"So I heard the police found this Pamela. How did that go?" Aidan inquired Micah as he bit into the toasted bread. They sat on a balcony as music flew through the wind below while discussing the current update.

Micah mumbled and nibbled off the cream on his slice. "She said she's going to retrieve some records for us that are connected to Mona."

"Oh good. I hope she finds it soon."

Micah just nodded and continued eating his food. He didn't have much to say to Aidan, but he enjoyed the silence between them. He finally got what he wanted, for Aidan not to say anything just for once, because him not talking was the best.

"This snack is really good," Aidan said with a mouthful. He held the slice to eye level and nodded with satisfaction. "Where did you get this from?"

"I made it."

"You made this?" Aidan repeated slowly from the shock of the reveal.

Micah nodded as he watched more of his dish get eaten with interest and curiosity. He didn't think Aidan would want to know more, so he couldn't be bothered to add anything else.

"Wow, it's good. I never knew you could make something as nice as this."

"That's because you spent most of my life complaining about it," Micah said with no emotion in his voice. He just ate and stared out in the backyard, where the flowers and plants grew.

But from the corner of his eye, he saw Aidan stiffened as if his words were harsh when they were delivered softly. The table between them shook as he moved uncomfortably.

"I still think working for the company would've been nice but I can see you're good at this too." Aidan pulled the plate towards him to get a good look at what Micah put. It was a type of round bread that was toasted and had a syrup spread. It was topped with apple and banana pieces and a sprinkle of vanilla.

Meanwhile, Micah just huffed in his seat.

Good was an understatement. He had been practicing diligently for years. The only people who had truly acknowledged his efforts and made it known were Mariana and his mom. Whereas all Aidan made known was how much of a disappointment he saw in a son.

"So... what have you been cooking lately?" Aidan left the plate to give his son his full attention. He smiled attentively, but Micah slowly gazed at him with suspicion.

"Why? So you can go on and on about how bad of a career it is?"

Aidan sighed irritably. Every time he tried to initiate a conversation; Micah would just put a block on it.

"Why are you being so difficult Micah? I just want to get close to you, and you're being so stubborn for no reason," Aidan raised his voice in annoyance. He was getting fed up but wasn't going to give up soon.

"Is it a crime to want to make things up with my son?"

Micah barely glanced at him, unfazed by his reaction. "Now you know how it feels to try and talk to someone when they don't want to listen to anything you have to say." Those words pinched his soul as they summed up his growing up. Not wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, and therefore, Aidan dismisses any talk about cooking and considering him like an inferior to Mason.

"When they only see the worst in you..." he muttered those last few words, which were accompanied by a death glare toward Aidan. His eye bore like the jagged points of a tree amidst the greenish hue, so that Aidan would know exactly to who his words were directed.

As expected, Aidan didn't have anything to say in response to Micah's smug look.

Point proven.

They continued eating for another few minutes of silence. Micah could feel Aidan's gaze on him. He had a feeling it was because the blunt truth in his words stung him like a bee. At least that was what he could fathom by the awkward eating.

In the wisp of the cooling wind, the groaning creak of a door disturbed their ears, causing their heads to turn. They saw Crystal walking in with a blue summer dress and her hair in a bun.

"Hi my lovelies," she greeted with a radiant smile that shined on their faces, with reciprocated grins.

"Hi mom," Micah said.

She approached and gave each a kiss on the cheek. "I thought you might be thirsty, so I brought this from the kitchen." She laid down some Long Island drinks that were bubbling with an orange hue, and ice surfing on the lemon slices.

"Thanks, mom." Micah took one and started drinking.

"Yeah, thanks, honey," Aidan said and took his serving.

"No worries, I hope you two are getting on okay," she said, standing between the two.

"Yeah we are doing fine, aren't we Micah?" Aidan said.

Micah just looked at him but there was no sign of anger or irritation in his eyes. So he shook his head and consumed his drink in peace.

"Alright I hope you two enjoy the rest of your afternoon," Crystal said and walked around Aidan, "try not to cause a fight." She caressed his back and went on her way.

"Hey Micah," Aidan said once they were alone again.

"What?"

"Listen, about what you said earlier... Did you really feel like that? That I only saw the worst in you?"

"Yep. I couldn't get a single word out. The only thing that you saw was anything I wasn't doing that Mason did."

"Was it really that bad?" Aidan said as he scratched his head awkwardly, "I thought I was just trying to encourage you and push you in the right direction."

"The right direction for you," Micah corrected. None of what Aidan did was in his best interests, only of what Aidan thought best in his own mind, without any input for him.

"But even if you didn't like it, I did have the best intentions. I just wanted you to have a good and secure future."

"Best intentions? So is that why you broke my arm?" Micah blurted out the last part sarcastically. He could feel the heat of his temper rising but tried keeping it down. He didn't feel like shouting this time and wanted to be civil.

