My father once said that there are three things in life that you cannot control.

Death.

Taxes.

And time.

I never understood when I was younger but as I grew up I started seeing what he meant. Time is the biggest one. It is the one factor that I wish I had control over. I just want to savor the moments in life that are truly worth everything.

The days become a blur and go by so quickly that my graduation is a few days away. The past few months have gone by with a seemingly unnerving fast pace. At least I had my focus on school work.

Exams were a pain in my butt.

Gigi was also a pain in my butt.

Bryce was and still is ignoring me. Which is something that I got over the moment I bumped into him in the elevator and he didn't respond when I greeted him.

Talk about holding a grudge.

Alexander has been a patient man with my busy test schedule. He has been amazing, helping me study and making sure that I get enough rest.

It's been almost three months of living with him and they have been nothing short of heaven. It's like I never left the mansion at all.

Gigi did not like it when I told her that I'd be moving back in with Lex. She was angry at first and after a few minutes of glaring at me, she finally relented and accepted it.

She teased me about the freedom I'd have and how much sex I was going to be having since I'd be living with Alexander.

Little does she know that we haven't done it, yet. This man has been patient , he said that he doesn't mind going at the pace that I am comfortable with.

Is he even real?

I remember how Darren pressured me into having sex with him, I just wanted to please him so I gave in. That is most probably my biggest regret.

I can't believe I lost my virginity to that douchebag.

I never slept with anyone ever again because of the emotional, and physical trauma I endured.

One of the hardest things about living with Alexander was the constant hounding from the paparazzi. I have no idea how they found out that we now live together but they apparently know and it's been so annoying.

The fact that we are now exclusive has made it difficult for me to even go to a Starbucks and eat a muffin without being called fat in the next morning's news headline.

I also found out that going out in sweats and a tshirt is a cardinal sin. I was dragged through the pages in black and white for having lunch with Lex at a restaurant while dressed comfortably.

According to the article, I have no sense of style.

My boyfriend on the other hand who had on clothing identical to mine was labeled as being sexy in a just got out of bed kind of way.

The perks of being Alexander Cain, billionaire extraordinaire.

One article that blew me away last week was on the front page of The Scoop.

The headline read: Alexander Cain & Rosalie Jones expecting?

First of all how did they know my name?

And secondly we are not expecting.

This stir was caused by a cami-dress that I wore when I went shopping with Gigi. The tight fabric of the dress showed the outline of my muffin top.

It went on to state how according to a close anonymous source they found out that I was previously Alexander's maid and I had somehow manipulated him into bed with me and forced him to break up with Belle.

Seriously?

Who proofreads the stuff these people write?

They have the audacity to say that I'm a pregnant homewrecker and make Belle the victim.

She's the one who cheated on him.

It's safe to say that a break was really needed from all the drama. I need to get a few days to relax before graduation day, which is why I decided to take some time away from the city and the paparazzi.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to descend. Please make sure that your seat-belt is fastened and your chairs are upright", the static voice of one of the flight crew flows through the speakers.

A few more minutes and I am going to be on home soil. I've missed being back here.

When I told Lex that I would be going home for a few days , he was pleased with the idea. I thought that he would throw a tantrum like the man-child that he is. But he actually supported my idea and said that it would do me a lot of good to be back home.

After landing and going through baggage claim, I walk towards the arrival side where you find people waiting for their loved ones.

The smile that makes its way to my face is so wide, my cheeks are probably going to hurt from it. I spot my dad quickly out of the crowded space. It's very easy to see him as his six foot frame towers over a group of old ladies who stand next to him, waiting on their loved ones.

"Reggie", he opens up his arms for me and I bury myself in his chest as he hugs me.

Hugging him and hearing that nickname he has given me since I was born makes my emotions act up. Tears threaten to spill as I look up to see him smiling at me.

"I've missed you dad", my voice quakes due to the unshed tears and the rock sized lump that is in my throat.

"I missed you too kiddo, now let's get you home to your mom and nana". He takes the suitcase handle from me as he pulls it behind him, heading for the exit.

I shift the backpack on my shoulder and follow him to the parking lot.

The thirty minute drive home is filled with music and laughter as dad fills me in on the crazy stuff that has been going on at work.

I have always been close to my father. I never had a lot of friends growing up so I also considered him as a friend of mine. It's been like that with both of my parents.

That does not mean that I tell them everything and disrespect the fact that they are my elders. That's a line that you don't dare cross. It's kind of how I want to be with my kids one day.

Your kids with Alexander...

I shake my head to get the thought out of my head.

My childhood home is in a suburban area. The typical two story house with three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, and living room. We're a middle class family that was blessed to be in such a safe neighborhood.

The smell of melted cheese greets me and I walk through the front door. That could only mean one thing, my mom's cooking.

Following the wonderful scent, I enter the kitchen and see her place a casserole dish filled with lasagne onto the counter.

"Oh great, you're here", she walks over to me and gives me a quick hug.

I wish it was longer so that I can actually enjoy it but my mom is not like that . She, unlike my father, is not a very affectionate person.

I'm not saying that she does not show it at all but hugging and touching is not her love language. She would rather fill your tummy with food than hug a person. Even when she does hug me or my dad it's never more than three seconds.

To some people that seems cruel but to me it's who she is. And I love that about her character.

A fuzzy ball of fur barks up at me. Jelly Bean our pet pug nips at my shoelaces. Picking her up I cradle her in my arms like a baby.

Well she is my baby.

