I've been waiting so long to write this moment in Erika's story!

Enjoy!

"Ariana?"

Like a slow-motion scene caught from a movie, Brandon's voice stopped her in her tracks, the pale peach dress underneath her trench coat following the flow of her discontinued escape.

"This wasn't a good idea." Her voice carried her regret, as she took another step towards her escape route.

"No, wait! Please... Stay!" It was me who stopped her this time, moving between her and Brandon.

I didn't know what it was, but I had this nagging feeling deep in my chest; if she left now, she might never come back.

"Ehmm... I- There's cake!" I blurted out with no plan, earning a chuckle from Brandon.

She turned around, still on guard, but with amusement in her eyes at my outburst. This gave Brandon enough time to intervene.

"Ari, I'm so glad you could make it... I want you to meet Erika." Brandon took my hand in his tenderly, pulling us closer to her tentatively as she avoided his searching eyes. Not losing another moment, Brandon continued, "Angel, this is Ariana, my sister."

After meeting most of his family, I shouldn't be surprised at their striking features. I had seen Ariana in old photos, but up close she looked like an angel. Golden locks cascaded down her shoulders, framing her soft face like a halo; one she was sharing with the child in her tender arms. It was heartwarming in a way I wasn't expecting.

"And you must be..." Brandon pulled me out of my thoughts. He turned to the little girl, but just like Ariana, she was avoiding his gaze, hiding her face in the crook of Ariana's neck.

I didn't blame them.

It was overwhelming, as curious eyes started gathering in the kitchen after our small commotion.

"This is Raine." She looked at her, warm light returning to her eyes, as she kissed the child's forehead.

"Wait, you really named her rain?" Mia asked from right beside me, cocking an eyebrow at her older sister.

"It's with an 'e' at the end, Bambi," Ariana said with an eyeroll, as she released the young girl from her protective embrace.

"Well, hello Raine. I'm Brandon." He kneeled in front of the little girl, trying to be at eye level with her as she clung to Ariana's clothes, hiding behind her legs. "Which means... Am I her uncle?" He questioned her from where he was kneeling.

Realization dawned on him as he stood beside me once more, scratching his chin, deep in thought.

"So, who's the baby daddy?" Mia asked straight-forward as always, a cocky grin on her face.

"I am her daddy. And mommy. I am everything she needs me to be, thank you very much."

Her words held a finality, staring Mia with a great intensity, before finally meeting Brandon's awaiting gaze. Time froze for her as she stared, before the warm hues in her eyes turned cold and stormy behind unshed tears.

"You look so much like him."

She didn't need to explain what she meant; the pain in her voice painted a gallery full of pictures. It was obvious to the people closest to this family, that some scars were deeper than others.

"Wait-"

In seconds, she picked Raine back in her arms, but instead of storming out like she first intended, she walked down the hallway and up the stairs; to her old room.

Her siblings stayed frozen in place, exchanging knowing looks, as more guests moved from the living room to the kitchen, their curiosity pulling them here.

Without missing a beat, I walked right after her, with two pieces of cake in my hands. I knew I was the last person she needed right now, but I was hoping cake could fix everything. Or at least pave the means for a better outcome.

"I brought some cake."

Picking my head through the door, I found her sitting on her old bed with Raine on her lap. She eyed the creamy goodness warily, biting on her bottom lip, as I placed the plates on the bedside table.

"They sent you too?" Her gaze was scrutinizing, as she chose to ignore my offering.

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone is pestering me about the father. Mom, pops, even her doctors. Why don't they get the message?"

"Mommy?" the little girl whispered in her mom's ear, her two hands lost in Ariana's golden curls.

"It's fine, baby. I'm not sad, I'm sorry. Everything's fine now," she said to the child, voice soft and caring.

"I didn't come for that."

"Save it." She kept her tone low, but it was obvious from the way her eyes bored through me, that I wasn't welcome here.

