"Shall we go, Princess?" Nat grabbed his car keys as Jamie jumped off the couch with her bag.

"Let's go!" Jamie smiled as she entered the lift. Since Aly was feeling under the weather last week, they had to take a rain check.

"Where are we going today?" Jamie asked as Nat drove out of the carpark.

"I'm not sure either, your Auntie Aly didn't tell me exactly...Guess it's a surprise?" All Nat got from Aly was an address to a mall nearby.

"I love surprises!" Jamie cheered from the back seat.

"Princess, can I ask you something?" Nat brought up a question hesitantly. Jamie nodded.

"Do you like Auntie Aly?" Nat looked at Jamie through the rear mirror. They had already arrived at the mall's carpark.

"Will you be upset if I said yes?" Jamie reflected the question unknowingly.

"Of course not, Princess. I will never be angry at you." Nat was shocked to hear Jamie ask him the question.

"I do like Auntie Aly. I like spending time with her every Sunday..." Jamie felt herself being conscious of her father.

"Hey Princess, look at Daddy?" Nat noticed Jamie's hesitation. The girl looked up to meet Nat's eyes.

"Is something bothering you? You know that you can tell Daddy everything right?" Nat unbuckled Jamie from her car seat and lifted her into his lap, making her face him.

"Ninang said that you wouldn't be angry even if I liked Auntie Aly but I wasn't sure..." Jamie confessed.

"And your ninang is right...Daddy isn't angry at all." Nat felt his heart shatter. His emotions towards Aly was affecting Jamie and that was the last thing he'd wish for.

"Really?" Jamie brightened up. She had been thinking about the conversation she had with Aika last week and still had her reservations. Hearing Nat's words made her feel assured.

"Yes a million times, Princess. As long as you're happy, so is Daddy. If you like spending time with Auntie Aly, that's what we'll do." Nat gave Jamie a tight hug and kissed her forehead.

"But you still haven't answered my question! Do you not like Auntie Aly?" Jamie looked at Nat.

"Uh...this is a little complicated but there's more than like and dislike when it comes to people. Auntie Aly and I had some disagreements in the past but we're working things out. But I don't want this to affect the way you think about Auntie Aly, okay? You make the decision about your own feelings and don't let anyone dictate what you feel." Nat held Jamie's hand and placed it on her heart. The little girl nodded.

"Come on, your Auntie Aly must be waiting!" Nat looked at his watch and realised they were going to be late.

~

"Auntie Aly!" Jamie called out as she spotted Aly. Aly bent down to pick Jamie up into her arms.

"I missed you!" Aly gave Jamie a kiss on the cheek as the little girl giggled.

"Me too! Are you feeling better already?" Jamie threw her arms around Aly. Compared to the first few times that they've met, Jamie had gotten much more comfortable with Aly.

"She was excited to see you today. Hope you're feeling better?" Nat smiled at Aly.

"I am, thank you. I was bumped to cancel last week too...that's why I prepared this today." Aly pointed to the indoor trampoline park behind her.

"Wow!" Jamie wriggled her way down and ran straight to the entrance. Nat gave Aly a thumbs up before running after Jamie.

"THIS IS SO FUN!" Jamie exclaimed as she bounced on one of the trampolines.

"Be careful!" Aly and Nat were on the sidelines looking out for Jamie.

"Let's go over there!" Jamie pointed to one of the kid-friendly zones as she dragged Aly's hand. Nat found himself looking on and breaking into a soft smile.

"Here, you like strawberry smoothies right?" Aly grabbed the smoothie off the tray as soon as Nat set it down.

"Thank you!" Jamie grinned as she took a huge sip of the drink.

"Here, let me wipe your sweat..." Aly gently dabbed Jamie's face.

"You mentioned that you were married right?" Aly nodded at Nat's question.

"So you have a husband?" Jamie looked at Aly, who nodded again hesitantly.

"Do you have children?" Jamie dropped a sudden question, making Nat choke on his coffee. Aly's eyes widened as she exchanged looks with Nat.

"Uh...I do." Aly answered after deliberating. Nat held his breath.

"You do? How old is she? Can I play with her next time?" Jamie was excited to hear.

