After a busy day in the office Brandan was feeling really ecstatic to return home to see Emma and to see Sarah and Sammy, his two loveliest kids. Changing into casuals Brandan sprinted out his house taking a little box full of bread crumbs.

Oliver chuckled after him saying, "I never thought that I would ever see you like this Brandan, you are becoming so cuddly, man."

Brandan didn't bother to answer back, he had more important things to do - like spending precious time with his children. He had already missed so much in their lives, he couldn't afford missing out more.

Knocking on Emma's door Brandan shifted on his feet. Emma opened the door to see a giddy looking Brandan holding a cartoon printed, plastic box in one hand and smiling broadly at her.

His eyes hovered over the loose strand of hair she tucked behind her hair. Was she nervous seeing him? Brandan wondered in anticipation.

Emma stood aside to let him in.

"Ermm Emma, I wanted to take the kids to the park - you know the one in the next block."

Emma was about to say something but Brandan quickly cut in raising the box in his hand. "I thought they would like to feed the ducks..." Emma couldn't help but smile when Brandan added after a pause, "...some breadcrumbs."

"They would love it." She replied and he smiled rubbing the back of his neck.

"They would?" He asked.

Emma began walking upstairs with Brandan following after her. "They love it each week when I take them there, you'll see how they keep ogling at the ducks."

"You guys go there?" He questioned surprised.

"Twice each week." With a smile she replied.

They were nearing the kid's room now. This was probably the first longest conversation they were having without the misfortune of having to dig old smelly graves and as a result trying to slit each other's throats. Brandan couldn't help but think of it as a good sign, maybe finally the almighty God had decided to have some mercy on him.

Emma pushed open the slightly ajar door, standing behind her Brandan looked at the room from over Emma's head. He raked his gaze around the beautifully painted room in light blue, cream and pink. There was a medium sized shelf in on corner - toys, teddy bears, stuffed animals were kept on the racks. Two single beds, in the little gap between them was a little bedside table. Twin study tables at the other end of the room. The curtains before the balcony door were kept apart as they swung slightly in the gentle breeze coming from outside.

He recalled how for the first time he saw Emma, Sarah and Sammy knelt down on the floor and praying right in front of this very same balcony. He could still clearly remember how that night he felt this magnificent pull towards them without even knowing who they really were, without knowing that they were the most dearest to his heart... that they were his everything.

In the middle of the room, on a mat, Sarah and Sammy were playing with a variety of toys were scattered around them.

Hearing noise at the door, the twins looked up. Sarah clutched her fluffy teddy bear tight to her chest.

Emma smiled broadly at them. "Look, who came to see you."

Sammy, for a few seconds stared wide eyed at Brandan, and then turned around with his back facing Brandan and kept playing with his little school bus.

Then something happened, almost happened, which Brandan had been craving with all his heart.

"Da... " Sammy slapped Sarah's arm making a floppy sound and immediately Sarah closed her mouth gulping down whatever she was going to say.

Brandan couldn't believe it, was Sarah going to really call him - daddy! But then again maybe he was expecting too much - too soon and was just assuming things.

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While Brandan took the kids to the park, Emma and Elli went to Savanah's house. The old lady was enthusiastically planning for her birthday party which was the next day. Nothing much, she planned for a dinner with all her neighbors and some of her friends. Emma and Elli volunteered in assisting her with all the preparation.

"What am I hearing Emma? A little birdy told me yesterday that Brandan's Sarah and Sammy's father!" Savanah asked Emma in a surprised tone. Letting her know of the gossip mill running really wild in their typical nosey suburb.

Elli snickered quietly while Emma sipped a little wine and put down the glass on the tea table before her uneasily. "You heard it right."

Savanah leaned back on the plushness of the sofa she was sitting in and muttered under her breath. "Damn! That boy is fast."

"Huh?" Emma asked confused.

Savanah waved her wrinkled skinny hands around with a crazy look. "Here I've been assuming that boy's trying to woo you, then the next morning I wake up and get to know that he'd already got you pregnant... that too six bloody years ago."

