Disclaimer: Trilogy, MGM, and the Mirish Corporation own The Magnificent Seven characters. They are not mine. The only purpose of this story is for entertainment. No money is being made.
Thanks to Michelle for beta-reading it for me
| When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new It always winds up feeling more like a job interview My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
And then all of a sudden
I met the girl that's now my wife about three years ago
And now all of a sudden
Lookin' back all I can say
Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad
He Didn't Have To Be |
Vin stood looking through the nursery window at the tiny pink bundle that was his first child, then up at the blonde man standing next to him looking at the same bundle. "We have a name for her." Vin watched his father smile as he watched the newborn squirm."Yeah what?" Larabee asked looking up at his son.
"Kristina Marilyn Larabee Tanner," the proud father said.
Chris smiled. "Thank you." He knew they were honoring him with naming the child after him by the look in his son's blue eyes, and he gave him a quick hug. It didn't seem all that long ago that he was sitting in a hospital room praying that a scrawny seven year old boy lived through the ordeal they came across at the warehouse earlier that night. Now, that same shy, quiet boy was the grown man standing next to him, admiring his first child.
"It's the least we can do after everything you have done for me. You could have left me in state care, but you didn't. You took me in and raised me as your own." He knew he was very lucky to have a man by his side that cared for him.
"Mr. Tanner, would you like to take her down to her mother?" The nurse said, as she cradled the baby in her arms.
Vin was brought back to the present by her voice. "I think I will give that honor to her grandfather." Vin watched his father look at him with pride through watery eyes. It was one of the few times he could remember seeing his father show emotion in public.
Chris smiled and fought to control his tears of joy as he took the tiny pink bundle. "Hi there Krissy. You sure take after your father." He held her tiny hand in his large one.
Vin watched his tiny daughter wrap her miniature fingers around Chris' larger one. "She likes you dad. That'll make visiting a lot more fun."
Chris looked up from the baby in his arms to his son. "You don't think I'm going to let you take my grandchild back to the death trap you two call home." He paused, trying to read his son's face. "No, you three will live with me at the ranch." He could see the protest starting to form and held up his hand to forestall any coming forward. "It was good enough for you, so it is good enough for her. I don't want her in that neighborhood. I can't figure out why you wanted to live there anyway."
Vin shook his head. He knew that trying to argue with the retired ATF agent was a lost cause. "Alright Dad, if Suzy agrees with it."
Chris just grinned at this. "Already has." He turned and headed to his daughter-in-law's room.
Vin chuckled to himself as he followed. 'Should have known,' he thought to himself. He smiled as he stepped into the room and watched his father interact more with the baby. He sat next to his wife, happier than ever that the change in his life at the age of seven had been for the better.