Touching the Heart of Ace
Chapter 57

I placed a cute butterfly hair band on Lia??s head.

??So pretty...?? I kissed her forehead and she frowned.

??Weally, Davey???

??Really really.??

She was so insecure about her almost naked head now. We had to cut it so short but it helped her with the sweating. Her fever was manageable and as long as she could see me, she would not scream bloody murder. She had not completely recovered but Dr. Adam was happy with her progress.

That man was a paediatric- cardiovascular surgeon and a child trauma specialist. Yeah, he only looked younger, he was thirty-two with double. M.D.

Robbie had to go overboard; Dr. Adam was too qualified to take care of Amelia??s fever. But I was thankful for him, Lia loved talking to him and after every visit I felt like, I was someone valuable and irreplaceable in Lia??s life. He asked me to follow my instincts when it came to Lia and I did not have to cross check my every decision with Dr. Adam as long as her wellbeing remained my main focus and goal. He said if it became too much to handle I could always depend on Robbie to give a fresh outlook.

I was worried about alienating Robbie because I was taking care of Lia so much that I was not giving him enough chances to bond with her.

Dr. Adam was not at all worried.

He said it was natural and healthy for one parent to back off a bit, if the other took the lead. He had even advised that to many new parents, in fact. Kids needed a growing space and a parent who was fun and bit slacked-off in discipline, helped them to wind off.

He found Robbie??s presence in the current situation was perfect but if I was feeling a bit worried I could always give them activities to do together.

He reminded me of his partner and his son, who got along just fine and his partner being a capable, responsible and amazing parent but still Dr. Adam was the primary care-taker. And they loved it that way. ??Ready, babies???

Lia cackled at her daddy??s question. ??DADDYYYY...??

??Oooh, who is this beautiful girl? Uh! No, she is not a girl, she is an Angel... So pretty...??

??Weally, Daddy??? She patted her head and Robbie kissed it.

??It will grow back fast, sweetheart. And you are so pretty. Always. Especially when you smile. So, give daddy a smile... Aaah! So pretty.?? He kissed both of her cheeks before taking my hand.

I was ready to shave off my hair too but Lia vigorously objected claiming it was pretty.

She was truly an angel.

She did not fuss when Robbie took his trimmer and shaved her pretty curls off; she sat on my lap and looked longingly at the lollipop daddy had bribed her. She could only eat it after the hair cut though. I was worried about the sugar rush, but... well, Robbie was right, she needed to have something to take the mind of her beloved hair.

We were going to my mom??s.

Dr. Adam suggested spending time with people who loved Amelia.

Mom was not feeling well enough for long travels these days. She was mostly taking rest, making Robbie and Jason handle everything in her office. I was happy that she was taking rest, but... she was always tired and drifting off to sleep in mid conversations.

But mom also looked so happy and she was glowing. Glowing like she was living her best time of her life. She was getting younger if I could say so.

I felt a kiss on my kiss and I expected Lia but not Robbie. ??Daddy, Lia is here.?? I whispered, looking for my kid and I saw her squatting down to poke on something on the ground. I picked her up before she could dirty herself.

??Uh ah! We are going to Grandma??s. We don??t want Princess to be dirty.??

I pushed away Robbie with my hip when he tried to kiss me again. Robbie took Lia from my hands, covered her eyes and kissed me so hard on my lips.

And I... melted... like butter. I just let it be... because it felt so good to be in his arms.

??Daddy, Lilil baby no see.?? Lia??s complaint broke us from our heaven.

??What has gotten into you??? I could not look into his eyes and I opened the car door, so Robbie could put our child into the car seat. I handed her the Barbie, and she started happily babbling to it. I got in second and Robbie slid next to me.

??Let us go, Nick.?? Robbie slid his arm behind my shoulders and I snuggled to his body, eyes firmly on my baby girl.

I felt Robbie sniffing my hair and I closed my eyes savouring the feeling of his breaths.

??Tired???

??No.??

We did not talk much, but we were sitting close like we were sharing the secrets we wished no one else heard.

??Will Lia be happy with this? Maybe we should throw her a kid??s party. What do you think, Daddy???

??She looks happy now. But maybe later... after her fever has completely gone, we can try.??

I rubbed my face on his chest and he kissed my head again.

Mom would love to see us, especially Lia, she was really worried about my kid. Frankie was the one to open the door and came running to help Lia out of the car.

??Hello Miss Pretty Princess.??

??Weally, Funky??? Lia let Frankie pull her to a hug before talking his forefinger and walking to the house.

I was so worried about her worrying about her hair, or lack thereof. Why was she so sad about that? I squeezed Robbie??s elbow and he shrugged. ??It will grow back.??

He did not get it; it was not about the hair; it was about her being so sad about it.

