"God-daddy!"
Grace yelled on top of her lungs the moment she saw Rafael and Olivia walk into the large house, with Lucy and the driver pulling their bags inside. She had a happy smile on her face as Rafael returned her smile.

Grace held on tight to her teddy as she hurriedly ran as fast as she could down the long spiral stairs, Benita running after her, trying to slow her down.

"Grace," Olivia gasped in surprise. "Don't run on the stairs."

Like Grace ever listened. It had been months since she last saw them.

Thanks to the pandemic, they were both stuck in Italy for over half the whole year. She was happy that she got to speak to them every day over the phone, but she missed them by the second and there was no amount of love and care she got from Lucy and Benita that could make up for it.

Olivia felt the exact same way. She missed her child and she wished she had gotten home from her trip quite earlier before the pandemic had broke out and Italy had closed their boarders before she and Rapheal could make it back. She had cried so many days, remembering how she had promised to never leave Grace's side so she allowed it, she was going to allow her this time to run as fast as she could to them.

They watched as her tiny legs led her hurriedly to them, swinging her teddy from side to side just as Rafael bent over and spread his hands so she could run into them. She loved running into his arms, everyone knew that for a fact and that was exactly what she did. Rafael grabbed her quickly and lifted her up in the air. Grace laughed.

"How is my favorite girl in the world doing?" He carried her in his arms.

"She missed you so so much." Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and then hugged him tight, planting a soft kiss on his cheek. Rafael chuckled and then kissed her back.

"Would you look at that." Olivia turned to them, pretending to be upset, forcing a tiny frown on her face. They both turned to her. "How come I don't get any hugs and kisses?" She blinked at Grace, pouting her lips. "Someone that sees this would think your god daddy is your mother too. "

Rafael leaned towards Grace's ears.
"Somebody is jealous." He whispered loud enough so Olivia could hear it. Grace chuckled again. Olivia scoffed.

"Mummy, you know I love you just as much." She told Olivia as Olivia walked closer to them and gently pulled her cheeks.

"Rafael," Benita walked towards them with a huge smile on her face. They all turned to her. "Olivia," she acknowledged Olivia's presence too.

"Nanny," Olivia walked closer to her and gave her a warm hug. Benita chuckled lightly.

"How was your trip?" She asked the moment Olivia let her go, pulling her hands down Olivia's arms till they were holding her hands.

"Beautiful." Olivia had a sincere smile on her face.

"You two must be hungry." She looked at the both of them.

"Starved." Rafael answered.

"We prepared lunch already." Grace told him. He turned to her. "Both your favorites. I helped Nanny cook this time."

"You did?" Rafael faked a loud gasp, pretending to be surprised. Grace nodded. "In that case, I can't wait to eat it and after that, we'd check out all the things your mother and I got you."

Grace gasped.
"Really? I have gifts?"

"Of course you do." Rafael chuckled as he led her away from them, "and chocolates." He said, carrying her all the way to the living room.

"Woah, and chocolates?"

"Mnn, lots and lots of them."

Olivia and Benita chuckled as they watched them both walk away from them. Grace looked so happy.

"My child." Olivia slowly turned back to Benita the moment she felt her hands in hers, squeezing them, Benita's smile grew wider. "There's someone here to see you."

Olivia turned the moment she heard footsteps hurrying down the stairs, the smile on her face grew wider as she noticed Amy hurrying towards her.

"Amy," Olivia slowly let go of Benita's hands and walked the rest of the distance towards her. The cousins exchanged tight hugs.

"Woah," Amy gently pulled her away, turning her from side to side to examine her. "Italy did a good number on you these past three days."

"Oh my God Amy," Olivia quickly grabbed her arms. "I have so much to tell you."

She hurriedly pulled Amy towards the stairs, not letting go of her hands. She couldn't wait to tell her cousin just how much she loved the past three days which had also happened to be one of the best three days of her life.

*************************************************

"Oh my gosh." Amy couldn't hide her excitement as she walked around the beautiful blue Ferrari with her jaw dropped. She still couldn't shake off the surprise and low-key excitement she felt. She came to a stop right beside it and then turned to Olivia who had a tiny smile on her lips, her hand wrapped in a small fist underneath her jaw, her eyes focused on the car too.

