Picking up the Princess! (Nick)

[Rachel Kells]

The young girl was bouncing with excitement! Her dad was coming to pick her up from her home for the summer. She had been going with her dad in the summer for as long as she could remember. That was the custody agreement. Sometimes it was weird growing up as a divorce child, like when she had two christmas's and two birthdays. Her mom and dad were still friends just not in love. Rachel had to laugh at that sometimes. Why wouldn't her mom be in love with her dad? and vice versa? They both were awesome parents and people.

If only grownups weren't so stupid sometimes.

Most of the time though she liked her family situation. She got to play violin, and piano and ride horses! All at her daddy's expense! Mom helped too, but child support mostly went to her lessons. Looking up at the clock she waved to her mother and dragged her tangled backpack over and out sitting on the steps of the apartment building she lived in. She couldn't wait for him to come!

She also couldn't wait to see his new house! She heard it was in Pilot Ridge! That was exciting! After all, it was a new town for her and it was going to be fun! She couldn't wait to meet the people who dad worked with! Plus, the summer was going to be such fun!

She literally ran and gave her dad a flying hug when she saw him. Of course she did wait for the car to stop and him to pull in, but after that it was flying hugs time! "Hi daddy..." She hugged him tight. She wasn't letting go anytime soon.

[Nicholas Kells]

Nick may not have been bouncing with excitement, but that was merely because he was much too old and too mainly to do anything like that. He was however very excited about having Rachel spend the summer with him. Even though he worried about bringing her to a town like Pilot Ridge, where it seemed everyone was either a freak or a freak-lover. Still he felt confident in his ability to keep a eye on her and keep her safe.

He had even been in a slightly better mood at work, actually speaking with the twins without wanting to throw up in disgust. He had also let slip that his daughter was going to be in town and he might bring her by the office so that they could meet her. Of course he would be keeping a close eye on her while she was there.

He smiled as he pulled up to his ex-wife’s apartment building, glad that she had chosen to watch their daughter from the window rather than set outside with her where they might have to have some sort of force conversation.

Catching her as she ran up to hug him, Nick couldn’t help but share in her excitement. “Miss me?” he asked, although it was obvious that she had. “You all set? Did you say goodbye to your mother already?”

After putting her bags into the trunk of the car he held open the door for her to get in the passenger seat. Sliding into the driver seat, he waved to Rachel’s mother before pulling the car out onto the road. “So how’s my girl?”

[Rachel Kells]

She was waiting for him! She wished he would just get here already! She still didn't understand why her mom wouldn't come out. It wasn't right. But then again it did mean that she could get ring sooner. She had already said goodbye to her mom for a while. She loved her mom, but she also loved her dad. She didn't really get to see him often enough.

Which was why she wanted him to get here even more so! She was waiting and waiting and waiting. Frankly speaking she was getting tired of waiting! This time that she was waiting could be better spent doing other things!

Luckily she didn't have to wait that long! Her ad pulled up into the drive soon enough. It was really good to see him again! She smiled and waved up at her mom as she hugged her dad. She really did love her family!

" Of course I missed you!" Rachel grinned and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You were gone too long! I thought you were coming to get me sooner!" She was sad a bit about that but he was here now! "Yup! She says to tell you my bed time is at 9:30 and no later. I don't really sleep though unless someone reads me a story." Grinning she hugged him hard. "Will you read me a story every night dad?"

Rachel Immediately buckled up as she got into the passenger's seat. Safety first! She smiled at her dad and pushed his sunglasses on her face. She always did like his sunglasses. "Gooooooooood" Grinning she reached over and poked him. "More importantly how are you daddy?" She worried about him when she wasn't there. Who would make him smile more?!

[Nicholas Kells]

Nick couldn’t help but smile as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. Admittedly, he sometimes worried about her pulling away from him as she got older. Although he and his ex-wife had always said they would avoid bad-mouthing each other in front of the daughter, he sometimes wondered if Rachel would start to distrust him just from being so close to her mother all the time.

“I missed you too, sweetie,” he said, checking to make sure that she was safely belted into the seat as he pointed the car towards Pilot Ridge. Although unlike his daughter, he wasn’t one to literally bounce around with excitement it still felt like his heart was doing a little jig in his chest. “Of course I will. Although I hope you can keep it secret if I let you stay up a little later sometimes,” he said grinning at her.

“I’ve been busy getting everything all set for my princess,” he said, watching her put on his sunglass out of the corner of his eye. It was amazing how an action so simple could tug at his heart. “I hope you like it.” Being a detail oriented person, Nick had been obsessing over her room for a better part of the past two weeks. He had also thoroughly cleaned his apartment (even if it hardly needed it). “Did you bring your violin? It’s been so long since I’ve heard my girl play.”

[Rachel Kells]

Rachel grinned over at her dad as she looked around as they drove. Her mom said that her dad daddy had just fell out of love, nothing bad, they just fell out of love. She was the result of their mutual love. For some reason Rachel knew that neither of them would change the fact that they had her. She loved both of her parents but thought they were a little stupid sometimes. That was ok though! She was smart enough for all three of them.

Rachel wrinkled her nose at the name sweetie. She wasn't a sweetie. Her name was rachel. Silly daddy. She should call him sweetie, that would make him think. She giggled at the thought of his face with her calling him sweetie. her dad wasn't a sweetie either. Sweetie wasn't a suitable name for the Kells they really weren't all that sweet. She definitely perked up though when he mentioned letting her stay up later. "My lips are sealed." With wide eyes and a grin she zipped her lips, keeping them sealed together and throwing away the key. The secret was safe with her!

Rachel laughed as her dad kept driving. Everything was going by, and she was happily sitting in her seat just leaning back. "Of course I will like it. You know I like everything you make daddy." She really did. They had many of the same tastes, even if he did treat her like a little princess. Nodding at him she motioned to the back. "Its in the trunk remember?" Smiling she learned her head back and just looked at him. "I can't wait to play for you."

For the most part Rachel hadn't really slept the night before. It was no surprise though that she silently fell asleep on the car ride. it was a few hours drive and really relaxing, especially with the music her daddy played. The little girl had fallen asleep, laying on her dad, smiling with the dreams of only a child. She was sure that this summer was to be a good one.

---wrapped---