She has her father's puppy eyes

"Lyssie, c'mon sweetheart, pick up the phone! I know you're there! Stop kissing your bloke, and pick up the phone! Lyssie, Lyssie, Lyssie, I'm just going to keep calling you over and over again! Lyssie! I need you! LYSSIE PICK UP THE PHONE!"

Alyssa Hendrix looked up from her book, and over at the phone rolling her eyes. She didn't know if she should pick up the phone, even though there was a time in her life when she would have killed to hear her father's voice on the other end of the phone, however that had been before college, and before her father had been a large influence of her life. It was also before she had a gorgeous man on the other end of the couch, watching her with dark eyes, waiting to see if she would actually pick up the phone, or if she would ignore it in favor of their date, and of reading aloud to each other, which is what they were currently engaged in.
"Aren't you going to get that?"
Gerard had a very lovely Scottish accent, and she loved the sound of it, and loved every word it said, if only for the sound if not for any other reason.
"And interupt our date? Gerry, I can talk to my dad any old time."
"And I only live across the hall, and we can pick up the book when the conversation his over."

Gerard leaned over, pressing a small kiss to her lips, and touching her cheek, a small smirk on his lips as he prodded her nose.
"Pick up the phone, and talk to your dad." He pulled his reading glasses from his pocket, and picked up a different book. "I'll be waiting." Alyssa laughed, and leaned over Gerard to pick up the phone, and smiled against the receiver.
"Hey, Daddy. What's wrong?"
"Lyssie, I don't know what to do."
"About?"
"Julie."
"Ah..."

Alyssa leaned back, giving Gerard a knowing look, and propping her feet on her boyfriend's lap, winking at him as she listened to her father.
"Lyssie, it's not what you think. I don't want to, say, leave her or anything..."
"But-"
"No, no, no! There's no but this time, Lyssie."
"There's always a but, Dad. You leave the girl in the end. What'd she do this time?"
"Alyssa, I am not leaving Julie."
"Fine, fine, so what's the emergency?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone, and Alyssa grew concerned. Something had her father upset enough to call her for help and advice, but not upset enough to leave the woman that he claimed to love. She didn't know what it could be, but she was pretty sure it had to be serious. Gerard had noticed her discomfort, and rubbed her leg comfortingly, to which Alyssa responded with a smile.
"Dad?"
"Alyssa, Julie's pregnant."

Alyssa didn't know what to say, as shock rippled through her. She wasn't sure what to say and she didn't know what to think. She was going to have a sibling twenty years younger than herself. She and Gerard had talked about having a child in the next couple of years. Their aunt or uncle would only be a few years older. Looking helplessly at Gerard, she could feel her eyes filling with shocked tears, and envy for this child who would be the recipient of everything that Alyssa had missed out on. Gerard, as always the best fiancee a girl could imagine, pulled her into his lap, stroking her hair as Alyssa found her voice.
"Isn't she old for that?"
"That's why I'm worried, Lyssie. And me? What kind of father would I be?"
"The best."

She was trying not to sound as distressed as she felt, and curling in Gerard's arms was helping, but even still, Alyssa felt as though her heart would just vanish from her chest, shredded to pieces. Derek's claims that he was a dreadful father were not helping. She leaned her head against Gerard's chest.
"Really, Lyssie?"
"'Course, Daddy. You're the absolute best."
"Thanks, honey. You know, I should let you go- I-I'm sorry I interupted your evening."
"No, it's okay, honest. We can, we can talk."
"You really think I'm a good father?"
"Of course."
"Then I learned what I needed to know. Thanks, Alyssa, I love you."
"Love you too, Dad."

As they hung up the phone, Gerard wiped at Alyssa's tears.
"You gonna be alright?"
"Yeah, I think I will."
He smiled at her, and leaned down for another kiss.