It wasn't like Theo to be nervous.

But for the last week he hadn't been himself. The usual easy-going and care-free Theo seemed to be long gone.

He was currently sitting at the table along with Gracie, who was begging for food beside him, something he failed to notice. He was all but avoiding his breakfast I had just made him.

Waffles had been Theo's recent favorite, which is why I had woken up early to make them. I had done so in hopes of distracting him from all his recent troubles, but in my mission I had failed.

I watched from the kitchen with my mug of coffee in my hands and my eyes remained on his leg as it continued to rattle about. It was a consistent habit that came out of nowhere and I now couldn't remember a time without it inhabiting our apartment.

Theo's behavior was due to one event. An event that had so much tension built up behind it, but we all had known it was something that Theo desperately wanted to happen.

His mother finally told him who his biological father was.

Camilla resisted at first, out of what I assumed was embarrassment and all of her remaining guilt. Theo had considered finding out the answer on his own, but didn't want to go behind his mother's back since they were finally on good terms.

It had been a whole two years since Theo had found out about his true lineage and so much had happened. I had finished my first and second year in college and Theo his second and third. Now we were both working towards our succeeding years in school.

Theo was determined to finish college before heading off to a further career in football. He was finally in his senior year and with his successful time in the NCAA he was guaranteed a spot in the NFL.

Everything was going well for us. Theo's dream career was becoming a reality, I was almost done with college, and we still had our perfect apartment and Gracie.

Life was going smoothly and Theo hadn't really thought much about finding his dad. That was until his mother's divorce was finalized.

After a lengthy and difficult battle, the Thompsons were officially and lawfully over. Camilla Thompson no longer existed. She returned to her maiden name which made her Camilla Gonzales.

Mr. Thompson wanted his cars, his company, and majority of the money. Camilla just wanted the house and her beloved red Aston Martin, which she immediately received.

Mr. Thompson practically scoffed at her demands since they were so minor, but let her have both. Her lawyer was sure to get her everything she wanted and due to her prenup she also ran into a mountain load of cash.

Well a mountain load to me at least. It was a mere molehill to her. But with that money she assisted my father further into his rehabilitation like she promised Theo she would.

My father was now as healthy as ever and came to visit me as often as he could.

Both my parents were a little upset with the fact that Theo and I were sharing an apartment all along. It had been something I had kept from them both during the rough times, but after dad was finally in the clear, health-wise, which was about May of my freshman year, Theo and I flew down to Louisiana to confess.

They were upset with me for about a month, but as time progressed they finally came around. I remember how supportive Theo was during the time my parents were upset with me.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was devastated with how my parents reacted to us telling them the truth that I had just been burrowed myself up in my favorite blankets on the couch with Gracie to keep me company.

____________

Annalee had visited and tried to get me to go outside, much to no avail. Then Tucker attempted to convince me into going shopping with him but again, I denied. The whole time Theo tried to cheer me up but nothing would. I had disappointed my parents, something I seldom did, but when I did, it always broke me down. After all my parents had done for me, I hated being a disappointment.

Theo had comforted and supported me throughout the whole thing. He was always there when I needed him.

During the last day of my self-imprisonment, Theo and I were laying on the couch which was the new usual, Theo suddenly muted our Harry Potter marathon.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" I exclaimed.

Ron and Hermione were about to share their first kiss and he had completely ruined the moment.

"Something I should've done weeks ago." He stood up from the sofa and looked down at me. "Amaya, you are the sweetest person I have ever met and so beautiful, kind, and intelligent," I smiled at his compliments feeling a rush of self assurance.

"But damn it! You are being so stupid right now."

My smile fell off my face immediately and I pulled myself off the couch in a flash. I crossed my arms in front of myself. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He challenged back.

"What the hell's wrong with you? Where is this even coming from?" I shouted back at him.

"You've been moping around this apartment ever since we told your parents. You act like it's the end of the world."

"You know I don't like disappointing people." I shoved him and walked to my room.

Unfortunately, he followed. What is up with him? Why was he behaving like this so out of nowhere?

I flopped on my bed. "Just leave me alone, Theo."

"No. I'm not finished talking to you."

"I don't care. I don't wanna hear it." I turned away from him.

"Well I want you to hear it." He crouched down in front of me.

I kept my eyes on him but didn't respond.

"Listen. I don't think you're stupid. I shouldn't have said that."

"Yeah well you did." I quirked an eyebrow at him, biting my lip to keep the nasty comments within.

"I meant to say you're acting stupid. Why do you care so much what other people think? If you're happy then you shouldn't let other people tear you down. You let them get into your head and bring you down. I'm sorry, but I just can't take seeing the girl I love mope around on the couch when she should've been out celebrating how she just finished her freshman year of college."

"They're not just people. They're my parents." I added.

He walked over to the window and stared out as he talked to me.

"Yeah which is why you should know that they're going to love you no matter what. Your parents love you, Mya. They just need a little time and you need to stop blaming yourself. You aren't in this alone." He admitted.

I sighed and sat up. He was right. I always had a problem with trying to please everyone when the only person I should be trying to make happy is myself. It was time to tell Theo something I never wanted to say. Something a opinionated person like myself hated to say.

