Private Library, Stefan's Manor

S T E F A N

"Daddy, open up, please?" Oliver requested politely as he holds up a fork with a sliced pancake, beaming at me. I gleefully accepted his offer with an overdramatic munch that made my baby giggle, his eyes squinting, and his cheeks blushing faintly.

"Now, it's my baby's turn," I said as I hold up a cubed apple that Oliver happily ate, bouncing a bit before keeping still, when he noticed that he almost spilled his glass of juice resting on the small table on his left. His eyes widened at the realization and looked at me apologetically, his lips in a downward motion.

I smiled and kissed his forehead. "No problem, baby boy, as long as you know what you did wrong." Oliver nodded and went back to his cheerful self, as we exchange in feeding each other.

We were snuggling and enjoying the warmth provided by the fire when I heard Oliver's stomach rumbled, as I glanced at the untouched tray of snacks. When I turned my attention back to him, he pushed himself up and kissed me all over my face while apologizing. He was so preoccupied with the books and his thoughts that he forgot to eat.

Of course, I easily forgave him. I was not mad in the first place, just a bit concerned. I want Oliver to be healthy and fit. That's why I prefer to cook for him instead of having our food delivered from one of my restaurants.

Before, I basically eat and sleep at one of my hotels, my apartment, and my private estate was not somewhere I considered resting in. It was convenient actually. I can manage my business efficiently and effectively. But everything changed because of Oliver. The positive kind of change. He's a breath of fresh air to my mundane, busy, and boring corporate lifestyle.

Last night, as I lay awake, staring at my baby like I always do, several thoughts came into mind, the one being at the forefront is my fear that Oliver is going to disappear on me in just a flash, leaving me broken and in so much pain...the deep-seated insecurity must have come from the fact that Oliver is the only one making me feel a multitude of emotions, the one who makes me feel so vulnerable and raw.

He makes my world brighten with just a single smile, and everything just gets a whole lot easier to carry when I have him clinging to me. A kiss from him is all it takes to keep my worries at bay. I even found myself smiling more and being a bit lively than I used to, and it's because of Ollie. The thought of him being gone is eating up my mind and causing me anxiety.

What if I'm not the one for Oliver? He has been through so much that I fear I will mess up and hurt him unintentionally. Then he will leave me because that's how fucked I am. Causing him pain has got to be one that keeps me awake at night. Then the cycle begins again.

But when I happen to hear him talking to his parents about how he feels about me, I had to grip the side of the door for support, those words giving me the security I need. When he looked at me with those eyes full of determination and certainty, my fears disappeared.

The fire I see in his eyes made my heart race and my pulse throb, the emotions that I never saw in his expression before so visible, it made me breathless-- it's possession and a new level of confidence-- something I never thought my baby would feel towards me.

Throughout the days we spent together, no matter how much I shower him with love through words and actions, I can still read a hint of hesitation in his beautiful orbs, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. And I do understand. Trusting someone means giving them the license to hurt you, no need to sugarcoat it. Because that's the reality of it. But to be able to love someone without reservations, that's a true testament of bravery and true love.

I don't care anymore if I gave Ollie the right to hurt me, to crush me, and break me into pieces--because none of that matters. I know that now. As long as I love him, and he loves me, getting hurt is the least of my worries. I won't let my fear get in the way of my love for my precious boy. I trust my baby fully that he won't betray me and leave me for the dead. I give him my all just as he surrenders his entire being in my care. That's how much 'trust' is the major foundation of every relationship. Without it, everything else crumbles. Even love will turn into hate if dishonesty comes into play.

****

"Hey, baby boy?" Oliver hummed as he played with the bubbles, blowing them and sometimes popping them.

We decided to take a bath and relax in the tub with the bath bomb my baby chose online. Almost all of the things we have are bought online, but I haven't shown my baby around the neighborhood. I don't want him to feel cooped up or suffocated. "Do you want to go shopping with me?"

