Natasha walked to her room as she stopped at her door, she wanted to go check on Joy first, so she walked to Joy's room and she carefully opened the door as she walked into the room slowly and she smiled when she saw the beautiful sleeping face of her angel.
"Goodnight my angel" said Natasha as she smiled and she gave Joy a kiss on the forehead as her little gesture seemed to have woken Joy up.
"Mommy" said Joy in her sleepy little voice as she struggled to open her eyes but she was so drowsy.
"Yes my baby?" asked Natasha as she whispered and she smiled.
"Did you and Daddy finish eating dinner?" asked Joy as rubbed her eyes.
"Yes my baby, we did" said Natasha as she smiled.
"Did you and daddy like it?" asked Joy as Natasha played with Joy's hair as she smiled.
"We did my baby, very much" said Natasha as she smiled and Joy nodded.
"I am happy that you liked it mommy" said Joy as she yawned and Natasha nodded at her.
"I am happy as well my sweetheart" said Natasha as she smiled.
"What did you and daddy talk about?" asked Joy as she yawned.
"Adult stuff my baby, adult stuff" said Natasha as she caressed Joy's hair.
"Did you and daddy…*yawn*" said Joy as she yawned and she closed her eyes.
"My baby, it's late now, go to sleep, we will talk tomorrow okay?" asked Natasha as she smiled and Joy nodded as she yawned as Natasha smiled.
"Goodnight my darling, have sweet dreams" said Natasha as she smiled and she gave Joy another kiss on the forehead as Joy was already fast asleep.
Natasha walked out of Joy's room and she switched off the lights as she closed the door behind her.
The next day.
"Young master, you called for me?" asked Alfred as he walked into Dom's office.
"Yes Alfred, please sit down" said Dom as he gestured that Alfred sit down and Alfred did so as he sat down across him.
"Is something wrong young Master?" asked Alfred as he looked at Dom.
"No Alfred, nothing is wrong, I just want to know about yesterday's dinner" said Dom.
"What about yesterday's dinner? Was something wrong with it?" asked Alfred.
"No Alfred, nothing was wrong, I just want to know whose idea it was to make dinner" said Dom.
"Well it was Joy's idea young Master" said Alfred.
"It was?" asked Dom as he found that hard to believe, he thought that maybe Alfred had organized it all.
"Yes young Master it was" said Alfred as he nodded his head.
"Joy came to meet me in the kitchen a few days ago, she asked when you and the Madam's anniversary was, and I told her the date, thinking that she was just curious, and then the next day she comes to me with an idea of preparing dinner for you two, and she asked me to help her" said Alfred as he explained.
"I could not refuse Joy, not at all, especially when she is she so cute, I admired that she wanted to do something for both you and the Madam" said Alfred as Dom said nothing.
"The entire Idea was Joy's, I only helped her organize it, and told the kitchen staff what to prepare, she wanted to surprise the both of you" said Alfred.
"I see Alfred, I just can't believe it" said Dom as he smiled.
"Well yes young Master, Joy was especially upset when after breakfast, you and the Madam did not seem to remember what day it was, but I told her that it was normal for adults to forget special days sometimes, and she seemed to calm down, until she wanted to make sure that you both had dinner together" said Alfred.
"I never thought that my princess could be so… well determined, and thoughtful" said Dom.
"Well Young Master, Joy is no longer a baby, she is growing into a fine young girl, I can't help but smile every time I see her" said Alfred.
"I know that Alfred, she is being more intuitive, and that's what worries me, she is being more aware of feelings and the way we behave, it's wonderful, but it's scary at the same time, knowing that we have to be more careful around her" said Dom.
"Young master, if you are speaking about your relationship with the Madam, I would suggest that an honest approach would be better for her to understand" said Alfred.
"Oh I know Alfred, but she's still so young, she doesn't need to worry about adult problems" said Dom.
"I can understand that young Master, but Joy is an intelligent girl, I am sure that she will understand" said Alfred.
"Hmm" said Dom.
"Alfred, when will lunch be ready?" asked Dom.
"Well in the next fifteen minutes, the madam in her office working, and Joy is with her" said Alfred.
"Thank you Alfred, you can go now" said Dom as he smiled.
"Thank you young Master" said Alfred as he smiled and he stood up and he walked out of Dom's office as he closed the door behind him as Dom sighed and he got back to work.
Dom was busy reviewing some information when suddenly his phone rang and he picked it up to check it as he frowned when he saw who was calling.
It was Ernest, Dom had been avoiding his calls for the past three days, he did not want to get scolded again, this time for something that was not his fault at all, bit he also could not dare decline the call, then he was sure that Ernest would stop calling and actually drive all the way here.