"You want some?" she asked Raine, ignoring my presence, as she brought the plates closer to them. Raine was nodding furiously at the prospect of a sugar-spike, making her mother chuckle at the huge grin on her face.

From afar, she looked like an ice queen. But as I got closer, it was obvious she had the heart of a lioness. She was stubborn, but I was glad I didn't have to melt the ice around her; her daughter was doing the job all on her own.

It was astonishing how, in a matter of seconds, the little girl made her mommy the happiest, as she got cream around her mouth after the first spoonful. I knew I was trespassing her safevplace, but by the time I sat beside her on the bed, she morphed into a completely different person. Instead of the wary cat she resembled when I walked in, she now looked relaxed, content, as she mirrored her child's actions in scarfing down the cake.

Who knew, having a sweet tooth could be passed down through genes.

"I just wanted to talk," I started softly, earning a dramatic eyeroll from her. "Not about her father. About you."

"What?" She stared expectedly, eyes anticipating lies.

"I know we've just met, and you can take everything I say with a pinch of salt. But to me... It's obvious, you have been doing such an amazing job with her. I can't pretend to imagine how difficult it must be, balancing motherhood, with everything else you two have going on."

"You've got that right," she huffed, not impressed.

"But who's taking care of you?"

In a split-second reaction moisture gathered in her eyes, her blonde curls doing nothing to hide the intensity in them.

"I don't need anybody's help."

"I know you don't. I just wanted to offer, when... if you're feeling that some things are too much and you need a breather, a full night's sleep or even a night out, I'm here for you. Be it child-sitting or somebody to drink the stress and sorrows away."

Ariana didn't give me an answer.

I came here with no expectations. My plan wasn't to fix her or the relationship she had with her family. That was a challenge in and of itself. But at the same time, I couldn't just ignore the fact that, up until now, she endured everything on her own. And at twenty-three, with a three-year old, that couldn't have been easy.

Figuring she wanted to be alone, I took my leave. I reached for the door handle, when she sprang to her feet, stopping me from exiting the room.

"Wait." She was staring at me, overwhelming me with her eyes' intensity; this family's eyes surely had some type of power. "You mean it?" she asked, searching if my words were genuine.

"Of course."

"I... I might take you up on that offer. Or both."

We were quiet for a moment, until it finally clicked in my mind.

"You know, I didn't know your father... or anyone else from your family, really. But seeing you right now, you really remind me of Brandon, more than you think."

"It's the eyes... these damn eyes."

"No, it's not just that. Granted, you're a family with good fucking genes." I instantly regretted my word-choice, when her eyes narrowed to slits, her hands clasped her daughter's ears, as I mouthed a silent sorry.

"It's your stubbornness," I said with a knowing smirk, at which she wasn't amused. "Your strength. The drive to keep fighting, to protect the people you love. That reminds me of him. And I really admire that."

After a few moments of silence, she tapped the space next to her on the bed, Raine back on her lap, as I moved to fill the space beside them.

"You're good for him," she said, her eyes never leaving mine.

"I hope so," I replied, a nervous chuckle escaping my lips.

I felt at ease at their company. The two of them had their own way of communicating, safe in their bubble, but even so, the quiet of the room was beautiful. And before I knew it, I was in a daze at Raine's soft humming; she was playing with a bunny-ballerina soft doll Ariana pulled out of her bag, making its fluffy legs dance to an unknown melody only known to her.

"What's your name, sweetie?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer, trying to find a way to make Raine trust me.

The little girl looked at her mother, pleading with her eyes for something, before she hid her face in Ariana's neck. "You wanna tell her your name, baby?"

No words came out of the little girl's mouth, "Hey, it's okay, I promise. It's okay, baby, she's a friend. Erika is our friend," she tried to coax her.

Ariana turned to look at me, a sigh leaving her lips, as she caressed her daughter's back.

"Raine," the softest voice said, making her mother's eyes widen in surprise. "I... I'm..." Raine turned my way, her teary eyes searching mine, just like her mother's.

