A/N: Sorry but the next two chapters is going to be long.

Four years later.

"Uncle Awex!" A sudden shrill of cries cracked through the house early that morning breaking Alex from his dreams. He jolted from his bed, messy curly hair falls on his forehead as he blinks away his blurriness from his sudden wake.

The door breaks opened abruptly revealing a certain dark haired toddler that had overcome his life for the past four years, padding her little barefoot feet into his room before climbing on his bed.

"Ellie, its too early. What happened?" Alex plopped back into his soft pillows snuggling into the certain smell that he refused to forget before cupping another pillow into his face hiding away the bright sunlight shining onto his eyes.

"Daddy won't make me pancakes!" She screamed her high pitched voice into his ear before pulling the pillow away from his face. Alex grunted, defeated by her cute pleas before sitting himself upright against the headboard.

"You had pancakes yesterday remember?" He says pulling her into his lap later brushing his fingers into her messy hair. She has her mother's dark long hair that falls just above her buttock. Alex pulled it away from her face, revealing the gorgeous dark long, curly lashes of hers that he adamant to say inherited from him since Zahra spent her pregnancy looking at him. She protested claiming that Alex had nothing to do with her DNA but Alex rebuttal saying that she looks more like him than her which made Zahra more infuriating by that comment.

He curled her hair into a messy bun, grabbing the hair ties on his nightstand before tying the bun neatly. He had outgrown his hair himself, hence the ties on the side belongs to him. He eyed her beautiful gracious face that carries something deep in his heart. Her eyes sparkle when she sees him and he falls for everything she'd ever wanted in life.

Shaan bought a townhouse, right here in Manhattan that contains three flooring with bricks covered walls that looks almost like his Brownstone house that he bought a year ago thinking its time but ended up feeling the house is as empty as his heart so he always spent his time here in their place.

Shaan and Zahra didn't mind him staying over almost every night for the past four years knowing how lonely he might felt in those big house of his and tries to persuade him to sell it but deep down, they knew he was saving it for someone special. Someone so close and dear to their heart. Plus they have a free babysitter at all times when he's around.

"But I like pancakes!" Ellie's voice squeaked, faking a tears that had worn Alex too many times but this time, he sees right through her.

"Elle," he starts, pulling himself up straighter with her still straddling on his lap.

"Maybe we try something new today. How about huevos rancheros? Or cereals? You liked those right?" He tries but Ellie continues to shake her head back at him. He had been influencing her with his Mexican traits including teaching her words in Spanish.

"But I want pancakes." Her voice cracks, faking her tears that made Alex sighed. "Okay, amor. Tell me. What's going on?" He asks, pulling her closer to his chest. She leaned in, sniffling her fake tears but Alex could sense something else is bothering her that would make her this upset.

"I saw him." She whispered. Alex frowned, pulling her from his chest to face her again. "Who?" Alex has always been so protective of her and the thought of anyone or any men touches her made his heart boils. She sighs dramatically before reaching over Alex's side to his drawer and pulls a photo that Alex hid under the stack of magazines.

"Him." She says pointing at the photo that Alex very familiar himself with. It was a picture of him and Henry after they got married. It was taken by the courthouse clerk with Alex's phone and they both look so happy despite the fact that they both eloped. Alex had his arms around Henry, pressing a kiss over his cheek and Henry gummy smiles were the happiest he ever seen him after weeks in the dark.

Ellie noticed the silence, the stares and the glistening gaze from Alex that made her snuggled closer to his side. "You can see him in your dream?" He asks, voice filled with envy not because she gets to see him even though she barely knew him personally. She hummed, nodding her head slightly before taking the photo from his finger.

These past four years, Alex had been telling her stories about Henry and his sister June. Nothing bad but how brave Henry was to save June from the bad guy and they are not here anymore because they are at better place. The stories lives through the years as Ellie grew up and hearing about them is the best thing she heard all day.

Each year, they would bring her to visit June's grave on her birthday and Alex would visit more often alone during the anniversary of her death. It was the most painful days for him throughout the year but at least he had closure for her except for Henry.

"Uncle Awex." She called, still couldn't pronounce Alex's name properly but Alex never mind her, it's cute. "Yes love." He replied.

"Why uncle Henwy always sad?" She asks, her head leaning deeper into Alex's side. His long arms covers her entire body as she folds her knees closed to her chest. She hold the picture dearly between her fingers knowing how special it meant for him. Alex never told her about Henry's past or his gifts since she is too young too understand. He never told her about Henry spending half of his lives being trapped and kidnapped by someone he called family. He didn't want Ellie to assume that someone from her side of family would do the same to her.

"Because he got hurts so many times." Alex answered her simply, voice soft as the understatement rolling into her mind. She could sense the sadness in his voice as she looked up meeting his gaze.

"Did he like pancakes like me too?" She asks sweetly. Alex snickered a soft smile, staring at Henry's smiling face looking back at him. "He loves it." Alex's voice cracked.

