"Breath baby, I'm here remember? And Angie is in her room so she won't hear if things get out of hand."

Alex gave me a gentle squeeze as we saw my dad walking out of the cab. Judging by his looks and by the files he carried in his hands, he'd been up all night also. He gave us a weary smile and I was tempted to return it but stopped myself.

"Moretti," he greeted with a nod, before turning his attention to me. He hesitated, but finally decided to address me. "Eileen... Are you okay?"

My heart was pounding against my chest. It was as if it was the first time I was seeing him again. It wasn't that I feared him, though. I feared his rejection, I feared that he would doubt me. I wasn't going to be able to reply, not yet so Alex did so for me.

"She's a bit anxious, but she's perfect."

I smiled at the meaning of his words, but they didn't help my crazy heart.

I saw the way that my dad looked at Alex -- it was the same glare that he used to give the boys that would get near me in school.

"You never told me that you two were in a relationship," he reprimanded Alex, who only wrapped his arm around my waist.

"You've missed so many details of her life I didn't think one more mattered."

The shock in my fathers face was evident as was the guilt in his eyes. It had been five years, but I knew his decisions would forever haunt him. He was trying to make amends, trying to bring back the princess he had lost years ago, but that girl was long gone. I now was very aware of the cruelties of this world, there was no covering them up with a single finger. Clouds were capable of covering the light of the moon just as evil acts harmed the goodness in people. There was no hiding the truth. Wherever you turn, the pain and suffering is there. Some of us are just too blind to see it, others choose to ignore it. It is up to the select few who actually want to make a difference to use their voice.

He didn't.

I would say it's too late to try, but I didn't believe it. Not at all. He is a flawed man and made the wrong choice, a terrible one. But the guilt that was eating him alive was more than enough, why torture him more?

"Are you okay?"

I glanced up to Alex, who wasn't hiding his concern at all. I had been staring at my father in silence and hadn't noticed.

"Yes," I said with a smile. "I am."

The two men discussed the situation thoroughly. Would plotting the murder of someone count as bonding time for the both of them?

Gerald had left my father's house before he found me. He'd been doing his own investigation for a long time. After the hacking he'd obtained all the information he needed and opted on calling me.

I would call answering his phone call a mistake, except now that I saw things with a new mindset I didn't think it so. Had I not answered I wouldn't have been aware that he was even searching for me. I'd be oblivious to the danger that my daughter and I were in.

A precious daughter who had run from Lucas and stood now in front of the grandfather she had longed to meet.

The varying emotions in my dad's face was overwhelming. I debated whether or not to let him interact with her, but I owed this to my daughter. She deserved to meet him.

I held Angie close to me, like a mama bear does their cub and kissed her forehead before speaking.

"Do you remember when I told you one day you'd meet your grandpa, Angie?"

For the first time in her short life, Angie was silent as she processed what was happening. I could see that little brain of hers analyzing the man in front of her, wonder covering her innocent face.

"Well, baby, this man right here is your grandpa."

I saw my father's shaking hand and how a single tear left his eye. My heart ached for him, for me. It ached for the loss of the relationship we once had.

But there was something else there; a glimmer of hope.

"If you're my grandpa, where have you been all this time?" Angie asked in a confused tone.

"I, uh,-"

I interrupted him. I was going to keep up the story that I had been telling her for years. She didn't need to know the truth. She never would.

"He's been out of town, baby. Remember that I told you he works a lot? He just got back."

Angie nodded and stared at the man in front of her. A look of genuine curiosity covered her face before she took a step towards him.

"It's okay," Alex comforted me. "We're here."

I gave him a small nod and allowed his arms to hold me. After years of faking strength, it was a beautiful feeling to allow myself to be vulnerable. It didn't make me weak, I realized. It made me strong.

"You have grey hairs," Angie pointed our.

My father chuckled softly.

"I do." He stretched out his hand with caution, afraid to scare her away and that we might stop him. "Your hair is pretty. It's very curly."

A wide grin emerged on Angie's face. That was the way to her heart, complementing her hair. Such a girl.

"Yes, my mommy says I'm my own princess and that's why my hair is perfect."

My dad glanced at me teary-eyed and I had to swallow back the lump I felt in my throat at the distant memory between us.

"Your own princess, huh? It sounds a lot like something I used to tell her when she was your age."

"Are you going away again?" Angie asked. I looked at my father who once again seemed at a loss for words. He turned to me, asking the same question.

"No," I answered after a moment. "He's going to be around for a while, baby."

Her innocent green eyes sparkled with genuine happiness before she surprised him by throwing herself in his arms. He immediately wrapped her arms around her small body, holding her tightly. I heard him sniffling and trying to wipe away the tears that were escaping.