Frankie and she were half way to the front door before he remembered us and came back running, with Lia on his hip.

??Oh my god. I am so sorry; I only saw Baby Amelia...??

??Don??t sweat it Frank, we don??t need any formalities.?? Robert patted the worried man??s back and I blew raspberry to him, faking sadness. But Lia started giggling and I smiled because that made me so happy.

??Let us go see Grandma Claire now. Come on.??

??Angel, you go inside, I have to take this call.??

I sighed, not at all happy. ??Daddy, you promised us. No work today.??

??Sorry, Angel. Just this one.??

??Be quick.?? I ignored his smile, before following Frankie and my baby.

Mom was indeed so happy to see us. She sat with us, and had tea and cupcakes, since we had already eaten breakfast. Frankie and were Lia giggling and talking to some insect they found on the garden. Then Lia came back to her Grandma, running, holding a yellow leaf.

??Gamma Gamma... loooook... so petty...?? She gave it to mom with a huge smile.

??Yes, dear, so pretty. Like my baby Amelia.?? Lia climbed on mom??s lap and mom kissed her forehead, before they started talking about leaves and flowers and my baby looked so happy.

I was surprised she did not ask mom if she really was pretty.

Mom started yawning and Frankie took my baby to the gardens to show her the baby tree saplings that he was growing.

I walked mom to her bedroom and helped her lie down.

??Mama, are you not taking the supplements I gave you???

She smiled. ??I am not taking anything.??

??But it is good for you.??

She sighed and leaned on the pillow. ??I just needed to lie down. See... I am all okay now.??

I did not know when I started talking... more or less ranting and complaining.

??... she is this small, mom, literally this small. How can anyone, ??anyone??, accidently push her down? Do you not understand, mama? She is this small.?? I placed my palm below my knee, so she was following me correctly. ??You have to squat down and then ??accidently?? push her like this, for her to lose her balance enough to fall. If anyone was standing, how can you just... Lia was standing at the third step, holding on the rail... and... she is...??

??Baby... it was an accident... Janice was the one who told Robert about her falling. Or he would have assumed she was just lying on the floor, crying. Are you telling me Janice purposefully pushed her down? She is her mother, Ace, not the best mother, but still a mother. She could not even deal with the guilt, so she had to stay away for a while.??

Yeah right! Guilt made her stay away!

??I am not telling anything. Just... makes no sense... that is all.??

??Did Lia talk about it???

??Yeah. She cried a lot, thinking I would be angry with her for climbing the stairs. I had banned her near that sad excuse of a stair, without me or Robbie. So...??

I was worried about her fall. I was worried she was in pain but was so scared to let me know.

We had been sleeping with Robbie for a few days now, but I always slipped out before Lia woke up, so I could take bath and have some time for myself.

A hot water bath in Jacuzzi would take away the tension I had from Lia??s restless sleeps. Robbie was with her and I could just float away from reality. I took my time to moisturize my body with the unscented ??goo?? Robbie had gotten for me, because he did miss me rubbing it all over my body, so sensually to drive him crazy.

His words, not mine.

It being unscented would not alter my natural addictive aphrodisiac sweat.

Again, Robbie??s words, not mine.

I got my goo; he got my scent. Win-win.

I was surprised to see my baby girl peeking at me from her daddy??s stomach when I came back from the bathroom.

She was awake half-an-hour early.

??Huh! Is my sweet baby awake? Ohh... she looks so happy and beautiful... my baby... come here, love...?? I climbed on the bed and pulled her to my lap; taking a wet tissue and cleaned up her nose. ??Let Daddy sleep??? She nodded and I took her to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.

We did not go downstairs without daddy.

Ever since that incident, I depended on Robbie to take us up and down the stairs. Robbie padded the stairs under my request but I was still not happy, that stairs were not that safe.

Robbie made Lia climb up the stairs on her own while he waited patiently at the bottom; without my seeing. She would not climb much, five or six steps max. Robbie did not want Lia to be afraid of the stairs and he thought, this way she knew it was only to be done with Daddy.

I took her to her beautiful room and we went through different selection of her onesies before she opted one with a baby monkey holding a banana, in front.

We had stopped giving her morning baths, now I just wiped her down with a warm wash cloth to remove the dried up sweat she had from the night before.

She lied on her bed with her bare butt wiggling, talking to her plushies about ??Davey??.

??Sweetheart...?? How was I going to broach this topic?

??An an an an Davey sweetart??. She told her baby kangaroo plushy.

??Come here, you...?? I tickled her tummy and she squealed, screaming ??Davey??.

I kissed her adorable button nose and rubbed her back. ??Sweetheart... Baby and Davey are friends, right?

??Uhh huuhh.?? She nodded.

