I'm too young to feel this old. I'm too young to be watching my baby girl with her own baby girl, I'm too young to be a grandpa. But this was incredible. Watching Stella come in my front door with a diaper bag while Jack carried the infant seat, seeing the way Stella hugged her mom and siblings before she got Isabelle out. It was like everything was moving in slow motion.


My daughter has a daughter.


This was never the life I wanted for Stella. She wasn't supposed to settle down until she was ready to call it quits with her musical career. I don't think Stell understood how hard it would be to leave her child, just as I had left mine, to do what her job requires her to do. I also don't think she realized that she'd have to find someone to watch Isabelle that she wouldn't mind playing the role of Mommy for her. Isabelle couldn't come go on tour. She was too young and there wasn't enough room for a baby and a nanny. Besides, tour life is not a good place for a small child. That's exactly why Noelle still hasn't come with me yet.


Regardless of all that, I think Stella chose a good life. It was complicated, it was messy and sometimes it made me want to break down and cry, but in losing my daughter in the way every father wants to keep their child close, I gained a new little girl to love. Stella would always be my baby, but now I had her daughter to give my love to as well.


"Hi there, Izzy," I took the perfect little girl from Stella's arms and held her close to my heart. "Grandpa's here."


There was a lot of conversatoin going on in the kitchen, between the kids and Jules, I just wanted some alone time with the newest member of our family. Sneaking away with Isabelle, we ended up in Stella's old room. We kept most of Stella's stuff where it was, but there were boxes piled in the corner of the room. Some were filled with junk Stella hadn't taken yet and some if it was stuff Jules and I needed to store.


"I remember when your mommy was this small," I mumbled, laying down on the bed beside the bright-eyed little girl. "She used to sleep on my chest. I think I was her favorite person in the entire world. I bet your like that with your daddy, too, aren't you?"


Izzy gave me a small smile, holding her small hand up to grab mine. My heart melted as I returne the grin.


"Your mommy was supposed to stay this small forever. She was never supposed to grow up and like boys, she was never supposed to move out and have a baby. But look at us now, she's gone and you're here. Ya know, grandma Juli will always be my number one girl, right next to great grandma Isobel, but you, your auntie and your mommy all hold second place."


She let out a few baby groans, her dark doe eyes scanning the room around her. I chuckled and adjusted my weight so that I could turn Izzy on her side. Her little mouth hung open, showing off her gums and drool.


"I hope your daddy teaches you how to play guitar and I hope your mommy teaches you how to be a good person, just like I did with her."


Izzy flashed me a smile. God, she was adorable. She looked so much like Stella that it made my heart ache. For a moment there, I wanted to go back in time and watch Stella grow up all over again.


"Daddy?" Stella pushed the door open and poked her head inside. She was still the same, beautiful girl I raised, but the had that flustered mom look. "What are you doing up here?"


"I don't know," I shrugged, "just wanted to spend some time with Izzy alone."


By now, Stella had gotten used to the idea that I was going to call Isabelle 'Izzy,' because it was just too weird for me to call her Isabelle and Belle reminded me of those horrible Twilight days I suffered through, even though the name was slightly different.


"You really love her, don't you?"


"Of course I do, Princess," I smiled, pulling Izzy into my arms so I could walk over to my daughter. "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to pry her from Juli's arms."


Stella and I both snickered. It was true - Juli would let her arms fall off before she'd let go of Isabelle, unless Noelle needed something or Liam was getting into trouble. Honestly, it was remarkable how much this tiny human being had brought us all together and reminded us what it felt like to be a family again. Sure, we loved each other and our kids more than words could describe, but Izzy coming along gave us proof that our hearts were still big enough to spread the love.


"Jack and I should probably be going," Stell sighed, her eyes flickering to the door. "So if you want, I'll take her downstairs."


"Yeah, okay," I huffed, kissing Izzy on the cheek before I passed her over to Stella. "Oh, wait! I have something for her!"


Stella raised an eyebrow as I flew past her, into mine and Juli's room. I searched through the closer for a moment before I found a pink stuffed bear that Stella had when she little. It was a gift from her uncle Jack, so naturally, I kept it.


"Here," I handed the bear over, a smug grin on my lips. "You used to love this thing. Jack bought it for you, big Jack, so it can mean something to all three of you now."


Stella's eyes lit up. I knew she'd take good care of it, and maybe one day it could be passed down to Isabelle's daughter, if she ever had one.


"Thank you, Daddy. I love you!"


"Not as much as I love you," I grinned, kissing her forehead. "And you, miss Izzy. I love you guys so much."


Stella smiled at me before she slipped down the stairs. It never got any easier, watching her come and go like she did, but at least I could rest knowing that she was in good care and so was Izzy. Jack had really surprised me. He went from being the little boy I wanted to kill to a man who was hand-shake worthy. At the end of the day, he'd do whatever it took to keep my daughter and grand-daughter happy.


That's all a father could ever ask for.

Notes

Nostalgic Alex<3.