"Good afternoon,Mr. Phim. " Stacy flashed him a smile as soon as he walked out of the elevator. "Mr. Vandekmp is expecting you."

Jovon nodded in her direction as he walked past her desk,and down the hall. His mind was jumbled,as was his thoughts. Ever since that morning, he hadn't been able to focus on work,even his morning jogs did nothing to ease his troubled mind. What flabbergasted him was the fact that,he didn't have any nightmare that night. He slept so peacefully that, Kass was forced to come knocking on his door,the next morning, to check of he was still alive. Two days after, the nightmare began.

He felt no remorse about the way he acted towards her, because she asked for it. Yet,he couldn't forget how soft and pliant she was under him while he took her roughly for his own sad pleasure, and also as a reminder to her that he was not whoever she created in her mind,that he was.

He was a bastard who had no feelings about hurting people's feelings.

Pausing briefly outside Dr. Vandekmp office to open the door,Jovon stepped inside. He found the therapist behind his large desk as usual,browsing through a file,his brows creased in concentration. The moment he stepped in through the door, Dr. Vandekmp waved him to the seat across from him with that easy smile, he always wore,on his face.

"Don't you ever get tired of smiling?" Jovon asked as he made himself comfortable on the seat offered.

Dr. Vandekmp's smile widened. "No. Do you know that smiling reduces stress and wrinkles? It makes me feel better."

"It's a waste of facial expressions."

"It's not." Dr. Vandekmp leaned back against his chair. "How are you feeling?"

"Confused."

"Care to elaborate?"

"After our session two weeks ago, I met someone by accident."

"And I'm guessing this person is a female?"

Jovon threw him a look. "Yes. A feisty one at that. She keeps popping up everywhere. " Then he proceeded to tell him about what transpired between he and Annie. "Strangely enough, I still want her."

Dr. Vandekmp, who had been listening attentively, sat a bit straight,and steepled his fingers in front of his mouth,a habit Jovon recognised all to well. He could almost see the clogs turning in the man's head.

"This person you speak of, is she still around?"

Jovon shrugged. "She's never tried to contact me,ever since I shut the door in her face."

"And there is no way,you can see her again?"

"I know where she stays, but I don't think she would want to see me after the way I treated her."

Dr. Vandekmp hummed. "You mentioned at one point that she asked for your help,which you declined. Did she tell you what she needed your help for?"

"I didn't give her a chance to explain." He narrowed his eyes at the older man. "Why the twenty questions?"

"This lady is the first person you showed sexual interest, any interest, to after what happened to you. It means something. You can either explore it or let it go. But, I would suggest that you explore it. Spend more time around her." He added quickly,when he saw Jovon glare at him. "Not romantically of course. It should strictly be on a platonic level."

Jovon gulped audibly. "I don't want to spend more time with her. She's the type that takes a mile when given an inch. She wants to know what happened to me,and I don't want to talk about it." He scratched his chin, noting to shave later on. "And those eyes of hers, they shine with mirth whenever she smiles, it's irritating. She eats too much too,despite her lean frame. She..." He trailed off when he saw Dr. Vandekmp smiling at him with a glint in his eyes. "What is it?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. Call her and listen to what she has to say. You can try dinner. And remember I asked you to go out more. You can go on a vacation too. Maybe it'll help clear the confusion about the lady."

Jovon pushed to his feet. "I am not going on a vacation,and that's final. But,I will call her,and let you know about how it goes."

"Good." Dr. Vandekmp rose to his feet too. "Call me at anytime."

Jovon shook his hand before walking out of the office. With his back turned,he missed the knowing smile Dr. Vandekmp tossed his way.

~     *****    ~

Wiping her hands with the kitchen towel, Annie walked towards the front door with Brown eyes at her heels,his pink tongue lolling out of his mouth. Ever since she got back from Jovon's place the other day, Brown eyes made it a mission to follow her everywhere, as if afraid that she was going to leave him again.

