unconditionally. **completed**

#18 take my last name

I watched her walk back to the car and I turned to the head stone to talk to Luke. I'm not sure why I needed to say this or why ibgelt the need to say anything at all. so much had happened in such a short time. I felt a need to protect her from all of it but she was so strong without me all I could do was stand there in awe. she was going to help her take care of her husband's other child. she was going to make sure his mom got to spend more time with him. it made my heart so full of pride and love for her. I had never met anyone else like that before. she was just simply amazing. " Luke I don't agree with what you did to her. you made her feel like she wasn't enough. she is more than you ever deserved and I plan on spending the rest of my life making sure that Emma knows how amazing she is. how could you not love her like she deserved? hoe could you not love my princess like she deserved. you were supposed to teach her how a man should treat her. you were supposed to love them and only them. well I'm thanking you for both of them. I won't ever let them doubt that they are everything in my world. I'm hoping Emma will love me enough to take my last name and I will raise joseline like she is mine because she is. she is so amazing. they are everything and you missed out on that. I'm going to be the man that you couldn't be."

I turned around and walked to the car to Emma. to my life. I was walking home. there were some tears in my eyes as I got in but I didn't even care. what I just saw was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. " I'm starving. let's get something greasy and disgusting. " I laughed at her.

" what my queen wants she gets." we drove to a little dinner and sat down. it was just the two of us sitting and talking and just enjoying each other's company. yeah I was going to do everything in my power to make sure she knew she was more than enough. she was my everything.

Emma woke up this morning not feeling very good. well she was running towards the bathroom. I called the office e canceled everything for the day and helped get joseline to school. Joseline turns five in two days so I was hoping Emma was feeling better by then. of course the theme was princess. when I got home Emma was in bed asleep. she was wrapped in her towel amd her hair was still wet. I came and kissed her forehead and tucked her back into bed. making my way back into the kitchen I got a call from the office. " this is Mr stone."

" there is a business matter that we can't close without you sir. I know you called in clearing your calendar but if this matter doesn't get resolved today then the deal doesn't go through." well crap! fine to the office for an hour then leave in time to get joseline. I can do this.

" I will be there in an hour. set them up in conference room three." I hung up and took the soup upstairs to Emma. I brushed her hair off her face and kissed her softly on the cheek. she started stirring and sat back up. " I have to go to the office. I made you some soup and our little princess is already at school. I will grab her after the board meeting. you get some rest. I love you baby." she smiled and grabbed the soup.

" I feel anlot better. I'm not sure what came over me. I can grab joseline later if your meeting runs too late. just let me know."

I shook my head. " no you need rest. besides I need my secretary back. you know where everything is." I got dressed quickly and made my way to the office. the driver was quick and we made it to the office in record time. " thanks Ian. hopefully I will only be about an hour maybe two." he nodded and I made my way up to the board room. I called down to Stephanie I figured I needed a secretary for the day so I would use Emma's friend. when she made her way up to the executive floor I shook her hand and gave her the run down. I could definitely see why Emma liked her. she was an impeccable worker and learned as fast as Emma. it took two hours to close the deal but it was finally done. the men and women were filling out of the conference room and headed home. Stephanie was cleaning up and I was helping. " I have to rush and grab joseline but I wanted to talk to you for a minute. "

" what's up Mr stone?"

" right now it's Josh. " I sat down and pointed to a chair for her to sit in. " I want to ask Emma to marry me. I need ideas. do you think she woukd say yes? I've never done this before."

" OH MY GOD!!!! ok! that balcony in your apartment. she loves that view. you know she goes out there sometimes and just watches the city? it's her favorite spot. I say candles and flower petals and you getting down on one knee! josh! do it soon because I'm not good at secrets!!!" Her voice was three notches too high.

" give me twenty four hours. I already have the perfect ring. I bought it when I first realized I love her. I want tobask joseline also. I got her a diamond princess ring. it's a little crown with diamons on each point. "

" that is perfect! I'm going to be a maid of honor!" I couldn't help but laugh at her. I had a lot of calls to make.

as Stephanie was walking out the door I stopped her for a second. " thank you." she smiled as I got on the phone making all the arrangements. tomorrow night I was asking Emma to marry me. fingers crossed she said yes.

