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Chapter or Story 
Chapter or Story
Two months later
Parker woke to the sound of someone knocking at her door. She got up from the bed and glanced back at the sleeping Pretender. She quickly grabbed her robe, shut the bedroom door and made her way to the front door. Peeking out she saw her father standing there.
"Daddy, what are you doing here?" She asked as she opened the door.
"May I come in?" He stood in the doorway waiting for her to let him in.
She stepped aside. Mr. Parker came in and paced in front of her. "Angel." His voice was stern.
She stood there waiting for him to speak.
"How are you?" He stopped and looked at her.
"I'm fine. Daddy, what do you want?"
"I haven't seen you in a while. I heard that you have a new friend."
Parker wasn't sure if he heard about Jarod or not. She was guessing not since he came alone. "I have been seeing someone." She spoke calmly but nervously.
"Good. I'm glad to see one of my children happy for once." He walked toward her bedroom door.
"Daddy?"
"Mmm." He stopped and admired the painting on the wall.
"Why are you here?" She asked in a little girl's voice.
"Oh, I came to see if you would like to join your brother and I for dinner?"
"When?"
"Tonight."
"I don't know. I have other plans."
He turned around and looked her in the eyes. "Angel, do these have to do with your new friend?"
"Yeah. He works out of town and is coming in. We don't get to see each other that often." She hated to lie to him.
"Well, bring him."
"Daddy...?" She paused as she watched the way he stared at her. "I'll see. Okay?" She knew she was going to be in trouble with both men in her life after saying that but she didn't know what else to say.
"Good. I can't wait to meet him." He went back to the door. "See you tonight." He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Call me later with the details." She watched him get into his car and leave. She was relieved to have him gone. She rushed back to her bedroom to see Jarod gone. "Jarod!" She called out.
"I'm right here." He peeked out of the bathroom.
She let out a sigh of relief. "I thought you had left."
"I was waiting for your father to leave."
"I'm going to be in trouble." She sat down on the bed. "I don't want to have dinner with them and I don't want to leave you."
Jarod sat down next to her. "I'll go with you."
"You'll what?" She stood as fast as she got the words out.
"I'll go with you. Besides, he wants to know who your 'new friend' is." He smiled wickedly.
"Are you not listening?"
Jarod sat on the edge of the bed watching her have a nervously break down.
"We had a deal, remember?" She threw her arms in the air.
"I remember."
"You want to die, don't you?" She shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe he was so calm about this. He must have had a plan or he wouldn't be saying this.
Jarod grabbed her and pulled her down on the bed. He began kissing her neck. "I love you." He untied her robe.
"Jarod, quit avoiding my question."
"I'm not." He smiled as he pulled her down onto him.
******
Jarod and Parker arrived at the restaurant. Before Jarod could stop the car, Parker turned to look at him.
"Jarod, can we just cancel? We could go home and spend a nice quite night in bed." She raised one eyebrow.
"Baby, just stick to the plan. Besides, didn't Lyle back out on him?"
"So, it's not like he has always kept his word with me."
Jarod stopped the car in front of the restaurant. "I'll park the car and meet you inside." He promised.
Parker got out. She watched Jarod drive off to the parking lot. "He has gone mad." She said as she turned to go inside.
Once in the restaurant, she found her father sitting in a far corner.
"Angel, I was beginning to think you forgot about me." He stood.
She gave him a kiss. "I'm just running a little late."
He pulled the chair out for her. "Where's your friend?"
"Parking the car." She knew any minute Jarod was going to walk into that restaurant and someone was not going to make it out alive.
Mr. Parker took his seat again.
"Now, Daddy I just want to warn you he is not what you would expect." She watched the door for Jarod.
"Angel...."
She interrupted him by waving toward him. "He's coming." She whispered. Parker got up to meet him before he reached the table. "Last chance." She warned him.
"No."
"Hello Mr. Parker." Jarod replied as he looked at the sitting man.
