Alana

The day was finally here. The day Rowan's anxiety level increased further up a notch. The day he was silently dreading. My dad called me up the day before to confirm if I was still dropping by. I was hoping both my men would just co-operate. With each passing day, as the weekend rolled, Rowan suddenly started having frequent temperatures, though I was sure he was just sick worried (note the pun) and not sticking the thermometer in a lighting bulb. He was capable of pulling that off too.

I couldn't sleep the entire night as I played out the scene that would unfold when Rowan finally met my father. He was aware of the scandal that went down when Rowan resigned from the university, although my dad wasn't aware of Rowan's trip to Loony Island, or his history of drug abuse or the fact that he had a love child. It appeared a lot more difficult than we thought it would be.

It took me exactly forty minutes to reach Rowan's condo and all the while even though my eyes remained on the road, my mind was preoccupied by Rowan. I was worried about Rowan flipping and becoming a sociopath. Socializing and playing the perfect boyfriend wasn't his forte. To add another problem to the mix, the security guy refused to let me go without confirming at the intercom.

When Rowan said, 'Yes, I'm expecting Ms. Hayes' did the man let me go. He had seen me leave Rowan's condo a few times, didn't he? So why the formality?

I rang the bell a few times, getting impatient by the minute until the door opened and Rowan pulled me inside and pecked me on the lips which led to a long lingering kiss. The way his lips moved over mine, it was a clear indication that he was nervous.

He was wearing a casual flannel shirt, the sleeves were rolled upward over acid wash denims. Elsa, the little puppy began barking at us, begging for attention.

Minnie walked into the passage and said. "Ewwww. Daddy and Alana swapping spit."

We pulled apart and Minnie started singing. "Daddy and Alana sittin' on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

Rowan and I exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Rowan turned towards me. "Did you have lunch or do you want me to pack it so we can have it on our way?"

Rowan was like a typical caring mother. I had to thank my lucky stars for getting such a boyfriend.

"I think it would be best if we had it on our way."

He simply nodded and began stuffing Minnie's things into a small bag. I also did not fail to notice an overnight bag that I realized had to be Rowan's. Yes, you heard me right. I said overnight bag because it was going to be a dinner at my dad's place with an overnight stay. My dad had been precise and clear, and when Rick Hayes invites someone for an overnight stay, one does not decline such a generous offer, especially if it's my boyfriend who is in dire need of his approval.

I realized Rowan still wasn't himself, he hobbled over things, gave me mono-syllabi answers and appeared distant.

"You don't have to worry about dad, okay?" I told him. "Just follow my lead and everything will be alright. He's really cool."

"I hope so." The uneasiness did not surpass his voice.

"Daddy..." Minnie's soft voice drifted from the living area.

"Coming, sweetheart." Rowan called out to her. "Let's go. We are going to be late. I need to stop by at my dad's first."

That wasn't the plan.

"Why?" I asked.

"We're going to drop off Minnie and Elsa there first."

"Minnie is not coming with us?" what the hell?

"Alana, I don't have a problem with Minnie coming along with us, but she's my daughter and taking her with us is only going to raise more questions before we have time to explain. Do you want that to happen? I'm meeting your father for the first time and it'll be easier for me if she's not there with us. Besides, she enjoys spending weekends at her grandma's."

I nodded. He was right. I hadn't thought of it at all, considering my plan about hiding Rowan's addictions and his single father status, Minnie would've only raised more questions. My father was attorney, a successful one at that. He would see right through every damn thing without breaking a sweat. It was a part of his job, one he was very good at. But, before my father, there was another adversary waiting.

My cell phone vibrated in my denim pocket. I swiped the touch screen to check.

I've arrived at the place. Where are you?

"Rowan, can I drive today?" I asked Rowan, putting the phone far from his sight.

Rowan seemed vaguely confused. "Sure."

I typed frantically.

Get your speech ready and gather your wit. And PRAY GABE, just freakin pray it'll go alright.

Rowan started to lock the condo; it didn't open without a security code and thump identification. Pretty high-tech. Minnie held my hand while Elsa walked on a leash with Rowan. She seemed to be growing up too fast for a little puppy, or Rowan was spoiling her rotten.

I received another text again.

If we live through this, remind me to thank you.

Rowan caught me smiling. "What are you smiling at? And who are you texting?"

"It's..."I swallowed. Lying wasn't one of my strongest points. "It's Nina."

He wasn't buying it, but managed to nod. He opened the passenger side in the back of the car, and secured Minnie in the back seat. Elsa could hardly keep her excitement at bay; she'd already stuck her sloppy tongue on the backseat window.