"He made the best pancake too. Sometimes he will put some blueberries on top or chocolate chips inside so it would make him happy." Alex continues his story, staring at the photo in her hand while Ellie stares at him. He remembers the time Henry and him had breakfast at his loft, despite all the worry in his head, he loves making breakfast for Alex.

"Do you miss him?" She asks softly breaking Alex's gaze from the photo towards her.

"Every single second." He whispered, pulling Ellie closer into his side burying his nose into her hair. Her hair smells of strawberry scented shampoo that he loves but he can't deny that he misses the scent of Henry's hair more than anything in the world right now.

"When are you bringing him home?" She asks again and Alex sniffles his tears away putting the photo back into the drawer.

"I don't know Elle. When the time is right, maybe some day or whenever he is ready to come home." Alex whispered hugging her petite body closer. Her fingers found the edge of Alex's scruffy beard that he decides to grow out more nowadays making him look more mature than he does four years ago.

"Can't you just say you're sorry. Like daddy?" She asks that made Alex snickered a smile that ended up bursting in laughter. "It's more complicated than that darling." He chuckled rubbing soft circles on her back.

"ELEANOR!" Zahra's voice echoed downstairs and they both jumped at the sound of her loud high pitched voice. "Uh-oh." They both said at the same time before looking at each other in bed. "Let's go. Your mum is going to kill me if we didn't go." Alex suggest, pushing her off the bed as he follows behind.

She stopped before him, reaching her arms up high for him to pick her up like he always did. Alex didn't hesitate before picking her up from the floor and settled on his hip before climbing down the stairs towards the kitchen.

The kitchen is a little bit of a chaos this morning. The uneaten oatmeal left on the table with scattering papers of colors over the island with Zahra swarm between those piles.

Her pregnant belly touches the counter each time she leaned in to grab her mug of hot tea before her eyes falls on them walking in to the kitchen.

"Ellie how many times I have told you not to bother your uncle when he's asleep?!" She yelled, placing the mug carefully away from all the samples.

"Relax. I'm already awake by the sound of your annoying voice." Alex spat back but Shaan groaned. He sat next to Zahra in the pile of the mess trying to figure out a color scheme they are choosing for their new arrival.

They just found out they are having a boy a week ago and Zahra is closing in six months pregnancy has suggested they started working on the nursery by now in case this one decides to comes early like Ellie does.

"Enough! Finished your breakfast!" Shaan pointed at the uneaten bowl in front of her when they saw Alex starts opening the cupboard looking for stuffs.

"What are you doing?" He asks him, taking a sip of his coffee with his gaze followed him around the kitchen. Alex starts pulling a mixing bowl from under the counter and starts placing a pancake mixer next to it. "Pancakes." Alex replied, before turning around the fridge to grab eggs and milk.

"Alex, stop following her demands!" Zahra groaned, tapping on the marble counter top with her manicured finger. Her eyes darted towards her daughter in that high chair clapping happily before she stopped when her parents shot her a cold gaze.

"My niece wants a pancake. She'll have pancakes." Alex retorts, he starts whisking everything in the bowl while Ellie watched, happily.

"Alex. You need to stop obeying everything she wants. She needs to learn that she will not get everything she asks for in this life." Zahra snapped, placing the pen down on the paper before turning to face him and her daughter. She knows how much Ellie had gotten spoiled by Alex lately especially on particular days that he misses Henry, he would rather spent an extra time with her than to talk about his feelings.

"It's fine Zar. It's only pancakes." He says whisking the bowl before placing it down and starts lightening up the stove and placed a flat pan on top of it.

"It's not just the pancake! Last week you went and bought her a new boots because she got hers dirty!" Shaan yelled from the end counter and Alex could see Ellie retracts back in her seat. "Well it does." Alex deflects, turning back around to whisk the bowl again.

"She got it dirty on purpose because she knows you would buy a new one for her!" Shaan raised his voice again but Alex only clicked his tongue back at him, shooting him a cold gaze. "What's the purpose of being a multibillionaire if I can't spend it on my niece?" Alex asks, sarcastically with a hint of a smirk before he winked back at her.

"The purpose is that there is more to life than money and luxury." Shaan tries to educate him on the fact that nothing that money can ever teaches her about life. Alex knew that Shaan and Zahra wanted her to grow up without depending on money although Shaan and Zahra had millions in her trust fund for her future except that she didn't know what trust fund meant for now.

Which is why they lived in a townhouse rather than a mansion, a housekeeping maid instead of a butler and they'd rather cook their own meals than to hired a personal chef. They wanted her to grew up modest like their upbringing without money involved.

"She needs to know that she needs to work hard to earn something or she might ended up disregards everything that was given to her." Zahra adds, eyes darting towards her daughter by the high chair. Ellie sunken into her chair deeper when she noticed the burning gaze from her parents, yelling at her favorite uncle because of her.