??Best Friends.??

??Bafrens.?? She agreed.

??And remember, how best friends tell each other everything???

She frowned. ??Tell???

??Yeah. Remember, Davey got a boo boo on his finger and Davey told baby.??

I showed her my finger where knife had nicked me, before. There was nothing on there, but she was so worried about the plaster on my finger, then. She might remember that.

??Owie... Boo boo kissie...?? She kissed my non-existent wound in remembrance.

??Yeah, Davey told baby about my owie and baby kissed my boo-boo.??

She nodded, still looking at my finger for owies.

??So, my sweetheart...?? I gently put my hand under her chin and made her look into my eyes. ??... if baby got any owies baby will tell Davey, yeah???

She agreed by vigorously. ??Baby tell owies.??

??Okay... So, tell Davey of owies. Yeah???

I gently squeezed her neck, with pressure, keenly focused on her expressions. ??Owie???

??No.?? She was confused; I could tell but I had to do this.

Her spine, next and I squished down the bubbling anxiety in my tummy. ??Owie???

??No...??

I continued until I had covered almost every points that could get hurt in her fall, and I did not know how much I was stressing over it, until it was all done and she was getting ticklish.

I dressed her up in the onesie she had selected after powdering her.

??Now, Amelia, who can see you nakey nakey???

??Davey, Daddy, JJ, Gamma, JJ an an Davey... an an an Daddy... oh oh oh... JJ... ohh Davey...??

??That is right. No one else can see you nakey-nakey and touch you or kiss you or...?? I pulled her to my lap and blew her a raspberry. ??Now, if anyone see you nakey-nakey???

??Tell Daddy.??

??That is my girl.?? I lied down next to her, pulling her to my chest. ??Sweetheart.?? She looked at me with those bright steel grey eyes and smiled. ??Why did you climb the stairs???

Her eyes widened in fear and then she started crying, screaming really and climbed on my chest... calling me Davey and... my heart broke at her not decipherable apologies. ??Sweetheart... look at me. Am I angry???

??Nooo... Davey... No angy... no angy... Noooo... Davey...??

I rubbed her tiny back and waited for the waves to calm down. She hiccupped and I kissed her a lot, calling her my baby and reminded her that I loved my Little Baby so much.

Then she was ready to talk and I got all these doubts in me that was not sitting well with me. She knew she was not supposed to climb up the stairs but Janice asked Lia to go to her room but when she tried to go there, Janice asked her go back and she fell.

That was what I could figure out, but Lia was physically fine and she was getting stronger each day. So, all my focus was to not let her be alone, without Robbie, Jason or myself.

??Ace.??

I jumped a little. ??Hmm???

Mom was looking worriedly at me. ??I lost you for quite some time, baby.??

??I am fine, mama, just thinking... about Lia. I have to make sure this never happens again. You might be right, but I am not taking any risks.??

??So what about classes???

Crap!

??I am not going back. I have to be with her. Lia is scared of my leaving and I would not put her through it ever again.??

Mom went silent. I knew she did not think of it as a good idea with my finals this close. ??Dean had called; he strongly suggests you to attend the exams. You are running for the valedictorian... you have the most marks of all the departments... even if you don??t write well, if you attend, you will pass. He is confident.??

??I am not going.?? I barely fought with mom but this was not an option. To put my little kid through this once again was inhumane.

She literally runs to me if I was more than five meter away from her. I had to put up a standing-high chair for Lia in the kitchen, to cook. Even then she would cry sometimes and I had to kiss her every few minutes to show her affection and prove my love.

No one would understand what it would feel like to see your child hugging your knees and cry, and there was nothing you could do but to repeatedly promise her that you were not going away.

Not going to put her through that again; I did not think I could put myself through that again.

??What does Robert say about your decision???

I was surprised at her question and I wondered why she was asking me that.

??We... we haven??t really talked about that... yet. Robbie is mainly focused on her fever going down and I think that is why he is not giving me a hard time on my decision. But I have made up my mind. I

never wanted to go back in the first place. I knew she needed me and... Robbie will have to let me be.??

I should have followed my heart.

??Sweetie Pie???

??Mmm???

??About that... topic, you wanted to tell me... you can, only if you want... tell me now. Do you???

NO!

My heart skipped a beat and anxiety filled my core and sweat started to form on my upper lips. I felt my hands shaking.

But...

But....

But......

It was my momma. It was about my Robbie... about my Lia and about my future.

My life.

She had the right to know.

Jason knew.

Liz knew.

Dr. Adams knew.

Hell, even Olivia, Killian, and Natalia knew.

My mom did not.

My mom.

She did not know about the love of my life.

Especially since I was breaking and one day I would just crumple to dust and, this woman who gave birth to me, who pulled herself up when her husband - her soul - left her alone... for me... she had every

right in the world to know.

