Some people are so poor, all they have in money -- 1997/98?

As wedding plans went underway, I was a little worried.  Granted, Michael was always the dad I had wanted all my life growing up... we were not blood.  I did not want to assume that he would give me away at the wedding.  I mean, he adopted us... but still.  I bit my lip and went over to my parents place.

I smiled at Mum when I walked in and gave her a hug.  "Mum, have you seen Dad?" I asked her, playing wiht the hem of my t-shirt.

I took a taste of the icing I was making; I was preparing little pastries for the bridal shower that we were throwing for Jada the next day.  Molly and I were taking care of all the food and whatnot.  I was not about to let Molly do it on her own, though she nearly insisted that she would.  I smiled at Jada.  "No, honey, I haven't.  What's up?" I questioned, turning back towards the icing in the bowl in front of me.

I walked in and heard the ladies talking.  I poked my head into the kitchen.  "I'm right here, actually," I said to them.  I walked in and gave Tobi a kiss on the cheek and gave my daughter a hug.  "Making sure her baking is as good as Molly's?"

I smiled and gave Michael a sideways kiss when he came in.  "Oh, stop it," I said to him.  "None of you have ever died from my cooking or baking before."  I put ome icing on my finger and let Michael take it off, much to Jada's eye rolling.

Though I was rolling my eyes like a good daughter at their display of affection, I was smiling.  I hoped that Fred and I were like that when we had kids.  "she is right about that," I pointed out to Michael, sticking my own finger in the icing and trying it.  "Delicious."  I gave Mum a smile.

"Dad, I actually had something to talk to you about, though," I said to him, wanting to get this out of the way... just in case I had to find a replacement.

I chuckled at Jada and then raised my eyebrows.  "She has that look she gets when it deals with the wedding," I whispered loudly to Tobi, teasing my daughter.  I grinned at her.  "Sure... is this something private?" I wanted to know if we were going to end up leaving the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes playfully.  "Erm... it's kind of private.  I think I'd rather talk to you alone.  Do you mind?" I asked, looking over at Mum, hopign she would willingly leave us.

I laughed at our daughter.  "Alright... but if my baking gets too delayed, Molly might just have to prepare everything," I teased.  I gave Michael a kiss on the cheek when I left and a loving smile towards my daughter.  I was not sure what Jada was up to,b ut I was sure I would hear all about it.

I chuckled and watched October leave.  I turned my attention to my daughter.  "Is everything alright?  Fred isn't driving you mental is he?" I questioned jokingly as I was sure it was the other way around.

I grinned at Dad and shook my head.  "No, I think that it might be the other way around," I teased, giving it right back at my dad.  I pushed my blonde hair behind my ear and took a graham cracker that was sitting on the counter and dipped it into the frosting Mum had made.  Eating it, I looked at him.  "I mean, I'm sure that I know the answer to this... but... well, you'll be there to walk me down the aisle, right?" I asked, biting my lip kind of nervously.  He was my dad, yeah, but not my real one.  I did not want to pressure him or anything.

I broke into a grin and looked at my daughter, seeing how nervous she was to even ask me that question.  I stood up and went over to her, putting my hands on her shoulders.  "Of course I'll walk you down the aisle," I said to her gently.  "You didn't even need to ask."

I was so relieved, hugging Dad back tightly.  I was so glad that he thought that way.  I grinned at him.  "Thank you," I said to him. "I figured you would... but with how things happened... I just wanted to make sure."  I knew that I sounded ridiculous now that I was explaining my reasoning to him.

I had been listening and knocked on the door frame to see if I could come back in.  When they nodded, I grinned and gave my daughter a hug.  I was so proud of her.  "Oh, honey, you are so adorable," I said to her.

I chuckled and still had one arm around my daughter's shoulders.  "I think so, too, but I am honored that you still thought you needed to ask," I assured her.  "I find it... suiting."

I rolled my eyes at my mum, glad that Dad still had an arm around me.  "I think it's wonderful," I said, grinning like an idiot.