"Now I have to remember you for longer than I have known you."

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

Alex's POV

Anxious.

That's what that son of a bitch does to me. Since he came back into my life again, he just keeps me anxious, on my nerves, and so worried about him all the damn time.

Sometimes I feel like I am the older brother not him.

That one sure is a handful.

Ugh, I really feel like I hate him sometimes.

A frustrated breath pushed out of my lungs and I leaned back into my seat, my fingers twirling the pen in my hand, trying to get myself and concentrate on the task at hand rather than think about him and the words that left his mouth yesterday.

That damn look in his eyes, showed me that he gave up.

He is actually giving himself up to Isaac. After everything I've done, he just decided to turn his back and run to daddy dearest. Can I punch him? You know, just put his head through a wall, I won't cause much harm, I promise, I just want him to wake the fuck up and see how wrong everything about this is.

The sound of my office's door being opened snapped me back in, "Daddy!" Lilly said, sorry no screamed as she stumbled into my office, running toward me, Cara right behind her and trying to catch up with her, "Lilly, slow down!" She said in frustration.

I chuckled when Lilly ran up and jumped to my lap, "What are you doing here?" I asked, wrapping my arm around her little waist and pulling her up so she can sit comfortably before I leaned down and kissed her hair.

Her big innocent eyes flickered up to me and she smiled, "Mommy said I do trouble," She said, totally not bothered, "So, I am staying with you!" She added, emphasizing the you as she poked my chest with her finger.

My eyes lifted from her to Cara, who was holding Max in her arms, his little head resting over her chest. Her eyes narrowed at Lilly before they fell back on me, "I am so done with your kids," She said, with a very tired sigh.

I chuckled, "Now, they're my kids," I commented, my eyebrow raised addressing how when they cause trouble, they suddenly become only mine. I kept my arms around Lilly and stood up, I circled my way around the desk and toward Cara.

"I am gonna take Max to the doctor so-"

"Why? What's wrong?" I immediately asked, my chest tightened and my hand went to his cheek, checking if he is awake, his head turned at my touch and his beautiful eyes fell on me, an immediate half-toothless smile curved his lips and he made that baby sound that makes my heart melt.

He is such a calm little boy, the total opposite of Lilly. He does have his moments, where he keeps us awake all night long, but he weighs nothing in front of Lilly's wild side.

She shook her head, "Nothing, don't worry, it's just his usual check-up," She said and I breathed out a relieved sigh, "Okay, let me come with you."

"No, no," Cara shook her head again, "Just keep that one with you," She said, pointing at Lilly and glaring at her. On reflex, Lilly buried her face in my neck, hiding herself from her very angry mother.

"What did she do again?" I asked, unable to hold my chuckle, the situation pretty amusing from my side.

She shook her head, "Don't get me started," She said with a sigh and rubbed her hand over Max's back.

"Okay, at least let me take you, I will look after this one there."

"Katherine is coming with me to also check with Chase's doctor, and whenever those two are in the same place, they keep fighting and hitting each other," She explained, "So it's better if she stays here with you," She added and I nodded, agreeing with her before I looked down at Lilly in my arms, "Wanna stay with daddy?"

She nodded in excitement and wrapped her arms around my neck, totally satisfied with the news. My gaze drifted to Max and I couldn't help myself from leaning closer and kissing his very little head, "He is just so cute, wanna trade?"

Cara shook her head, "Nope," She said, still very angry at Lilly.

"I mean, you do look hot when you're angry, but calm down a bit," I said and she shot me a glare, my free hand went to her arm and I pulled her closer, "Give me some sugar," I mumbled and she couldn't help but chuckle at my cheesy sentence before she pressed her lips against mine in a very small kiss.

"Okay, I should go," She said, backing away, "Lilly, let your father work, don't disturb him," She ordered, ever so strictly and Lilly nodded her head.

When Cara left the office, I looked down at Lilly and my eyebrow raised, "What did you do to her?"

She shrugged ever so innocently before she pulled a gummy bear from the small bag in her hand that she was hiding away from Cara, and pushed it to my mouth, "Gummy bear?"

I took it from her with my mouth, pretending to bite her hand in the process and she laughed, "Who can stay angry at you, huh?" I asked, unable to handle how cute this little devil is.