I felt her hand taking mine and she pulled it over her heart.

?? You can tell me anything, Son.??

??Can I???

??Yes.??

I had to hell her.

Especially, now.

I had these... emotions, if I could say so, for Robbie.

I had never felt these before and he had made me feel quite a few emotions, some even had no names.

Even during the times when I thought, I would ask him to leave Janice and be with me, did I not feel this deep rooted... passion? No, not passion. Love? Not love either, because I knew I loved him for a very

long time. But something more strong... more... potent and more... more everything...

And I had no control over these.

I was getting drunk in the whirlpool of these emotions, were all I could think of was my family; him and my baby girl.

Did Robbie notice that change in me?

I did.

How I could not word out the protests I was supposed to tell him, how I could not help myself lean on him when he kissed me, how I willingly snuggled up with a barely-there tug from his side...

The protests would not leave my mouth.

Funny!

I would only notice I was supposed to protest after I had already melted and agreed wordlessly to his ministrations.

I... I had no idea what were those things in my heart.

I was supposed to push him away when he came into kitchen that day and pressed me to the counter to feel me up. I was not supposed to continue to stir the soup without even asking him to stop. I was

supposed to chastise him for switching off the stove.

Instead...

I let him turn me around, let him kiss my neck, let his hands wander around under my shirt like it was his right and I just looped my hands around his neck and... the only words that left my mouth was ??Lia

might see??.

As if I was only worried about her seeing us.

Funny!

I was only worried about her seeing us.

??We are only hugging.?? He whispered before lightly kissing my ears and pressed me closer to his strong and ripped body.

He took a deep breath before cussing out a word of want and pulled me deeper to his embrace, making me all kind of a needy slut inside. God! I could spend an eternity hugging him to my body. I bit my lips

because of the pleasure coursing through my veins.

His grip was making me breathless. He knew how to drive me crazy. His face rubbing along my neck, his lips leaving wet kisses along the way.

How could a hug be this erotic? This was no hug; this was something more intimate... more possessive. This was above the sex we had.

We were sharing our souls and it was intimate and romantic and... definitely... definitely private.

No one should ever see us like this. This was sacred, this was precious and this was only ours.

Only ours to ??feel??.

No one had the right to watch this.

He panted to my lips with his eyes hooded and strange. When he dipped his head and kissed my lips, I parted them for his tongue to consume me.

And consume, he did.

I felt his need on my stomach and felt myself open, just like that. That my body completely agreed that it was its role to welcome him deep inside.

What was this emotion called?

Submission? No... Robbie was the one who looked submitted to me. His eyes, his whimpers, his wandering hands all screamed submission to me.

So dominance? Gods no! I was feeling all kinds of vulnerable right at that moment and I could not even control my body.

Love? No, I knew what love felt like, this was not it, because I could still feel love in my heart.

Something else.

??My Love.?? He whimpered and hugged me tighter and I hummed, as if I was indeed his love.

Then Lia came running, calling for her Davey and it was Robbie who extracted himself, stopping the soul mating we were under.

Yes! Not me.

Him.

I did not push him away.

Robbie had stopped... because our child had come in frantically searching for us. I had pulled his hand under the sink and washed them thoroughly with soap because his hands were roaming all over my

sweaty body before doing the same with my young daughter.

Yes, my daughter.

What did that make Robbie?

My lover? My partner? My husband?

All these days we had been extremely close; it was like the times when we were labelled under ??friends??.

But this time sitting with him in the ottoman, watching the sea under moonlight, hearing him talk about his office employees and work, I was not wondering if he would kiss me. Because the moment his eyes

slipped to my lips, it was followed by a heart touching kiss, so soft or if he was playful, a bite.

And I would just... scoot closer. Then Robbie would get worried that I was cold and cover me tighter with the blanket and of course his embrace.

He was becoming my everything and more.

And my mom had the right to know.

I had not known that I had closed the eyes reminiscing the events that made Robbie, my... Robbie.

He was my Robbie and that was that.

??Mama, I am in love.??

I heard a deep gasp, and my mom??s eyes filled with tears. Not sad ones, just so happy that I was in love.

I am sorry to break your heart mommy.

??I am in love with someone... I am not supposed to love.??

Mom nodded, giving me the permission to take time to collect my thoughts. I sniffled and mom kissed my palm still safely secured in hers.

??He... is my everything, mama. I want... him, in my life and... if there is something after that, I want him there too.??

??Oh!?? Mom??s lips wobbled, still not sad.

Just accepting. Swallowing my sobs and it made my throat hurt.

??Say his name.??

??Please mama...??

??Shhh... tell mama everything, my beautiful child.??

My lips were spasming and I covered my other palm on it.

