4 Months Later
The band had just finished their last performance before a two week break. Kirstie's birthday was coming up and Avi wanted to make it special for her.
"Adi! You only have one therapy session left tomorrow! Are you excited?" Kirstie asked, packing their things.
"Yes! Daddy said we can have a party after." She told her.
"We sure can." Kirstie said as she finished cleaning the dressing room.
"There's my girls." Avi entered the room, smiling.
"Daddy! You did so good!" Adeline squealed, running to him.
"Thank you, honey, but it's all because of you. You're my good luck charm." He picked her up, placing her on his hip.
Avi and Adeline's relationship had grown stronger over the last few months. After the accident, Avi took himself to therapy, for the guilt was starting to eat him alive. He would go days without without seeing or speaking to Adeline simply so he wouldn't be reminded of that day.
Kirstie was glad that he got help on his own, seeing as nothing she could say was helping the situation. He had only spent two months in therapy when he could finally face the events of that day without shutting down. She was extremely proud of his progress.
—
"You did good today Adi." Her physical therapist praised. "I am going to miss seeing your face here."
"I'm not going to miss this place." Adeline said in a monotone voice, making everyone laugh.
"I'm sure you won't." The PT said, standing up from her chair.
"Thank you for all your help, Kelly. We really appreciate it." Avi told her.
"Oh, it's nothing. I love my job and the relationships that I get to make while doing it. It's very special to me." She explained.
"Alright, Adi. You're all done. You stay far away from roads alright?" She asked, bending down in front of her.
"Yes, ma'am." Adeline said, hugging Kelly's neck. She smiled, hugging the little girl back.
"Come on, Adi. We have to go. Miss Kelly has another patient to see." Kirstie told her, holding out her hand.
Adeline pulled from the hug and grabbed Kirstie's hand, waving goodbye to Kelly before leaving the hospital.
—
"Where do you want to eat, Adi?" Avi asked, putting on his seat belt.
"Um... Olive Garden!" She yelled as she sat down in her booster seat.
"Olive Garden? Why so fancy?" Kirstie wondered.
"To celebrate." Adeline told her as a-matter-of-factly.
Kirstie laughed, shaking her head, "Well, alright. Olive Garden it is then."
Avi gripped the steering wheel nervously, trying to get his hands to stop sweating. The car ride went as smoothly as Avi could have hoped. As they got out, Avi took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
Once they got inside the restaurant, Kirstie excused herself to the restroom. Avi bent down in front of Adeline, "You remember the plan right?"
She nodded, "Uh huh."
"Good." He sighed, standing back up.
Kirstie had came back out, noticing Avi's discomfort. "Are you okay? You look a little pale."
He couldn't find any words to say, so he simply cleared his throat and nodded.
She furrowed her brows, "Um, okay.." He was acting weird.
Avi told the lady that they only had three people and she led them to a table away from everyone.
—
They had just finished their food. Adi looked up at her dad, motioning for him to bend down.
"Can we do it now?" She asked. Avi looked down at her and nodded.
Avi took out a small box, running his finger along the edges momentarily before placing it on the table in front of Kirstie.
She smiled in surprise, "What's this?"
"Um, since your birthday is coming up, Adi and I wanted to get you a present." Avi said, breathing heavily.
"Oh, you didn't have to.." She said, opening the box.
Avi held his breath as she stared down at the necklace. "Awe. I love it. Thank you." Kirstie smiled, running her fingers along the chain.
"On one side is Adi's birthday and on the other is when we officially announced to the world that she was our daughter." He explained.
"Um, that day meant a lot to me. I felt like I could finally share with the world this little girl who brought me so much joy in just a few days. She is my life now and I would do anything for her. The day that I finally met her, I was so angry. Not because of you hiding it from me, but that I had missed out on having her in my life." He stopped for a moment to gather his words.
"She was the thing that brought you and I back together. If not for her, we probably wouldn't be speaking right now. Being around you for these last months has made me realize that my feelings never went away. Not even after you left and I started dating other people again. Everything always came back to you."
"What I'm trying to say is.. I still love you. I never stopped loving you.. I want to be in your life forever. I want to be in Adeline's life forever. Kirstie.. Can we please try again..?"
Kirstie was in tears at this point. She wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Yes.. we can try again."
Avi smiled widely, tears welling up in his eyes. "Really?" He asked, surprised.
Kirstie nodded, laughing at his expression. Avi rushed to the other side of the table where she was sitting and kissed her passionately.
Smiling, Kirstie's hands found Avi's cheeks as the kissed deepened. Moments later, they heard a small "Ew," making them pull apart from each other.
They turned to look at Adeline. "Ew?" Avi asked.
"Kisses are gross." She stated.
"Oh, are they?" Avi asked, planting small kisses all over the girls face, making her giggle.
"Ew, daddy!" She laughed, wiping her face.
Kirstie smiled as she stared at the two. She was beyond happy. She grabbed Avi's hand, beaming.
"I love you." She whispered to him. Avi caressed her cheek softly, "I love you too."
"What about me?" Adi asked, crossing her arms.
"Of course we love you." Kirstie laughed, engulfing her into a hug.
Avi smiled, joining into the hug. He was beyond happy to call the girls his. He didn't want it any other way.
They were finally a family.
• • •
Well, that is the end. Thank you to all who has read this story and helped me with it along the way.