Katherine's pov

**

Leaving our love ones behind isn't always as easy as everyone make it out to be. Some will even go as far as telling you how you are gonna be back before you know it and can even call them on video calls and the rest of other technology made easy but the truth still remains;it's no way comforting as having your love ones close and being right where you are.

I'm supposed to be packing at the moment but the whole place is littered with my clothes with Darien and Derek crawling all over it in a playful mess. I just can't stomach the fact that I will be leaving them in a few days for my scholarship abroad.

The scholarship board had called over a month ago to inform Lavi and I about our admission aboard and it was a thing of joy at first until it suddenly dawned on us that we will be leaving our kids behind in order to make it possible.

More hell

Lavi hasn't been around for a while now and it's so hard being here with the kids and without him at the same time.I understand that he had to go but I still can't help but miss him a lot.

He needed to get his travel papers ready and in order to do that,he has to obtain some paperwork along side his father at their state local Government so he had to go.

Aunt Nene isn't at home at the moment; she had gone to the market and dad was at work too leaving me alone with the boys for now.

I could hear my phone ringing as I sat there crying but I couldn't figure out where it could be exactly. Derek was seating on it all along as I retrieved it from his butt.

Gosh!

I have several missed calls from Lavi and my dad too.He usually calls at least every two hours to know how we could be faring . Lavi on the other hand too must be having a hard time living without us as well.

Placing Derek on my laps,I quickly redialed Lavi's number. Darien grabbed hold of my hair brush and was about to nimble on it before I took it away.

Damn!

"You can't eat that baby or you will get hurt" I scolded him and he looked at me with a stare as if he could understand just what I was saying to him before he smiled back at me and it melted my heart completely.

Awww

"Hey princess" lavi's voice calling at me through the receiver had pulled me back to reality as well.

"Hey Lav,sorry I missed your calls"

"It's okay. I can only imagine why so no need to explain" he assured me through the receiver.

I was rather quiet for too long as I sat there listening to his voice over the phone and wishing him to be back already.

Can't even begin to explain how much I miss him at this point.

Hearing his voice does things to me that are unexplainable like right now,am imagining him at the moment playing with the kids while he still manages to steal a kiss from me.

Gosh I miss him

"Princess? Are you still there?" He called at my attention again

"I'm right here. Sorry I was just distracted"

"You don't sound good. Have you been crying?" He took a long pause while I said nothing.

"I'm fine lav, the boys are fine too. When are you coming back?" Changing the topic

"Right about now?"

I turned around to find him leaning against the door with a goofy smile on his face.

How did he?

Fuck it!

What do I care? He is fucking back!

He rushed over and picked Darien and Derek in his arms before placing a quick kiss on my lips and biting playfully at it.

Heavens do answer prayers!

"Oh I have missed this little pumpkins" kissing at Darien and Derek cheeks causing them to giggle and turn away.

I have no doubt in my mind that he'd miss them more than I ever would when we eventually leave them behind. The time he spent playing with his boys means everything to him and now he will be forced to give that all up for a future aboard.

"Say papa Derek! C'mon Darien, say papa" he cooed at them.

They continued to play around for a while ignoring me completely but I don't mind. I'm contend when I have all my boys under the same roof. My world is just complete.

His arms folded around me with my back turned to him as I stood facing the window trying my honest best to hide my tears. He placed a lasting kiss at the back of my head and then at my ear lobe causing me to shiver inwardly.

No matter how many times we make contact, it still feels like the first time. With the same butterflies rising at the pit of my stomach as I leaned into his warmth.

"I have missed you so much my lady"  he whispered against my ear.

I spin around to face him and my hands went up and cupped his face with my eyes boring into his. His beards are rough against my palm as I caress at his cheeks

"You have no idea how much I have missed you too my darling"

He pulled me back against himself before his lips claimed mine in a passionate kiss savoring every moment as his lips moved painfully slow against mine. Teasing and moaning against each other lips in a heated passion.

Gosh!

I have missed this moment when all that mattered was his lips against mine devouring every bit of flesh as he tug and pull playfully at my already swollen lips.

My mind wondered back to my kids playing with their toys across the room and sadness began to cloud my vision again and I pulled away but not abruptly to send the wrong message across but he was worried nonetheless as he stared back at me searching my face for clues if he has done something wrong.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

I shook my head at him before turning away and Knelt beside my kids on the floor;running my hands through their messy curls.

Breathe

Breathe again

"I don't want to leave them" I deadpan.

He sighed in deeply before dropping to his knees beside me as well.

He gathered me back into his arms on the floor as he began to rub circles at my back.

"It's okay to let it all out princess cos I know just how you feel.Am an emotional mess myself but what can I say? We just have to put our thoughts together and do this for the sake of our kids and their future because they will need a place to live when they grow up and we can't live with your dad or mine forever"

" I know but...." I began to speak but got caught off as he gently tilt my chin up to look at him.

"....shshhhhhh...it's okay K...just trust that they will be in safe hands"

I gave a small nod and rested my head against his shoulder as we continued to watch our kids crawl very happily around.