"Jarod! What the hell? Angel, get your gun." Mr.. Parker stood with excitement. He couldn't believe the Pretender was standing right before him.
"Daddy, this is my 'new friend'." She had her arm looped into his as she smiled widely.
"What? Jarod?" His face turned different shades of red before settling on a deep red. "Angel!" He yelled.
"Daddy, calm down. Your blood pressure is up."
"Him!" He pointed.
"Calm down Mr. Parker." Jarod pulled the chair out. "I thought we were going to have a nice family dinner."
"An-gel." His voice was a little bit calmer but not its normal tone.
"When I heard you wanted to meet the guy that had your little girl's heart, it was just an opportunity I couldn't pass up." Jarod smiled as he took his seat.
Mr. Parker didn't say much. He just watched as his daughter kept her hand on him.
"I must confess that I wasn't so sure this would be a very good idea but seeing the look on your face made it all the better." Jarod said.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Mr. Parker finally spoke up.
"No. The truth is, Mr. Parker, I love your daughter. I have always loved your daughter and I want to make her happy."
"I'm happy, Daddy." Parker took her eyes off of Jarod long enough to glanced over at her father and back to Jarod. She didn't know what else to say so she listened to Jarod talk.
"You see Mr. Parker, that what *we* have...." He pointed at Parker and back to himself. "is true. I want to live the rest of my life with her and no one is going to stop us."
Parker shot him a look of surprise.
Jarod took Parker's hand and faced her. "I love you, Parker. I want to marry you."
Parker couldn't believe her ears. 'Did Jarod just say he wanted to marry her?' Her thoughts ran abundantly in her head. "I love you too, Jarod." Was all she could say.
"Honey, I know I caught you by surprise so if you don't want to answer right now it's okay. Cause I know that someday in my heart you will be my wife." Jarod kept talking like they were the only two people at that table.
Mr. Parker cleared his throat. They both turned towards him.
"You can't marry the enemy." He stared into his daughter's eyes.
"Daddy, don't you see. Jarod is *not* the enemy. He has never been mine. You just decided that for me. I'm tired of you deciding what is best for me. I want to leave the Centre. I want to be with Jarod." She got up and left the table.
Jarod wanted to go after her but he decided he needed to talk to Mr. Parker a little longer.
"Don't you see what you have done to me!" Mr. Parker shouted at him.
"Done what? Make the only person I love happy."
"You have turned her against me!"
"You have done that all by yourself." Jarod got up and left the old man sitting at the table alone.
******
Jarod caught up with Parker at the car. She was leaned up against it, crying.
"I'm sorry. I had a few more things to say." Jarod took her into his arms.
"He will never let us leave. I told you this would happen." She cried into his chest.
"Parker, listen to me." Jarod pulled her face up to his. "Everything is going to work out fine."
"Jar...."
"Listen. I wouldn't have went in there without a plan. You know me better than that."
"Okay, genius. What do we do now?" Her voice changed from being sad to angry. She pulled the car door open and waited for him to get in.
******
It was a long quite ride back to her house. When they arrived she opened the door and headed straight to her bedroom. Jarod could tell she was still upset but every time he tried to talk to her she wouldn't listen. He finally walked into her bedroom. She had changed clothes and was sitting on the bed.
"Since you aren't going to talk to me." He pulled out some papers from his bag and sat them on the dresser. "I guess I could leave. Then when you have cooled down and want to talk I'll be back." He began throwing clothes into his bag.
"Stop." She whispered.
"Did you say something?" Jarod looked over at her.
"Don't go."
"Are we going to talk?"
"Later." She patted the bed.
Jarod walked over and sat down.
"Hold me first. Then tell me how everything is going to work out." She laid her head in his lap. Jarod ran his fingers through her hair. He knew she was hurting but he was tired of running.
He reached over and turned on the radio. "How about some music?" He asked but she didn't answer.
He turned the stations until he found a song he thought she could relate to.
Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing after you
Parker looked up into his eyes. He had tears forming.
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
"Jarod, I'm sorry. It's just when it comes to my father...."
"I know...but Parker, you have to stand up for your own life."
"I know."
Forgetting all I'm lacking completely
Incomplete I'll take your invitation
You take all of me
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
I don't know know what I'm diving into
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
"You would really do this for me? Even if it cost us everything." She asked.
"Of course, I love you."
There is nothing else to lose
There is nothing else to find
There is nothing in the world
That could change my mind
There is nothing else
She reached up and gave him a kiss. Pulling him down closer to her, she whispered into his ear. "I love you. Make love to me." Her eyes found his as he took his time in satisfying her needs.
******
The next morning Parker and Jarod entered the Centre side by side.
"Are you sure this will work?" She asked softly as they headed toward her father's office.
"Just stick to the plan." He wanted to reach for her hand but decided against it.
She pushed the double doors open and they walked in like they owned the place.
"Daddy." She smiled.
"Angel." He stood from his chair.
"Daddy, I wanted to tell you that I have decided to marry Jarod."
"You can't."
"I *am* marrying him." She threw the papers down on Mr.. Parker's desk. "Here are the conditions."
He glanced over them. "This is insane."
"No Daddy, this is the way it is going to happen."
"And how do you know the Triumvirate will approve?"
"They will or I will exploit them." Jarod spoke up.
"I will see what I can do." Mr.. Parker watched as his daughter walked out with the Pretender.
******
Broots came running into Miss Parker's office.
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Parker stood by her desk.
"That you brought Jarod in."
"She didn't exactly bring me in." Jarod turned her chair around and faced the scared tech.
"Ow." Broots jumped back a few feet. "Don't do that!"
"Hello Mr. Broots." Jarod got up from his seat.
"Does Sydney know?"
"Didn't you tell him?" Parker asked as she took the place that Jarod just left from.
"No."
"Then you better go get him."
Broots scurried away.
Part 4
Parker woke to the sound of someone knocking at her door. She got up from the bed and glanced back at the sleeping Pretender. She quickly grabbed her robe, shut the bedroom door and made her way to the front door. Peeking out she saw her father standing there.
"Daddy, what are you doing here?" She asked as she opened the door.
"May I come in?" He stood in the doorway waiting for her to let him in.
She stepped aside. Mr. Parker came in and paced in front of her. "Angel." His voice was stern.
She stood there waiting for him to speak.
"How are you?" He stopped and looked at her.
"I'm fine. Daddy, what do you want?"
"I haven't seen you in a while. I heard that you have a new friend."
Parker wasn't sure if he heard about Jarod or not. She was guessing not since he came alone. "I have been seeing someone." She spoke calmly but nervously.
"Good. I'm glad to see one of my children happy for once." He walked toward her bedroom door.
"Daddy?"
"Mmm." He stopped and admired the painting on the wall.
"Why are you here?" She asked in a little girl's voice.
"Oh, I came to see if you would like to join your brother and I for dinner?"
"When?"
"Tonight."
"I don't know. I have other plans."
He turned around and looked her in the eyes. "Angel, do these have to do with your new friend?"
"Yeah. He works out of town and is coming in. We don't get to see each other that often." She hated to lie to him.
"Well, bring him."
"Daddy...?" She paused as she watched the way he stared at her. "I'll see. Okay?" She knew she was going to be in trouble with both men in her life after saying that but she didn't know what else to say.
"Good. I can't wait to meet him." He went back to the door. "See you tonight." He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Call me later with the details." She watched him get into his car and leave. She was relieved to have him gone. She rushed back to her bedroom to see Jarod gone. "Jarod!" She called out.
"I'm right here." He peeked out of the bathroom.
She let out a sigh of relief. "I thought you had left."
"I was waiting for your father to leave."
"I'm going to be in trouble." She sat down on the bed. "I don't want to have dinner with them and I don't want to leave you."
