He Won't Go by Adele"So I won't go, he can't do it on his own. If this ain't love what is? I'm willing to take the risk."

It was going on three weeks since Sage has disassociated from the world. She had the same phone number but a new phone (since the incident) So messages were still rolling in here and there from her mother, until one day they stopped altogether. She almost had the right mind to answer her and make things right again but she wasn't sure if that's how things would play out in the end, especially concerning her dad who disowned her.

David looked at her, holding all the little baggies of coke in a small box. "This is all?'

"C'mere, gimme kiss." He said ignoring her question. Obediently, she smirked at him with the box in her hand and stalked over to where he was standing. He was leaning on the bathroom counter opening his arms, waiting for her.

"Ugh, you didn't answer my question," she said as he peppered her face with wet kisses.

He pulled back, "Yes, bossy."

"I want this new leaf to actually turn over, starting with this bullshit," she held up the box and shook it a little bit for emphasis, "Now I called the doctor and he said that from your consultation you need a 7 day detox. You've been consuming a lot for years..."

He pulled at her gently by her chin, causing her to move closer to his body until she was almost in between his legs. "And it will, for you...us." Deep down he was grateful she had helped him get to this point. All he needed was that push anyways, because he had someone to replace all the unhealthy coping mechanisms he was used to. No one took this much time to love him like this and that's how he knew this was his soulmate.

For a minute they just took each other in like they did at times. David squeezed the bottom of her lip, tugging at it and bent down sucking on it. She pulled back giggling, "Babe..."

"Yeah you got me fucked up about you. A baby gonna complete us." He said. It was like reality hit him again that he was going to be a dad. All these years it took a girl like Sage to come along and steal his heart and bless him with more life—literally.

She set the box down on the counter beside her and lifted his shirt to kiss his tattoos. Her small hands ran up and down the side of his torso. She looked at them go, she could even tell she was not the same person. Little things like getting her nails done every two weeks was her thing, but now she doesn't even remember the last time she stepped foot in a nail salon. "I miss the old me. I do..." She blurted. It was more a thought out loud. She didn't think she was gonna say it.

David placed her curls on the opposite side of her face, softly rubbing her scalp. "I'm so sorry, baby." Somehow in his mind this was his fault but she shook her head.

"You really are my Superman, you saved me." She knew if she wasn't all out of tears she'd be crying right now. David gave her a solemn smile, he didn't feel like a hero. Being able to kill people, funnel drugs into his community and profit off of people's addictions didn't feel like something a DC character would ever do. Sage saw things about him that made him the hero in her eyes. In their story, the hero is far from perfect, as hardly anyone is, but he finds a way to be perfect for her thus true love.

A ping went off from Sage's phone. She pulled it from her sweatpants and saw it was a text from her father. Her heart sank as she read it: we should talk, figlia. "It's my dad..."

"Then you should answer. Ion know, but that's all I got for now." Before it was like they were passive aggressively fighting over Sage. He came to realize they were so used to controlling her in different ways and how unhealthy it was becoming. He felt like he and her father were stunting growth from each other's personal relationship, overstepping boundaries.

Sage looked up and raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, "You think so?"

"Look, yo pops a weirdo," she rolled her eyes at him as he continued to talk, "but you only get one of them and your dad acts the way he acts cause he loves you. I wish I had the opportunity to reconcile with my pops, but he a psycho, your dad just really Italian and annoyin.' So fix it while you can is my point, you at least have that choice."

She smiled at him because not only was that really wise of him to say but it was mature. She knew David resented her father for several reasons but she was proud that he could put that aside and be fair in his assessment. Dave was more concerned with her taking the control of her life again, but for better this time. He knew his own personal feelings about the father role clouded his judgement, but he also knew that no one was perfect. Parenting didn't come with a handbook or an easy way out and he sure as hell was going to find himself struggling when his baby was born, it'd all be worth it though. "With yo goofy ass smile." He teased, pushing her shoulder playfully.

