"She's not your daughter." [closed]

[Ohia_Lehua]

She heard her Dad's heavy footsteps before he got to the truck and squeezed her eyes shut and she tried to maintain a slow and deep rhythm to her breathing as well as keep her body muscles relaxed. Even with her trying as hard as she could Nylah felt her body flinch as the truck door opened and closed. Like normal her Dad started the truck and let it warm up. Nylah wasn't sure why the bench seat dipped towards her but when she felt her Dad's arm slid around her and pull her to him she knew what was going on and tried all that much more to pretend to be asleep.

"I know you're not asleep, and you have no reason to be embarrassed. I think I figured out why you are embarrassed, and to be honest, I'm not, so you shouldn't either. Besides. I only have you until we get home, and I don't want to spend the ride back in awkward silence with the most important girl in my life." His words were sweet and the hug that he gave her almost made her believe that everything was alright. He didn't give her a choice in her sham and pulled her to the middle seat and buckled her in.

"Dad..." She whined under her breath as she gave up with 'sleeping'. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Why did he have to be so sweet and understanding? She looked over at her Dad and wondered if her mother even knew what she had. She somehow knew that her mother didn't know and even worse didn't care. She was suddenly angry and her mother and reached over and patted her Dad's large calloused hand.

The ride home while a little tense wasn't as uncomfortable as Nylah would have guessed. She didn't say anything and neither did her Dad which she was happy for. She didn't want to talk to her Dad because there was too large of a chance that the topic of their conversation would lead back to the awful kiss.

"What?" Nylah asked confused by the question. It took her a while to process not only what he said but asked. "Psychology." She answered slowly her brow knitted together still a little unsure about talking, afraid of where it might lead but so far this was a safe topic and added to her answer. "Working with children doing something like child development or maybe something with the soldiers and mental health." Nylah wasn't a 100% sure as to what it was that she wanted to do but she knew she wanted to help those who needed it. "I want to help people and be there for them when they need someone." Like I want to be there for you she silently added to herself. "Is it bad that I don't know for sure?" Both career choices were in the same field so it wasn't like she would need to change anything big if she were to change her mind. "I even thought about getting a minoring in education and going overseas to a third world country and teaching over there for a couple of years." At this point everything sounded like a good idea and it was hard for Nylah to chose a single path. "What do you think?" She asked again looking over at her Dad wanting his approval in her choices and his wise thoughts about what she should do.

 

[raiguy]

Dexter thought for a minute, digesting what all his daughter had told him. He knew they were going to pass a car park on the way home, so pulled into there. He left the engine running and thought for a little bit about how to put his thoughts to words. "Tiger....What I think isn't necessarily what you need to do. I could see you doing either of those things. You love to work with children, and you love helping others. I don't, however, see you as a teacher. There's too much structure, and you can't be as open and honest as you like to be...That being said, I think that I could see you working with kids more than adults. Something about you just makes kids feel safe. I mean, look at the kids you used to babysit. Their mom told me that they never took to a babysitter as fast as they did you. I can't for certain say what you should or shouldn't do, but you love kids, and want to help them, so do what you were thinking," he said quietly, his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

He lowered his arm and put the truck in reverse, backing out of the parking spot. He thought some more about earlier and realized something. "Baby girl...I want you to promise me something. No matter what happens, call me if you need anything, and I mean anything, okay? I'll always be here for you, no matter the situation, or the need. I don't want you to feel like you can't come to me with something. I want to be here for you, no matter what, okay?" he said, a hint of panic, as well as pleading in his voice. He didn't want to lose his daughter as she got older.

He loved how close they were, and didn't want that to ever change. He knew their relationship would have to as she became a wife and mother, but he never wanted to lose this openness, this closeness, ever. He felt a tear running down his face and quickly wiped it away, clearing his throat to hopefully distract his daughter from noticing the tear. He let out a sigh and then turned to her as they reached a stop light. "I want you to promise me you'll be safe at Lui's, and don't invite Caleb over, even if Lui's mom isn't there and it seems like a good idea. You said you weren't sure, and you need time to think about it. So think about it, and talk to Lui about it if you think she can help. Above all, have fun, and you're getting some cash because I know you and Lui are going to go shopping before you come home tomorrow before the party," he said as they reached their house.

He parked the truck in the garage, before quickly making his way to his daughter's door. He opened it and helped her down, grinning and saying, "M'lady." He opened the door and then waited for her, keeping the garage open so she could get out. He pulled $200 out of his wallet and smiled when she came back down. "Here. Buy yourself something fun, something you want but maybe are afraid to ask for. And buy Lui something. Say it's from me. Have a little fun with her," he said, winking at her to let her know that he knew her best friend was into his looks.

He leaned down and kissed his daughter on the lips like they normally did, holding it a fraction of a second longer. He had his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into another hug. "Be safe, and I love you. I know you're not a baby anymore, but you'll always be my baby girl, my tiger," he said softly, before stepping back and clearing his eyes, not bothering to hide the tears. He smiled as he watched her get into her SUV, before closing the door after she backed out.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Nylah wanted to disagree with her Dad. She thought she would make an awesome teacher. She could see herself as that cool grade school science teacher that everyone wanted. You know the one that took her students out to the science museums and held science fair competitions with cool prizes like being teacher for the day or something like that but she didn't want to start a fight with him. Parked in the car park he didn't have to pay attention to the road and she wouldn't be able to get away with her words as easily if he had to drive safe.

