NICOLE
Little Dustin never failed to make me happy with his extreme super cuteness. He called me Mom throughout the day. And somehow I didn't mind. I felt an Awkward connection with Dustin. Although I told myself not to get hopes high.
The day passed with Dustin and me in the park. Playing with ball in the sunny day. We returned back to see the band returned from the studio.
"Hey man! how you doing?" asked Alex picking Dustin up in his arm.
But my eyes were fixed on Hunter. And his were fixed on me. I looked away, breaking the awkwardness.
The band talked to Dustin, and went to their rooms. Leaving me, Dustin and Hunter alone.
"Dad!" he said hugging Hunter.
"Hey there little man!" he said picking Dusting up in his arms.
"Dad I had soo much fun with mom today!" he said.
Hunter's eyes swept to me. But seeing no shock on my face, his expressions softened.
"Oh, you did, did you?"
"Yeah...Mom played ball with me"
"Owhhh did you like playing with ball?"
"Yesss....much"
"I'm glad"
"Daddy, marry mom!!"
Now was my turn to look at Hunter. He was as surprises as me. So little, but knew so much.
"Baby, we can't" Hunter says.
"No no no no...Marry"
"Listen buddy, we cannot marry, you see, your Daddy already loves you so much, do you want to share his love?" I say. Hoping it would make him stop commanding such big wishes.
"I want share Dada's love! Marry"
"Alright buddy, you gotta sleep now...Say goodnight to Nicole"
"No no no....marry"
"Dustin, say goodnight" Hunter said sternly.
Dustin wiggled out of his father's hold and hugged me tightly.
"Good night, Mom"
"Night, baby" I said kissing his head.
"I'll se you out"
I walk to the exit, Hunter follows me.
"Please don't mind him, he's never been like that before."
"Oh...no, don't worry, he's just a little kid"
"Thanks for understanding, Nicole"
He called me by my name. He just called my name.
"Goodnight sir"
"Night" He said going inside.
I return home, Dustin's word still ringing in my head. I smiled to myself, thinking this would never even be possible in my dreams.
I reached home, to find Aimee more weaker than yesterday, something was going one.
I went to her.
"What has happened?"
"Nothing, Nik"
"Tell me!" I demand.
"It's....It's....Archie...he's returned"
"Ho....what!?"
"Yeah....And he demands to meet Jake"
Archie is Aimee ex boyfriend. Jakes dad. He left her after 5 years, when Aimee got pregnant.
"I grew Jake up by myself, Nik...I don't want to loosed him. He's my life"
"Did you meet him?"
"Yeah, he wants to meet Jake"
"Aimee, love, it'll be alright. Don't worry."
"I....don't know, Nik, Jake is my life, if he's gonna try and take him away...."
"He won't. I won't let him"
"Thanks Nik"
"Love you, sleep now. Get some rest"
"Yeah...and Jakes already asleep, you go sleep too"
"Hmmm..."
I go to my room and do my daily journaling and reading. And then turn the lights off.
HUNTER
Dustin would surely be angry with me. I go to his room. He's not there. Surely he went to bathroom.
Not there either.
I check the whole house, nowhere. Oh no.
I wake up the boys.
"Dustin....he's....missing" I say.
"WHAT!?"
They all go out to check the house again. I go outside, the watchmen did not see him going out either.
I checked the garden, not there either.
I go out to the beach, nowhere.
I call Nicole, she was my last hope, if she knew. Of course she won't, but I had to try my all.
I dial her number.
"Hello" a sleepy voice speaks.
"Nicole...."
"Hunt..hunter, what..."
"Dustin's missing"
"What!? Hunter....wait...I'll be there"
"No, it's all right, but did you see him or did he say something about going somewhere....?"
"No he did not...." she sounded way awoke now. And too worried.
"Good night to you...."
"No...I'm heading there, we'll find Dustin, Hunter"
"No...it's no"
She cut me off.
And minutes later, she gets off a cab. She ran towards me.
"Did you find him?"
"She asked very worried."
"No....the...the guys are still searching"
"Ohhh...."
"HEY!" she said suddenly.
"What!?"
"I...may know where he is..."
"WHERE!???"
"Umm....we went to the beach today...near the...hut there..."
"and...?"
"He said he loved the place, and he asked me t take him there everyday..."
"Come on!!"
We ran to the spot, and we heard a scream. It was Dustin.
"Dustin!!" I shouted.
But before I even took a step ahead, Nicole jumped into the water. Due to the high tides and wind, the waves were big and harsh.
I ran towards the water. Nicole is pushing Dustin towards the land.
I get hold of Dustin and take him out, but Nicole gets washed away due to the waves, she throws her hands up, trying to get out. I place Dustin down and jump into the water.
"Nicole!"
I grab her waist and swim her to the shore.
I pump her chest, she throws out water. Then I help her get up. After I make sure she can stand, I pick Dustin up in my arms.
She follows me slowly as we head into the house.
"Give Dustin to me, I'll get him changed"
I was quite surprised to see her care so much for Dustin.
I go to my room to get changed.
When I go to Dustin's room, he's on the bed, holding Nicole's hand, who is seated on a chair beside the bed.
"You'll not go away, right?"
"Yeah, baby, I won't. But promise me you won't go away without any adult, okay?"
"Yes, Mom..."
I enter the room.
"Daddy...."
"Yeah, little man?"
"I am sorry"
"You're forgiven, but never ever leave daddy like this, okay?"
"Okaay... But you have to marry Mommy"
"We talked over this baby," I say.
"No no no....I want her to be Mommy"
Nicole turns her head towards me.
"Baby, you sleep right now okay? We'll talk later"
"Yeah..."
He falls asleep, with Nicole's hand still in his.