A/N I'm excited about this chapter!!!!

Chapter {22}

Paul Jackson:

I stepped down the stairs with papers in my hands when I hear Asher talk to someone at the door. Curious of this because basically, no one knocks on the door randomly in the day.

I padded the floor and peered into the hallway and saw Emrys at the door talking to Asher. I stayed back and only made my presence known as she was leaving. I was about to ask Ash why she had come to the house when the jacket she was wearing caught my attention.

It's her.

"She's wearing his jacket," I whispered in disbelief.

I knew that Ash had heard me because it was written all over his face, he knew.

"She's wearing his jacket. Why is she wearing his jacket? How did she get it?" Ash slammed the door shut with Aj still in his arms.

I could sense his anger rising but had to keep it under control because of Aj.

"Ash listen–" I started.

This was going to end badly.

"Paul why the hell did she have Carter's jacket?" he snapped.

I knew this day would come and I felt terrible for keeping this secret from all of them during all this time.

"Call Ray over." was all I said and walked off into the living room.

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"Daddy! Daddy! Look at me!" the little girl with her blond hair and bright yellow dress yelled.

"Yes, my little Dove I can see you." Carter chuckled taking a seat next to me on the outdoor sofa handing me a beer.

The little girl's giggles resonated in the big garden as she continued to chase the butterflies in the flowers.

"She's a precious little thing." I smiled watching her run.

"She is. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I just wish I could have full custody of her but Sarah does not want to let her go. She's still sour about the fact that I left her straight after Emrys was born, it's been four years."

Carter sighed sadly making me take his hand in mine giving it a gentle squeeze.

"It will all work out in the end, I'm sure of it. Your love for this little girl is stronger than anything Carter but you know that dragging her in this lifestyle will be dangerous for her. You need to protect her." I reasoned.

"I know, I just don't want to be away from her."

My heart broke for him. I knew he loved Emrys more than life itself and that he would do anything to keep her safe and loved and that's what I admired in him.

I leaned in and cupped Carter's cheek making his brown eyes melt into mine. I placed my lips against his soft ones. But our moment was cut short with the little pitter patter of feet.

"Daddy? Why are you kissing Paully?"

We pulled away from each other to look at this little blonde girl tilting her head to the side with her teddy in one hand.

Carter leaned down to place Em on his lap, keeping her close to his chest.

"He was just kissing me better my Dove," Carter explained to the little girl while kissing her forehead.

"Kissing you better? Are you ill daddy?" she asked concerned placing her little hands on his cheeks to stare into his eyes.

It always amazed me that they were so different yet the same all at once.

"I'm alright Dove." he smiled down at her but she was having none of it.

She climbed off his lap and ran to the table and grabbed this little doctor's kit I had gotten her for her birthday and since then she has never stopped using it.

Emrys climbed back onto Carter's lap with a little struggle and started to pull out a plastic stethoscope placing it around her neck and in her ears to listen to her dad's heartbeat.

"Daddy? Why does your heart beat to fast?" she asked confused looking at him then at me.

"Because that's what happens when you love someone my little Dove. Your heart beats faster when the person you love is near you, you get all these fuzzy feelings in your belly." he tickled her tummy making her laugh her lungs out.

"What else happens?" she asked once Carter had stopped tickling her.

He sighed and reached over to take my hand in his making me blush at his actions.

"All sort of things happen that make you think you are ill but really you are in love," he spoke, his deep chocolate eyes never leaving mine.

"Well, I still need to do a full check up daddy because I don't want you to be sick." Emrys stubbornly added with furrowed eyebrows making both Carter and I chuckle.

"Ok my little future doctor." he smiled and kissed her cheek.

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I finished my story and I could see the look of shock and somewhat of betrayal displayed on Ray and Asher's face. Annie had come along and was in tears at the revelation that Carter had a love child when we were in college.

"My brother had a daughter? I have a niece and he didn't even tell me. He didn't tell anyone?" Annie asked hurt, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"He wanted to protect Emrys. It was a lot more complicated than it seemed. He was scared." I tried to explain.

"Scared? Carter scared? You must be joking! Why didn't he trust us? Why didn't he tell us any of us? Not even me! And I am his sister for crying out loud!" Annie stood up and flared her arms all over the place clearly upset.

"Why you?" she spat hurt. I knew she didn't mean for it to come out harshly.

"Because – because we were lovers because I loved him and he felt ashamed to be the way he was. Ashamed that he had knocked up a girl while at college. He loved Emrys with his all and I loved that man with everything in me. He told me and none of you because he was scared, he wanted to protect all of you and most importantly Emrys. Don't go judging his actions when you don't know the full story."

My anger got the best of me and when seeing Annie's tear stricken face that I knew I had taken it too far. Asher stood silent in the corner of the room, watching everything unfold.

"I'm sorry for keeping it a secret all these years. I wasn't expecting Damon to start dating Carter's long lost daughter. I don't know where she got his jacket from though, that be me off." I looked down at my hands placed on my lap.

Asher was still silent, Annie had left the room to cry some more and was followed by Ray.

It was only Ash and I in the room and the tension was high.

"Look, Ash, I'm sorry. I should have told you all these years ago but I just–" I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"I just promised him to not tell anyone. I couldn't break that promise, Ash." I shook my head, regret washing over me.

"I'm not mad at you Paul. Sure I'm upset you didn't tell me, I'm disappointed even. But I understand. I understand Paul. I understand why Carter did what he did I just can't accept it at the moment." he spoke coming over to sit next to me on the couch.

Aj was sat by the fireplace with his cars, playing peacefully. He looks so much like Carter, and those brown eyes are definitely his. Aj and Carter are of the same ilk.

We sat there in silence for a few moments, just staring at this child, one of the last things that connect us to Carter. The love of my life and Ash's brother, our best friend. All was left were that little boy and that young lady who carried on his spirit.

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Hello My Loves!

I have finished my essays Finally! So yay me!

This chapter is a little shorter than usual but I have been DYING to write this chapter!

I have been keeping this secret basically since I started writing His, hers, ours!!

Carter (senior) is Emrys' father!

More questions answered soon my loves, drama up ahead and all that jazz

Thoughts? predictions?

fav bits?

I love Paul so freaking much, I don't give him enough credit as a character.

until next times my loves

xoxoxox