But what he said made sense to her but and she could see herself working with kids more then adults and made a mental note to herself to think about it some more. Being a teacher was still an option in her mind and she wasn't going to let it go yet and figured it would be a good fall back plan if nothing else. And while what her Dad said wasn't necessary it mattered to her because Nylah wanted to make him proud.

When he wrapped his arm around her should she leaned into it happy that he put the truck into reverse. Her mind was suddenly filled with all the teenagers that often filled this parking lost to make out and here she was with her Dad so soon after her kissing him. Nylah shook the memory away as her Dad began to speak.

Nylah wanted to laugh at her Dad for being so silly but she heard the panic in his voice and stopped herself from making that mistake. "Dad," She started turning her body to look at him as he drove. "I promise. I'm not going to leave, I'm just growing up." She reached out and rested her hand on he top of one of his. "If I need anything I'll come to you, okay?" She lightly squeezed his hand and smiled at her Dad, the feeling of being loved filling her with warmth. "And I expect you to still kiss all my boo boos better and sing and ready me stories when I'm sick until I fall asleep." She told him sternly wagging her finger at him playfully.

He was crying and she quickly looked away giving him the privacy if he wanted it. It was hard for her to see her Dad cry for any reason because he was such a strong man and nothing ever bothered him enough to cry. Her wasn't scare of anything and pain never seemed to phase him yet here he was crying because of Nylah. It made her feel terrible and she squeezed the hand she was holding again to give her Dad what little comfort she could before turning back to listen to what her Dad had to say.

Nylah did laugh this time. "Right like Lui's parents are going to let Caleb over." She snorted in her laugher and took her hand back to cover her mouth. "They don't even let her boyfriend in the house." She stopped laughing and smiled at her Dad. "It'll be alright. I think I know what I'm going to do." She patted his hand as they pulled into the garage.

"Thank you dear Sir." She tipped her head regally and stepped out of the truck with her head held high before laughing again as her lady like demeanor crumbled. "Thanks Dad." She took the offered money and stuffed it in her pocket already forgetting about it. Since she was eight she had been taking all the money her Dad gave her and putting it away. In the ten years that she had been saving she had almost ten thousand dollars. Every birthday, allowances, Christmas, Easter and anytime he just handed her money like this was put away and never spent. Nylah wasn't sure what she was going to do with the money but it felt nice to have something to fall back on if she needed it even if it was her Dad's money. Plus her mother gave her so much money anyways and she never felt odd using the money she got from her.

The last thing she expect was to get a good night good bye kiss from her Dad and on the lips no less. It was just like any of there other kisses at first but when it reached that time when he pulled back his lips stayed and the kiss became something different in Nylah's mind. It was just a fraction of a second but it was enough to color her cheeks pink. "Oh Dad, don't cry." He had just given her a hug but seeming him cry moved her to pull him into a big bear hug. "I love you too." She whispered in his ear as she reached up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek and a tear away. The hug lasted for a full minute before Nylah let her Dad go.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She waved turning towards her Range Rover. "Oh." Nylah paused at the drivers side door and turned back to her Dad. "And have fun with those knots. I wanted to make sure the stuffed animals didn't blow away on the ride home." She lied knowing she had tied the stuffed animals the way she did because she wanted to be a handful. "You won't mind taking them to my room would you?" She asked sweetly already knowing that answer as she got into her SUV. "I love you Dexter." Nylah winked knowing it was wrong to use his first name but it felt thrilling to be so personal with him as she drove away.

 

[raiguy]

Dex chuckled as his daughter got him at the end with the stuffed animals. He wiped his eyes and closed the garage door fully. He pulled out his pocket knife and just cut through the ropes, knowing they were worthless, as they were stored in his truck for this reason. He quickly carted the animals into the house, and then into her room. He went down to the living room, and decided it wasn't worth it to go see a movie. He would just rent it later anyways, and besides, he had no one to go with.

He had changed into some basketball shorts and a tank top that looked almost like it was glued onto him. It was his lounging attire, more for comfort than looks. He had a soda, having never touched alcohol after seeing what it did to his wife. What he made her do was keep the alcohol she drank in a separate cupboard, which was rarely opened unless she was home. That seemed to be only after she got off work. He sighed as Blade Trinity started on the TV.

He was following along with Wesley Snipes, chuckling at the stupid humor Ryan Reynolds seemed to throw in, when he heard the garage opening. He knew that Nylah wouldn't be back, so knew it was the wife. He sighed, preparing himself. Whenever she came home this late, she was either drunk or pissed off. He had had a wonderful night with his daughter, and didn't want to deal with the mood killing tactics that his wife often brought to the table when it came to their interactions.

"God, why can't you just park that piece of shit in the driveway. It's not nearly as expensive as my Mercedes," Lilly said, huffing as she kicked her shoes off and set her purse down. She looked at what was on TV and quickly snatched the remote before turning it off. "I won't have that shit on the TV in my house," she said, then looked at Dexter. It was true that she still loved the way he looked, but she hated him for what he did.

"Where's my daughter," she said, not even using Nylah's name.

"Why does it matter. You weren't there for the evening like you said you'd be. Instead, she and I were alone, and you were off doing something that you thought was more important than family," Dexter said coldly. His wife's attitude was pissing him off, to be frank.

"Don't get that tone with me. I'll have you thrown out in an instant," she threatened.

"No you won't. The only things you own in this house are your car, and your clothes. Everything else is mine. The deed to this house has my name on it. Mine alone. You can't throw me out of my own home," He said, struggling to keep his temper.

