His Blue Moon Princess
His Sunshine Baby Chapter 91

I drive us back to my place, Estelle sipping her hot cocoa in the back seat, happily talking to me about how happy she was to see her mom.

I still can't believe it, either. I was prepared for anything, for Elena to scream or yell at me. I wouldn't even have blamed her if she punched me a few times. I'm still waiting for it, actually. I take a glance at my baby star in the back seat. How did she raise such a

precious, perfect little girl alone like that... I take a deep breath.

I need to make things right. It's not just Estelle, I want to resume my relationship with Elena, too. Even if it takes years, I want to earn her forgiveness. Have them both back in my life, stop being that ghost I've been for the past four years. I'm the most selfish man there is, for sure, but honestly, I'd rather die than miss my chance again.

I finally parked in front of the residence, escorting my baby star out of the car. She is amazed by the view of the sea behind us.

"Daddy! It's the ocean? It's so big!"

"Yes, Baby Star. Come, you will see it even better from my apartment."

"Really?"

She takes my hand and follows me inside. The concierge, Harry, opens his eyes wide, seeing me walking in with a kid. Aside from Elena or my family, he's never seen me bring anyone else home...

"Good evening, M. Black. May I ask who is the little miss with you?"

Estelle, a bit shy, exchanges a glance with me before smiling to him.

"I am Estelle, mister."

"Nice to meet you, miss Estelle, I am Harry. Please let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you, Harry!"

"Thanks, Harry," I say, a bit proud.

While we walk to the elevator, Estelle suddenly stops. You can see the pool from the other side of the glass wall, and she is stunned.

"Daddy! There is a huge pool too!"

"I know. Do you want to go later?"

She frowns, turning to me.

"I don't know how to swim... And I don't have a swimsuit..."

"Alright, then we can buy you a swimsuit later, and you'll come with Daddy so you can swim, okay?"

She nods with a big smile, her eyes turning to the pool again. It's cute how she can barely manage to hide her excitement. We take the elevator to my apartment, and when she walks in, she doesn't dare to walk away from me, even after we took our shoes off. "This is... Daddy's house?"

"Yes. Go on. Don't you want to explore it?"

"But... You live alone, Daddy?"

"Yes. Your uncles come sometimes. But your mom is the only girl who came here before you." "Really?!"

With excitement, she finally walks in, looking at everything around her. Now that I think about it... Maybe Estelle was even conceived here. Not a lot of things have changed since then. I like a sober, neat style. Liam always says my flat looks like it's for sale, since it's so clean you could barely guess someone lives in... Well, I usually only come here to sleep and shower.

"Daddy! There are so many rooms!"

I hear her running from one room to another, and I laugh. That place really is big... Damn too big for myself, actually. I remember, I bought it because I had the means to get what's best, but for one man alone, it's ridiculously big. What was I thinking? I understand Damian better, now. He just rented the place above his office, with just one bedroom, and waited to have a wife and family to get a huge family house... "Estelle, come see the view!"

She comes back from one of the rooms, while I put our shopping bags in a corner. I take her to the balcony, which offers an incredible view of Silver City, it's buildings and the sea, on the left. She stays silent, but I can tell she's stunned. "Daddy... It's so big, like a forest of buildings..."

I nod, and take a seat next to her. Elena loved this view, too. I remember sitting here so many times with her, to watch it while listening to her music... Even when it rained, she would lay in the couch and face the glass wall to watch it. Estelle goes to the end of the balcony, looking at everything for a long time, commenting sometimes about some funny-shaped building, asking me what is this or that, and making me point out the directions to our Company, the Hospital where her mom is and her auntie Nora's house. "I miss mommy already..." She says, turning to me with a bit of a sad face all of a sudden.

I open my arms, and she comes to sit on my lap. I gently push her blonde hair behind her ears, looking at my daughter from up close.

"I miss her too, baby star."

"Do you think mommy can go out of the hospital soon?"

I nod.

"Of course. Your mom is super strong."

"How soon? Tomorrow?"

"I don't know, baby. It's for the doctors to decide."

"Okay..."

But I can tell she's unhappy, looking down. How do I cheer a four-year-old up, especially without her mom?

