45 A Family Vacation

New Years passed by quickly, since they weren't able to celebrate Christmas as they planned, Azriel spent his New Year with Nesryn's family in their hometown. It was a few towns and miles away from the city which, for Azriel, is the greatest place. Their home was a single story house with 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a decent sized kitchen, a living room and a huge lawn.

According to what Kathleen told him, her husband inherited the house from his parents and from then on lived there, even after their marriage.

Nesryn showed him around the place, including the small farm the family has that housed several chickens and two pigs, with six little piglets. Nesryn also showed him a magnificent, brown and black stallion named Geo.

Nesryn watched as the mighty stallion took Azriel away, she shouldn't have been too shocked when he admitted to being good at riding horses, she watched a film that has rich kids all the time since she was younger.

From her three years salary, half of which went to her parents. One-fourth for her father's treatment and the other fourth was for their expenses.

She would usually give her parents more than half though, taking a couple thousand bills for her apartment and everyday needs. Nesryn waited for Azriel to come back while sitting down on a swing, tied under a tree branch, where she would play with her brother, when their father was sleeping inside the house, so as to not disturb him.

It didn't take too long for Azriel to come back, Nesryn welcomed him back and he leaned in and kissed her full on the lips.

"You got a great horse here, smart too, he took me to the river then came back home" he said, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him as Nesryn ran her hand on the horse's snout.

"Papa used to take me around the area when he was still strong enough to ride Geo" she said, her eyes soft and distant. Azriel smiled and placed a kiss on her hair. Kathleen called the two of them over for dinner.

Azriel's first ever family dinner after her mother's passing. They had conversation and laughter filled every corner of the small but warm home.

After dinner, Alexis took Azriel to the living room along with Mikhael and they watched a sports channel, making small talks about business. Alexis knew things since he did graduate as a business administrator student. Mikhael voiced out his thoughts as well, impressing Azriel with the wisdom the man had.

While Nesryn stayed with her mother in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes with her like how they used to, back when she was still a little girl. Kathleen blew bubbles on her face and she blew them back, giggles filled the kitchen, loud enough to reach the living room.

Azriel noticed when Alexis' face contorted into a pleased smile after hearing his wife laugh "I love her laugh, it's what made me fall in love with her," he said, when he caught Azriel's gaze. The CEO nodded and fell silent and let Nesryn's twinkling laugh fill his heart and mind.

"I've never heard those laughs for awhile now" he said and Azriel's eyes softened. The five of them spent the night watching TV and talking about small things, before retiring back to their rooms when Nesryn yawned.

Alexis jokingly said at Azriel to carry her to her room, Nesryn let out a squeak when he carried her bridal style and took her away, arms flailing around. Much to the amusement of the rest of her family as they watched the scene before them.

The next day, Azriel was up early, placing a kiss on Nesryn's lips, before putting on a shirt and leaving the room. His ears were immediately filled with the clanking of pans in the kitchen, he followed the sound and found Kathleen, preparing for breakfast already.

She spotted the man and called him over, serving him a cup of tea.

"Nesryn told me that you liked tea, here a special brew only found in this house" she said, before turning around and continuing cooking breakfast for the five of them. "How long are you guys gonna stay here?" she asked, serving him a plate of pancakes with freshly picked berries from the farmer's market.

"Nesryn said she wanted to stay for three more days" he responded, slicing through the pancake and bringing the piece to his mouth, humming in delight at the taste. Kathleen smiled and continued cooking.

The second one up was Mikhael, he took the carton of milk from the fridge and poured it in a glass, then took his seat beside Azriel.

Kathleen gave him a plate, without any other words. Classical music filled the whole house and Kathleen stopped on her tracks and took off her apron, handing it over to Mikhael, "You're father's awake" was all she said before leaving the room.

Azriel watched as Mikhael stood up, taking his now empty plate with him and putting it in the sink. He put on the apron and continued what his mother was doing earlier.

Nesryn was the last to wake up and joined Azriel on the counter, being handed over by a plate of pancakes with cuts of bananas, she smiled in thanks to her brother before digging in.