Lilly looked at him, her eyes shooting daggers. "We'll see about that. I'm divorcing you. I'm tired of living this shitty life, and you aren't providing for our family like you should. Here are the papers. Just sign them so I can get my half of everything, and you can leave," Lilly said triumphantly.

The divorce was sudden. Dexter knew that things weren't great in their marriage, but he thought that there were things that they could fix, like arguing like this. "Divorce? You can't be serious!" he said. He looked at the papers, taking them, setting them on the table as he stood up to face Lilly.

"I've found someone who is much better suited for raising my daughter, and for providing me with a home that suits my lifestyle," Lilly said.

"Your lifestyle? Your daughter? You haven't even raised Nylah, you stuck up bitch. As soon as you gave birth to our daughter, you found a job and started working 16 hours a day. Did I see any of that to help pay for the house I bought for the family, no! Did you even help with your daughter? NO! You just worked, kept what you made, and rose the corporate ladder. You came to her birthdays, and holidays. Otherwise, you were never there for Nylah. You just tried to buy her love. And you found another man, more like you found someone who could be your sugar daddy," Dexter finished, his chest heaving. He was pissed now. Tired of dealing with being treated like he was never good enough, he was giving Lilly a piece of his mind.

Lilly smirked. "Sign the damn papers. It's not like you have anything of worth anyways. You keep the truck, and I get the house and we split ownership of the mechanics shop, as per terms of the divorce settlement," she said, smiling evilly.

Dexter just grinned and looked at her. He signed the papers and then stared at her hard. "You get nothing. Apparently you forgot something you signed when we got married. You signed a prenuptial agreement. We split everything and kept what was ours. That was the agreement. You got to keep what you made and bought. I got to keep what I made and bought. That means this house, my shop, my truck, and everything but your clothes and car are staying with me since I bought them. Oh, and the large sum my parents left me when they died. You get nothing," he said quietly. He looked at her one last time and shook his head.

He truly felt sorry for her. The poor dumb bitch thought she could take him to the cleaners. He knew his parents were smart, and now it was just confirmed. They knew what type of girl Lilly was, and they wanted to protect him. He sighed, knowing that this wasn't over. "Get your things and leave my house, Lilly," he said quietly again, not waiting for an answer. He went into the kitchen and sat down at the table, pulling some papers closer.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Some big shot mechanic? You're going to slap me with a piece of shit that we signed? Well then, fine! You were worthless then, and you are still worthless. You never amounted to shit, and were a poor excuse of a lover. I never loved you, and I'm happier now than I ever was. For all I care, you can die right now, now that we are divorced, you worthless sack of shit," Lilly screamed. Dexter knew this was coming and just let it go. She had always been a vindictive bitch, and now it seemed like it was his turn to suffer.

"Oh, and just so you know, you were never worth it in bed. I was never satisfied. From the time Nylah was two I was with another man, and he was better than you'll ever be. I can't wait to take my daughter from this shitty home and never have to see you again," Lilly said.

"You won't be taking my daughter from me," Dexter said, clicking the tape recorder off. He held it up. "You just admitted to cheating. Guess what? Even though our daughter is now 18, you would have just lost custody of her. So leave now before I call the police. Nylah can decide later where she wants to call home. I'm fairly sure I already know where that will be. Now get your gold-digging, whore ass out of my house. You can get your shit later," Dexter said, moving to stand in front of the staircase.

Lilly screamed and hit and clawed him, but he just stood there. Finally after enough hits to make her hands hurt, Lilly stormed out of the house. Dexter followed to make sure she didn't damage anything. When he saw her get into her car, he opened the garage door and watched as she drove out of it, and out of his life.

He looked down at his chest, wincing as the pain set in. He had a few deep cuts from her nails, as well as slight bruising. He groaned as he locked the door behind him and drove to the hospital. He didn't want to take any chances where Lilly was concerned. He parked and then walked in, not bothering to hide what happened. Instead, it just looked like something fell on him while he was working.

The nurses all knew him, and he was ushered into an exam room. The doctor had worked on a few of his employees, so didn't ask questions. Instead the cuts were cleaned, and those that needed stitches were sewn up. Dexter thanked the doctor and then proceeded to pay the bill. He walked back to his truck and winced, wondering what he was going to do now. He knew that he couldn't tell Nylah, not on her birthday. Instead, he just drove home and went to sleep, wondering what tomorrow would be like.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

It wasn't until Nylah pulled into Lui's driveway that she remembered the wrapped gift in the passenger seat. It was the birthday gift she was supposed to open when she got home and then call Caleb after she did. She turned the SUV off and opened her bag and took out her phone, she had three text messages and two missed calls all from her boyfriend. She felt guilty that she had so easily forgotten him and his gift. "It's too late to call." She frowned and put her phone away feeling the heavy curling in the pit of her stomach over what she was going to do tomorrow.

"I'm not thinking about this now." Nylah sighed getting out of the RR.

"God could you have taken any longer getting here?" Lui teased opening the front door and skipping out to meet her friend. "No bags this time? Not like it matters I have enough of your crap here." She laughed giving her friend a half hug that allowed her to pull the birthday girl into the house.

"It was too late to pack something." She smiled leaning on her friend.

"Tell me about it!" Lui chuckled using her foot to close the door behind them.

