**Hi guys. I'm so sorry I've literally disappeared off the face of the earth. I just started my next semester of nursing school this week and I'm already behind and I have like four projects due in a matter of a couple of weeks on top of clinicals, class, and studying. I'm going to try and update again today after I get some studying done. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Please leave me comments on what you think!**

Roxie's POV

"Can we please talk?" he asked. I cleared my throat and stood. Not wanting to make a scene, I slowly made my way up the stairs to me and Jedrek's bedroom. I could hear his footsteps following close behind me. Once in the room, he closed the door behind him. I could see him waiting for my attention in my peripheral vision, but I wasn't sure I could look at him. I meandered over to the window sill, watching the first snow of the winter begin to come down in big fluffy flakes.

"Roxanne-"

"It's Roxie," I shot back, practically snarling at him. "Only mom ever called me by my first name and you know that."

"It's been a long time," he ignored my comment, pulling a sarcastic snort from me.

"You know," I began, disregarding his words as he'd just done to me, "for the past four and a half years, the only thing I've ever wanted from you was to have a genuine conversation. Just you and I talking like we used to. Funny how when I'm suddenly presented with the opportunity, I realize it's the farthest thing from what I want anymore," I spoke, my eyes not wavering from the falling snow.

"I'm sorry," he finally said after a few minutes of silence.

"For what?" I barked out. "Turning your back on me when I was grieving the loss of my best friend and mother? Turning your back on her just months after her death? Remarrying the fucking reincarnation of the wicked witch of the west? Choosing your new wife over your own daughter? Or the best yet, choosing her daughter over me. Over and over and over again," I growled, my voice rising with my anger.

"Roxie-"

"And when I lost Jedrek, too, you were nowhere to be found! You didn't give a single shit about me or my wellbeing! I withdrew from life and you didn't even notice! And just to add salt to the wound, you never even tried to contact me after I up and disappeared!" I screamed. He swallowed hard before clearing his throat.

"I saw that you were hurting, but I didn't know how to handle it. Your mother was always the one to deal with the emotional side of things-"

"Really? That's the excuse you're going with? What about the last time we spoke on the phone before the wedding, huh? You know, when you told me to 'get over' Jedrek picking Tori over me? What about then? Or demanding that I come to the fucking wedding - of which the groom was the love of my life - is that something you read about in a parenting 101 book? Does that sound like something mom would've done?" I snarled.

"I've been an awful father..." he stated, wringing his hands together while fidgeting back and forth from foot to foot.

"Well isn't that the understatement of the year," I whispered so quietly I wasn't sure if he would even be able to hear me. He looked at a loss for words, something that made my chest ache.

"So that's it? That's all you've got to say to me?" I husked out, dropping down onto the built-in bench next to me. "No explanation for why you allowed Sandra to treat me the way she did. No explanation for why you forgot about mom so quickly."

"Her loss was just as hard on me as it was on you," he hissed as if he was offended by my words. "Sandra made me feel...important."

"Well I'm glad to know that while she was making you feel important, she was doing everything in her power to make me feeling like nothing," I stuttered out as my lower lip began to quiver, unable to believe the shit that was spewing from his mouth.

"I don't think there's anything I could say now that you would be satisfied with," he meekly replied after a long silence.

"I guess I can appreciate the consistency you've maintained," I snarked back, "you haven't done anything but disappoint me since I was a teenager. I'm not sure why I thought you would change. You are, however, wrong about nothing you could say satisfying me. Tell me, how did Sandra react when she found out about her precious daughter's pending charges?" I questioned.

"We're speaking with a few lawyers to try and figure things out," he responded, eyeing me cautiously.

We. Not she or her. We.

"Unbelievable," I rasped out, feeling my eyes well up with tears. "After everything, you're still taking their side," I cried. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but I cut him off. "Tell me one last thing," I sniffled, "did you know about the contract that kept Jedrek and I apart?" I asked. He hesitated for a moment.

"Not at first-" he began, but I couldn't bear to hear another word.

"That's enough," I cut him off, feeling as if my heart was beyond the point of shattering. "I want you to turn around, walk out my front door, and never come back. I never want to hear or speak to you ever again."

"Roxie, I'm your father!" he rushed out, eyes panicked.

"Your name is on my birth certificate, but you're not my father. I wonder what mom would say if she could see you now. If she knew about what you've done..." I trailed off. "Leave," I stated with finality a few moments later, but he didn't move a muscle.

"Jedrek!" I hollered.

"Roxie, I'm your father!" he repeated, this time the words came out with more aggression.

"That title means as little to me as I do to you," I spat, watching my words truly sting him.

"Yes, baby?" Jedrek spoke right as he opened the bedroom door.