"Oh, baby! You trust Erika, is that it?" Ariana sobbed, wiping a stray tear. "

Raine nodded her head, hugging her mom, but this time she didn't shy away from my eyes. "Am Raine," she said once more, waving with the hand that wasn't clasped around Ariana's neck.

"How old are you, Raine?"

At my second question, she shied away, gesturing with two fingers her answer.

"Are you sure about that?" Ariana asked her, alarming the girl as she sat with wide eyes. "That's right, baby girl. You're three, now."

"Three!" Her squeals filled the room, showcasing three fingers on each hand as she did a happy dance with her mom.

"Your birthday was yesterday, wasn't it?" Ariana said, as she kissed all over Raine's face.

"Are you kidding? Why didn't you say anything? We could have brought candles and another cake just for her."

"Big parties are not our thing... not yet, anyway," she chuckled, but her voice had an underline of sadness to it.

I had a suspicion about what this was, but preferred not to voice my thoughts. I didn't want to alarm the little girl, or upset Ariana. It was later on, when Raine was fighting sleep with a soft yawn, that Ariana talked about their lives.

"We weren't planning on a party, to be honest. It's my fault, really, but she's not used to many people. But after tonight, I guess my baby's steps are gonna follow faster than I've ever hoped for.

"It's funny, really, but growing up I always felt overwhelmed when it was my birthday. Granted, I spent almost half of them without my dad, as you may know. Which was why I hated celebrating the day altogether," she paused, a heavy sigh leaving her lips, before she continued.

"But when Raine was born, my whole world shifted around its axes. Suddenly I realized, her birth might be the most important day on the calendar for me. And I'd be damned if I don't celebrate my baby, just like she deserves."

"There was a time I would do anything to avoid a family birthday-party back home, until my nonna said, I shouldn't deprive the people closest to me from celebrating the day I came into their lives. I think I get it now."

At my words, she hugged Raine closer to her, pulling her scarf around the small bundle on her lap.

"Have you noticed, how she avoids talking to people she doesn't know?" I nodded at her question, urging her to continue. "She's suffered with seizures since she was one. After the overwhelming number of visits to the hospital, she started talking less and less to people she didn't know."

Ariana exhaled deeply, pulling her daughter's frame closer to her.

"The doctors called it selective mutism, which made sense when we were in Europe. But ever since we came back to Chicago, she started warming up to people. Just a few, but it's the baby steps I was waiting for her whole life."

"Does she talk to your mom? Maybe she feels your bond to her."

"No, she... she didn't like talking to my mom when we came back. That's a recent development as well. Believe it or not, the first person she talked to, other than me, was Jax."

"Jax? As in, Jaxon Inkles?"

"The one and only," she said with a long exhale. "We had to visit the emergencies after a recent seizure, and she let Jax calm her in a way I've never seen before."

"Must make things easier, right? Since she trusts her doctor-"

"I don't think that's the only reason. I think... It's like Raine..." she started saying absentmindedly.

"Wait-"

"What are you two talking about, for so long?" Brandon surprised us both, as he stepped inside the room quietly. Once he reached my side, he wrapped one arm around my waist, ruffling Ariana's blond hair with the other.

"Hey, knock it off," she pushed his hand away, trying to put her blond locks back in place, all while keeping a sleeping Raine on her lap.

It was obvious she didn't want to finish the conversation, so I didn't push her further. I wasn't going to mess in her business; I learned the hard way with the King family. But I knew I would let the new knowledge I acquired tonight brew for later inspection.

"Your guests are waiting to tell their goodbyes, Angel."

His lips ghosted over the shell of my ear, a featherlight wave of cigarette smoke and cologne wafting through me at our close proximity. I turned to look at him, only to find the walls drawn back around him.

Even though he tried to hide behind his strong façade, the signs were all there; I knew where to look for them.

"Are you moving back to your old room, Ari?" Brandon asked, receiving a negative shake from her.