Nylah and Lui took the movie to her room and settled in on her bed as the moved started. Her parents were already in bed and they could giggle and talk in her room without worrying about waking the house. They paid attention to the first half of the movie and got distracted with the sharing of juicy gossip and the retellings of funny storied from their childhood. It was an fun easy night and before the moved was rolling the ending credits both girls were asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning Nylah woke up and went to the kitchen to make coffee, she was the first one up and Lui wasn't far behind her once the rich aroma of brewing coffee filled the house.

"Coffee...."

Nylah smiled at her friend and handed her a full mug of coffee. "Wanna hit the mall?"

Lui made a face of disgust.

"Dad told me to get you something nice." Nylah teased knowing that all her friends thought her Dad was hot.

"Nice hmm?" Lui smiled over her coffee mug. "I guess we can go. Don't want to disappoint your Dad."

"Great." Nylah nodded. "I'm going to get my phone and call Caleb." She took her coffee cup and headed back to Lui's room. Last night Nylah told Lui that she was planning on breaking up with Caleb and it had started a long round of 60 questions. Some of the questions she didn't have answers to or didn't want to answer and Lui was fine with it.

"Okay. Good luck." Lui waved turning back to her coffee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later they arrived at the mall.

"Hey want to head over to the art store?” Lui asked getting out of the Range Rover.

“Caleb’s been here for the last five minutes and waiting at the coffee shop.”

“Okay. Text me when you’re done with that.” Lui smiled heading to the left side of the mall.

Nylah reached over and grabbed the still wrapped gift and threw it into her shoulder bag. She took the center door and quickened her footsteps towards the coffee shop. Caleb sat at a table in the back of the room near the corner, he smiled and waved when he saw her. Nylah’s feet felt heavy as she moved past the other tables towards him.

“Nylah.” Caleb reached out to hug and kiss his girlfriend but she dodged the touch. “Whoa, you okay?” He sat down and tried to take Nylah’s hand but again she avoided the contact.

“Caleb.” Nylah reached into her bag and pulled out the gift that he had given her. “I need to talk to you.”

“I guess that’s why I didn’t get your call last night.” Caleb frowned leaning back in his chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn’t as bad as she thought and they had both walked away as friends. He was sad and so was she but when she explained it to him he understood and didn’t make a big deal out of it. They even hugged good bye and he promised to come by for her party.

Where you at? Nylah texted Lui.

Pet store.

“So how did it go?” Lui asked putting down the bird she was playing with.

“Good. Really good.” Nylah smiled reaching out to pet the little parakeet.

“I’m glad.” There was a huge smile on her face as she turned to look at Nylah.

“What?” That look meant trouble.

“Your Dad owes me something nice and I know just the place to go.” She all but giggled as she grabbed her friend’s hand and dragged her out of the pet store.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Nylah shook her head in disbelief.

“Oh come on!” Sighed Lui. “Of all the things we could have got be happy this is what we walked out with.”

She wasn’t sure that ‘happy’ would be the word that her Dad would use to describe the items they bought today at the mall. “Gosh.” Nylah snorted looking at herself in the full length mirror.

“Hurry up!” Shouted Lui.

“Shush woman!” Laughed Nylah as she finished getting dressed.

“Thanks Mr. Crowley.” Lui sung batting her lashes at her Dad. “Just wait until you see what you got us.”

“Pouring it on a little thick there Lui?” Growled Nylah as she pushed her friend away from her poor defenseless Dad. “Go be helpful and throw up some signs so people don’t get lost.” She rolled her eyes as Lui wiggled her fingers in a goodbye. “Sorry about that. When I told her you wanted to get her something nice it went straight to her head.” She sighed see her Dad for the first time. “Is,” There was a tightness in her Dad’s eyes that worried her. “Is everything alright?”

 

[raiguy]

Dexter woke up the next morning feeling like a zombie. He hadn't slept that well. His dreams had been littered with past memories of his now failed marriage. He couldn't fully wrap his head around what had been the thing he had done to drive Lilly away. Maybe it wasn't him though. Maybe it was just her, and that she never really wanted to be here? He shook his head and went to fix coffee.

As the pot was brewing, his stomach tightened up. What would he tell Nylah. his daughter had a right to know, but it was her birthday. No kid ever deserved to learn that their parents divorced the night before their birthday. As the coffee finished brewing, he poured a cup and sat down at the table, his head in his hands as he struggled to figure out what to do.

It finally reached him. He needed to be strong for his daughter. He would keep a smile on his face, and try to get through the party without anyone sensing anything. He didn't want her to have to go through anymore pain than was necessary. He resolved to not tell her, unless she asked.

He finished his coffee with a conviction. He started to get everything ready, making sure to get the cake his daughter wanted. He had to stop a few times to take a deep breath when he remembered that he was now a single father. He steeled himself and moved one, determined to give his daughter the 18th birthday she deserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Thanks Mr. Crowley.” Lui sung batting her lashes

Dexter chuckled, happy to see his daughter and her best friend having fun. He figured that his daughter had taken her out like he had said. He just chuckled and waited to see if he was ever going to find out what his money had bought them. He decided not worry about it.

Dexter hugged his daughter, smiling at her, happy that she seemed content with how things were. He knew the smile wasn't reaching his eyes, but thought his daughter would notice it. He was wrong when she asked him what was wrong.

He shook his head, but knew that she wouldn't let it lie. Instead he said, "Excuse us for a minute Lui. We have some stuff we have to talk about," he said, happy to know that they would get the privacy they needed.

He sat down with his daughter, and then waited until she was comfortable. He took a deep breath and then waited. Finally he looked at his daughter and said, "Your mom asked me for a divorce last night. She brought the papers and started harassing me. When I didn't respond back, she attacked me. That let me know that she might be here to start more drama."