"I guess you're right." I muttered.

He whipped away from the window and looked at me with a quizzical glance.

"Did I just hear you right? Did you say I was right?" He smirked.

"Yes!" I said exasperatedly. "Don't make me say it again."

From knowing him as long as I had I knew by his face that he was very confident right then but for my sake he pushed his ego aside.

He turned away from the window and walked to me. His hand grazed my cheek and wrapped itself into my hair. His chocolatey and piercing eyes struck mine. His plump, pink lips tipped up into a tight and sideways smile. "I won't make you say it again."

I grinned back at him and wrapped my arms around him, bringing him in a sudden embrace that I felt I needed more than anything at that moment. He rested his forehead on mine.

He was so perfect in all ways. He was always there for me and never let me down. He cared for me and always showed his love. Theo, in all ways, was my better half. I am so lucky he chose my ad...and more importantly me.

"I love you."

He smiled upon hearing that. "And I love you."

He reached out and swiped away the small tear that I had randomly shed. With that he brought our lips together and throughout the whole kiss I was grinning like a fool.

A couple days later my parents showed up unexpectedly and after a couple hours everything was like it was before. I had my parents back and I was more happy than ever.

Although when Theo had just taken Gracie out for her walk y dad even had a few words to say. My mom must've known my dad wanted to talk because she randomly decided to tag along on the dog walk so it was just my father and me in the apartment.

Together we were doing dishes and cleaning up after the dinner and dessert we had just finished.

"You know, bug, I never wanted you to be living with another man until you were married." He admitted as he handed me another dish to dry.

"Dad please don't. I thought we just cleared all of this up." I said setting my dish towel down and propping a hand on my hip.

"Calm down there. You didn't even let me finish, sweetheart."

"Sorry." I shook my head as I picked up another dish to dry. "Go on."

He chuckled that laugh that I heard my whole life. A sound of purity and heartiness I was so happy to have back with us. "I was going to say I never wanted you to live with anyone until you were married. Key word being 'wanted.' I thought like that because I hardly ever hear of such young relationships being successful which is why I had such a hard time accepting that you kept something like this from your mother and I for so long."

"I'm sorry, dad. Again. I really didn't want to tell you until we knew you were better, so when your doctor finally cleared everything I wanted to get it off my chest. I'm really really sorry. I really am." I hadn't even noticed I was crying until I felt the hot tears slipping down my cheeks.

With my eyes closed as I violently wiped at my freshly wet cheeks, I felt my dad pull me close and envelope me in a tight hug. I had missed him and his hugs awfully. After nearly a year without him, I had almost forgotten what simple things about him felt like.

What his strong arms felt like around me that had always made me feel so safe and protected was nearly a distant memory. The familiar scent of his clean, earthy cologne that always surrounded my nostrils was nearly a ghost to my senses. Two simple things about a person had always made me feel at home, and the fact that they were slipping away from me was terrifying, to say the least.

Losing such simple things meant I was losing pieces of my dad little by little. During his health battles, I had missed my dad more than words could convey and with our disagreement separating us it felt like I had lost him all over again.

"I really missed you." I mumbled into his shoulder.

He was silent for a moment but then he spoke. "I missed you too, bug."

Within his words I heard his voice crack which only made me hold onto him tighter, never wanting to let go.

He pulled back and I looked up to his face. My dad's face now had his own set of gleaming tears. "I'll never leave you again, bug. You're stuck with me forever now. Hope you're cool with that."

I chuckled and let out a little sniffle. "Of course I am."

After we finished the dishes we made ourselves two steaming cups of hot cocoa, a drink my dad and I had always loved to share no matter the time of year, we sat at the table. Dad had insisted I tell him every detail of all the big events he had missed.

High school graduation. Getting accepted to college. Move-in day. Meeting Theo. Adopting Gracie.

It was hard to miss the sadness on his eyes but he insisted I continue because he wanted to know everything even if it hurt knowing he had missed such big events in his daughter's life.

We sat there and talked for what felt like forever. It was so good to be back to our old ways. Talks with him were something I hadn't realized I missed so much. But in all truth I just missed my dad. Just missed being around him and his cheesy jokes.

I was just so happy to have him back in my life.

____________

Theo had helped me through so much in my life. He was truly a heaven-sent and now it was my turn to help him.

I set my cup down on the island and moved across the kitchen until I was sitting beside him. I reached out to grab his hand which surprised him and made his eyes lock on me.

It always surprised how much Theo changed in just a week. His usual beautiful, sparkling brown eyes were now dull and lacking their usual luster. There were deep, nearly black circles rimming underneath from insufficient amounts of sleep.

I reached out to touch his cheek and my hand was met with Theo's newly grown whiskers. Although Theo had an enthralling semblance with any kind of look, I knew his newly grown facial hair was from his lack of self grooming.

Every day for the last week Theo has found something to worry about.

What he was going to wear? Was his father one of those guys who hated football players? Did he looked anything like his father or was his mother lying about this one too?

