"Think of it, this way. Mommy is taking a vacation or a business trip and when it's done she'll come back,"she knelt down on the concrete path outside Seth's school.

She bit her lip trying to sound so tough, wiping the strands of black hair from her son's face. Next to them was James, waiting impatiently for the conversation to end and he would take the kid home per his boss' orders.

"I don't understand, mommy. Why can't I come with you?"

This time she smiled, looked at his eyes and hugged him so tightly that the kid almost choked.

"I love you baby. So much. You know that right?" She held the back of his head before pulling out of the embrace and kissing his forehead.

"And I love you too, mommy. From the moon and back"

And well that was that. She watched as the car drove away and she couldn't help it. She was leaving her baby for the very first time, that too for her selfish reasons. But no, she was not going to run. Her brother in law had knocked some sense into her. She was hurt, tremendously hurt to have fallen for Roman Cervantes but that didn't mean that she wouldn't live. She needed time to process everything before going back to him and pretending that she was just a woman to be seen with him but not to be loved by him.

xXxXxXxX

"You are the fool for letting her go in the first place" Roxanne Sandoval reprimanded her brother.

Mikaella laughed at the awkwardness as she gulped down the slice of mango down her throat. She missed this. One week staying with her parents did her some good. It felt like old times. And now to her mother's suggestion, she was right. Her brother, Gustavo Sandoval, was a fool for letting a woman as wonderful as Maria Nicole Powers go. Nicole was a nice woman, fierce and quite talented and although they hadn't talked much the first time she met her, she could tell that she would make a good wife for Gus. But leave it to her brother to mess things up.

"Ma, we talked about this. She's engaged, soon to be married. What do you want me to do? Kidnap her and make her my wife?"

"Atleast you are using your head this time round"

Their dad, Kenneth Sandoval, who seemed too engrossed in the newspaper to have been listening to the conversation, butt in. Mikaella laughed. Her parents were crazy, did they really think that the poor girl would fall for Gus again if he kidnapped her.

"Dad you can't be serious. And why are you all taking a keen interest in my love life? Don't tell me you want more grandkids?"

Gus joked.

"We are not getting any younger son, we want to see our grandkids running around butt naked calling us grannie and grandpa. Mick gave us one, it's your turn. And I'm not implying that you impregnate some poor girl out there"

Gustavo turned to her sister who was seated across their table set on the terrace enjoying the whole show.

"Can you believe them?"

She laughed, "I can actually. They are still the same people who made me walk with a whole pack of condoms in highschool"

"Hey you were reckless back then. And that Griffin kid seemed like he couldn't get his hands off you,"her mom spoke out earning a rather strained huff from her dad.

"Charles Griffin! Can you believe he requested for my present at one of his events? And he expects me to go?" Her dad scrunched in disgust.

Charles Griffin or like she liked to call him. Charlie. Her first boyfriend. The first guy to tell her straight to her face that if he didn't give him some they would break up. Eventually Mikaella broke up with him having lacked any experience in giving any guy 'some' and that led to her father starting a long dispute with the Griffin family.

'Your son tried to manipulate my daughter into having sex with him. Thank God, she has my brains otherwise her whole life would be ruined' Her dad had scolded Charles' dad ten years ago and thus the dispute began.

She thought about it, certainly attending a party would do her some good. And meeting Charlie, the douche from highschool, would be an added bonus. She had changed. She was ready to confront her fears.

"I'll go...that is on your behalf, dad" She spoke out earning glares from everyone on the table.

"Certainly not. It's the Griffin family we are talking about!"

"Dad. I'm not a kid anymore. And perhaps don't you think this feud has gone long enough? It's about time we make amends and who better than me to do so?"

"She does have a point, Ken. This stupid feud has gone on long enough. They were teenagers and it's clear Charles Griffin was just another scruffy kid controlled by puberty"

After a little pressure from his wife, Kenneth gave in not in the least bit pleased. The last time he allowed her daughter to do what she wanted, she ended up almost marrying some guy off the street called Owen Williams. But thank goodness, he dumped her at the altar and she found a better man.

"Ooh so when Mikaella wants something, it's a yes but when I want to stay single all my life you want me to kidnap my ex? Yeah thanks mom and dad for the support"

They all rolled their eyes, Mikaella ignoring her brother's tantrums. It was times like this that she forgot that Gus was two years younger and yet acted like a seven year old. Like her seven year old son.