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3 years later

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐖𝐎-𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐌. Montana carefully opened the door to Stella and Johnny's bedroom, with her little pink bear clutched in her arms, and walked to her father's side of the bed.

"Daddy." Montana said as she gently shook her father awake

Johnny gently stirred then held her small hand in his own. "What is it violet eyes?"

"I had a bad dream." Montana said. "I tried waking mommy up, but she wouldn't wake up. Is mommy okay, daddy?"

Johnny turned to Stella who was fast asleep. She had been feeling under the weather, and tonight she was finally getting some sleep.

"Mommy's okay." Johnny said. "What's the matter violet eyes?"

"I had a bad dream. Will you come stay with me please?" Montana cried as she wiped her tears with her free hand and kept her bear clutched in her arm

Johnny nodded, then spoke. "C'mon honey. I got you." he said as he gently got out of bed, picked her up, and carried her back to the bedroom

In Montana's bedroom, where photos of family and friends adorned the wall, Johnny laid her down and placed the covers over his daughter, while Montana hugged the stuffed bear.

"There you go kiddo." Johnny said as he held his daughter's hand. "You comfy?"

Montana nodded, then spoke. "Daddy, tell me a story?"

"I'm not sure I know of any good stories." Johnny said as he laid down on his stomach beside his little girl. "But I have an idea. Why don't you tell me one?"

"But daddy, I don't know how." Montana said

"That's okay, I can help you. Every good story has a hero who wants something, and he or she..."

"She." Montana smiled

"She." Johnny softly laughed. "She has to go on an adventure to get it. So this is what I want you to do. I want you to close your eyes, and picture a heroine. Someone you can really root for. Who do you see?"

Montana closed her beautiful violet eyes. "A girl.

Montana of course saw herself, in a princess dress, in the Enchanted forest. Kind of like the princess dress that Annelise wears in Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper.

"A girl. Great. And where is this girl?" Johnny asked

"In a forest." Montana smiled

"She's in a forest? Maybe it's, like, a magical forest?" Johnny asked, and his daughter nodded. "Okay, so does she meet a prince?"

"Of course daddy. Every princess needs a prince." Montana smiled

"Alright. She meets a prince. But he's not one of those fancy princes with the poofy sleeves right? He's like a regular type prince, right?" Johnny said

Montana chased a butterfly in her enchanted forest setting when she saw her beloved father walking towards her with a smile on his face.

"Daddy!" Montana smiled as she ran to her father

"Hey my little princess." Johnny smiled as he kissed her temple.

"Okay, so little girl asks the prince if he can help her find this thing that she really, really wants. Do you know what it is she really wants?" Johnny asked

"It's a surprise daddy." Montana smiled 

Johnny chuckled then continued. "It's a surprise. All right. So this little girl and the prince, they're making their way through the forest, what do they see?"

"Flowers." Montana smiled

As Johnny and Montana made their way through the forest, they came across a field of flowers

They came across this huge field of colorful flowers, so the little girl walked through the flowers. What do you think she saw next?"

Water." Montana smiled

"Great idea. The little girl and the prince came upon a dark cave dripping with water. The little girl knew she had to be brave. So, finally, she gathered all her courage and took one big step..." Johnny said

Montana laughed then took her fathers hand in her own. "Daddy, I think I can take it from here now."

"Alright violet eyes. You go ahead." Johnny smiled

"After the princess and the prince took their big step together, they saw the princess's mommy and her big brother." Montana smiled

Montana ran out of the cave, to find Stella waiting for her. As Montana ran to her mother's arms, her mother tightly embraced her, as did Johnny and Robby.

"My sweet little violet eyes." Stella smiled. "My sweet little violet eyes."

"I love you all." Montana smiled as she looked up at the family who embraced her

When Johnny saw his daughter was asleep, he covered her up and covered her up. "Daddy loves you, kiddo." he said as he kissed her forehead then turned out the lamp.

After leaving his daughter's room, he walked down the hall to check on Robby, who was sleeping peacefully. When he got back to his and Stella's room, she stirred awake as he laid down beside her. "Hey, is everything okay?" Stella asked as she turned to face him

"She's alright princess, another bad dream, but I told you, I got this." Johnny said as he held her close to him

"My hero." Stella smiled as she kissed his lips

"Yeah. I just put her to bed one night." Johnny said. "You're the real hero."

"She adores you Johnny." Stella smiled

"When she gets older, we'll have to keep her hidden from the boys. I'm telling you Stella, they'll be all over her."

"Come again?" Stella asked.

"I know it's along way off, but if we think she's beautiful now, think of how beautiful she'll be when she's older, thanks to your genes." Johnny said

"John, I have no idea where this is coming from, but everything will be okay. She will always be your little girl no matter what." Stella smiled. "Let's just enjoy her at the age she is now. Goodnight, my darling. I love you. I've always loved you."

"I've always loved you, Stella Blue. I always will."