"I want him gone," I stated with no room for argument, giving my father one last look before Jedrek gave him a glare that said 'move it, asshole'.

"We're so proud of you," Khloe and Ivy said at the same time as they entered the bedroom. They probably had a very good idea of how the conversation between Robert and me went based on Jedrek escorting him out and my teary eyes. I let them envelop me in a warm embrace, soaking up all of their love as I pushed away my earlier feelings.

**

"I just need to do a little stretch and then we can get moving," I mumbled while leaning against Jedrek's truck, using it for balance as I extended my back to try and relieve the pressure there.

"I still don't like this, Roxie Girl," Jedrek grumbled worriedly. I snickered quietly before giving up on my back - there was no hope for relief anytime soon.

"I still have two months left before this baby pops out, okay? We're only going to be here for two days max. Then we can get back home safe and sound," I reassured him for what felt like the billionth time. When my foot finally healed up enough for my doctor to clear me for extended periods of walking, I made Jedrek take me back to Texas.

It's been a very long time since I've visited my mother's grave - something that's been silently eating away at me every day. Jedrek had been completely against the road trip - understandably so with me now being seven months pregnant - but it was something I had to do. I let him set whatever rules he wanted for the trip and told him I would faithfully abide them if that's what it took.

And now, we were here. My heart kicked up in my chest as a lump of emotion settled in the base of my throat.

"Are you ready, baby?" Jedrek asked, obviously having seen a look of emotion cross my face. I just nodded, unable to speak. He slipped his hand into my own and walked at my pace throughout the cemetery. My legs grew shakier as my mother's grave came into sight. I released a shaky breath when we came within ten feet of the headstone. I noticed there was a big bouquet of fresh flowers in the vase next to it.

"I'll give you some privacy," Jedrek murmured into my ear before giving my butt a gentle pat. I nodded slowly before taking step after step towards the small patch of land. I sighed as I placed my hand on the top of the cool marble slab with my mother's name engraved in it. I carefully lowered myself to the ground and maneuvered into a comfortable position - something easier said than done when you're sporting a belly as big as mine.

"Hi, mommy," I crooned, my voice wavering. "I'm so sorry it's been so long. I've missed you so much it hurts," I cried softly. "I wish you were here with me. I wish you could meet this baby. I feel like I'm going to fail at this whole 'being a mom' thing. If you were here, I know you would tell me what to do. You always gave the best advice," I sniffled. My throat started to tighten, making talking too hard. I leaned forward and rested my arms on the top of her stone, pressing my face onto them so I could cry without anyone seeing me. Sobs wracked my body as I let the ache of her being gone envelope my body.

A few moments later, I heard a fluttering in my ear right before I felt a tickle on my arm. I glanced up, shocked to see a robin had landed and was perched on my arm.

"Robins were your mother's favorite bird," Jedrek whispered while coming up behind me. He lowered himself onto the ground behind me, careful not to scare the bird away.

"She always loved their orange bellies," I spoke. The bird cocked its head at me before giving my arm a light peck. I sniffled before slowly reaching my opposite hand up and carefully placed a single finger atop the robin's head. It leaned into my touch as I pet it.

"She always said she would be watching over you," Jedrek murmured against the back of my head before giving the top of my head a kiss. The bird chirped a few times before fluttering away moments later. I grasped my locket between my fingers and stroked the jewelry lovingly as I pressed the palm of my hand over my mother's name on her headstone.

"I love you to the moon and back," I murmured before kissing my hand and pressing it against the headstone one more time. I had to have Jedrek's help getting up from the ground as my joints protested in pain. Giving one last backward glance, I swore I saw my mother standing there waving, a big smile on her face. My knees almost buckled beneath me, but Jedrek kept me upright until I could regain my bearings. Once back inside the truck and pulling away, I watched her headstone slowly fade until I couldn't see it anymore.

"My parents are really happy we could make it for Christmas," Jedrek spoke, lightening the mood. I smiled and nodded, glad I wasn't going to be spending the holiday alone as I imagined I would be earlier in the year.

"Jedrek, who were the flowers from?" I asked, knowing he would know exactly what I was talking about.

"My mother. She took over for me when I moved to be with you permanently. Ever since you left, I've visited once a week with a dozen pink roses just like you used to," he explained almost sheepishly. I don't know why the revelation shocked me. Jedrek was, and always would be, one of the most amazing men I'd ever met.

"I love you so much," I rasped out, leaning over to kiss him deeply as he pulled up to a red light. He returned the kiss, only breaking away from my lips when the car behind us honked due to the light turning green.

I continued to stare at him as he pulled away and focused all his attention on the road.

If there was one thing I was certain of, it was that I was never going to let this man go ever again. Not for anything in the world.