Her big smile only widened, "Give me sugar," She said, mimicking my previous words before she ever so casually leaned in and kissed me.

I stared back at her, totally terrified at how she catches everything I do so fast, "Oh dear god, you gonna give me grey hairs when you grow up, aren't you?" I said, gulping down, and trying to push that thought to the back of my head.

When I sat back down, Lilly refused to sit anywhere else but on my lap as I carried on with my work. Ashton came and we discussed few things, he ruffled Lilly's hair before he left and she stared at his back with a glare as she ran her hand through her hair, "My wibbon," She commented, totally annoyed as she fixed her ribbon.

"It's a ribbon," I corrected her.

She nodded, "Yeah, wibbon," She added, totally confident in her word.

"Say R," I said.

"R," She said, pronouncing the letter correctly.

I nodded, "Okay, now say ribbon," I urged her and she said, smiling, "Wibbon!"

I sighed, "Okay, we can kiss Harvard goodbye," I mumbled before I get back to my work, while Lilly silently watched me type a few things over the keyboard. She turned her head from the computer's screen and to me, "Daddy?" She said, ever so softly.

"Yes, little bug," I mumbled as I continued typing the email.

"I wanna be like you," She said, grabbing my attention to her. Her innocent words had me smiling, "You wanna work like me?" I asked, understanding what she meant and she nodded her head multiple times, thrilled by the idea.

"Okay, I will make you an office right there," I said, pointing at the other end of my office, "And we'll work together, what do you say?"

"Yes!" She said, jumping up in excitement.

I fisted my hand and inched it closer to her, she did the same, "Fist-bump," she said and bumped her hand with mine.

I stared back at her with adoration. I don't know what I'd do without this little girl. Despite everything that happened and all that is still happening now, she and her little brother are my hope, the light paving my way and keeping me strong...giving me the will to fight.

The thought alone had me smiling, the solution I was searching for finally clicked, "Wanna go somewhere?" I asked.

Her eyebrows pulled closer, "Where?"

I turned down the laptop's screen and pulled my keys, "To see someone," I said and she stared at me, totally confused, "I couldn't change his mind, but you surely can."

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

Nikolas's POV

Exhaustion pulled down at my body as I turned off the car's engine and stayed seated in my place for a couple of seconds. I rubbed a hand over my face, air pushed in and out of my chest, all ragged and coarse. My brain slowly coming to terms with the fact that in less than two days, I will be back to the life I hate with a passion.

The same life that took everything from me. I am willingly walking back toward it again.

Just like when I was discharged from the asylum, all those years way back, the moment I stepped out, I was under Isaac's control. A puppet and he was the master, moving me according to his own rules and desires, right up till I drove that knife through his chest, killing him, saving both her and me...or so I thought.

I am going back to that life, under his roof, with...her in the same place again.

Anger rushed back with full force, mostly anger at myself, at my action, and at my stupid feelings that keep telling me how wrong all of this is. I opened the car's door and went down, trying to push all these feelings inside. Right when I was about to walk out of the parking lot, a familiar car came in and parked beside mine.

Great, just what I needed now, more guilt to feel, more of his words that could convince me to stay. I really don't need that right now.

I leaned against my car and crossed my arms over my chest, the muscles of my jaw worked when I heard him get down, "What are you doing here?" I asked, my eyes drifting to Alex, hoping he can sense how annoyed I was at the moment.

He shook his head, "Don't worry, I am not here to talk you out of it," He said, giving me a knowing look, "But I brought you someone who will," He added as he circled his way to the back seat and opened the door. Confusion drew my eyebrows closer as I straightened up and stared back at him, trying to understand what he meant.

"Come here, little bug," he said and I didn't need to think more when my eyes took notice of her little body when Alex pulled her out of the car seat.

My heart skipped a beat, "Where are w-" She was about to ask but when her gaze fell on me, she gasped, her eyes widening and she immediately ran toward me, "Daddy!"

On instinct, I crouched down to level up with her little body and she came crashing against my chest, her little arms wrapped around my neck and she squeezed. I couldn't understand how hard my heart was beating, my eyelids dropped down when her flowery scent brushed my nose and my arm went around her back, pulling her even closer.

