FAKE Fic: A Good Father
Mar. 7th, 2025 05:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knittedTitle: A Good Father
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: JJ Adams, OCs (JJ’s family).
Rating: PG
Setting: Before the manga.
Summary: Jacob Adams had such hopes for his only son, only to have them dashed, but a good father doesn’t let his disappointments show.
Word Count: 1279
Written For: Challenge 426: Dash at
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fan_flashworks.Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
Jacob Adams had long considered himself blessed with good fortune. He’d done well in life and in business, investing his own and other people’s money, making a fortune not only for himself but also for his clients. That alone would have been enough for him to feel that fate was smiling on him, but his good luck hadn’t ended there.
He’d married Annabel Garrick, the youngest daughter of his wealthiest client, a woman as wonderful as she was beautiful, and surely better than he deserved. They had their share of problems, disagreements, and the occasional argument, but they remained blissfully happy, and after four delightful and utterly adored daughters, she’d finally gifted him the one thing that made his life and their family complete: a son.
It wasn’t that he loved his son more than his daughters, he lavished affection on all of his children in equal measures, trying his best to treat all of them the same, determined not to repeat the mistakes his own father had made. Each of his daughters were special in their own way, all of them equally precious to him, but young Jemmy Jacob Adams, as the boy was named, was the proverbial icing on the family cake.
A son to carry on the family name, a son to eventually inherit his father’s investment business, a son to shine on the sports field… Jacob had so many plans and dreams for his boy, but as time passed, he found his hopes dashed one by one.
Not all of them, because as it turned out, Jemmy did indeed shine on the football field, developing into a talented running back who was both fast and manoeuvrable. But Jacob had been the quarterback, and captain of his high school and college teams, and had hoped his son would continue that tradition. Unfortunately, although he was in all respects a fine boy, Jemmy had inherited his mother’s modest height and slender build.
Well, a father couldn’t have everything his way, and JJ was very much his own person. He loved playing football, helped his high school team win a championship, and was even named MVP, much to the whole family’s delight. The four girls doted on their baby brother, and Jacob himself had been a very proud dad as he’d watched his boy lift the trophy. So yes, that hope had been amply rewarded, if not exactly the way he’d dreamed.
More disappointingly, JJ turned out to have no talent for financial matters whatsoever. He could balance a budget, something Jacob had painstakingly instilled in all of his children, but that was it. Investments not only held zero interest for him, but the whole world of finance baffled and bored him. Jacob’s second-born daughter, however, had a real flair and enthusiasm for all matters financial, went to college to study the subject, and was soon working her way up the ranks within the family’s investment firm. Clearly she was the one who would eventually take over the business, and not his son. Still, Adams & Daughter Investments had a good ring to it, so he couldn’t be upset that he’d only managed to father one financial genius out of five.
Any hopes Jacob might have tentatively entertained that his son would opt for a career in sports instead of finance also quickly fell by the wayside. From an early age, Jemmy was obsessed with the world of law enforcement. For a while, Jacob allowed himself to dream of his boy becoming a successful lawyer, but JJ had no interest in that. Despite his small stature, he was determined to become a police officer, no matter what it took. He studied pre-law in college and then, graduating third in his class, immediately enrolled in the police academy, only just passing the height requirement.
Jacob never let his disappointment show, however. Instead, he showered his son with praise, told the boy he’d make a fine police officer and be a credit to his family, and was in the front row when Jemmy graduated from the academy, resplendent in his new uniform. The boy had chosen his path in life, and it was a father’s duty to support his children as they made their way out into the world. If being a cop was what would make JJ happy, then Jacob was happy too. Besides, his son would still carry on the family name to the next generation.
Except, it eventually became clear that wasn’t going to happen either.
It had never bothered Jacob that his son liked dressing up in his sisters’ old clothes, or that he enjoyed having them plaster makeup all over his face from an early age. He was the baby of the family, the only boy, and had four older sisters, so it seemed only natural that he would copy them. Besides, he played with toy cars as much as he played with dolls, although his favourite toys were always his collection of police cars and his little toy police uniform, complete with badge and plastic handcuffs, which he used to ‘arrest’ members of the family as often as they’d let him.
Still, as his daughters got older and started dating, Jacob thought his son would grow out of the makeup phase, find himself a nice girl, and settle down. Not that there was anything wrong with boys wearing makeup and flashy clothes, especially in their teens. He was simply experimenting, developing his own identity the same way his sisters had.
The bottom almost fell out of Jacob’s world when his son finally came out to him as gay. His four daughters later admitted they’d known since their brother was a little boy, and Annabelle, his wife, claimed to have suspected for some time, but for Jacob the revelation came out of the blue. His heart sank as he realised there would be no one to carry on the family name, but then he saw the way JJ was watching him with worried, almost fearful eyes, and he pushed his own feelings aside, smiling through his tears and hugging his boy tightly.
“You’re my son, I love you and I’m so proud of you, that will never change. All I want is for you to be happy and healthy, and to find someone to share your life with who’ll treat you the way you deserve to be treated, with kindness, love, and respect. Doesn’t matter to me whether that’s a man, a woman, or a Martian, as long as they’re good to you.”
After all, what did it matter if the hopes he’d had for his son were dashed? He was only the father, it was JJ’s own hopes for himself, his life, and his future that were important, and as long as his son was happy, then Jacob could be satisfied that he’d done a good job of raising the boy he’d thought he might never have.
Besides, what did the family name matter in this day and age? According to his daughters, it was an outdated concept, a holdover from a time when the man was the head of the household, the main breadwinner, the king of his castle, and women were expected to be dutiful stay-at-home wives and mothers. Like that sort of life would ever fly for any of his girls, never mind his wife, who had continued to pursue her own career throughout five pregnancies and the raising of five remarkable children.
