Diana's POV

"Em! Where are you?" I call out for my lately naughty daughter as I look through my room and then barge into the washroom to see if she has decided to fill in the bathtub again all by herself.

When I don't find her there, a part of me is relieved but nervous at the same time because when I enter her room, there's no trace of her. I frown to myself as I call out for her one more time.

"Emily! If you're hiding from momma, I need to know so I don't worry and can play with you." I say, meaning it.

Just then, I hear a noise in the corner of the room and immediately roll my eyes when I realise that it came from the play tent that I got her for the birthday. I silently make my way to its place and kneel down as I peek in with one eye before opening it and revealing her to myself.

She giggles loudly at my actions and I grin at her.

"How you doing in here?" I question her.

She shrugs, "Good."

"Alright babe, time for lunch. You have a play date with your two most favourite people in the world in an hour." I remind her and she gives me the most adorable smile.

"Con-Con and El!" She screams as she gets out of her tent to hug me.

"Yes. The three idiots. Con-Con, El and Em." I tease her and she scrunches up her nose, making me laugh.

"I am smart. Not idiot." She sticks out her tongue at me before trying to shove me a little as she tries to get out of her hiding place.

Grinning, I look at her before moving away, "Yes, very smart." I say, sarcastically.

She pouts at me, "Mean mommy!"

"Brat daughter." I shoot back with a laugh and she moves to jump in my lap to playfully strangle me as we both fall back to the carpeted floor.

She giggles in my arms as she lies on top of me. Its been long since she has been in a playful mood and it brings me immense joy to see her like this. I comb her hair gently through my fingers as I sigh and look at the ceiling filled with stars in her room. I can feel her eyes on my face and I move my eyes in contact with hers.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask and she shrugs.

"Aaron. You."

Her response makes my face go pale as she reminds me of one thing that I have been pushing out of my mind since the beginning of this week. It's saturday, and the beautiful gesture he did on the monday morning is stuck in my head, playing over and over again. The look of a broken heart on his face when I walked away is still implanted in my head. But do I really just forgive him because he did something romantic? I want to, I so badly do but my past looms over my thoughts, shadowing them constantly and influencing every decision I make.

He didn't stop though, he brought me my coffee or hot chocolate every morning along with a white rose and a note that read,
'I am sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done. I love you. Always. x.'

I pretended like it didn't affect me but I have been lying to myself. It does effect me, so much! The days he went to college and didn't turn up to be office, I missed his small gesture and found myself disappointed. I am well aware of the fact that I have caught myself in a vicious circle and there's no way I can make my way out of it either without giving in or breaking two hearts - his and mine.

"What about him?" I ask and she blinks at me.

"Where is he?"

A knot forms in my throat as I find words to answer her. She misses him — I can tell just by the way her eyes are a little watery at the sides and she's blinking continuously at me. Aaron and her had form a bond that once brought me such a joy but suddenly I am doubting whether it was the right thing or not. This is one of the reasons I was always apprehensive about them meeting. She's a child, she doesn't understand things like break-up or cheating and betrayal. And I want her to keep away from such stuff as much as I can.

"He and I are not talking." I tell her honestly.

I could have made some shit up like that he's been really busy, but what's the point? The sooner she knows the truth, the better. I always have a choice of keeping her in dark, and I do, a lot of the times but sometimes it's just better for her to be aware of the reality.

"Why not?" She pouts, her chin resting on my chest.

Well, now is the situation when I want to keep her in the dark. I can't hide Emily away forever from the things like betrayal, cheating or the fact that her mother likes alcohol. But I will till the time I can.

"Just like that." I shrug and she eyes me like an adult would.

"He hurt you?" She asks and my lips form into a thin line as I stare at her.

"No. And how is school?" I shoot back, diverting her mind.

"He hurt you." She states, not questioning it this time and I frown at her.

"No more Aaron talks. How is school? You having a good time there, right?" I ask and she nods.

She gets easily distracted as she starts telling me about how she's getting better at remembering numbers. She's a smart kid, way oversmart for her age. And I know for a fact that she doesn't get it from me, probably her father's genes. But then he was a dumbass, so can't say anything for that either.

After an hour of chatting with her and feeding her lunch in the room itself, she falls asleep on the top of me and I sigh, knowing that I'll have to wake her up in some time when Connor shows up to pick her up for their play date. Sometimes I wonder how have they not disowned me yet because I push my daughter's duty on them but then they remind that they do it because of her, not me. They love her.

