6 years later.

“I can't believe how grown you are Alanna, soon you won't be my little baby any more.” I pout.

“I'll always be your baby, mama!” she plants a peck on my cheek.

I smile, and I remember how I almost lost her,

Flashback.

“VIVIAN WE ARE GENUINELY sorry, and I hope we can settle this, without involving legal procedures and introducing a little baby, to the stress legal wars bring, I beg you.” Eric says sincerely.

Vivian looks at him with clenched teeth, as she seethes. She stares at the empty wall, her face void of any emotion, her right hand reaches up to her chest and grips her top, as she chokes on a sob.

I hurry to her side, and she hugs me back, and cries into my shoulder.

“I'm sorry June, I'm just hurting inside, and I don't know how to control my emotions. Alanna is your daughter, and whatever agreement you had with my son, was his choice and I have no right to try and create issues where there's none. But, I beg you, allow me see my granddaughter, even once.”

“ That's not a problem Vivian, she's your granddaughter and I can't restrict her from seeing you. I'm sorry we didn't do this sooner, we had no malicious intent — we're sorry.”

She hugs me again.

When we leave Vivian's house, I feel so relieved. I've never been to court or had any legal issues before, I didn't know how I was going to go about this, but I'm glad it's over now.

Eric stops at a park, and we take a walk. Just holding hands and enjoying nature, and our time alone.

Flashback ends.

“I can't wait to be a big sister. Junior keeps rubbing it in, that he's the oldest.”

“Well he is.” I shrug.

“Do you know if it's going to be a boy or girl yet?”

“No, not yet... Your dad and I want the gender of the baby, to remain a surprise.”

Yes, I'm pregnant! I'm so excited! I can't wait to meet the new addition to our family.

It took a lot of stress - emotional stress and physical stress, miscarriages and finally we're here, only a few weeks to my due date.

Eric started seeing his doctor, and they discussed treatments and alternatives to help with our infertility issues. To cut the story short, we were given the option to do an IVF-ICSI and TESE, even though the chances of fertilization was slim, it was a chance we were willing to take. It wasn't easy, I almost gave up — but in the end it was worth it, as our baby is almost here with us.

“If it's a boy we're gonna name him Victor or Jarvis.”

“What?” I ask absent-mindedly, as I was lost in my own thoughts of the last few years.

“Name for the baby, if it's a boy.”

“Oh, what ideas do you have sweetie?”

“We could name him Victor or Jarvis”

“Hmm Jarvis, I like Jarvis. What does it mean?”

“It's German, it means conqueror. I saw it online.” She grins proudly.

“Nice!, and what if it's a girl?”

I quirk my brow, with a small smile on my lips, as I watch my baby talk animatedly about her unborn sibling excitedly.

“Maybe Mavery, I like the name. It will suite her.”

“So we have two names already. I can't wait to meet her.”

“Neither can I!”

“Daddy!” Alanna squeals as she runs over to Eric, who just walked into the house.

He lifts her and twirls her around and smothers her with kisses, and she giggles happily.

“How's my princess doing?!”

He tickles her and she laughs out.

“I — I'm g — good daddy!” she says in between laughter.

“I'm good too, thanks for asking.” I say, feigning annoyance.

He places Alanna on her feet and walks toward me.

“Hey baby.”

“Hey yourself.”

“Don't be like that...”

I roll my eyes.

His eyes scan the room, till they land on Alanna playing with her doll. Then he gingerly licks his bottom lip and slowly turns his head to face me.

“You know baby, rolling your eyes at me like that, is going to get you punished.” He winks at me.

“You mean when I roll my eyes like this?”

I roll my eyes again.

“Okay, let's go.” He whispers.

“Alanna is home, dealbreaker.” I shrug.

“Alanna, mummy and I, need to check on Uh — something, we'll be right back.”

“Okay daddy.”

“We're not doing this Eric!” I whisper yell.

“Uh — stay put baby, don't do anything you're not allowed to.”

“Yes daddy!” she says as she busies herself with her phone.

He holds my hand and pulls me to his study and shuts the door.

He pulls me into a kiss and I find myself on his table, legs spread wide, as I watch him pump in and out of me, and I'm a moaning mess, thank goodness this room is soundproof.

“Mummy you have a ... Oh my God!” Alanna screams and runs out of the room.

I push Eric away from me and I try to get off the table quickly. Eric helps me down, and I scamper around trying to pick up my clothes, and put them on in a haste.

“How do we face her?” Eric asks, his cheeks flushed pink.

“She's scarred for life!” I say, as I try to fix my hair.

“We need to go out there and talk to her. I mean, how does she think babies are made?”

“We need to explain things to her, yes.”

We walk out, and I notice Eric stalling behind me, coward.

I roll my eyes.

“I thought you said We, as in, you and I?” I say pointing between the both of us.

“Yes babe, I'm just — you know?... Like uhm, boosting my confidence — babe please just talk to her, I can't... You know?”

“I don't.” I cock my brow and fold my arms.

As he's about to reply, a throat is being cleared behind me. Shit!

“You two — living room, now!” she orders.

I turn around and stare at her wide eyed, I feel the heat climb up to my cheeks.

“Hi baby.” I say with an embarrassed smile.

She rolls her eyes and walks away.

“I don't know if this is the right time to say this, but, she's exactly like her momma, scary!”

“Excuse you!” I exclaim.

He raises both hands.

“Let's go, before she gives us a good ass whooping.”

I shake my head and head to the living room.

The little lady, is seated on a chair, legs crossed and an impassive look on her face. Eric was right, she is scary.

“Sit.” she orders.

“Before we start, mummy has something to say.”

I glare at him, before turning back towards Alanna with a sweet smile on my face.

“Baby, your dad and I are so, sorry about what you saw. We...”

She holds up her little hand to stop me.

“Princess, how about we get some ice cream and forget you saw all of that?”

I smack his arm.

“Don't teach her bribery Eric!” I whisper yell at him.

“Mmmmn” I hear Alanna hum.

I look at her, and she's tapping her small fingers on her chin, as she thinks.

“And burger?”

“Done!”

“A poodle?”

“I'll have to discuss with your mum...”

“No deal, then.” she shrugs.

“I'm sorry, done!”

She smirks.

I'm yet to pick my mouth off the floor, as I watch them negotiate.

“A new phone, the old one is... Well, old. I need the new version”

“We just got that last month, Ala...” I say with a frown.

“Dad?” She glances at Eric cautiously.

“Sorry baby, I agree the phone is old. Done!”

She has a triumphant smile on her face.

“No, I'm shutting this down real quick. Alanna to your room, now.” I raise my brows at her, daring her to argue.

She pouts and gives Eric her best puppy eyes and I see him succumb and is about to come to her aid and I raise my finger to silence him.

“Room, now!”

“Daddy!” she starts crying

“Don't call your dad, leave!”

She stomps her feet and runs to her room, I can hear her sobbing.

“I was trying to help our case.”

“By bribing? And letting her ask for all the things she knows she's not allowed to have yet?”

“Babe, they weren't...”

“You need to stop spoiling her Eric.”

“I'm not, I just don't want her lacking anything, when I can give her the world if she asks for it.”

“And that's what I don't want. Her batting her lashes and you doing whatever it is she wants.”

“Okay, you win. I'm sorry... Can I at least, buy the ice cream?”

I roll my eyes.

He gives me a wide smile, with his hands held together in a pleading position.

“Okay...”

“Alanna! Come on, let's go get some ice cream.”

She runs out and grins at her dad, and they walk out of the apartment, not before I hear Eric assure her, he will get her the puppy.

What will I do, with those two? Seems I'm the only adult here.

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