I was starting to regret ever being a part of the Rowan-Gabe reunion plan. This could go straight to shit if Rowan refused to co-operate. I took a deep breath, smiled at my boyfriend in the passenger side of the car and pulled the gear in drive.

****

"You missed the turn." Rowan reminded me as I parked the car near the curb. He was still staring straight ahead, probably contemplating how we could still get back on the same road without having to take a longer route.

"I didn't come here accidently."

Rowan frowned in confusion. "So you want to tell me why we are here?"

I killed the engine and got out of the car, he followed suit and carried Minnie out of the backseat. Elsa leaped out and made a run towards the open gates of the park.

Minnie pulled at Rowan's shirt. "Daddy, can I go on the swings?"

"Sure." he put her down and she followed Elsa in the general direction of the play area. "How did you know about this park? I mean, I used to play here as a kid."

There weren't many people in the park, just a few kids and their parents having a good time. A low gush of wind blew the fallen leaves on the grass.

"I just...I wanted you to remember some things." I glanced up into his deep brown eyes. "Some people in your life."

Rowan appeared puzzled by my last statement and started to respond when Minnie called out to him. "Daddy."

She came walking towards Rowan, a paper tucked in her fingers. "What is this, baby?"

Minnie pressed her lips together as she pushed it into his hands. Rowan took it from her; I could see the wheels turning in his head. I took a quick peek of the contents on the paper. It was a drawing, constructed with vivid colors on the paper. I looked closely, and noticed it was done entirely in crayons. It seemed like a drawing any little kid would do, but, if you looked closely, there was something out of picture there. The drawing was purposely done like that make it appear like it was done by a child, only it wasn't.

A dark haired boy held hands with a blond boy. And beneath the picture, it read.

Rowan and Cooper. Friends forever.

Rowan's hands trembled, he looked back at his daughter, "Who gave you this, sweetheart?"

Minnie pointed towards the play area.

****

Rowan

The man was right there. Blond, taut muscled and looking just out of place as he wheeled the merry-go-round, joining into the peaceful laughter of the children riding it. I just stood there, not knowing how to process the new missing piece in my life that had once again found a way back, that missing piece being my childhood friend Cooper, the boy who had also been a major part of the Rowan cheerleading team, the boy who tried to save his self-destructive friend once.

What part of my mind failed to recognize him before?

As I continued to watch him whirl the children, I imagined him being the Cooper who'd known me eighteen years ago. The broad man seemed to shrink in front of my eyes, morphing into the timid little Coop I'd known. That boy could barely carry a pair of old baggy pants on a slim waist; he couldn't stand up against the school bully. He glanced up at me, and smiled.

He made his way towards me with his hands dug deep in his pockets. Alana had already left to join Minnie and Elsa by the swings. Their cheerful laughter filled the dead awkward silence.

Gabriel closed the distance; he looked me dead in the eye, trying to gauze a reaction, waiting for me to take the lead.

"How long have you known about this?" I asked bluntly.

The corners of his mouth twitched up, those jaded green eyes held some amusement. "Are we skipping the usual pleasantries?"

"Guess we are." His eyes were still trying to intimidate the hell outta me. "So what is this? You and Alana were on the same team this entire time? Did either of you not think it would've been better if I learned about this sooner?"

"Oh c'mon, Rowan, would that make any difference?" he asked, keeping his voice low, barely audible. "I told Alana that I wanted to be the one to tell you. Does it bother you that I'm her best friend too? It was way too childish what you said to me on the phone, by the way."

"It doesn't matter. No matter how close anyone gets to her, no one will be able to take my place. I know that for a fact."

"And that gives you a good enough reason to pull your random bullshit?" He asked.

"I never said that." I quickly tried to defend myself.

"Hypocrite, domineering and overconfident. As always."

"I just trust my girl." I could feel my smile starting to stretch into a smirk.

"You should hold onto her." Gabriel said.

I managed a nod. Before the awkward silence could flap its wings, I asked. "I tried to get in touch with you. For eighteen years, Coop, I didn't know what to make of it, the way you disappeared without a trace. "

Why was I asking him this? After all these years. Did I care to know? I already knew the answer. He didn't offer me a response which was like adding fuel to the blazing flames. "Were you really my friend? Or were you just using me as a shield against the bad guys?"

"I just.." his voice was bleak.

I shook my head. "I want to know. I deserve to know. You tell me, I knocked at your door and I never got an answer. I wrote you. I called you." I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. "I always included you in my family. You were my brother."

"Were?.."

