Chapter 11

ALEX

I sighed as I put the phone down. Everyone was looking at me weirdly.

"What's wrong?" asked AJ as I sat back on the chair.

"It's the baby sitter. She had emergency and can't take care of Nate today," I told them.

"Oh," mom cast me an apology looks, "I wish I could help."

"Its ok mom," I smiled, "I know everyone has plan, I think I just have to tell Rika that I can't go today."

"But the appointment is today and tomorrow, the designer has other appointment," informed AJ. "You still have to go."

"I can't leave Nate alone or take him with me," I told him.

"Find someone else to look after him," suggested dad, "I'm sure there's someone free?"

"Who can we find last minute?" I asked him.

"I know who," smiled AJ and we all looked at him, "Skye. Ask him, I'm sure he's more than willing to take care of Nate."

I shook my head, "He might not be free." I'm actually not too eager leaving him with Nate.

"How do you know? I'll call him," he said and without waiting for my response, he already on the phone and walked out of the kitchen.

A few minutes later he came back with a smile, "Skye said he's free today. He's not going anywhere. He'll be happy to take care of Nate. He'll be here in 5," he informed and then looked at me. "You said you going to give him a chance to be with Nate and this is the chance," he said.

Dad touched my shoulder, "AJ is right. Give them both a chance to get to know each other."

I sighed and nodded my head, "Alright." I gave in. I looked at Nate, "Baby, I have to go somewhere and leave you with my friend, Skye. Is it ok with you?"

"Syke?" asked Nate while munching his cereal, "You friend last night?"

"Yes," I nodded my head. Nate cast me a worried look. I don't blame him. He didn't know Syke and I'm sure he's nervous being around someone new.

"Don't worry," AJ said to him, "He's a very good guy. He's my friend too."

Nate cast a smiled and shrugged, "If you said so."

We just finished our breakfast when we heard the door bell rang, "It must me Skye," said AJ looking at his watch. "He's always on time, unlike my future wife," he smirked as he walked towards the door. AJ is right, Rika is never punctual. She not even arrived yet when she promised to pick me up at 9.00 am.

I immediately cleaned up Nate and walked towards the living room. Sure enough Skye has already arrived at the door looking dashing in his black Polo T-shirt. He looked at me and then looked at Nate standing besides me holding my hand. He smiled at Nate.

"Hey, Nate," he greeted and took Nate hand shaking it like an adult, "How are you today?"

Nate giggled while shaking his hand, "I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm good," grinned Skye, "I'm going to take care of you today and I promised you that we are going to have a blasting time together."

"Really?" asked Nate excitedly, "Where are we going?"

"That will be a surprise," said Skye. "Are you ready to enjoy yourself?"

"Yes!!" Nate clapped his hands. I could help but chuckled at him.

"Great," said Skye and he took Nate and his bag pack from my hands. They walked hand in hand towards his waiting car chatting away. Nate wasn't shy with him at all.

"Thanks for taking care of him," I said to Skye as closed the door for Nate.

"Don't mention it," said Skye with serious tone, "I should thank you for giving me chance to spend some times with my son. I hope I will have more of these chances."

I smiled nervously at him, "We'll talk about this later when I'm back, ok?"

He nodded his head, and got into the car. He winded down the window and I look at Nate at the back seat, "Be a good boy, ok. Always listen to what Skye tell you to do."

"Don't worry, he'll be a good boy," Skye replied on Nate's behalf while Nate just nodded his head. "Say bye to mommy."

"Bye mommy," smiled Nate waving at me at the same time as the car start moving.

"They look great together, don't they?" said AJ who was standing besides me. I rolled my eyes at him. He laughed before walking back towards the house. I continued looked at Skye's car before its making a turned at the corner of the block disappearing from my sight. I smiled. I have to admit they do look great together; just like a father and son.

****

SKYE

I took Nate to my Nessa's house as I can't wait to show her Nate. I didn't tell her about me coming but I can't wait to introduce her and her family to Nate.

"Where are we?" as Nate as I parked the car.

"We're at my sister's place and you'll meet some friends here," I told him. He cast me a nervous smile and I could feel he's being shy, "Don't worry, you going to like them and they going to like you too. Josh has a lot of toys and I'm very sure he will share them with you." Nate smiled and nodded his head at me. I got out from the car and went to open his door. He got out and immediately holds my hand. We walked hand in hand towards Nessa's door step.