Dom sighed as he braced himself and he answered the call as he put his phone on speaker.
"Hello Grandfather, how are you?" asked Dom.
"You impudent man, Oh so now you remember that you have a Grandfather!" came Ernest's angry voice from the other side of the line as Dom sighed.
"Where have you been all this while? I have been calling you for the past three days, and you have refused to pick my calls, and those insolent brats of mine have not picked up my calls as well, just what sort of Grandson are you? Oh so you think that because you are now thirty, you have money and a comfortable life that you can just cut ties with your family??" asked Ernest.
"No Grandfather, it's not like that at all" said Dom as he sighed internally, he knew that not coming home for Christmas and New years would end up like this.
"You didn't come home for Christmas, I could bear that, even Lulu went to stay with you, and then you top it of by not coming home for New year's, did you forget the family tradition?" asked Ernest in anger.
"No Grandfather, I didn't forget" said Dom.
"And to make it all worse, you didn't even let me see my great granddaughter, I have not seen her this year, and it's all your fault" said Ernest as his voice softened, he sounded like a sulking child.
"I'm sorry Grandfather, she misses you as well, I will bring her over soon" said Dom.
"I'm not talking about that right now boy, I want an explanation for why you didn't come home for the holidays? And where is Natasha as well?" asked Ernest.
"Grandfather, I didn't come home for the holidays because Natasha went on a business trip, she only just returned, I thought that it was better for Joy and I to stay home, because you wouldn't be happy without Natasha there with us" said Dom as the real reason would be because Ernest would keep on asking where Natasha was exactly, and Dom knew that he would not have been able to answer that question since he himself did not know.
"Hmm, well that is not enough reason for you not to tell me the truth" said Ernest.
"Yes Grandfather, I apologize" said Dom.
"You better, anyway, I postponed the family's new year's dinner because of you, you and Natasha are coming home for dinner next Saturday, and no excuses, I haven't seen both of you this year" said Ernest.
"Yes Grandfather, although I will have to ask Natasha first to make sure that she isn't busy" said Dom.
"I know my wonderful granddaughter in law, she won't be busy on that day" said Ernest as he smiled.
"Alright then Grandfather, I'm actually working right now, I will be home next week for the family dinner, alright?" asked Dom.
"You better be, and bring my Granddaughter over a week after that, I would have loved to see her sooner, but I am spraying my house for termites, and the poison is dangerous, I don't want to risk her getting sick" said Ernest.
"Alright Grandfather, wait a minute, you are spraying for termites, then you shouldn't be in your house right now" said Dom.
"Of course boy, just who do you take me for, I'm not a child, I am at my son's house" said Ernest as he scoffed.
"Right…" said Dom as he chuckled, he forgot that his parents lived right next door, he actually felt sorry for them, having Grandfather across the street was one thing, but in their house, that was another thing entirely.
"Anyway Grandfather, take care, I will see you next Saturday" said Dom as he smiled.
"Alright then Dominic" said Ernest as he ended the call and Dom laughed as he shook his head, sometimes Ernest could be too much to handle.
…
Dom walked out of his office as he walked down the stairs and he happened to see Natasha walking up the stairs.
"Hey" said Dom as he stopped.
"Hi" said Natasha as she wanted to ignore him, but after what they spoke about yesterday, greeting each other wouldn't be that hard now would it?
"Grandfather called, he's upset that we didn't come home for the new year's family dinner" said Dom.
"Oh, I forgot about that, Grandfather loves that tradition" said Natasha as now she felt bad.
"I know, and he didn't want it to hold without us, he moved it to next week Saturday, are you coming?" asked Dom.
"Of course I am, I owe him a Christmas gift" said Natasha as Dom smiled.
"Alright then" said Dom as he smiled.
"Where is Joy?" asked Dom.
"In the playroom, she got bored in my office colouring, I was on my way to go get her, lunch is ready" said Natasha.
"I will go get her then" said Dom.
"Alright" said Natasha as she walked back down the stairs as Dom turned to the right, at least they had a normal conversation without stares and glares, it was a good start.
…
Dom was busy working in his office when he heard his phone ring once again, and he looked at the caller id as he was surprised by who the caller was, but he answered the call anyway.
"Commander, this is a surprise" said Dom as he put his phone to his ear.
"I know" replied Pete as he replied.
"To what do I owe this call today Peter?" asked Dom.
"Are we going to drop the formalities Dominic?" asked Pete.
"You tell me Peter, you were the one who called" said Dom.
"Alright listen Dominic, I have something very important tot tell you" said Pete with a very serious tone.
"Okay, I'm listening Peter, what is it?" asked Dom as now he was concerned.
"It's about Natasha" said Pete as now Dom was very worried.