Elli made a weird noise, without turning to see what it was Emma could tell that Elli was trying to hide her laughter. But seriously, what was so funny!

"It's actually complicated." Emma muttered looking away.

Savanah smiled that mysterious smile of hers. "So are you guys excited about the party decorations?" And the topic was changed.

Ross barked happily straightening from his sitting position on the doormat, Emma laughed while Elli rolled her eyes.

The older people get the more childish they become, but of course with the additional gift of wisdom.

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Brandan stood in between Sammy and Sarah who were excitedly throwing bread crumbs into the pond. Ducks were quaking away as they fed the ever hungry birds happily.

Sarah jumped up and down in joy. "Sammy, look at that big duck. It look so much like Steeve."

Sammy laughed throwing his head back. "Yes, Sarah, wait when I tell Steeve. He would get really upset."

Sarah pouted cutely. "Yeah, he always say thing to us and I become sad. Sammy too become sad."

"And what does he say that make my two favorite people so sad?" When Brandan looked at Sammy it felt like Sammy wanted to say it but at the end thought the otherwise and bit his bottom lip. Though Brandan had quite an interesting chat with some colorful warnings included to Steeve's mother after that kid dared to hurt his daughter, he yet had to know what actually Steeve was teasing Sarah about.

"Sarah?" Looking at Sarah he questioned again in a soft tone with the hope to find it out. And then if needed, he would have to size this Steeve kid up.

After hesitating for a moment Sarah spoke unsurely, "He said that... that we mistakes and our daddy never want us. He said - I dirty..."

Now that Sarah had started, how could Sammy lag behind and keep quite. The boy added, "And I stink. He also said that you..." Sammy paused for a second, hesitating for a moment before he spoke again, "...that our dad hates us and never wants to see us."

It was like a stab into Brandan's heart, how many things - how many insults Emma and his kids had to endure all this years! Not anymore, no more.

He knelt down between his children, grabbing both of their hands he made them stand close to him, right in front of him. "Sarah, Sammy. You both are the best - bestest kids in this whole world, okay. I never hated you, nor will I ever, understood?"

He held his breath for a few seconds to control his emotions, to refrain himself from a break down right here in this park in front of two five year old.

"I love you both... so very much."

Sammy was staring at Brandan, maybe trying to understand him with his innocence, with his little sinless heart.

At last, Sarah smiled broadly at Brandan, making him smile too.

"Really?" The little girl asked to confirm the statement.

Brandan crossed his heart in reply. "Really."

Right then, Brandan felt something ran past him, Brandan couldn't see what it was but as Sarah and Sammy was facing him, they saw it and suddenly the emotional heaviness of the environment evaporated from around them.

Sarah jumped up and down while Sammy's eyes sparkled with excitement and mischief.

"Meow meow mewooo! Sammy... Sammy! A mewwwoo..." Sarah shouted.

Brandan turned around to catch a the fading glimpse of a kitten skipping away fast.

He laughed and turned back to comment something funny about that, but instead furrowed his brows in shock seeing the place where Sarah and Sammy were standing a second ago - empty.

He again looked around to find Sarah running after the kitten squealing, after her Sammy was running screaming his lungs out.

Brandan sucked in a deep breath. "Ohh shit!"

Immediately he too sprang up and sprinted after them. "Hey stop! Sarah, Sammy! Come back! Heyyy..."

But his screams fell to deaf ears. He saw the kitten followed by Sarah and Sammy running towards an old fountain, the mermaid in the middle of that fountain had probably broken a decade ago and the water stored in the fountain looked kind of green, the edges had growing moss all over.

"Sarah, Sammy... for God's sake, stop!" He yelled for them to stop again.

Then as if everything happened in slow motion. The kitten jumped in to the fountain, Sarah jumped down after it and Sammy too followed. A large splash of water sprinkled around the fountain.

Damnation !!!

Coming to a halt right in front of the fountain, gasping for breath, Brandan knelt down placing his palms on his knees.

Sarah bobbed half her body up the water cuddling the white kitten in her arms which was purring and whimpering now. Sammy was holding Sarah's elbows carefully while his gaze was fixed on the little furry cat in his sisters grasp.