I opened the door and step into the house, "Hey everyone," I greeted once I in the house..

"Uncle Skye, Uncle Skye," screamed the twins as they ran towards me. I slowly let go of Nate's hand to hug and kiss the twins' cheek as usual.

"How you two been doing?" I asked as I carried them both.

"We been very good," replied Jen, "We've both finished our cereal and milk."

"Wow, no wonder you both are getting heavier," I heaved deeply and pretend to drop them. They both giggled happily. I put them down and once my hand is free, Nate immediately wrapped his little fingers around mine. I noticed Nessa and Jake staring at Nate.

I looked at Nate and smiled, "Guys, I want to meet Nate," I introduced and pushed him in front of me. "Nate, I want to meet my niece and nephew, Jen and Josh."

"Hi," smiled both Jen and Josh while Nate shyly smiled at both of them. Josh and Jen are always friendly with people even though they just meet them.

"Can we play with him upstairs in our room?" asked Josh looking at his parents. Jake nodded his head giving his permission. Jen and Josh immediately took Nate hands and pulled him with them towards the stairs. Nate turned and looked at me as if waiting for my assurance that it was ok for him to follow them.

I smiled and nodded my head, "Go and play with them. I'll call you if anything." Nate smiled before following the twins. "Take good care of him," I said to the twins as the climbed up the stairs.

"We will," assured Jen and I heard Josh telling Nate, "I Bumble Bee's transformers. Dad just brought for me, you want to play?"

"Sure..... " I heard Nate responded happily as the three of them disappeared into the twins' room.

"Wow, he really looks like you," comments Nessa as the three of us walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah, like a photocopy," added Jake making me smiled proudly.

"How come he's with you?" asked Nessa.

"Alex has to go somewhere with Rika and no one is taking care of him," I told her.

"And she agreed to let you, just like that?" she asked again as if couldn't believe that Alex would change her mind just like that.

"AJ managed to persuade her," I told her again with a big grinned, "AJ told me that he and his dad had managed to talk some sense in her. I'm surprised too that she's agreed."

"Knowing AJ he might has some schemes under his sleeves," Nessa chuckled.

I laughed, "Yeah, he's scheming to have her agreed to stay and be with me."

"Have you talked to dad?" asked Nessa.

"Not yet," I shook my head, "I'm going to take Nate to him instead. It would be easier." Nessa nodded her head in agreement.

We spend half the day at Nessa's place and Nate seemed to be enjoying himself. The three of them have been become good friends and when I was leaving with Nate, he promised the twins that he will come again and make me promised to bring him again. I assured him that he will see them often and the three of them screamed in excitement.

From Nessa's house, we headed to my parents' house. I rang the bell and our maid Hannah answered the door.

"Is my parents in?" I asked her.

"Yes, they are in the living room," she told me. I smiled and walked with Nate who's holding my hand tightly, feeling nervous again. "I want you to meet my parents who are also Josh and Jen's grandparents," I told him. I wanted to tell him that they are his grandparents too but I think it too early for me to tell him that. One day I will tell him and I hope it will be soon.

He nodded his head and smiled at me, "Are they as nice as my grandparents too?"

"Yes, they are. You can call them grandpa and grandma too, if you like," I told him. "And I'm very sure they don't mind." Nate just nodded his head and smiled.

"Hey Skye," smiled mom as she walked towards me. I hugged her and kissed her cheek. She then realized Nate standing besides me, holding my hand. One looked at Nate, she gasped and then cast me a curious look. My dad who was sitting on the sofa turned at looked at us. He immediately stood up when he saw Nate.

"Dad, mom, I want you to meet Nate," I introduced, paused for a while before added, "My son."

"What?" gasped mom as she looked at me and then at Nate. "How?"

"Let the boy explained," said dad in calm tone. Dad always the calm one and I think that was because he's a judge who always listens to before judging anyone.

Mom nodded her head and took Nate hands from me, "Would you like some cookies?" she asked him as she ushered him to sit on the sofa next to her. Nate nodded his head as he took the cookies from the plate mom offering him. He ate the cookies slowly as mom requested Hanna to bring some milk and toys for Nate.

I could see Nate's eyes lightened up seeing all the toys that Hanna brought for him. He looked at me as if asking my permission to play with them. I smiled and nodded my head indicating that it's ok for him to play. He smiled and immediately sat on the floor and started to play with the toys ignoring us adults.