"I'm not buying her a freaking yacht, it's just pancakes for Christ sake!" Alex half yelled, placing the mixing bowl hard on the table with a loud clanked. They were surprised by the glass didn't break when Alex hits it on the marble top. Their eyes immediately shifted towards Ellie in her high chair at the other side of the table, staring at Alex fearfully.

For the first time in her life, she never actually sees her uncle, the soft, playful kind threw harsh words or even a slight fits while she's growing up. She never actually sees the version of Alex before he met Henry or while he was with him. She never saw him raising his voice at all, until today. Alex has always been careful around her but today marks the day he broke that wall he built so high in his heart. 

"Henry wants pancakes, he'll have them!" He yelled, turning around to drop it on the searing hot pan. The room got colder, silence invaded the atmosphere before Alex turned and realized they are staring at him, with a stunned gaze.

"What?" He asks, clueless as he set the bowl down on the marble top.

"You said Henry." Zahra's voice were barely audible but loud enough for them the hear her words. The stunned silence were heavier than the conversation itself. The only sound they could hear was the pancakes burning on the stove while Alex stares at the bowl, contemplating his words when he realized what he just did.

"S-sorry. I meant, Ellie. She wants it and she'll have it. End of discussion." Alex tries to divert the attention back to the conversation but the air has thickened and the heaviness grew heavily in their chest.

Shaan stood up, pushing the chair as it screeched behind him before leaving the rest of them at the kitchen alone while he disappeared into his office.

Zahra sighed, catching Ellie's gaze followed her father's leaving behind the emptiness of his appearance. Her soft gaze dropped into a guilt but she nodded back at her daughter with an assuring smile.

Alex exhaled his breath longly, keeping his gaze forward on the surface starting to bubble before he flips them. Zahra stayed and focused on the pamphlet in front of her ignoring the accidental outburst happened earlier.

"I'm sowwy." Ellie whispered but Alex turned his head behind his shoulder with a comforting smile. Zahra's craned her neck over her seat while she watched Alex comforted her. "No baby. I'm sorry. I shouldn't yell at your daddy." Alex says, circling the counter to gave her a side hug.

"Why daddy so sad when you say uncle Henwy name?" She asks, eyes bigger than usual but filled with curiosity. Alex sighed, turning over to Zahra before letting his head hung low with his elbow rested over the counter. "Uncle Henry meant a lot to your dad. He grew up with him then he was sent away." Alex explained briefly, leaving the important details that Shaan was actually fired from his job after Henry's parents death and Phillip sent him away so he could hide Henry forever.

The thoughts still burnt the residue anger in his heart that made him clenched his fist together. The memory of Henry in that empty cold cell made his chest tightened.

"Why uncle Henwy go away?" She asks, gaining more attention from her mother and her uncle standing next to her. Alex's eyes darted towards Zahra seating on the edge of her seat. They knew this conversation bound to come soon enough knowing Ellie is growing up and she would have more questions soon. But never would they thought it would be these soon.

"Because I hurt him." Alex says shortly.

"Alex!" Zahra's voice was sharp when she called his name cutting Ellie from asking him more questions. She waddled over to him, standing in between Alex and Ellie, hands cupping both of their shoulders. He knew she had told him countless times that none of this is his fault and he needs to stop telling everyone that he was the reason Henry left.

"Uncle Henry left because he need to work on himself. Once he is better, he will come back. Now stop asking questions, you pancakes is burning." She shoved Alex by his shoulder when he realized the smokes starting to build up. "Oh shoot!" He rushed over to the pan, pulling it away from the stove.

Zahra smiled when she saw Ellie laughing at Alex's frantic over the burning pancakes. She winked at her, softly stroking her stray hair behind her ear and leaned to give her a kiss over the top of her head.

"Imma check on your daddy okay. Stay here and eat your breakfast." She says before disappearing into the hallway following her husband's footsteps towards their home office while listening to Alex and her bantering about the burning pancakes.

.

"Darling?" Zahra knocked on the door of his office gently before closing it behind her. Shaan was by the window, eyes staring into the sky above him when Zahra walked in. He ignored her call, keeping his gaze forward with his hand crossed over his chest. He could hear her closing in behind him by her footsteps.

"This is the first time he called his name out loud in front of everyone in four years." He whispered, lowering his gaze towards the sidewalk, watching as the people walked by in their own bubbles. He could feel Zahra's warmth spreading on his side as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I know you missed him." Zahra whispered, letting Shaan wrapped his arm around her shoulder pulling her into his side. He exhaled a long breath, still keeping his gaze towards the world outside except now his own world is wrapped tightly around his side.

"Missed is just an understatement. There is nothing that could described what I feel right now Zar. Four years, not a postcard, not a letter telling us if he's alright or whether he survived. If he actually thought about us or - " Shaan paused, sensing her tense as she clenched tightly around his waist.

