"He did what?" Erin asked as the two women sat on the porch swing and watched Parker and Lance toss a ball back and forth in the evening light.

"He punched him right in the face. Then he drug him outside and sent him on his way." Tiffany replied as she picked some grease out from under her fingernail.

"You really need a manicure." Erin said wrinkling her nose. "And I never pictured Lance as the violent type but I guess hearing someone call his woman a gold digging slut would turn any guy into a cave man."

"It was kind of sexy really. And it was nice to finally see him lose his cool." Tiffany added with a grin. "Lance did sign the paper today so I'll be getting Parker's new birth certificate in the mail soon with Lance as the father."

"That's great." Erin replied as she started covering her long fingernails with bright red polish. "Have you all talked to Parker about changing his last name?" Tiffany shook her head.

"No, but I think Lance is going to talk to him tonight."

"Hey, squirt, I wanted to ask you something." Lance said as he tossed the ball to Parker who caught it. The boy was actually pretty good at playing catch and Lance wondered if he'd be good at sports like he had been.

"What daddy?" Parker asked as he tossed the ball back.

"Your name is Parker Fields but my last name is Asher. How would you like to be Parker Asher?"

"Can I still go to school? And be in the play? And have the same friends? And wear…." Lance chuckled as he tossed the ball back.

"Yes, you can still do all of the same things. You would still be you, the only difference would be you'd have the same last name as your daddy." Parker seemed to think hard for a while as they tossed the ball back and forth.

"I'll have to ask mommy." he said finally.

"Your mommy already said it was okay but you can ask her if you want to." Lance replied. Parker nodded and smiled happily.

"Okay. I'm Parker Asher now." he said with excitement. Lance felt his heart fill with pride.

"Alright Mr. Asher, lets go in out of this cold and tell your mommy." Lance and Parker walked into the kitchen where Tiffany and Erin had already taken refuge from the cold wind outside.

"Guess what mommy?" Parker said bouncing up and down as he stood in front of Tiffany.

"What?" Tiffany asked with a smile.

"My name is Parker Asher now!" he replied sticking his tiny chest out proudly. Lance shrugged as Tiffany looked up at him.

"It will be just as soon as we get to the social security office." he amended. Parker nodded.

"Just as soon as we get to the social curity office." he agreed. Lance laughed and got down on his knee.

"Give me a hug. I gotta get going, it's almost time for you to go to bed." Parker hugged him tight.

"Oh daddy I almost forgot!" he said loudly. Lance rubbed his ear that was now ringing and pulled away from Parker so he could look at his face.

"What did you almost forget?" he asked.

"Tomorrow everybody's daddy is coming into our class to talk about their jobs. Can you come? And can you bring your guitar because I told Ben that you can play the guitar." Lance nodded happily.

"Sure I'll come and I'll bring my guitar." Lance replied and he was walking toward the door when Parker spoke up again.

"I just thought of something." he said and all three adults turned to look at him. "If my last name is Asher now then is mommies last name Asher? She can't have a different last name than me." Erin started whistling a tune and quickly walked out of the kitchen to the living room. Lance shifted his feet awkwardly while Tiffany flushed red and let out a nervous laugh.

"You'll have your daddies last name, my boy. Mommy will still have the same name I've always had."

"But everybody elses mommy and daddy have the same last name." Parker said with confusion as his six year old brain tried to wrap around the concept of parents and names.

"Your mommy and daddy aren't married, Parker. That's why we have different names." Tiffany said wishing that she could think of something to take the boys mind off of her and Lance's relationship.

"Why aren't you married? Don't you love each other?" Parker asked wrinkling his brow and raising his hands as he shrugged. Tiffany looked at Lance helplessly but he was looking at her with an odd expression on his face that she couldn't read.

"What time does your daddy have to come to the school tomorrow?" Tiffany asked hoping to change the subject.

"Ten o'clock." Parker said and she could tell he was proud that he remembered.

"I'll be there, squirt." Lance said and then his gaze locked with Tiffany's again.

"We never did get to go on that date." he said. She bit her lip and shook her head.

"No we didn't." she agreed.

"Tomorrow night okay with you?"

"Tomorrow night is fantastic!" Erin shouted from the living room. Tiffany saw Lance throw a glare in the direction of the living room and she smiled.

"She means well." she said. "And tomorrow is fine."

"See you tomorrow then." Lance said. He gave Parker's hair one last tousle and then walked out.

***

Lance let out a deep breath to fight his nerves as he stood outside Parker's classroom. He kept telling himself he had no reason to be nervous but for some reason this performance seemed even more important than the time he had been asked to sing the national anthem at the super bowl. He didn't want to do anything to let Parker down.

He adjusted his guitar on his back and then walked into the room. He stood with the other fathers against the back wall and Parker's blue eyes widened when they saw him.

"That's my daddy!" he said excitedly to his friends.

"Eyes up front, Parker." his teacher Mrs. Gilbert called. She was trying to finish the spelling lesson but quickly realizing that was not going to happen with all of the fathers here already. The children just would not focus on her.

"Well why don't we get started?" she said. "Ashley, your daddy is first." Lance stood there feeling his nerves get worse as all the fathers went before him. There were carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, lawyers and even a police officer and a military man.

"Ben, is your father coming?" Mrs. Gilbert asked the red haired boy that was sitting next to Parker. Ben blushed deep crimson and shook his head.

"No, my mommy is too sick so my daddy couldn't come." he said. Mrs. Gilbert suddenly looked embarrassed and nodded.

"Of course dear. I hope your mommy feels better soon." she said fussing with her bright purple blouse. "Parker, your daddy is next then." She said. Lance stood up from the wall. He was the last father left in the room since the others had left after their speeches.

"Hi kids, my name is Lance Asher and I'm Parker's dad." Lance said as he shifted his feet and tugged at the bottom of his flannel shirt. He heard Mrs. Gilbert gasp and realized that the chubby middle aged woman must have finally recognized him.

"Oh my! It's an honor to have you here." she said. Lance gave her an embarrassed grin… He had never been told that his presence was an 'honor' before.

"I play music for a living. I play the guitar and sing songs." he said moving his guitar off of his back and holding it in his arms. "This is my favorite guitar, I've had it since I was in school…" Lance wasn't sure what else to say and he looked over at Mrs. Gilbert for help. She was staring at him wide eyed and was fanning herself with a piece of paper.

"Play us a song." she said breathlessly. Lance looked at Parker who was nodded in agreement.

"Play us a song, daddy!" he said excitedly. Parker clapped happily and looked more proud than any kid had ever looked before as Lance started strumming a song and singing along.