"Can you tell me what happened?" Adriana asked, running her fingers through Aria's hair.
They were back in the car, and Aria had her head on her mother's lap.
Receiving no response, Adriana sighed.
"How is mommy going to help you if you can't tell me what happened? You know I always fight for you, so if someone wronged you just tell me."
"Or was the fight your fault?"
Aria took a deep breath, and she answered, "They asked if uncle Bryan was my daddy. I told them he was only my uncle because he's your friend. They wanted to see my dad because their dad always brings them to school. I told them I never met my daddy…"
She sniffed and buried her head in Adriana's stomach, covering her face with her hair.
"They said mommy was a bad word because I don't have a daddy."
Adriana could literally feel her heart in her throat at that moment. She gritted her teeth and continued to pat her daughter's back and console her.
"I got mad, and I pulled someone's hair. Then they all circled me and I got scared so I….I...I'm sorry mommy I didn't want to hit her with my books but she kept calling you a bad word."
"Shh, do you want me to tell you the truth?" Adriana asked.
Aria nodded her head, still hiding her face away.
Adriana closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
"Baby…" She called out and cupped her cheeks with her palms.
"Responding with violence to violence is not right, but what you did was a perfectly normal reaction. So you don't have to feel guilty since they aren't in the right either. What they said shows how very awfully they have been educated, but you're different because you are mature enough to know what's wrong and what's right."
"And you also admitted to your mistake. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
Aria nodded her head.
"If this happens again, I will walk away, tell a teacher, and never talk to their awfully behaved faces again."
Adriana smiled and wiped her tears. "Mommy will make sure this doesn't happen again."
Oh, like hell she would.
"Will I get in trouble?"
"Do you know what went wrong today?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me, what went wrong?"
"It's not our fault that their parents didn't teach them well, the teacher should have been there taking care of us and I shouldn't have responded with violence…" She then continued in a low voice, "Even if they were violent and hassasing with their words. I should have acted like the mature princess I am." Slightly struggling with her pronunciation.
"You mean harassing?"
"Hmmm, it's a hard word." She nodded and then buried her head in her mother's again.
"Mommy is my accent funny?"
"What accent?"
"My accent when I speak, brother doesn't have it but I do. Is that why he says the words more pretty?"
"More pretty? Pfft." Adriana placed a kiss on her forehead and shook her head.
"That's because your brother learned French first and then English. You learned English first and then French, but you were really little so you would mix up words. Don't worry about it, when you get older it will be gone."
"Really?"
"Yup! And who said it was weird, I think it's cute."
"You only say that because you're my mom."
"Exactly, and your mother knows you the best, and if I say it's cute, it's definitely cute."
"Then mommy am I the second cutest in the world?" Aria asked.
"And who do you think is the first?"
Aria's cheeks flushed pink, and she mumbled, "Brother…"
"And why is that?"
"Because he tries to be really serious and mature, but since he's a baby, it looks funny and cute."
"I agree." Adriana chuckled but nodded her head in agreement.
Aria gave her a full grin in return. It was the cutest thing Adriana had seen today.
"Mommy, when will we get a daddy?"
Adriana's and Ralf's eyes met through the rearview at that moment, and there was a brief silence.
"Do you not want your mommy anymore?"
"Huh, nuu! I love you." She rushed to place kisses all over her mother's face to back up her claim.
"But mommy a family is complete when there are a mommy and a daddy."
"Incorrect. A family is only complete when you and the people are together. Even people who don't share the same blood can be your family. Do you get what I mean?"
"Mommy, you're trying to change the topic." Aria accused her mercilessly.
Adriana laughed nervously.
Aria stared at her continuously.
"Fine, then tell me, why do you want your daddy?"
"Because I want to meet him. And ask him why he isn't with us."
'Because he doesn't even know you exist….' Adriana responded in her thoughts.
"So, you want to meet your daddy. Hmm, I think we can make some arrangements."
"Huh?" Aria frowned in confusion. She never expected her mother to accept it that quickly.
Seeing the instant excitement lit up in her daughter's face, Adriana felt another pang in her heart.
"We can, but you have to be patient. When…"
"It's safe…" Aria buried her head on her neck, sitting on her lap, and she closed her eyes tightly.
"It will never be safe…." She mumbled.
"Wrong." Adriana shook her head.
"You know I keep my promises, right?"
Aria nodded her head.
"Then what if I promise you that soon, maybe in a few months even you will get to ask your dad anything you want to ask him. And you will hug him and kiss him and have him read your bed at night stories. And you and James can go on trips with him and have lots of fun. Will you agree?"
Aria gasped. "Really?"
"Hmmm."
"Pinky promise."
Adriana grinned, and they sealed their pinky promise.
"Thank you, mommy, but If you can't it's okay. We will always love you." She smiled brightly and yawned.
"Are you still sleepy?"
She nodded her head and snuggled closer to her mother's embrace.
"Uncle Noah will be a good daddy," Aria mumbled before going to sleep.
Adriana took a deep breath and chuckled. "I think so too."
She then glanced at Ralf.
"Say it."
"Are you ready for such a thing?"
"No, of course not. But it doesn't matter."
"But-"
"Ralf, get me Cal on the phone right away."
Ralf sighed and dialed a number before passing her the phone.
"Adriana darling, how are you?"
"I sent you my choice, I need it ready for move-in by tonight."
"Hold on, you haven't done your part of the deal yet."
"Your brother will get sued and asked for a divorce because of physical abuse towards his wife tomorrow morning."
"Wow, you work fast, everything is already done. I'll send you the keys with Bryan since he's here, anyway. You guys can move in anytime you want since my security team is already there. Oh, I added a little gift for the twins."
"And that's?"
"A wall." He responded.
"..."
"Sure, thanks."
"Hey, tell them to draw me in-"
Cal rolled his eyes when she hung upon him.
He looked back at Bryan, who was sitting in his office with a dark expression on his face.