"You make me so happy," she buried her head into his chest, her favorite spot. His body smelled of his favorite cologne and body wash. Sometimes he cleared her mind with his little wise moments.

"Yeah yeah yeah, it's cause I love you or whatever." He said wrapping his arm around her. He bent down and whispered into her hair, "My forever girl."

***

"Whatcha doin'?" Aubrey asked, plopping down on the bed next to Ella. He snaked his arm around her waist as she clicked away on his laptop. "I ain't never seen you do no homework before."

"This ain't homework, I pay people for that. It's actually me trying to figure out my life," she clicked through all the websites from colleges she got into this far and she didn't even know if she still wanted to go, "And I don't know what I want to do with my life."

Aubrey reached over and closed the laptop shut. "Aubreyyyy," she groaned but he just looked at her, "Why'd you do that?" She fell back, sinking into the comforter of the bed.

"Because you need to not try to force yourself into college, big head. Or anything for that matter," he looked over at her and pecked her mouth. Ella hated that he was right but she felt like if college wasn't for her then what was? She always struggled to keep her interest in anything long enough to just focus on that one thing. All her life she would pick up something and leave it.

"What if I don't ever find my niche?" She asked hopelessly. Her eyes were always sad and empty when discussing her future. There was almost always pressure around her to do things the traditional way. Go to school, university, find your career and then start a family but she realized that formula did not work for her, it didn't even work like that for her mom. For the kids at school it was like first nature for them, but this just wasn't her. She needed time to think about what it was she wanted to do.

"The OG's used to tell me, you either the don or not. You can't force that shit or else it becomes a mess," he replied, "In other words, you not no college chick so stop it."

"Don't remind me..."

"No, I'mma remind yo lil ass. At the end of the day, you graduating high school doesn't mean you got things figured out. Meanwhile, I got you...with whatever you need." His reassurance was necessary. Her mood shifted from being stressed out about colleges to relaxing by her secure future with Aubrey.

"You're right," she rolled her head to the side and returned his smile.

"I love you, Lala." It was so funny to him how comfortable those three words were able to slip out. A few months back it was a struggle because the possibility of emotional vulnerability was a threat to him more than anything. It took a lot for him to get to therew but it was inevitable at this point.

She flipped on top of him, "Nah, I love you more, sir."

"A whole lie." Minutes passed by where they were just entangled in each other's embrace. "I gotta speak to you about something though"

She looked up, strands of hairs falling to the side of her face as she placed her head in her hand. "What is it?"

"Remember that fight we had? It was in the kitchen. Gosh, Ion even know what we were fighting about..."

She raised an eyebrow at him, trying to recollect the fight. They had many arguments, not really for the past few months but enough for her to mix them up or completely forget them. "No..."

"The mug? Your favorite one?"

"Ohhh, yeah." She turned and plopped back down on the bed. "Babe--"

"No. Look, you were right..." There was nothing said for a few minutes again. The silence was accompanied by the pitter patter of the rain against the windows. It was like March showers bring April flowers instead with the way it rained this week.

"I've been going to therapy and it's nice."

"I've been going too," Aubrey lifted his body to peer over her and stare into her hazel eyes with his much darker pair. For the hundredth time in her life, his favorite gold chain was see-sawing back and forth like a pendulum above her. "You helped me get to that point, which is why I brought up the fight in the first place. I'm sorry about everything."

This was the most genuine apology she received from him. Most times after a volatile blow up it was a sorry and then he'd do it again. It sounded crazy because she believed him wholeheartedly. "Apology accepted." She gave him a small smile and he took that opportunity to grab her face and kiss it. "Tell me everything, all about your therapy. What'd you learn? I'll share some stuff too."

He smiled, "Where do I even begin?"

***

"Hi, dad." The pair was at a popular lunch spot in downtown Manhattan, specifically Wall Street. The hussle and bussle of the servers and the other customers around them couldn't even begin to distract them from the conversation they were going to have. Donati Baglio clasped his hands together and shot her a small smile.