"You'll stay with me until mommy can get out, okay? And we will go and see her every day, I promise." "Really?" She asks, her eyes shining again.

"I promise. Meanwhile, we can do all you want. Go to the sea, to the movies, to your auntie's house..."

Estelle smiles wide again, making me feel I did something right.

"Can we eat more pizza?"

I laugh.

"You're already addicted to pizza? It's really genetics... How about I make you some homemade pizza tonight?"

"Is it okay? We had pizza yesterday..."

"Then... I can make something else if you want? Or we can even eat out?"

"I'll eat what Daddy makes!"

After a while, we agree to make some mac and cheese, and rent a Disney movie. As expected, she had never seen one... We end up seeing two more Disney together before she falls asleep on the couch with me, and I take her to the bedroom. Damian gives me a call that night, making sure everything's fine. I don't think I've ever been so grateful to my older brother. He's always been on my side, but... It's a strange feeling, helping me become a good father. He gives me a few tips about what I could do with Estelle, what kind of food I should try with her, and so on. He's been a dad for two years, but I'm all of a sudden with a four-year-old. I guess I may be doing something right, if she's happy staying with me so far. I also realize my place isn't very child-friendly... I could use a few more toys and less corny furniture...

The next day, I let Estelle decide on one of the bedrooms to become her own. She's so happy about getting her own room at my place, and picks one with a good view of the sea, but more importantly, the closest to mine. I tell her we will renovate it to her liking, and we spend the next day going to furniture and toy stores. After a while, she goes for a winter theme, chosen after her new favorite Disney movie. She is most excited that we will paint it over together, after she picked some turquoise paint.

We visit her mother in the afternoon, but as expected, Elena only wants to see her daughter... We barely exchanged a few words. I'm fine with just seeing her for a while, though. I spend more time discreetly enquiring with her doctor. She's getting better and should be discharged soon, much to my relief.

After two hours, Estelle agrees to leave, a bit sad to part with her mom again, and we spend the rest of the evening painting, as she was excited to start remodeling her new bedroom, and finish the night by watching more Disney movies with my delicious homemade pizza.

While putting my daughter to bed, I realize I completely forgot about work, but Isaac didn't call me, neither did my secretary, so I guess it's fine...

The next morning, Damian calls me.

"Elena can leave the hospital."

"What...? Really?"

I'm busy preparing breakfast for my daughter who's still asleep, and I almost drop the pan. She... Elena can leave the hospital? Already?

"Yeah," says Damian. "Her shoulder is still injured, so her arm is not healed completely, but her legs are now fine. She can walk, and apparently, she insisted a lot of leaving..."

"Wh... when?" I ask, fidgety.

"She'll be discharged after they give her a new cast and she gets all the clearance, so... In an hour or so."

"O...Okay... Can you hold her? I want to bring Estelle there before she leaves."

"Fine, I'll talk to the Hospital Director. But hurry up."

"Yeah. Thanks."

I hang up, and notice Estelle woke up, walking to me half-asleep while walking with her bunny plushie.

"Good Morning Daddy..." She says in her sleepy voice.

I walk over to kiss her cheek, carrying her. Even her eyes are still fighting not to stay open.

"Baby, I got good news from your uncle."

"Uncle Damian...?"

"Yes. Your mom is leaving the hospital today."

Suddenly, she's completely awake and excited, her big eyes looking at me.

"Really? Really, daddy? Mommy can leave? Today?"

"Yes, Baby. So you should eat your breakfast and we can go see her."

"Okay! Daddy, I'll eat fast so we can go right after, right? Daddy... What is this?"

"It's crepes, baby. My mom used to make them when we were young, with your uncles... I made ones with chocolate and sugar so take what you want, okay?"

"Can we save some for mommy?"

"Of course."

She smiles and starts eating happily, faster than usual. I may be more excited, though... I barely eat, just gulping down a coffee. I'm so anxious... I get dressed, some T-shirt and jeans, and help Estelle get ready before we go and drive to the Hospital. I decide to stop on the way, just buying some flowers for Elena's discharge. Is that too much? Estelle can give it to her, it will be less awkward that way. If only I could calm down... I hurry to the Hospital, park and walk inside with Estelle. Damian is already there, discussing with Elena and some guy from the medical staff. Calm down, calm down... I try to calm myself, holding our daughter's hand a bit tighter. Elena notices me first but turns back to the doctor. "Is that all?"

