I am no rose as for a long period of time I was not protected by thorns

-Rain

I couldn't sleep.

How much I tried I just couldn't. I look at the clock on the nightstand to see it was 12:30 a.m.

I got up from the bed and made my way out of the room. I didn't turn on the lights, not wanting to wake anyone of them. Thus I stumbled inside a bookshelf.

"Ouch!"

I looked down at my poor toe. It hurt so much. What a great way to start your birthday with.

"Are you okay?", I heard Damien's worried voice from behind me. I turned around only for our heads to bump.

"Ahh!"

I rubbed my poor forehead. First my toe and now my forehead. Definitely a great day it is going to be.

"Sorry.", Damien said softly.

"Are you even human? How can you walk without making any noise?", I asked seriously.

"Jesus! You found out my biggest secret.", Damien stated teasingly and I just glared at him which he could obviously not see as the room was dark.

"Damien I am really in no mood to joke.", I stated. I decided to leave him and make my way out of the room.

But Damien followed me all the way to the balcony which was at the end of the corridor. He didn't utter a word all the way there.

I stood beside the railings holding on to them as I let go of a deep breath.

"Is something bothering you?", Damien asked me as he stood next to me.

I shook my head. He doesn't know today is my birthday and there is no need to talk about it.

"Just needed some fresh air. That's all.", I said but never turned around to look at him as he was good at finding out when I was lying.

I looked up at the sky to see that the moon was shining beautifully and the stars looked beautiful too. I started searching for mom-dad among them. I could see the Orion constellation as I always believed that my dad was the arrowhead of the Orion constellation. For my mom she was just behind him making the important part of the arrow.

I smiled to myself just thinking about it. I really missed them dearly.

"Missing your parents?", Damien asked softly. I simply nodded my head.

"In which star do you see them?", Damien asked.

"In the Orion constellation. My papa is the arrowhead and mama is just behind him. As said behind every successful man there is a woman.", I said. My voice cracking a bit.

"Your dad must have been very strong for you to make him the arrowhead of Hunter Orion.", Damien stated. His tone was curious. He was genuinely interested in knowing more about my parents.

"He was my superhero. The strongest man I had known. Maybe not physically but mentally. He didn't have biceps like you but was strong. Even when I turned eleven he used to carry me in his arms. He loved me the most and bought me lots and lots of sweet without telling mom. I still don't believe neither of us had diabetes.", I stated.

Damien chuckled.

"What?", I asked him.

Damien's eyes were shinning with mirth. I didn't understand why?

"It looks like you are fangirling him.", Damien stated.

"You! He is my dad. Okay and I love him dearly. It is not fangirling. It is just my adoration and love for him.", I stated.

"My apologies.", Damien stated but he wasn't one bit apologetic.

He pinched my right cheek as I swatted his hand. What was that for?

"You look so cute when you are angry.", Damien answered my unasked question.

Did he call me cute?

I couldn't help the blush that grew on my cold and pale cheeks making them warm. His words have a huge impact on me.

"I wanted to say something to you.", Damien stated.

Before I could ask him what. He had his hands wrapped around my waist as he placed his head in my neck dent.

"Damien...."

All words stopped on my lips and all sensible thoughts left my mind as he placed a gentle and wet kiss on the bottom of my jaw.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as a pleasurable shiver ran down my spine. It felt so good and so right.

He looked up at me. His grey eyes diluted and foggy. He went on to my right ear lobe and sucked on it as a soft moan left my mouth making him pull me impossibly closer to me.

"Happy birthday angel.", Damien stated huskily.

I didn't know how to reply. His actions left me breathless. So I simply nodded my head. He untied his hands from around my waist. As he let me go. I immediately missed his body heat. That man is a walking heater.

"It is getting chilled, let's get back to our room.", Damien stated and I nodded my head.

He took my hand as he led me into his room where Amber was sleeping peacefully.

I looked at the night stand to see it was 1:15 a.m. Damien laid back in his old position. I also laid on my side and this time when my head touched the pillow I was out like light.

~*~

I

moved my hand a bit to get a hold of Amber. I moved my hand a little further but to no avail. I finally opened my eyes to see that no one was there. Neither Damien nor Amber. The bed was cold that meant they were gone a long time ago. I looked at the night stand to see it was 12:30 p.m.

How did I sleep for this long. Amber!

Dressing her up and her breakfast. God what have I done.

I quickly rushed to my room, did my morning business and dressed up in a maroon jumpsuit putting on some random sandals with it.

I made my way downstairs and saw Heather down the stairs.

"Good morning Heather. Do you know where Amber is?", I asked. My tone a bit rushed.

"Good morning ma'am. She is with sir in the backyard playing with a drone.", Heather stated. I nodded my head and made my way into the backyard which was more of a huge garden with fountains and orchids.

As soon as I tried going out of the glass down I stumbled in a thin wire and something fell from up on me.

Rose petals.

Thousands of rose petals fell over my head. I turned around enjoying it. It was so amazing.

I heard clapping coming from out doors. I looked at Amber to see her with a broad smile on her face.

Suddenly the happy birthday song played and Amber came in my direction hopping. While Damien followed her. I crossed that thin wire and made my way to Amber and picked her up in my arms.

Amber pressed sweet kisses on both of my cheeks as she hugged me tightly. Her way of wishing her momma happy birthday.

