A/N: sorry for the delay everyone, the past weeks have been a rollercoaster, with preparation of this pandemic (yours truly is a healthcare worker btw), hope I am forgiven.

I hope and pray that this update will find you all well and safe and it may be enough to make you happy.

Hope you will like this chapter. Happy reading ;)
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Ellie's eyes got rounded due to the kiss, for it is not to be labeled as simple, good morning kiss, but an open-mouthed, tongue-clashing and carnal one. It made her knees weak that if not for the tight hold of Ethan, she may have fallen on the floor in a heap.

She didn't notice how long the kiss lasted, but it was Ethan who let go.

"Now, that's a good morning," he murmured huskily while still peppering kisses on her lips.

"Let go darling or the breakfast you prepared will go cold," he said that made her frown. Her mind cannot process what he said, it may have shown on her face, and it made him chuckle.

"My hair darling. Let go." She gasped at what he said and found that she is still clutching his hair. She cannot remember when her hands traveled to his head and she groaned.

"Don't do that darling or I'll have you for breakfast," he said, kissing her lips one more time before letting her go.

"Sit darling," he instructed her while pulling her chair.

Like a robot following every command, she sat quietly and started eating the food that Ethan put on her plate. Still bewildered at the turn of events, she didn't notice Ethan's grin and just keep on eating. They finished their breakfast in complete silence and Ethan washed the dishes, she let him be and opted to call Alessa to talk to the twins. Someone pick up her call at the second ring, and Ally's voice rang through.

"Hello, momma, how are you?"

"Hi baby, I am fine. How are you? Where is Nate?"

"We are fine momma and Nate is still asleep." Her daughter answered sweetly.

"Okay, how are grandma and grandpa? Are they with you?"

"Yes, grandpa is watching sports and grandma is in the kitchen."

"You know what momma?"

"What baby?"

"Uncle Sean came yesterday and he brought us to his garage. Nate was so happy."

"Really? Nate was so happy? How about you?"

"It's okay, I guess?"

"You guess, you're not sure?"

"Ahmmmm -" she heard her sigh.

"What is it baby?"

"Am I not nice if I say that I didn't like it as much as Nate?" Ally asked suddenly.

"No baby, it's fine if you do not like something like Nate does."

"Okay momma, actually I do not like it that much."

"Care to tell me why?"

"Because it is full of cars and motorcycles. I like dresses better."

She tried to suppress her laughter at her daughter's explanation. She cleared her throat first before speaking.

"Did you told your Uncle Sean that you do not like coming to his garage?"

"No momma, of course not! I don't want to hurt Uncle Sean's feelings."

"But don't you think your Uncle Sean deserves to know that you are not so fond of going to his garage? Aren't you supposed to always say the truth? And I think your Uncle Sean will not so hurt if you tell him the truth, he will appreciate it."

"You think so momma? I don't want to tell him that because he may not like me anymore." Ally said in a sullen voice.

"Don't say that baby, of course your Uncle Sean will still like you, they love you and Nate, okay?"

"You think so momma?"

"I know so baby. Cheer up, okay?"

"Okay momma, I love you."

"I love you too baby, both you and Nate."

"We know that momma. How about papa, do you love him too?" Ally's question made her speechless that she needed to clear her throat first before answering.

"Ahmmm -" she thought for a while whether to answer it truthfully or not, but she opted for the former.

"Yes baby, I do."

"Yes! I am right! So you agreed for a date with papa, right? Because you love him, right?"

With all the things her daughter said, one stood out.

"Date baby? What date?" she asked.

"Oops! Bye momma, I love you!"

"Baby?" but she only heard the beeping tone that means the call has been ended. She internally groaned and stare at her phone for a long time. A chuckle pulled her out of her reverie.

---

Ethan had been standing near Ellie while she is talking over the phone with, as the conversation goes, their daughter Ally. She is so engrossed, she didn't noticed him standing there. He is so good in suppressing his laughter not until the call ended, that a chuckle escaped. He saw Ellie whipped her head towards him, bearing a scowl on her beautiful face, one he answered with a grin.

"What does your daughter mean by a date? What date?"

He was taken aback by the question, not the way she asked or how she looks while asking. But the word that she used, she said 'your', not the usual 'my' when she is addressing the children. Though nobody will question his paternity, because the twins really look like him, and Ally is the famale version of him.

The slip made him think that Ellie is really letting him into their lives. The thought made him weak-kneed and a whirlwind of emotion is blossoming on his chest that he wanted to weep.

Clearing his throat, he slowly approach her. Staring intently on her hazel eyes. He reached out and touched her cheeks tentatively, relishing when she didn't flinch or step back at their closeness. They might have done the deed several times already but there are instances that Ellie is untouchable. She puts up her wall against him whenever she wishes. Thankfully today is not that day, because he so wanted to spend every second of it with her, just to prove her something.

"Ethan, I am asking you, what date is she talking about?" He heard her say, impatience evidence on her voice, though she said it in almost a whisper.

He cannot helped but smile at the breathless quality she spoke. She is affected and she did not mask it from him.