"As long as you take the medicine and get lots of rest, you will be better in a few days, Miss Whitewood. Please don't stand for too long, and watch out for your arm. I will recommend a check-up in three days, just to make sure." "About the hospital bill..."

"Elena, don't," says Damian with a frown. "Nora will scold us both. Don't you dare talk about money."

She sighs, turning to Damian.

"Can I at least say thank you...?"

I see the beginning of a smirk on my brother's face. Since when are those two so close...? I let go of her hand, and Estelle runs to her mother with the flowers.

"Mommy!"

"Baby star!"

She painfully gets down to hug her daughter. Is she alright crouching? Her arm is still in a sling, and she looks tired too. I quickly join them, grabbing Estelle to carry her. Elena barely looks at me...

"Mommy, can you really get out now?"

"Yes baby, I'm leaving the hospital."

"Really? Look, we got you flowers! And you can come and live with Daddy and me? We painted my room! It will be dry in two days!"

Elena hesitates, looking at me. I take a deep breath, stepping forward.

"How about... we discuss a bit first? Maybe mommy wants some breakfast too, baby?"

"We made some crepes!"

While she tells all about her morning to her mother, Damian settles the last details with the hospital, so that we can leave; Elena is obviously trying to avoid my eyes, while still talking to her daughter meanwhile. I take deep breaths, trying to calm down and act rationally. It had to happen sooner or later, right?

"Alright, it's settled," announces Damian. "I have to go home, Nora asked me to watch the kid this afternoon."

"She's not working?" I ask, worried.

"No, but Tonia is taking her shopping for the baby."

"Didn't you said you didn't know the gender yet...?" Asks Elena, surprised.

Damian nods.

"We don't, but they still want to look for more baby toys and things to get prepared for the birth. Nora is scared it will be premature like James. Anyway..."

He sighs and says goodbye to us, giving a kiss to the girls and leaving.

Okay, now I'm left with the two girls... I take a deep breath and turn to Estelle.

"Do you want hot cocoa, baby? So you can finish eating your crepes with mommy?"

"Yes! Come, mommy! Daddy, we can get another one for mommy?"

"Of course, baby."

Elena stays silent and follows her to the Hospital Cafeteria. It's so awkward... I take a deep breath and follow. I insist on paying for the drinks, getting myself an americano and two hot cocoas for the girls, and we sit down, a bit awkward. "Do you like it, mommy?"

"It's good, baby star," says Elena.

We stay silent a bit longer, and it's the most awkward we've ever been... I really need to say something, now. It's the time, if I ever want to make things up...

"Are you going home with us now, mommy?"

"I... I think I'll go and live with aunty Nora for now, Baby Star."

Estelle immediately makes a sad face, turning to her and me alternatively, worried.

"But... Daddy has a lot of rooms... And the Disney movies... And he said you liked it at Daddy's place before..."

She's almost crying, and I immediately feel so guilty about it!

I turn to Elena, talking very seriously.

"Elena... You could come to my place."

"Oh, heck no, Nate. We are done."

"I'm not asking you to go back to me. I... You know I have a lot of spare rooms, and I can..."

"Your place is not a hotel, and I am not that desperate. Nora can host me anytime, and we both know it."

"Yes, but I want to see my daughter, and we can't split her between my place and Damian's all the time. And Nora is pregnant, and tired, she can't host all three of us."

"I'm pretty sure Damian can get me a room anytime I ask for it, Nathaniel."

"Elena, I'm... just asking you because of our daughter. You don't have to go back to me, just consider living in the same place as me."

"Nathaniel, do you even know what you're saying! It's not just like we could be flatmates!"

"Why not?" I ask, very seriously. "Elena, you know I want you back. I'll be very clear right now about that. I owe you a hundred apologies, and we need a good, long talk. I'm asking you we have it now, for Estelle's sake. But my place would be better than a Hospital's cafeteria. You... You're free to go back to Nora's place with Estelle after that. All I'm asking is... you just give me time to talk to you before that. Seriously."