I tried to convince Theo to hold off on meeting his biological father until he was truly ready, but Theo resisted saying how he just wanted to get it done and over with.

And today was that day.

Theo's father was the CEO of a large and extremely successful company. He was a self-made man and very well-off. He was also a very busy man which made it extremely difficult for Theo to get an appointment with him.

But after going through countless levels of authority, Theo had booked himself a time slot with his own father for today at noon.

At first I thought it was odd for Theo to book an appointment with his own father rather than just call and tell him. But Theo had told me he wanted to meet him for the first time face to face.

Camilla had admitted to us that she still hadn't told Theo's biological father the truth out of embarrassment. She had refused to go along with us to meet with him until she randomly called Theo yesterday saying she owed it to both him and his true father to explain everything.

So here we are today nearly four hours away from the meeting and Theo looked nowhere near ready. Physically or mentally.

"Hey."

"Hey." He gave me a short and fake smile.

"You gonna eat your breakfast?" I ask.

Theo shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I know how you woke up early to make them. I'm just too nervous."

He must've felt me get out of bed this morning. "That's okay. Listen to me, Theo. You have nothing to worry about. He's your father. He's going to love you no matter what."

He took my hand off his face and held it in his own and looked me in the eyes. "And what if he doesn't?"

You could see the layers of anxiety building up and settling on Theo's slumped shoulders. There wasn't even a speck of humor in his eyes.

The father Theo had for the majority of his life had always been condescending and overbearing. The first and main male role model of his life was supposed to be understanding and to teach him everything he needed to know whereas he had received the exact opposite.

Deep down I knew that Theo was worried that his biological father would treat him like Mr. Thompson had. As someone he would put on the back burner at all times and never cared.

"If he doesn't then he is the stupidest man on the face of the earth." I stood from my chair. "Theo, you are the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. You're so kindhearted and compassionate. You always work hard for what you want and you're so dedicated. So if he doesn't see all of that in you then screw him. He doesn't deserve you and you don't need his negativity in your life."

Theo closed his eyes and leaned into my hand. His left hand came up to cup the one resting on his face and he kissed the inside of my wrist. "I don't know how I got so lucky. I love you so much, Mya."

"I love you too." I leaned down and left a quick peck on his lips. "Now eat your damn waffles."

He chuckled but turned and did as I told him to. After he was done, I practically forced him into the bathroom to get ready. Reluctantly he did as I said, and after he'd brushed his teeth for the third time this morning, I had him sit down on the edge of the bathtub. I started trimming his hair to give him a cleaner, more groomed look before moving onto his beard.

Holding the razor in my hand and looking at his face intently I tried to decide what to do.

"What are you thinking about?" He questioned.

"I think you should leave the beard." I admitted my thoughts as I ran my fingers along his jawline which was now covered with scruff.

"Oh, yeah?" He smirked and wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me closer to him. "And why's that?"

I grinned down to him. "Because you'll be going in to the NFL soon and it might be fun to try something new."

"Oh that's all?" He quirked an eyebrow up to me.

"And also I think it's super hot." Saying something like that, even after two years of being with Theo still made my face burn with embarrassment.

"Well if the lady thinks so then it stays." He winked up at me.

I was glad to see his common demeanor of being a jokester was coming back to him. It felt like it had been so long since I saw this side of him and I wasn't letting him go this time.

"Good. Just let me trim it up a bit and then you'll be good to go." I tried to back up but Theo grip remained on my waist like a corset.

"You're gonna have to let me go if you want me to get you all spiffied up." I told him with a chuckle.

"Nuh-uh." He shook his head childishly as his smirk slithered further up his mischievous face.

"Fine." I bent down and straddled him. Without having to even ask him his hands held me up to support me and I was secure. "Wasn't expecting that, were you?"

"Not at all. Just figured you'd fight me on it and eventually get your way, but I much prefer this way." His eyes gleamed a bit at that line and I chuckled.

"Too bad. This is a one and only kinda thing."

"Aww. Come on." He pouted and I just laugh at his child-like attitude as I flicked on the razor and began trimming up the edges of Theo's facial hair.

I was focused on that task so much that I didn't even notice Theo's eyes glued on my face the whole time. After a while I noticed how he watched as I determinedly and strategically shaved his beard. When I caught his eye he just smiled up to me and I just went back to work.

Just as I was about to finish tidying up Theo's face, a piece of my hair fell from my pony tail and it wasn't long before I felt his long fingers reach up and tuck the strands behind my ear.

I grinned at the small gesture but continued my works until I was finally done.

"Finished!" I sighed in relief as I smiled at my work and checked Theo over for any mistakes.

"All done?" He questioned as if he hadn't heard me the first time.

"Yeah. I just said that. You never listen, do you?" I scoffed dramatically to let him know I was just joking.

"I'm sorry baby. I was just so distracted by your never-ending beauty." He exclaimed just as dramatically.

I just laughed at his response, left a quick peck on his lips before I had him let me up. He stood up after me and walked over to the mirror. I watched as he ran his hand along his beard and examine his fresh shave.

"Did I do alright?" I asked, slightly nervous.