Chapter 3

ALEXIS

"Alex!!" I heard AJ's voice in the crowd as I walked out from the terminal.

"Uncle AJ! Uncle AJ!" Nate jumping up excitedly and when he saw AJ walking with Rika towards us, he immediately ran towards them. AJ saw him and opened his arms to Nate and immediately hugged him tightly when Nate was in his arm.

"Hey Champ," greeted AJ while hugging and kissing his cheek. "How is my favorite, nephew?" asked AJ while carrying him.

"I've been good boy," he told AJ proudly, "I just got out from a big plane. Do you know that Uncle AJ?"

"Really?" asked AJ pretended to be surprise, "Wow." Nate nodded his head as if confirming it while grinning widely. AJ grinned back and then looked at me, "How's my favorite sis?"

I smiled, "I'm your only sister," I reminded him at the same time hugging and kissed him on the cheek.

"Yeah," he nodded, "That's why you're my favorite," he laughed at his own joke. I laughed with him and looked at Rika how just smiling at us.

"Hi, Rik," I smiled nervously at her; nervous of seeing her again after this long. I wondered whether she's angry with me for leaving without saying goodbye.

"Hey," she smiled sweetly at me and then hugged me, "I'm supposed to be angry with you for leaving without a word," she said as she tightened her hugged, "But you know me, I can't be angry with you for too long."

I hugged her tightly too, "Yeah, I know that but I guess you already knew my reason."

She looked at me with a smile on her face but with tears in her eyes, "Yeah, I know, AJ told me. You should have told me about it. You know I'll be there for you, no matter what."

"Yes, I know," I nodded my head as I could feel the tears in my eyes too. I couldn't help myself and hugged her again, "God I missed you."

"I missed you too," she said hugging me back.

"Cut the drama you two," AJ teased who was still holding Nate making both Rika and I pulled apart.

Rika looked at Nate in AJ's arm, "So this is your son?"

"Yes," I nodded my head.

"He really looks like his father," she reminded me.

I sighed, "Tell me about it." She laughed at my comments. I turned my attention to my Grandma who as been quiet the whole time. "By the way, Grandma, I think you remember, Rika, my best friend and now AJ's fiancée."

"Yes of course I do," smiled Grandma.

Rika kissed her cheek, "How are you, Grandma? It's nice to see you again."

"I'm fine and these two have been keeping me entertained," said Grandma grinning at me and pinch Nate cubby cheek.

"I'm sure they do, especially this young chap here," added AJ and started to tickled Nate making Nate giggled.

"Stop it Uncle AJ," he tried to push AJ hands away while laughing at the same time, "Its tickles."

"I know it does, that's why I'm doing it," said AJ while continued to tickle Nate. We all just laughed before walking out from the airport towards the car.

Inside the car, it was Nate who kept us entertaining with his chattering. He's been telling AJ what he's been doing and how he has been behaving; telling AJ about his friends, his pre-school and all other stuff while AJ just smiled and laughed or sometimes nodding his head. He really good with kids and I know someday he will be a very good dad to his own kids.

Looking at AJ entertaining Nate make me wonder. Is Skye good with kids too? Will Skye entertain Nate just like AJ is doing right now? I sighed. I guess I will have to keep wondering about that.

Hearing me sigh, Grandma who was sitting besides me at the back of the car grabbed my hands and squeezed it. "Everything will be fine," she whispered in my ears. I cast a nervous smile at her.

AJ let out horn upon reaching my parents house as if to inform everyone of our arrival. Soon enough, my parents came out the house smiling happily at us while waiting for the car to stop.

Once car stopped and I opened the car door, Nate immediately dashed towards my mom's opened arms. Dad smiled and opened his arms towards me and like a small kid, I ran towards him.

"How's my baby girl doing?" he asked.

"I'm not a baby anymore dad. I'm a mother now," I reminded him.

"I know that," he smiled, "But no matter what, you still my baby girl."

I laughed and kissed his cheek, "I love you dad and miss you so much."