I buried my nose in her hair, "What are you doing here?" I whispered and she slowly pulled away, she looked at me with a big genuine smile, "Daddy said -," She paused in her words, her eyebrows pulling closer, so confused, her eyes lost and her little brain trying to understand before she pointed at Alex, "Daddy Alis get me here," She explained.

I smiled, "You're making full sentences now?" My words were more like a statement rather than a question, amused at how much she actually grew up since...those days.

She nodded, "I am smart," She commented, so proud and I couldn't hold my chuckle back.

I tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded, "Yes, you are," I said, my voice low as my eyes took all of her in, her big innocent eyes, the brown in them is always so light, perfectly reflecting everything about her.

My gaze finally left her and went back to Alex, he had a small smile on his face and when I looked at him, he hid it and cleared his throat, "It's cold," He said, he inched closer and pulled Lilly's jacket hoodie over her head, "You gonna keep us waiting here or what?"

I pulled into a deep breath and got myself up, I knew what he was doing and the fucked up thing is, it was working.

Lilly looked up at me and offered her little hand to which I immediately took. Mine too big and consuming hers whole, I couldn't help but smile, even though she had grown up, she is still a small little thing.

Too delicate and pure...the only thing I didn't break. The one thing I didn't ruin or hurt, indirectly maybe when I took her from Alex, but that was before I even knew her. I didn't expect she'd have this much effect on me.

Who would've thought...

After she was born within a month or two, one day I walked into her room, curious as to the girl who was holding my mother's name, and there she was, in her little crib, so little, the littlest thing I've ever seen. She was fully awake, but silent, sucking on her little fingers and when she saw me, her legs kicked out excitedly, happy by the other presence in the room.

First look at her and I was a goner.

She kept tossing around, making weird incoherent baby sounds.

That was the first time my heart did something it hadn't done in ages. It skipped a beat.

It was a reflex maybe, but that day, for some reason, I leaned in and held her for the very first time. I didn't know how to, she was easily breakable, but I was too careful.

I was gentle, something I didn't excel at.

She looked at me, big brown eyes stared into mine for way too long and in the end...she smiled.

My heart did it again; one beat slower, one beat faster, and missed a beat in between.

That smile woke up in me someone who was asleep for a very long time; A little boy who was hiding from his attacker, who was missing his little brother...someone who was once good and alive.

Human.

That's what she made me feel.

It's what she still does.

My pulse raced as I stared down at her, her hand in mine, she was swaying left and right, singing something under her breath as I unlocked the door and let it glide open. She let go of my hand and rushed inside, her curious big eyes taking into her surroundings.

She stopped in the middle of the hallway and shook her head, she turned to me, her hands on her hips, not satisfied, "This is not your home!"

To her, my home was the one in London.

The thing is, it only felt like home when she was in it.

She turned around and resumed her exploring, going to the other rooms.

"There isn't guns or anything in display, is there?" Alex asked, worry cut lines over his forehead and he looked ready to rush after Lilly. I immediately shook my head, "If there is, I would've not let her go in so freely."

The house was clear in that sense, only because Natalie was staying here. I wanted her to feel safe, so I hid away all of my... equipment somewhere else.

He nodded in relief, his eyes drifting from Lilly back to me, "Why are you doing this, Alex?" I asked.

Why are you making it harder to just let go and give up?

"Look, I will never talk to you about this again, I will never tell you to stay if you just tell me that you are really ready to put all of this behind," He questioned, aiming for the part of me that cares, that hurts and feels pain, "That you are ready to put her behind and just leave?"

No. Never. That's why this is hard. I am not ready.

"Answer me, are you ready to give this up?" He stressed out, "I see the way you look at her, I understand that look," He added and I rubbed a hand over my burning throat, "Do you seriously want to give that up?"

I looked at him, and he stayed silent waiting for my answer, and I simply shook my head.

"Then fight Nikolas," He said, stressing it out, "Not for me, fight for her," He said, pointing at Lilly who finished her discovery and was walking back to us.

She pressed her palms over the couch and pulled herself up and to my side, "Fight for the man she saw as a father for two years."