Brandan huffed looking at the wet kids with exasperation. "What do you think you are doing huh! Your mommy is so going to kill me the moment she finds you like this."

But Brandan didn't know that another shock was waiting for him the very next moment which would flip his whole world upside down.

"Look daddy, a meowww." Sarah peeked up at Brandan giggling and Brandan's whole world did flip. Did he hear it correctly? Had Sarah really called him what he had heard... daddy?

Brandan blinked furiously, trying hard not to cry. "What did you say honey?"

"Meoww." Sarah repeated casually.

Sammy was now rubbing the wet furs of the kitten. He looked at Brandan sulking, already aware of what was going on.

"No, before that, honey." Brandan was getting impatient while Sarah realized now what Brandan wanted to hear, what she had called him.

Sarah peeked at Brandan from under her lashes and spoke meekly again, "Daddy?"

A small drop of tear escaped Brandan's eye, overwhelmed by emotions he quickly hugged Sarah not caring he was too getting wet in the process. He couldn't control his erupting emotions as he heard the word for the first time in his life.

The kitten whimpered getting squeezed in the middle of the embrace. Smiling warmly, Brandan pulled back a little still holding Sarah lightly.

Looking at Sammy, he asked playfully, "Don't you also want to say something like your sister did?"

Sammy sulked some more. "No. I am still mad."

The way Sammy said no, Brandan thought his purpose was to threaten Brandan but instead he found it pretty adorable. "Well, that doesn't mean you can't join the group hug, hop in big boy."

Brandan extended one arm while still holding Sarah with the other, surprisingly Sammy really hopped into the group hug.

"Can we keep meow?" Sarah asked sweetly in her sugar coated voice. Brandan gulped, how could he say no when his little girl was looking at him with those large, round eyes. He groaned, his tiny daughter had already wrapped him up around her little finger. But what about Emma killing him later?

"Please daddy?"

It Seemed like, this daddy word was going to be her favorite weapon for a long - long while. Now, how could Brandan deny.

"Sure princess." He barely croaked out.

Sarah jumped a little making the water wave and splash around them.

"Mommy's going to ground us." Sammy mumbled but Brandan could care less. He was in heaven now. Emma killing him or grounding the kids could be dealt with later.

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The later had come too soon. Way too soon.

Rolling her eyes, Emma opened the door at the cooing sound of the doorbell. Finally they had decided to return home.

But what she witnessed after opening the door wasn't what she was actually expecting. She expected some dirty kids, but this state of dirty was, quite shocking. "What the..."

Mouth agape she ogled at the sight of Brandan, Sarah and Sammy dripping wet from head to toe. All three of their expressions severely guilty. Their soaking clothes pasted with mud and some green mossy things.

Something mewled in a terrible nasal tone. And Emma's eyes zeroed in on the little white kitten in Sarah's arms. There was a brown cute circle around one of it's eyes.

Sammy raised his hand and pointed at Brandan.

"He said we can keep meow." Sammy stated innocently.

Horrified and flabbergasted Brandan looked at his children. He grimaced even more when Sarah nodded up and down agreeing to her brother.

Emma placed her fisted hands on her hips, her glare fixed on Brandan who gulped looking at Emma. Shit! The kids had played a big number on him here.

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Emma was making sure all the dishes were ready to go out at the dinner table. The kitchen was seeming heavenly with all the aromas of various drool worthy foods they had made.

Guests had started coming, Savanah and Elli were busy hosting and chatting with them in the living room. Emma exited the kitchen and walked towards the living room when Brandan and Oliver made their entry.

Emma didn't have to look around to feel Brandan's piercing gaze fixed on the back of her head while she turned around to greet one of Savanah's friends.

Rubbing hand at the back of his neck Brandan approached Emma, the woman who kept on looking more and more ravishing with each passing day. He was about to tap her on the shoulder and tell her exactly that, but Savanah chose that very same moment to squeal near his ear.

"Ahhh! So you all're here. Fantastic. Now I can eat that chocolate cake Emma baked and banned me from stealing a little bite."

