Big Daddy

She was useless as she was beautiful, JC thought grimly as he picked up after Gabby for what seemed like the millionth time. She didn’t cook, didn’t do laundry, didn’t make her bunk, didn’t clean up or do the dishes. How could she not want to help out when she was getting a free ride? He’d have been embarrassed to have strangers doing everything for him – but it seemed Gabby never gave it a thought.

JC burst into her compartment on the bus, spoiling for a fight. “Listen here, princess!”

Gabby had her back to the door as she sat on her bunk. At his address, she twisted her head around. How had he...?

He saw tears streaming down her face. What in the hell was she crying about?

Gabby rose, dashing the tears from her face with her fingers. “I am listening, JC.”

“What are you crying about?”

“Ca ne fait rien,” she whispered softly. “It is nothing.”

“Gabby?” He went to her, wiping her tears away with his thumbs as he held her head in his hands. “What’s wrong?”

“Why did you call me princess?”

“Because you expect me to be your maid. I’m getting tired of cleaning up your messes.”

“My messes?”

“Who does your housekeeping?”

Her delicate little rosebud mouth rounded into a little ‘o’.

“You didn’t think it did itself, did you?”

At home, it always had. Meeting frustrated, irritated blue eyes, she burst into tears again. Pulling away, she sunk to her bunk. “I am worthless. I should go home,” she sobbed.

“Gabby...” JC sat beside her, letting her weep on his shoulder. Evidently, he’d picked the wrong day to hit her up about her slovenliness.

“Will you help me at our next stop?” She sniffled.

“Help you what?”

“Find a way to return.”

“You want to give up and marry that guy because I asked you to clean up after yourself?”

“It is not fair that you should do it.”

“You can do it yourself,” he suggested.

“I—I never learned how.” She tugged out a knotted strand of her hair to show him. “Look.”

“You got a tangle.” He didn’t see the big deal.

“When I try to comb it, it gets worse.”

“When you...” It dawned on JC what she was saying. She was so dependant on her servants, she didn’t even know how to get tangles out. She was a toddler in a woman’s body! He sighed. “Where’s your comb?”

Gabby handed the comb to her friend.

“This might pull, but I’ll try not to hurt you.”

“Merci.”

Gently as possible, he worked the knot loose. Gabby sat perfectly stock still, not complaining or wiggling. She could have been a mannequin. It had to be fairly difficult for a bright and inquisitive woman like Gabby to have been brought in this world for the simple purpose of being decorative – and baby machine.

“Princess--”

“JC, why do you call me that?”

“Because I can imagine Snow White looking like you,” he teased. “I just bet if we put you in a fancy gown and put a crown on your head, you’d look like a fairy tale princess.”

“Oh.”

“It’s my new nickname for you.” He finished and handed her the comb. “Next time, ask for help before it gets that bad.”

She nodded.

“And I’d still like you to pick up after yourself.”

“Will you show me how?”

“Sure, baby girl.”

“You have been most kind, JC. I have never had a more patient friend.” And with the exception of Julie, she had never had friends before!

Friend, okay, he was a friend, her sexless friend, JC mused. She knew men thought her beautiful and desirable. He was a man, so why didn’t she consider the possibility he could desire her?

JC stared out the bus window pondering the turn of events. Gabby had just agreed to go on a date with Justin. She hadn’t hesitated when the younger man had asked. A quick ‘oui’ and it was done. How could she? She had been his since night one! He was the one who had to deal with raging morning hard-ons when they slept together. He was the one who picked up after her, saw her laundry was done, saw she ate, and helped her with her hair. And she never once thought of him as a romantic interest.

“Still pouting, C?” Justin asked as he sat across from his friend.

“I’m not pouting.”

“Wanna know why Gabby said yes?”

“Yeah, I think I do.” JC sounded confused.

“Girls don’t date their daddies.”

“What?”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Justin shook his head. “You come onto her like Big Daddy. You took on that role day one. If Gabby has a problem, you fix it. If Gabby needs something, you take care of it. If Gabby needs a place to sleep, she crawls in with you. She sees you as her father-figure, not boyfriend.”

“You aren’t her boyfriend,” JC reminded him irritably.