??Ro... Robert Brantley.??

She closed her eyes at the same time I did. And two beautiful tear drops that cleansed my soul flowed out through my cheeks.

I felt my mom??s kiss on the back of my hand again.

?? Tell mama everything...?? How could she sound so strong while crying, why was her voice not broken?

I told her everything, told her the truth.

Except that one time, when he came to my room drunk because he was a demon and I did not want anyone, especially my mom, to judge him on that because I could not justify what he did, not even to myself

Other than that, I told mom how we were a ??we??.

He was my life.

He was my hope.

He was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

There would never be anyone for me if it was not him.

He was my other half.

He was my man.

She nodded, accepting and trying very hard not to sob.

?? You have known.?? I wondered.

Mom froze but... she nodded again.

??How? Jason???

She chuckled. ??No. I asked him for confirmation later, but he said I could kill him but he would never open his mouth on that topic. He loves you a lot and I could not be happier.??

I sniffled. ??I love him too, mom. So... how did you know???

?? You would not believe.??

?? You cannot surprise me.??

??Sure???

I nodded, I was too tired to be surprised.

How wrong could I get?

??Robert.??

??WHAT!!!??

??Surprised???

My mouth was open and I could almost the feel the coldness of floor under my chin. Mom wiped her tears and chuckled but tears fell again.

??He did not tell me. I found out.??

I searched my mom??s face for any kind of emotion other than acceptance. She was not happy but she had accepted, there was nothing she could do about it.

??That day when he had come back from Spain, I saw him sneaking out of your bedroom. I did not think much into it, until I saw him leaning in and kissing you like he did not want to leave. I thought...?? She

closed her eyes and fresh tears fell. ??... I had never gone blank like that, so void of any thoughts and emotions... Robert saw me standing there... He knew that I knew...??

I rapidly gulped, he might have been so scared. My Robbie.

I am so sorry, Big Baby.

??I asked and I expected him to lie... I wanted him to lie, so I could take you away from that... at the time I thought he was a monster...?? Mom looked at me apologetically. ??... he was...?? She waved her

hand, and I nodded.

He was married and was kissing me... older than me and my mom assumed the worst.

??But he did not... he said you were his.??

Wow!

To my mom, no less.

??What did you do???

??Slapped him with my sandal.?? Mom shrugged, like it was something she did every day.

Oh god! How wrong was I to say nothing could surprise me!

??You? Did what???

??You heard me.??

My mom? Who came just to my chest, who might be teeny-tiny to my Robbie, my mom who had never even spanked me, or or or... never even showed me a stick to discipline me, slapped a giant with her

sandal.

Wow!

??Don??t look at me so surprised. You are my baby and he kissed you when he had promised to be faithful to the person he had married and he had the audacity to claim you as his! He must be thankful I was

not wearing heels.??

That was why his cheek was red that morning. I should have pestered.

?? That was why his cheek was red that morning.?? Mom agreed.

??What did he do???

??Don??t sound so scared, baby. He said I could beat him again, but that was the truth, that you were his. And he said he was sorry, if it hurt me but there was nothing I could do, because he needed you and

you were his.??

??Mama.??

??He said I could fight him but he had no option but to be with you, and he would come for you... till his last breath... even after that too...??

I sniffled.

??I challenged him. I threatened him. Until... until I asked him how long he was doing this...??

Oh dear god!

??He said long enough for you to know that this was your life, that you had no escape from him.??

??Mama... I... I... He just says...??

??No... I knew he meant it, but it was not him that made me remain silent.?? Her eyes bore into me like an arrow, that all knowing look, that was punishing and exhilarating at the same time. I always loved

when my mom came to know about my wrong doings. The panic of her ever replaceing out fades away and the calmness settled in.

??What made you silent???

??Your silence.??

I gulped.

??Whatever happened, had been happening for a very long time and... he is only walking because you are allowing him to. He is only in control because you let him be. He could have walked away the first

time, but if you were against it, there would never be a second time.??

Mothers!

I had nothing to say.

?? You had been in this as much as he had been. From the beginning.??

??Do you hate me now???

She remained silent and my heart was weeping. I peeked to her face and saw her so deep in thoughts.

??No. Not one bit. If you let him, then, you meant it. You must have gone through a lot of pain, lots of fighting with yourself, lots of fighting him... You must have done everything you could have, to stop it from

getting it this far. To sit here and tell me everything like this, you must have felt like dying.??

I lost it.

I hugged my mom, falling on her chest and I cried...

I fucking cried like a little baby, and she cradled me like I was truly a little baby who got an owie.

??Shh... shh... oh sweetheart. Mama is here... It is okay baby... Oooh... It is okay... mama can never hate you. How can you even think that? Hate you? Pfft... Oh... sweet baby...??

