25 Days

I walked out without hesitation, and sat down next to him, pulling my legs up and wrapping my arms around them.

"I grew up not too far from here, the mountains behind the old house my favorite place to play. One of the reasons I love bringing you guys up here during the winter, was because I honestly wanted you to experience some of the fun that I did as a kid." He paused and wiped his head again. "My best friend lived next door, and we did everything together. I mean from the time we could walk to slapping each other in the face with our diplomas. He meant everything to me."

Sickness rolled through me. I'd come out to talk about Fi

"So things went on as they always did until we got to college. We both went to the University of Colorado, because we loved to snowboard and there was no damn way we were splitting up." A smile brushed across my father's face as he got a faraway look in his eyes. "We were there three years and I fell in love with this beautiful brunette in my history class. She was so damn fu

"Dad. You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to." I reached out and touched his arm, not sure why I was giving him grace, but I was.

"No, it's good. I need to get it out." He glanced over at me and continued. "The problem was, that my best friend decided to snatch her up before I could get to her, even though he knew that I'd had my eye on her for the last year. I was just waiting for the right time."

I didn't want to hear anymore. My father hadn't been at fault from what I could tell, and yet I had pi

"So he starts dating her, and as you can imagine, the riff between our friendship, our brotherhood, was deep and wide. I hated his ass, and without thinking too much about it, I got her drunk and made love to her on a night that I knew he would show up." He turned to me. "He stabbed me in the chest, and instead of trying to work it out, or even walking away, I cleaned off the dagger and I drove it deep into his heart."

Tears filled my father's eyes and I couldn't fight back the ones in mine too. There was so much hurt in his face. I reached out and wrapped my hands around his thick arm before pressing my cheek to his shoulder.

If I had been in love with Seth, and then Jessie had taken him, I wasn't too sure I wouldn't have stabbed her back too.

"So you see, it's not just about seeing Clark that twists that dagger around in that old womb, but his boy is a product of the relationship that was supposed to be mine." He sniffled and wiped at his nose. "I think the only thing that healed me was finding your mother. All those years we were together, none of this mattered, and honestly, it doesn't now either, but when she died, it came crashing back in. I don't want him near you, and I don't want Clark near me."

"Dad...it was thirty years ago and you both hurt each other." I moved from the hood of the car to look at him. "You can't put that one incident on me and Fi

He lifted his hand, and I stopped.

"I don't want you with Fi

I moved closer to him and slid my hands over his shoulders. "Then stop pushing me away. I'm just like you, and if you would just bend a little, that can be a good thing."

"I know, pumpkin. You just have to give me a little bit of space, though. Okay?" He reached up and touched the side of my face.

I moved into his arms, hugging him tightly and praying that this was a turning point for us. I needed my father back as someone who would be on my side.

"I love you, Dad." I kissed the side of his cheek and moved out of his hold.

"I love you too, and hey...I got you something pretty nontraditional for Christmas."

"Parker told me." I smiled.

His smile faded as his eyes widened and anger brushed along his features. "What? He wasn't supposed to say anything. It was supposed to be a surprise."

"No, Dad. He just said that you got me something pretty cool, but that he couldn't tell me what it was." I put my hands on my hips.

"Oh. Good. I thought he told you what it was."

"No, but you can tell me if you want." I gave him a shit-eating grin.

He chuckled. "I'm not saying anything other than this...it's a gift, but it's a project too, so if you don't want it when you get it, it will not hurt my feelings if you want to give it back."

"Give it back? Are you crazy? You might be a huge pain in my butt, but you give the best gifts ever." I winked and walked to the house. "I'm helping Fi

"A western?" He asked and picked up his hand-towel.

"How about the Grinch?"

"Count me out." He rolled his eyes.

I laughed. "Too close to home?"

"Watch it, Missy, and be careful on the roads."

* * * *

I drove to Fi

His truck was back out front, as was his father's large pick-up. I parked beside Fi

I knocked on the door, not wanting to use my key in case his father wasn't aware that I had one.

"Come in!" Fi

Fi

"Hey guys." I sat the treats on the counter, and moved to sit beside Clark on the couch. "Everything go okay with getting out of the hospital?"

"Yeah. He's got to be careful with those crutches in the snow and no getting that cast wet, but other than that, he's doing good." Clark reached over and squeezed my hand gingerly.

"And the concussion?" I looked over at Fi

"You're not my mother, you're my girlfriend. Get over here and give me a kiss, dammit." Fi

I got up and moved to his side of the couch, sitting down and giving him a quick kiss.

"Dad. Time for you to go. Nice of you to visit. Don't be a stranger." Fi

Clark laughed and stood up as I shoved Fi

"Don't be rude. Your Dad can stay and watch a movie with us or something." I winked at Clark.

He acted like he was going to sit back down. "Yeah, sure. Why not."

"Get out!" Fi

"Alright. Call if you need me. I'll see you tomorrow, Fi

"Thanks for everything, Dad."

I got up and walked to the kitchen with Fi