" daddy!" my princess came running to me when she saw me coming in to pick her up.

she flew into my arms. " hey there pretty princess. mommy isn't feeling good right now so I thought we could go get some dinner and bring it back to eat at home." I tickled her side and she squealed laughing. " thank you ladies. we shall see you tomorrow. " we waved to everyone and made our way to my driver outside. all of a sudden there were hands grabbing joseline trying to take her from my arms. an older man was screaming and an older woman started hitting me with her purse.

" that's our granddaughter!" I was holding her with all my strength and I was not letting her go. my driver came over taking the man and holding him back while I shoved joseline into the car.

" who are you!" I stood in the way of the door so they couldn't get to her.

" that is our granddaughter you are trying to kidnap!"

" I've met Emma's parents and you are definitely bot them. "

" we are Luke's parents. who are you?" everything made sense. the strawberry blonde hair and the curls and the cute little button nose. joseline looked just like Luke. I nodded to my driver and he let the older man go.

" make sure my princess is ok. I will call Emma. " the driver nodded hopping in the driver seat and locking the door behind him. I coukd hear Emma singing to her favorite songs with the driver as loud as they could.

" she is not your princess! who are you?"

" I'm her dad." the older woman grabbed onto her husband's arm and took a step back.

" no. you can't replace Luke. " I quickly dialed Emma at home praying she picked up the phone.

" josh? is everything ok?"

" ummm, well I just met Luke's parents outside of joselines day care."

" hand them the phone Josh. " I handed the phone over to the woman. she grabbed it from me and I coukd hear yelling on the other end.

" Emma dear Luke is her father. you can't possibly replace him. you can't possibly think some other man would be able to replace Luke. " there was more yelling on the other end and the woman grew quiet. I could see the disdain in her eyes as she hung up handing me the phone. " I'm sorry about this misunderstanding. I will make sure to call next time before just showing up." she looked at her husband.

" ma'am, let me talk with Emma. maybe we can do dinner at our home. maybe have a play date?"

" that would be amazing. thank you." her and her husband left and I climbed into the car signaling for the driver to head home.

" that's my other daddy's mom and dad. grandma joseline like my name and grandpa Derek. I don't see them much since daddy Luke died. they were too sad."

" I love you princess."

" I love you too daddy! my birthday is in two days!" forever the princess. she will always be my princess. when we got home Emma was in the kitchen. joseline ran up to her room to play with her toys.

" baby what's wrong? are you still sick?" she was pacing back and forth and it looked like she had been crying. I was getting scared not sure what she woukd be crying for.

" I need to talk to you. I'm not sure you are going to be happy." she stopped pacing and turned towards me and tears were falling down her face.

" baby please you're scaring me! what's wrong?"

" josh,..." she sat down on the stool and looked down at her feet. what the hell was going on? " Josh I'm pregnant." she started crying hard and I was scared for her." I know it's probably not what you want and I'm so sorry..."

" no don't you dare finish that sentence. I'm happy! I am more than happy! I get to be a dad again. I'm going to have two kids with the woman I absolutely love. how could I not be happy about that?" I grabbed her to my chest as she wiped away her tears.

" you really are happy? you're not just saying that?"

" I want to legally adopt joseline if you would let me. I'm not saying take away uses name but maybe give her mine too? I want to be her dad." Emma pulled back staring into my eyes. her mouth opened and closed but no words came out. crap! maybe she didn't want that. maybe she didn't want me to be her dad. " please say something. tell me to f**k off or anything. please. "

" I want that too!" she just buried her head in my chest and cried some more." let's get our princess down here a s ask what she wants. this would be the best birthday present she could have." just like clock work joseline came out of her room dancing and twirling like the princess she is. " princess baby come here we want to ask you something. " she skipped over to us jumping ibto my arms. " daddy just asked if he coukd adopt you legally and give you his last name. would you want that?"

joseline clapped her hands and then wrapped him in a hug." so you will be my real daddy too?"

at this point even I was crying. hugging her back squeezing her with all the love I had I answered my princess. " yes but even if you say no. I will always be your real daddy."

" I'm gonna be adopted! I'm gonna be adopted!" she climbed out of my arms dancing around. " daddy can we do a makeover party?" how could I say no? hopefully there was less pink this time and maybe I should hide the glitter.