Dark & Darker

11 months later

Vince's POV.

"Formula? How could I get that?" he yelled.

"Well Dylan, you shouldn't have asked if we need anything, if you can not get us what we need." I was sarcastic but I still somehow forget no one understands me anymore "Adelina knows which one." I asked and hung up.

He is not under my comment anymore, and yet he still acts like a soldier when he needs to get something done.

I looked at my phone smiling about him, then looked at the stupid birthday decorations.

"Never thought you as someone who does half-birthdays."

I did not turn around but I could see the smirk on his stupid face.

"You know I'm good with funerals Sam. Care to have one?" I answered, still not turning.

He laughed out loud. That reminded me, he is used to me and my sarcastic lines, he has a side in him that is like... her.

I shook my head to get rid of thoughts and feelings that are about to come back and took big steps to hug him.

"Never thought you as someone who hugs this tight" I said,smiling.

"Yeah, yeah I missed you too." he said hitting my back. "So this place is the same, huh?"

"You know I hate changes." I replied which is now funnier than every joke of mine. Everything has changed.

We shared a long silence.

"Oh Sam! You made it!" Laura said. She was genuinely happy. She started to like seeing people in the house, this house was too big for only 2 of us.

"Well, I am only here for her." he replied.

"She is about to wake up from her nap uncle Sam." she said then started to make few adjustments to the decorations.

Me and Sam poured ourselves drinks as Jason came in.

"I need to get the keys back!" I said.

"We would climb from the window." Jamie replied.

"Simple ringing the bell would be enough. Where is Maya?"

"Here" She said walking in and we heard crying. She is awake.

Dylan and Adelina came in the last second as usual. He bought 3 different type of formula.

They all played with her for a while till Laura came with the cake.

Besides it's being incredibly stupid idea, this half year birthday thing was a good excuse for us to see each other. We rarely saw each other since everybody left, phone group chat was always busy but of course it's never the same.

If someone who never knew anyone in the house was watching us through the window, they would be jealous of the laughter inside.

But clearly was not enough, I thought and without knowing it my eyes directly looked at Adelina. She was talking to Maya all smiling. Then suddenly Jason grabbed my arm and pulled me away.

He was always big but clearly he has been working out, he never was strong enough to pull me around.

"You lost weight." he said jokingly realized how he could easily move me around."you should come to my gym."

"Is this how you find your clients? Pushing them around on the street?"

"How are you?" he asked, seriously.

Oh no. I'm not ready for serious talks.

"Same."

"Did you hold her yet?"

I did not answer.

"You will have to do it eventually Vince."

I didn't have to. I won't have to.

"Laura knows-"

"Yeah, yeah. Laura knows that you are never gonna be her father bla bla. I know all that. When I say you will have to, I mean you will want to. You help them by letting them stay here, you might as well enjoy. She is pure joy Vince. You need that joy. I have ears all around."

"Oh, that was not hold this baby for once and you will feel like her dad kind of a talk. This is I know what you have been doing talk."

"Yes Vince. Does anyone else know?"

"There is nothing to know Jason."

"If there was more work, why did you send us away?"

"Because this is not work. This is me trying to blow off the steam. Think of it as a therapy."

He kept on looking at me blankly.

"The way you sit, the way you take a zip of that drink, those lines are exactly like your father now." he said,walking to the door "Just come to the gym."

I walked out of the room after trying to calm myself down because of the words Jason said to me. That might have been the biggest insult.

It is an insult because I knew what he meant. He was talking about being cold. That's how you would define my father. He was clever business man, good friends to the ones who comes in handy to him, surprisingly good husband but he was always cold.

He had a lack of ways of showing that he cared. Jason always loved how opposite of him I was. Clearly, not anymore.

He was right.

Somewhere these months, somehow I lost the concept of care. I found my duty. It is to protect Laura and that innocent daughter of hers from her evil father. I focused on that.

I made it my belief, my religion, my purpose. That's it.

Sometimes, when I see everybody, I get my flashbacks, especially when I see Adelina. Then, it quickly passes.

The flashbacks come and stay every tuesday at 9 pm, for about 20 minutes.

Then heard my phone, felt the buzz in my pocket. Looked at the clock, and it was Tuesday. I went back to the office and locked the door.

"Hey!" she yelled.

Okay, her voice sounds good, I can see David playing pc behind her. Her eyes looks better than last tuesday, she have rest well.

"Hey Dia!. How are you?" I asked.

20 minutes flashback has started.