Oliver froze and the room went silent, the only thing I can hear is the droplets falling from the tub, and our heartbeats thumping so loud. My brows met in unison and I scrunched my face, an expression of confusion visible as my baby did not say a word for what I presumed a full two minutes. And when he did, though a mumble, I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"D-Daddy? Can we finish first before I tell you something?" In his tiniest voice, my baby was able to let out the words and I agreed, washing him carefully as I massaged his back to soothe the soreness from our recent lovemaking. I wrapped my lower body in a towel while my baby is drowning in a sheep-inspired cotton towel, the fabric he so enjoys touching because it's so soft, it makes him sleepy.

I then walked towards our walk-in closet, my baby still wrapped around me, his head resting in the crook of my neck, and his steady breathing the only reason why I haven't gone caveman.

I pulled out a large, fluffy, white hoody, with cat ears on top of the hood, and at the front, a large print of 'DADDY'S KITTEN' can be read, and a cotton boxer that we both purchased online as well. After slipping my baby his clothes, I laid him down on the large couch, making sure that his bum is comfortable as I let him sit on a big, soft pillow, and him letting out a contented sigh.

"Thank you, daddy," Oliver sweetly mumbled as he looked up to me, a small smile on his lips, his eyes a bit gloomy, and from that, I know something's wrong. I immediately slipped on some black sweatpants and a cotton shirt that Oliver chose for me, the fabric he so loves to feel. And I know my baby needs all the comfort he can get after he's done telling me what he needs to say.

I turned around and Oliver's hand was reaching out for me. I leaned down and he enclosed my face with his tiny hands, leading me to his parted lips. He brushed his pillowy lips against mine, mumbling a soft 'thank you', before claiming it for a kiss. The slow dance of our lips was full of emotion that I had to pick him up so he can settle himself in my arms, his trembling hands feeling steady as his breathing even out.

After our kiss, my baby scanned my face and looked straight into my eyes, his expression unreadable, as he pressed his lips on my forehead before wrapping his arms around my neck.

"Daddy, let's go back to our bed. Please."

"Okay, baby boy." I gently carried Oliver back to our bed, and while I'm arranging the pillows so I can make him comfortable, he stayed latched onto me, sniffing my scent to calm himself, and momentarily brushing the hair on the back of my head, the motion seeming to relax the both of us.

When I finally finished my baby's bed, I laid him down while I joined him after, his head on my arms and my other arm serving as my pillow. He moved closer to me, absorbing and reveling in the warmth I am more than happy to share.

Oliver's right hand intertwined with mine as he took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a bit, and then turning his gaze at me, a small smile being given away.

This is it.

O L L I E

I figured this situation will eventually come. After all, we have spent the few days cooped up in the comfort of our home, buying whatever we need online. I thought I prepared my heart for this, but when it comes down to it, my anxiety still acts up. That's the reason I froze when daddy suggested going out. When I think about the times I almost got hurt every time I went out, I feel goosebumps running on my skin. The chills racking my body is the one I really want to overcome.

I really appreciate how Stefan took care of me, making me safe and comfortable, easing up my anxiety, and putting me in a place where I can say my piece without getting scared and threatened. I squeezed his hand as I took a deep breath, making sure I'm as calm as I can be as I share with Stef a very heavy experience I had these past few months.

I left our home two days after the funeral, a few clothes in my suitcase, my passport, my cards, a stun gun, and the document my dad instructed me to retrieve that is stored in a very secured microchip that only I can have access to.

I bid my goodbyes to our butler who's very much intent on coming with me, but I refused to do so. We had to make it that I just left to study abroad and not to stay away from my relatives who are still contesting my parent's will. How dare they? After they insulted and disrespected them? I won't let them take a single cent from me.

Three weeks later, as I settled on the new apartment I found in the suburbs, I decided to eat out then head to the grocery for some supplies when I noticed something fishy. Someone ripped the brakes off my car! I instantly became alert and did not entertain panic and fear.

I had to think rationally. I tightened my seatbelt and steer the wheel to a place where the impact would be less bad. Thankfully, there were some thick bushes on my left side and the airbag helped me avoid sustaining serious injuries. I hastily went out of my car and dialed 911.