I didn't want to look into his eyes and see the hurt. "Yes, were, because I realized those feelings were just one sided. You never considered me any of it. And things have changed, you're not Cooper anymore. You are just Gabriel."

"There are things you need to understand, Rowan." Gabriel sighed in defeat. He knew he wasn't winning against me. "I've lived my life in guilt, thinking I was the one who turned you into what you were at that time. I didn't want to be a part of your life, and mess up again."

"Don't flatter yourself, as much as you want to become the captain of the Rowan blaming team, I can't let you. I can't allow anyone to do that. If there's anyone who takes the Blame Cake home, it's going to be me." I admitted.

It was high time people started to make excuses for my behavior. Cooper or Drew and now it was going to be Alana's turn. There wasn't anything any of them could do other than just control the beast I kept unleashing. They were just people I loved who got beaten up in the process.

"It was just the start of everything that I'm now. I was home schooled because I screwed up, you are not the reason I was expelled." I continued, "I don't regret anything I did for you back then. I did the right thing and that's what my father said. No matter how much I'd shamed him, he told me it was the right thing to stand up against the bad stuff, maybe my methods are wrong. But, I'm proud of what I did for the people I love."

"What if you got another chance, will you do it all over?" There was a new kind of spark in his jaded orbs, the respect that he had for me before was multiplied.

"Yes. I'll do it all over again." I admitted without batting an eye.

Gabriel smiled and nodded. "I'm sorry."

I gave him a harsh pat on the back. "Are you still flipping burgers at the restaurant?"

He choked a booming laughter. "How can you pull off a cheeky comment so politely?"

"Years of practice." I responded.

"Well, no I left that job last year after Alana left the job; I work at the Demon's Bolt as a bartender." He explained, "I like this job better, plus, the pay's good. They even gave me an apartment, the size of a matchbox. They call it studio apartment these days."

"That's good." I laughed. I was just glad to hear the new improvement. He wasn't the farm boy anymore. Studio apartment was better than acres of vacant land or grazing cattle. "Who looks after the animals?"

"My grandma." He said as he looked past me towards the peaceful sound of the laugher. I followed his gaze.

Alana appeared to be laughing and giggling as she pushed Minnie on the swing, the look on the child's face was priceless. The two were just lost somewhere, in their own little happy bubble. Elsa woofed at the two. She hated when people laughed so loud.

"I see what you see."

Gabriel's voice pulled me out of the spell. I turned to him, "what?"

"A beautiful, little family." He said simply, and returned his gaze back at them. "She loves you too much. So much that it's not even considered healthy."

"She is mine, Gabriel. It feels like a dream sometimes."

"You deserve it." Gabriel said. "Don't break her heart alright, or I'll break your teeth."

"You've been taking classes from Chez?" I asked. "And whose idea was this? The drawing, it's so fucking cheesy."

"Daddy.." Minnie came rushing towards me; I scooped her up in my arms. She noticed Gabriel staring at us. She turned to me, "Who is he, daddy?"

"Uncle Coop."

Gabriel appeared to be shocked; he blinked and seemed to have recovered from whatever that was occupying his mind.

"Gabe." That was Alana walking in our direction, her eyes searched Gabe's. Elsa followed her footsteps.

"Hey."

I couldn't help but notice the silent communication the two shared, she smiled at him. I was still supposed to work on my jealously. Gabriel broke the stare, "Demon's Bolt is the place to find me." I nodded as he continued, "Just drop by and we'll catch up on things we've missed over the years."

"Sure." I was yet to break to either of them that I had stopped drinking. Completely. Rowan and Johnny Walker Blue didn't go together anymore. Once it had been my best friend, now a mortal enemy, I constantly fought battles with.

We watched Gabriel slid inside a Honda civic, he honked once, pulled the car on the road and the white metal disappeared amid the greenery and the trees. It was time we moved onto our next destination which was going to be my father's house.

Elsa and Minnie piled up in the back seat while Alana started to open the passenger side door of the car, when I grasped her wrist and pulled her towards backside of the car, tugging her by the waist. She was stranded between me and the car. She circled her arms around my neck. I just liked to feel her arms around mine.

Alana laughed as she smoothed a hand down my back. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"You make life so much better for me. It's easy to breathe now. Thank you, Alana. I don't think anything I do for a lifetime would be enough to make up for it. Just don't ever leave me."

"I will never leave you, it's a promise."

****

A.N: Long Chapter, but I still hope you guys enjoyed it! Finally, it's time to meet Alana's daddy ;)

Please don't forget to Vote and Comment telling me what you guys think of this chapter. Stay Blessed! xx