Annie felt bad for making the dog feel that way,but it couldn't be helped. Besides, she purposely gave him some space to cool down,before appearing before him again,after he specifically asked her not to ever show her face again. He clearly didn't know how stubborn she could be when she set her mind on something.

She had been preparing dinner for Brown eyes and her,when the door bell rang. Once glance at the clock told her it was eight-twenty in the evening. She wondered who could be calling quite late. A smile lit up her face at the thought of the kind lady next building,who had been taking care of Brown eyes in Lea's absence. Which explained why the house was also neat. Mrs. Sheldon,had called in twice this week,bringing with her a batch of homemade butterscotch cookies.

The thought of those cookies made her insides melt. And so with a smile on her face, Annie unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open. Her smile faltered at the sight of the muscular man,dressed in expensive black suit, on her doorstep. Despite his cropped blonde hair, the man looked to be in his early fifties. The fine lines around his eyes,gave it away. He was carrying a bouquet of flowers, Tulips, in his arms.

He wasn't smiling,but he had a warm light in his dark eyes. "Good evening, ma'am."

Annie returned his smile, her hands rubbing against each other as she peered over the man's shoulder, which was a bit difficult, mid you, the man was tall. A black Mercedes with tinted glass sat beside the curb. Her gaze returned to the man,who's gaze remained passive.

"Good evening. Huh,have we met before?"

"Yes." He held the bouquet out to her. "My name is Cyson."

Cyson. Where had she heard that name before?

"Ansela Mckade. But you can call me Annie." She clutched the bouquet to her right side. "Do you want to come inside for a glass of water?"

"No." He took a step back. "I was only sent to deliver these to you."

"Oh." She bit her lower lip. "Are you sure you don't mind coming in for a cup of tea?"

His lips twitched for a bare moment,then he shook his head. "Thank you for your offer. Have a Good evening."

Annie smiled in return. "You too."

She waited until he pulled away from the curb,before going back inside,and bolting the door for a good measure. Brown eyes followed her into the parlour,it's brown pools focused on the bouquet.

"I know right." She told him. "Who would send me flowers by this time, eh?"

Brown eyes whined in response. His eyes moving back and forth between her face and the flowers. Annie's brow creased as she held the bouquet aloft, and perused the transparent wrapper. It was then she saw the cream coloured card tucked into the side. Reaching into the flowers,she withdrew the card,silently awing at it's soft velvety texture. It wasn't your regular card,if the white dove printed on it was any indication,it was quite expensive.

Annie sank into one of the navy blue arm chairs,waited until brown eyes settled on the space beside her,before opening the card.

~  *  ~

Join me for dinner at the Phim hotel in Seattle. Cyson would collect you tomorrow by six pm.

~ J. P.

~ * ~

Annie read the card again with a smile playing on her lips,as she buried her fingers in Brown eyes' golden fur. She knew instantly who Cyson was. But she couldn't help but wonder what suddenly changed his mind to see her.

However,this time, Annie was determined to get him to agree to help her,which would make him spend more time with her. Then get him to trust her enough to open up to her.

"Sounds like a good plan,eh?" She asked Brown eyes,who smiled at her in return. Then he began sniffing the air. Suddenly, without warning, he leapt off her lap and ran towards the kitchen. One sniff of the air had her running after the dog.

The fire pan was on fire!

"Oh shit!" She exclaimed as she turned the cooker off,and grabbed the pan handle with a kitchen towel wrapped her palm. Placing it in the sink, she turned the tap on. The sizzle of the pan had smoke filling the room. Waving a hand in front of her face,Annie peered at Brown eyes who stood beside the countertop peering at her.

"There goes our dinner,Browny."

Brown eyes let out a low whine.

~  *****   ~

"Did William call you?" Cassie asked Ella,who kept staring off into the distance,while rubbing her belly absentmindedly.

Cassie arrived in Philly yesterday,but due to jet lag and taking care of the children, they went to bed early without having the time to talk to Ella. But today,they decided to stay indoors, while Steve and Arabella went out to a fundraiser event and won't be back until late in the evening.

