can't change what you don't know

really?

                  Tatum was sat on the couch in her social workers house, she'd been split up from her step siblings since they had gone to live with their aunt in Jacksonville already, she snapped her head towards the door when the doorbell rang loudly.  She was pleasantly surprised when jay and hailey walked into the house, hailey was smiling by jay looked a little nervous which made her scared slightly.  They walked over and stood in front of her, "hey, how you doing?" Hailey smiled at her.  Tatum nodded, "okay..." she smiled weakly back.  Jay nodded, "we found out who your dad is" he got straight to it.  Tatums eyes lit up, "you did?" She says up straighter and crossed her legs.  Jay smiled and nodded, "wait, does he want me though?" Tatum added, a hint of doubt in her tone.

                 Jay looked at hailey sadly but turned to face the kid again and nodded positively, of course he wants her, "okay okay, who is he?" The kid smiled excitedly.  Jay smiled back, she seemed much more calm in a safer environment but he didn't really know what to say so he just held his arms out.  Tatums heart stopped beating for a second, "you're my dad?" She tilted her head.  Jay nodded, "really?" She stood up, happy tears threatening to spill, jay nodded but he wasn't sure if she was happy or sad from her reaction.  Tatum smiled but without thinking she immediately walked straight into his arms, jay wasted no time in hugging her back, "I knew you weren't a bad person..." she cried out into his lower chest since she was a small kid. Jay smiled as hailey smiled at the pair, all of his doubts slipped away.

After a while of jay hugging his kid they all sat down on the couch, "I promise you everything's gonna be alright. I never knew I had a child, I didn't even know you existed Tate, I would've been there for you if I did" jay smiled as his child looked at him with her shining green eyes. Tatum shrugged, "none of that matters anymore, we have each other now right?" She smiled. Jay smiled back and grabbed her hand reassuringly, "we do, and I'm gonna take care of you" he nodded. Tatum smiled and nodded back before smiling at hailey.  The social worker walks back out and smiled, "I've already been notified, she's free to go with you now if that's what your plan is" she smiled.  Tatum smiled excitedly, this is all she wanted in life, "sure, you got your stuff?" Jay nodded and looked at his dear child.  Tatum nodded, "mmhmm" she smiled and grabbed her bag from behind the couch.

The trio left the house happily and made their way over to jays truck, "how would you feel about coming home to live with me if I can get full custody?" He smiled. Tatum nodded, "I'd like that" she smiled and fastened her seat belt. Jay smiled at hailey, he never really planned on having kids but this was kind of a blessing.  They trio made conversation the whole drive to jays house, it wasn't like he had the guest room decorated for a child to live in but it was still better than being with her mother for the time being.  When they arrived him jay opened the car door for her and lead the girls into his house.  Tatum smiled as she walked inside, it was nice and cozy, not too big, just perfect for them and this is what home felt like.

Jay showed her to her new room, "it's not really ideal yet but it's better than nothing" he smiled and leant in the door way. Tatum giggled and flopped onto the comfy bed, "it's perfect" she smiled and looked around before smiling at her dad. Jay smiled, seeing her like this was like seeing a whole different kid, she was much happier with him and they'd only just formally met. He smiled, "you hungry?" He nodded. Tatum sat up, "maybe a little" she tilted her head, surely she loved this, and so she did, she loved having her dad around. It's crazy how small the world really is, and the fact they met before finding out who they really are to each other is even more crazy.

He smiled and ruffed up her hair a little as she walked past him to go back to the living room, he just knew they were going to get along just fine, "I've already ordered pizza" hailey smiled from the couch.  Jay smiled and placed a hand on tatums shoulder as they walked toward the couch to join hailey.  Tatum sat in the middle of the two and smiled, "I've been waiting all my life for this..." she just smiled at the wall, fully knowing the adults were looking at her, it's fair to say she isn't a shy kid.  Jay smiled, "no matter what happens with the custody battle, I'm always gonna be here with you Tate, we both are" he nodded at hailey.  Hailey smiled and nodded as Tatum flashed them both a quick smile, the door bell rang and broke up their little moment.

                  Jay reappeared with pizza and smiled, "foods ready" he nodded and sat down.  Both girls laughed as all three of them indulged into the ham pizza from a deep dish diner down the road.  Tatum looked at her dad in confusion, "have you ever had something unexplainable happen to you?" She tilted her head.  Jay looked at hailey in confusion but nodded, "I have kiddo why?" He smiled at his daughter, who now that he had fully taken everything in, looked like his double.  Tatum sighed, "right, the other day I was asleep on the couch and then the back door slammed shut, but I couldn't find anyone in the house and I swear I locked the back door when I left for school" she laughed a little, but it was more of a search for reassurance.

Jay smiled at hailey slightly as his partner just laughed a little, "don't freak out honey but the door you heard was just me and hailey leaving the house" he bit his lip nervously. Tatums eyes widened, "wait, you guys were in the house? Even before I got home? And I didn't even notice?" She stiffened up.  Jay placed a hand on her arm, "we were, but you were safe and we left before anyone else could get home" he smiled.  Tatum laughed a little, "I shit myself..." she started but gasped when she swore, "language, sorry" she laughed a little. Jay couldn't stop his laughter, "yeah we need to clean that mouth of yours out" he nudged her arm. Tatum just laughed as hailey smiled, clearly they were a strong match made that couldn't be broken.