"Or you think that he might succumb to his trauma and ended up killing himself." Zahra finished his sentence that made him sighed.

"I know for a fact that if he did, we would have some news but it's a good thing we didn't hear anything, for now." Zahra assured, pulling Shaan's chin to face her with the softest smile. Shaan kept his palm over her side of her stomach, feeling the occasional fluttery kicks that made him smile.

"Plus, you told me he's squared away on money. I doubt he would be doing anything reckless." Zahra says before pulling away from him but something caught Shaan's attention. An idea popped into his mind that made him stared in silence. Shaan watched as Zahra leave his office and shuts the door close leaving the idea in his mind, alone.

.

Shaan was busy working on his idea when suddenly there's a knock on the door. He didn't lift his gaze to check but the person entered eventually without his permission.

"Daddy?" Her soft voice squeaked after closing the door behind her and stood frozen on the floor still wearing her pink pajamas. Her hand crossed over her front tummy, eyes lowered on the floor with that messy bun on top of her hair.

"Ellie? What is it?" He asks as soon as he saw her fiddling with the hem of her shirt. She was quiet, eyes still low on the carpeted floor before Shaan stood from his chair walked around his humongous office table and crouched before her.

"Sweetheart? What's wrong?" He asks, fingers softly brushing her cheeks. She'd finally looked up, meeting Shaan's tired gaze.

"I'm sowwy." She mutters that made Shaan's worried gaze softened immediately at her soft apologies. "Oh darling. Come here." He pulled her into his chest and lifted her from the ground. Ellie snuggled into the crook of his neck, wrapping her tiny arms around his shoulder. Shaan set himself down on his office chair before settling Ellie on his lap.

"Listen Ellie." He starts, brushing the stray of her wild hair behind her ear. She eyed her father carefully, waiting patiently for him to continue.

"I know you'd think that its okay for uncle Alex to buy you stuffs whenever you wanted. But darling, there are less fortunate people in the world that wouldn't even have food on their plate or even a house to live and yet you just tossed away your food like it meant nothing." Shaan starts, limiting his words to his four years old knowing she won't understand big words just yet.

"I know. I'm sorry. I won't do it again." She repeats, feeling guilty from the earlier predicament but it was enough for Shaan to accept. He smiled, leaning back into his chair with Ellie still sitting on his lap when she starts asking him questions.

"Do you miss him?" She asks. The question caught Shaan by surprise considering she never knew Henry but lately her questions always circling back to him.

"Always. But he's a big boy and he can take care of himself. Unlike you cause apparently someone needs to brush her teeth and changed." He tickled her sides that makes her squirmed in his lap before she pushed herself off his chair.

She ran towards the door but before she leaves, she turned around, glancing over her father still by the desk, "I love you daddy." She claimed, bringing smile into Shaan's lips.

"I love you more darling." He replied, watching as she smiles before closing the door and left. Shaan sighed, leaning back into his chair before his gaze caught at the frame picture on his desk. The desk filled with pictures of him and Zahra when they gotten married. Pictures of Ellie from her first day home with a picture of her small baby tooth peaking through the gummy smile. Then, there was one of all of them, back in Austin, with Alex's on Henry's lap, Sammy stood behind Zahra and Nora with himself on the side with Cash's arm wrapped around his shoulder. He smiled although it pains him to see it everyday.

He wished that life is a lot simpler, less messier than he expected, kinder for Henry and his past but things happened for a reason and he couldn't stopped it.

After Henry left, he did tried to track him down but the last time he caught a clue about him was he is on a move from Virginia. He waited for Henry to call him and asks about his day as a father or how is life been treating them lately but eventually, days had turned into weeks and later into months and the next thing he knew, it has been four years since he last heard from him.

A sudden ring broke his trance that he answered his call almost immediately.

"Cash?" He answered after one ring.

"You were right, nothing. Not a damn thing." Cash's voice echoed from the speaker that made Shaan's heart rattled with anxiety and fear.

"What about the card?" Shaan asks.

"Reported stolen a month later." Cash replied and it made his heart fluttered rapidly in his chest.

"Would you look into it please. I owe you one." Shaan says and as usual, Cash won't even questioned his authority and for years, he had been like a family to them. When Cash decides to quit, he didn't actually leave his job behind. He knows Alex needed him more than anything in life after Henry left but he was there through most everything.

He got married a year after Henry left and Cassie was pregnant almost six months after their wedding. He was beyond ecstatic on the news but he can't follow Alex's footsteps any longer. He can't be at his beck and call all the time knowing Cassie needed him. But Alex eventually let him go, understand fully that his duties now lies with his wife and his family.

His son Caden is now almost three and he is his whole world. He and Ellie is closed and the bestest friend although they frequently fought for both Alex and Cash's attention but Ellie made it clear that Alex belongs to her and she got jealous when Hayden got Alex's attention.