And Robbie wondered how I could calm Lia so fast. I was only parroting my parent.

??I am so sorry, mama... I am so sorry. I... hic... did all... but I... love him... hic... I...??

I cried and cried, until I could not breath. My mom pulled me to the bathroom and washed my face and demanded me to stop crying before going back to the bedroom.

??So, does Robert feel the same???

??No.??

She went silent. Then...

??Well. That sucks.??

??MOM!??

??What? It is your fault I spend so much time with Jason. Do something about it. Take him away with you, tell him I am fine.??

I sighed. ??I wanted to tell Aunt Marie too. But...??

??You pushed it off every time???

?? Yeah... I... I could not put her in that spot. One was her daughter, other was me... I did not know how to...??

??She knew it too.??

No!

There was no way!

Mom was making things up, so I could take away this guilt.

??I told her Marie.?? Then I could see how my news really affected her, the pain, the unhappiness, the fear... I was her only child and I was not... in a good situation.

??After hearing from Robert, and seeing you taking care of him in the morning like he made you the happiest person in the world was too much for me to handle. And Robert was hurting her daughter. I had

to... do something about it...?? Mom cried. ??I was so scared. She was my family, my best friend and my son and her daughter??s husband are in love with each other.?? I could not move my tongue to correct her, that I was the only one in

love, and Robbie was just...

??She said, she had suspected. She said Robert looked different when he is with you. That woman did not leave the house but how the hell did she manage to know that. Yeah, yeah... you are so smart.??

Who was she talking to?

??What did Aunt say???

??Nothing related to your relationship or their marriage. I asked several times, but all she said was she was happy that Amelia had you and she was grateful for that. And said she wants you study and write the

exam.?? Mom rolled her eyes. ??And... start a company... Fine! And have her statue in the entrance.?? She groaned, like someone was annoying her. ??She wants only the bust model, not full body statue...

with the scarf covering her wrinkly neck.??

Mom laughed.

??Mom??? I shivered with sudden coldness in the room.

She smiled and she looked so happy and young.

??Sorry, honey... mama was getting a bit tired.??

??O... okay.?? I got scared if she was losing her memory.

I wanted to ask mom a lot of questions and talk more about my family but I heard the wail of my baby and the door pushed open by Robbie, who held her and Frankie worriedly following them.

??Davey???

??Yes baby???

??Oh!??

Oh? That was all she wanted to say? I thought she was hurt so badly with the way she wailed, but know she was only looking at me with wonder.

She stretched her arms and I picked her up from her daddy.

??Why were you crying, baby???

??Davey no see.??

??I told you, Pumpkin Pie, Davey is not going anywhere without you.??

??Pumpum pi???

??Yeah, your Grandma Marie loved Pumpkin Pies. She made the best pumpkin pies in the world.??

??Gamma Mayee???

??Yes. My Aunt, your grandma.??

I patted Robbie??s back pockets and pulled out the wet wipes I had put there in the morning. I cleaned Amelia??s nose easily with them. It was an amazing product, everything else, hurt my baby??s nose.

I washed her face after in the bathroom and made her pee too.

??I love you, Lia.??

She cackled happily and said a small ??dub you?? and I all but melted.

I walked back to Robbie, putting the wet wipes pack back in to his pockets and saw mama staring at Robbie.

I frowned and saw Frankie smiling a bit adorably creepy, looking like a Jack O?? Lantern.

Speaking of Aunt Marie filled my mind with beautiful fall season, Halloween and Pumpkin Pies and Jack O?? Lanterns.

Mom and Robbie was still in staring contest.

??Robbie, stop trying to scare my mom.??

??I scare your mom? She scares me! Look.?? True to his words there were Goosebumps in his arms and was there a slight tremor in his voice.

I snickered.

Frankie pulled out a play mat from thin air, before sitting on it with a few toys and Lia wiggled in my arms trying to get down. I lowered her to the floor and she happily ran to her Funkie.

??How is the office going, Robert???

??Smoothly, Madam Claire.??

??Sit next to me.??

I tried to follow what they were talking about but I lost interest soon enough that I joined Frankie and Lia in their play mat.

Lia loved her Funkie.

He was the master magician according to her, but then again, all the magic tricks I knew was taught by Frankie. I was a card magician, not that good, but good enough to keep a group of non-magicians

entertained.

Frankie pulled out a flower from behind her back and my Little Baby turned around in circles to replace where had it come from, then he pulled another one and another one, making her squeal and jump in joy.

I was stupid to wonder if she would have fun here. We had our very late lunch here on Mama??s balcony, Robbie and her still in deep discussions of businesses; Frankie and Penelope feeding Lia her second

lunch; I thinking of my dad, Aunt Marie and my amazing childhood, it was a good day.