I'm the one who wanted a furry companion in the first place. Mom was against it, complaining about how we did not have the yard space for a pet.

Which is a total fib, we have big enough space in the backyard for a few domestic animals.

I sulked for a week until she agreed to me getting a pet, but she said it had to be something small.

She despises cats, as much as I wanted to get one instead of a dog, little Jelly Bean here caught my heart at the pet shop.

"Go get changed and come down for dinner". She pushes me and Jelly Bean out of the kitchen.

Nodding, I leave the dog in the hallway while I run up the stairs to my room.

I take in the familiar grey walls and white furniture. I've always been a minimalistic person when it comes to decorating my bedroom. Just like the one in the apartment I shared with Gigi.

The only difference is that I don't have plants here. I used to but then they died because dad would always forget to water them while I was gone.

I run my fingers through the collection of books I have on the bookshelf that dad made for me when he saw that my books were sitting in boxes since I had a habit of buying two new books every Friday from the bookstore I worked at when I was in high school.

Sometimes I would be given books for free. It was an awesome job.

The bed is still covered in my favourite black comforter with matching pillow cases.

You can tell how mom has cleaned the place before my arrival.

Smiling, I put the suitcase on the bed and search for something to wear.

I did not pack a lot of clothing since I still have some I left here, so I have a small suitcase filled with a few clothes.

I change out of my jeans and sweater into a pair of leggings and an oversized jersey. I slip on a pair of socks and my slippers before going downstairs for dinner.

My grandma's voice bounces off the walls as she laughs along with my parents. For an eighty year old she looks very frail. I can see how much the Alzheimers is draining her life force. Her hair is completely grey, it's so light it looks white.

She sits on a wheelchair that is placed in front of the table. Our kitchen is one of my favourite places in the house, because it is so big. We don't have a dining room so our table is placed here a few inches away from the counter.

I move to place a kiss on grandma's cheek. She smiled at this.

I sit on the chair placed opposite where mom and grandma sit. Dad is at the head of the table.

"Rosie", Nana's rich, warm voice calls me.

She looks at me with her cataract rimmed eyes. I'm glad that she can still see. Having Alzheimers and losing your sight at the same time would be a tragedy.

"Hey Nana".

Mom says grace before we dig into the meal. I missed this. I missed having food prepared by my mother.

Dinner goes on nicely as conversation flows. It is mostly consisting of questions aimed at me. I answer and tell them what they want to know.

"I hope the flight home was not too much for you", Nana says, her fingers shakingly holding a fork as she tries to feed herself.

Mom helps her to eat but then Francis Jones is a stubborn woman who is determined to do this on her own. I admire her. She has been strong and showing this disease that she will not go down without a fight.

"It was a two hour flight ma, I don't think she even felt it", dad answers for me.

Her eyes glare at him, "Are you Rosie?", she asks.

I see my father visibly cower at the way his mom looks at him, "No", he mumbles.

"I thought as much,", she clicks her tongue and turns. Her expression telling me that

Holding back a laugh at the fact that this 56 year old man is still afraid of getting a whooping from his mama, I answer Nana's question.

"It was okay Nana," I actually enjoyed being on a plane this time.

Alexander had wanted me to take his jet which I refused. Firstly because that was unnecessary and secondly it would be a waste of fuel and damage to the environment.

I care about mother earth.

A stupid argument, and a few minutes of sulking later, I begrudingly let him book me a set in first class.

According to him, I 'deserve the best'. And it really was, I had a windows seat and was graced by the company of snobby people who thought that their poop didn't smell.

So I enjoyed it.

After dinner I clean up the dishes and the whole kitchen. This gives mom a break and some time to relax.

It feels like I never left home for college, I've been back for a few hours and we're already stepping into our old routine.

I take a shower, change into my pajamas and then head to the living room to watch television. The adults are all in bed already, so I wrap a blanket around myself and watch The Office.

Two episodes in my phone rings with a call from Alexander, I had sent him a text when I landed hours ago.

"Hey you", I say. My lips immediately curl up into a smile the moment his voice makes its way onto my ears.

"Hey baby". I can never get over him calling me baby. It makes my toes curl in happiness.

"I miss you, sleeping alone sucks" his deep voice runs over me like a lazy river.

"The feeling is mutual, but it's only for a few days".

"Mmmh. how's it feel being back home?".

Home.

I know this is the house I grew up in for 18 years of my life but in a way it doesn't feel like home. It's my parent's house.

It's their home.

My home is talking to me on the phone right now. My home is a two hour flight away.

The attachment I have to this man is very alarming.

"You're my home" I gently whisper.

An intake of breath on the other side tells me that he heard my words.

"It feels good, Nana is a firecracker.", I answer his initial question.

"That's good to hear." his voice laced with genuine concern.

We talk about how things are going with his companies and the progress of the merge that one of his businesses had with a Spanish company a few months back.

"I'll check on you tomorrow, you need to get some sleep"

I've been stifling my yawns for the past hour of us being on the phone. The clock on the wall tells me that it's almost midnight.

"Okay, sleep tight and dream of me", the smile on my face has not faltered once the whole time we're on the phone.

His deep chuckle sends a shudder down my spine, he has such an effect on me even miles away, "Miss Jones I always dream of you."

I am a mess of childish giggles and flushed cheeks.

"Sweet dreams baby".

The call comes to an end. Dragging my feet across the carpet covered floor I turn off the TV and make my way upstairs to my room.

Settling into the covers, sleep takes me and I am instantly carried off into dreamland.