When the door bell rings I quietly put Emily to bed and move out as I run a hand through my short length blonde hair. As soon as I open the door, I am suffocated with a bear hug, making me curse.

"God." I say, trying to hug back Connor but my hands are pinned down.

"Oh, how much I have missed you." He slams a kiss on my forehead before letting go of me and I take a deep breath.

"Fuck you!" I shove at him and he chuckles.

"Aww babe, I love you too." He messes my hair and I move to Ella and give her a quick hug while she exchanges annoying glances between the two of us.

"Such irritating souls." She grunts in my ear and I smile.

"Where is that little girl?" Asks Connor the great and I close the door behind them.

"She's asleep." I tell him and he nods.

"You don't mind me waking her up, do you?" He asks and I shake my head.

He makes his way down the hallway while Ella and I sprawl down on the couch. I keep my head in her lap as she turns on the television and looks down at me.

"You doing okay?" She asks and I frown.

"Yep, why?"

She shakes her head slightly, "Just asking. With Charlotte's wedding and Aaron, basically with everything going on."

"Doesn't bother me anymore. I have made my peace with it." I lie and she gives me a look but doesn't argue back.

Connor enters the living room with a sleepy Emily in his arms while he pats her back soothingly. He takes a seat on the couch and keeps my legs in his lap as he slouches down and receives a glare from me. There's plenty of space on the single ones.

"Hi Em, do you still want to go out?" Connor asks her, his finger stroking her cheek and she grumbles a little.

"Give her two minutes. She just woke up." I kick him a little and he scowls at me and then looks at Ella.

"Control her before this turns into an actual fight." He tries to sound serious but fails when Ella laughs at him.

The three of us bicker a little while Emily takes her time to get rid of her sleepy mood. After half an hour, I get up from my laying position and take Emily from Connor's arms.

"Let's get you ready, sweets." I kiss her cheek and she smiles, nuzzling her face in my neck.

"Make yourself coffee or anything if you want." I tell both of my friends and they nod before I disappear back in the bathroom.

I help Emily wash her face to wake her up even more and then change her into a floral skirt and pink top. She doesn't protest much because she's happy to go out and I don't argue with her when she picks up my lipstick from the dressing table and plays with it.

"Pigtails or hair down?" I ask her and she contemplates her response.

"Pigtails." She grins and I nod.

I make her hair and as soon as I am done, she runs out of the room to Connor and Ella. I sigh as I clean up the little mess she made while choosing her clothes and follow her out.

"We're gonna leave now, will bring dinner. Cool?" Connor asks and I shake my head.

"Just enjoy the dinner out today." I shrug, my hands in my back pocket and Ella frowns at me.

"Come with us, then." She says.

"Not in the mood. Haven't had time to myself from a while." I make an excuse and Em pinches Connor's cheeks.

"God, woman! Keep your hands off." He glares at her and I laugh at them.

"We're probably going to kidnap your daughter and run away someday and you won't have a clue because you trust us so much." Ella points out and I give her a look.

Connor pipes in, "Exactly. And she won't even protest because well, duh, we are the best." He wiggles his eyebrows and I push him out before slamming the door in their faces.

I open it just for a nanosecond to blow a kiss towards Emily before closing it again and I hear Connor chuckle. About five minutes later, just as I am about to get cozy in my couch, the bell rings and I roll my eyes. Connor probably came back to pee or just to irritate the shit out of me.

I pull open the door, a smile lingering on my face but my breath hitches immediately as I look at the person standing in front of me. He holds a bouquet of white roses in one hand and a hot chocolate in another. Before I can protest, he enters the apartment and I just gape at him, trying to process everything.

"Close your mouth before a fly goes inside and you choke on it, only to die minutes later and leave me responsible for death of the love of my life." He says, reading my face and I immediately shut my mouth.

What the fuck is going on here?

"Why are you here?" I ask him, closing the door behind myself and he gives me that smile.

That smile which made me fall for his so innocent yet cocky self. Hormones! Well, it's time of the month and my emotions are all over the place and his surprise visit isn't helping. But just because he showed up here, trying to be adorable and charm me off doesn't resolve things.