The long-haired man finished his breakfast but didn't budge, leaning over his hand as he watched Nesryn eat. She looked at him weirdly but he didn't falter and just smiled at her.

"Mik, go ahead and help mom, I can handle the clean up" Nesryn said, when the last piece of pancake and bacon was placed on the serving plate.

"Alright sis, don't force yourself too hard, you're still recovering" he said, while taking the apron off. Nesryn smiled and nodded at him, Azriel watched the interaction between the siblings with a smile on his face. She finished her food and took his plate with her and placed it to the sink.

Azriel stood up and took the teacup with him and playfully pushed Nesryn away from the sink, using his hips. Laughing at the pouty expression she had.

"Rest up love, I'll handle this" he said, leaning over and placing a kiss on her lips. "To early love birds" a vice said and they both turned around to see Alexis by the door, with arms crossed with a smirk on his face.

Nesryn's cheeks became flushed as she lowered her head "Oh stop it Alexis, don't tease the two" Kathleen said beside her husband with the same knowing smirk on her face. Aziel chuckled and started washing the dishes while Kathleen helped Alexis to the dining table and gave him the plate ready for him.

The rest of the day passed by peacefully, Nesryn took Azriel to the nearby farmer's market where they fed the goats some milks, cows with grass and harvested some eggs from the chicken pen. They only took Geo with them as a mode of transportation. Azriel mostly carried most of their purchased produce.

They were able to go back before the sun started setting from the horizon, behind the mountains. Azriel took the horse back to the stable while Nesryn went back inside, with their groceries.

"Good work today Azriel, go ahead and take a bath" Alexis said, handing him his own towel. The long-haired man smiled and took the towel, bidding Nesryn a silent 'be right back' he disappeared behind the bathroom's closed doors.

Nesryn helped her mother in preparing dinner in the kitchen, then taking out the finished dishes out to the picnic table in their backyard. Mikhael pulled out some bottles of beer and placed it on the table, before going back to the house and opening the garden lights they placed in their backyard.

It took Azriel 25 minutes to finish showering and by the time he came out of the bathroom and got dressed, the roasted chicken and pork belly they were having for dinner were already perfectly cooked and served on the table.

"It's mom and dad's anniversary, so we're celebrating" Nesryn whispered to Azriel when they got out of the house.

Both the couple joined Nesryn's family on the table. Azriel watched as Alexis made his speech, declaring his undying love for his wife by saying his vows once again, when they got married, holding Kathleen's hand that had her wedding ring.

After the emotional talk, they ate dinner, Azriel made small questions when he and Alexis were left alone for a few minutes. Nesryn and Kathleen were inside getting the dessert and Mikhael was in the bathroom "How did you know that Kathleen is the one?" he asked, taking a swig from his beer bottle.

Alexis chuckled "Listen here Azriel, the moment I laid my eyes upon that beautiful hazelnut eyes of hers, I knew she was the one. I was going through tough times that day, I just found out that I had leukemia and my family doesn't want anything to do with me anymore. I was determined to jump that day till she came rushing in and found me on the rooftop of our college.

I was young and a fool. I attempted to jump that day but she found me and held me by the railing, so tight. When I looked back, I saw the most beautiful and tantalizing hazelnut colored eyes I've ever seen.

I was so distracted by her eyes that she was able to pull me off the railing and back to the floor of the rooftop." Alexis' eyes were filled with soften that even Azriel knew that it was a precious memory to him.

"I clearly remember what she said to me that day, she said 'what the heck were you thinking, I know college is hard and all but you don't have to take your life!' while running her hands in her hair in frustration. I remember staring at her as she yelled my ears off, that's when I cut her off saying I have leukemia and my family doesn't want me.

I don't know what came over me at that time, she was a stranger to me yet I am telling her all my concerns and all she said was 'that's not a reason to take your life, your family might not want you, as you say they are, but somebody out there will cry if you're gone.