"Who dressed her up?", I asked Damien.

"Me of course.", Damien said with pride shinning in his eyes.

"Has she eaten?", I asked.

Damien simply nodded his head.

Damien took Amber from my arms as he whispered something in her ear making her nod.

"Now Amy has made a birthday present for you.", Damien stated.

"Really Amber?", I asked her and she shyly nodded her head. Damien took my hand as we walked inside the mansion into the dinning room.

"You need to have your breakfast.", Damien stated.

On the table there was cheese omlet and strawberry smoothie. Along with there was a small gift kept in between the table.

"This is Amy's gift. Open it up. You will love it. She had done a lot of hard work on it.", Damien stated and I nodded my head while I opened it up with care. Inside of it was a plain vanilla cupcake just as I like.

"Amy made it for you.", Damien stated softly.

I felt tears gathering in my eyes looking at it. My baby has grown up. I know full well it was Damien's deed but even the thought of Amber helping him was so satisfying. I kissed Amber's cheek and I muttered a emotional thank you to her.

I took a bite of that cupcake. Though it was slightly burned but still it was the best cupcake I had ever had. After all my daughter has made it for me.

Amber was looking at me nervously. She was waiting for my reply.

"It is the best cupcake I have ever had.", I stated truthfully. Amber passed me another toothy grin.

I turned in Damien's direction and said a hearty thank you to even him. I sat down and quickly had my breakfast while I shared the cupcake with the duo too. Now I couldn't have that little peace of heaven alone.

Amber sat on Damien's lap as she told me how her dad taught her to fly the drone. I constantly watched her hands as they signed one thing or the other while I also ate.

Soon Damien left to get ready for his work while I took Amber to her room to read her a few stories as it had been a while I have done that.

Before leaving Damien came in Amber's room to bid us good bye. He was about to leave the room but turned around.

"Rain be ready by 5 p.m. Where something comfortable. I am taking you out on a date. We will leave Amber at Naomi's place . I have already talked to her.", he stated and left the room without giving me a chance to say anything.

The afternoon passed by very quickly with me playing with Amber. In the beginning I thought quiting my job was a bad decision but now if I think of it, it wasn't that bad as I get to spend my time with my baby. Something I always wanted.

Evening came quickly. I dressed in a red long skirt. Put on a white tank top and covered it up with a cream cardigan as it was chilly. I didn't do any makeup. Just applied a transparent lip balm. I let my hair fall at my back not bothering to do anything to them.

I exited my room and made my way to Amber's where she was taking her afternoon nap. She was already wearing a pair of ripped jeans and hoodie so I didn't bother to change her clothes.

"Amber."

I called but my words fell deaf in her ears so I started tickling her. Soon she was wide awake and hugged me tightly.

"Lister Amber for sometime you are going to stay with your nana and nanu. So be a good girl there. Okay?", I said and Amber nodded her head.

We made our way downstairs to see Damien was already there. He has changed in a black ripped jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket.

But when did he come back home? I sighed not bothering to think to much about it.

Damien took Amber in his arms as he kissed her forehead.

"Good evening sweetheart.", Damien cooed as Amber nodded her head.

He took my hand and pulled me closer to him. The scenes of last night started playing in my mind. I should be lying if I said I didn't think about it.

"You look gorgeous angel.", Damien stated. I couldn't help but blush.

Soon we left the house and sat in another one if his sports car. The interior was made out of leather. It smelled new.

Damien placed Amber in my arms as we first drove to nana's house. Nana was already standing on the doorway.

"Happy birthday my cupcake.", nana squealed while she took Amber in her arms. Nanu was also standing there. He took me in his arms and whispered a happy birthday to me. Same was with Sam.

"I didn't know you have become a PG here Sam.", I teased Sam.

"I just came to wish you birthday princess.", Sam stated while adding a wink.

"Shall we?", I heard Damien's voice. I nodded my head as I bid everyone farewell. Not before both of us placed a kiss on Amber's forehead.

Soon we were back on the road.

"Where are we headed to?", I asked Damien.

"Patience angel.", Damien said teasingly.

"Patience.", I said in a mocking tone making him chuckle.

Soon we reached the beach shore. Damien got down the car and opened my side.

I wanted to move forward but before I could do that my eyes were blindfolded.

"Damien...."

"Just trust me my sweet.", Damien whispered in my ears. I just nodded my head as I followed him as I held on to him.

Soon he let go of my hand but told me not to open my blindfold.

"You can know.", I heard Damien's voice from a distance.

I opened my blindfold and looked at everything with awe. It was mystic. Beyond words.

A table for two was set in a candle light setting near the sea. The table was surrounded by four pillars that were wrapped around with merry lights and the whole path to the table was made out of rose petals.

"Come angel.", I heard Damien's voice and if I was right then it was nervous.

I removed my sandals as I made my way through the rose petals towards the table. The food was already set and it was warm and smelled delicious.

Damien had his back to me.

"Damien it is so beautiful.", I gushed.

Damien turned around and he had a bouquet of red roses in his hand with it's borders coated with golden glitter.

I felt my heart would burst at that moment.

"Happy birthday angel.", Damien said sweetly.

At that moment I was only thinking of one think that red roses might not have been my favorites but now they have become one.