Disclaimer: I don�t own any of the Backstreet Boys. I own Tesia, and technically own Madison as well. She's is Ash's character in the story we are currently writing together. Also the song belongs to Lee Ann Womack.
Alexander James McLean sat in his home office, at his desk, watching his two small daughters play on the floor with their My Little Ponies. Madison Jade was the oldest, and at only three, loved to be the center of attention. Tesia Lenore was the baby, having had just recently turned two. He loved both his little girls SO much. And though being their father AND a Backstreet Boy was often hard, he WOULDN�T give either of them up for the world, even if it were offered to him on a silver platter. The media constantly ragged on him, for bringing the girls on tour with him and the other Boys, but he didn�t care. He REFUSED to miss a single minute of their lives because of his career. Besides, the girls LOVED going everywhere with their Daddy � both had him wrapped tightly around their little fingers.
�Daddy!� Madison, who he usually called MJ, cried. �Hungry!�
A.J. chuckled, and, taking them both by the hand, led them to the kitchen. He got them some apple slices, and took him back to his office and their beloved ponies. Once they were settled again, he sat back down at his desk, to work on a song. He glanced at the girls who were quietly playing and eating their Granny Smith apple slices.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
�Dada!� Tesia shrieked, running over to where her Daddy sat, hunched over the desk. �Dada!�
A.J. looked up from his writing and smiled down at her. �Yes, T?� He said, using her nickname. �What would you like, Baby?�
�Ah!� Tesia exclaimed, handing him her headless pony.
�What the�.� A.J. trailed off as he took it from her. �How in the world did its head come off?� He stared at it a moment, then attempted to get its head back on its body.
Tesia watched in wonder, as her Daddy fixed her favourite pony. �Ah! Da!�
A.J. chuckled, and handed her, her pony back. �Be careful, Baby. We don�t need another headless pony.� He leaned down to receive the kiss she wanted to give, then smiled as he watched her run over to her sister again to play. He then turned back to his task at hand � his music.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
romise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
�No sleep!� Madison argued a while later, when told it was time for bed. �Not sleepy, Daddy!�
A.J. sighed, as he picked up Tesia, who was tiredly rubbing at her eyes. �MJ, Daddy all ready let you stay up later than he should�ve. Now, c�mon, Baby.�
�No!� Madison declared, stamping her little foot. �No sleep!�
A.J. said nothing, as he scooped his oldest up under his arm. He then carried her and Tesia upstairs, and headed for Madison's room first. He deposited her there, setting her in the time-out chair. �Stay,� he ordered. Tesia laid her head upon her Daddy�s shoulder and sucked her thumb as they left the room. She was tired and wanted to go and cuddle with Mr. Duck.
A.J. entered Tesia's room, and set her down on the change table. He smiled as she lay back to get her diaper changed. �Thank-you T,� he praised, earning a tired smile from his sleepy baby. He finished changing her, then scooped her back up, and sat in the rocking chair. He rocked her for a few minutes, then got up and laid her in her crib next to Mr. Duck. �Night Baby T. Love you.� He kissed her forehead and left the room.
Madison was sitting in her chair, facing the wall, singing. �I love you, you love me�.�
A.J. groaned. �Baby, please don�t sing that. Daddy�s sick of Barney.�
Madison turned and stuck her tongue out at him. �No sleep, no Barney,� she answered quickly.
�Well, guess we�re stuck with Barney, because you ARE going to sleep now,� A.J. retorted. He advanced towards her, making her scream.
�No!� Madison shrieked as she jumped up and ran across the room. �No! No! No!�
�Madison, STOP your screaming!� A.J. said sternly. He finally caught her, and stood her up on her bed to change her into her pajamas.
�No! No!� Madison screamed, struggling to get away. �No!�
�Madison Jade! I�m warning you, Young Lady!� A.J. snapped. �If you wake up your sister, you�re in BIG trouble!�
Madison broke free, and ran across her bed pant less, letting out a yelp when her Daddy caught her again.