But when Zahra mentioned about the money that Alex had gave Henry four years ago, something clicked into his mind. How can he be so stupid and forgetful that the money belongs to Claremont-Diaz family and the account is held by him. He could just tracked the cheque being cash and the money in the bank that Alex gave Henry for a start over can be traced whenever he access the bank card.

But to his surprise, the money was never cashed and the bank account was never touched. Now his fear had grown since the last four years, Henry was actually living alone without the help they gave him and it scares him the most.

How did he survived, did he starved? Did he became homeless? Was he hurt is that why no one uses the account? All these questions spiraling into his mind when suddenly there's a knock on the door that stopped him from falling apart.

"Hey, can we talk?" Alex's voice echoed as soon as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. Shaan's scared gaze caught his attention almost immediately that made Alex rushed to his desk. "Are you okay? Are you having a heart attack or something? Oh God, lemme get Zahra." He says almost turning on his heels when Shaan stopped him.

"No! Stay! We need to talk about something." He starts, pulling Alex back towards the chair across from him and sat himself down carefully.

"Its Henry." He starts that made Alex's eyes blew wide and the worried expression on his face had turned into a rather shock.

.

"What do you mean nothing?! There must be something!" Alex couldn't stop yelling and pacing around the office with his hand clasped together in a fist. His heart is pounding in his chest as Shaan tapping the keyboard of his computer continuously.

It had been four years since both of them spoke about Henry. Not even during holidays or Henry's birthday, they'd never even spoke when they both knew that Henry left an unremarkable mark on their lives. But they spoke only about Henry in hush whispers, silently in their solitude or when Ellie had nightmares. That was the only time they spoke about him.

But hearing Shaan suddenly speak of his name out of the blue made his heart shattered in pieces all over again. Not because of what Henry did those last four years ago but the thought of him surviving all these years, alone.

Shaan was sending an email to the bank to try and locate the last known activity on the accounts for him to track Henry and they would get back to him on it. Alex had been briefed about the situation and Cash is on the speaker phone telling them the search through the footage of Henry last known sight.

"It's impossible Shaan. Its been four years. He should have cleared the cheque by now and at least, withdraw something from the account." Alex protest, pacing back and forth in front of him but Shaan ignores his statement.

"The cheque has been terminated six months after you gave it to Henry since he didn't cash it." Shaan explained but Alex already knew that before he does. He thought Henry would have used the money by now in building his new life but ended up disappearing like a ghost in the wind without a trace.

"I know that! I'm the one that gave it to him remember? The question is why?!" He yelled, pacing himself back and forth in front of Shaan.

"Alex maybe he didn't want to use it because he felt guilty on using it." Cash's voice echoed through the speaker and it sounded like he was driving somewhere.

"It's his money Cash. Not mine." Alex stated.

"Please find out more about this and get back to us." Shaan told him and he replied simply before ended the call. Despite of Cash not working for them anymore, he does favors for Alex and him from time to time. He knew that no matter what, Cash would be ready to jump in and helped them in crisis.

"What now?" Alex asks still pacing across from Shaan with his fingers fiddling in his fist.

"Now you stop pacing and calm down. We can't tell Zar or anyone about this yet." Shaan warned him but Alex retorts, eyebrows furrowed in confused by his decision. "Why?" He asks. He stopped pacing but later gripped on the edge of Shaan's table with his stretched arms. "Because I don't want hope." Shaan starts, and Alex sighed, letting his head hung low between his stretched arms.

"I hired a PI." Shaan suddenly spoke, breaking Alex's attention from the ground. He lifted his head back towards him across the desk with a sigh of relief escaped his nose.

"Thank God. I thought I was gonna fight you through that idea." He says grateful that Shaan and him shared the same thought. Despite all the years of hiding their feelings about Henry's parting, they both still shared one thing in common, their love for Henry never actually fades in time and the fear for his well being.

Alex was glad that he and Shaan shared that common ground and hoped that this private investigator would have some news soon and Alex would be the one to bring Henry home, if he could.

.

The search for Henry had made them spiraled into locking themselves into the office for hours and Zahra had grew into more suspicion. She would banged on the door repeatedly and they would claimed that they are working on a project together. But Zahra was not stupid to be fooled by them especially Alex. He could never hides it from her, not since he was a young teenagers.

She caught them one day in the office, speaking into someone over the speaker while she eavesdrops their conversation.

"Last known location was indeed Virginia but then he rode a night bus that might take him anywhere from Charleston to Oregon."

The voice echoed and Zahra couldn't believe how they could not be anymore discreet if their attempts to hide it from her.

"What is he doing in Charleston?" Alex asks and there was sounds of paper rustling in the speaker.

"He worked there for almost three weeks before he disappeared. Paid under table, no one knows where he went, he just disappeared one day and didn't come to work."