Jarod sat down next to her. "I'll go with you."
"You'll what?" She stood as fast as she got the words out.
"I'll go with you. Besides, he wants to know who your 'new friend' is." He smiled wickedly.
"Are you not listening?"
Jarod sat on the edge of the bed watching her have a nervously break down.
"We had a deal, remember?" She threw her arms in the air.
"I remember."
"You want to die, don't you?" She shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe he was so calm about this. He must have had a plan or he wouldn't be saying this.
Jarod grabbed her and pulled her down on the bed. He began kissing her neck. "I love you." He untied her robe.
"Jarod, quit avoiding my question."
"I'm not." He smiled as he pulled her down onto him.
******
Jarod and Parker arrived at the restaurant. Before Jarod could stop the car, Parker turned to look at him.
"Jarod, can we just cancel? We could go home and spend a nice quite night in bed." She raised one eyebrow.
"Baby, just stick to the plan. Besides, didn't Lyle back out on him?"
"So, it's not like he has always kept his word with me."
Jarod stopped the car in front of the restaurant. "I'll park the car and meet you inside." He promised.
Parker got out. She watched Jarod drive off to the parking lot. "He has gone mad." She said as she turned to go inside.
Once in the restaurant, she found her father sitting in a far corner.
"Angel, I was beginning to think you forgot about me." He stood.
She gave him a kiss. "I'm just running a little late."
He pulled the chair out for her. "Where's your friend?"
"Parking the car." She knew any minute Jarod was going to walk into that restaurant and someone was not going to make it out alive.
Mr. Parker took his seat again.
"Now, Daddy I just want to warn you he is not what you would expect." She watched the door for Jarod.
"Angel...."
She interrupted him by waving toward him. "He's coming." She whispered. Parker got up to meet him before he reached the table. "Last chance." She warned him.
"No."
"Hello Mr. Parker." Jarod replied as he looked at the sitting man.
"Jarod! What the hell? Angel, get your gun." Mr.. Parker stood with excitement. He couldn't believe the Pretender was standing right before him.
"Daddy, this is my 'new friend'." She had her arm looped into his as she smiled widely.
"What? Jarod?" His face turned different shades of red before settling on a deep red. "Angel!" He yelled.
"Daddy, calm down. Your blood pressure is up."
"Him!" He pointed.
"Calm down Mr. Parker." Jarod pulled the chair out. "I thought we were going to have a nice family dinner."
"An-gel." His voice was a little bit calmer but not its normal tone.
"When I heard you wanted to meet the guy that had your little girl's heart, it was just an opportunity I couldn't pass up." Jarod smiled as he took his seat.
Mr. Parker didn't say much. He just watched as his daughter kept her hand on him.
"I must confess that I wasn't so sure this would be a very good idea but seeing the look on your face made it all the better." Jarod said.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Mr. Parker finally spoke up.
"No. The truth is, Mr. Parker, I love your daughter. I have always loved your daughter and I want to make her happy."
"I'm happy, Daddy." Parker took her eyes off of Jarod long enough to glanced over at her father and back to Jarod. She didn't know what else to say so she listened to Jarod talk.
"You see Mr. Parker, that what *we* have...." He pointed at Parker and back to himself. "is true. I want to live the rest of my life with her and no one is going to stop us."
Parker shot him a look of surprise.
Jarod took Parker's hand and faced her. "I love you, Parker. I want to marry you."
Parker couldn't believe her ears. 'Did Jarod just say he wanted to marry her?' Her thoughts ran abundantly in her head. "I love you too, Jarod." Was all she could say.
"Honey, I know I caught you by surprise so if you don't want to answer right now it's okay. Cause I know that someday in my heart you will be my wife." Jarod kept talking like they were the only two people at that table.
Mr. Parker cleared his throat. They both turned towards him.
"You can't marry the enemy." He stared into his daughter's eyes.