He wasn't sure how his daughter would take it, so waited and finished, "We are getting the divorce, as it was clear from what she said that we were done. She has another man, and wants to take you from here. I told her you were an adult, and would choose your own place. You always know that you have a place here with me, no matter what," he said. He knew that he was dropping a lot on her, so decided to wait and see how she would take this news.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Your mom asked me for a divorce last night. She brought the papers and started harassing me. When I didn't respond back, she attacked me. That let me know that she might be here to start more drama.

Nylah was floored. If she hadn't already been sitting down she would have fallen on her butt. Slowly the words sank in and franticly searched her Dad over with her eyes to make sure he was alright. Her mother attacked him and while she didn't see any wounds she wouldn't put it past her mom to hit or throw something at him. She was about to ask if he was hurt when he spoke up again and Nylah swallowed the question.

We are getting the divorce, as it was clear from what she said that we were done. She has another man, and wants to take you from here. I told her you were an adult, and would choose your own place. You always know that you have a place here with me, no matter what.

Another man? How was that possible?!?! Who could be better then her Dad? Tears pricked her eyes but she refused to let her Dad see her cry. It wasn't for her that she was crying but how she imagined her Dad felt. This was crazy. She opened her arms and hugged her Dad. "Don't worry Dad, I won't leave you." Nylah promised.

Whatever else Nylah wanted to tell her Dad was ruined by the screaming singing voice of her other friends. The gang had just arrived and Micha was butchering happy birthday. "I love you Dad." She smile letting her Dad go as she stood up with a composed face, her emotions in check. "I'll see you outside." Nylah turned a left giving her Dad time alone before the party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When everyone got to the party Lui dragged Nylah up to her room and made her change into her new birthday outfit.

"It's a pool party, come on!" Bullied her best friend.

"I am looking forward to see it." Uyen smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"As long as you don't look hotter then me." Laughed Micha.

Lisa arched her eyebrows at Micha. "I don't think hot is the look that you've achieved." The cute but evil ballerina smirked.

"Geese you guys." Sighed Nylah as she came out of her bathroom in what she and Lui had bought today at the mall. All the girls clapped and hooted and Nylah blushed and tried to ignore them.

"I'm still pissed that you got Dexter to buy you something nice." Micha whined glaring daggers at Lui who smiled and stuck her tongue out. She was already in her new threads and she twirled to give Micha a better view.

"Come on." Nylah chuckled loving that she had her friends to help distract her from what was going on in her family life.

When they walked outside again Lui waved and called out to Mr. Crowley to get his attention and skipped to his side to show him what he got her. "Thank you for my new swimsuit." Lui wasn't wearing anything but that and Nylah giggled at the look that her Dad gave her friend.

Nylah a bit shyer then her friend had purchased a dress to go over her new suit. She wasn't quite ready to show it off to her Dad yet. Nylah still wasn't convinced that he would approve of the small fabric scraps that VS called a swimsuit. It was easily the smallest suit that she now owned and would have shown tan lines if her skin wasn't already porcelain white.

"It was Lui's idea and I had nothing to do with it." Nylah tried to convince her Dad, stopping at Lui's side.

"You got your daughter a new swimsuit too." Lui bragged tugging on Nylah's dress. "Aren't you gonna show him?"

Nylah made a face, sighed and let her shoulder slump. If she said no the rest of the gang would jump in and hound her until she showed it off. "I guess." Nylah smiled up at her Dad and took the dress off showing him the swimsuit underneath. "Do you like it?" She blushed, trying to act like it was no big with her hip cocked and her hands on her hips.

 

[raiguy]

Dexter composed himself quickly, knowing he needed to get the cake out for it to be a true birthday. He cleared his throat and almost sprinted to the kitchen, before getting the cake he had made sure would be what his baby girl wanted. He smiled as he lit the candles, knowing that the math problem on the cake would make everyone wonder, but his daughter would get it. He wanted to make sure the candles would stay lit, so walked with his back to the door, joining in the singing.

He set the cake down and smiled. He looked at his daughter and all her friends, and realized just how amazing she was. She was able to keep what he had told her in check, and was able to put on a strong show for her friends. He had to admire her for it, and quickly made sure he wasn't letting her down.

He smiled and started cutting the cake, letting the kids get ice cream if they so chose. He finished, before pulling out his present to his daughter and setting it on the pile. It had been his grandmother's necklace. She hadn't known Nylah, but had made him promise to give it to his daughter, whenever he had one, when she turned 18. It was beautiful, a classic piece, a simple diamond pendant. He hoped she'd like it, and knew his grandmother would be proud of his daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dexter was finishing up grilling, drinking a coke as he watched the kids enjoying the pool. He had changed into surf shorts, showing off the tattoos running across his back and upper chest. It also showed his physique. He figured he'd get even at Lui for whatever she did buy.

He knew he made the right choice when Lui came bounding down in a swimsuit that barely contained her. When she walked up to him and told him he bought it, he shook his head and laughed. "You look good, as always Lui. I'm happy to see you picked something you'd use, and not something crazy," he said, happy to see his daughter's friends happy.

When his daughter came out, he could tell she had picked something a little more revealing than he was used to. He shrugged it off, knowing that she was an adult now, and could dress as she chose. He really liked the dress on her though, and thought it complimented her well. He wasn't quite ready for her swimsuit though.