I looked from her to him, "Yes, I hated you for that, god, you have no idea how much I hated you," He said, being brutally honest, "And if we gonna discuss every fucked up thing you have done, I would end up slamming your head against that wall because if you want me to be honest, yes, I can't handle us talking about her," he said, throwing in my face the words I used against him yesterday, "I can't forgive you for that," He shook his head, "Because it is not my place to forgive."

I looked down, my gaze drifting to my lap, out of words to say, what could I say?

Lilly inched closer to me and leaned over me. I looked at her as she comfortably placed her head against my arm, using me as her pillow as she pressed her fingers over my phone that she somehow grabbed, and is trying to open. I unlocked it for her and she gave me a wide appreciative smile before she went through it.

"Even if you did forgive me, even if she...somehow did," I mumbled, looking only at Lilly, unable to look him in the eyes as I added, "It's something I will never forgive myself for."

"If you want that to happen," He said, addressing my first sentence, "Then, you need to be someone worth forgiving, and that someone is in you, Nikolas, I know that because I see him," His words had me looking back at him, "Give him a chance, because he deserves to be fought for."

"What if I can't?"

"If I can look past everything and be here, if I can put aside the fact that you hurt the woman I love and support you, then you should be able to take a step forward as well and do this," He said, his words making so much sense.

If he is really strong enough to look past everything and be here for me, fighting for me, then maybe I should too. If not for me, for him. I looked down at Lilly who was watching some cartoons on my phone, at least for her.

I looked at him again, "I know you are exhausted, you had spent your whole life fighting, but this could be the last fight you'll ever have to take on," He explained and he left me speechless yet again, "But it's a fight you're gonna have to win," His eyebrow raised, "So, are you ready?"

My eyes went one more time to Lilly and I nodded my head, "I am."

One last fight.

A one I should win, because all of their lives is at stake if I don't.

Just one more fight. I can do that.

The corner of Alex's lips pulled up, satisfied, "Then, let's find a way to put Isaac down," He said, "Once and for all."

I nodded, "I will," My jaw tightened, just thinking of him drives me mad, he triggers that monster in me, "I will kill him, this time for real."

Alex agreed and before he could say more, his phone rang, he answered it and walked a bit away. I focused my attention back on Lilly, she sighed and pulled up from my arm, "Why you don't have Netflix?" She asked, very much bothered by the fact.

My eyebrows pulled closer, "What's that?"

She let out a sigh, an angry one, and pressed her palm over her forehead....was she facepalming at me? Oh my god, another Alex in my life....just what I needed.

Before I could say anything, Alex walked back, "Look, you're gonna stay here for the next couple of hours, right?" He asked and I shook my head, "Not really," Even if I am not giving up to Isaac, there are things I need to take care of, I still told him I am leaving, if I don't, hell will break loose.

"Yeah, yeah, you're staying," He said, dismissing my previous answer, "I have this meeting I should attend, so I am keeping Lilly with you, it's just an hour maximum," He added and I stared back at him, dumbfounded, "Wait...what?" I asked, "You gonna leave us alone?"

He nodded while typing something on the phone, "Yeah, even when you don't trust me, I still trust you," He said, throwing the information ever so casually, as if it wasn't some big deal.

I carefully backed away from Lilly and got up to my feet, "Alex, it is not that I don't trust you, it's-"

"It's that you think one day I would just give up on you, just like everyone else did," He added.

If my own mother did, why wouldn't anyone else do it as well?

He shook his head, "I won't, I am with you in this till the end of the line," His words held a promise, "I just hope one day you'll really believe in that."

He didn't leave me a chance to answer. His words left me all baffled and puzzled...how does he understand me so well?

How does he say all the right things?

What good did I ever do to deserve him back into my life again?

He looked at Lilly and kissed her head, "I will be back soon, you'll stay with Nikolas, is that okay?"

She lifted her eyes from the phone and to me, she nodded her head excitedly, "Yes," She said before her eyebrows pulled closer, "But daddy, he doesn't have Netflix?"

He chuckled and backed away, ready to head out, "Just give the poor girl some Netflix."

I sighed and wanted to throw my arms up in frustration, "I would if I know what it is!"

