It's hard to see someone who you love fade away. And it's harder to be not able to do something to save them.

•

(7th May, 2019. Tuesday. Rome, Italy.)

Eric Ashton stood at the wall sized window of his penthouse, waiting for his phone to ring. It has been two days since any update.

These were the times he felt vulnerable. So vulnerable, that it hurt him.

And the fact that he can't share this with everyone pained him more.

He sighed walking back towards the dining room where his family currently was.

As soon as he entered, the brown hair of his wife welcomed him. It was so beautiful to have her home and not traveling for her concerts. She was scowling at something she saw on the TV.

He chuckled to himself and went to sit beside her.

"What happened?"

She looked at him and pouted, "My legs!"

Okay...

In a moment, she turned and placed her legs in his lap. He knew what he has to do.

He slowly started massaging her legs looking at her fondly. This woman is the only ounce of sanity left in him. And well, someone in her womb too.

"You look worried Eric?"

Ofcourse he can't hide it from her. No matter how much he smiles.

"No update since two days."

That worried her too. But she tried not to.

"Don't worry...call your men."

"I did. And I am firing them if they don't do their work properly."

She chuckled, "Calm down Monster! Do you even have an account on how many people you have fired in your life?"

"In some thousands.", He said smugly.

She shook her head smilingly, when they heard little pitter patter. They both turned in the direction to see the little man, walking carefully, near the two stairs.

They were amused. He doesn't like to be helped. And well, Joana, his caretaker was behind him watching his steps.

"Papa!", He called Eric.

Eric stood up, "Come. Come. Come to Papa!"

And as soon as he crossed the threshold, he ran into his Papa's arms.

He took him to where Erica was, and settled beside her. Erica leaned forward to kiss him, to which he made a cute face, making her laugh.

"How did you sleep Oli?", She asked.

"Gooooot!", He squealed making the two laugh.

He still can't speak properly. Only broken words here and there. The only word that he could say without any problem was 'Papa'. But the way he loved Eric, and Eric loved him, it would have been rather weird him not being able to address him as Papa.

"Olive? Hungry?", He asked.

He bobbed his head up and down in reply, "Okay.."

The two maids standing near the entrance heard them and went to the kitchen to prepare his formula.

"Oli won't come to Mumma?!?", Erica made a cry baby face, which had the little one year boy, getting on his feet discarding his father's lap.

"Mumma..", she took him in her lap, careful of her huge baby bump.

He was mumbling few things to himself while sitting on her lap, that included 'Baby', 'Pototo' that meant Potato. Both to be parents looked at their godson in awe. He was so innocent and at the same time he was not. That was an explanation for the other time.

"Mumma? Baby?", He pointed to her protruded belly.

She nodded, "Yes Oli! Baby is inside. She will come and play with you.."

His eyes lit up at that and he grinned wide, his obsedian eyes shining like his father's did whenever he made a double meaning joke. Eric stared at him and so his attention again drifted to the call, he was waiting for.

Just then, they heard the door bell ring, and then another maid went to open the door.

The house was currently filled with servants. His wife was pregnant, and he wouldn't take a chance. Erica wasn't allowed to argue with him on this, and so she didn't. He was worried especially after what they saw last year. The forever creases on his forehead were the result of his day long tensions.

"Oliver!!!", Some called making him jump with excitement.

"Hoe!!!", He got down the couch abandoning his mumma and went towards the entrance of the dining room. Just then, Hope entered with a huge bag in her hand, that she handed to the maid instructing her to mix the salad the way Erica wants.

As she turned her eyes drifted to the little boy waiting for her attention.

"Oh my god! Someone looks extra handsome today.", She said as she picked him up.

That had Oliver grinning like never before. He was a charmer, and Hope was probably his first crush. His cheeks changed colours and that had Eric looking at him weirdly.

He took her red hair in his hand playing with her locks. Such a playboy! And he's not even one.
Something he definitely inherited from his father.

"You looked after Mumma? Oliver?", She asked playing with his cheeks.

And he nodded furiously, as if he has not been sleeping since the last two hours and guarding his mother. Eric rolled his eyes.