"We'll be going back to pops tonight."

"Is that where you're staying?"

"For now," was her answer. "We'll move in with mom, now that Mia's living at the student halls."

"You know, you can stay here, right?" She turned to look at me, surprise in her eyes. "This is still your house."

"I would hate to impose. And with Raine, it could be-"

"Don't say it. We'd love to have both of you here," Brandon said, caressing her hair, this time with less vigor.

She bit her lip, deep in thought, as her eyes fell to her daughter.

"Let me think about it," she said with a deep sigh.

With a light hum, Brandon pulled me to my feet, allowing Ariana a moment alone in her old room, while we returned to our guests.

People were already starting to disperse, while others like Savi, Dr. Marshall, Nelle and Gordon had already left. There was no rest for the wicked; or doctors, who had a morning shift.

Amongst the remaining guests, pops was the first to pull me into a warm hug.

"I wish you many happy years. Take care of this one, for me," he said, lightly punching Brandon's shoulder.

Mia was right behind him, along with Markus, before Stella followed.

"Happy birthday again, chica. Sleep tight." Stella's arms enveloped me, her next words a whisper, only meant for my own ears. "Your man thinks he's subtle, but boy, does he want you all to himself." She chuckled at my expression, cheeks burning hot and eyes wide at the not-so-subtle message behind her words.

One by one left the house, until all our guests were gone; everyone except Ariana. We hadn't heard from her since we left her room, and when I stepped back inside, it was obvious why.

Ariana was already asleep above the covers of her bed, with Raine nuzzling her side. Even though they both looked so peaceful together, my stomach turned in knots at the dried streaks of tears on her cheeks. At this point, I wouldn't let anyone disturb them, and I would fight tooth and nail to ensure their safety and peace.

Pulling blankets from the wardrobe, I covered them both, before I left fresh towels and new toothbrushes on the vanity for when they woke up. Walking as silently as I could master on my tiptoes, I closed the door to her room quietly, before I collided, face first, with Brandon's wall for a chest.

"All good in the-"

"Shhh!" I put my hand over his mouth, dragging him to the other side of the house, to our bedroom, so we could speak normally. "They're both asleep. I couldn't wake them up, after the day they had."

"What were you two saying, before I came in?" he asked, the moment I settled over his naked chest in bed.

"Girl stuff," I said with a giggle as his hands caressed over the exposed skin of my waist.

"I shouldn't be surprised... but she warmed up to you faster than I expected."

In that soft moment between us, he looked so calm, a playful smile playing on his lips, as his warmth seeped through my skin.

"What do you mean?" I asked playfully.

"Well, you have a way of breaking the King-walls down, faster than anyone else. Besides... how could she not? The only thing missing is a bright halo and white wings to finish your look," he teased, pinching my side.

"Hey, stop it," I covered a squeal, as he flipped my body around, pulling me back to his chest.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

Trapped between his body and the mattress, the essence of smoke across his skin overwhelmed my senses as his lips moved from my temple to my jaw. His kisses turned to flames over the expanse of my neck, his hand settling underneath my pajamas, on my hip; a searing claim like the secrets left on my skin.

"Baby, wait... Brandon..." My words were coming out breathless, as he settled his strong body between my legs.

His game of seduction was one I knew well, but this time there was more to it, and I knew the signs. I knew what was going on.

He was stressed, overwhelmed. And his sister's return, with the newfound knowledge of her surprise baby, was the icing on the birthday cake for him.

"You can tell me anything... wait..."

"I can't help it! You're gorgeous." His hand traveled up my hip, over my navel, resting under my breasts, as he pulled me closer. "This is so confusing... Seeing you with that little girl made me so confused today...," he said under his breath, talking more to himself than me.

"Tell me you're not jealous of a three-year-old," I teased, but that wasn't what was torturing him.

"On the contrary..."

"Talk to me."

"It made me want that with you. It made me realize; I want that for us."