Chris's POV-

The new house was nice, it was bigger with a lot more space. I am thinking of buliding Raiya a proper playground and maybe a pool too.

Faith was currently at work. She had called me to inform that she would be late as there was a last minute appointment.

Raiya's birthday was yesterday. It was so good , my kid laughed a lot, she was dressed up in this Hermione Granger costume and was also carrying that little time stopper.

Faith had totally pulled off the theme. The cake was so good.

I didn't know how she managed to do it but she had even got our pets those costumes.

Raiya was now 8. It has been almost 5 years since Rayanna left us.

Sometimes I wonder how life would be if that tragedy wouldn't have occurred in our lives.

I had not noticed when Bear came and was wagging his tail in my face.

I shook my head and laughed.

"You are hungry? Aren't you buddy? I saw you were even stealing food from Moose's bowl. Don't do that again or else Moose will literally train you how to be a good dog."

The pup just barked and licked me. For some reason , this one followed me around everywhere.

Tristan had given him as a b'day gift to Raiya but everyone said that I was his number 1 human.

I pulled out the mini chicken from the fridge and placed it in the bowl as Bear waited for me.

I sat across him and just watched. His ears flapped a bit and twisted his head side ways as if he was curious.

It was adorable.

" So, are you having your meal with Bear too, because I have some Chinese food with me? I can eat it by myself because this is honestly very cute."

I looked to see Faith standing near the door. She had clicked a picture and a smile was there on her heart shaped lips.

"Hey, you came early?"

I got up and placed the chicken near Bear who was more than happy to devour.

"Yeah, that appointment got cancelled. I'll be meeting the kid tomorrow. So, I got some Chinese and came home to eat it with my daughter and husband."

I smiled when she said husband. I don't know why it made me happy. It's silly because that's what I am to her so it shouldn't really sound that miraculous to me.

"Well, it would be just you and I then, because Raiya is having a sleepover with Maisie and Sonia tonight."

She frowned.

"Oh no! I specially got this orange chicken for her. The kid is never home these days. "

She sighed dramatically. I laughed.

"I like orange chicken too, Faith. As for the next part, that's the thing with kids Faith, they grow up too fast. You have to let them become their own person. They get curious, they explore. You just have to guide them with it."

I sighed and then looked at her. She was smiling at me.

"She is growing up too fast. Next thing we know, there's highschool and university and what not."

" Yeah, that's why people have more kids. One is never really enough."

I laughed then stopped. She was looking at me.

"I mean, you know..I don't.."

She laughed.

"Chris, it's alright. We can discuss that whenever you are ready. I don't mind more kids too."

She winked and passed me my plate.

I followed her in our living room.

Her words kept ringing in my head. I don't know if more kids right now would be appropriate. We are just getting to know eachother.

One thing is for sure, I don't want Raiya to be an only child. Maybe, after she turns 10 or so, Faith and I could plan something.

"Still thinking?"

I looked at her. This women read me too well.

"I am. I want more kids too Faith, wouldn't mind having a son to play football or another daughter to pamper. But, we are getting to know eachother now. Aren't we?"

I removed the trace of hair that kept flickering across her cheeks.

She smiled.

"We are."

I hadn't realised how easy it is to talk to Faith now. I feel like I can talk to her about anything.

Maybe, I can talk to her about that night soon. I think it's important she knows.

I feel like I am ready now.

"Hey, by the way, I was thinking of taking Sonia to our Scandinavian trip too. I mean, her and Raiya have became so close, also I feel Daphne deserves a break. She just moved, has a new house, a new shop, also there are some problems between her and Tristan."

I smiled at her.

"Of course. I won't mind getting to know my only niece. Till now, it was Tristan who spoilt and pampered my kid, it's my turn now. Watch how I teach her ways to annoy her dad."

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"You guys are..just too much. Ok, so I'll ask Daphne and Tristan, and then Sonia if they are ok with it. Then we have to pack, there's so much to do. Oh my god, did Raiya complete her Maths homework? She has been whining about it since last night, did she do it?"

Talk about the change of mood.

"Yes, don't go on all panic mode now. I made her do her homework before dropping her off. Kid hates numbers."

"Don't I know about it. I hate math too."

"Like mother like daughter."

She was smiling at me.

"Thank you, I mean you said it..I just.."

I stopped her midway.

"Look, Raiya lost her mother when she was barely 3 years old. I never considered getting married again, it never crossed my mind until the custody battle. It had been just her and I for a while and then, you came along. There have been so many good changes I have noticed in our lives. She is completely taken with you, you never treated her like a step parent, it was like she was your own. I can't thank you enough. You are Raiya' mother."