I wanted Lia to grow like this, surrounded by people who loved her giggles, dropped anything to make her happy and... ??Davey...??

I smiled and turned to see her extending me a piece of mango. I gobbled it up from her hand making her giggle and she pointed on another thing on her plate to Funkie to feed her.

Such a spoiled Princess.

We had a very good time, until mom got very tired and fell asleep in the midst of talking to Robbie. He picked her up and took her to the bedroom before joining us and we stayed for a little while longer but we

needed to leave soon, or we would only reach home late at night.

??Shall we???

I nodded and gently shook my mom. She woke up with a smile.

??Mom, we are leaving. I love you. Please take care of yourself.??

??Your dad takes care of me well, my beautiful son.??

Tears sprung on my eyes and I kissed her cheek. She kissed my cheek too.

I saw Robbie standing at the door with my sleeping baby on his chest. He handled me her and before Robbie bid his goodbye.

He threw his hand across my back and steered me to the door; I turned around to wave and my mom??s eyes were shiny but she looked so happy too.

She was glowing; my beautiful mommy.

??Mom is talking a lot about dad these days and I am worried, Robbie.?? I told him when we had travelled half way to home. Lia was blissfully sleeping, all the fun she had today, taking its toll on her fevered

body.

Her temperature had gone down but she still had the left over irritations and medicines.

He kissed my forehead and pressed me to his chest.

??What are you worried about???

??It is like she wants to be with him and...?? It was like she was preparing me for her long journey. Jason also felt the same and we were worried about sometime. But today... it felt so real.

??She should be with him. And... you have me now...and our baby. You have us.??

I heard his heartbeat picking up the pace and I deeply inhaled his powerful masculine citrusy scent.

?? You have us.?? He whispered once more and prayed to god that he was telling me the truth.

I wanted him so much in my life and my baby girl too.

Did he know I was breaking?

Did he know that at this moment, lying on his chest I was thinking of nothing else but him and our child?

He did not and if I was strong enough he would not.

But was I?

Mom had said I was strong to live with a painful love, but... it was not painful anymore. It was not painful because Robbie was rubbing my back and kissing my head. He was calling me his Angel and his love.

He was talking about our baby being happy after visiting her grandma and he was suggesting another visit some time in next week.

Robbie had a trillions of voice messages from his associates and presidents when we got back. He whined on my chest but then pulled up his big boy shorts and went to do business stuff while Lia and I

cuddled and played in her playroom.

Now we were sitting on the floor and pushing her toy trucks to and fro between us with Barbie perched on it top.

Then she frowned hard and swatted it away before angrily crawling to me.

??Aww... what is it, Baby Angel?

??Nooo...??

She straddled my lap and pouted on my chest. I kissed her tiny head and rocked her.

??Don??t want to play???

??Noo...??

??It is okay, love.?? I rubbed her back, and kissed her head, feeling so content to sit here with her on my lap.

I thought this was her favourite cuddling position; like a baby monkey. I told her some of the my made up story and I made Jason a donkey I found on the way from market.

Sue me!

My baby was feeling gloomy and I wanted her to laugh.

I was finished with the story and petting my sweet child when I saw her Daddy leaning on the door.

??Hey, Daddy, watchya looking???

??My Angels sitting together.?? He smiled and came inside and sat on the other side. ??So, I was missing my Baby Angel and I came to pick her up.??

??No... she is mine and I am not giving her to Daddy.??

??Hey, she is mine and I am not giving her to Davey.??

I felt Lia smiling on my chest.

??She is my Baby Angel. She came from heaven for me.?? Robbie tried to pry open my hands on Lia??s back.

??Ha! She came here because of me, so I won??t give her to anybody.?? I snuggled closer and kissed her.

But soon I felt her body going slack on me and she fell asleep just like that.

??Daddy...?? My heart broke seeing her tired all the time. She had lost a lot of weight, and she fell asleep in every two hours.

??It is okay Angel.?? But I knew how much this affected him too, he was being strong for me, and strong for her. I had seen him staying awake and staring at his sleeping baby in her crib. I had felt him covering

us in blanket, so late at night.

I knew he was also suffering.

??Up.?? He stood up and helped me to my feet. We carried Lia to the living room sofa and lied her down.

??I am so worried... Robbie... She is always tired, she is supposed to run around and giggle and climb on you and...??

??Shh...??

We walked together to the ottoman, this was where we spent our free time now. Watching the waves calmly slither up the shore.

It reminded me of Robbie, when he slithered up my body, slowly withdrawing, only to slam deep inside me again.

I looked to Robbie and saw him already staring at me. He pressed his lips on mine in a chaste kiss.

