Waking up to Ray, giggling was the best thing in the world, especially today Christmas and my present was lying right beside me. I asked for half the day off yesterday after the incident with my dad and I always had Christmas off because it was Ray's birthday. "Good morning baby"

"Morning momma"

I smile at her kissing her forehead, "Happy birthday Ray. I love you."

"I wove you too momma"

Laying in bed with her for a couple of minutes, just snuggling, playing around. Before getting up out of bed I for her bathroom, "Come in we have to go pick up Aunty Ellie from the airport."

"Yay!!" She said splashing some water on me from her bubble bath. Thirty minutes later we were standing in front of Ellie's gate "Momma, look..."

Ellie was stepping through the gate, "Auntie Ellie!!"

"Ellie!! Over here!!"

A huge smile formed on her face and she ran over to us pulling the both of us into a tight hug."I miss you guys."

"We missed you too."

Ray jumped out of my arms into hers, "Hey Sammi!"

Ellie always called Ray by her middle name because she said it was more unique because everyone called her Ray. I grabbed her bags while she held onto Ray, and made our way back to my car "How was the flight?"

"Tiring, but after seeing this little angel, I'm okay."

"It's so nice to see you, Ellie, I've missed you so much."

"Me too, I wanted to come sooner but work at UMDA is piling up on me."

"I was actually thinking about visiting you, in California. Just to revisit memories, visit moms grave."

"You should!!" Ellie said smiling, "You could stay with me."

"I can't if I have more than two days off I will literally go crazy when I came back. They pile files on my desk."

Her smile fell, "How was the encounter with Cage?"

"Ugh, don't get me started first I met him at Granny's then, he showed up to Daylight and has the nerve to act like I remembered how he liked his coffee."

"Does he know about Rayna?"

"No, I didn't tell him the first time he asked, then he flew out Dove and she was beginning toa dd to and to together so I came up with a lie and said that her father was a police offer who died during a shoot out. He was a one-night stand."

Ellie looked at me with a bored look, "What?"

"You suck at lying Annah, Cage probably read through that lie right away, Dove is stupid that's why she probably bought it."

"I don't not!!" I let out a heavy breath, "I also saw my dad at the merger meeting."

"No way," Ellie said sipping at her coffee, "What happen?"

"Nothing, I ignored him and then he provoked me so I said some not so nice things to him and walked out."

I pulled into Granny's driveway and helped Ellie with her bags while she got Ray out of the car "Granny, look who's here!!"

Granny came running, well speed walking to the door, "Ellie!!"

"Hi, Granny!!"

"I miss you so much, Sweetheart."

"I miss you too !!"

"Well now that you are here, freshen up and come help me make my famous gingerbread Cage is no help." Ellie laughed

"Just give me a few minutes Granny, I'll be right out." She handed me, Ray, over and grabbed the bags from me.

"Happy birthday Princess," Granny said kissing her cheek

"We'll help you until Ellie gets out."

"Alright, the more the merrier."

Smiling at Ray, I put her down, letting her run towards the kitchen "Momma come"

"Coming Ray, I'm coming."

Rushing behind her, I run into something hard closing my eyes I wait for the impact but someone quickly pulls me up before I hit the ground, "I got you Savy, you can open your eyes."

. . . Flashback . . . 

"Come on you have to go on this rollercoaster with me," Cage said dragging to the long ass line for the tallest rollercoaster I have ever seen. I have never been good with heights and he knows that.

"Cage, no this is not funny, I don't want to go on it," I said trying to pull my arm out of his grip.

"I'm not joking, either come on. I'll be with you nothing will happen."

He held me in place in the line, I struggled against him starting to panic a little "Cage, please. I'll go on any other ride with you but just not his rollercoaster. Please."

He smiled down at me, pulling me closer, and peck my lips "I got you don't worry."

Knowing I wasn't going to win, it turns around and ignores him. Ever since I was younger I hated heights and roller coasters have always been a no go.

"Let's go," He said pulling me into the seat beside him, but I didn't say anything to him. Just sat down with my eyes closed tightly gripping the handlebars as the roller coaster shot forewards

"Savy," I shook my head "Savy, open your eyes."

I grip onto his hand still not opening my eyes as the cart shot up faster "Open your eyes, I got you Savy."

. . . Present . . .

His words gave me comfort back then, but now all I felt was rage. I push him aside and enter the kitchen. I could only ignore him; he didn't deserve my love, my wrath, or my attention. "Momma's here, Granny."

"What took you so long?"

"Nothing Granny, she just has trouble walking straight." Cage said walking in

Biting my tongue, stopping myself from saying anything to him I just smile, "What do you need help with Granny."

"Step the table with Cage Please, while Ray and I decorate the cupcakes. The staff will be here soon."

Nodding I grab the plates and napkins, "You grab the glasses."

Beginning to set the table, I ignore Cage's presence "You know ignoring me isn't going to solve anything."

"Did you get the glasses?" I said completely ignoring his comment.

"So you work at Daylight? How long?"

"Yes, I work at Daylight. It's been about a year."

"How did you meet Granny?"

Rolling my eyes at him, I say "I don't see how that's any of your business Cage. Just help me set the table and stop trying to talk to me."

"I was just-"

"You don't have the right to ask." I snap at him "Just don't talk."

"Momma, momma" Ray said running into the dining room "Look!"

It as a beautifully decorated cupcake, "That's so pretty Ray. Good job."

She smiles, showing off her cute little dimple on her right cheek "Look, Hero."

Hero? Cage leaned down on his knees, "That's amazing Raya. Good job."

He's a hero? My fucking foot. "Ray! Go into the kitchen please." Without another thought, she left the room, "Hero?"

"We were giving each other nicknames." Cage said smirking at me "I call her Raya and she calls me Hero."

My anger got the best of me, so I grabbed a fork and backed him against the wall," I told you to stay the hell away from her. What don't you understand about that?"

"Really? Savy on your daughter's birthday you are going to threaten me with a fork?"

Digging the fork into his neck a little "Yes, I am. I told you in clear words to stay away from her. She doesn't need you around here, you called a word that I will never forgive you for, you ruined my life and now that I have everything managed you are back again!! I hate you, Cage!! I fucken hate you. I don't understand why you have to show up everywhere I am, here at work the next fucken place will be my apartment. I have worked really hard in these past two years and I don't need you to be here to ruin it. So I'm going to stay on last time nicely Stay the hell away from me and my daughter."

"I knew this was going to be a mission." a voice said coming from behind us

stepping away from him I turn around to see who it was, Ellie "You guys, need to calm down."

"I don't need to do anything, tell your best friend that." I huffed looking away from him

"Annah, I know you despise him but could you please control your anger for tonight? It's Ray's birthday."

"Fine, but keep him away from me."

This was going to be a very difficult night, but I had to pull through for Ray.

I had too.