Alya's POV

   Robin's still away, so I thought I'd visit Lola.  I wanted to update Robin on the situation with my dad, but I don't wanna bother her on her vacation.

"Hello, Alya."  "Hey, Lola."  She lets me in and we sit on one of the couches.  "What brings you here today?"

"Well, I've got some things to talk about, especially since Robin's away."  "Did I hear that correctly?,"  She says, raising a brow.  "Seems like you two have gotten closer."  She smirks.

I smile like I'm embarrassed.  "........We definitely have."  Lola smiles at me.  "I love that for you.  She makes you all shy.  I've never seen you like that before."

"Oh Lola, you have no idea how she makes me feel!,"  I say enthusiastically.  "Robin makes me feel on top of the world.  We have such great chemistry.  I've never experienced a woman like her before.  And you know I never kiss and tell, but......we had sex on Valentine's Day, and it was amazing."

Her jaw drops in shock.  "Really?"  "Yes, but you have to promise me you won't tell a single soul!"  I immediately say.

"You have my word, Alya.  I won't tell anyone.  You know that."  "Good.  I took her on a fantastic date for Valentine's Day.  We went to a Broadway show, which she thoroughly enjoyed, then we went to dinner at the most expensive restaurant in New York.  After that, I ran us a bath with bubbles, candles, and rose petals.  Lola, honestly........I think I love her."

"My lung is gonna fall out of my ass.  Holy shit.  You're serious, aren't you?"  I nod my head, looking ahead at nothing in particular.

"I've had a lot of women, Lola, you know that, I've even had you, but Robin is the first woman to make me actually......feel something.  As in, she's the first to make me feel human.  She never agreed with any of the bullshit I did.  She made me explore emotions I didn't even know I had.  Because of her, I'm genuinely a nice person.  She makes me feel.....loved....and appreciated."

"I think I'm actually going to cry.  I'm so happy for you!"  I look at her and smile.  "Thanks, Lola, for being here and letting me tell all this to you."

"Of course, Alya."  "There's also a new development with my dad."  "Your dad?  Isn't he the coldest man in the universe?"

"Well,"  I smile.  "He was warm when he met with me at the bar yesterday.  He apologized to me for not being a good dad.  He also invited me to his yacht today!"

"Oh my God, I'm so super happy for you!  It looks like things are looking up for you, Alya!"  "Yeah.......I think they are."  I smile to myself.

.....

Dad and I are on his yacht together, just us two, taking in the beautiful view.  "This is nice, isn't it?"  He says, happily smiling.

I smile back.  "Yeah, Dad.  It actually....really is."  We start fishing.  I haven't been fishing with my dad since I was a little girl.  It's bringing back good memories.

"So, how are things in your life, Alya?  I want you to tell me everything there is, everything you want me to know."  He says, smiling.

He's actually......taking initiative to know my life.  If there's one thing I've proven, it's that if I can try and change, then so can he.

"I think I'm in love with Robin."  "Really?  That's so big for you!  You remind me a lot of myself when I was younger.  I was a knucklehead that didn't know what love was, until I met your mother.  When you know, you know, especially if you've never felt it before, because you experience a different feeling.  You're like, "What's this?"  And then you realize that someone made you genuinely feel something for them, something no one else could."

Wow......  That's the wisest thing my dad ever said that wasn't business-related.

"Dad, I didn't know you could be-"  "Not a knucklehead?,"  He jokingly smiles at me.  I laugh.  "But Alya, seriously, don't be a knucklehead like me.  I lost your mom because of it,"  I look at him in his eyes.  There's pure sincerity in his.  "Now she's happier with someone else, and it still hurts that we're not together, and I don't want the same for you.  It's clear you've changed your ways.  For you to get someone like Robin, you had to.  Never go back to your old ways.  Don't make my mistake again.  Don't lose Robin.  She's a keeper.  She's a huge catch that could get away if you make a big mistake."

Out of nowhere, something starts pulling my line.  "Reel it in, reel it in!"  Dad excitedly says.  I try to reel it in, pulling my rod, but this one's a trooper.

Dad starts helping me.  We both grunt as we're trying to reel in whatever's on the end of the line.

"Puuuulll.  You can do it, Alya!"  He's right, I can do this!  We pull with all our might, me using the reel intensely.

After more pulling, we finally reel in the fish.  It's massive!  We secure the fish, and my dad hugs me.  "Alya, you've made me so proud!"

I hug him back.  I made him.....proud.  Why do I want to cry?

"Seriously, Alya, everything you've done has made me very proud of you."  I begin to cry.  "Oh Dad.  That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."