??The sea must feel so insecure seeing your eyes.?? He kissed my eyelids and I leaned closer, hiding my face in his chest.

??Baby...??

??Mmm...??

??Dean called.??

I tried to jump away, but he had predicted this and hugged me tighter by trapping my legs between his thighs.

??Robbie... stop... I have... I have to make dinner.?? ??Listen to me please...??

??No... Let go, Robbie...??

??Baby, please don??t hurt me.??

Hurt him??? I HURT HIM???

He hurt ME!!!

The anger was making me blind but the moment I saw his troubled eyes, I wanted nothing more than to cradle him to my body... but I could not.

??Please listen, Angel.??

And I nodded because dammit, I was so lost in him, he had no idea.

?? You don??t understand what I went through, every moment being away from was excruciatingly painful for me. Every time I woke up, without you in this house, I wanted to scream. Counting days, hours,

minutes, fuck even seconds for your next visit... I can??t do that again... Baby please...??

??You are the one asking me to go.??

??I did sweetheart, I had to... Your dad wanted that for you, your Aunt wanted that for you... Hell, you wanted that for yourself...?? He kissed my lips before I could interrupt him. ??Above all I want that for you.

You are smart, a genius, a true treasure and if I have to do this...??

??Robbie, please...??

??Shh... shh... we are this close, if you drop everything now, we will have to go through all this again, months of this solitude, not seeing you, touching you, kissing you... all for naught... Our baby Lia has done

her bit as well. She stayed strong for you. I have seen her tapping the monitor hoping to see your face. I finally had to put your video as a screensaver, and she did not make a fuss when ??you?? did not

reply... she was happy to see you??

I cried.

??All of it will be a waste...??

??I don??t want to go, Robbie... Please don??t send me away.??

??Do you think any reason, any reason at all, will make me send you away???

I only cried harder.

??Dean and I talked. Your attendance is not an issue, you finished your project early and he will add these leaves as project-break. Your grades are the best, so you failing the final is next to impossible.??

I did not want to hear anything but Robbie was so mean.

?? You have no assignments that are out of date, and the ones you could not submit, Rupert and Ned are backing you up.??

They had passed out, last year. How could they help me?

??They have done your work, all you had to do is change their draft, to our style and submit.??

??How long have you been going behind my back??? I glared.

??Ever since I meet you.??

I huffed, Robbie was so annoying.

??So you see, all you have to do is study from here.??

??No.??

??Baby...?? He nipped my ear.

??No... I am serious, then you will ask me to move away, then more assignments will come and...??

??I promise to my Angel that I will not let you go anywhere alone. If... which is a big if... there comes some situation where you have to go, we are coming with you. Lia and I. Jason can handle everything

without me. I am serious.??

??Noo?????

He shook his head but kissed me again.

?? All you have to do is wake up a few hours early, so you can study without Lia interrupting you. I will wake you up, and stay with you at night. Just study. Nothing else. I promise.??

I blinked. I was still sceptic. ??What is the catch???

??No catch. Nothing. Nada.??

I was pouting and I could not help it.

??Study and when the exam dates are near, we all will go. Lia, you and I. We will stay in your campus as you write your exams... and go back to our hotel, penthouse, your dorm, wherever we are staying and

.... that is

it.??

I did not want to do this. I could just drop out. It was not like I ??needed?? to do it.

??Promise me you will make Jason take his M.B.A.??

??I promise. I will fire up his a... butt... butt, and make him get M.B.A.??

??Robert Brantley, I am serious, if a moment comes where I have to choose between Lia and my exam, I will pick Lia. I am serious. You don??t want to fight me on this. I am serious.??

??I would not have it any other way. So, say yes.??

I was not replying.

??If you drop this now, we will have to go through this all over again, one more time and... please don??t hurt me like that.??

He was begging. And I did not like Robert Brantley begging. Not anymore.

??You will wake up with me in the morning and you will stay awake with me at night too.??

??Yes.??

??Okay.??

??Say that again.??

??Okay.??

??Oh, Sweet Baby Jesus... thank God!?? He covered me in kisses, like I handed him the world. ??God, he is my fucking trouble of a life time but I would not have him any other way. Always fighting with me.??

The bastard bit my cheek. ??Ow.??

Then he pressed me to his chest again, saying all the cringey, corny stuff, that was making me so embarrassed but... lately I wanted him to say all these to my ears, like big secrets.

??How are you so perfect, love???

??Coming home to you and Lia is the only thing that keeps me sane these days.??

??You could be my downfall but... sweetheart I have never felt so strong and powerful before.??

??Seeing your creamy milky skin... adorned with my handprints makes me crazy, love...??

I fell asleep, content and feeling so loved and cherished in my demon??s arms.

The day he had to leave for hell, I was going to follow him.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