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

I didn't understand how two hours passed, but it did. So fast, too quick for it to be enough. It only made me realize how much I've missed this little girl, her words, her voice, and her smell. They pulled me into a whirlwind of emotions as she sat in my lap, watching that Netflix thing she asked me for. She would comment at everything, amazing me by how fast her brain works and how quick she catches on to everything.

Time passed, with just me and her, no one else, nothing else to interrupt our little moment.

She pulled the croissant from over the box and took a big bite, smudging chocolate all over her lips, "This is so good!" I stared at her as she ate with a big appetite, a smile on my face, and I couldn't help but remember someone else.

Natalie...she ate like this too, food made her smile and so very happy.

I took the napkin and wiped her mouth. I don't think I am ever equipped to fully take care of a child, but somehow with her, I manage.

"Daddy," She said, taking her last bite and turned to me, "I wanna ask something."

I nodded, ushering her to carry on. Her head tilted to the side, her eyebrow pulling closer and confusion radiated off her eyes, "How is my daddy is Alis and daddy is you too?" She asked, "I have two daddy?"

It was about time I clear it up for her, maybe she will understand, maybe she won't, I am not sure, "No princess, you have only one daddy and that's Alex," I said, my thumb brushed over the skin of her cheek, "As much as I love to hear that word coming from you," I shook my head, "It's not my right."

She still stared at me, beyond confused, "You can call me Nik, what do you think?"

She blinked, "Nik?"

I nodded, "Yeah, is that okay?"

She shrugged, "Okay," She looked at the box and tried to pull another pastry, but she couldn't reach it.

I took one and inched it closer to her mouth and she chewed on it. Her satisfied gaze went from her food and to me, "Daddy," She winced, "I mean Nik," She said, smiling as she inched closer and leaned against my arm, "I love you."

My inside calmed when I rested my cheek over her head, my arm around her waist, pulling her even closer, "I love you too," I mumbled. I love her more than I ever thought myself capable of.

I heard the door open, and I knew it was Alex because he is the only one with a key, and he doesn't shy away from barging into my house every time he pleased.

When he came into view, his eyes first fell on Lilly, probably making sure she is alive while under my supervision.

"What are you making her eat?" He asked, suspiciously eyeing the big box of pastry placed in front of her.

"She said she wanted sugar, so we went and she picked up these from the store," I answered, innocently.

The corner of his lips pulled up in a smile, "What did she tell you exactly?"

My eyebrows drew together, "Give me sugar?"

For some unknown reason, Alex laughed at that before he walked and sat by Lilly's side, "Did she kiss you after that?"

I nodded, still not understanding.

That made him chuckle yet again, before he pulled an arm around her and pulled her closer, "Okay you can't use that sentence anymore!" He said, in a warning and she just gave him a cheeky innocent smile.

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

"So, you're still gonna go?" Alex asked, glaring at me.

I shook my head, "I will, but for a totally different reason this time," I explained, "Isaac now believed that I am giving up to him, he knows how terrified I am of anyone getting hurt, so I will go to London, play his little game and do what we are not able to do from over here," I remarked, "Figure out his weakness," He must have one, "He knows all of my mine, it's about time I figure his out."

"The closer I am to him, the better, it will give us the lead, know what he is up to, what he's dealing on under the tables," I explained and Alex agreed, understanding my motives, "I am not going because I am giving up, I will be going to have this one last fight with him."

He nodded, "But what if he figured it out?" He asked, rubbing a hand over his chin, "That you're just playing him? He always seems to be a step ahead of us."

"I am gonna have to follow his orders there, everything he says, no matter what," He knows what that meant, innocents getting hurt and whatnot, "Once I prove my loyalty," I wanted to roll my eyes at the word, "Or that I am really on his side, I will be able to get into his mind, if we just figure him out, we can come up with a plan."

That's the thing with Isaac, I don't fully understand him, while he...he knows me like an open book.

He sighed and nodded, "It does make sense, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

"It's better than me giving up for real."

"That's for sure."

"Anyway, I want to uh-" I rubbed a hand over the side of my neck and looked away, "I want to ask a favor."

He nodded, "Yeah, what?"

"Can you keep an eye on Natalie when I am not here, like just check up on her every once in a while," I mumbled, my voice low and I regretted saying the words when I noticed the big smile creeping up his face.

He nodded, "Yeah, sure, of course, I am gonna check up on my sister-in-law, what do you think of me?"

