"Is everything okay?" Aika looked at Nat worriedly. He had just picked her up from the airport.

"Huh...oh...everything's good. It's good because you're back." Nat was so lost in thought, he almost missed Aika's question.

Aika knew there was something bothering Nat but didn't know how to bring it up. Aika looked at Jamie in the backseat, who shrugged. The entire drive back to the house was silent.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong with your Daddy?" Aika whispered to Jamie as they entered the house. Jamie pointed to her room and Aika followed.

"Daddy's been moody since we met his best friend 2 days ago. I thought it was because he missed you but he looks the same now..." Jamie pouted, thinking about the sudden change in attitude of her father.

"I'll get your daddy back to normal soon, I promise. Anyways, it's time for your afternoon nap right?" Aika assured Jamie as she grabbed a pair of pajamas from her closet.

"I hope you make Daddy smile, ninang. He always does when he's with you." Jamie muttered as her eyes fluttered close.

"I'll do my best, sweetheart." Aika stroked Jamie's tiny hand before taking her leave.

Aika spotted Nat at the window, staring aimlessly outside. She approached him softly and placed her hand on his arm.

"Jamie's asleep." Aika found herself whispering.

"Sorry that you have to do all these after coming back...my mind has just been everywhere..." Nat sighed.

"Is something up? Anything I can help with?" Aika slid her hand into Nat's and clasped their fingers, pulling him to the couch to sit them down.

"It's about Jamie's mother. I met her 2 days ago." Nat confessed.

"How are you coping?" Aika was even more worried.

"She acts like nothing happened. She says that she wants us to go back to where we were before..." Nat recounted the conversation he had with Aly.

"What did you say?" Aika looked into Nat's eyes.

"I said no of course! You're the one I love now, there's no way I'll ever let you go! Trust me, I'm never getting back with her!" Nat was visibly frantic.

"Hey, I'm not doubting you. I trust you. I do." Aika cupped Nat's cheeks and stroked it with her thumbs to assure him.

"I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea..." Nat confessed.

"I won't. So don't worry about me and think about how you're going to move forward?" Aika probed.

"I want what's best for Jamie and if it means helping her build a relationship with her birth mother, then I'll do it." Nat would do anything for Jamie. Aika knew that very well.

"Have you thought about how you're going to tell Jamie?" Nat leaned back onto the couch and pulled Aika to lean on him.

"That's another challenge in itself...I'm not sure how to put it across. Even I'm having difficulties internalising it, what more a child who doesn't understand how her mother could suddenly appear after 4 years?" Nat sighed again.

"Maybe you'll have to discuss this with her mother. Make the decision together." Aika suggested.

"Maybe you're right. I know you are but I can't seem to control my feelings whenever I think about her. Heck, I don't know if it's anger, disbelief or even disappointment." Nat ran his hand through his hair.

"I won't ask you to forget these feelings because they are valid but perhaps think about how you are going to navigate these emotions while helping Jamie build a relationship with her. And don't forget that I'll be here for you." Aika patted her shoulders and Nat let out a tiny chuckle before leaning his head on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry about troubling you with all these. I promise that no matter what, you will be the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Not anyone else." Nat kissed the back of Aika's hand and gave her a confident smile.

"I want a kiss too!" Jamie popped out from behind.

"I thought you were supposed to be having your afternoon nap?" Nat raised his eyebrows.

"I did! But I'm awake now and Daddy is finally smiling! Ninang, you really did it!" Jamie jumped into Aika's embrace.

"Of course, I made a promise with you." Aika lightly played with Jamie's cheeks.

"I'm still waiting for my kisses!" Jamie stuck her face out. Laughing, Aika and Nat both leaned in and gave Jamie a peck on each side of her cheek.

"One more time!" Jamie exclaimed. Just as Aika and Nat were about to touch her cheeks, Jamie leaned back. The girl ended up having first row seats to the surprise kiss.

"Where did you learn such a trick from?" Nat was speechless. Jamie shrugged.