"Yes darling, we're going on a date, later." He answered while caressing her face.

"Why?" she asked, brows still furrowed.

"Why what?" he cannot helped but ask.

"Why are we going on a date?" he heard her ask, disbelief now on her voice.

"Why not?" he answered with a question making Ellie gape at him.

"C'mon, go and prepare, wear something for a dinner." He said while pushing her towards the bedroom.

---

Ellie found herself seated securely with a seat belt inside Ethan's SUV. Her mind is still reeling the fact that they are going on a date, a matter her daughter spilled to her accidentally.

When Ethan pushed her towards the bedroom with a simple instruction to prepare and wear something for a dinner, she did so in a trance. She went down to her shop and chose something that she designed and made, a dress with a keyhole neckline and a flowy silhouette. She completed her outfit with a black clutch and a pair of black ankle strap heels. 

The satisfied look on Ethan's face when she went down made her heart skip and she thought that she chose the right outfit.

Her musings was cut when she noticed Ethan stopping in front of a restaurant. Her mouth dropped at the thought of coming inside because she knew that the place only take reservations and it will take months to be on the list.

Her head snapped on her right when she heard Ethan's voice.

"Close your mouth darling or a fly might enter."

"How?" She asked while accepting Ethan's offered hand.

"I know the owner and he is a friend." He answered while they enter the place. She heard Ethan told the maitre d' of his reservation and she roamed her eyes around. She cannot help but admire the opulence of the place and the ambience it exuded. The tables are almost full and musicians are playing on a stage with some couples dancing on a mellow tune.

They were seated on a table and a waiter approached them, offering a menu and pouring them their wine. She tried to read the menu, but the words are not sinking on her muddled brain.

"Ellie darling, what do you want to eat?" When she just stared at him, Ethan added.

"Do you want me to order for you?"

"Yes, please." She answered accompanied by a nod which Ethan returned with a smile.

Their waiter came by and Ethan gave them their orders, something she tuned out and lower her head. She only held it up when Ethan called her name.

"Ellie? Are you okay?"

She mulled the question on her head and Ethan waited patiently. When she had the courage to speak, she asked.

"Why are we here?"

"We are on a date."

"I know. What I meant was, why here? Why on a place like this?"

When she saw confusion written on Ethan's face, she added and explained.

"We can go somewhere else, somewhere less...opulent."

Ethan smiled at her and took her hand. He kissed both her knuckles before answering.

"Darling, I haven't had the chance to bring you to a place like this when we were dating before. Money is tight and I am still struggling with my business then. So I brought you here now, because I can. I am not flaunting you my money because I know that you have your own too."

Shaking his head, as if clearing his mind, he continued. "I want this date to be special to let you know that you are special. It is also my way of thanking you for everything, for the kids and for letting me into their lives and into your life. Let me do this, please. Let's just savor this moment, okay?"

She stared at him for what seems to be hours. His words struck her, she never thought that it mattered to him where they dated before, because she never minded it one bit. She was okay with burgers and ice cream as long as it's with him. The realization made her teary-eyed, she almost choke with the emotions she is feeling. She blink back the tears and nodded before answering.

"Okay."

"Thank you darling." Ethan said with a smile.

Courses were served and they had their dinner over conversations which made her feeling light and happy. They are finishing their wine when Ethan stood up, bowing slightly - a manner that Nate got from him, obviously - and offered his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

She giggled at his antics before accepting his hand. He ushered her into the dance floor where several other couples are already dancing. Ethan put her left hand into his shoulder while he clasped her other hand in front of his chest, where she felt his heart beating erratically, as if he is nervous, while he put his free hand on her hip pulling her closer. They started swaying to the mellow tune. (insert Unforgettable by Nat King and Natalie Cole).

Unforgettable, that's what you are

Unforgettable, though near or far

As the music floated over them, she thought that the lyrics fits their situation perfectly - personally of course, though she cannot speak on Ethan's behalf.

Like a song of love that clings to me

How the thought of you does things to me

Never before has someone been more

Unforgettable in every way

As the song continues, she heard Ethan singing. She turned to stare at him and saw that his eyes are already on hers making her suck her breath at the emotions she doesn't want to read. She lowered her head when she felt her cheeks flushed which earned a chuckle from him.

And forevermore (and forevermore)

That's how you'll stay (that's how you'll stay)

That's why darling, it's incredible

That someone so unforgettable

Thinks that I am unforgettable too

As the song is saying, she had never forgotten Ethan one bit. She may have tried to suppress the memories but it was always there, lingering. Both the good and the bad.

No, never before has someone been more

Ooh unforgettable (unforgettable)

In every way (in every way)

And forevermore (and forevermore)

That's how you'll stay (that's how you'll stay)

That's why darling it's incredible

That someone so unforgettable

Thinks that I am unforgettable too

When the last note faded, another realization hit her, that whatever tomorrow may come, whatever happens with their relationship, it will always be Ethan.

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Hope this suffice. Please send me your thoughts. Until next chapter.

Thank you!

-blue