Life was a Willow...

Maddox stares at his phone as it rings, wondering why does his day always starts with a phone call, he frowns as the song keeps ringing.

"Maybe I should change my ringtone" he mumbles grabbing the phone and checking the caller as a frown forms in his face.

"Hello" he speaks and waits.

"We need to talk" the words make him put the pen down as he shifts on his chair.

He had been wondering when he would hear those words from her lips and maybe he had been dreading the call from this particular person.

"When?" he asks.

"I will come see you"

"It will be better if I met you" he offers and the woman goes silent.

"No one should know about this call or our meeting, so can we meet some place private?" she asks and Maddox rubs his temple.

"I understand" he states as they fix the time and he disconnects.

********

"Please come in" Maddox opens the door for the woman, as he invites her inside of his home.

Wynter smiles politely as she enters the house, her eyes move around the house looking around.

"Would you like anything, some drinks?" he offers and the woman shakes her head no as she hands him a bag and he frown.

"For your kids, just some chocolates and cookies" she informs and Maddox nods as he grabs the bag.

"Thank you" he smiles as he points towards the living room.

"My call must have surprised you" she starts and Maddox stops as he turns to face her.

"It did though I have been waiting for a call from you at some point" he states as he walks towards the kitchen and Wynter smiles as he pulls the things she brought out of the bag and puts it inside of the fridge.

Walking back, he hands her a glass of water and she happily takes it. Sitting in front of her he watches as she takes few sips of water before she puts the glass on the table.

"Where are the kids?" she asks looking around.

"At school, we have few hours before they are back. Don't worry, we won't get disturbed" he assures and Wynter takes a deep breath as she stares at Maddox.

"I am sure you know why I am here"

"Willow" he points and she nods her head.

"My Willow can be stupid at times" she starts and Maddox narrows his eyes at that.

"I will have to disagree"

"Maddox, she is" Wynter argues.

"I am sure we are not here to discuss about how stupid you think your daughter is" he points and Wynter once again takes a deep breath.

"If Willow finds out that I am here she will be extremely mad and I won't even blame her for that. You know I have been vocal about your relation with my daughter, there is nothing wrong with you. I am just worried about Willow" she pauses glancing at him and Maddox stays quiet.

"Among my three kids she has, well it's just recent that she has been this way. Though she has been stubborn from her childhood and she always felt it was unfair to her, everything was unfair to her but there was a time she had hopes for herself a future she wanted...

Someone broke her heart, I don't know if you know and if it's up to Willow, she will never tell you but she was once in love, she is so stubborn she did not even let any one of us know. No matter how many times we asked what was wrong, not once did she speak a word"

"Then how did you know and why are we discussing anyways?" he questions.

"Because I could not be there for her when her heart was broken the first time and this time, I do not want her to go through same"

"You think I will break her heart?" he asks and she smiles sadly at him.

"No, she will break yours and then she will break herself. She acts all tough but her heart is too soft, she pretends to be cruel but she is too kind, trust easily, hopes on things when there is no hope. She detaches from things to shield herself but ends up tangled up" she explains and Maddox once again keeps quiet as he knows how true those words were.

*********

"I do not know about the details but what I know is she was living with him; everything was going well. She would call and every time she called, there was a joy in her voice, you would know she was happy, she was achieving things, starting on her career...

Until one day, William, my son, he came back home with Willow. He was tensed, angry and Willow was all quiet, she said not one word, walked directly to her room, locked herself in for the whole day. She had come back home after three months and not even a hi from her...

We asked William but all he said that it was nothing and Willow has moved back, left everything. William have stopped visiting home, ever since, he could not even make himself be at Welma's wedding. Willow's father and I, we have tried so many times to talk to her but she just waves it off, says she was done struggling and just want to be home...

And William is always busy to visit us" she sighs.

"When did that happen?" he frowns.

"Five years ago,"

"You said she worked somewhere; do you know the name of the company?" he enquires and she pull out a card and puts on the table.

Maddox moves to grab the card as he checks it and he grits his teeth staring at the name on it.

"Where does William work?" he asks and Wynter points at the card on his hand.

"They both worked in the same company?" he asks.

"He was the one who informed her about the vacancy"

"What is his department?" Maddox asks even if he has an inkling.

"IT department, he is good with computers" she states proudly and Maddox shuts his mouth tightly.

*********

"I came to warn you that she will try to refuse it all. Her feelings for her but I know her, even if we don't see things in same way, I know her, he will fight what is between you too"

"I take it that you approve of us?" he asks and she nods once.

