March 10th 1million Reads!!! We made it :)

"There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days."

"And, of course when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back."

"There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads."

"But, once in a while, people push onto something better. Something found just beyond the pain of going it alone. And just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in."

"Or to give someone a second chance."

"Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream."

"Because, it's only when you're tested that you truly discover who you are."

"And, it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be."

"The person you want to be does exist; somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith and belief. And, beyond the heartache and fear of what lies ahead." - Lucas Scott One Tree Hill

Song :  I don't need a man - Miss A

***

Hera takes a step back and places her hands against her heart shutting her eyes and urging herself to do just that, breathe.

Lexis walks over to the counter and looks at the items arranged on it.

"What's this?" He asks.

"Pancakes!" Shakespeare says getting down from her chair and approaching Lexis.

"These... are pancakes?" He asks pointing to the ingredients.

Hera lightly slaps her chest twice.

"It's not been made yet," She says opening her eyes.

"Made? By whom?" Lexis asks.

"Me," Hera replies turning and walking over to where Shakespeare was now standing beside Lexis.

"Isn't your hand burnt?" He asks raising an eyebrow.

Shakespeare looks at her mums hand.

"Burnt not broken," Hera replies reaching out for the bowl which Lexis slides further away from her.

"Yes, but you shouldn't be doing this, not till your hands heal," He says.

Shakespeare nods silently standing in between both parties.

"Do you expect me to starve till my hands heal?" Hera asks.

Shakespeare looks at Lexis awaiting an answer.

"I never said so," Lexis says.

"Yet it's what you implied, or was translated," Hera answers.

"I said to wait till it's healed, order something," Lexis says.

"Do you realize what the time is? Nowhere delivering is open," Hera says not wanting to say she was saving what little she had and didn't want to spend.

"Plus the nurse said you shouldn't be working but you had your driver bring your work to you yet you don't see me stopping you do you?" Hera asks.

"Because I haven't actually worked," Lexis says.

"But you will," Hera replies.

"Yet I haven't," Lexis answers.

"Look I don't have time to argue with you, just give me the bowl," Hera says leaning in to reach for the bowl. Lexis moves it further away.

"Why won't you just ask for help?" Lexis asks raising an eyebrow.

"Because I don't need it," Hera replies but whimpers slowly in pain from her burnt hand as she attempts to reach for the bowl again.

"Are you sure?" Lexis says a smirk on his face.

Shakespeare reaches out her hands, each one holding onto the clothing of Lexis and Hera. She tugs at them.

They both look down at her frowning face.

"Stop fighting, I can make it" Shakespeare says.

"Oh honey you're too little to make it, wait till you grow up and you can make lots," Hera says ruffling her hair.

"When do I gwow up?" Shakespeare asks furrowing her brows.

"In five... ten years?" Hera says smiling.

"But I want to gwow up now so I can make you pancakes," Shakespeare says frowning.

"Oh darling, just the fact that you're thinking it means the world to me," Hera says looking down at Shakespeare.

"But I don't want to mean the world, I want to give you the world," Shakespeare says.

"Oh sweetheart," Hera says kneeling and hugging her daughter as her eyes get misty.

"You are my world," Hera says.

"My lifeline," Hera adds stroking her hair.

"Shakespeare how about I help you before you grow up?" Lexis asks placing his hands on her shoulder.

Shakespeare looks up at Lexis. Hera also releases her daughter and looks at him confused.

"You see the best part about not growing up is that unlike grown ups whose prides never let them ask for help," Lexis says looking at Hera.

"Kids can ask for help without caring about their pride," Lexis says moving his eyes and attention back to Shakespeare .

"Is that a good thing?" Shakespeare asks pouting.

"Very good, very very good, we all need a little help Shakespeare and asking for it should never be something to be ashamed of, it's a sign of courage," Lexis says.

"couwage?" Shakespeare asks to which Lexis nods.

Hera bites her lips.

"Like the lion of OZ?" Shakespeare asks.

"Like the lion, many adults are cowardly and think asking for help makes them lesser, weaker but sometimes the courage of asking shows just how strong they are," Lexis says.

Shakespeare nods

"Mr Airport will you please help mummy?" Shakespeare says.

"Shakespeare," Hera says in reproach.

"It's okay mummy, keep your pwide, I'll have couwage for you," Shakespeare says hitting her chest.

"Mr Airport please help mummy?" Shakespeare says one more time.

"Shakes..."Hera starts.

"Sometimes..." Lexis says cutting off Hera and looking at her.

"We as grown ups need to set aside our pride and accept help, don't teach the child to be so independent that it ruins her. There's a thin line between independence and stupidity," Lexis says

"Do you even know how to make pancakes?" Hera asks.

"I do!" Shakespeare says gleefully.

"No you don't," Hera says.

"Yes I do, I learnt while you made it before," Shakespeare says.

"See? She can show me how," Lexis says.

"Fine, suit yourself," Hera says stepping back wondering if Shakespeare really knew how to or it was going to end up as a disaster.

                  A few minutes later too much flour mixed with too little milk and half a bag of sugar later, Hera gets her answer.

"I said one egg," Shakespeare says.

"Shakespeare you said three eggs," Lexis says pretty sure he was on the wrong track.

"No...I said thwee spoons of sugar but you put thwee eggs," Shakespeare says.

"No you didn't," Lexis says.

"Did too," Shakespeare says.

"No you didn't," Lexis replies.

"Mummy what did I say?" Shakespeare says turning to face her mum. Lexis also turns to face Hera awaiting an answer.

Hera takes one look at both of their faces filled with traces of flour and egg and bursts out laughing.

"Mummy, it's not funny," Shakespeare says pouting.

"It is," Hera says laughing some more.

Shakespeare looks at Lexis whose and notices the flour mixture on his face and starts laughing.

Lexis eyes stay focused on Hera.

Hera finally stops laughing noticing Lexis eyes trained on her and looks at him suspiciously.

"What?" She asks.

"It's the first time," He says.

"First time that what?" Hera asks.

"You've laughed or smiled," He says.

"I laugh and smile," Hera says.

"Not in front of me you haven't," Lexis says.

Hera draws in her lower lips in for a bite.

The sound of knocking at the front door resounds in the kitchen.

"I'll get it" Hera says.

"No, I'll get it," Lexis says dropping down the bowl and wiping his hands and face  before stepping out with Shakespeare behind him.

Hera giggles and shakes her head. 

      Outside the kitchen, Lexis opens the door revealing a man with a huge red box in his hands.

"Good morning," The man says.

"Good Morning," Lexis replies.

"I don't know you," Shakespeare says causing the man to smile.

"I was sent to help with the electricity? I heard there was a problem with a room," The man says in explanation.

Shakespeare chuckles.

"Not a woom, my woom," She says.

The man smiles and reaches out to touch her hair but Lexis steps in front of her and places both hands in his pockets.

"I'd like to see an ID," He says to the man. Shakespeare holds onto Lexis pants and peeks from his back.

The man takes back his hands and places it into his pocket pulling out a wallet which he opens and removes an ID and business card handing it over to Lexis.

Lexis accepts it and looks at it before glancing at the man.

"You may come in," Lexis says getting out of the mans way while still making sure Shakespeare was behind him.

Once the man steps in Lexis turns to Shakespeare, ruffles her hair and shuts the door behind him.

***

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and happy birthday to every one born in March!

-A

Random question, does anyone actually play the songs I add to the chapters?