A few years later...

          Lily stared at her frustrated self through the mirror as she struggled to fix her hair. She'd been trying for a while now and getting angrier by the second, until Tadashi walked in.

          The man immediately went to help her but she recoiled from his touch. "I don't need your help, Tadashi," she said angrily.

          She'd grown up to be 5'8 but even now, her frame still felt tiny next to Tadashi.

"It's been a while since you called me that," the man answered calmly, but he did not stop trying to help her.

She only ever called him Pa, now. But she'd stopped doing that for a while as she was pissed at him.

"Why are you mad at me, hmm?" Tadashi asked.

"Like you don't know," she almost scoffed but kept struggling with her own hair.

"I honestly couldn't guess–"

"Why are you pushing me away?" She cut him off to ask, unable to look him in the eye.

Tadashi seemed unable to answer her because he knew she was right. He looked at her for a while, unable to find the words.

"You know what," she started. "Never mi–"

"I didn't want to be all over your space, my love," Tadashi said, stopping her. "You're in your final year of highschool. Isn't this the age where kids usually don't want anything to do with their folks?"

She knew the other thing Tadashi wasn't pointing out. He was still insecure about not 'actually' being her father, so he was careful not to overstep. And it pissed her off from time to time.

"Where'd you learn that?" She asked, unable to resist letting him fix her hair.

"Well... all the movies and books say so, all the kids just rather hang out with their friends at this point," Tadashi said. He didn't mention that it hurt him too; growing further away from her.

"They're stupid," Lily said immediately. "And I can't believe this, you're basing all this on fiction?"

"Sorry, sweetie, I have no other reference to use," said Tadashi.

Lily was very attached to Tadashi, and she knew Tadashi was attached to her too. So it hurt her deeply that he was creating even the slightest distance between them.

She was currently suspended from school because she'd punched a kid and given him a nosebleed.

Eden had almost grounded her but changed his mind when he heard the reason why she did it. He high-fived her instead.

There was this annoying and loud guy on the football team who just couldn't leave her alone. He was built like a truck and probably ate little girls for breakfast, because he had no reason to be in high school and look so rough and huge.

From the moment he'd laid eyes on Lily, he'd never been able to leave her alone. And she'd always been pissed off every time he opened that loud mouth of his.

He always made a lot of jokes and this time he crossed the line, by bringing her family into it. She'd never been the type to settle for bullshit, she'd had enough of that. And this time was no different.

He'd sat on top of her desk with that annoying smirk, that seemed to only be reserved for her. He'd always start by calling her Reid, which she hated, but he did anyway.

Most times she ignored him, but this time, she couldn't afford that luxury. He'd asked her a question that had the entire class going quiet to see how she'd react.

He'd asked her why her dad had slits for eyes and yet she didn't.

Lily quickly got up and asked him to ask her that question one more time. And he'd been bold enough to do it again, but before he could finish, she'd punched him twice. He probably had a black eye now, but he did have a messy nosebleed at the time.

He should have known better than to bring Tadashi up. Or any of her family for that matter, so if anything, he'd been begging for it.

And Tyrese had given her a small smile, like he was proud. So apart from the satisfaction of punching a dumb boy, it had been more than worth it.

          Tyrese was the boy she sometimes stared at; too handsome for his own good, beautiful hazel brown eyes, beautiful short curly hair, beautiful dark brown skin...beautiful everything. Even beautiful girlfriend.

She'd never had such a gigantic crush before. Which is what she so badly wanted to rant about to Tadashi but he was playing hard to get lately.

"You do have a reference," she told Tadashi. "You could always just ask me. Instead, you're trying to get a little distant. I don't like that." She folded her arms and scowled at him.

Tadashi felt so guilty and made a mental note to never let it get to this again. "Let's make dinner together tonight, just like we used to," he said, hoping she'd agree.

"Really?" Lily's face was expressionless but her voice betrayed the happiness in it.

"I'm serious," replied Tadashi.

Lily finally pulled her hair into a ponytail. "Fine."

•••

"Not that I'm afraid to make a move, but I can't because he hasn't made a move yet. Is it because my chest is flat?" Lily asked while setting up the table.

Tadashi immediately went on the defensive. "And what is he doing looking at your chest? He better not be looking at your chest. Is he looking at your chest?"

"Relax Pa, of course not," Lily answered to calm him down.

"Good. And that can't be the reason why, you silly child," he pulled her cheek affectionately. "Are you forgetting the fact that he has a girlfriend?"

"Whom I–" Lily started to answer.

"Whom you also like, whom you think feels intimidated every time you try to talk to her, whose afro you always want to touch, I know," Tadashi finished for her.

"But I like him more," she said, confused.