"I think it calls for a tickle!" Aika narrowed her eyes and she started tickling Jamie. Nat immediately joined in, eliciting laughs from Jamie. Nat caught Aika's eye in the middle of the laughs and it was then they realised how precious the girl in their arms were to both of them, especially for Nat.

~

"What are you doing here? I told I said to call me first?" Nat stared at Aly, who was waiting outside Jamie's kindergarten.

"I thought I would surprise both of you!" Aly tried to reason.

"An unwanted one I guess..." Nat rolled his eyes. He felt a tiny pinch on his elbow and stopped himself from continuing. He looked to the source and smiled.

"Hi, I think we've met before. I'm Alyssa Carlos, Jamie's mother. You must be Nat's friend?" Aly stretched out her hand.

"Nice to meet you Ms Carlos, I'm Jessica Robredo." Aika accepted the handshake.

"Lots of misconceptions in that introduction of yours but I don't have time to correct you because Jamie is coming out any second." Nat bit his lips in anger but held back as Aika placed a hand on his back.

"Great, we can have dinner together then!" Aly suggested as she looked at Nat.

"I don't think so. We already have plans with Jamie." Nat shot down the idea.

"I'm sure Ms Robredo doesn't mind, do you?" Aly turned her attention to Aika.

"Daddy! Ninang!" Jamie's voice was heard, making the adults turn towards the girl. Nat cursed under his breath.

"Ninang look! I made this in school today!" Jamie ran straight to Aika, holding the paper origami out.

"Wow, that's a really pretty heart that you folded!" Aika knelt down to meet Jamie's eye level.

"It's specially for you!" Jamie placed it in Aika's hands.

"Really? Thank you!" Aika gave Jamie a hug.

"Hi Jamie! Do you remember me?" Aly interrupted.

"The nice lady? Daddy's friend?" Jamie recognised Aly.

"That's right! Do you mind if I join you for dinner tonight?" Aly knelt down next to Jamie as well. The girl unknowingly stepped back, unfamiliar with Aly.

"But I'm supposed to be having dinner with Daddy and ninang..." Jamie wrapped her arms around Aika's shoulder, signalling that she felt scared.

"Actually, ninang came to tell you that I can't stay for dinner tonight...I'm sorry and I promise to make it up another day? Is that okay with you?" Nat looked on with wide-opened eyes as Aika explained to Jamie.

"It's okay! I can just have dinner with Daddy! Are you having dinner with lola and tita Tricia?" It had been a while since she saw them.

"I am. Enjoy your dinner? I love you." Aika gave Jamie a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll call you tonight! Love you too, ninang!" Jamie waved as Aika got up to leave.

"Are you seriously leaving? You don’t have to! She's the one that's intruding!" Nat said loud enough for Aly to hear.

"Take the chance to talk to Ms Carlos properly. Try not to let your emotions get to you too much." Aika whispered to Nat.

"Sorry about tonight, I'll make up for it. I'll call you later with Jamie. Love you, sunshine." Nat gave Aika a peck on the cheek before she left.

"Dinner?" Aly had been watching the entire conversation take place. She felt herself getting jealous at how naturally they interacted but at least Aika had made space for her.

"Princess, is it okay for you?" Nat looked at his daughter, deciding to give Aly a chance. The girl nodded. She was still getting her kids cafe treat tonight anyways.

"She's so active...I was a pretty stationary child." Aly looked at Jamie run around in the play area.

"We bring her out to play pretty often, as much as COVID lets us. Aika and I like sports and Jamie seems to enjoy it too." Nat purposely mentioned Aika.

"I see...what does she like? Dresses? Princesses? Makeup?" Aly guessed.

"She's almost over Frozen. She likes pants over dresses and skirts. Makeup is a no go for now." Nat was trying to be cordial.

"Daddy! I'm hungry!" Jamie came running to the table, all sweaty.

"I've ordered your favourite. Let's get you clean and we can eat." Nat took out a wet wipe from his bag.

"Jamie, do you want to sit next to me?" Aly pulled out the chair next to her.

"It's okay, I want to sit next to Daddy." Jamie rejected and climbed onto the chair next to Nat.

"Jamie, do you want some of these?" Aly offered some fries.