"Daddy, don't you see. Jarod is *not* the enemy. He has never been mine. You just decided that for me. I'm tired of you deciding what is best for me. I want to leave the Centre. I want to be with Jarod." She got up and left the table.
Jarod wanted to go after her but he decided he needed to talk to Mr. Parker a little longer.
"Don't you see what you have done to me!" Mr. Parker shouted at him.
"Done what? Make the only person I love happy."
"You have turned her against me!"
"You have done that all by yourself." Jarod got up and left the old man sitting at the table alone.
******
Jarod caught up with Parker at the car. She was leaned up against it, crying.
"I'm sorry. I had a few more things to say." Jarod took her into his arms.
"He will never let us leave. I told you this would happen." She cried into his chest.
"Parker, listen to me." Jarod pulled her face up to his. "Everything is going to work out fine."
"Jar...."
"Listen. I wouldn't have went in there without a plan. You know me better than that."
"Okay, genius. What do we do now?" Her voice changed from being sad to angry. She pulled the car door open and waited for him to get in.
******
It was a long quite ride back to her house. When they arrived she opened the door and headed straight to her bedroom. Jarod could tell she was still upset but every time he tried to talk to her she wouldn't listen. He finally walked into her bedroom. She had changed clothes and was sitting on the bed.
"Since you aren't going to talk to me." He pulled out some papers from his bag and sat them on the dresser. "I guess I could leave. Then when you have cooled down and want to talk I'll be back." He began throwing clothes into his bag.
"Stop." She whispered.
"Did you say something?" Jarod looked over at her.
"Don't go."
"Are we going to talk?"
"Later." She patted the bed.
Jarod walked over and sat down.
"Hold me first. Then tell me how everything is going to work out." She laid her head in his lap. Jarod ran his fingers through her hair. He knew she was hurting but he was tired of running.
He reached over and turned on the radio. "How about some music?" He asked but she didn't answer.
He turned the stations until he found a song he thought she could relate to.
Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing after you
Parker looked up into his eyes. He had tears forming.
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
"Jarod, I'm sorry. It's just when it comes to my father...."
"I know...but Parker, you have to stand up for your own life."
"I know."
Forgetting all I'm lacking completely
Incomplete I'll take your invitation
You take all of me
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
I don't know know what I'm diving into
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
"You would really do this for me? Even if it cost us everything." She asked.
"Of course, I love you."
There is nothing else to lose
There is nothing else to find
There is nothing in the world
That could change my mind
There is nothing else
She reached up and gave him a kiss. Pulling him down closer to her, she whispered into his ear. "I love you. Make love to me." Her eyes found his as he took his time in satisfying her needs.
******
The next morning Parker and Jarod entered the Centre side by side.
"Are you sure this will work?" She asked softly as they headed toward her father's office.
"Just stick to the plan." He wanted to reach for her hand but decided against it.
She pushed the double doors open and they walked in like they owned the place.
"Daddy." She smiled.
"Angel." He stood from his chair.
"Daddy, I wanted to tell you that I have decided to marry Jarod."
"You can't."
"I *am* marrying him." She threw the papers down on Mr.. Parker's desk. "Here are the conditions."
He glanced over them. "This is insane."
"No Daddy, this is the way it is going to happen."
"And how do you know the Triumvirate will approve?"
"They will or I will exploit them." Jarod spoke up.
"I will see what I can do." Mr.. Parker watched as his daughter walked out with the Pretender.
******
Broots came running into Miss Parker's office.
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Parker stood by her desk.
"That you brought Jarod in."
"She didn't exactly bring me in." Jarod turned her chair around and faced the scared tech.
"Ow." Broots jumped back a few feet. "Don't do that!"
"Hello Mr. Broots." Jarod got up from his seat.
"Does Sydney know?"
"Didn't you tell him?" Parker asked as she took the place that Jarod just left from.
"No."
"Then you better go get him."
Broots scurried away.
Part 4