"Girl," Amy's voice drew her attention back to her, "You're so so lucky." Her voice echoed in the large twelve car garage.

She meant it.

Olivia's smile grew wider.

"You mean he got you this? Just like that?" You wanted this precious to get in first didn't you?"

Olivia pursed her lips. She nodded slightly just as Amy went round the car again, still admiring it until she stopped right in front of Amy.

"When one door closes sis."

Olivia scoffed and then slowly pushed herself to the car so she could rest on it, folding her arms as a small frown covered her face, a frown Amy could see.

"It's not as easy as it seems."

"Why?" Amy leaned closer, "What's wrong?" She noticed the tiny glimpse of despair in her cousin's bright eyes. "Did anything happen during the trip?"

Olivia looked at her for a while and then exhaled. She didn't even know where to begin.

"The trip was perfect Amy, but it could have been better if my paranoia didn't get in the way again."

"Your paranoia?" Amy squinted her eyes, wishing she understood what Olivia meant. Olivia could see how hard it was for her.

"I still see him." She whispered to Amy, like she was scared of letting anyone else hear her. Amy lowered her brows. She needed more than that if she was supposed to get her. "Andrew. " Olivia offered to help her out.  "I still feel him, all the things he did to me."

"Till now?"

Olivia nodded.

"Olivia, it's been eight months since you moved on with Rafael and it's almost seven years since Andrew died."

"I know," she jumped in, rubbing her arms. "I know, it's just that the things he did to me, the things I went through, it's stopping me from being with Rafael, like really being with him."

"You mean like sex?"

Olivia shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes I mean like sex." She answered.
There was a two second silence before she went again. "We tried again yesterday."

Amy listened attentively. She wanted to hear all of it.

"And then I began to panic. I became so scared, so terrified. It was like with Andrew all over again."

"That's because you went through a rough deal with that animal you married." Amy slowly reached for her hands. "Anyone would do the same thing, feel the same way. It was traumatic."

"I know Amy but now I'm beginning to fear that I might actually chase Rafael away with whatever sickness this is." She stared into Amy's eyes so Amy could see the fear in them. "I'm scared that he might eventually get tired of me and my excuses."

"T-that's not possible."

"You don't know that."

"Olivia, Rafael loves you." Amy held on tight to her hands . "He loves you with all of his heart and we all can see it. You know it too. I'm sure he understands how hard this must be for you."

"That's the worst part. He understands. He's ready to wait for me, to help me get through with it and it's making me really scared that he might be waiting for a long time. What if someone else comes his way, someone that can satisfy him in ways I can't? I can't lose him, Amy." She squeezed Amy's hands, "I love him so much and I can't bear to lose him."

"That's because he makes you happy." Amy smiled, rubbing her arms. "Happier than I've seen you all your life, happier than you've ever been since you lost your family in that tragic incident."

Olivia exhaled.

"And I'm sure he feels the same way. Olivia," Amy looked into her eyes. "Rafael loves you more than you can imagine. He's not going to leave you because of this."

Olivia pouted her lips. She really wanted to believe what Amy had said.

"You've been seeing a doctor for the past five months, I think putting the past behind you is something you should do on your own from now on. It's something you have to decide on your own. Andrew is gone, Austin is gone, all your demons, all the people that have ever tried to hurt you are all beneath your feet right now. You have nothing to be scared or afraid of and it's all because of him, of Raphael. The man that stood by you when no one else could. Do you think he'd ever hurt you?"

"No." She shook her head. "Of course not. Rafael would never hurt me."

"And that's all that matters. Rafael is far from Andrew or Austin . He's a better man, a good man. He loves you and would never do anything to hurt you. He loves your daughter like she was his own, he adores the both of you. I think if you get to see and get used to that fact, this would not bother you anymore." Olivia fixed her gaze at her. "He loves you."

She let out a weak exhale. For the first time, Amy's blabbering was beginning to make a lot of sense. It made a lot of sense. She slapped Amy softly on her shoulders.

"Look at you giving me advice." She let out a smile. "Since when were you smarter than me?"

Amy scoffed.

"I've always been smarter than you." She pushed her slightly with her shoulder. "You just won't accept it."

She chuckled. Olivia chuckled too.