His daughter was a stone cold fox, he had to admit it. He knew that if she had been any other girl but his daughter, he would think she was the most beautiful woman at the party. As such, his body didn't know, and he immediately got hard, happy that he was standing behind the grill.

"You look really good, baby," he said honestly, smiling at her. "I'm happy you picked something you wanted, and not something that you think would make me happy," he said with a wink and carefree smile. He wanted her to know that she was okay with him, and that he was happy with what she chose. He knew he was staring a bit, so started to shuffle around some burgers, happy that his cock deflated just a bit.

He wasn't paying attention, when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him. He knew it was his daughter, and knew that she was just wanting to make extra sure he was okay. She had done it all her life, and he just smiled. Without thinking, he turned into her and hugged her before saying, "You look beautiful, tiger. I really am okay with it, and I love you no matter what. Now, go show that body off like your friends want you to. If what I'm guessing is true, make Caleb realize how stupid he was for not treating you correctly," he said, grinning down at her. He suddenly realized that he was pressing his engorged cock against her and pulled away before winking at her and grinning. "Apparently, my body thinks you did well too. Don't blame it, it doesn't know any better. It just thinks I'm a dirty old man, and you're a sexy young thing," he said, breaking the tension and letting her head back to the pool with her friends while he continued with the dinner prep.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

What her Dad told her was never far from her mind, in fact it was the only thing on her mind but Nylah smiled and keep up appearances. She laughed and smiled when her friends and Dad sang her happy birthday, as pictures were taken and cake was handed out. As much as she loved the cake her Dad got her it was tasteless and bland. Nylah even giggled at the frosting fight that Lisa started and took part in it but it was just a distraction to what was really going on for her.

When she went into the house to change into her swimsuit she made note of the time, the party was not even close to half way done... It weighted heavy in her mind and she felt tired having to pretend and fake all her happy emotions. What a way to spend a birthday party but it was better to know then be left guessing and clueless...

"Thanks Dad." Nylah smiled at Dad and counted it as one of the few true smiles since she found out. She tried to keep the feeling going and teased him. "So this doesn't make you happy?" She twirled showing off how little the suit covered.

"Shall we open presents?" Uyen suggested nodding towards the heap of gifts on the table. "While we're still dry." She smiled.

Nylah simply nodded and everyone gathered around the table of wrapped boxes and waited. Let them wait, Nylah shrugged turning back to her Dad and wrapping her arms around him. She was worried about him and the fact that he had hid behind the grill all day. He turned in her arms and returned the hug. Nylah wanted to argue that it wasn't Caleb's fault that she broke up with him but she couldn't explain it so let it go because there was something else that had her attention.

Her Dad was hard and pressed against her body. It chased all other thoughts in her mind and left her with this warm fuzzy feeling in her body, a tickling of fingers crawling up and down her spine. When her Dad pulled away and winked at her, Nylah bit the complaining moan off before she could make the noise. "You're not a dirty old man." Nylah argued pulling her back back to her. "You're my sexy, handsome, smart, kind Dad." Her feelings were worn over how it felt to feel her Dad against her again as she hugged him before backing away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was hours later before the last of her friends packed up and left. The cake was gone, all the gifts but her Dad's were opened and everyone was thanked. There was still the pool area to clean, the rest of the food to up and things to put away but right now all she was concerned with was finding her Dad.

"Hey there good looking." Nylah snickered hooking her arms around her Dad. "I haven't opened your gift yet." She held the small box out to show her Dad. "I had a feeling it might be important so I wanted to opened it with just you." Like the little girl that she was she leaned against her Dad and rested her head on his chest listening to his heart beat. "Oh and thank you. For cooking, for being awesome, for letting me know what's going on with you and mom, just everything." She snuggled into his body as she thanked him, her swimsuit mostly dry and the only thing she was wearing.

 

[raiguy]

Dexter smiled as his daughter came over to him and hugged him. He listened to her telling him that he was thanking her, for what seemed like everything, before he finally chuckled and pushed her back a bit. "Baby girl, you let me be the awesome dad I am, so thank you for that. Thank you for being the awesome daughter you are, and I hope this birthday is what you wanted. Now, open your present," he said softly.

He turned Nylah around after she opened her gift, taking it from her shocked fingers before clipping it around her neck. "It was my grandmother's necklace, and I thought you should have it," he said, before turning her back around and smiling. He looked down and grinned. "Personally, it looks much better on you than it ever did her," he said with a smile and wink to lighten the mood. He turned her again and lightly patted her butt to tell her to go take care of what she needed while he finished picking stuff up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He knew the moment he heard a car door slam that he was in trouble. "It sounds like the witch is back to exact more from me than she already took. Well, best brace myself," he muttered to himself, before turning from wiping down the kitchen counter, leaving the rag where he was just using it, crossing his arms over his bare chest. He hadn't bothered to put a shirt on, waiting until after he took a shower.

"Where is my fucking daughter," Lilly said. Dex just shook his head and waited. He looked around and then looked at her. "Welcome to my house, it's our daughter's birthday and you decide to open your mouth to say that?" he asked, slightly annoyed.

"I'm just here to get her and take her from you," she said, her nose in the air.

Dexter smiled at her and shook his head. "She's 18, and you can't just take her. She can choose to live wherever she wants, not wherever you decide. Or did you forget how old our daughter is," he said, seeing Nylah walk into the room.

Lilly immediately went to Nylah and said sharply, "Pack your thinks, because we are leaving this shithole."