Hope came across and settled across them.

"Glad you went for grocery shopping on behalf of me. I owe you Hope.", Eric said.

Hope shrugged, "I wouldn't want you scaring the general public away."

He was offended, "I am not that scary."

"Yes you absolutely are!", Erica chimed winking at Hope.

Last few years, since her singing career gained impetus, her friendship with Hope did too. And since Oliver is born, Hope has been the biggest support by their side.
The sudden unplanned pregnancy of Erica too could only sustain on the pretext that Hope will be there for Oliver while these two struggle with their own pregnancy.

But the past year has changed a lots of things. Nonna have been resorted to bed rest, because her knees have given away, despite best treatment. James and Jessica have been there for her since then.

In all this, Eric has been the only person struggling to manage everything and not burdening anyone else. Including being a father to Oliver, and then taking care of the real father, who seemed to be doing just few things in the past year.

Travelling recklessly, doing work as if he'd die tomorrow, drinking to his neck, and sleeping around. Everything Venus hated in him.

Eric was aware he believes he'd spite Venus by doing this. But what he doesn't realize Venus ain't coming back no matter how much he irks her.

The girls were busy awwing over Oliver and so he excused himself. His phone vibrated just then and he saw it is a call from one of his men.

"Eric Ashton."

"Sir...last night he was drinking in a bar when this blonde woman approached him. He went with her in his car, and now he's standing at a pharmacy. Probably getting some head ache relief because his car was literally swaying.", The man completed.

Eric cursed under his breath, "Can he not drive when he has a hangover!?"

"Uh...sir he's coming out..."

"Okay..", he disconnected and immediately called David.

He so wanted to lash at him for rash driving.
The call was not received and that aggravated him more.

He sighed to calm himself and turned to look at Olive. He named him Oliver for a reason. Because David hates olives. And if it was any less obvious in Oliver, he still called him Olive, to which he gladly responded.

He thought when David comes to know his child's name is Oliver, he will come running back like there's no tomorrow. But now he thought, he only expected way more.

Oliver's first birthday is on the coming Saturday. And Eric has been giving David as much space as he wants. But now this is being too much.

If he would have lived peacefully without any recklessness, may be he'd consider the idea of giving him space for more time. But now, this looks foolishness on his part.

"Erica?", He called out to grab her attention.

"I need to go to Australia for some work."

Erica though knew he's keeping a track on David, she was not aware of his recent location. He's been changing countries every week.

"Your due date is after fifteen days. Don't worry I'll be back way before that. Okay??"

She nodded smiling, "I want you by my side when I deliver."

"Ofcourse I will be.", He kissed her forehead and seeing that Oliver forwarded his head.

Amused, Eric placed a kiss on his forehead making the boy grin from ear to ear.

Isn't he adorable!?

"Let me help you to pack a bag."

"No No! I'll manage...don't worry.", With that he left the dining room and came to his bedroom.

This is the third time he'll be going to David to call him back home. And this time, he has two reasons. First his son's birthday and second his sister's baby.

When he came downstairs he saw Hope standing near the kitchen.

With that he remembered, "Hope! Can you stay here while I am absent. I'd ask Stephan and Henry to be here all time. But still, Erica may need someone."

"You don't have to say Eric. I'd be here."

He sighed with relief. He would have never left at this time no matter how important it was. But this time, it is David, who has been drinking beyond limits these days.

"As much as I know you...", Hope said, "...you wouldn't leave for work during her near delivery time. Is everything fine?"

"David is in Australia.", Eric, as a friend has always tried to protect her from this. But he never lied to her. Because she was the only one who can handle the strongest blows.

His name did something to her. Something that she has become used to. He was mentioned in this house almost everyday. And not to forget, his son has become the apple of her eyes. Every time, she looked at Oliver, her heart filled with love for the son, and longing for his father. And the longing was not one to see him before his eyes. She has maintained so much distance that now distance never bothers her. But the longing was to see him in his playful and smiling sphere, which probably no one witnessed in the last one year.

