Hard to believe that you are Mine.

We reached the house and Bri- dad opened the door, I took one step in and was flung into a bone-crushing hug.
"Back so soon?" Jimmy said as he walked into the hallway.
I smiled at him as Zacky let me go, "It’s so good to see you again. Please tell me you’re staying!" he asked, more like pleaded as Brian walked in behind me.

"She’s defininatley staying." he smiled, putting my suitcase down. As it hit the floor, Matt entered the hallway and questioned my presence, he then smiled at me and headed towards Brian.
"This must be Ashley, she’s beautiful Brian." he said as I made my way into the lounge and collapsed onto the sofa.
"Hey Ashley, good to see your face again." Johnny said as he flicked channels.

[Brian’s POV]
I opened the door for Ashley and myself and let her walk in first, only to be crushed by Zacky.
"It’s so good to see you again. Please tell me you’re staying!" he asked but before she could answer I spoke up.
"She’s definitely staying." I said as Ashley gave me a loving smile, I could get used to this. I put the suitcase down as Matt entered the somewhat crowded hallway, he looked at Ashley as he made his way towards me.

"This must be Ashley, she’s beautiful Brian." he said as she walked into the lounge, I couldn’t help but smile to myself.
"I don’t want to sound arrogant but I know. Still can’t believe she’s my daughter, my own flesh and blood man." I said as we passed the lounge to see Ashley watching TV with Johnny.

"Do you think you’re going to be able to handle this?" Matt asked as we both entered the kitchen and sat down at the island.
"I guess so, I mean how hard can it be? She lived here for about a month before they took her and nothing bad happened, but as long as Val’s there to deal with the stuff I can’t." I trailed off, hoping Matt would catch on.

He sat there a moment, questioning me slightly. Then the light bulb buzzed.
"Oh yeah, of course dude. Like shopping and, and makeup and because she’s a girl." he trailed off as well before the conversation became awkward.

"Dad!?"
That three-lettered word hit my ears like rocks as Ashley entered the kitchen, how should I reply, this would be confusing.
"Yes, honey?" I replied as she circled the island, she didnt seem bothered by what I called her so I stayed with it.

"Seeing as Matt has returned from his, holiday. Where am I kind of er, going to sleep?" she asked shyly as she passed Matt.
"Oh, we can kick Zacky out of his room while we arrange sleeping plans. Is that cool?" I said as she came to a stop, right in front of me.
She shrugged as she gave me a little smile, like the ones 3year olds give. "Cool!" she replied as she kissed me on the cheek before running out the room.

[Matt’s POV]
Brian and I left the others who went into the lounge and walked into the kitchen, we talked a while before Ashley called.
I saw Brian’s eyes widen alittle as he heard her voice but remained calm as she walked into the kitchen.

"Seeing as Matt has returned from his, holiday. Where am I kind of err, going to sleep?" she asked as she walked around us, slightly avoiding my glance.
"Oh, we can kick Zacky out of his room while we arrange sleeping plans. Is that cool?" he replied as she stopped in front of him.
She smiled at him before saying "Cool!", she then kissed Brian on the cheek which caught him offgaurd completely.

"You okay?" I asked as he sat there in a daze.
I was getting worried, "I’m fine, I think?" he said finally before he got up, holding his cheek the whole time.
"You sure?" I smirked as he shuffled around, not really sure where to go or what to do,
"Uhuh, yup." he replied, walking out the room.

I could tell that tiny little gesture was a big deal for him.
He had been calling me almost every week since she had arrived that month ago, saying what she looked like, and how she acted and about her wanting to find her dad, and everything they had to do.

I thought it was sweet, he was like a little kid with a new pet. I could tell he was growing feelings for her too, not like sexual feelings but fatherly figure type stuff.
To be honest, I didn't think Brian would be a 'great' father for her but after what I;ve seen, I couldn't think of any other guy for the job.

"Matt?" Zacky came running into the kitchen, "Apparently I’m being kicked out of my room, this so better not be true." he moaned as I stood up.

Why was I like the lead scout when it came to problems with these guys?
"Yes, it’s true. But if you let it happen, you can help decorate Ashley’s room. Make it awesome as you might say." I reasoned as a smile crepted onto his face.
"Fucking sweet!" he shouted as he left the room, I decided to follow him and headed into the lounge where everyone was gathered.