She was crying. Her lips wobbled.

I slowly removed our plates and let her straddle me. I think it was the first time, I felt natural, like really natural about this.

She kept crying slowly. I just let her.

"I barely know my parents, Chris. I have been so scared if I would be able to do this with Raiya, one of the reasons why I became a child counselor was so that I could know kids, how to be around them. It has never been easy, you know, when Lucas was born, Dave and Grace let me hold the kid first. I was the one who held him when he came out, I think they know that I fear this, motherhood.."

I wiped her tears.

"You are doing great with Raiya. I couldn't have asked for a better mom for her, if not Rayanna then it's only you, no not as a replacement, don't ever take me wrong. But as some who can love her the way she deserves."

"Thank you, this means a lot. Thank you."

I slowly took her hand in mine.

"Have you talked to James? Is he ready to .."

She sighed.

"No and honestly, I don't think I even want to know now. Grace doesn't want to know that is for sure, yes we are so mad at him.He missed out on so much, we missed out on so much. But meeting him again, I see that he hasn't changed a bit. He is the same big brother I know, love and have missed. Right now, I am just happy to see him, be a part of his life. Whenever he is ready, I'll be there."

"You guys are really matured.Trust me Tris, Nysa and I, we would have beat each other so bad the world would question, our parents would disown us too."

She laughed loudly.

"So, tell me now, after Rayanna, when was the last time you dated?"

She looked at me and was about to say something when I stopped her.

"It's ok. I knew this would be coming, infact we should have talked about all this before.Well, there had been some people after one year of her passing away. Last time was probably, two weeks before we met. She was a violinist. We met at a wedding, went out twice. Didn't really click as she never called back, neither did I."

" Wow. Maybe she was waiting for your call, I mean girls tend to get nervous. It was only the second date."

"Yeah,maybe. But then Katya decided to just shock the daylights out of us, so I never got the chance to even think about anything else. It was a bit of an asshole move, I know that. No one likes to be stood up."

"Yep. It was. No excuses, there."

I sighed.I had none.

"So, what about you? You have never told me about any of your relationships too."

She giggled.

"Relationships..ah right. So, I have only ever been with three guys before. One of them was a highschool boyfriend, so it wasn't really serious. Had one serious relationship, broke up because he decided to sleep with the professor in college. It was a scandal. The third guy, well it was more of an on-off thing. We are still friends I think, haven't talked to him since an year though. He moved to London for research."

I just stared at her.

"So you are telling me someone as pretty as you has just dated three guys before."

She laughed.

"On the contrary, yes. If you don't count blind dates or some stupid Tinder dates. "

"Hard to digest,really."

"Well, you just have to believe it. "
"So, I was thinking maybe we could go out for a sail sometime. I mean, have you been a on boat? Before?"

She shook her head.

"I love swimming, haven't been on a boat before though."

"Well, so do you want to go tomorrow? You know, dad owns a boat."

"Woah really? We can?"

"Yes, if you want to."

"Of course, I mean yes. That would be so fun."

"Alright, so we will have to wakeup early morning tomorrow  and then we can go sailing at the Old Mill Park, it's more serene than the River Marina"

"Yes. I have heard about it from some colleagues. I am so excited, how long have you been sailing..I mean.."

"Well, since I was 3 or so. Dad always took us out for boating when we were in Texas too, we camped, had barbecues,it was fun. He actually got a boat when we got here, after his retirement."

"Must be wonderful, going out on camps, boating. You know, when Grace, I and James were kids, our dad took us to parks. Mom was also nice, you know. She took us for Sunday Church, helped with homework, was good at baking..I still don't know what went wrong. They just abandoned us. Sent money, but it's never been the same. Haven't seen them in three years. I think they don't even know of our marriage."

Faith had a pretty difficult childhood. She was the youngest, had been the least around her parents out of all three. James has told me all about their childhood. Hearing it from Faith, just gave me a clearer picture.

"You don't have to worry now, Faith. You have found your brother back. Grace is also there, then Dave and your nephews. You have Raiya and I too. We are all your family."

She smiled and kept her head on my chest.

"I like this a lot."

I smiled and just hugged her close.

"You are not the only one.

So after 123456789 days of not updating, I am here.

Forgive me for my absence* inserts sorry face*

Writer's block can be bit*h.

I think I will keep the updates more frequent now, I will try atleast.

Until next time
Love you all
WimpieKid:)