"Chloe, hurry up and get to mom's house." Penny tells me once I answer her phone call.

"What's going on?" I ask her as I slide on the shoes I came to James' house with.

"Just come." she says with excitement in her voice.

"Is everything alright? Where's Christian?" I ask her getting a bit worried as James mouths the words everything okay.

"We are all here now stop asking questions, and get here." she says hanging up and I stare at my phone in confusion.

What the hell? I know she didn't just hang up in my face. That was rude, but why do they want me to come to mom's house? Was Uncle Tom back? Was it Chris?

"Chloe, what's going on?" James asks pushing pause on the movie we were watching before so rudely interrupted.

"I don't know, but I need to get to my mom's house." I tell him and he turns of the tv and slips on his shoes.

"Okay, you ready?" he asks getting his keys out of the bowl at the door.

"Yeah." I say as he opens the front door.

We walk to the car in a rush and get in quickly fastening our seat belts. I didn't know what was going on, but sure enough their has to be a good explanation.

It was around six, and the sun was setting. James and I had to be to school early, so we have to go to bed early. I was sure whatever was going on was going to take a while.

"Thanks for driving me, and sorry our day was interrupted." I say to James as we near a red light.

"It's no problem princess." he says taking my hand and kisses the back of it.

"How did I get so lucky to have you?" I ask as the light soon turns green.

"I think it's the other way around." he says turning onto the road to my mom's house.

"We both are pretty lucky." I tell him sticking out my tounge making him chuckle.

"Put your that tongue back in your mouth sweetheart." he tells me and I laugh.

"Okay Captain." I tell him saluting making him look at me oddly before he started laughing.

"You will be the death of me." he mumbles to himself and I can't help the smile that grows on my beet red face.

"If you don't kill me first." I tell him and laugh at how crazy that might have sounded.

"We really are strange people." James says with a smile as we pull into my mother's driveway.

My uncle's car was here and so was Penny's. After James parks his car I get out of the car.

"Are you coming in with me?" I ask James and he turns off his engine and gets out the car.

"Of course my love." he says grabbing my hand as we walk to the front door.

I didn't know what would be behind this door, but I knew I had to find out sooner than later. I knocked on the door swallowing the lump in my throat.

"It's only Chloe." I heard Penny say opening the door. I was confused on why she said that, but I wasn't going to say anything.

Her hair is pulled into a high ponytail. She has no makeup on, sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"What's up?" I ask her curiously as to why she would interrupt my time with James.

It then dawned on me that if Uncle Tom was back he must have news about our father.

"Come in and see for yourself." she tells me stepping to the side allowing James and I to enter the house.

I was a little confused on why she was acting so strange, but I went inside anyway along with James. As we were walking in James grabs my hand squeezing it making me calm down a bit.

As I was walking towards the living room I hear voices. It sounds quite familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

We finally made it to where the voices were coming from. I seen my mom, uncle and no Christian instead there was a tall figure. I came to a quick stop and took in the guys' appearance. He has light brown hair, clouded blue eyes and tan white skin. It looks like my dad, but it couldn't be right?

"Papa?" I ask and the mysterious man smiles.

"The one and only babygirl." he says and I instantly let go of James hand and run over to my dad.

Tears falling down my face as I jump onto him.

"It's really you." I say through sobs hugging him tightly as if he would disappear any moment.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here for you like I should have been." he says his voice cracking as he hugged me just as tight.

"I've missed you so much." I tell him now standing on my own two feet wiping the tears out of my eyes.

"I missed you too love." my dad tells me running a hand through his hair then reaching for my hand.

I quickly grab it not wanting to let go of this moment anytime soon.

"I will always be here babygirl. If you need someone to talk to I will try to always be here, but when I'm not you aren't alone. God will always be here for you to talk to: no matter what. You have to trust him more than you trust me because he has allowed all of us to be here thus far." my dad says pushing a small piece of hair out of my face placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Thank you papa." I tell him with a smile on my face as he tucks me into my covers again.

"I love you; get some rest." he tells me standing to his full height walking to my bedroom door.

"I love you too." I whisper as I watch him walk out of my room.

God, if you can hear me I would like to thank you for giving me my papa he is my best friend.

"We were waiting for you to get here, so he wouldn't have to explain himself more than once." Uncle Tom says interrupting the memories playing in my head as I looked at my dad.

"Who is this?" my dad asks looking over my head at James

I turned around to look at James who has a small smile on his face. He could fool anyone, but I could tell he was nervous.

I'm guessing this is the part where the guy meets the father and weird words are exchanged.

"I'm James sir." James replies holding is hand out for my dad to shake and he does.

"What are you to my daughter?" my dad asks with a slight smirk like he already knew the answer.

"Her boyfriend." James tells him looking at me with a small smile.

"You hurt her and your life is over son." my dad says and everyone starts laughing except for James.

"I'd never dream of causing any type harm towards her." James says seriously as my dad smiles.

It was a bit weird to have the two men I admire most in the world having a conversation over me. Boy was I wrong about this happening.

"I'm sorry to bring this up, but what do you think will happen if I got to meet your dad?" James asks looking at me intently.

"I don't know I guess he will give you some speech on how if you hurt me you will die." I tell him and his face goes a bit blank and I laugh.

"I've only seen that happen in movies and TV shows." James says and I just smile at him because he has no idea what my father is like.