My body was trembling and I was panting heavily when help came. That's the very first time I had a full-on panic attack, the thought that I almost died slowly sinking in. From then on, my relatives kept on messing with my life, intent on breaking me down and make me go insane as they continued on having these suspicious men following me whenever I go outside.

"I have no idea how they were able to track me down. I had to move several times just so they won't be able to find me. They succeeded in terrorizing and harassing me. I can only go out whenever I ran out of supplies and I had to make sure to stay out of crowded places.

There are times when I have to brave the hunger by drinking water out of the fear that someone is out there waiting for me to stab my back. I was so scared."

By the time I was done, I felt a bit lighter, and the trembling I am expecting to invade my body did not come, and it's because I was in daddy's tight embrace the entire time. Because of Stefan, I can freely talk about my fears without worrying that someone will harm me the moment I opened my mouth.

Stefan pulled me closer to his chest as he tried to calm his breathing, the heavy rising and falling of his chest an indication that he's upset and boiling with rage. My hand slid on top of his chest, rubbing it while peppering soft kisses onto his neck, hoping to soothe my angry daddy. And it did work. His breathing became steady, and before I know it, he shifted and I was lying on top of him, my hands pressed onto his hard chest, as he pushed himself up, causing me to sit up and straddle him.

Stefan's expression is still hard, his jaw is clenched tight, as his hands are wrapped around me protectively. I tucked the wayward strands of his hair covering a portion of his face behind his ear, then gently touching it as he leaned into my touch, closing his eyes as he savors the warmth of my hand.

When he opened his eyes, the look he threw at me almost made me burst out into tears. His expression was filled with so much love and admiration, and at the same time pride. When he voiced out how proud he is of me for being brave, my tears ran sown like waterfalls. I tried wiping it but a new batch just replaced the ones my hands dried up.

Stef grabbed my hand and kissed the inside of my palms before drying and kissing my tears away. "D-daddy..."

"Shh...baby. Daddy's here. No one can hurt you anymore. Over my dead body," Stefan hissed and pulled me into a hug. I shakily nodded and revel in the comfort and security my daddy provided. The hand rubbing my back and the one massaging my nape bringing my tensed body into a relaxed state, as I became pliant and melted into his hold.

We stayed that way for a while with Daddy giving me light kisses as he helped me soften my drop, and it helped because I was giggling all over when his lips blew a raspberry on my neck, tickling me.

"Daddy...stop, please..." I beg as I wheeze, trying to catch my breath.

Stefan chuckled but did stop his assault. He lifted his gaze and smiled at me fondly, as his fingers traced my facial features, a soft kiss being pressed in my forehead, the side of my eyes, the tip of my nose, my cheeks, jaw, and finally, my lips. I savored the sweet feeling and the sparks igniting my body--the kind I always feel every time we kissed.

Stefan's hands went back to the sides of my waist, before turning his focus back to me, his question something I expected too. "Baby, why didn't you report them for harassment and attempted murder? I know you can." His voice was gentle as he asked me.

"I tried to but I can never go far. Someone is always on my tail. I can't risk the lives of our butler and our staff; they also have their own family. At that time, I'd rather stay away from trouble than face it head-on. I have no one to turn to, Stef. I was so scared, lonely, and alone." The last line came out as a shaky whisper, my trembling voice almost got me choked up, but Stefan heard it. He gritted his teeth and pressed a kiss on top of my head.

"Don't worry, baby boy. I'm here now. I will make sure all of them will be thrown into jail. I'll make sure of it," he promised and daddy does not break his promise. I nodded and gave him a wobbly smile. Yes, I can now become strong because of you, daddy.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, my sweet bean?"

"Let's go shopping?" Stefan was surprised by my request but he nodded and pulled me closer to him, his arms wrapped around me while my hands rested on his chest, my head laying on his shoulder, closer to the crook of his neck.

"Anything for my baby. Anything."