"Sure..." Aly didn't answer any of Jamie's question but simply gave her an awkward smile.

"Daddy, when Auntie Aly brings her daughter and maybe her husband next time, let's bring ninang too! Both of our families can have fun together!" Jamie turned to her father.

"Yeah, sounds fun..." Nat avoided Jamie's eyes. Thankfully, Nat's phone rang.

"Hey Gabe, what's up?" Nat picked up the call. Signalling to Aly that he was going to step outside for a moment, Nat left Jamie with Aly.

"So, does your Daddy ever tell you about your Mummy?" Aly took the chance and asked.

"Mummy? Not really...but he does tell me that Mummy loves Jamie as much as he does..." Jamie answered as she took a bite of her pasta.

"I'm sure she does. Do you miss your Mummy?" Aly had her hopes high as she asked.

"Hmm...not really? I mean, I've never met her so I can't say if I miss her." Jamie shrugged.

"Do you want to meet her then?" Aly probed further.

"I don't know...Maybe?" Jamie was still focused on her pasta.

"Why so?" Aly was confused.

"Because Grandpa, Grandma, Karine, Daddy, ninang, lola Leni and tita Tricia and Jillian shower me with lots of love already! I don't feel any less loved!" Jamie said nonchalantly. Anyone would have been amazed at the 4 year oldest answer.

"Oh..." Aly felt a pang of disappointment but she tried not to show it.

"Right, I forgot. Auntie Aly, I have you too!" Jamie offered Aly a bite of her pasta.

"Thank you little one..." Aly immediately brightened up at Jamie's words.

"You're welcome! Ninang says that love isn't a competition, and that we have a lot of space in our hearts to love others!" Jamie recalled what Aika had reminded her.

~

"Babe!" Aly turned at the voice she knew too well.

"What are you doing here?" Aly muttered under her breath as she stood up.

"I wanted to join in the fun, of course." Marco had a smirk on his face.

"You can't just turn up unannounced like that! What am I supposed to tell Nat?" Aly was flustered.

"Hello! Are you Auntie Aly's husband?" Jamie was looking at Aly and Marco.

"Hello, my name is Marco and yes, I'm your Mum...I mean Aly's husband. Nice to meet you." Marco ignored Aly's stare and stretched his hand out.

"Hello, Mr Marco, I'm Jamie!" Jamie shook Marco's hand.

"Mind if I join you?" Marco asked.

"Sure!" The innocent girl nodded, sending Aly's brain into chaos. Nat was going to be back any moment.

"Why are you standing, babe? Come sit down." Marco pulled out the chair next to him.

"You better not have anything up your sleeves..." Aly gritted her teeth as she warned Marco.

"Relax, I just wanted to get to know her better!" Marco faked a smile.

"Where's your Daddy, young lady?" Marco tried making small talk.

"Daddy is on a call! He'll be back soon!" Jamie pointed to the main entrance where Nat's back could be seen.

"I see...shall we get to know each other better before your Daddy comes back?" Marco reached his hand out to touch Jamie but Aly yanked his arm back, not wanting him to touch her.

"Auntie Aly said that you guys have a daughter, how come you didn't bring her along with you?" Jamie asked innocently. Marco raised an eyebrow as he looked at Aly. Aly gave him a pleading look to play along.

"Yes we do...but she's not free today. How about you, who's in your family?" Marco was getting to his point.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Karine, Daddy and Jamie!" The girl counted 5 with her fingers.

"Oh, what about your Mummy?" Marco asked, despite Aly's death glares.

"My Mummy isn't with us." Jamie pouted.

"I see...where is she?" Marco probed.

"Grandma says she's far away..." Jamie shrugged, feeling a sense of deja vu about the conversation.

"Do you want to see your Mummy if she comes back? Do you want to live with her if you could?" Marco felt Aly squeeze him but he ignored it.

"Enough, Marco. You're scaring the child." Aly spoke up as she saw Jamie feeling uncomfortable with the questions. She wasn't going to let Marco scare Jamie and ruin everything she'd built with her.

"Don't mind him, little one. Let's finish up your pasta before your Daddy comes back?" Aly distracted Jamie with her food.