Eric always noticed the change in her demeanor whenever she heard of him. How can someone love so selflessly? But then he puts himself at her place, and he knows how cruel heart can become when comes to love.

"Don't worry...he's fine right now. But I think it's high time we stop giving him space."

She nodded. There's a possibility that he can be back. And just at that, her heart started beating like never before.

"I'll take care here.", He trusted her with that.

•

(◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

•

Pain knows you.
It knows how to hit you, the hardest.
It knows your perfect weak points.
Yet, it makes you stronger.

•

D A V I D   W E L L I N G T O N

(9th May, 2019. Thursday. Melbourne, Australia)

Crap. I felt like shit.

It was the third day of me standing in the same pharmacy. I buy stuff everyday, loose it, and then come back here again.

The girl in front of him has been here everytime. Now she'd think he comes here to seduce her.

"I want a pack of aspirin...", I asked the girl. The girl was wearing a white frock, neck too deep for my taste, chewing on her pendent. Yuck!

Her clothes have underwent an evolution since the first day. She wore decent on the first day, and now she's practically naked.

  - imagine people coming here to buy condoms then using them in the pharmacy itself.

She nodded eyeing somewhere below my face. I followed her gaze to see her eyeing my chest exposed because of the three opened buttons of my shirt.

-Wow David! Excellent! You are also showing your cleavage!!-

Though I had a head piercing headache, I flashed her a smirk, "Wanna have my company after your shift?"
Let's do some charity today! I am feeling pretty generous..

She nodded dazed. And well, too excitedly.

"Here's my card...", I forwarded her the first piece of paper I found in my pocket.

And to my surprise, it was the card of some Mr. Edward Horan. Great!

"You are very handsome Mr. Horan!", She purred seductively.

I smirked looking at how she tried to bite her lips to look sexier, "Hmm...I know. But you are so very gorgeous love! I hope we have a good time."

And with one of my earth shattering smiles, I left the medical store.

Mr. Horan will get lucky tonight. If only he's not gay.

I spot my Bentley and walk clumsily to it.

I get in the driver seat and fetch one water bottle from the back seat.

Gulping down two tablets, I sigh happily. It would relieve me soon.

Leaning back on the seat, I close my eyes and let the tablets do their action.

Minutes later, I snap open my eyes, looking straight at the black car parked on the other side of the road. A man in black outfit, eyeing my car. And one look at him, and I knew he was familiar.

Oh god! Can this man shove his head in his ass!!??

I sigh exasperated and drink one more sip of water before throwing the bottle behind, and driving off.

I hope I closed the lid...my car is my baby.

My driving is rash, but when do I care. The speedometer blasting only increases my adrenaline making me love what I am doing right now.

My phone on the passenger seat starts blaring with a distinctive tone, that tells me I have to ignore it. I do.

I reach the parking lot of my hotel, parking my baby, not before hitting one that came in my way. The guards run in the direction I hit, and I don't do anything but smirk as I turn the engine off.

What a day!

I come out of the car, and pick one sticky note and my check book.
Thankfully, I am sober enough to write a cheque now.

But well sorry to the owner of this Mercedes. He would have to get his hood changed or it would look like he's riding a toothless horse.

'SORRY!', I scribble on the sticky note, and fill the cheque of a quarter to million. That'd be enough I think.

I stick the two pieces of paper lovingly on the injured car, and kiss it a goodbye.

  - Mercedes remind me of someone.-
 
I go back to my car, throw in my cheque book, and grab my blazer.

"Uh..Sir! That car was..M...", I raise my hand to shut him up.

"If he demands more, ring my secretary."

He nods and shifts back making me way to go the main entrance and then my golden elevator.

The best part of hotel business is you have home in every corner of the world. And I realized that in this past one year.

God! It's been one year. Almost. Great.

•

I slump on the couch in the dining room and switch on the T.V. Flipping through the channels bored,

"Sir! Do you need anything else from me?", My secretary Lilly purred.

I looked at her from my file, that's about the next investment plan, I have in Scotland.
"I would love to shag you here Lilly, but last night I had a bit too much."