You might not know who that is but somebody out there, a relative, a close friend, a stranger you helped in your life, someone will cry and get hurt if you take you life'

If that's not the most powerful words I heard in my life, then I don't know what is. Since that day, Kathleen found out about my department and kept checking on me whenever she had the chance, she would invite me to some outing she had with her family or just take a stroll around the nearby park, or read a book in the library.

Those little moments were precious to me, because I feel loved. Someone out here in this world, a woman like her cares about me, more than enough that she would endanger her life to save mine. Since then we became best friends, took five years on my part to finally admit my feelings to her, fortunately she returned my feelings.

We dated for 3 years before I got down on one knee and proposed to her, not even a year after we got married and had Nesryn then Mikhael. A happy life for a dying man like me. Everything in my life changed, the moment I saw Kathleen's eyes. In those brown orbs of hers, I saw my future with her by my side, along with our children.

Now, Azriel tell me, when was the first time you saw my daughter's eyes?" Alexis said, turning the conversation to him.

It was Azriel's turn. Alexis saw the faint smile on his lips and how his eyes lit up at the thought. He took a swig from his beer to hide the smirk forming in his mouth. 'The boy has it hard' he whispered to himself.

"I met Nesryn 3 years ago, I was hiring a new secretary since the last one didn't meet my standard. I don't know if Nesryn told you but I was a playboy, a big one at that. Nesryn was originally hired by my grandmother to keep an eye on me and set me straight as an appropriate ruler of our company.

At first, I didn't really like her since there's no one before her that actually did their job, she sometimes restricted my dates and changed it into meetings and from then on, my reputation as an idiot CEO started diminishing.

I was acknowledged by my peers in the world of business. With her by my side, she was able to drag a playboy jackass like me to the pinnacle of the world and succeed.

Without her, I might have been removed from my family and have been stripped off of my inheritance. She worked hard for three years, the only woman who lasted that long being with a man like me. I put her through hard times at first because I didn't like her and I can't explain how much she means to me but her eyes…." Alexis watched as Azriel trailed off, a soft smile on his face.

Alexis noticed her wife and daughter coming back and he put his pointer finger to his lip, silencing the two "Her...her eyes...her warm and deep blue eyes, oh god, whenever I see it, I feel at home" Azriel's tone was heavily laced with pure love and affection, he turned back to Alexis and smiled at him "Alexis, I love your daughter" he said, his voice filled with truth and sincerity.

Alexis smiled and nodded "she knows" was all he said before gesturing at Nesryn behind him, he slowly turned around and got face-to-face with Nesryn, who leaned in and connected their lips together. Kathleen went to her husband's arm and got enveloped by it.

This was the scene Mikhael walked into.

"Oh come on! Don't rub on my wounds that I am still single!" he whined as he sat down on the bench and dug into his dessert. The four of them laughed at the pouting male and continued on to dessert.

They had a campfire and got to bed at around midnight, Azriel joined Nesryn in her room like for the past two days. They changed into pajamas and Azriel pulled Nesryn closer to him in bed and snuggled her, breathing in her scent and staring deep into her eyes.

Their small vacation allowed the couple to deepen their bond with each other.

They both got to the office the next morning back to being boss and secretary. With Azriel back in the company, employees were on their tip top condition. Azriel's schedule was packed for the day along with the tasks piled up on Nesryn's table.

Both of them weren't able to spend lunch with each other, but he made sure that she ate and took her medicines. No matter how packed Azriel's schedule was, he took time and accompanied Nesryn to the hospital for her chemotherapy where they were greeted by Maxon. Azriel kissed her forehead before going to the spare hospital room with his laptop.

It took Nesryn three hours to finish her therapy and by the time she was wheeled in by Carter, Azriel carefully lifted her and laid her on the bed, covering her up with a blanket. Carter and Azriel talked for a couple of minutes, regarding Nesryn's condition. Azriel gave Carter a cheque containing a million dollar for the first investment in Nesryn's condition research.

He let Nesryn rest for a little bit before she woke up and told Azriel that she wanted to rest at home. Azriel drove the two of them home, he also carried her bridal style to their room despite her protests. Maids delivered dinner to their room and Azriel fed Nesryn before they both went to bed.