"Wanted to bring my favourite girl coffee and flowers to remind her to have a nice and beautiful sunday." He says, moving to put the flowers in a vase as he pours water in it.

"Did you bump your head somewhere?" I ask, apparently all I can do is ask.

He shakes his head, "No, but I am done being away from you. I can't handle it anymore." He says, his voice suddenly serious as he meets my gaze.

A knot forms in my throat and I blink at him, "Aaron, I can't-"

"Don't, don't tell me how bad I have screwed up and you can't forgive me. I am aware! I just need one chance Diana. I love you, okay? I am in love with you and I am begging you to give me one last chance to prove to you that I am not going to screw this up." He says, moving towards me with each word.

I shake my head, "How do you know Emily isn't here? You wouldn't just barge in." I think through, frowning and he immediately retracts his gaze away from me.

"Uh.." he rubs the back of his neck.

"Let me guess. You got Connor on your side?" I give out a humourless chuckle. He meets my gaze and nods, slowly, making me shake my head in disappointment. "What crap did you feed him to be on your side? Whatever excuse you gave him, can you have the decency to explain that to me as well?" I snap.

He has set the vase on by the kitchen island with flowers in it and has walked very very close down to me, more than I appreciate while I am pissed at him.

"There's no excuse I can muster up that will give you the satisfaction that you want." He tells me, his hand reaching out to stroke my cheek and I almost lean into his touch before gulping and maintaining my composure. "God, I have missed this, I have missed standing this close to you and being in your presence." He whispers and I blink at him.

"Aaron." I almost choke out and he shushes me up, his finger tracing my bottom lip.

"Diana, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I need it." He says, his eyes meeting mine and I notice the dark circles underneath. "I want to be with you, and to be a part of Emily's life. I will never screw that up ever again."

I shake my head, "Trust just doesn't come over night, Aaron. Not to me, especially. You know that. I have so much shit going on, and trust me, this is the last thing I want right now." I say, frustrated as I move to take a seat on the couch.

He kneels down in front of me, his hands resting against my knees and he stares up at me, "What's going on? Talk to me." He says, his voice as comforting as ever that I almost give in.

I shake my head, "No, I am not talking about my problems with you."

He gives me a look, "C'mon, try me."

"Charlotte's getting married." I say and he scowls, a frown forming between his brows.

"And? Are you insecure that she's the one getting married before you or has she managed to fill some bullshit in your head?" He raises an eyebrow.

I sigh, "The latter."

"You know what? Marry me." He says and I laugh loudly.

"What? I seriously need to take you to Dr. Brown." I tell him, still amused but my smile evaporates when I look at his face and there's no trace of amusement at all.

"I am serious. Marry me, Diana. That's how seriously I am in love with you." He whispers, leaving me tongue tied.

"Aaron." I shake my head, gulping constantly as I try to push down the knot in my throat. "You can't say things like that to me, not when we are not even together."

He nods, reaching out to cup my cheeks, "I know baby, I know. Trust me, you don't deserve that lame ass proposal, you'll get something much better. But for now, baby steps." He kisses my knuckles resting in my thighs, sending a shiver down my spine at the contact of his lips to my skin after what seems like a century.

"Aaron.." I choke, tears welling up in my eyes. Even though it was in the moment thing, he just asked me to marry him, that's how seriously he's in love with me and for some, that might look as a hope but for me, it's the opposite. A marriage isn't in my cards and even if I forgive him, this won't work in future. "I can't." I say, biting down on my lip to the point I taste the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

He stares at me, tears brimming in the corner of his eyes as he wraps his arms around my legs, slowly keeping his head in my lap and I don't push him off, I don't want to. My hands find their way in his hair as I softly comb my fingers through it before I feel the wetness against my skin, that's when I know he's crying. I feel it before I hear it. I soothe his hair while he breaks down in front of me, almost filling my heart with guilty for doing this to him.

"I beg you Diana, please." He sobs out and I nod.

"I forgive you." I say and he looks at me, blinking and tears falls from the end of his lashes as surprise covers his face, "I am not mad at you for what you did anymore. I forgive you." I tell him, wiping his tears and he wraps his hand around my wrist.

"I, I don't know what to say." He says.

"But I can't be with you." I complete and he just stares. "I have forgiven you, you can get rid of the guilt but Aaron, You and I, we have to move on."