Around the time Izzy had been born, Paddy had just gotten himself back into somewhat of a real working order. It hadn't just been The War and his injury that had messed with his head, but it had been dealing with the mental toll that his family had put on him as well for most of his life. At times he'd been in a very, very dark spot and only a privileged few had really gotten to see into what he was really going through. Izzy's mother had been a big part in getting him through it. And...it was actually about the time that Toni had gotten pregnant that Paddy had started to turn the corner. As odd as it had seemed, Izzy had been helping them even as she was growing inside her mother's womb.
That little girl meant a great deal to Paddy, as did her mother. He thought of Cassie and Erin like the sisters that he'd never had, growing up with Cassie attending functions that their families had both gone to. Even protecting her from Liam when he put his sights on him, and Cassie slipping messages to Craig after his family blasted him off the family tree. He'd gotten to know Erin in more recent years, and he really enjoyed having the younger women around, somehow, she always put his mind at ease and managed to put a small grin on his face at the very least. But the one he was meeting tonight...well...he ridiculously excited about meeting up with Izzy.
Maybe because he'd watched her grow up so far, and he was excited to see her become a woman...though up until recently, he thought that was a few years off. But, hey, here they were and he couldn't be happier. Maybe because he'd just spent time with her before he went off to France to watch Craig play that he could adjust to the idea of her being here and being all grown up. Or so he was telling himself right now.
He got there right on time and wondered if she would be inside or not already when he caught a glimpse of her. And it stopped him right in his tracks not that far from her. His face softened, but he was still smiling widely.
"Forgive me for swearing in front of you, but holy hell." he said beaming taking a few steps forward. Wow, she'd grown up beautiful, just like her mother. He reached out his arms to pull her into a tight hug. "You're gorgeous girl." Paddy sounded so proud already. But then again, he was always proud of her. As a matter of fact, there was a drawing of hers on his desk under a piece of plastic that covered the surface of it to keep it safe. She might not have been his, technically, but right now he sort of felt like the proud Uncle. Little did he know how easy that transition to dad would actually be for him. "I'm so glad you were up for meeting me tonight."