CLIFFORD:
Your sixteen-years-old daughter tiptoed barefoot into the living room trying to not wake anybody up. It was way past her curfew and she knew that if she got caught she was in big trouble. Pair of heels in one hand, her leather jacket in the other as she rapidly climbed up the stairs. She let out a deep breath that she had been holding in since she walked in, relieved she didn't bump into anyone. She mentally high-fived herself, opening the door to her room when she got greeted by her dad who was waiting for her on the bed. ''Hi dad,'' she smiled up at him, she had Michael wrapped around her finger. But this time Michael promised himself not to fall for his smiling princess with her big eyes and small pout. ''You are late.'' Michael stated in a monotone voice. Your daughter flinched at his cold voice and dead stare. ''Sorry, Mia was suppose to bring me home but I couldn't find her anywhere.'' ''You should have called,'' Michael was furious, she was only sixteen for god's sake. ''Sorry, my phone had no battery.'' Just on queue her phone started ringing. Michael raised an eyebrow at her, ''doesn't sound like it had no battery.'' ''I was just having a lot of fun okay, happens sometimes.'' She tried to reason with her dad, but Michael didn't flinch. ''Have you been drinking?'' Michael knew she was, he could smell it, of course he didn't want her drinking but he knew what it was like to be sixteen. ''No.'' Michael snapped, he wouldn't be pissed at her for drinking if she was honest with him, and maybe if she had called and informed him that she was coming late. ''You have been drinking don't lie to me I can smell it!'' Michael raised his voice and stood up from the bed. ''No I have not,'' ''I can smell it'' he stated again. Then his daughter did something which he hated immensely, she rolled her eyes. ''Whatever,'' ''Don't talk to me like that young lady!'' Michael had to contain himself from yelling, waking up the whole house. ''Whatever,'' his daughter hissed again, loving how she could wind up her dad. ''Give me your phone, you are grounded!'' Michael's voice was low, it was 1:30 he was tired and he did not need his teenage daughter against him. ''WHAT NO, WHY DO YOU ALWAYS RUIN EVERYTHING'' his daughter yelled, after he repeated the sentence again, adding that she was grounded. ''I am your dad, I make these rules to protect you'' Michael stated calmly. His daughter narrowed her eyes at him, grabbed her phone and threw it in his hands. ''You are not allowed to call yourself my dad, I am fucking adopted you are not my fucking dad! You will never be my fucking dad! Never you hear me, stop calling yourself my dad! You are not.'' And with that she turned around and jumped in bed. Leaving Michael standing there, stunned and heartbroken at her outburst. Yes she was adopted but Michael did everything in his right mind to be there for her, to be her dad. It stung hearing her say those words. Michael turned around, tears forming in his eyes as he walked back to your shared bedroom. He couldn't sleep, all he did was stare at the ceiling, the words repeating over and over in his head, wondering where and what he did wrong.
HEMMINGS:
Luke stood against the wall watching the simple teasing developing into bullying when he decided to get in between your fifteen-years-old son and your six-years-old daughter. You had left Luke in charge for the day so you could go and catch up with friends. But so far the only thing that your children had been doing was bicker over stupid things. Despite the large age gap and the fact that your son was adopted, your kids normally got along very well so this was something new for Luke. ''Hey, hey stop it both of you!'' He raised his voice, stepping in between both kids. Luke looked at his son, eyes filled with anger, his daughter on the other hand looked like she was about to cry. Luke crouched down to your daughters height and grabbed her hands. Her eyes filled with tears, he kissed her cheek. ''Go upstairs and play yeah, I will talk to you when I finish talking to your brother okay princess?'' She nodded and slowly walked up the stairs. ''And for you,'' Luke stared, his blood begining to boil as he saw how his son had made his little girl sad. ''Kitchen!'' Luke knew what it felt like to be the youngest in the family, always getting teased. ''You should not tease your sister like that!'' Luke hadn't got a clue which way his lecture was going but he sure as hell was going to make his son understand how it felt like to be always picked on. ''She started it!'' Your son defended himself, crossing his arms over his chest. ''Listen buddy, you are the older person here. You need to know when to stop'' ''SHE STARTED'' your son yelled back, letting out a loud huff. Luke did everything in his right mind to keep calm, knowing screaming back won't help. ''Listen, I do not care who started it, you are the older person in that argument and you need to know when to stop.'' He explained surprisingly calm. ''WHY DO YOU ALWAYS CHOSE HER SIDE'' Your son was furious, throwing his hands in the air. ''I am not choosing anyone's side I am on-'' ''whatever you cannot tell me what to do or what not to do.'' Your son rolled his eyes at Luke. ''Yes I can, I am your dad.'' ''NO! NO YOU ARE NOT MY DAD, YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON WHO CREATED ME YOU ARE NOT MY DAD! YOU WILL NEVER BE MY DAD!'' Your son exploded, running out of the kitchen into his room. Luke stood there stunned at his son's words. As on queue you walk in, eying up Luke's posture; head low between his arms whom are supporting his body weight on the kitchen counter. ''Hey there'' you coo, not knowing what just happened. Mostly Luke would look up and grin at you. You frowned and decided to wiggle yourself between his arms, cupping his face. ''Hey'' you tried again, only being greeted by red eyes and fresh tears rolling onto his cheeks. Immediately his arms wrap around your body, pressing you against the counter and sobbing into your shoulder. ''He, he, w-walked off, s-s-saying I am n-not hi-his dad'' Luke cried into your shoulder.