"But I am afraid, she will not see eye to eye with your mother and I am afraid it will affect Welma. Before I was not sure about your intentions but as I have seen you with her, I know if there is someone who can handle her it's you. But unlike her, you have a whole family behind you, you have kids to think about and Willow, she..."

"I know" he sighs nodding his head.

"I don't want anyone of my kids get hurt, Maddox. You are a father yourself; I am sure you would understand" she points and he nods her head once.

"I do, that is why I have not said anything but I would like you to stop berating Willow, she has her own way to thinking and doing things and the more you poke the more she will find ways to push it" he asks and Wynter sighs as she stands up.

"I just want her happy and before I was not sure about you but please save her from her own-self. She thinks reading all her books has given her the full story of her life. But unlike the books she read, her life is not all staged. Reading about a certain situation does not prepare you for your own situations" she points and Maddox stands up as she grabs her bag.

"Thank you for your time" she smiles and he nods before walking her towards the door before he locks and door and takes a deep breath as he stares at the card.

*********

"Why am I even here?" Willow asks her sister before eyeing her brother-in-law.

"I have been asking that question ever since you joined" Tony points and Willow scoffs.

"What about this?" Welma asks as she shows them a nightgown.

"Nice color" Tony smiles at her.

"Same" Willow agrees as she stands next to Tony.

"Why are we watching your wife buy nightgowns?" Willow asks him and Tony sighs.

"Her mood has been swinging a lot. One second she is happy next something bothers her and she is sad"

"And that has anything to me?" she asks.

"She was sad about you"

"Why are everyone sad about me? When I do that plenty of time for myself?" she asks.

"Now that we are going to have a child, she feels you will feel lonely" he replies.

"Lonely and peacefully happy, how about that?" she asks and he just shrugs his shoulder as they both turn to watch her grabs baby trousers.

"Is this not cute?" Welma squeals before she grabs many more and Willow shakes her head as she walks along Tony.

"I need to ask you something?" she announces and Tony stops turning to stare at her.

"Were you born with gold or silver spoon?" she asks and he frowns.

"Uh, well my family does have a little money, but I have never once..." he stops and she rolls her eyes before hitting on his chest stopping him.

"I was born with my thumb in my mouth" she points making him even more confused.

"What has that got to do with anything?" he asks and Willow scrolls through her phone.

"Nothing I had that line written in my phone note for quiet sometime but never got to use it" she grins as she deletes the line.

"Well post it in internet then" he mumbles.

"And make myself go through the grueling times checking how many likes, share and comments I got. Nope, embarrassing" she points.

"I don't understand you at all" he sighs and she chuckles.

"Not your woman for you to understand" she points out.

"About that, so how are things between you and my brother?" he asks with a smile.

"I can still make him hard" she winks making him groan.

"I don't want to hear about that" he grumbles.

"Then stop asking me about my sex life"

"But I was just asking about my brother" he frowns.

"He is my sex life, boy-daddy" she points and Tony wonder why did he even try.

********

"Where is this place?" Willow asks as the car slowly comes to stop.

"Wait, Welma I know you are worried and excited but come one, you child is not even born and you want the kid to join the school?" Willow asks and Tony chuckles as he pulls his seat belt off before walking out.

"We are here to pick Dax and Dixon" Welma explains and Willow frowns as she looks out of the window.

"Must be nice getting born not with thumb on their mouth" she mumbles.

"What?" Welma asks turning to stare at her sister.

"Ignore me Welma, I wish you had that day too or I had ignored you, then we would not be sitting in here, picking up kids" Willow sighs.

"You should be thanking me, you know. Because of me, you met Maddox, he is nice" Welma grins and Willow rolls her eyes at that.

"A picture is nice Welma, not humans" Willow points just as the door to her side opens and Dax grins at her.

"Willow!" he exclaims as he throws the bag in the car.

"Dude" Willow nods as she watches the boy get in the car.

"I did not know you were going to pick us up"

"You are not the only one" she grins.

"Do you want to meet my friends?" he asks excitedly and she shakes her head no pulling him back to his seat.

"No"

"But why?" he groans.

"Because sky is high, you do not know multiply, you will marry in June or July with a butterfly" Willow rhymes making the boy frown.

"I want a butterfly too" Dixon speaks from the doorway and Tony bends to puts the girl in the seat.

"Hi" Dixon waves as she pushes her brother away before she sits on Willow's lap.

