'Because You Love Me' - Chapter 1
By: Kasey
Copyright: 2000

                Could he really do it? Could he walk
into that house and tell a scared little girl that she
was now coming home with him, that he was her father?
And, if he did, would she come with him because she
believed him, or because she was that scared, she’d
listen to anything anyone asked of her? 
	Kevin and Nick stood on the footpath, outside the
foster house that Ella now lived in. It was an average
middle class house, in an average middle class suburb,
the only exception being that there were around
fifteen other kids, all ages, colours and sizes,
running around in the front yard.
	" Which one do you think is Ella?" Kevin broke the
silence that had built up since he and Nick had taken
the first flight out of Texas that morning.
                " Umm, I’d be guessing, but that
little dark haired girl clutching the blue teddy over
there?" Nick said, pointing out a pretty little girl,
in a navy blue
dress, her dark hair tied in pigtails. She was sitting
on the front step, watching the other children play as
she clutched the very battered looking bear to her
chest.
	" She’s the only one alone, so maybe that is her. God
Nick, am I doing the right thing here?" Kevin asked
suddenly.
	" Yes," Nick said confidently.
	" How can you be so sure?"
	" C’mon! You play ‘daddy’ with all of us, why should
a little girl be any different, especially if she’s
your own daughter? I know that you’re doing the right
thing here, even if you don’t think so right now. Give
it a couple weeks. You’ll take to fatherhood like you
took to babying me," Nick teased, coaxing a
small smile out of Kevin, " Ah, there’s that elusive
smile I’ve been wanting to see!"
	" Nikolas..." Kevin said warningly but Nick was
already starting to walk towards the house.
	" C’mon Daddy, let’s go meet your daughter," Nick
called out. Kevin had to hurry to catch up with Nick
at the gate. They were met by a very harried looking
middle aged blonde woman, who was carrying a child who
looked to be around two on her hip.
	" Can I help you gentlemen?" she asked, eyeing them
both warily.
	" Um, my lawyer Keith Chandler called? I’m Kevin
Richardson, I’m here to take custody of my daughter
Ella Hayes."
	" Oh, that’s right. Your lawyer told me you’d be
around. Do you have some kind of I.D. on you? These
days, all kinds of strangers can claim they have
kids. I’m pretty wary when it comes to my kids
though," the woman said. Kevin nodded, and pulled out
his wallet, extracting his drivers license, extending
it for the woman to see. She looked at it carefully,
glanced up at Kevin then back at the license and
nodded, " I’m Sarah. Ella is sitting over there on the
stairs. She’s a very quiet little girl, but very
polite. Such a tragic loss for someone so young."
	" Thanks Sarah," Kevin said softly and the woman
nodded as she headed to the other side of the yard to
break up a fight between two of the older
children. Nick looked at Kevin, who was just standing
there, looking at Ella, a nervous, apprehensive
expression on his face.
	" It’s okay Kev. Everything will be fine, all you
have to do is go over and introduce yourself," Nick
said quietly and Kevin nodded, still not moving.
	" Do you think I should tell her that I’m her father
now, or wait until she’s over the shock of losing her
mother?" Kevin sounded nervous.
	" Oh boy...I never even thought about that. I
guess...maybe you should just introduce yourself as
the person who’ll take care of her now," Nick said
shrugging his shoulders. Kevin still did not move,
just staring at his daughter. Nick prodded him in the
side, urging him to go forward. Kevin nodded, licked
his
lips and moved slowly forward, Nick slightly behind
him. They stopped in front of Ella, who was looking at
them with eyes exactly like Kevin’s.
	" Are you here to take me to my mommy?" she asked and
Nick had to bite his lip to stop the tears that were
threatening to flow. Kevin hunched down
in front of her and smiled, his lips wavering
slightly.
	" I’m Kevin, Ella. I’m...a friend of your mommys and
she wanted me to take care of you for awhile. Is that
all right?" he asked. Ella watched him with serious
eyes and Nick could see Kevin in everything this
little girl did.
	" I guess so. Does Sarah not want me anymore?" Ella
asked and Kevin’s heart ached. This little girl - his
daughter - had gone through so much at such a young
age. He hoped that he could bring some normality back
into her life.
	" Ella, Sarah loves you, I know she does, but..."
Kevin looked around at Nick, looking helpless. He
didn’t know what to say. What could he say to her so
she wouldn’t think she was being deserted by someone
else? Nick got on his knees in front of the little
girl and smiled at her, trying to make her feel more
at ease.
	" Ella, hi. My name is Nick. I’m a friend of Kevins.
Sarah doesn’t want to let you go, but your mommy
wanted Kevin to take care of you now. It’s not that
Sarah doesn’t want you, its just that she’s no longer
the only one anymore. Do you understand?" Nick asked
gently, waiting until Ella nodded, before he smiled,"
Good. So, do you want to some with me and Kevin? We’re
staying at a really fancy hotel, with lots of
ice-cream and chocolate chip cookies. then, tomorrow
we go on a big plane to fly to Texas, where you’ll
meet out other friends. Would you like to do that
Ella?" Ella nodded shyly, glancing up at Kevin quickly
before turning back to Nick.
	" I’d like that," she said softly and Nick smiled.
	" Good. Do you want to get whatever else you have
with you so we can go? Dont want to miss out on all
the ice-cream now, do we?" Nick asked and Ella shook
her head, scrambling to her feet and hurrying inside.
Kevin got to his feet and stuffed his hands in his
pockets, bowing his head as Nick looked on, " Kev..."
	" You were great with her Nick," Kevin said softly.
	" Comes from experience. Are you okay?"
	" Sure. My own daughter shies away from me like a shy
horse, so I couldn’t be better!" Kevin said bitterly
and Nick swallowed hard.
	" Oh Kev, give it some time! I’m less threatening ya
know, I dont have those big bushy eyebrows of yours!"
but Nicks teasing didn’t even help Kevin crack a
smile. Nick sighed, " Kevin, she’s scared. I just did
what I would do if it were Aaron or BJ in the same
position. She’ll get used to you in time, and soon
she’ll be calling you ‘daddy’ and giggling at
everything you do. Just give her, and yourself, the
time you both need to adjust to one another."

*****