Jacob Adams had every reason to consider himself blessed, and he could only hope that his children would be as lucky in their lives and their relationships as he’d been. In the end, that was all that mattered.
The End
He’d married Annabel Garrick, the youngest daughter of his wealthiest client, a woman as wonderful as she was beautiful, and surely better than he deserved. They had their share of problems, disagreements, and the occasional argument, but they remained blissfully happy, and after four delightful and utterly adored daughters, she’d finally gifted him the one thing that made his life and their family complete: a son.
It wasn’t that he loved his son more than his daughters, he lavished affection on all of his children in equal measures, trying his best to treat all of them the same, determined not to repeat the mistakes his own father had made. Each of his daughters were special in their own way, all of them equally precious to him, but young Jemmy Jacob Adams, as the boy was named, was the proverbial icing on the family cake.
A son to carry on the family name, a son to eventually inherit his father’s investment business, a son to shine on the sports field… Jacob had so many plans and dreams for his boy, but as time passed, he found his hopes dashed one by one.
Not all of them, because as it turned out, Jemmy did indeed shine on the football field, developing into a talented running back who was both fast and manoeuvrable. But Jacob had been the quarterback, and captain of his high school and college teams, and had hoped his son would continue that tradition. Unfortunately, although he was in all respects a fine boy, Jemmy had inherited his mother’s modest height and slender build.
Well, a father couldn’t have everything his way, and JJ was very much his own person. He loved playing football, helped his high school team win a championship, and was even named MVP, much to the whole family’s delight. The four girls doted on their baby brother, and Jacob himself had been a very proud dad as he’d watched his boy lift the trophy. So yes, that hope had been amply rewarded, if not exactly the way he’d dreamed.
More disappointingly, JJ turned out to have no talent for financial matters whatsoever. He could balance a budget, something Jacob had painstakingly instilled in all of his children, but that was it. Investments not only held zero interest for him, but the whole world of finance baffled and bored him. Jacob’s second-born daughter, however, had a real flair and enthusiasm for all matters financial, went to college to study the subject, and was soon working her way up the ranks within the family’s investment firm. Clearly she was the one who would eventually take over the business, and not his son. Still, Adams & Daughter Investments had a good ring to it, so he couldn’t be upset that he’d only managed to father one financial genius out of five.
Any hopes Jacob might have tentatively entertained that his son would opt for a career in sports instead of finance also quickly fell by the wayside. From an early age, Jemmy was obsessed with the world of law enforcement. For a while, Jacob allowed himself to dream of his boy becoming a successful lawyer, but JJ had no interest in that. Despite his small stature, he was determined to become a police officer, no matter what it took. He studied pre-law in college and then, graduating third in his class, immediately enrolled in the police academy, only just passing the height requirement.
Jacob never let his disappointment show, however. Instead, he showered his son with praise, told the boy he’d make a fine police officer and be a credit to his family, and was in the front row when Jemmy graduated from the academy, resplendent in his new uniform. The boy had chosen his path in life, and it was a father’s duty to support his children as they made their way out into the world. If being a cop was what would make JJ happy, then Jacob was happy too. Besides, his son would still carry on the family name to the next generation.
Except, it eventually became clear that wasn’t going to happen either.
It had never bothered Jacob that his son liked dressing up in his sisters’ old clothes, or that he enjoyed having them plaster makeup all over his face from an early age. He was the baby of the family, the only boy, and had four older sisters, so it seemed only natural that he would copy them. Besides, he played with toy cars as much as he played with dolls, although his favourite toys were always his collection of police cars and his little toy police uniform, complete with badge and plastic handcuffs, which he used to ‘arrest’ members of the family as often as they’d let him.
Still, as his daughters got older and started dating, Jacob thought his son would grow out of the makeup phase, find himself a nice girl, and settle down. Not that there was anything wrong with boys wearing makeup and flashy clothes, especially in their teens. He was simply experimenting, developing his own identity the same way his sisters had.
The bottom almost fell out of Jacob’s world when his son finally came out to him as gay. His four daughters later admitted they’d known since their brother was a little boy, and Annabelle, his wife, claimed to have suspected for some time, but for Jacob the revelation came out of the blue. His heart sank as he realised there would be no one to carry on the family name, but then he saw the way JJ was watching him with worried, almost fearful eyes, and he pushed his own feelings aside, smiling through his tears and hugging his boy tightly.
“You’re my son, I love you and I’m so proud of you, that will never change. All I want is for you to be happy and healthy, and to find someone to share your life with who’ll treat you the way you deserve to be treated, with kindness, love, and respect. Doesn’t matter to me whether that’s a man, a woman, or a Martian, as long as they’re good to you.”
After all, what did it matter if the hopes he’d had for his son were dashed? He was only the father, it was JJ’s own hopes for himself, his life, and his future that were important, and as long as his son was happy, then Jacob could be satisfied that he’d done a good job of raising the boy he’d thought he might never have.
Besides, what did the family name matter in this day and age? According to his daughters, it was an outdated concept, a holdover from a time when the man was the head of the household, the main breadwinner, the king of his castle, and women were expected to be dutiful stay-at-home wives and mothers. Like that sort of life would ever fly for any of his girls, never mind his wife, who had continued to pursue her own career throughout five pregnancies and the raising of five remarkable children.
Jacob Adams had every reason to consider himself blessed, and he could only hope that his children would be as lucky in their lives and their relationships as he’d been. In the end, that was all that mattered.
The End
(no subject)
Date: 2025-03-08 07:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-03-08 08:16 pm (UTC)Thank you!