"You have never met my father, and probably never will." I say looking down at my fries a little bit sad that I might not get that moment with my two favorite men.

"Thanks son, and I apologize if I made you nervous. I just always wanted to do that, and boy is it funny; you should have seen the look on your face." my dad tells James chuckling and I start laughing.

He is just the same as he was before he was gone. Thoughtful, funny, and respectable man. I've missed his presence so much, and now that he's back I feel completed.

"No worries sir." James says smiling at my father as he resides back to his place by me.

"Well not to ruin the perfect moment, but you wanted to tell us something." my mom says to our dad causing him to frown a bit.

"Well Tom here just found me a few hours ago maybe. I don't really want to go into detailed on what happened while I was gone, but I do owe you guys that much." my dad tells us as we all take a seat on the sofa.

I sat next to James with my hand in his as I have my dad my undivided attention.

"Before you tell us where's Chris?" Penny asks looking between our uncle and father.

"He was arrested." Uncle Tom answers and I can't help the smile that grows on my face.

"Chris never liked me from when we first met. We both went to school together, and soon everything became a competition to him. I didn't feel it was, but in his mind it was. A few years later when Penny was born Chris started talking with your uncle." my dad tells us the beginning of the story.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I feel like I should be the one to tell them because I feel like it's my fault. I had just gotten out of rehab, and didn't know Chris was in that type of business. After a while of him and I just hanging out he got me back into drugs. It wasn't completly his fault; I take full responsibility for my actions. It's just he got to me in a way I didn't know see possible. I was doing so much better, and I ruined it. Not only for myself, but for the rest of my family and for that I'm truly apologetic." Uncle Tom explains to us grabbing at his hair it slight frustration.

"It's okay." Penny and I say to our uncle at the same time as she gently touches his shoulder.

"After Tom was getting his drugs from Chris and everything he owed a lot of money. Money he didn't have, so he came to me. I decided to help because he is my brother, and I would never treat him like a stranger. I went to go talk with Chris to tell him to stop selling or giving drugs to my brother, but when I did Chris just denied that he even did anything. I left it alone for a while till I seen that Tom was getting sicker everytime I seen him. I decided to confront Chris a second time, but he wasn't where he usually is. That's when he started sending me letters." my dad explains to as if he was looking for an answer himself.

"So basically he sold Uncle Tom drugs, and when you tried standing up for him he calls you out?" Penny asks seeking clarification on the matter at hand.

"Yes, and a while after the letters were sent he showed up to my job. He waited outside till everyone was gone.  As soon as I came out of the building my face was covered in a gas that makes you unconscious. I tried to fight whoever was on me off, but there was no use. Chris had me in a basement, and explained to me how hw was going to steal my family. He was going to be your new father and your mother's new husband. He wanted me to suffer I guess because that's how he felt when we were growing up together." my dad explains and everything seems to click together a bit.

"Does this man have a mental issue or something because that seems pretty dumb to do?" I ask a bit unsure on the reasoning behind why he did this to our family.

"It would sure explain a lot." Penny says with a small laugh.

"Drugs could have done that to him, but a good lesson for you three." my dad says looking at Penny, James and I.

"What would that be?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"Drugs are bad and if you're going to do them do it in moderation." my dad says and we all laugh.

"Don't do them at all." my mom says with a small smile on her face.

"You got it boss." I say saluting her and everyone laughs.

Here we are again almost two years later. Finally all together again, and I couldn't be happier.

"Well dad James and I's graduation is tomorrow." I tell my dad and he smiles.

"Did you get into your dream school?" he asks me a smile never leaving his face.

"Yes sir I did and so did James." I tell him looking at James then at my dad.

"I'm so proud of you; you're doing so well." he says to me and it feels so good to know I've held my own while he was away.

"I haven't even told you the best part yet." I say to him as everyone looks at each other knowingly.

"What is it babygirl?" My dad asks looking at me with a small smile.

"I'm valedictorian." I tell him and he smiles showing off his yellowish teeth.

"Wow, that's amazing babygirl." my dad tells me and I nod my head with a smile on my face.

"Baby, it's getting kind of late I need to go." James says quietly so I only hear him.

"I can walk you out." I tell him looking at his oh so beautiful face as everyone looks at us in confusion.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you guys moment, but I have to get going." James tells everyone standing up off the couch.

"Oh, sorry for keeping you out so late. You need your rest for the big day tomorrow." my mom says to James looking at the time on her phone.

"I'm just going to walk him out." I tell them getting up taking hold of James' hand.

"It was nice meeting you sir, and I'll see you tomorrow." James says and my father shakes his unoccupied hand.

"Right back at you son." my dad says as James and I make our way towards the front door.

We finally get outside to James' car, and I let go of his hand.

"Thanks for staying here so late J." I tell him looking into his intoxicating eyes.

"Anything for you my love." he says leaning down placing a kiss on my lips.

"I love you Chloe, and don't forget that we are matching tomorrow." he says after his lips leave mines.

"I love you too James, and I won't forget." I tell him and he smiles giving me a hug before he gets into his car.

"Sweet dreams princess." he says after he puts his car in reverse.

"You too, and call me when you get home okay." I tell him as he drives off.

"Yes ma'am." he says rolling out of the driveway and onto the street.

I walk back into the house that somehow felt a lot like home now that my dad is back and Chris is gone. People say home is where your heart is, and I never really believed that into this very moment.