For me, this was trying to find peace within myself. This was my way of saying that though I couldn't forget the pain, I was still his daughter. I didn't hate him.

For him, this was a sign of redemption.

"I need a glass of water," I said, trying my best not to let the tears fall. Alex nodded in understanding and went into the kitchen, only to find Lucas leaning against the counter with his eyes closed. His jaw was clenched and I could see the tension in his body.

"Hey..." I said, walking up to him. "Are you okay?"

His eyes opened and though he smiled playfully, it didn't reach his eyes.

"Ms. Eileen asking about someone else's well-being. That's interesting."

I narrowed my eyes on him and his smile faded.

"I know a bit about hiding emotions," I reminded him. "I can tell something's wrong. What is it?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment before pushing himself off the counter and placing his arm around my shoulders. He sighed, then lowered his voice into a whisper.

"I'm really, really struggling to not murder your dad right now. I'm sure if I go over there I'll lose my shit and strangle him and I don't think you'd be too happy about it. So, I'm being a good boy and staying here until I think I've got it together."

There was an awkward silence that passed between us. He was serious, in fact, I didn't think I'd ever seen him as angry as he was at that moment. His blue eyes were dark with anger and if I didn't know him, I would have been terrified.

"I don't tolerate parents that turn their back on their children," he continued.

"You seem different," I muttered.

He was smiling, but something about his aura at the moment was off. It was as if he was two different people wrapped into one. As if noticing my worried expression, he squared his shoulders and let out a long breath.

"Alex hasn't told you much about me, has he?"

I shook my head.

"Good. I wouldn't want to scare you off."

My dad and I made little conversation. Though I was grateful for the help he wanted to provide, I was quite ready to be able to talk to him. Lucas kept astray, not even greeting my dad when he saw him. It was strange, how different he appeared. Luke was fighting his own demons and even if I should have feared him, I was rather intrigued by it.

It seems everyone has something to hide.

Alex and my dad discussed the details on how to get to the whereabouts of Gerald. I didn't want to listen. I opted to have Alex explain things to me in private. What I did learn, was that I was receiving shooting lessons and my own gun. I wasn't too sure how to feel about that, but both men agreed that it would be better if I carry one with me.

My father had apparently discussed the situation with the police commissioner who didn't agree with helping with the case. Too much time had gone by, they said. Of course, they didn't want any local scandals either, so there was "nothing they could do."

I was tempted to ask about Nicole, but I held back. I didn't want to leave room for my dad to ask any personal questions about my life yet.

Angela stayed close, though not enough to hear. Every time she would get the chance she would interact with my dad, already calling him 'papa.' She'd missed out on a family for so long, that hearing that word coming out of her mouth only emphasized the fact that living a life in hiding was not what she deserved.

The sun had set already, and while we waited said our goodbyes, my dad glanced over at Angie, who stood at the doorway with Luke, then studying Alex and I for a moment. He cleared his throat, asking what I least expected.

"What are your intentions with my daughter?"

Alex didn't seem surprised with the question. I, on the other hand, was taken off guard. His grip tightened around my waist as possessive gesture, before answering.

"Marriage, among other things."

My mouth fell open. Marriage?

"Other things?" My dad questioned.

I saw the corner of Alex' lips tilt up with a smirk. "I really don't think you want to know."

I felt the heat rush to my face and my dad gaped at his bold response. Something else showed in his eyes towards Alex, though. Respect.

"Before this marriage happens, I would appreciate speaking to you in private." He sounded like a cop about to interrogate a suspect. "I'll be back this weekend so we can begin your training, Eileen."

I nodded, giving him a small smile. He wanted to hug me, I could tell. However, he stepped back and walked into the cab that waited for him.

"Marriage?" I asked, when we were left alone.

Alex smiled, cupping my face in his hands.

"Yes. Not today, unless you want to. But I have no doubt that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss on my lips, lingering there for just a moment.

"I have something I need to discuss with you tonight though. I will need you to be honest with me, no hiding, no shame. Do you understand?"

I bit my lip. Something about the way he was speaking caused a spark of excitement within me to ignite. It frightened me.

"Eileen, do you understand?"

"Yes."

A mischievous smile appeared on his stubble covered face.

"Good. Now let's go back inside. We have a long night ahead of us."

"I don't really know what to say, Alex."

My body is burning, it's on fire and I don't know how to control it. I answered his question, but I knew he wanted more. He wanted to prove himself to me, and I didn't know if I could handle that yet.

"You don't have to say anything," he murmured, his gazed steady on my own. Alex took my hand in his, placing it over his bare chest. I tried to ignore the electricity between us, but just his touch left me breathless. He pulled me down, kissing me with such force I thought I was going to explode then and there. "You want control, Eileen? Then take it."