She smiles uncomfortably and leaves the room. Well, I should've worn more than this towel in my bedroom if I'm inviting my secretary.

My phone beside me rings and I receive the call, drowned in the content of the file.

"Sir there is someone to meet you.."

"Who?", I ask absent minded.

She asks something to the person, and then replies, "Sir...he says he's the man whose car you hit today.."

I sigh, "Ask him to tell the amount. Lilly will be down with another check...", And with that I disconnected.

Seconds later my phone rings again.

I sigh and receive the call.
"David Wellington here.."

"Uh...sir! The man here refuses to go...he says you'd have to meet him.."

  - Looks like the man is into you.-

I cringe at that thought and then remind myself that I am still on phone.

"Okay...send him up... and yeah make sure all protocols are followed.", She thanks me as if I saved her from a beast. Must be some pervert.

*

I wear a shirt, and get decently dressed. Wouldn't want to show my assets to a man.

I search for my wrist watch, first on the vanity and then in my suitcase, when a light pink cloth comes in my hand.

Something shifts, and I pull it outside to see a pink colour onesie with small aeroplanes made on it. Like the n times before, all my moments halted and I clutched it tight in my fist.

I don't know how this came in my stuff when I packed everything in Italy. May be by mistake.

After he was born, and I was lost, Erica often came and left the baby in my room, laid him beside me, asked me to feel Venus out of him. But. But I couldn't touch him. Never.

Something in me held me back. That father who came out when I first saw him, refused to come out. I was only a widower.

Probably then somehow his onesie was left in my room, where I mistakingly picked it up. Because initially, it smelled like him too. Now?

I held it close to my nose and tried to sniff.

Now it doesn't.

Looking at this small pink thing did something to me. Something very hard to interpret. It blocked all my thoughts.

Initially, I planned to throw it away because I wasn't used to this unexplainable emotion, but whenever I tried, I failed. It once even reached in the bin, but that night I was so restless, I had to go find the housekeeper of my hotel, and asked her where she threw it. Thankfully the old lady kept it away, seeing it was a fine piece of cloth and can be used for charity.

That night, or almost morning I slept hugging it.

I heard a knock on my room's door, "Sir! The man is here... he's waiting for you.", I heard Lily's voice.

I kept the onesie back in my suitcase.

"I am coming. Call Jaxon to be ready with the jet. We are leaving tonight."

*

I came out of my temporary bedroom, to see someone standing by the window, enjoying the view outside.

Guess, you don't get to come in my penthouse often.

I rolled my eyes and went forward, "Hope you are having a good time looking out Mr..?"

The man didn't turn. Something about him was strikingly familiar. He wore a grey blazer, over black jeans. His hands shoved in his pocket as he stared outside. Some creep he must be...

My prompted question even didn't deter him.

"Excuse me...Mr.?", I prompted again.

"I don't know if I changed so much...or the fact that you actually forgot me..", The voice had me turning stiff.

Never. Never in a million year the thought of him coming here crossed me. But it was the third time he shocked me this way in this year. And everytime I wasn't prepared.

He turned in a second giving me a full view of his crisp personality.

"Er...."

He came before me and forwarded his hand for a handshake, "Eric Ashton. I hope the name could strike something in your memory."

I looked at him. And then at his hand.

My insides churned at how things have turned between us. The last year has definitely been one of the worst years for the relationship the two of us shared.

Not that I love him any less now that I did an year before. But something was off. I just couldn't spot it. He had complains. And I didn't want to address them. He expected things. And I didn't live upto them.

I looked away from him, "Why are you here?"

The question I asked him both the times he came to take me back home.

Home. It wasn't a home anymore. Not for me.

Home is where your heart is. And my heart is gone forever. I think I'd find home only when I'd rest in my grave. Six feet under.

I hear him chuckle, "I would have been surprised if you asked me something else David. Like how am I doing...how is your sister doing...or most importantly how is your son doing."

"We have been over this Eric.", I turned away from him.

"And here we go!"

Both of us stayed silent for a while.