HOOD:
It was a lovely weather this Sunday and you decided it would be a great idea to have a family dinner out in the yard and discuss your day, your son, however, wasn't too keen of the idea. "Don't worry, it's a teenager thing" Calum said winking at you as he was setting the plates on the table, you look over at your son who was alittle too "teenager-y" today. Normally he would help you set up the table or comment on how good the food looks, or even just smile. Today none of that was given, he was sat next to you, arms crossed and his eyes set on his plate of hot dog and fries. "You do know that the sandwich is not going to jump into your mouth right? Eat up!" Calum said jokingly, not even a smile was cracked by the thirteen year old boy "i'm not hungry" he said, with his eyes still focused on his plate. He had been acting strange lately, not being as open as normal, not wanting to attend to anything with you and Calum. You yet had to tell your son that he was adopted at a very young age. Calum and you had talked about it a lot but constantly delaying it. It either wasn't the right time or you decided that he wasn't ready yet. Your son had a fragile heart, when he was younger, as soon as someone started shouting he would burst into tears. ''Come on honey, you have barely eaten today'' you tried, feeling a reassuring squeeze in your thigh from Calum. You smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. Your son scoffed and pushed his plate further away from him. ''One bite won't hurt'' Calum tried, but you son heavily shook his head. ''Okay then'' he mumbled under his breath, ''did anything fun yesterday?'' Calum tried. Your son, again, shook his head. Calum raised his eyebrow, ''nothing at all? Come on man I am sure you did something yesterday.'' ''Well I was stuck with this woman here,'' he pointed a finger at you, ''all day, I couldn't count that was fun.'' Your son said with no emotion in his voice. Something in Calum snapped, he banged his fists on the table, ''do not talk to your mother like that.'' Calum narrowed his eyes at your son, he only shrugged. ''Why she didn't gave birth to me so I don't see why I can't.'' You opened your mouth to say something, but nothing came out. ''Yeah I know, thanks for telling me I am adopted 'mum and dad', really appreciate it.'' Your son scoffed, standing up from the table ready to walk away when Calum stopped him by grabbing his wrist. ''Sit'' he said strictly. Your son shook his head like he did earlier when he denied to eat his food. ''It wasn't a question. Sit down. Now.'' Calum said, raising his voice. But your son stood tall, ''No. I am not going to sit and hear you tell lies.'' Calum shook his head, ''we are going to tell you the truth. Sit down.'' ''No, I don't want to sit down! I don't want to do anything you tell me to do! You are not my dad, I don't have to follow your orders.'' With that your son pulled himself away with so much force Calum had to let go. Leaving you both behind, you still in shock over even the fact how he had found out! Calum fought against the tears forming in his eyes. He closed his eyes and wished he had told your son earlier, because Calum wanted nothing more than to be a real dad to him.
IRWIN:
Ashton was seated on the bed of your just-turned seventeen-years-old daughter. His foot was tapping an unsteady pace, his mind flickering to where it had gone wrong. When in her right mind did your daughter decide it was okay to smoke. Did she do it because she thought it was cool? Did she do it because of peer pressure. Ashton was almost sure it was peer pressure. He knew his daughter better than anyone, at least he thought so. You both had adopted her at a very young age, only 5 weeks old. Ever since the day she was born it was Ashton's mission to make her feel like his own daughter. As the years passed your daughter and Ashton grew very close. From the moment she could understand you both had explained her dad she had a ''belly mummy and daddy'' who made her but now Ashton and you were her ''grown up mummy and daddy''. The truth was that your daughter's original parents had dumped her and a policeman had found her. As she grew up you both would tell her more and more. Now at the age of seventeen she knew as much as you guys knew. She hadn't shown any intention in searching her biological parents yet. Ashton and you had promised her that no matter what she decided to do, you would stand behind her. You had a very open relationship with your daughter, she told you both everything about parties. You had told her that of course you preferred if she didn't drink but if she did, you would not be mad if she was just honest. So finding a package of cigarettes in your daughters jacket came to a shock of both of you. Ashton had told you that he wanted to be the one to talk to her, you agreed since he was the one who was the most upset about this. ''Be easy on her'' you had told him before going out to do some work for friend's wedding. And here was Ashton now, practicing his speech in his head waiting for your daughters arrival. ''Oh hey dad'' your daughter smiled. Launching her back in the corner next to her bureau and kicking off her shoes. Her smile faded when she noticed the familiar package in Ashton's hands. ''I keep them for a friend!'' She immediately tried, trying to sound confident. Ashton almost growled, hating it when people lied to him. ''Don't lie, I know they are yours.'' ''They are not'' you daughter shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. ''I smelled your clothes in the hamper, they are yours.'' Ashton's voice was calm and lifeless. ''Why are you even going through my stuff'' your daughter dared him. ''I am the dad, I ask the questions.'' Your daughter scoffed and rolled her eyes. ''Honey, I do not want you smoking, spending money on a stupid habit that can kill you so easily. I won't allow it.'' Your daughter rolled her eyes again, ''well I am sorry to break it to you but you cannot tell me what to do. You are not my dad.'' She grabbed the package out of Ashton's grip, put her shoes on and ran to her car, leaving Ashton behind. Your daughter knew what she said was wrong but right now she didn't care. Ashton sat there, staring at the white wall, covered in pictures of your daughter. He spotted a picture that was taken only three years ago, the two of them grinning widely as she was holding a guitar and Ashton was drumming, his heart broke looking at the picture, wondering if even then his daughter had felt like Ashton was never her dad. A tear rolled down his cheek, his aim was to be a dad to your daughter. But clearly somewhere on the road he had failed miserably.