’s a bit of an understatement” Lea replies, “He started raving on about the evils of teenage boys” She starts laughing again.

“God has he been talking to Nick?” I ask, “I’ve been getting that all night.” I change the subject before I do start crying “So where is Casey?”

“She’s at a sleepover with friends”

“So are you all set for your big night?”

I can hear her chuckle “I’ll say, I’m so glad my mother was able to take the terrible two for the night, I was going crazy”

I can’t help but laugh “I’m sure it’s not that bad”

“Not that bad” she replies “Yesterday Toby decides to polish his father’s shoes right in the living room, now I’ve got brown shoe polish all over the carpet, which will not come off. Don’t even get me started on what Matt’s been up too.”

“Well if they’re anything like the stories of your childhood I’m not surprised”

“Funny that’s what Drew says. Speaking of which, he’s home with the food so I’d better go. I just wanted to make sure you were okay”

I’m touched by the thought “I’m fine, thanks for calling”

“No problem, take care”

“Oh Lea” I say just before she hangs up “Enjoy tonight” I hear her laugh as I place the phone back on the cradle.

Nick’s sitting in the living room waiting for me, he stands up as I walk in “Are you okay?” He asks.

I nod.

He puts his arms around me, loosely “No more tears?”

I shake my head

“You know this is a pretty one sided conversation?” He waits for me to nod again, and smiles. “Well I guess I should take advantage of this rare opportunity to be the one to talk,” He makes an oomph sound as my elbow finds his ribs, and laughs “And” he continues, holding my wrists “make a suggestion”

“And what would that be?” I ask

“Well” He says “It occurs to me that we’ve also found ourselves with an empty house”

I look up at him amused “Oh, and what’s your point?”

“My point is that maybe we should take advantage of this situation”

I pretend to ponder this for a moment “Hmm well that would all depend”

“On?” He asks

“You said you had a suggestion?”

He nods “I do indeed”

“Well I’d need to hear it first”

“Well then” He leans down and whispers in my ear.

“Wow” I say “That’s a good one”

“So you approve?” He asks

I pull him closer “I certainly do”

The End. Just a quick piece of fluff. Let me know what you think!

[Luv_98_Degrees]

Cute story Jessie!!! Very, very cute!!!! Nice work!! Me luvss it lotss !! :D :D <3333