Aidan's eyes widened which was no surprise to Micah. He wasn't expecting this good-for-nothing man, the sole connection between them being blood and nothing more, to remember that.

"I haven't forgotten." Micah stared at him with a terrible glare that could make anyone uncomfortable. "It's how I knew you didn't care about me and only about Mason.

"I'm sorry I did that to you, Micah. I didn't know what I was thinking back then..." he massaged the back of his head, feeling the back burn. "Jeez, this is awkward, I completely forgot that happened. I guess I was too focused on Mason that I didn't bother to hear your side of the story."

"Exactly, you didn't. All you cared about was how hurt Mason was even though he deserved it for what he almost did to Mariana."

"Yeah, I remember you mentioning something about Mariana, but I wasn't really paying attention. What was it again?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Micah said. Since Mason had already resolved the issue with Mariana, he didn't feel the need to bring it up again, otherwise he'll just be making himself unnecessarily angry.

"Alright, but I just want to say this thing that you made." He held up the pastry. "It's really good I like it, you did good Micah." He reached out to pat Micah, but he flinched away.

"It's true, I really like it," Aidan said again while smiling. This time, Micah gradually let his shoulders relax, and Aidan gave him a pat on the back.

The first kind of affection he had gotten after many years.

****

When Micah got home, he decided to prepare a little dish for his sweet Mariana. He got out the chopping board and started cutting pieces of chicken. Meanwhile, Mariana was observing him intently. Her face was cushioned between her knuckles, and she rocked herself comfortably. Watching her man sprinkle the spices and massaging the chicken onto it was the best thing ever. No measurements, no spoons, just straight vibes.

As he was sorting out the food, he regularly looked at her and winked occasionally, like he was saying 'I'm taking care of my special princesa.'

It made her bit her lip hard, and she couldn't stop giggling, like she was a teenager crazy in love. Just watching his hands ground the chicken firmly, his veins popping out of his bulging muscles and the tent poking out of his crotch.

"Mi amor, after this we can get some rolled ice cream, okay?" He smiled at her.

"Heh okay Micah!" Mariana exclaimed. She continued watching him as cheeks rose and became inflamed as she felt a drip between her legs. She leaned forward on the table as her breathing became more heavy as she couldn't stop staring at him.

He was so hot...

The way his coils curled up in the sunlight, the twinkle in his intoxicating hazel eyes, his smile curving his lips, his eyebrows perfectly shaped on his head. He was perfect.

She got off her chair and slowly swayed came towards him. Mariana came up behind him and tickled his ears. She got on to her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Stop cooking for a bit, I wanna spend some time with you."

"Oh? What do you wanna do?" He dropped the knife and washed his hands.

"This." She smirked and gripped the collar of his shift. She pulled him in and kissed him ferociously. Her back hit the counter as his tongue slipped into her mouth. She moaned and cupped his face her lips melted like warm cream into his. His fingers delicately snaked across her face and pushed her deeper into him. He then picked her up like she weighed nothing and sat her down on the counter.

Mariana got her plush ass comfortable as he sucked and devoured each part of her. It felt ticklish when he slightly bit into the skin of her neck, and kissed a series of hickeys into a mini heart with his initial inside.

"Mmm I love you," Mariana mumbled with lovesick eyes.

"I love you too mi amor..." he said and smirked down with his dark eyes, making her flush.

****

Mariana sighed heavenly as she ran her hand up Micah's chest. She kissed it tenderly and placed her head on it. They ended up on the floor, and their house was now silent again.

Her eyes jumped from him to the lone toys that were scattered around. She hated the silence in their house. She could hear the distant of their little feet pattering, her them around, and then squealing as they all played together.

"It feels too quiet in here," she murmured.

"I know, it just doesn't feel the same."

She grunted and then sat up. Her head still felt airy as she shouted out, "I want them back! I hate being away from them like this. Especially since they are stuck with Electra." She angrily folded her arms.

"Yeah I hate it too. I hate Electra so much for what she's done to them, always disturbing our lives," Micah grumbled and kissed his teeth. His eyes turned to the floor with a malicious stare at the thought of that blonde, disgusting leech that had the smell of rotten bleach.

"Anyway, she won't keep them long because we will get them back." Mariana said and smiled to lighten up the mood. She pulled her pants back on and slowly stood up. "Come on, let's finish making that chicken. When we get our little nuggets back, we can share it with them."

"Alright." Micah got up and back to making the chicken. Mariana helped him and he kissed her on the forehead. She smiled at the small gesture of intimacy. She leaned her head on his shoulder, trying to be happy. But no matter how much they tried to fill their time, they felt emotionally empty. And it wasn't going to be filled until their kids are safely returned to them.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

I'm really enjoying Micah's pettiness😂😂he's not been able to speak up for like most of book 2 so I'm all here for it!!🔥🔥🔥