Dexter chuckled as he saw the look of shock on Nylah's face. "Sweetie, you can stay here as long as you want. You know you'll always have a place here to call home, no matter what," he said, letting Nylah decide.

Lilly was outraged when she heard her daughter didn't want to go with her. "So, you've turned into him, haven't you. You don't realize just how much he will drag you down until you look back, barefoot and pregnant because your dad couldn't pay for your college," she nearly screamed.

Dexter finally stepped between his ex-wife and daughter, forcibly making her back away. "Actually, Nylah can choose wherever she wants to go, and she'll never have to pay for a cent of it. I've saved up enough to pay for her to go anywhere in the world, no matter what she decides to do. And as long as she doesn't plan to spend a decade there figuring out what she wants, she can even get her Master's and start on her Doctorate if she so chooses. You seem to forget that I have the largest, most successful garage in the county, and the local, county, and highway police departments contract out to me to fix their vehicles. Plus, I saved after you stopped spending my money," he said, stepping forward and driving her subtly towards the open front door.

"You'll be sorry for choosing him. He's worthless as a man, a lover, and a father. Oh, and the sad thing is that you aren't even his daughter. I just never had the courage to tell him that you were another man's daughter, and he just decided to "bite the bullet" and raise you, thinking you were his. Hahahaha, what a fucking idiot. Well, you two can be happy now, and I'll be glad knowing I don't have either of the rejects with me anymore. Oh, and if you doubt me, here's proof. I had it done to make sure it was or wasn't yours, but then never told you," Lilly said before dropping an envelope on the floor and storming out.

Dexter stood there, shaking. What had she meant? He bent down to pick up the envelope and looked. Sure enough, the DNA markers were not a match. He wasn't Nylah's biological father. He slowly sank into the chair he was standing by, his head in his hands as he slowly reflected on the lie his life had been. Since he was 16, he had raised another man's child, without realizing it, and had lost a wife who he thought was happy. He was trying to figure it all out, but realized that none of it was making sense.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Nylah was stunned, the simple diamond pendent was beautiful and touched her in a way she wouldn't express with words. Her eyes got misty as her Dad clipped the necklace around her neck. "I don't know what to say." It was one of the few times where she didn't have something to say and she reached up and tilted the gem in the light watched the way it sparkled. She had never met this grandmother but knew her Dad had cared greatly for her. "Thank you. So much." Nylah finally smiled reaching up to kiss her Dad's cheek and give him a big hug. "It's beautiful and I'll wear it always." She promised as she released her Dad. His answer was to wink at her and pat her off in the directions of the clean up that need to be gotten to and she nodded and made off on her way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the last piece of trash was picked up and the trash can emptied she hefted the bursting trash bag to the back gate and set it along side the others. She would take them out to the road later when she was wearing more then her new bathing suit.

From the front of the house she hear a car door close and was about to question who it was when she heard the house door open and slam shut. Her mother was home. "Great." Nylah sighed oddly let down by the fact that her mother had showed up for her birthday at all.

Or did you forget how old our daughter is.

Nylah caught the end of what her Dad had said and figured that his tone and body language must have something to do with whatever her mother had deiced to say. Whatever it was Nylah knew better then to listen to it. As much as she hated it she long ago learned to just nod her head and say yes when it came to her mother because fighting or arguing would only make it worse for everyone but her.

Pack your thinks, because we are leaving this shithole.

Awww hell no. So much for not fighting it because there was no way in hell she was leaving her home and Dad. Ready to fight it she opened her mouth to say something when her Dad spoke up. She quickly closed her mouth and turned away from her mother, in sense turning her back on her and turned towards her Dad. It was things like this, the loving common sense things that he said that make Nylah more of a Daddy's girl then she could ever be her mother's little doll.

That of course wasn't what her mother wanted her Dad to say and she flew off the handle on a crazy rant talking about being knocked up, barefoot and some other shit. Truth be told she was zeroing her mother's voice out so that her words wouldn't work Nylah up. The last thing she wanted was to make it worse by getting angry and adding to the fire that was her mother's temper.

Nylah soon realized as her parents talked about her as if she wasn't there that this wasn't really about her. She was just some power piece to her mother and while she knew her Dad cared his was more wrapped up at the moment proving to her mother that he was the better parent and why. In Nylah's mind there wasn't even a reason to judge because her Dad won hands down. The only thing that was getting to her was how easily her mother seemed to get under her Dad's skin and why he let himself get so worked up about her. She wanted him to just ignore her like she did and if not she wanted to at least be able to make it better for him later when her mother left.

As much as she was ignoring her mother there was no such thing as not hearing that she wasn't her Dad's daughter. "What?" Nylah looked franticly between her Dad and mother, confusion and fear written on her face. But her mother didn't stop to comfort her, no instead she made the growing knot in her tummy grow. If she wasn't her Dad's would he keep her? Where wold she go if her mother was telling the truth and her Dad took it out on her?

'I'm not my Father's daughter...' The words were slow to sink in but quick to hit and Nylah was out of the room before the envelope even hit the ground, in her room when the front door slammed short and packing by the time that the car wheels squealed out of the driveway.

Sure what her Dad, no he wasn't her Dad anymore was he. Tears overflowed and streamed down her cheeks as she opened her drawers and tossed clothes into her suitcase. Everything that he had said about this being her home was nothing now that she wasn't his daughter. What man would willingly keep the mockingbird child that he raised as his own, find out that he was lied to and tricked and keep the fraud of a child. Nylah felt lost and confused. What had happened? Was this a dream? Had she hit her head and being rushed to the hospital? Given the choice of life threatening head injury and this she would gladly have picked head over heartbreak any day.