"Hey, baby girl" Willow smiles and Dixon giggles as she cups Willow's face and starts to pushes her cheeks together.

"You look like a fish" Dixon laughs as Willow pouts.

"Yeah, and I will die if you keep doing that" she mumbles pushing Dixon's hand down.

"Can we go to McDonald's?" Dax asks and Tony smiles as he stares back at them.

"I will think" he points as he starts the car and Willow watches Dax put on his seat belt.

"Hold tight" Dixon whispers as she puts Willow's arms around her.

"I would like some fries and burger" Willow points as she sees the McDonald's sign.

"And a cola, do ask if they...but...the..." Willow frowns as she turns her head towards the sign they pass by before eyeing the back of Tony's head.

"Dax said he wants McDonald's" she points out.

"And I said I will think, I thought and the answer was no"

"That was mean" Willow snaps at Tony.

"Must be dad, after Dixon's incident he has not let us touch any fast food" Dax pouts.

"But, but, why the fuck did he say he would think and then...I hate you" Willow frowns as she turns her head to look back at the sign.

"You should not curse in front of Kids, Willow" Tony points out.

"And are you even legal to have one?" Willow snaps making Tony glare at the girl through the mirror.

"Willow, stop being mean to Tony" Welma asks and Willow sighs as Tony just passed right through all her hopes and dreams.

********

"Daddy" Dax screams out aloud as he gets off the car and runs to the house while Dixon pulls Willow's hand asking her to get out.

"Come on in" Dixon asks.

"No, we just came to drop you off, we have to go back home" Willow smiles but the girl does not listen as she shakes her head no and keeps pulling Willow's hand.

"Princess" Maddox voice makes them all turn to stare at the man who had Dax in his arms.

"Here" Tony passes the bags to Maddox.

"Come on" Dixon groans and Maddox eyes Willow who sighs as she jumps off the car.

"Dad, Willow wants McDonald's, uncle Tony did not let her have and she said the bad word" Dixon tells as she keeps pulling Willow to where her father was.

"See you guys, around" Tony shouts as he gets in the car while Welma waves her goodbye.

"But you are my ride" Willow shouts at Tony who starts the car and grins.

"Ride my brother" he grins as he drives away.

"One of these days, I will file a case on him" Willow grumbles before she eyes Maddox.

"Come on" he grins as they all walk in.

********

Willow sighs as she watches Dixon walk out of her room carrying her dolls before putting it on the sofa.

"These are my dolls; do you like them?" she asks Willow who glances at the dolls.

"Yeah, what girl would be insane to not like a barbie" she sighs making Dixon giggle.

"Do you want one?" she asks and Willow shakes her head.

"I am too old to play with dolls, baby girl now I play with real things" she grins making Dixon giggle as she runs towards the kitchen.

"Can I get a real thing to play with too, daddy?" Dixon asks her father who glances at Willow who stands to walk to where he was.

"No, you cannot" he states and Dixon sighs as she asks Dax to put her on her seat who groans helping her.

"I got an A in my drawing class" Dax informs as he opens his bag and show the drawing to his father.

"That's awesome" Maddox smiles as he checks the drawing and then goes back to preparing food for the kids.

"We have a costume party on Friday, daddy. It's a super hero theme, but I want to be a princess" Dixon points.

"But super heroes are better than princess. All they do is cry while super heroes save the crying princess" Dax points.

"No princess, don't cry"

"They do"

"They don't"

"They do"

"Kids" Maddox calls and both of them pout.

"What's your favorite super hero, Willow?" Dax asks Willow who rubs the back of her head in thinking.

"No, tell him you like princess" Dixon demands.

"I like food more" Willow states making both of them confused.

"But I thought..." Dax grumbles.

"Because that's real" she points and Dixon sighs as she stares at her father.

"So, that's why those people in TV dress up like food" she hums making Maddox chuckle as he puts the cookies and glass of warm milk in front of his kids.

"But you said not junk" Dax grins as he grabs one.

"Cookies are not junk" Maddox winks at his son as he dips the cookie in the milk and puts it closer to Dixon's mouth who happily eats it.

"Spoke like a true man" Willow grins as she grabs one herself and eats it.

"Stay for dinner?" Maddox asks Willow who blinks at him.

"Yeah, you can help me with my homework" Dax asks.

"And we can braid my dolls, their hair is all tangled" Dixon adds as all three of them stare at her expectantly making her groan as she just shoves more cookies in her mouth.