The children were playing in the playroom where Ansela,Kaden,and William used to play when they were little. Only that it was expanded to accommodate the children; it was also repainted,and had more toys than before. Canishia was sitting in her blue walker, hitting random buttons with her chubby little fist,while gurgling.

"No." Ella replied with a shrug. "I called him several times, but he won't pick my call,and sometimes send it to voicemail."

Cassie rubbed her palm over her face. "I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to be honest with me."

"Okay."

"Did you do something to make Will angry? Or maybe you guys fought and you said horrible things to him?"

Ella sighed. "No. "

"Then why is he behaving this way towards you?"

"I don't know!" Her shoulders slumped forward,and she took in deep breaths several times. When she spoke again,her voice was shaky. "Everything was fine. It was going great even,until I told him I was pregnant." She took a deep breath again,then turned to face Cassie. "Did I make a mistake keeping the baby?"

Cassie reached out to grab Ella right hand. She clasped it within her own,while gazing into the other woman's eyes with a reassuring smile.

"No,you didn't. Don't ever think otherwise. William is just passing through a phase,he'll get over it soon. I'm sure. Maybe he's just not used to the idea of sharing you yet?"

"That's not it Cassie. You're not the one living with Liam. He used to be so caring and attentive. When he is around he rarely let's Aggy and Tina out of his sight,or even me. And when he's not around, he hired body guards for us. Now it's like he does not even care about my feelings. He keep hurting me,and i-" Ella choked back a sob,as she fought the tears from spilling,bug not succeeding.

Tears filled Cassie's eyes too,as she pulled her into her embrace. "It's okay Ella. Everything would be fine."

"Mama?"

Ella sniffed,and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress before pulling out of Cassie's embrace to face Aggy,who stood in front of her looking worried.

"Yes,baby." Ella managed a smile. "What is it?"

"Why you crying?"

Ella's eyes filled all over again. "Nothing. Something got into my eyes,that's all."

Aggy's lower lip trembled,as tears filled her eyes too. "Papa don't love us anymore?"

"No." Ella gathered the girl in her arms,so she was sitting on her laps. "Daddy loves you and your sister. Don't ever think otherwise again. Okay?"

She shook her head,her lip still trembling. "Then why is he not here?"

"Remember that daddy goes far to another country sometimes?" Ella waited until she got a nod,before continuing. "He travelled again,baby."

"Does he love baby too?" Aggy stared pointedly at the baby bump,before tilting her head to the right to gaze at her mother. "Does he?"

"Yes." Her voice lowered into a whisper. "He does."

Cassie,seeing that she was on the verge of breaking down, tried to carry Aggy who started crying the moment she left her mother's arms.
Then all hell broke loose.

Tina,who saw her sister crying, broke down into a sob too,rolling her body on the floor in the process. Ana and Bell tried to calm her down,when Shane started crying too, while making grabby hands at his mother from his position on the floor. Then Canishia, who paused at the sounds of crying, stopped playing for a moment,before she too let out a heart piercing wail.

In the midst of the chaos sat Ella who looked at loss about who to console first, while tears made a steady track down her cheeks. Cassie got her baby from the walker and settled down to breastfeed her,while Aggy and Tina scrambled into their mother's laps,suckling their fingers and hiccuping in the process. Ana settled Shane on his hips,while bouncing him up and down and singing a lullaby.

"I am going to call William tonight." She promised Ella. "He has some real explanation to do."

Ella merely nodded,not saying anything as the girls got down from her laps,and ran over to Shane,who was now sucking his lower lip,while toying with Ana's dark locks.

"I am going to get lemonade for the children. Do you need anything?"

"Just a glass of warm water for Cani."

Ella nodded as she rose on her feet. She had almost gotten to the door when she heard Cassie's gasp behind her. Startled, Ella turned around and started to ask what was wrong,but got her answer when she felt something warm trickling down her legs. Curious, she glanced down to see thick red liquid trailing past her knees,down to her ankle.

Blood!

The baby!

"Ella, No!"

Cassie frightened scream was the last thing she heard,before her head hit the hardwood floor.