[Ashley’s POV]
Was what I just did right?
I think I threw him off alittle, I should’ve just smiled and left.

I tried to move the thoughts out of my mind as I entered the lounge once again and saw Johnny setting up the games console.
"Yo Jimmy, bet I can kick your ass at Call of Duty 4." he challenged as Jimmy sat in the corner eating Doritos.
"Is that a threat O' small one?" he announced, a mouth full of chips. I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.
"Why, I think it is. Now get your ass over here so I can kick it." Johnny replied as Jimmy rose from his corner and headed towards the sofa.

5minutes into the game and Brian walked in and sat next to me, I tensed alittle but relaxed almost instantly when he smiled at me.
"Take that you stinking piece of offal!" Jimmy shouted as he pressed violently at the buttons, the sight was humorous yet frightening at the same time.

"You know, you haven’t really spoken to Matt yet. I’m sure he'd love to meet you properly." Brian suggested as we watched the entertainment in front of us.
Calling him dad was certainly something I was going to have to get used to.
As if on cue, Matt walked into the lounge and almost immediately laughed at the display happening in front of the TV.

"Now’s your chance, hon." he whispered as he got up and left me, he said something to Matt before he left but I couldnt hear, probably something about me getting to know him.

"Hello there Ashley. I’ve been told, by a secret force, to keep you here until you tell me about yourself ." he said as he sat down in the place Brian was before.
"Okay, let me guess the secret force was my dad?" I asked as I saw him leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on his face, I stuck my tongue out at him before turning back to Matt.

"Yes." he laughed, "Now, give me five facts about yourself and then I’ll do the same."
I raised an eyebrow at him and then began to think.

"Okay, I was born in Minnesota then moved to New Jersey when I was about 3, I’m naturally a brunette but the girls at the kids home died it blue while I was sleeping, I’m allergic to carrots; the doctors say I start hyperventilating if I ate one but I never have so I don’t know, err, apparanently I looked exactly like my mum but Ive never seen the resemblance and lastly, I have an unhealthy love for Johnny Depp." I finished as I leant back into the sofa, slightly tired by the little biography I had just given.

"Your turn."

He took a deep breath before he began, "Lets see. My middle names Charles, I was expelled from school when I was in seventh grade; then went to boarding school and got expelled from there, I can play piano and bass, I was born July 31st 1981 and, I don’t like hamsters." I giggled at the last fact making him frown at me.

"What!?"
"Why don’t you like hamsters, they’re cute little balls of fluff?" I asked as he shuddered at the very word, "When I was younger, I picked up a hamster and it bit me. I tried to pull it off but it wouldn’t let go. So, now I hate their guts." he replied bluntly.

"Gruesome. I’m hungry!" I shouted as Jimmy’s head shot up, "Me too. Pizza?" he said as everyone agreed.

I got up after I shouted and headed towards my suitcase which was still lying in the now dark hallway.
"You poor neglected suitcase, all alone in this cold empty hallway with no friends, no family-"
"-And slight insanity which makes it talk to random objects?"

I turned round and saw my dad sitting on the bottom step of the stairway, "Hi."
"Hello." I said shyly as I went and sat next to him, there was a moment of silence before Brian thankfully broke it.

"So, you and Matthew got to know each other?"
"Uhuh. Did you know he hates hamsters? He told me about a time where a hamster-"
"- Bit his finger and wouldn’t let go? Yes, I saw the whole thing, it was funny from our point of view but he was terrified."
We both laughed before falling into silence again.

"Ashley, do you like me, as your dad?" Brian asked after a short while.
"Um, I guess so" I replied quietly, this was going nowhere.

But suddenly he took a deep breath and put his arm around me, "I know you don’t have a mother and nothings exactly set in stone but I’ll be the best dad I can be. I’ll protect you and put food on the table and even find a suitable mum if you want one." he stopped and relaxed alittle.

"I just want you to be happy." he said with a sigh, I hugged him tightly.
"I am happy, I couldn’t ask for a better dad." I replied with a smile, he smiled back at me and we sat there enjoying the moment together.

As father and daughter.