We have gotten through worst things!

We can get through this too!

.

.

.

We arrived at the airport early on the day of departure with our luggages and after they were thoroughly checked by the immigration service and weighed accordingly to avoid carrying excess; we finally had time to relax and say our farewells to our love ones.

I can't even sum up how many times I have hugged and kissed my babies today as I handed them over to Aunt Nene and my dad after a while. They are their responsibility from now onward and the sooner?the better until they are old enough to visit their grandparents at their home.

My dad looked sad as he held my hands in his..

"I never thought this day would come you know? You saying goodbye and about to leave?"

I chuckled and shrugged.

"Two years ago,you didn't want to get in the plane and I had to practically drag you along and now you are having such cold feet to get back on the same plane and head back to London. How Ironic right?"

he took a quick glance at my kids and smiled at me.

"Changed priorities is the cause this time and in all honesty. I'm proud of you kitty for everything you have achieved and yet to accomplish in your life.Your papa is so proud of you sweetie"

I hugged him tight with my eyes close. This words he just uttered means more than just words to me. They meant everything to me and it's enough to bring tears to my already watering eyes.

This man whose arms was wrapped around me in a bear hug isn't just my dad but the only family I had while growing up and he has given everything to make sure I didn't give up on myself and for all that's worth. I'm still going to make him a proud father by not dwelling in my past mistakes because the future lies ahead.

"Thanks dad for not giving up on me" I cried.

Wiping my tears filled eyes with his thumb, he smiled at me.

"Giving up on you is not an option my dear cos you are everything to me"

We were not the only ones at the airport having a nostalgic moment though. Lavi and his family were at it too and so was James and his parent.

Even though we were young adults,we still feel like toddlers being sent away to boarding schools.

I felt my heart beating faster with anxiety the moment departure was announced as I held my kids for the last time. Lavi's hand rubbing gently at my back was the only thing keeping my tears from slipping at this point.

"I will look after them as if they were my own" aunt Nene assured me again for the hundredth time.

I feel like a bad mom leaving my kids after just one year of their lives. What would they think of me.

Dear lord

In another three years,we are sure to be back home with them and I pray never to leave again, at least not without them.

Not ever!

We handed them to aunt Nene and lavi's mom and was about leaving before Darien said 'mama'  and I lost it.

He just said Mama?

I kissed and hugged him like a drowning girl who needed a lot of kisses to revive her dying soul from starvation. And when I hurried through that door separating us from the people I loved,I couldn't dare to look back; not even for a single second.

One look would have had me running back to them.

We got settled in the plane quietly. I was by the window with Lavi occupying the seat next to mine. James was in the front row with his back turned to us.

I stared out the window with tears in my eyes as I continued to bite at my lower lip to ease the contrasting pain bitting away at my chest.

"I'm sorry" his hand found mine and gave it a little squeeze.

I leaned into his body as I allowed my head to rest against his shoulder with my eyes closed with Darien little voice still ringing deep in my head.

Mama!

"Do you think they will still remember us in three years?" I asked looking up at him with tears in my eyes.

He looked broken too as he stared back at me unsure of  what reply to give.

That could be my answer for all I know. He too might be feeling the same damn thing and just because he isn't saying it doesn't mean he ain't feeling it.

Just look at his lips forming a thin straight line in anger!

"I don't know princess but we can only hope and pray for three years to be all it will take before we find our way back home to our kids without having to worry about anything more"

"And besides; blood will always be thicker than water and three years or three decades won't be enough to forget a charmer like you my lady" he teased with a sly smile

He placed a long lasting kiss against my forehead and just kept holding me against his racing heart.I could feel his warmth as I was glued into him like a child.I needed him to say those words and he did.

"You two are worst than I thought..your kids ain't even crying but here you are crying like babies" James had called at us interrupting my train of thought all the same with that tone of mockery playing at his lips.

Jerk!

I was about to take a bite at him but Lavi beat me to it as he smack him across the back of his head.

"Shut up and stop teasing man" he threw a warning glare at him but laughed anyways.

He was only trying to lighten the mood after all....

James only laughed it off and placed his head phones back over his ears as he continued to listen to whatever music that was keeping him from teasing us more at this point.

Lavi squeezed at my hand and I squeezed back with a small smile.

"I love you K"

"I love you more"

Much more than you will ever know!

Three years is all it's going to take to be back home with my kids and I Katherine Joseph Benjamin so look forward to being back home!

Just three years....

End.

A/N

And that ends this story in one piece guys...

A big thanks to everyone who read this book to this very point...you guys are amazing 😉 words alone won't be enough to appreciate how grateful I feel for the tremendous love and support given to this book. I'm amazed!

Thank you
Thank you 😊

•••••••••Little information •••••

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Matter of fact-ly, I have quite a story lined up and coming up just for you guys and NO! It's won't be in series anymore and I will be trying new things as well so to find out when I will be starting new update which am hoping to be soon, you need to follow up to get update and notification.

Thanks so much guys...love you all the way to the moon 🌙 and back to planet 🌎.

Xoxo Agnesomalia 😘