"How do you he's not hurt?" Shaan asks and Zahra couldn't help pressing her ear deeper to hear them.

"Because there's a footage of him purchasing the ticket and get on the bus that night." The voice explained and there was sighs of relieved coming from both Alex and Shaan.

"What's your next plan then?" Alex asks abruptly. His voice sounded impatience.

"I'm gonna track the bus driver and ask if he knew where he dropped him off. The chance he remembered him is small but keep praying for good news. I'll call you once I have information." The voice said before ending the call. There was silence and Zahra couldn't make up what they were saying when suddenly the door burst opened while she was still trying to listen to their conversation.

"Why am I not surprised?" Alex suddenly says, leaning on the door frame staring at her after being caught red handed. Shaan appears behind him, an attempt to hide the smirk completely forgotten when he saw her.

"What are you doing?" He asks leaning against the door next to Alex. She caught their smirk seems an insult to her behavior.

"What are you both planning? Who are you talking to?" She asks, hands crossed over her bulging abdomen.

"Nothing. Why do you care anyway?" Alex huffed, pressing his lips into a thin line but Zahra was not amused by their theatrics. "Alejandro if you want to step foot on this house or seeing your niece again, you better spill it!" She threatened with her finger pointed straight into Alex's sharp nose.

His eyes squinted towards her sharp nails pointing back at him before he backed away and straightened himself.

"We're trying to find Henry." Shaan finally spoke breaking every restriction him and Alex trying to build but failed when it comes to her. She gasped, cupping her mouth with her palm, shocked spread all over her face when she heard them.

"You're joking? Tell me you're not." She asks after finally got her grasp on the news. They both smiled back at her enthusiasm from finding  out the truth and finally they could stop hiding it from her.

"It's true. But- something's wrong." Alex says turning his gaze back to Shaan still standing next to him by the opened door. Their silence grew that brought Zahra's growing rather impatient.

"What? Tell me!" Zahra pushed and they both sighed simultaneously.

They pulled her into the living room and explained to her everything that they found about Henry after four years of thinking that he was taken care of but they were wrong. The living room was silenced when they were finally done telling her and she leaned back into the couch, hand stroking her belly softly on the side.

"Oh God. Can that poor boy have a fucking break for once?" Zahra whispered, curse word slipped through her lips knowing Ellie is taking a nap upstairs in her room. Her gaze lifted towards Alex sitting across from her on the ottoman with his legs spread and his hand fisted together, pressed deep into his forehead with his elbow on his thigh.

"Are you going to tell Nora?" She asks, pulling Alex's attention towards her and slowly lowering his arm down forward. "I don't know." He sighs tiredly. These past few days had been exhausting for him and Shaan but they can't give up now, not right now.

The truth is, after Henry left, Nora hasn't spoke about him at all and Alex did try bring it up once only to be yelled back by her. She had threatened him to not speak of him or he won't just lose him from his life but her too. Alex understood why Nora would be so upset by Henry sudden decision to leave without letting her know especially after everything they had been through together, Nora deserves more than an explanation.

So Nora had decides to move back to Washington DC where her parents family home is and spend the last four years video calling with endless text and mostly all about Ellie.

They never spoke about Henry since, until today.

"We'll tell her once we had something concrete. For now everything is still in the wind. Let's just rest for now and let the PI do his work. He'll let us know as soon as he found something." Shaan elaborates, clicking some senses into their tired brain before he stood from the couch. "Dinner?" He asks but neither of them say anything else and he decides to walk away towards the stairs to check on his daughter.

"Alex." Zahra called causing Alex to lift his head towards her when he realized her tapping on the empty space next to her on the couch. He exhaled his breath, pulling himself up from the ottoman and walked around the coffee table before plopping down on the couch with his head resting over Zahra's shoulder. His long legs crossed over the wooden coffee table across from them.

She had her arms wrapped around Alex's shoulder, stroking it softly like always since Alex was young teenagers. His scent of cinnamon and fresh brewed coffee radiating into her nostrils but sense calm surged through her chest when she held Alex in her arms.

"He's alright. You hear me?" She starts, whispering those words Alex yearned to believe after he found about Henry.

"He's the strongest person, most adaptive and brave. Trust me. He's gonna be okay." Zahra reassured, clenching Alex's arm tighter. He sighed, letting his shoulder slumped tiredly. "What if he's not. What if he's trying to reach us but couldn't like when he got kidnapped by Phillip? What if he needs our help but we are too busy with our lives that we forgot he needed us." Alex questioned but Zahra only sighed, pushing him off from her shoulder.

She turned her body slightly to face Alex still leaning agains the couch lazily. "Alex listen."

"Henry made that choice himself. It was never your fault. Whatever happens, Henry is a grown man and he can handle himself better than anyone else." Zahra explained, fingers softly stroking his arms softly in assurance.