I shot him a glare to which his smile only widened, I pushed out an annoyed breath from my nose, "Stop giving me that look," I said.

He leaned back into his seat, "Oh, I am never gonna stop giving you this look till I hear the words - I do," He added, ever so casually, building his dream on a very shaky ground.

"Anyways, you plan on seeing her before leaving?" He asked, the conversation getting him so happy...why is he interested in my love life this much, or the lack of it?

"I saw her yesterday."

He shook his head, "No, I mean actually seeing her," He said, "You're leaving in a couple of days, like go on a date or something," He sighed, "Do I really have to teach you everything, are you really this much stupid?"

I didn't know that by deciding to fight I will be getting insults on a daily basis...

"I don't know," I mumbled, the thought of seeing Natalie again before leaving did feel appealing.

He let out a loud sigh and he sat forward in his seat, "You know Chase, right? Five years old, this much tall," He placed his hand in the air in front of him, emphasizing how short, "Yet I am sure he knows how to pick up girls better than you!"

I shot him a glare, again with the insults.

"Okay, here is what you can do, but you better follow what I say, exactly like I say it if you want to get laid."

Yeah, so not happening.

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

Natalie's POV

My gaze flickered to the big clock on the wall and I let out a small sigh of defeat. Usually, when the clock hits this time, I would be waiting for Nikolas to arrive to his sessions. He would come late as always, I would be so annoyed that I will indirectly scold him, he would use that as an excuse to cancel our sessions, and I would have to clarify it to his stupid brain and we'd go on from there.

Ah, the good old days...

I can't believe that yesterday would mark the last time I'd see him. It didn't make sense, for his tall overbearing hot presence to walk into my office, turn my life upside down, make me question every belief I have, and then just...leaves.

It wasn't fair.

He was my unsolved mystery...a one I was thriving to unravel, but he didn't give me the time I needed.

Is it weird if I say that I miss him? His stupid glares? His annoyed stares when I start talking too much? His soft gentle lips...his beautiful eyes. I miss all of him.

I pulled into a disappointed breath and got to my feet, no more waiting for Mr. grumpy pants anymore. That sure left a bitter taste in my throat. I was so stupidly getting used to him and his presence.

I took off my glasses and placed them on the desk. I gathered my things and right when I was about to reach for my coat, I heard a low knock on my door.

Considering I've been chased down with guns over the past days, the knock had me take a step backward but then I shook myself out of it, of course, a killer won't politely knock on the door first.

The door opened before I could say a thing and his sight had me sucking into a deep breath. Did I start hallucinating? My eyes widened, do I want him so bad that I've started imagining him? Jesus Christ Natalie, you are in too deep, way too early.

He stepped into my office, all tall and handsome, he was wearing a suit, but without a tie, my favorite. His white shirt unbuttoned at the top, giving me a clear sight of the scar running down from his neck and down there.

"Hey," He said, his voice a bit low, and my eyes lifted up to his face, they started from his full soft lips, a beautiful ripe for kissing, then up till they fell into his eyes.

And god, those eyes, I will never do them justice with words only.

The forest, the wilderness, the danger, and behind all that, something so soft and bright, like the hue of the new spring growth. There were flecks of strength, because he wasn't weak, no, he was in pain, there was a difference.

"Hey," My voice came so low, trying to not get pulled into his consuming presence, "You're really here, right?" I asked, just making sure, "I am not imaging stuff now, am I?"

One corner of his lips turned up the tiniest bit, and then, after a few seconds, that one side gave a full rise to the other corner, this small smile, this is what's pulling me deeper and deeper. He edged forward, his eyes drifting around and falling on the windows that were once shattered into pieces, "I see they did good with the place," He commented.

I nodded and twirled the bracelet over my wrist ever so nervously, "Yeah, thanks to you," He fixed what he broke. Is that what he does? If I keep looking into his eyes any longer, is he going to break me...would he fix me right after?

I shook my head, still unable to understand, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"Huh?"

Excuse my answer but he really said that, right? I am not having a stroke or something, am I?

I gulped down and took a step toward him, "You wanted to see me?"

His eyebrows pulled closer, trying to make sense of my shocked state and he nodded his head, "Yeah."