“No, but it’d be easier for her to make the transition to me, then it would be for her to see you that way. You’re safe; you’re her daddy.”

“Great. The most beautiful girl in the world and—”

“Justin, what is it I should wear?” Gabby entered the compartment.

Justin had scored some exhibition basketball tickets and Gabby was his date. “Jeans. Tee-shirt. Casual like.”

She smiled at JC. “Could you please help me with my hair?”

He was her daddy! JC decided morosely. He was helping her get ready for her date. How pathetic was that?

“Yeah and JC, see if you've got a hat she can borrow.”

She could hardly wait for this particular torture to be over, Gabby thought as she sat beside Justin. Basketball. She hadn’t minded watching sports with JC on the bus or in the hotels. Even if she wasn’t into the game, she could read or simply cuddle. He was good at cuddling - But this! This was boring. Justin was totally focused on the men running up and down the floor in makeshift underwear, trying to put the orange ball into the ‘basket’. Of course, he would never know she was impatient to leave. She had perfected that bland, pleasant look for many years.

“Hey baby.” JC looked up from the television as Gabby let herself into their room. “How’d it go?” He lounged on the bed and tried not to look anxious.

“Truthfully?” she asked as she tossed her hat on the bedside and kicked off her shoes.

“Yeah.”

She sat beside him, snuggling against his side. “Awful.”

He couldn’t say he wasn’t pleased. “Why awful?”

“Watching basketball is boring,” she sighed.

“You’ve watched it with me.”

“When you are actually there, you are trapped...And I do not believe he remembered I was there until we left.” JC would nuzzle her or smile at her once in awhile. “I believe basketball as a date as you are fond of saying, ’sucks’.”

JC chuckled at that. “I’m sorry it wasn’t fun for you, Gabs.”

She gave a shrug. “C’est la vie.”

It was a form of torture, JC decided as he was forced to watch Gabby make a date with everyone of the men from NSYNC but him. He hadn’t worried too much about her going out with Joey. A dance club wasn’t Gabby’s style – and it hadn’t been. And even though she enjoyed her motorcycle trip with Chris, she hadn’t liked the bugs and the impossibly tangled hair. Once again, she’d been forced to stoically sit while JC combed the knots out of her long mane.

Lance was the only one who had hit upon an outing she had been whole-heartedly excited about. Horseback riding. It seemed Gabby loved riding and had missed going. Lance had arranged an afternoon of riding and she had been as giddy as a little girl at the prospect. When she returned later that afternoon, her face was flushed from the exercise and fresh air. She was animated and chatty, smiling happily. And then Lance had kissed her – JC had opened the door just in time to see it – and his blood ran hot and cold at the same time. Lance had kissed his little princess!

The kiss was nice, Gabby supposed. Warm. Gentle. Lance was a nice fellow, a very nice guy – But even she knew the kiss was more of a friendly gesture than anything else.

“Thank you for the wonderful time, Lance.” Gabby said sincerely. “Merci beaucoup.”

“Hey, it was great to have somebody along who enjoys it, too.”

“I love riding. Anytime you need a companion...”

“It’s a deal.” Lance smiled and flicked a finger at her nose. “I’m going to take a shower before dinner. See you later,” he said as he walked down the hall.

Gabby turned to JC, giving him a happy smile. “I like Lance,” she told him as she brushed past him into their room.

Closing the door, he leaned back against it. Relief washed through him, leaving him weak. The kiss meant nothing to her, a kiss between friends...

“Gabby, can I ask you something?”

“Certainly.”

“How come you never go out with me?”

She turned her wide eyes on him. “It is very simple, mon ami.”

“It is?”

“JC, you have never asked,” she told him.

“Would you?”

“But of course.” She went to him and put her arms around his lean waist and her head on his chest. “You are my friend, too.” He was more than her friend; he was the most important person in her life. Her desire. But these were things she had kept to herself.

“Where would you like to go?”

“I have been steeped in your modern America.”

“Looking for a change?” he mused.

“Mmm....”

“Next city has a good art museum I’m told.”

“C’est une bonne idée!” she cheered, lifting her head to meet his eyes. “Oui!”

“Sounds like an affirmative,” he chuckled. “And maybe some jazz later?”

“Wonderful!”