"Sure you can now Savanah." Emma chuckled lightly.

Emma had seen Brandan from the corner of her eyes and she had also seen Savanah approaching their way. She was thankful that Savanah interrupted him from talking to her, these days she was feeling it quite risky being around the man who held her heart a long time back. It was risky because the reasons to keep him away from her were lessening pretty dangerously and at the same time blurry was getting her resolve to keep her walls up. Everything was slowly crumbling, she could sense it.

Brandan turned to see Savanah who was grinning very widely. The odd thing about the elderly woman was her short dress - that very, very short dress. He came to the conclusion that Savanah had begun drinking from early morning today, after all, she had the excuse of her birthday.

"What're you looking at young man? Move away those lustful eyes of yours." Savanah scolded to which Brandan looked away embarrassed. Lustful eyes! He cleared his throat.

He saw Emma biting her bottom lip trying hard to suppress her laughter. Now - that action right there had his eyes truly turn lustful.

Behind them stood Oliver and Elli, who a few moments ago were deeply engrossed in their latest argument, but now...

"Oliver! Oliver!" Furiously tapping on Oliver's shoulder Elli grabbed his attention.

Feeling annoyed, Oliver brushed off Elli's hand from his shoulder. "What?"

"You know it's really so pervish of you to gawk at an elderly woman's bum like that."

Removing his eyes from Savanah's revealing dress Oliver looked at a scowling Elli who had her arms crossed over her chest. "Pervish?" He scoffed.

Oliver clicked his fingers. "And what would you call that elderly woman who's currently wearing a dress which would surely climb up her ass and also her hips if she so much as bent over a little?"

"It's her birthday Oliver." Elli stated a little awkwardly to which Oliver made a face.

"That doesn't justify it, Elli. My own birthday's coming up next week but I surely am not planning to flash my bare ass cheeks to half of the country just because I had them like that when I was pushed out of my mother!"

"Savanah's not flashing her behind to half of the country Oliver - for your kind information!"

"Oh yeah! But how strange - it exactly looks like that." Oliver retorted with an arrogant smirk.

Huffing in irritation Elli grabbed Oliver's sleeve and dragged her to the sofa where Sarah and Sammy were watching pokemon not blinking for a second, it was as if there eyes were glued to the TV by some magic spell.

Ross and meow the kitten, were snoozing rolled in to a ball at the children's feet. Yes, after much arguments Emma's heart melted and the kids got the permission to keep the poor orphan kitten. Brandan had already tried to find it's owner through the help of the nearby animal control but they couldn't find any, to the children's delight. At first Ross was frightened seeing the little white creature, he kept barking with his tail tucked between his legs looking at meow but soon, as Ross found out that the strange ball of white fur was indeed not threatening in any way, excluding some not so harmful scratches every now and then... the cat and dog got along.

Oliver turned to face Elli getting angry. "What is the problem with you? I don't like being dragged around!"

"Now suck it up, Oliver and go sit on that sofa." Elli sneered low.

Oliver didn't like Elli trying to boss him around now, he fixed the collar of his shirt and straightened his spine, trying to appear intimidating. "And why would I listen to you?"

Elli played smarter. "The kids are there, Oliver."

Her soft tone confused him. "So?"

Elli rolled her eyes and said in a way that it was too obvious, which in a way was.

"Have you ever interacted with your best friend Brandan's kids properly, you are their uncle, Oliver and you know nothing about them."

Oliver fell silent while Elli danced a little mentally.

"Well, I am afraid to say that..." Oliver paused making Elli raise a brow. "...that you are right, for the first time."

So, Oliver went over to the kids and sat beside them, Elli sat on the armchair across them feeling quite pleased at herself.

The kids didn't even turn to look at Oliver, their attentions were completely dedicated to pokemon and no one else.

"What are you guys watching?" He made an effort to start a coversation.

Eyes still glued to the TV Sammy answered, "Pokemon."

Oliver made clucked his tongue, irritation dripped from his voice as he spoke. "Urgh... that useless cartoon!"