I left for a reason. I left to find a solution to the exhuriatiating pain in my heart. But sadly even an year after, all I could do was put up a fake smile. I left so my gloom doesn't make them sad. I left so I don't start resenting the child that is both mine and Venus.

"It is his first birthday this Saturday David."

I shook my head, "Well, enjoy."

"I am going to become a father David. And most probably going to get back my Evelyn. I'll name her Evelyn!"

The friend inside me smiled hearing the excitement in his voice. He'll be healed finally. His child. His Evelyn.

But only a single word left my mouth, "Congratulations."

All I heard was silence next. It was as if he was shocked by my response. Don't be Eric. Just leave.

And then I heard him. Heard him coming around to face me and stand before me. He stared at me.

"Your son? Do you know what I named him?"

"I don't want to know!", I snapped.

"You know what! He'd be a cocky bastard! And one handsome jerk...he literally blushed whenever he sees women, espe..."

I looked at him strangely, "I don't want to know Eric!!"

He shook his head but didn't look at my warning, "And Erica told him about you too....though I made him call you di...."

"STOP IT FOR FUCK'S SAKE!", I yelled.

"NO I WON'T!", he yelled back, "He's your son! Your responsibility!! You can't run away and leave him like an orphan!!"

"I lived as an orphan!! Didn't I!?", I snapped, "And look I am all fit and fine!! He can do too!"

He looked at me as if he wanted to kill me. I have never received such look from him. Ofcourse we had fights. Even physical for that. But never he looked at me the way, he did today.

"Do you even know David what you are doing?? You are punishing an innocent boy for the tragedy that had nothing to do with him. He doesn't even know his mother died the day he was born!!!"

All the more reason why I don't want to attend the birthday. Or even think about it. Because that was the anniversary of the worst day of my life.

"I know what I am doing. If it wasn't for that kid, Venus must have been still alive! He took away Venus fro....!", I am silenced as I feel a huge impact on the left side of my face.

An impact that almost knocked me down.

I looked at him. Glaring at me, trying to kill me with his looks.

"Never. I repeat never say such words about Oliver. You may be his father biologically but I am his father, and he wouldn't live like an orphan! Never in a million year. If someone will live that way, it's you! Keep wandering, drinking, and fucking whatever possibly fuckable. That's what makes you orphan! And believe me, it was not Vince and Diana's death that made you orphan. It was your own decisions. Never come back David. Never!"

All throughout I looked in his eyes, I felt as if something slashed me. This was probably an official end to our friendship.

The friendship that he was holding onto so tightly. I didn't try at all.

In fact, he had men looking after me, and reporting him all my details. I hated being stalked that way, but nothing could stop him. I cursed him, threatened him to leave me alone. But he said clearly he won't.

A car with his men in black suit were always around. Sometimes dropping me when I drank beyond limits. Sometimes getting my broken car fixed in the middle of a strange road. Or preventing me to going into a strange alley where they sold drugs.

He picked up some file from the table, and proceeded to leave the penthouse. I didn't want to stop him. Though something in me was beating profusely.

His phone rang, and I saw him press the button for the elevator.

He sighed and picked up the call, "Hope!"

The next thing I see his eyes widening and his eyes growing frantic. It was as if he heard something terrible.
"B_But she's due after two weeks!"

I have never seen him lose his calm the way it happened in a moment. He slumped against the nearby wall, the file falling from his hand, and the phone stuck to his ears.

"Hope!! Please take her to the hospital! Ask Stephan. Ask Henry. H_Hope!", By the time I was near him. I didn't know how my legs worked.

"Who's it?", I asked.

His hands were shivering and the phone nearly dropped from his hand.

I heard the frantic voice on the other side as I grasped the phone. 'Hope' was the name on the caller ID.

"...we are going to the hospital!! She's crying badly. Her...her water broke!"

"Hope!", I breathed, "Wha..."

"Erica is in labour! And she isn't due for another two weeks!!"

That was all it took for me to lose it. It was like a déjà vu. The difference was I was the one yelling the same words, and for Venus.

•

(◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。