"Why?"

He shrugged, "The house kind of felt...empty without you."

"Okay, I think I am gonna pass out," I mumbled, searching for something to hold into, but I found nothing but his arm, I rested my fingers over his arm and my eyes narrowed at him, "Who are you?" I asked, suspiciously, "And where is Nikolas? True he was always so rude and annoying and very grumpy but I want him back."

My words had that smile lifting his lips again and he looked away for a second before he let his gaze fall back on me, "Are you done?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I only shrugged and right when I thought my grumpy Nikolas was back, he knocked me off my feet with his next words, "Do you want to go...somewhere, you know like to eat or something?"

My eyes grew wide again, "You're..." I cleared my throat, "You're asking me out?"

He nodded.

"On a...date?" I added. OH, MY POOR HEART.

He nodded again.

I pulled on the challenging act, "What if I said I have other plans?"

That was enough to break that smile and the muscles of his jaw tightened. He shook his head, "That's not an option."

Oh dear god...

I couldn't fight my smile anymore, it broke into my face, way too happy and giddy at the fact he is actually asking me out, on a date, not an experiment one... a real one.

"Okay," I said, nodding my head.

I am too desperate for him and his company. No way I am refusing this.

That had his face relaxing, "Get your coat, then."

With my heart beating a thousand miles per second, still trying to understand how I thought I was never gonna see him yet he is here in my office, I grabbed my coat. I wore it and took my hair tie out, letting my hair fall all over my shoulders. I tried to fix it whichever way I can. I wished he told me before, I would've prepared myself at least.

I walked back to him and his eyes flickered all over my face, the smile came back, the one that makes him look so relaxed, so beautiful and peaceful...what has gotten into him? what changed since last night?

He leaned closer and fixed a strand of my hair that was probably pointing outside, "You look so beautiful," He said, out of the blue and I choked on my saliva, my eyes widening again, not caring to hide my shock, "Did you just compliment me?"

He nodded, "Someone told me I should compliment a girl before a date."

I smiled, knowing I am that someone, "She seems like a really wise person," I teased, "You should listen to her more often!"

He shook his head, his hand over my lower back as he led my way, "Yeah, that's not happening," He said.

He looked so composed, like he didn't break down a bit in front of me just yesterday, "You look different," I couldn't but say as we waited for the elevator.

"You're not dying, are you?" I questioned, "Because it would be a total waste of good genes."

And the look I was searching for was finally back, the you-annoy-me-but-I-have-to-tolerate-you-because-you-are-cute look, yeah, I love that look.

"I just want today to be about...today and nothing else," He said, his tone a bit more serious, "Without the past controlling me, or tomorrow holding me back," He explained, "I am still leaving," he said what I was wondering about and I couldn't help the tightness over my chest under the new's impact, "And I want to-" He stared into my eyes, "To stay connected with this part of me no matter what."

"So tonight, you are just Nikolas and I am just Natalie?" I asked, understanding his little innocent motive.

He nodded, "When we step out of this building, you'll leave the psychologist Natalie behind," He said, "And I will be leaving...that Nikolas behind," He added, referring to the bad parts of him, "No past, no future, no people trying to kill us, no my father, nothing else."

"Just you and me, deal?"

I nodded, "One night only?"

He nodded, "One night."

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

It was a light and short chapter, just a little break away from all the heartbreak happening in both books.

So if you've read the latest chapter of "Blue Ribbon", I can finally say:
THIS BOOK IS REAL. THESE THINGS HAPPENED WITH ALL OF THEM BEFORE THE TIMELINE OF BLUE RIBBON.

So, enjoy!

We have a long way ahead of us *wink wink*

Did Nikolas have his happy ending? Did he marry Natalie? Does he have kids? Does max have a half-sibling? Is he and Cara finally on good terms? These are all questions you asked, just don't worry, it all will be answered with time ;)

Anyways, can you imagine young Lilly telling Chase give me sugar and trying to kiss him while he pushes her away, so very annoyed...yeah I can totally imagine that! xD

Oh the good old days, when they were young and innocent.

Also, totally not edited, I didn't even proof read it, I am gonna go to sleep, I will edit later!

See ya in Blue Ribbon later!
Love ya all!