Not thinking, A.J. moved his hand to swat her butt, but caught himself at the last minute. He stood there, trying to control himself, as he stared at his right hand, which rested upon Madison's bare bottom.
Though he hadn�t struck her, Madison had gone quiet, feeling her Daddy�s hand on her bottom, and sensing just how mad he was. She started to cry, as she was scared and over-tired.
A.J. blinked back his tears, that threatened to fall, and finished getting her into her pajamas. He then tucked her into her big girl bed and sang to her. Once she was asleep, he kissed her head and the left room. He couldn�t believe how close he�d come to spanking one of his babies. He headed back to his office as more lyrics for his song popped into his head.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..........
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin',
Don't let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter,
If you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Later on that night, as he still sat hunched over his desk in his office writing, A.J. heard Tesia's cries through the one baby monitor sitting on his desk.
Each room in his house had two baby monitors in them, so that he would be able to hear both girls at all times. The reason for the two different types of monitors was so that he�d always know which girl it was that needed him.
A.J. went upstairs to check on Tesia. �What�s wrong, Baby? T?� He asked, as her lifted her out of the crib.
�Dada!� Tesia wailed, burying her face into his shoulder, and clutching Mr. Duck tight. She whimpered as her Daddy rubbed her back. She�d a nightmare, but no way to tell him that.
A.J. carried her downstairs with him, and sat in his desk chair holding her close. �Shh, Baby,� he soothed. �Daddy�s here.�
Tesia sat there sucking her thumb, and hugging her duck quietly for a bit. Once she was calm again, she slid out of his lap, and ran to the front of his desk. There, she began to dance, while smiling up at him.
A.J. chuckled and went around to where she was, scooping her up into his strong arms. �Wanna dace, Baby?�
Tesia clapped her hands, and bounced in his arms delightedly, as he began to sing and make them twirl about.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
and wonder where those years have gone.)
A.J. set Tesia down on the office couch after she�d fallen asleep in his arms. He�d just sat down again, when he heard a small voice call him from the doorway.
�Daddy�.�
A.J. looked over and spotted Madison. �Yes, Baby?�
�Can I sits with you?� Madison asked softly. �Bads dream�.�
�Of course, MJ,� A.J. smiled patting his lap. Once she�d run over to him and was settled in his lap, he kissed her head.
Madison turned, so that she was facing him, and could see him better. �Daddy?�
�Mm?� A.J. said, raking his fingers through her hair.
�Sorry�.� Madison apologized, looking up at him sadly.
A.J. smiled softly at her. �Daddy�s sorry too, Baby.�
Madison smiled back as he kissed her nose, making her giggled; she hugged him tightly. �What Daddy do?� She asked, pointing to the papers on the desk.
�Daddy�s writing a song for you and Tesia, Baby,� A.J. answered.
�Why?�
�Because Daddy loves you both VERY much,� A.J. said with a chuckle.
�Loves Daddy!� Madison chirped, giving a slight bounce. �My Daddy!�
�Yes MJ. Your Daddy,� A.J. smiled again, touching his forehead to hers. �And you�re my baby, Baby.�
Madison grinned and kissed his nose, making him smile again. She then settled her so she could cuddle with him.
A.J. held her close, as he once more went back to his writing.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
A.J. glanced over at his two sleeping little angels. He�d stuck Madison on the couch with her sister about an hour ago. He got up and went over to his babies, and covered them up. He then brushed the hair out of each of their eyes, and kissed their little foreheads. �My Babies,� he whispered to himself proudly. �My little babies.� He smiled softly, and dragged his Lazy Boy chair over to the couch. He collapsed into the chair, and suddenly decided he wanted to hold his little girls.
Both girls stirred slightly, as their Daddy scooped them up; but both settled back down, snuggling into his warm, loving embrace as best they could.
A.J. covered the three of them up and kissed their heads again. He then closed his eyes and hummed the last part of his song.
Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
and wonder where those years have gone.)
The End!
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