The following days, Hayden spent them learning about his daughter. Her personality, her routine, her likes and dislikes. He soon found out that if she was put into a swimming pool, it was impossible to get her out. Waterlogged as he was, he stayed an extra hour because Sophie was continually finding bigger and better things to do in the water.

“You know, for someone who loves water so much, you wouldn’t be able to get her near a fish stick.” Emily said, as she, Hayden and Sophie strolled (well Sophie was in a stroller), along in their neighborhood one afternoon.

“Fish sticks are an acquired taste, not for the faint of heart.” Hayden replied, with much theatrics. “They are gross.”

Emily peeked over the stroller that Hayden was pushing so adeptly, and saw that Sophie was already dozing off. “She’s tuckered out.” Emily didn’t even bother changing Sophie into her PJs, despite Hayden’s objections. “You wouldn’t want someone taking your clothes off of you, waking you up.”

“Actually I think-“

“Hayden. Shut it.” Emily replied, as she walked past him and into her bedroom.

“Em, where are we in the spectra of relationships. I mean, everything seems so platonic. And there’s nothing wrong with that but…” Hayden started. He didn’t really know where he was going with this, but it was worth a shot. “I’ve got something to show you.” He told her, pulling out a rather worn, fat wallet, he took out the contents. And surprisingly, it wasn’t cash. It was every birthday card she sent him since he was away (three), and Christmas cards, and random pictures of the two of them. “I don’t think a day went by that I didn’t think about you. I know where I want this to go, I just…”

“Want to know if I’ll go along with you?” Emily finished, walking towards him. She kissed him deeply, catching him off guard. Just as he eased into it, she pulled away. “What do you say to that?”

“Is Sophie a light sleeper?” Hayden asked with a grin.

Hayden was very content the next morning, with Emily still asleep beside him it was the perfect morning. Sophie padded in carrying her stuffed bear, that looked suspiciously like an Ewok, and was prying him out of bed. “Daddy!” She yelled, gleefully as he pulled her in instead, tickling her mercilessly. She talked in gibberish to him, with a few discernable words, and finally persuaded him to come downstairs.

“What is it Sophs?” He asked, as he set out her breakfast. She obviously didn’t want that. She took his hand and pulled him towards the front door. And looking pleased with herself, she peeked through the window next to the door frame. “Oh crap, NATALIE!” Hayden opened the door, slightly flustered, and embarrassed. He hadn’t brushed his teeth, or bothered to put a shirt on. He scooped up Sophie, who herself had a wonderful case of bed head, and opened the door.

“Hayden? It’s almost noon!” Natalie said, trying to contain her laughter.

“Uhh…okay. Could you do me a huge favor and entertain yourself here in the living room, and give us thirty minutes to get presentable?” Hayden asked. “If Emily finds out you’re here..she hasn’t showered yet…oh I’m in for it.”

Natalie just shook her head at her friend and laughed. Half an hour later, she put down her book when she saw Hayden, again carrying a very clean looking Sophie. A dark haired, gray eyed woman followed him. “So, Em. This is Natalie Portman. Nat, this is Emily Mc er..Chris er…we haven’t figured that out yet.” Hayden said, as though he was introducing his first girlfriend to his parents.

“Hayden’s told me so much about you!” Natalie said. “Shown me pictures and everything. Might have been my inspiration during filming for Revenge of the Sith. And who is this?”

“She is our daughter. Sophie Jane Christensen. She’ll be three in January.” Emily replied. She could already see Natalie doing the calculations in her head.

“So, Nat, since I’ve come home, I’ve been with Miss Sophie here, and I got so caught up, I forgot to tell Em, and well, I forgot, myself, that you were coming.” Hayden said quickly. “Which explains the gratuitous half-nudity when I answered the door.”

“Right.” Natalie grinned.

“Den, seeing as its almost noon, I’m starved. So…you and Sophie go and get stuff to grill, er, wait, Natalie..”

“Oh, grilled veggies are fine by me. I hate tofu.” She said with a face.

“So, there. I’ll see you in a bit.” She said, getting Sophie a sun-hat, and tucking her cell phone in Hayden’s pocket, then, practically forcing Hayden towards the door. She was very close to shutting it when Hayden pushed through to give her a peck on the cheek.

“I didn’t know Hayden was a father.” Natalie said interestedly as Emily took a box of pasta out of her pantry.

“He didn’t know either until he came back.” Emily said quickly as she put a pot on the stove.

“Really…” Natalie said, intrigued. She normally wasn’t a gossip, but Hayden, she felt, was like a younger brother (despite the fact that he was older by two months). And so Emily told a Cliff’s Notes version of the story and Natalie seemed satisfied. “He talked of you highly, though.”

“Did he?” Emily asked, curiously. She was now in the search for fresh herbs.

“Almost everyday.” Natalie said with feigned exasperation. “I can tell you that you are an only child, you are exactly nine months younger than Hayden, your parents moved out to Vancouver first, and Hayden’s family followed because of their persuasion. Your dad is a doctor, your mom is a university professor of economics, you went out with Tove when you were eighteen, which really riled him up.”

“Did it?! He never said anything. It was more like a fling anyway. Just to see what would happen if we were together, type thing.” Emily answered. “It was a week long. It just got weird. And Hayden was brooding.”

Natalie laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like that. He always brightened up on set around his birthday because of the card he’d be getting from you. And he really likes your Cajun fettuccine sauce, though he refuses to admit it, because mom’s spaghetti comes first. He’s never liked any of your boyfriends, and that you were the only person he listened to when it came to personal advice.”

“Do you have a good memory, or are you just making this up?” Emily asked, as the water boiled.

“I wrote it down.” Natalie replied. “The way Hayden talked about you, he respects you and at the same time is protective of you, and it sort of was… a vehicle to get into character.”

“Hayden’s all method. He would get into hissy fits before he left for filming.” Emily said, shaking her head. “I hope he didn’t tell you anything too embarrassing.”

“No, but…okay, I know I’m being too psychoanalytical, but that’s just how I process things… how do you see Hayden?” Natalie asked.

“Well, he’s responsible, always has been, protective, caring, and still one big goofball once he opens up. He’s not a talker, usually.” Emily said, just as Hayden bounded in, looking angry.

Hayden, holding Sophie, threw a magazine onto the kitchen counter before putting her down. He hauled in the rest of the groceries and then went out to the backyard. He came back in to see that Emily and Natalie were still talking and left the magazine untouched.

“What’s the story, morning glory?” Emily asked, with slight humor to dispel Hayden’s anger. Sophie was sitting in her lap eating Emily’s now finished pasta salad as if it was finger food.

“Page twenty-three. Pictures, of us. I can expect my manager to be flooding the phone with calls soon.” Hayden groaned. Sophie, however, was amused with seeing pictures of herself.

“Relax, Den. Your mom’s handling it.” Emily replied.

“You knew?” Hayden asked. He breathed deeply.

“Yeah, your mom took care of it.” Emily said, unfazed. “Relax, Den…it’s not the end of the world. Women will love you more because you’re a family man, men will hate you because you’re a family man, and directors might want to cast you in roles that they wouldn’t have thought to put you in before because you’re a family man.”

Hayden grinned at her. “God, I love you, Em.” He kissed her temple. “Now, come on Sophs, wanna go play with me and grandpa?” And soon enough, Hayden Christensen finally grew up.