"He's very well brought up," compliments mom as she looked at Nate playing with the toys, "He asked permission before doing something."

"Yes, he does," I agreed and couldn't help but felt proud with the way Alex has brought his up.

"Now, explain," urged mom, "Who's the mother?"

I bit my lips and paused before answering her, "Alexis Fernandez."

She looked at me with wide eyes, "Alex?" I nodded my head. "You've been keeping him for so long from us?"

"I only know about his existence last night," I told mom and she gasped. I looked at both my parents and relate to them all that happed between me and Alex.

"She's kept it from you for three years?" she asked again.

"Yes, and I only found out last night," I repeated.

"What are you going to do now?" asked mom while dad still remained quiet looking at Nate playing without bothering any of us.

"I intend to be responsible for both of them from now on," I told her and she looked proud with my answers. "I have asked her to marry me. That's the only way I could think of to make her agrees to stay. I wanted us to be a real family," I told them. "I don't want her to leave and take Nate away from me again. I want to see my son grow up in front of me. I want to be his real dad. I want to be like you dad, a father who always there for his son. Who teaches his son what he need know." I could see dad's eyes glowed with proud hearing my confession.

"I'm very proud of you, son," praised dad. Mom smiled at me.

"And she agreed?" asked mom.

"No," I shook my head and mom chuckled instead.

"I have a feeling she will say that," she said. I cast a question look at her, "A girl would never agree to marry a man just because he felt he has to be responsible."

"Well that's not only reason why I wanted to marry her," I told her. She looked at me as I added, "I'm actually in love with her." She didn't looked surprise and smile instead.

"Does she know?" she asked. I shook my head. "You have to let her know first."

"BUT how?' I asked, "She wouldn't believe me."

"She definitely won't believe you if you tell her especially now. The only way now is to show her that you really do," she advised.

"It's not easy to convince her. You know how stubborn she is," I rolled my eyes.

"You have to try. It's the only way." mom said. I let out a loud sigh making mom chuckled. "My advice is that you have to give her a chance to get to know you the real you. Spent time with both of them everyday and be part of their lives," she suggested.

"That's what I intend to do," I told her, "By marrying her, she has no choice but to spend time with me."

"See, you are not giving her a chance," pointed mom, "You are forcing her and Nate to accept you into their lives. It's not fair for Nate. Don't rush into things and force him to accept you. A child need time to be comfortable with people before he could accept a new person in his life. He's too young to understand what's happen and I'm afraid if you rush things, he might be too shock to accept you as part of his life."

I sighed again knowing mom has a point. It's not fair to force Nate to accept me. He need time to know me and to accept me in his life.

Seeing me remained quiet dad added, "Give him time to accept you into his life."

I looked at Nate and then looked at both of them, "What do you two suggest I do, then?"

"Spend time with him. You don't have to ask Alex to marry you yet, but to give you a chance to spend some time with your son," mom suggested while dad nodded his head.

"I've already asked her that, but she didn't agree," I informed them. "She didn't want me to be responsible for them."

"Well, this time you not asking to be responsible, you asking to give a chance to spent some times with your son," said dad. "It's a start that she's already allowed you to take care of Nate."

"Well, just for today because she has things to do," I told her. "AJ and her parents managed to convince her to let me take care of Nate."

Mom smiled, "Well since you have support from her family, I don't think you have a problem to convince her about agreeing letting you spent time with Nate. Meantime, you could also suggest her to follow you everywhere you go with Nate. In that way, she has some time to spend with you two. Maybe from there she could see how you and Nate are happy together and you able to change her mind about going back to London."

"What if she still didn't agree?" I asked them.

"Then I'll help you to get court order to force her to agree," said dad making me grinned widely.

"You really will?" I asked to reconfirm.

Dad nodded his head, "I will definitely help you all I can," assured dad. "I didn't want to miss seeing my grandson grow up too," he added as he played with Nate hair making Nate looked at him and smiled.

Mom smiled at us, "Well, I will talked to Emma and Greg about this too. I hope they both could talk some sense to their daughter and make her agree with you."

I can't stop but smiled at both of them. I'm so happy that I have both my parents support on this and I really hope that Alex would agree with my proposal. BUT no matter what her decision would be, I'm not leaving her a choice to choose. i