"No thank you, Ms Carlos." Jamie shook her head. She wasn’t comfortable with Aly.

"Is she usually this shy?" Aly asked.

"Everyone says she's like a social butterfly. I'm not sure why she's like that with you..." Nat held back his sarcasm. Jamie took to Aika the first time she saw her.

"It's okay, we'll get closer as we meet more often. Shall we go out again this weekend?" Aly tried to catch another date with Jamie.

"But the weekend is family time!" Jamie replied while sipping in her water.

"We can spend family time together?" Aly got her hopes high.

"It's family time for Daddy, ninang and Jamie. I'm sorry Ms Carlos." Jamie shook her head. Nat didn't know whether to laugh or feel proud.

"But Jamie, I'm your family too..." Aly blurted out.

"I think it's time to leave. Jamie has school tomorrow." Nat scowled, unhappy with Aly's words.

"But..." Aly realised she had jumped the gun.

"Don't turn up unannounced next time. At least call and inform me." Nat warned as he left with Jamie, leaving Aly alone.

~

"Aiks, I thought you and Nat were bringing Jamie out for dinner?" VP Leni was surprised to see Aika back so early.

"Something cropped up so I came back first..." Aika gave her mama a vague answer.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen to Nat and Jamie?" VP was worried.

"They are fine mama." Aika mustered a smile.

"Something tells me that you aren't. Want to talk about it?" VP Leni sat on the couch and tapped the seat next to her.

"It's about Jamie's birth mother. She's back." Aika confessed.

"Oh...so what was Nat's reaction?" VP furrowed her eyebrows.

"He was angry. Fuming, if I were to add..." Aika sighed.

"What else did she say?" VP has a bad feeling.

"That she wanted to get back with Jamie...and Nat. Nat refused." Aika bit her lip.

"I'm sure he did. But what about her relationship with Jamie? She's still her mother..." VP patted Aika on the shoulder.

"Nat wasn't sure about letting her into Jamie's life but I suggested he give her a chance. He agreed because he wanted the best for Jamie." Aika gave her mama a weak smile.

"And how do you feel about all these?" VP knew Aika was troubled.

"I don't know...I'm all for Jamie's happiness and I trust Nat's feelings for me. But with her mother in the picture, it means that there's another person's feelings we have to consider..." Aika was confused.

"If things go well, co-parenting may be a good solution. Human feelings are always hard to predict, what more with Jamie involved...But I have confidence in you and Nat. As long as both of you are on the same page about your relationship and love for Jamie, I'm sure you'll work things out." VP gave her daughter a hug.

"Thank you mama. I really needed the assurance." Aika thanked her mama.

Muscles calling...

"Ninang!" Jamie appeared on the phone screen.

"Hello sweetheart! Did you have fun?" Aika felt much better after seeing Jamie and Nat.

"No, it was boring without you around." Jamie pouted.

"Sorry to hear that...I'll make sure to join you next time." Aika made a virtual pinky promise with Jamie.

"How was it?" Aika asked after Jamie was out of earshot.

"Pretty unsuccessful. Jamie didn't like her at all. Wouldn't expect her to, honestly." Nat shrugged.

"She's probably shy..." Aika reasoned.

"She opened up to you immediately though? There must have some magnetic charm to you." Nat chuckled.

"Be serious!" Aika chided Nat.

"Yes Ma'am. Anyways, Aly asked to meet on the weekend but guess what? Jamie said no because it was family time with me, you and her." Nat stopped himself from laughing at Jamie's words.

"Ms Carlos must have been upset..." Aika wondered out loud.

"Why are you such an angel? Gosh, I love you. Where else can I find someone as considerate, loving and amazing like you?" Nat confessed suddenly.

"Enough cheesiness, Nathaniel. It must have been a long day, go get some rest." Aika let out a genuine chuckle.

"Alright...I love you a million times, sunshine." Nat gave Aika a finger heart.

"Me too, muscles." Aika waved goodbye. Her phone buzzed right after.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You never know dear, how much I love you.

Aika replied Nat immediately.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Stay safe from Typhoon Karding, lovely people