Alex sighed, letting his head falls back against the couch staring into spaces before him. He wanted to believe her badly but deep down inside, there is aching feeling he felt buried for four years that was waiting for him to lash out. He wasn't sure whether it was anger or frustration or yearning for Henry but he would definitely know the moment he laid eyes on Henry.

.

It didn't take long for the PI to actually locate Henry and almost five days later, he'd finally did. They were sitting at the living room with Ellie by Alex's lap watching the movie Frozen that Alex countlessly had watched for thousand of times that even with his eyes closed, he could still hear the music in his ear.

Zahra and Shaan by the couch reading into their book when suddenly his phone chimed with calls ringing.

Shaan lifted himself off the couch before answering his phone with a hush tone. Alex's neck craned over to him standing by the long table pressed into the wall with the large flower vase in the middle.

"You're kidding? What? Seriously? Send me the details." He says before returning back into the living room with his phone still gripped in his hand.

"What?" Both Zahra and Alex asks followed by the tune of music in the background before Alex lowered it down. Ellie turned her head around with her eyes frowned at Alex for turning her movie down. But her gaze caught on them staring at her father slowly stepping into the living room with expression Ellie never actually seen it before.

"They found him." Shaan says shortly after he stopped behind the couch with his palm pressed over the soft cushion by Zahra's head.

"What?!" They both asks, voice raised simultaneously at him. Shaan finally lifted his gaze back at them with eyes wide. His phone pinged in his hand before he unlocked his screen. He read through the message when a smile formed on his lips.

"What does it say?" Alex asks, already standing from the floor with Ellie in his arms, leg wrapped around his waist.

"He's in Montana." Shaan whispered, lifting his gaze from his screen text to catch Alex and Zahra's expression. They both stood in silence, breathing in the air with heaviness settling in their chest that made Alex sets Ellie down on the floor before she went to her mother on the couch.

Alex stared in silence, while Shaan and Zahra waiting for him to respond but ended up, Alex turned to grab his phone on the floor and straightened his back again.

"I'm gonna go to bed." He says quietly under his breath leaving them in stunt silence.

"Alex! We have to talk about this." Zahra yelled from the couch but Alex already halfway up the stair when he stopped to turn and looked at the rest of them still by the couch, waiting for him to respond.

"Tomorrow. I'm tired." He says before turning around and headed back to his bedroom.

The living room felt heavier with the conversation left unspoken that made both Shaan and Zahra stared at each other in confusion after Alex's depart.

"Is he being serious right now?" Shaan asks which made Zahra shrugged her shoulder defeatedly.

"Mummy?" Ellie's soft voice interrupts them both from their conversations turning their heads towards her sitting next to Zahra on the couch.

"Yes darling." She brushes her hair behind her ear while Ellie stares at her with that big brown eyes.

"Why uncle Henwy run away?" She asks innocently but her eyes lowered again, focusing on the toy in her hand. She fiddled with the button on her doll's dress. Zahra could sense the question sets heavier in their heart cause she doesn't know the actual truth.

"Darling. Uncle Henry is- " Zahra paused, lifting her own gaze towards her husband for words to describe Henry's action for leaving. Shaan caught her plead through her eyes before lifting Ellie from the couch into his arms.

"Sweetie, uncle Henry felt that was the best thing he needed to do to protect everyone's heart." Shaan explained, brushing her messy dark curls that sticking out from behind her ears. She looked up, fluttering those long curly eyelashes towards him before she speaks.

"But then who protect his heart?" Her words came like a dagger piercing through Shaan's heart. That question lingers in the thick air that made Shaan's chest dropped heavily into his stomach. That knot formed in between his throat caught his breath entirely.

He stares at Ellie, reminiscing the time he brought her home. She was small then, smaller than his own forearm but now she is half his height and growing into the beautiful girl he had fall in love with. A smile curved on his lips, his eyes tired but honest before he pressed his lips over the side of her cheek.

"He would have love you the way I do." He whispered softly, bringing a smile on her lips.

A soft palm brushing on his side and when he turned to see Zahra, eyes glistening with tears as she pressed her cheek over his shoulder.

"Let's go to bed munchkin." She pinched her cheeks, tickling her a little on her neck that made her cackling a laugh. Shaan turned, holding Ellie in his arm while the other grasping Zahra's palm into his. They both climbed the stairs, couldn't help staring at Alex's closed bedroom door as they passed but decides to left him alone for the night when Ellie starts squirming in his arm.

"No! I haven't say goodnight to uncle Alex!" She yelled, pushing herself off from Shaan's grip before she eventually jumped on the floor and rushed towards his door. Shaan and Zahra attempted to stop her failed and she was already pushing the door opened, running her little but terribly fast leg into the room.

When they got into the room, the image broke their hearts entirely.

Alex was sitting on the edge of the bed, a picture in between his finger but Ellie is already wrapped around him in a tight hug. His chin lowered over Ellie's back, eyes wet with tears and a silent sob escaped his throat. He didn't look up to see who's approaching him and he couldn't care less to hide his own vulnerability among them.

