ristan smiled as he stepped into the kitchen. He saw Nina and Nadia laughing and talking as they placed chocolate chip cookie dough on the silver cooking tray. He imagined what it would be like to come home to this every day, but quickly removed the thought from his mind.

He smirked when he saw Nina look up with wide eyes to see him staring at her. She was wearing a blue apron and her braids were tied up in a ponytail.

The more he stared at her, the more he realized just how beautiful she was and she wasn't wearing any makeup.

"Tristan, I didn't know you were here," she said, with flour on her cheek.

His smile widened and he stepped into the kitchen.

"Daddy," Nadia said, running up to Tristan.

Tristan scooped her up into a hug.

He glanced at Nina to see her smiling but she looked away once he got her staring at him.

"Daddy, I missed you," she said, squeezing his neck tighter.

"I love you too, but you're choking me," he said, removing her tiny arms from around his neck.

Nadia giggled. "Sorry, daddy."

He told her it was okay and placed a kiss against her cheek and let her down.

Nadia ran back over to Nina to continue to help with the cookies.

"You look like you're having fun," he said, stepping closer to her.

Nina smiled. "I am actually."

Tristan had a hard day at work but seeing Nina and Nadia together cooking and having fun made his heart swell.

Tristan only realized his actions when his thumb grazed over her cheek to rub the flour off. Nina stared up at him with a shocked expression.

He removed his hand and cleared his throat.

"There's flour on your face."

Nina touched her cheek and tried to wipe it away.

"Is it gone?" she asked, still wiping at her cheek.

He chuckled. "You need to wash it off."

Nina ran over to the sink and splashed her face with water. She wiped off the water with a paper towel.

She walked back over to him holding her hand to her face.

"Is it finally gone?"

He gently grabbed her chin and inspected her face.

"It's gone," he said, brushing the pad of his thumb against her soft skin.

Nina lowered her lashes. Tristan saw the rise and fall of her chest and stepped closer.

Tristan didn't understand why he felt the need to touch her and stand so close to her. When she was around, he felt the need to be close to her and he didn't like that.

"I'm done," Nadia said, putting the last of the cookie dough on the tray.

Nina stepped away from Tristan to help Nadia.

"Let's put it in the oven," Nina said, placing the tray inside the oven. "I set the timer so now we wait."

Nadia ignored the two of them to watch the cookies bake.

"How was your day?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Busy as usual. Yours?"

"It was good. I helped Nadia with her homework. She's so smart for her age."

He nodded. "She is. She reminds me of myself at that age."

Nina smiled. "How cute."

Nina's phone rang and she answered it. Her smile faded away and Tristan noticed her hand trembling. After a few seconds, Nina dropped her phone and stood silent.

"Nina, what's wrong?" he asked, searching her eyes.

"I have to go to the hospital," Nina said, trying to brush past him.

Tristan caught her wrist and stepped in front of her.

"What's going on?"

Nina sniffled. "They admitted my grandmother to the hospital. I have to go."

"I can drive you," he said, shutting off the oven and grabbing Nadia.

"You don't have to-"

"I insist. Let's go," he said, grabbing her hand.

Tristan sat back in his chair in the waiting room. Nina was with her grandmother in the room and she was speaking with the darker. Nadia was in the seat beside him sleeping and snoring a bit with her head against his arm.

He tapped his foot against the white tile, waiting for Nina to let him know her grandmother's situation. Tristan looked at the tv in the corner of the room showing the news but he wasn't really paying attention.

"Tristan."

Tristan turned to see Nina walking towards him. Her eyes were tinged red and puffy.. She sat down beside him and sighed. He grabbed her hand and squeezed. He was surprised that she didn't pull her hand away.

"What did the doctor say?" she asked, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

"She's sicker than I thought," she said, holding her hands up to her face. "She's dying and I don't know what to do."

Nina further explained to him how she had just found out that she was dying of breast cancer that had spread to her other organs.

Tristan wrapped her up into a hug.

"What can I do to help?"

Nina shook her head against his chest.

"I don't want to inconvenience you. You've done enough already."

"Let me help you," he said, wiping away a tear that fell against her cheek.

He realized he was entering dangerous territory. Touching her being so close to her was a bad thing. He didn't want to get involved with her but his wanting to protect her burned deep within him.

Nina looked up at him with teary eyes and it made his stomach do the flip flop motion he hated.

"She...she wants to see me happy. She asked me if I finally found someone to marry and I told her yes."

Tristan's face twisted in confusion.

"Are you saying-"

"I told her it was you. I'm sorry. I wanted to make her happy so it just slipped out."

"It's okay."

Nina shook her head. "No, it's not. I should have asked you first."

"There was no time for that. It's really okay. I'm not mad at you."

Nina sighed. "She wants to see you."

***

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