"It's complicated sweetie, but maybe you should give it time," Tadashi said. "Don't go breaking up someone's relationship for your own selfish gain, that's not the girl we raised."

"I know," Lily sighed. "I'll just keep fantasizing about them both."

Tadashi handed a few plates to her. "You know... your dad, Eden, knew I was in love with Lin, so you know what he did?"

Lily shook her head no.

"He decided not to make even a single move on me. And somehow, I fell so deeply in love with him too regardless," said Tadashi.

          "Did you fantasize about him a lot too?" Asked Lily.

          Tadashi nodded. "All the time. My feelings confused me so much. But he was so irresistible."

          "Did someone just call me irresistible?" Eden appeared and went straight to kiss his husband.

         "You are," Tadashi replied and snaked a hand around his waist, then kissing him again deeply.

          "Hey sweetie," Eden dropped a kiss to Lily's forehead.

          "Hi dad," she said.

           "Dad!" Mikhail rushed to hug Eden when he'd heard his voice. "I missed you."

          "I missed you more!" He said. "Have you done your homework?"

         "Almost done!" Mikhail said as he rushed back to his room.

           Eden sighed. "My Mikky's growing up so fast. But it's okay, all little boys grow up."

          "You're acting strong like you didn't cry when he first called you dad," said Lily.

          "Don't remind me," said Eden.

          "You also cried when I–"

         "No, don't remind me," insisted Eden. "Let's just have a nice dinner. I've missed your cooking." He kissed her again.

•••

         They were at the table about to start their dinner when Lily took her phone up in her hand after it chimed with a message. Her smile almost went from one ear to the other.

         "He just texted you, didn't he?" Asked Tadashi.

         Lily nodded. "He wants to meet me."

"At this time? And we're about to have dinner," Tadashi looked like he was contemplating. "Okay, I guess–"

"Excuse me, Pa. I'm not just any other lovestruck teenager, okay?" Lily raised her hand, as if in a way to stop him. "I know my priorities. I can always meet him tomorrow, so he'll wait when I tell him to. That's how it goes."

"Look at my baby girl!" Eden had stars in his eyes. "I never doubted you," he said as they high-fived.

"Did you talk to Tiff lately?" Eden asked.

Tadashi scowled. "Hey! Don't encourage her to go around their backs talking to each of them."

"You wouldn't get it honey," replied Eden. "I was a victim, so we connect." He pointed between himself and Lily twice.

          Lily nodded. "Right?"

"I know Tiff... Tiffany," said Mikhail suddenly. "She randomly gave me a chocolate bar today, then she just kept talking on and on about you, Lily."

"What did she say?" All the rest of the four people on the table asked at the same time.

Mikhail chuckled. "The chocolate bar was actually for you, but I ate it anyway."

          "I'm going to kill you," said Lily.

          "Relax, sis, I'm joking," said Mikky. "It was for me. And it was amazing."

          "Child, you better spill about what she said," she warned.

          "What she said," added Linder.

            "She said..." Mikhail closed his eyes. "I can't, sorry. She said it was a secret, and I'm not a snitch!"

           Tadashi groaned, disappointed.

          Lily narrowed her eyes at Mikhail like she was trying to tell him that this wasn't over yet.

          Linder and Eden laughed at the situation.

          "You won't believe what Anna told me about you today," said Lily.

          "What?" Mikhail asked almost too fast.

          "It's a secret," Lily calmly put a forkful of food in her mouth. "This food is delicious, hmm."

          "Don't torture your brother like that," said Tadashi.

          "He started it," said Lily.

           "No, take it back," said Linder.

          "Fine," Lily sighed. "Mine's a lie."

          Mikhail let out a breath. "Sorry Lily," he said. "I really can't tell you. But you know that I love you right?"

          "I know baby bro," Lily said. "I love you too."

          "I'm not a baby," said Mikhail. "I grew bigger!"

          "You'll always be a baby to me," Lily smiled.

         The three watched their children argue about their ages and what was adorable and what wasn't.

          "Should we tell them?" Linder squeezed Eden's hand and asked.

          "Oh, I think we should," replied Eden. He looked to Tadashi, who nodded and looked to the kids.

          They'd stopped arguing and looked at the men curiously. "What?" Mikhail asked.

          "Tell us what?" Added Lily. "You three aren't thinking of getting married for the second time, are you?"

           "No," said Linder. "Although I wouldn't mind." He shrugged.

           "Then?" Mikhail asked.

           They waited to tell the kids as the room became tense. Tadashi cleared his throat. "How would you two like to have another sister, or brother?"

END

Thank you for an amazing time while writing this book. See you in my next one!

Oh, and if y'all would prefer or like a second epilogue with only Linder, Eden and Tadashi then let me know.

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