Shaan exhaled his breath longly, silently sitting next to Alex on his bed. Alex felt the bed dipped lower before he turned his reddened eyes towards him before Shaan swung his arms around him and pulled him into a hug.

"I know you missed him. We missed him too. We'll find him soon and we'll get our answers." He reassured, stroking Alex's back gently with smooth circles. Alex sobs, still holding Ellie on his lap before pulling away from Shaan's grip.

He straightened his back, wiping the tears with his palm before taking a sharp breath. "I'm sorry. I thought I was okay to handle my emotions after all these years but- " He paused, settling Ellie on his lap after pulling her from the death grip on his neck.

"You don't have to explain your feelings Alex. We all knew." Zahra stated from the doorway and immediately Alex's gaze shifted towards her.

"Whatever happens, you will always have us." She says, arms crossing over her stomach from the doorway. Alex stares at her, saw the years had taken her youth into more maturity and being a mother had made her more understanding and calmer for some reason. He nodded weakly, eyes lowered to the picture in his hand.

Shaan noticed the picture before taking it away from his hand. He smiled, thumb stroking the image of Henry smiling back at him. Silence invaded the room but Alex noticed Shaan had stared into the picture longer than usual.

"God I miss him so much." He whispered, voice breaking before his own tears betrayed him. He tried to hide it by chewing his own lips from trembling but failed when more tears falls on his cheek.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." Alex suddenly spoke that bought their attention. Shaan shot him a surprised look but deep down, he wasn't that surprised to hear his decision.

Alex pulled out his phone, showing him the flight he booked few minutes before they entered the room. Despite he owned his own private plane, he didn't want people to query his existence on that place or announcing his arrival into the small town or worst, scaring Henry away into running again.

"The PI texted me the possible towns where Henry might be. I looked it up, I think I knew where he might be. Some place, lesser people, isolated, peaceful." Alex explained, which Shaan couldn't agree more with his idea.

"I'm coming with you." Shaan suggested but Alex was already starting to protest.

"No, you're not!" He pressed, his tone cold and assertive pushing the idea out of his mind. "Zahra needs you here. I'm fine on my own Shaan." Alex reassured but he could see how it relieves Zahra from where she stood.

"Take Cash then." Shaan suggest but Alex shook his head again.

"You all have family now. I need to do this on my own. Please! I'll be fine." Alex states, shifting his gaze between Zahra and Shaan to make sure they would not risks anyone else's lives just so Alex would be alright.

They both hesitated but eventually letting out a long exhaled in agreement.

"Fine! But call and text the moment you arrived! I need updates, I don't care if its small!" Zahra pointed at him from the doorway that made Alex smiled, nodding softly back at her.

"Do you think you can bring him home?" Shaan asks silently but caught Alex smirking back at him still holding Ellie in his arm.

"I promised him didn't I?" Alex teased, flashing his genuine smile sincerely.

"Uncle Alex?" Ellie soft voice interrupts them from each other's conversation.

"Yes my sweetheart." Alex's voice soft, palm stroking her back softly.

"Are you gonna leave me?" She asks and Alex took another breath.

"For now, but I will come back. I promise." Alex raised his other free palm up, signing his promise by crossing his heart.

"With uncle Henwy?" She smiled her widest smile at him, cocking her head to the side that made both Shaan and Zahra laughs.

"You keep praying on that sweetheart. Uncle Henry has a large stone sets on his head." Shaan gestured his palm over the side of his head that made Ellie laughs. Zahra stepped into the room, holding out her arms for Ellie before she slipped from Alex's lap.

"If I knew any better, only uncle Alex can break that stone." She signed, earning Alex a hearty laughs. Shaan stood, walking towards her side before lifting Ellie into his arms again. Ellie turned, facing Alex from Shaan's arm yawning with her palm rubbing her eyes.

"Maybe you should bring a hammer." She suggested that erupted another laughs from them. "Like Bob?" Alex asks and she nodded before another yawn breaks her smile.

"Go to bed little one. Don't ever grow up." Alex whispered that last sentence into her ear, pressing another kiss into her chubby cheek.

"Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." Shaan pats Alex's back before turning around and headed to Ellie's room. Zahra smiled, following her husband footsteps and later closing on the door of his bedroom.

Silence followed after and the only thing Alex could hear was the sound of breeze coming from the outside window. He turned his back to see the picture still sets on the side table next to his bed. He picked up the picture between his palm, thumb gently stroking Henry's face before a smile broke his lips.

"See you soon Hen." He whispered, gently placing the picture back into his drawer and shut it closed. He inhaled a sharp breath before headed straight into his closet and starts packing out his clothes into his luggage bag. He brought everything that he needed although in his heart, he knew exactly he doesn't need any of these except for Henry.

.