K

"Hi, figlia, how are you?" The question she knew came from a genuine place. She took a sip of her lemon water and shrugged. There was a lot that she could say but she didn't know where to begin.

"Dad, I have to be honest... I'm surprised..." She looked up from her glass and studied his behavior. For the first time, her dad seemed to be...skittish. The sight was something strange to see, but it gave comfort knowing she wasn't the only one.

Donati sighed, peeking over at the window they were sitting by. The sunlight enfolding his skin and caressing his face, bringing out a glow she's never noticed on him before. He turned back to her, clearing his throat. "I don't know what to say but I guess I'll begin with my sincerest apologies. It's a lot to be a parent, but rejecting you as my daughter should never be something I do again."

Before she could reply, a waiter by the name of Michael unknowingly interjected. She sighed because if it was one time she didn't need the interruption it was now. "I'm back! Sorry for the long wait. Do you guys need more time?"

"No, I'd like the number 7, fries though" Donati answered and handed him a menu. The man smiled, placing the menu under his arm and wrote the order on the notepad.

"As for you ma'am?"

"I'll have the risotto."

"Got you guys down. Any drinks?" They both shook their head and waited for him to take off again.

"Anyways, dad. I thought you hated me." It was true. The statement about disowning her was a nail in the coffin to their already dying relationship.

"No no, I could never. All this stuff was not out of spite," he took his daughter's hands and held on to them, "This was for you and what I thought was the way to go. You see, this is how I was raised but I dunno, figlia, maybe it's outdated."

"My whole life, you provided a life of luxury for me but I just felt...suffocated...I appreciated everything though," she replied.

"I see..." There wasn't much he could do but be apologetic for making her feel the way she has. All they could do now was work to mend their relationship knowing what they know now.

"I forgive you, dad. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel underappreciated."

"Risotto for you! And the number 7 for you, sir!" The waiter Michael exclaimed. He set the plates in front of the appropriate person and stood back, "Can I get you guys anything else?"

"No," they answered in unison. Micheal nodded and stalked away.

"As long as you make something of yourself I'm happy. You're turning 18 soon, the world is yours." He said cutting into his pasta and taking a bite from his fork. The cafe got quieter as rush hour was coming to an end.

"I'm trying to... I have some news though..." She barely wanted the food but she ate anyway because she had to feed the baby.

"I know, it was an abrupt change. News?"

"I have a boyfriend." Mr. Baglio choked on his food and began coughing, causing a concerned Michael to come rushing to the table. He waved him off claiming he was alright and looked up at Sage. "And I love him very much. The first boy I was in love with."

"Figlia, you're only 17 isn't it too early to tell?" He sipped more of his water as he waited for her response. She didn't expect him to be all open arms with someone dating his daughter, especially someone he's never met first, but he's trying a less judgemental approach this time around.

"I get it... but no. I feel strongly about him, but forewarning he had a bit of a rough past. I think you'll really like him though. He has sort of...a business mindset." She spilled. At this point in her life she was not holding back for anyone. No more sweeping things under the rug and biting her tongue.

Donati considered all the details she shared with him. Old him would've passed out, woke up and then sent her off to Italy but she's out of his control and she was maturing in whatever way she saw fit. He couldn't punish her for the life she led, especially outside of his home, all he could do was be there for her. "Gege, you remind me of a love from long ago. Me and your mother."

"I do?"

"Now in this case I could relate. When your mother and I knew we were in love, it didn't matter what anyone told us and now look, we're growing old together." He stopped to chew some more of his food, "Invite him to our dinner next week! Your mom wants to see you."

Michael came over to pour some more water into the cups and asked if the duo needed anything more to complete their meal but they declined. "Okay, I'll bring him, although I have even bigger news I'll need to share then."

"Oh, please don't kill your father, mio amore," he joked.

"Not yet," she winked.

Endnote: Thank you for the support! I appreciate it all. When do you want the next update? Soon or later? Ik some people like the anticipation .