imagines

•biggest fans• {danny amendola}

The silence that had filled Gillette Stadium for months now was finally overtaken with the loud noise of the loyal Patriots fans. The fans all had on their favorite player's jersey: Brady, Gronkowski, Jones, Collins. But the most loyal fans were sitting right next to me. In their daddy's jersey. One on my lap, one to my right each wore a number 80 jersey in support of my husband: Danny Amendola.

My daughter, Vanessa, didn't really understand football, but the pigtailed beauty loved cheering on Danny. She was a daddy's girl. At only 1 and a half years old she was gorgeous. Her caramel skins complimented her shining eyes that she got from her daddy.

My son, Danny Jr, on the other hand loved watching football and his daddy was his hero. Anything Danny did, so dad Jr. Danny Jr thought that his dad was the best person to ever play the game of football and took pride in what his dad did. My 4 year old son wanted to be just like his dad when he grew up.

The game was just getting started and the NFL season was officially kicked off. #80 stood in the end zone to return the kick off. The ball landed perfectly in his arms and he bolted. "Go daddy! Go daddy! Go!" Jr cheered next to me. He was hopping up and down in our box seats. The game of football was in his blood and I swear he knew the game better than I did.

Danny got to the 40 yard line and our offense took the field. Tom saw that Danny was wide open. He let the ball fly and off Danny went running for the touchdown.

"The first touchdown of the New England Patriots season goes to #80, Danny A-men-dol-a," the announcer said pausing between every syllable of our last name. Our box erupted into cheers. "Vanessa! Daddy scored a touchdown!" I said standing in my seat and waving my one hand in the air while the other was still wrapped around my daughter.

After the game we were ushered down to the field by workers of the stadium. I stood on the 50 yard line with my daughter on my hip. Danny Jr stood next to me giving players high fives as they walked off the field. Danny scored 2 touchdowns in the game and was being interviewed by one of the sideline reporters. He finally saw me and clapped his hands together to signal for me to bring the kids to him. I put Vanessa in his arms and Danny Jr held onto his leg.

"How are my biggest fans?" Danny asked. He put his arm around my back and pulled me into the opposite side of our son.

"Tell daddy he had an amazing game," I said playing with Vanessa's foot. She didn't talk much yet so she smiled up at her daddy. The Boston sun was shining brightly down on us.

"Daddy, you played so good. You were the best one out there," Danny Jr said, jumping up and down excitedly.

"Thank you son. But I wasn't the best one out there. A lot of people played great," Danny kneeled down to Jr's height.

"Don't lie daddy, you know you played the best," Jr said. He put his fist out for Danny to give him knuckles. Danny ignored the fist and pushed the brim of Jr's Patriots ballcap down over his eyes. He stood back up to me. Although Danny stood at a low 5 foot 11, he still stood taller than me by 8 inches. His lips met my forehead followed by a smile.

"Thanks for bringing them," Danny smiled appreciatively at me.

"Do you really think we would miss this?" I said twirling around taking in the stadium atmosphere. It smelled of happiness because of the win and a little bit of sweat.

"I'm so thankful for my biggest fans," Danny said. He put his arm around my back again and pulled me to his chest.

"We are so thankful for you," I said before closing the gap between our lips.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Danny said. He handed Vanessa back to me and began running after Jr. He picked up Jr from behind and placed him on his shoulders. Vanessa and I followed behind them off of the field and into the tunnel, where Danny stood hours before in anticipation for the game. The thing about Danny was that he was an amazing football player, but he was an even better father.