"I missed you too my baby," he said kissing me on the cheek to.

"How about your mother?" asked Grandma pretending to glare at dad.

"Mother," smiled dad as he turned his attention toward Grandma, "I missed you too and it's so good to see you again."

"Hmm, that's my baby boy," teased Grandma at the same time patting his head and messing his hair.

"Aw, mother, not in front of the kids," whined dad making everyone laughed.

After hugging mom we all went inside the house. "You looked tired," said mom, "Why don't you go up and rest. I'll take care of Nate. You still remember where your room is, don't you?"

"Yes," I nodded my head and turned to take my bags.

"I'll carry the bags for you," offered AJ and we walked together upstairs where my room was. Rika stayed with my parents and Grandma.

I entered my room and I could see that everything still the same just the way I remembered it 3 years ago.

"We didn't change anything in this room except the curtains," AJ confirming my guess.

I smiled, "I can see that. Everything is still in its own place."

"Yeah, we wanted you to know that even though you left, we wanted to feel your presence here," he said to me. "I especially want to feel that you are still here whenever I enter this room," he confessed.

I couldn't help my emotions as I turned towards him and hugged him tightly, "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," he whispered and I could hear emotions there too, "Every single day. I missed doing things together with you."

"I missed that too," I admitted and wiped my teary eyes, "We could do that now."

He smiled, "Yeah. We're going to do that right after you have enough rest. I'm going to worn you out. I promised you that."

I laughed, "I can't wait."

He kissed me on the cheek before saying, "I'm so happy you're finally home."

I couldn't stop myself and wondered out loud, "Does he know I'm coming home?"

"No," AJ shook his head, "I've kept my promised to you not to tell him anything about you."

I cast him a small smiled. I should be glad that he kept his promised but somehow I felt disappointed. "That's good," I said instead.

"I still think he has the right to know about Nate," AJ said to me softly looking directly into my eyes.

I sighed, "I know and I will tell him one day."

"When?" he asked.

"When I'm........" I didn't finish my words because he cuts me off.

"When you're ready," he added rolling his eyes. "But when? Isn't now is the right time? It's has been 3 years. It's not fair for him," he pointed out.

I sighed again before admitting, "I know. But I just don't know how to tell him?"

"Well, I know how," he said, "You could see him. He's back for the summer break."

"But I'm not ready to see him," I pointed out.

"When will you be ready?" he asked again.

"Give me time. I promised I'll tell him before I return to London," I told him.

"You're going back to London? You not coming home for good?" he asked looking disappointed.

"I have to complete my studies," I reminded him.

"Well, you could also ask for transfer if you want. Dad could use his connections to get you back here if you want," he said to me. "Please don't leave again. Even though I have Rika with me, I still want my sister to be around. I miss you, Alex. I don't want you to leave me again," he pleaded looking at me with teary eyes.

I melt with the sad way he looked at me. I touched his unshaven cheeks, "Let me think about it ok," I heard myself promised to him and immediately his face shined.

"Promise me you will stay," he pressed.

I chucked, "I'll think about it. I have to find a suitable college for me that able to transfer my credits."

"I'll help you to find a suitable college," he promised with a big grinned on his face. "I'll do it immediately."

"You not giving me time to think about it, aren't you?" I pretend to scold him.

"No," he chuckled, "It will take you another 3 years before you come out with a decision."

"Yeah, you probably right about that," I agreed with him making us laughed. How about Jess? Does she know I'm coming home?" I suddenly remember my other best friend Jessica.

"I'm not sure," said AJ. "Rika didn't say anything about Jess."

I nodded my head, "It's alright. I guess I should give her a call. You think she'll forgive me for leaving?"

"I don't think she'll be angry if you tell her everything. You guys are best friends. Best friends shouldn't be angry with each other for too long. They should understand each other," advised AJ.

"You are right about that," I agreed with him. "I'll call her later."

"Yeah, you do that. I let you have your rest and call you when dinner is ready," he said. I nodded my head as he closed the door behind him.