"Why are you so scared, babe? I was just testing the water..." Marco whispered to Aly with a smirk.

"If you don't want me to drag you out of this place, you better watch your words when Nat comes back." Aly warned Marco as she spotted Nat returning.

"Hi, you are?" Nat was looking at Marco.

"Marcus Hernandez but you can call me Marco. I'm Aly's husband." Marco offered a handshake.

"Pleasure to meet you Mr Hernandez, I'm Nathaniel Lee." Nat tried to maintain a smile as he shook Marco's hand.

"I hope you don't mind me crashing your gathering? I was in the vicinity and thought it would be good to introduce myself to this young lady over here." Marco took a seat and pointed to Jamie.

"No worries..." Nat looked at Aly, realising that she didn't expect her own husband to turn up unannounced. Nat looked back at Marco, something about the man didn't feel right but he brushed it off. Afterall, the relationship shared was complicated.

"Daddy...is ninang coming soon?" Jamie broke the air of tension between the adults.

"Yes Princess, she texted to say she was reaching in 5 minutes." Nat smiled at Jamie. Aly noticed a glint in Marco's eyes.

"I've heard a lot about you from Aly." Marco initiated a conversation.

"Oh, really? That's nice to know." Nat didn't know what to reply.

"Has Aly said anything about me?" Marco put an arm around Aly.

"No, not really." Nat kept his answer short.

"Ninang!" Jamie hoped off the chair and ran towards a familiar figure clad in jeans and a shirt.

"Hey sweetie, did you have fun?" Aika picked Jamie up and carried her back to the table where Nat, Aly and Marco were.

"Nice to see you again, Ms Carlos." Aika greeted Aly with a friendly smile.

"Same here, Ms Robredo. This is my husband, Marco." Aly introduced Marco, after a nudge from Marco of course.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms Robredo." Marco stretched a hand out. Everyone but Marco was uncomfortable with the pleasantries.

"Ninang, I had so much fun! Let's come here again next time! You, me and Daddy!" Jamie was excitedly pointing to the trampolines as she sat on Aika's lap.

"Sure! Sounds fun!" Aika smiled at Jamie.

"You two seem to be really close!" Marco made an unsolicited comment, earning glares from Nat and Aly.

"I think we'll take our leave now. We have somewhere to be." Nat patted Aika's shoulder gently as he grabbed Jamie's backpack and their things.

"Sure, we'll arrange again through text. Thanks for today." Aly was equally relieved. She knew Marco was making everything uncomfortable and felt bad.

"Say bye to Auntie Aly and Mr Marco, sweetie." Aika reminded Jamie as they left.

"Bye bye..." Jamie didn't look at Marco as she waved.

"See you little one!" Aly waved as she watched the trio leave.

"That could have been us. You, me and Jamie." Marco sneered after they disappeared from sight.

"I can't believe you have the cheek to say that? After all you did? Not only did you appear out of nowhere, you almost made Jamie cry? And wasn't it obvious that Nat and Ms Robredo were uncomfortable because of you?" Aly was frustrated.

"Introductions had to be done anyways." Marco snorted.

"But not like this? I swear to God, Jamie is just warming up to me and if anything goes wrong, it's all your fault!" Aly raised her voice.

"I'm just trying to speed things up? Get Jamie used to me and then it'd be easier to win her over to our side!" Marco retorted.

"I'm starting to think this is a bad idea. I shouldn't have agreed to this in the first place." Aly shook her head.

"But you are her mother! You have every right to take Jamie back! I thought we were done with this discussion!" Marco hated that Aly wavered everytime she spent time with Jamie and Nat.

"But..." Aly sighed.

"Remember, we are doing this for Jamie. When he gets married to his new girlfriend, your daughter will be neglected. But with us, she'll be our priority forever!" Marco tried to persuade Aly.

"But Ms Robredo and Nat love her so much!" Aly didn't believe Marco.

"Trust me, its all cheap talk. Just follow the plan and things will turn out fine!" Marco ended the conversation.

Maybe I am the one that doesn't deserve Jamie...Aly thought to herself.

What do you think Aly should do? Follow Marco or go against his plans?