The Dog (Nayeli)

 The Prompt: "Your favorite member of the band gets a furry friend dropped off to watch for the week."

Author: Nayeli

Jon put his paper down the second he heard the opening chords to I've Got the Girl.  He reached over to the coffee table and tapped the green button. "Hey, baby girl."

Steph took a deep breath and smiled, "Hi Daddy, I love you."

Jon pulled the phone from his ear and looked at it - odd she normally starts with Dad I need, turning it to the speaker he answered. "I love you too baby girl, seriously if that's all you called for this is the best call I think I've ever gotten." He grinned, sitting back on the couch and propping his feet up on the coffee table.  Whenever his daughter called he wanted to make sure he took her call, of all the kids she was probably the quietest, most reserved.  He wouldn't call her shy, but she definitely is the one that decided to make her own way in the world and not rely on her name to help her. Silently it bothered him that sometimes - she used her mother's maiden name instead of her real name in order to just be Stephanie as she told him.  It hurt to know his fame caused her pain in any way as evidenced by her trying to avoid the association.
"What can I do for you Steph?"

Running her hand through her hair she laughed. "Why do you think you can do something for me, daddy? Can't I just call to say hi?"

"of course, you can, but I'm your dad and that slight hesitation before that last laugh makes me know there's something else to this call."

"Just wanted to see where you will be tonight, tomorrow night, and next week."

"Jersey house why?"

"What are you going to be doing? Is it just you and mom?"

He put his feet down and walked over to the window to look at the river. "Yes you're mom has a honey-do list she thinks I'll actually work on.  Why are you asking these questions? Feel like I'm getting interviewed - what do you need kid - a kidney?" Something was up with her and now he was on a mission to find out what.

"No, that I know you'd give freely, hell you'd be at the hospital getting tested before I got the words out."

"True - so what do you think I won't give freely?" That was a shock to hear from his baby girl.  His hand rubbed the scruff on his chin while he waited to hear.

"you aren't a fan of being inconvenienced," Steph stated as a fact as her hand ran through the fur of her best friend Scout.

Jon's eyes opened and then he grinned, "Well I can't deny that one. But what does that have to do with you - you know I'd do anything for you Steph."

"So you'll watch Scout for the next 10 days - awesome thanks daddy."  She smiled knowing that wasn't going to fly.

"Woah - wait a minute you want me to watch your dog? Are you sure you don't need that kidney?"

"Daddy - don't make me get all royal princess on you - Scout needs a home for 10 days I have a work trip."

"What about Tim - can't he be a useful dog daddy?" He asked about her boyfriend, last he knew they lived together so why couldn't he watch the fur-ball.

"Tim moved out yesterday I got full custody." She answered matter of fact.

"Oh baby girl I'm sorry, do you want to talk about it?" He hoped so, anything but this dog topic.  Every time he's had a dog in the house he grew way too attached and became a pushover for it.

"nope, I handled it I just need Scout's grandpaw to step up now."

"Seriously Steph you know I'm not that much of a dog person I'm sure you have a friend, former roommate -brother that can watch him."

She shook her head and groaned. "You're seriously going to make me go here huh.  Ok, Daddio you just remember you could have just said yes and avoided all this."

"Avoid what? Steph have you been drinking?"

"Only a glass of wine, which wine you may ask? Hampton Water of course.  Remember the multi-million dollar investment you made to buy your eldest son a company.  Without you and the millions, you spent he'd still be waiting at tables to try to earn some capital to open his company.  Oh, and let's not forget the other two boys you created with mom.  You know the one that's been trading on his good looks since he was 7.  The one you've given your jet to on 3 occasions that I know of so he can fly overseas to see his girlfriend Millie.  The one you've called in at least 2 favors to get him a modeling and acting job."

"Steph ok I get it."  He wanted to stop her she was making him sound like an ass.

"OH no we aren't done dad, because remember you have another child - this one taking after you in music so what did you do? Called a friend or two and got him an internship at Polygram and also have him working at a radio station so he can see the music business as it is now.  So the three boy children get all of your extra assistance and the one kid you had that's female, that doesn't use the Bongiovi name, that never asked you to buy me a multi-million dollar company - that kid can't even get you to dog sit for 10 days.  Wow pops glad to know where I rank."

Jon sat up, "Now listen here, Stephanie Rose"

"No you listen dad - I didn't want to have to guilt-trip you - but you left me no choice you stubborn butt head. I could have just called mom, she would have said yes in 3 seconds and you'd be watching Scout anyway but instead, you made it get all difficult.  What's the deal? Do you have to say no to me just to make sure you know how to say the word - you know try it out on me first see how it goes - we all know you didn't know how to say it to the other 3."

"Hey, you're getting a little vicious there princess." He warned her before dad's voice came out.

"Well your princess is feeling a little gypped daddy, I just want you to go the extra mile for me too every now and then.  With the exception of 1 thing, I've been the good kid that doesn't ask for anything. I just need to know my baby is safe and I can't think of anyone else who will protect him, the man that protected me for most of my life."

"Ok princess bring him over. You win." Jon smiled and hung up knowing his sweet-talking little girl just bested him in stubbornness - he trained her well.