When the suitcase was full she looked down and noticed that it was full of socks, winter jackets and scarfs. It was the middle of summer and would be useless to her until winter. That was the last straw. Between randomly filling her suitcase Nylah had been undressing and changing her clothes but when she noticed that all she had done was waste time she ran out of her room without a care in her mind that she was half dressed in black pants and a bra. And just like when she was a frightened child she ran upstairs to the attic. Up here the she could pretend that the world was smaller and that she was just an observer. From this distance she made herself believe that she could will away her problems and like the dust motes in the air they would just swirl away in a lazy dance and bother her no more.

Nylah sat at the attic windows and gazed down at nothing. It was useless to try and calm her mind so she let it run with all matter of thoughts and kept track of nothing. The only thing that she did remember thinking was how she hated her mother for never letting her make this her room. She loved the windows here and the peace that she found up here alone. But her mother told her that only servants kept to attics and made her watch The Little Princess. She still didn't see what was wrong with this room being used as a bedroom but she had caved when her mother gave her that look. And when her Dad-

"No. I don't have a Dad." Nylah's voice was hallow and far away and tears welled up in her eyes again and turned the outside world watery and distorted until the tears fell. The feeling of being alone squeezed her heart and she looked around the unfinished attic at the boxes that held memories from a past life. A life of lie.

In the back of her mind a voice told her to be strong an get a grip but she was too far into the hopelessness of the situation and rested her head against the glass and shut her eyes praying to wake up from this nightmare.

 

[raiguy]

Dexter was shell-shocked, to say the least. He heard noise coming from upstairs, and quickly realized that Nylah had heard what was said. He quickly snapped into action. He might not have been her biological father, but he had raised her, and he wasn't going to start letting her down, no matter if they were related or not. He was raised a damn sight better than that, and wouldn't leave the girl he loved to suffer through this.

He could hear packing, and then suddenly the noise stopped. He waited, trying to figure out where she was going, before he heard the attic door open and close. He smiled in spite of the situation, remembering how she always used to do that as a child to escape her mother.

He braced himself, and then opened the door quietly. He walked up the steps, happy that the house was built solidly, as the stairs didn't creak at all. He was trying to think of what to say. It didn't matter what the DNA said. She was his daughter, and that was that.

He reached the landing in time to hear her say she didn't have a dad anymore. He choked back a few tears, before slipping behind her. He wrapped his arms around the only girl he had ever truly loved, and then quickly turned her around, nearly crushing her to his broad chest in an attempt to let her know he loved her, no matter what.

"I promise you that you can always look up to me as a father figure, or a best friend, or whatever you want. I'll never let you go, nor will I ever throw you out. This is your home as much as it is mine. Just because that woman decided to tear our worlds apart doesn't mean that anything has changed between our relationship. The only difference is that you and I aren't actually related. It doesn't get rid of the feelings we have for each other, nor the relationship we've built over the 18 years of your life. I love you, and always will," Dexter said, the words tumbling out of his mouth.

He was reassuring himself as much as he was trying to reassure Nylah. He didn't know what he would do without her in his life. She was the one constant, the one bright spot. Without her, he was fairly certain that he'd lose the will to really try, instead retiring into the woods and disappearing from the planet.

He took a deep breath and then pushed her back, smiling. He wiped the tears from her face, before leaning down and kissing her on the lips like the million other times he had done it. "You are still my Tiger, no matter what anyone else says, okay?" he said, the love evident in his expression.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Nylah didn't hear her Dad enter the attic room but when he gathered her into his arms and held her like she was the only thing that mattered she broke down. Tears ran like a river down her face and choking sobs racked her body and make breathing an effort. Her Dad's words just made it worse. She didn't want to hear that this didn't change things, it had to. Logic had no place in her mind as she tried to push her Dad away. He was just being nice, these were just words she needed to hear and he was just saying them.

Her Dad's smiling face and love filled eyes pierced her heart like an icy cold knife. "No." Nylah shook her hear her fears at being left alone the only thing driving her at the moment. "This changes everyting." She tried to explain to him. While Nylah always knew that her mother never being there had formed some kind of abandonment issue in herself it was always overruled by the fact that she had a Dad that was as awesome as he was. That no matter what he would always love her and be there for her, but now... She was a parent less newly turned adult with no home or family and she would be alone.

Alone...

The word echoed in her head and her heart and when her Dad's lips touched her's something sparked and Nylah reacted. Her hands reached up and framed her Dad's, no Dexter's face and she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. As if trying to prove a point Nylah parted her lips and the tip of her tongue darted out and traced his bottom one. It was a strange and thrilling feeling to kiss the man she had thought to be her father like this but the thought was foggy and didn't register in her mind and she moved her soft body so it fit against his hard one.

The kiss didn't last very long and when Nylah broke it she looked up at the man in front of her, defiant in her disagreement of everything that he had just said. "See, everything changed." And with that she stood up and left the attic.

For some odd reason after kissing her Dad everything seemed to mellow out and her mind tuned back in. This was still a really bad turn of events but maybe it wasn't so bad? It was a lie she was trying to tell herself as she tried to think of plan A. Sure Nylah was still dragged down by the fear of being alone, the anger at being lied to and the guilt of having kissed her Dad but she was frantically building a wall around those things so she could be logical at the moment.

"I can break down later when I'm alone, sleeping under a bridge." She tried to joke walking back into the room that used to be hers.