darker_london | Daddies (Julian, Joe) (Reply)

Aislinn was coming home tomorrow. Tonight was Julian's last night without a daughter at home. A daughter. It still hadn't really sunk in. Julian adored his little sister and he adored Aislinn, but it was hard to remember that one was his sister and he had helped to create the other one, despite the crappy circumstances surrounding her conception. He was a gay, seventeen-year-old boy, with a daughter to look after.

It was little wonder that Julian was restless. He kept jiggling and wiggling and jumping up randomly to go find something to occupy himself but then he'd always forget what he was going to look for. He kept mostly to himself, as not to annoy the shit out of Damon. Not that he actually thought Damon would be annoyed, but Julian was trying to be thoughtful.

Especially since his odd flitting about continued on until 3 am. To Julian's knowledge, everyone else was asleep and it was only he who was awake, staring out the window with his stomach tied up in knots. He was excited and terrified at the same time. He didn't know how to be a dad. Next to Joe, he was going to look pathetic. Joe was the most amazing dad in the world, and Julian knew it. He wished Joe had written a handbook or something...

At around four, Julian heard movement outside his room, and he jumped up, padding to the door in his hot pink socks. When he stuck his head out of the door, he noticed Joe heading down to the living room with little Jaida in his arms. Julian decided to follow, at the very least he could keep his father company.

When Julian entered the living room, Joe looked up from the rocking chair he'd just sat down in. He smiled at his son, even though there was much going on. His brother and niece were in danger, but his son was home and here and safe. And for a long time that hadn't been true. So he smiled. "Julian. Is everything alright?" He asked softly, turning back to watch as Jaida started in on her bottle.

"Yeah." Julian drifted over towards them, leaving his voice low. "Hey, Baby Sister." Julian cooed, kissing Jaida's arm. Then he moved to sit on the sofa. "It's just...I'm a little too wound up to sleep is all." Julian admitted. "Tomorrow's a big day..."

Joe gave Julian an encouraging smile. "It is, but it's going to be wonderful. I don't blame you for being too nervous to sleep. I don't think I slept for a month when you came home. God...or two weeks before..."

Julian looked shocked. "What?"

"I was petrified and your mother kept yelling at me to come to bed because she was exhausted, but my mind wouldn't shut off."

"You? You were petrified?!" Julian couldn't help that he was shocked. His father was brilliant, why had he been scared?

Joe chuckled, "Julian, of course I was! I was going to be a father and you have to admit the only example I had to learn from wasn't exactly stellar."

"Yeah, but...Aunt Abby and everyone always say you were like their father too, even though you were their older brother..."

"It's not the same." Joe said softly. "My brothers and sisters and I had Lavinia. And while I did my best to fill that role, there was always Mums to fall back on. And I'll tell you what, Kiddo, that woman can do anything."

"I know..." Julian nodded. "Dad...I think you can do anything too..."

Joe smiled, his face lighting up even in the dim light of the room. "Jules...the feeling is mutual. I know this is scary, but it's going to be fine. I'm here. You always have me to fall back on."

All at once, Julian felt incredibly calm. It helped to know that his father had been scared too, and also that Joe would always be there for him, though he had always known that. "I know, Dad. Thank you..."

"Really, Kiddo...all you need is love. Well money too, but that can come later." Joe winked when Julian looked slightly terrified. "Your mother and I have that part covered. And Jules, you have the love part down pat, okay?"

Julian smiled and he nodded. "Okay. Can I put Jaida back to bed?" He asked softly.

"You just might be my hero if you did that." Joe admitted. He was very tired. And tomorrow he would have a granddaughter in the house too. And it seemed likely he was going to go another sleepless month. But what a month it would be.